Elias went to stand right beside Karya. He made sure to keep the prince within sight.
Then Allen and Sader were roughly shoved over and slammed into the walls.
Elias spared them a brief glance before his attention returned to Karya. Karya looked a lot less calm now that his right shoulder was being held down by a soldier. The situation was spiraling out of control.
Allen almost wanted to ask if he could have a chair too, but he was smart enough to hold his tongue. He was happy enough to not be the center of attention anymore. It was quite reassuring ot be in a corner like this, so much so that he dared to look at the one seated above who Ye Muo was standing next to.
He still couldn’t quite grasp their true relationship.
However, standing up for Ye Muo and punishing those who wronged him did seem like treatment befitting an heir. Perhaps they were father and son based on their similar dark hair and eyes?
Everything circled back to the question of whether this organization was stable.
Allen frowned. Why was he still held up on that?
Since the insect tide wasn’t staunched from the start, a drawn out campaign was almost inevitable at this point. This place was too close to ‘that place’ and too far from the defensive line where the brunt of their forces weres tationed. These people were stuck between the swarm and the main force.
Exiles without status would not be welcomed by any nation unless they were extremely talented or valuable in their own right. However, nothing would be on the table until they voluntarily leashed themselves.
Regardless, this organization would no longer exist soon so there was no need for the higher-ups to worry.
Considering they had captured Karya, these people had a high chance of being accepted by Tanzar after negotiations, provided they survived the insect tide. As long as they delivered Karya intact and unharmed, Tanzar wouldn’t go back on their word and do anything to them.
Only a fool would be so petty, unless Tanzar didn’t care if galactic pirates would kill any future Tanzanians they take hostage on the spot.
These people’s future was all but decided.
How fortunate. This was an opportunity any exiled galactic pirate could only dream of.
Allen frowned as the memory of Ye Muo leaping into the air came to mind. He was like a savage, beautiful beast that live only for the slaughter.
He supposed Tanzar was also fortunate to obtain him…no, them.
If only Allen’s home country had discovered them first…forget it. He should think about how to survive the chaos and the insect tide first.
Though he doubted anything would happen to them with Karya here.
Now, all that was left to do was to wait and see how Tanzar dealt with these people. Negotiations shouldn’t take too long. To die stubbornly holding out in the insect tide with the Tanzanian army in relentless pursuit, or fall back into the safety of the human encampments.
Even an idiot would know the correct choice.
Allen glanced at Karya in front of him, who seemed to relax, having also arrived at this conclusion.