Chapter 297: The Imperial General Was Again Forcibly Flirted With 25

Alex heard the remark, lowered his head and smiled, naturally leaning into Jin Chen's embrace to relax his body.

"My waist is sore." He said softly.

"Get some sleep; you barely slept this morning, and we're still far from the Empire."

Jin Chen helped him massage, chin slightly lifted, pointing toward the private rest area behind.

"Mm."

He responded, just about to get up when he was enfolded in a full embrace, instinctively wrapping his arms around Jin Chen's neck, his whole body lifted sideways, so he simply yawned, burying his head in the embrace and staying still.

【Detected Villain Heartthrob Value +15, total 80!】

The temperature on the ship was comfortable, Jin Chen stayed by his side; before drowsiness struck, Alex suddenly remembered something, tugging at his collar as he spoke.

"Remember to tell Duke Chester to have the reception team go straight to the embassy."

"I'll arrange it; rest easy."

Jin Chen gently stroked the back of the person in his arms, letting him fall asleep peacefully.

To centralize imperial authority, the Empire's selected main star is not large, even lacking time zones, yet it is extraordinarily prosperous; this system causes uneven resource distribution among many planets under the Empire, making the wealth gap extremely large.

In the rest area, Jin Chen looked at the data on the smart brain, and an idea formed in his mind.

Might as well take this opportunity to help the old man expand his territory.

At 4 p. m. Imperial time, all shuttles and ships arrived simultaneously at the main star's airport.

The welcoming party sent by Xiduole was extraordinarily grand, even clearing half of the landed airport; the reception team and ceremonial corps surrounded the outside, seemingly aiming to showcase the Empire's prosperity to the Federation.

Little did they know that, in the eyes of the Federals, this was utterly pointless.

"They always love spending a lot of money on useless things; I heard that not far from the main star, there are planetary people who lack even basic resources."

"Isn't that just how the Empire is? As long as the surface looks prosperous, the rest can be ignored as if it doesn't exist."

At this time the main star was in winter weather; although they had prepared, stepping off the shuttles left them freezing, and upon seeing the sea of red-and-gold Imperial welcoming party, the Federation members accompanying Jin Chen all complained.

Jin Chen and Alex walked in front; as they left the airport, Weite suddenly realized that Jin Chen had never intended for him to take Alex back.

"At tomorrow's banquet, I'll take him to Your Majesty; you don't need to worry."

When Weite related Jin Chen's original words to Xiduole, he discovered that this brother of his simply didn't care at all.

In the imperial palace, Xiduole sat high above, hearing Weite's relay, showing no expression.

"Since that's the case, I will personally attend tomorrow's welcoming banquet."

He waved his hand, his gaze as still as the ancient well, saying, "You're tired too; take Ian down to rest, Steven stay."

Weite staggered, feeling something was off, but couldn't pinpoint it at once; instead, Ian was unwilling to just let Alex go like that.

"Uncle, you must definitely help me give that Federation general a good lesson tomorrow! And Alex, you must be killed!"

Xiduole also didn't say yes or no, merely glancing at Weite with a meaning that needed no words.

Weite's brow twitched; he pulled Ian along and performed a salute before withdrawing.

He found it increasingly hard to read his brother's thoughts.

Only when leaving the imperial palace did Weite suddenly recall the earlier oddness.

If Steven stayed behind, they could only discuss military department matters; but if it was military department business, how could he not be allowed to participate?

Amid his son's resentful complaints, Weite's heart suddenly sank, instinctively sensing that something major would happen.

—

The Federation's embassy in the Empire has existed for many years, right next door is the Imperial officials' office building.

When the two sides had not severed relations, the embassy still represented friendly exchanges, but now the situation is somewhat awkward; any Imperial official with a minor post can shout at them, as if heaven is high and the emperor far away, beyond the Federation's reach here.

Today, when Jin Chen came, the embassy staff were all pleased, having long heard of Alex's exploits; the chief director even had people compile overnight a summary of recent major incidents in the military department that they could gather, as well as the current public opinion across all Imperial planets about Alex.

Upon Jin Chen's arrival, he specifically had Jacob, who had followed him, bring people to guard outside the embassy; seeing any rude official, they would act directly without needing to consider anyone's face.

Inside the embassy, Chester was already waiting in the conference room; having received earlier news, he had temporarily changed his plans.

However, the attendees of this meeting were beyond Alex's expectations.

Of the five military departments under his command, aside from Steven, the other four ministers were actually all present here.

"Long time no see, General." The four ministers rose and saluted.

"Long time no see, Alex."

Chester also stood up to welcome his return.

"Why are you all here?"

Alex rarely showed his shock in front of his former subordinates.

"Even if you can never return to the military department, we ought, both emotionally and rationally, to come see you."

Chester: "They also know the plan we worked out; you can rest assured."

Jin Chen sat down casually, giving a silent nod; at least the Empire hasn't rotted to the core.

Alex: "How's the military department lately?"

"To be frank, since your incident, we've spent a long time silencing the endless gossip; even though we believe in the warriors you personally trained, there are always people swayed by public opinion and the imperial family, let alone Steven stirring up trouble."

The person sitting opposite him spoke first, expression very helpless.

The person beside him also chimed in: "Overall, as time passes, the military department's evaluation of you keeps worsening; even those who believe in you get labeled as allies, and we can't readily clarify that now."

The imperial family is, after all, a great mountain weighing on the military department.

These things were, however, within Alex's expectations.

"Don't blame me for destroying the mutual trust among the military departments; after this is over, I won't return to the Empire either, but you still need to continue living and working here."

Upon hearing this, another minister furtively glanced at the ever-silent Jin Chen.

Curiosity burned fiercely.

"General, does that mean you really are together with this Federation general...?"

"Really." Alex didn't hesitate.

Jin Chen smiled, eyes narrowed, hugging his wife tightly.

"Then in the future, won't you be serving the Federation?" They were somewhat unwilling.

"No matter which side I serve, the enemies I face are the same—I will only slay the ever‑returning insect clan and space pirates." Alex spoke in a flat tone, yet one could still hear the reassurance in his words.

"So, in a sense, we are still working together."