For Ye Muo, the conference seemed to be over in the blink of an eye.
Norton was coming down the steps by the time he returned to his senses. He stopped in front of Ye Muo. Extending a hand to him, he led Ye Muo away.
Ano and the others fell in line behind them.
They ran into Adlet on the way back. The butler seemed somewhat surprised. “It seems like you won’t need to miss lunch.”
Noron inclined his head slightly in greeting before taking Ye Muo back to the study.
Following immediately behind him, Helene came over to greet Adlet with a broad grin. “It went pretty smoothly.”
Dylan, who was beside her, didn’t speak. He did nod to Adlet as he passed by.
Adlet greeted them one by one as he watched them pass by.
Adrian paused after greeting the butler, as did Ano and Jacob behind him.
Adrian spoke first, “No invitations have been sent out for Ye Muo’s coming-of-age ceremony, right?”
Adlet: “No, Your Highness. Only the date has been made public. Lady Ye and Mr. Ye have been invited because they are close to His Little Highness, but they didn’t receive a dedicated invitation.”
“Other nations are unlikely to be in attendance either. The announcement specifically mentioned that the event would be simplified in light of the insect plague and no reception would be provided for guests.”
Grantz only sent out a handful of invitations whenever a Grantz matured, but many countries tended to send delegates with a gift regardless of their relationship with Grantz.
Things were simplified this time around, to the point that the announcement only went out today when the ceremony was happening tomorrow.
Adrian looked a little regretful. “It’s supposed to be a celebration for Xavier becoming an adult…”
Adlet nodded in agreement. “Yes, His Little Highness deserved better.”
Ano, who had shuffled over at some point, added, “He’s going to receive a lot less gifts.”
Jacob seemed thoughtful. “I can give him all the ones I received as a child.”
Ano immediately jumped in, “Same here.”
“But you’ve already opened yours, Ano.”
They all received mountains of gifts during their coming-of-age ceremonies, but Ano was the only one who bothered to open every single one.
Norton simply opened the ones from his parents and other people he was familiar with, such as the Clinton family or Hebert.
Ano: “I can wrap them back up to look like new. The packaging of your gifts must be falling apart by now.”
Adlet watched them argue with a smile. “What an ambitious project.”
Meanwhile, Bert was discussing something with Hebert when Norton took Ye Muo back to the study. Bert heard them come in and glanced in their direction. “Well that was quick.”
Ye Muo trotted over to the sofa beside them. He kicked his boots off, removed his sword and peered curiously at Hebert.
The man normally didn’t come to the study unless he had a reason to.
Bert recognized Ye Muo’s curiosity, “We were talking about your coming-of-age ceremony.”
Ye Muo nodded. “Are you still discussing whether to invite guests? I’m fine as long as Mom and the others can come.”
Bert waved his hand. “That’s already been settled. We were picking the king insect to use during the ceremony.”
He smugly declared, “I just went out to capture one a few days ago. Several were pretty decent, but I made sure to bring back a good-looking one. It’s starving by now. It’ll put on a good show tomorrow.”
Hebert sighed. That ‘good-looking’ king insect variant was known for their ferocity even among other king insects.
Ye Muo nodded along. “En, being ‘good-looking’ is good. I don’t want a slimy one.”
He’s learned about all kind of king insects by now. He liked the ones with less blood and an exoskeleton the best. There was less chance of getting his clothes dirty when disposing of them.
……
The base director immediately approached Cartabelli after the conclusion of the conference. “As you know, Sir Cartabelli, I’ve already informed you in advance of our contentious relationship with Grantz. However, we do wish to reach an understanding with them. The Grantz would be a significant help in fending off the insects. If you need anything, sir, please let me know. We will do our best to assist.”
Cartabelli nodded expressionlessly. “Rest assured. I understand.”
Cartabelli knew what Arachnid was worried about. The Empire still had use for the Exile Sectors as a stronghold. It was a vast territory. More importantly, an ownerless one.
He exchanged a few brief words with the director before taking his leave.
Cartabelli appeared solemn as he stopped midway down the corridor. “We still need to do everything in our power to win over Grantz.”
The influence Grantz had on their fellow nations was even greater than he had anticipated. Their refusal threw their plans into disarray.
Cartabelli continued to stride forward once the adjutant made a sound of acknowledgement.
He led his people straight back to the part of the base assigned to them and immediately headed into one of the rooms.
Cartabelli came to the table, but he didn’t take a seat. He seemed to fall into deep thought for a moment before turning to his adjutant. “Take a small group with you to pay Grantz a visit. Win them over no matter the cost.”
He paused, “The Federation is already beginning to move. We need to establish cooperation and sign mineral trade agreements with as many nations here as possible before their arrival.”
The adjutant clicked his heels together and saluted. “Understood, sir.”
He hesitated before asking, “Should I take Squad 1?”
Squad 1 mainly consisted of recruits from powerful backgrounds.
Cartabelli frowned as he took a seat. It was a moment before he replied, “Take Squads 1 and 2, but have Squad 2 deal with everything. Set off immediately. You should have the navigation info already.”
“Understood, sir.”
Both caught off guard, the adjutant and Cartabelli turned to the door. There was a man with light blond hair standing in the doorway. His uniform was slightly different than everyone else’s.
The soldier that rushed over after him seemed a little flustered. “Apologies, sir. Prince Lais just–”
The blond man referred to as ‘Prince Lais’ cut him off, “What were you planning to do?”
“Forget it. Whatever it was, count me in.”
Cartabelli could feel a headache coming on. “Why did you come over, Your Highness?”
Lais was a royal that recently entered the military. While he was physically exceptional and a strong mech pilot to boot even before considering his background, his personality made Cartabelli’s head hurt. He was eager to fight and flamboyant while also being a member of the royal family.
His personality was well-received within the Empire. He even had many admirers in the military. However, Cartabelli was definitely not one of them.
Lais responded matter-of-factly, “I came with the second group to bring you the supplies and mecha you needed.”
He eagerly pulled the topic back to what had caught his interest, “Sir Cartabelli, are there any tasks I can do?”
He clenched the mech storage device he was wearing around his neck. “My 32nd Legion and myself are happy to be of service.”
“It’s just a simple liaison. I’m afraid it won’t be very interesting.”
As expected, Lais frowned. “Forget it then.”
However, he added after a beat, “I can come along as an escort.”
Cartabelli frowned.
Lais leaned against the doorframe and held up his hands. “You can’t possibly keep me cooped up in here forever.”
The adjutant interjected, “I doubt this task is worthy of mobilizing your 32nd Legion, Your Highness.”
The 32nd Legion was completely filled with Lais’ followers from the military academy. They stood a head above the rest in terms of ability. Lais also used his own wealth to equip them with the latest and greatest technologies, further amplifying their effectiveness. The legion’s achievements were numerous and impressive.
The two of them quietened down at Cartabelli’s gesture. The man’s tone was on the harsher side, “Go then. You can only take a portion of your legion along, but remember not to interfere. You know what will happen if you screw this up.”
He turned back to his adjutant. “Watch your tone.”
The adjutant saluted. “Understood.”
Lais also straightened. He was used to Cartabelli having a bone to pick with him. He saluted sloppily, “Understood, sir.”
……
The adjutant picked a medium-sized mothership from their fleet that could hold a dozen small warships. He had Squad 2 head inside to calibrate the mech pods.
Lais had a portion of his elites head inside, ten people in total.
They soon set off. This location was quite far from Grantz. Even if they took a faster ship, it would take at least a full day’s time.
When they were about to reach Grantz territory, Lais arrived at the command centre with his own adjutant and a group of others.
The command centre was quite packed.
The adjutant was preparing for the visit. They had contacted Grantz in advance and Grantz had planned a course for them straight to the imperial capital.
He pulled up the intel on Grantz again to refresh his memory.
Lais’ adjutant was a baby faced man called Eureka. He leaned over to skim through the intel that had been pulled up before calling back, “Hey, looks like the heir’s coming-of-age ceremony is happening soon.”
Lais was interested. “Let me see.”
Eureka made room for him as he came over and bent down. “He’s that young? Should we prepare a gift for him then?”
The adjutant frowned. He had been mulling over this as well before, but unfortunately they only learned of this special occasion after entering Grantz territory.
Lais casually tugged the valuable ruby necklace around his neck and set it on the table. “Just give him this. It’s better than going empty-handed.”
“Your Highness, isn’t that too precious a gift?”
A young man from Squad 1 had spoken up. He recognized that necklace thanks to his aristocratic background. It onced belonged to Lais’ grandmother, the former Empress. “Even the Federation’s emissaries have never prepared a gift of this value. It’s just a…”
The adjutant stared him down before he could finish his sentence, but everyone present knew what he was implying. Most didn’t think much of it. They still held a disdainful attitude towards Grantz.
Lais took a seat on a nearby chair. He didn’t think of the Grantz as equals either. “Of course the glorious Keller Empire can spare such a bauble.”
It was the adjutant who frowned. He didn’t recognize that jewel per se, but he knew it was significant based on the reactions of the people around him. He thanked Lais and had someone put the necklace away.
Then he turned to everyone else in the command centre. “Curb your arrogance.”
“If you screw this up because your nose is too high up in the air, you will be betraying the Empire. Sir Cartabelli will not let that slide.”
The command centre fell silent.
“We’re almost there, sir. They’ve opened the port to us.”
“Pack your gear and get ready to go.”
Lais rose as well. “I wish to tag along.”
He met the adjutant’s gaze head-on. “I’ll keep them in check so they don’t mess anything up. I just want to take a look at this completely foreign country. Besides, you did accept my contribution just now, did you not?”
The mention of the gift made the adjutant reluctantly relent. He stiffly said, “Then please keep your words just now in mind, Your Highness.”
After exiting the ship, they were directed to a dedicated area where they found out that quite a few people were coming to attend the coming-of-age ceremony.
Everyone took a seat with the adjutant. Lais glanced around and found that many people had brought camera with macro lenses. They were situated in what seemed to be an elevated audience booth. Way down below was a fully enclosed circular structure.
The railings in front were high but did not affect their field of vision.
Fully armed soldiers stood at equal intervals before them.
There was even an energy barrier covering the entire booth.
Then there were the tall, thick walls that were almost two to three meters wide. Lais was puzzled as to what their purpose could be.
Lais waited a long time. He could already heard someone complaining, “Why are we here? Just to wait? What is the meaning of this? Is there going to be a show? I’m hungry.”
Another person whispered, “We’re here to watch the coming-of-age ceremony, right? I overheard someone say that we’re fortunate we arrived when we did.”
“Then they’re really lacking in hospitality. There isn’t even a table set out.”
The adjutant turned to give them all a harsh look until they went quiet.
He too was confused by this structure.
Still, he waited quietly. The Grantz would eventually make an appearance.
What he had initially heard about the Grantz custom came to mind. A frown slowly appeared on the adjutant’s face.
……
The Grantz palace.
The coming-of-age ceremony was about to begin.
Ye Muo changed into the military uniform that Adlet had prepared well in advance. He was a lot less nervous that he thought he would as he fastened each button. Although Adlet told him not many people were invited, unexpectedly many people seemed to have come.
He was going to kill a king insect in front of them. Before today, Ye Muo kept worrying that he wouldn’t do it elegantly enough.
But all the training he had done under Norton’s guidance, and the man’s promise to watch from the side, reassured him.
As he stepped out, the Grantz waiting for him outside looked over.
Norton approached and handed him a sword.
Ye Muo had many swords. Norton had brought him this one a few days ago. It was in the same style as the ones his father, uncles and aunts normally carried around. His name was engraved on the sword’s hilt.
Although it was still a bit too big for him, he found it very easy to use.
Afraid he was nervous, Ano came over to reassure him, “It’ll be over as soon as you kill it. You don’t need to worry about anything else other than opening your gifts after that.”
Ye Muo nodded. “I’m not scared.”
Norton led him outside. When in position, he looked down at Ye Muo. “I’ll be watching you from atop the wall.”
Ye Muo nodded emphatically. “I won’t be scared, Dad.”
Norton finally left. Ye Muo would head to the entrance while he stayed atop the wall.
The audience booth also quieted down at this point.
Lais glanced up with the others. He noticed the soldiers stationed in front them had drawn their weapons. Most wielded swords, but other forms of cold weaponry could also be seen. Lais heard someone mutter, “What backwards weapons.”
Norton held his sword atop the high wall, surveying the area below.
Ye Muo appeared then. Like Norton, he held his sword high as he entered the grand arena.
Norton strode forward at a measured pace. The wall was wide, but he trailed the edge closest to Ye Muo until it looked like he might fall. Regardless, Norton’s gaze remained on Ye Muo. He moved as Ye Muo did, like a lion trailing behind its cub.
Then Ye Muo came to a stop.
The other entrance was opened.
Everyone turned that way.
The entrance was both wide and deep. A pair of lights cut through the darkness, then three, then even more. The lights were around the size of hovercars but not all that bright.
The lights shook before they shifted forward.
When they fully came into view, everyone realized these ‘lights’ were the eyes of a behemoth.
Lais’ pupils dilated as he clenched his mech storage device tight. The adjutant couldn’t help but stand up beside him, only snapping out of his daze and taking a seat again when reminded to do so.
Lais tensed as he prepared to summon his mech at any moment. That was a king insect. Not only that, he recognized from its twisted appearance that it was one of the few variants capable of easily damaging mecha.
The king insect below shrieked in a rage as its restraints were lifted. The protective barrier around the booth rose into place, but several people in the audience still winced in pain.
Yet the child at ground zero seemed completely unaffected. He steadily headed straight for the king insect.
The king insect obliged without hesitation.
Ye Muo hopped onto its limbs and dodged its attacks like he had done so countless times. He casually toyed with the behemoth, stabbing his sword into its body before using his own weight to leave a scratch on its carapace.
By the time he landed lightly on the ground, the king insect behind him had already collapsed.
It was over in less than 10 seconds.
Silence filled the arena.
Lais’ group were frozen in their seats, staring incredulously at the fallen king insect.
Ye Muo had already sheathed his sword. He wiped the blood splatter from his cheek with chagrin. He had been a beat too slow earlier and gotten nicked.
This was supposed to be a coming-of-age ceremony, ah.
Still, he expressionlessly glanced at the king insect one last time before turning back the way he had come.
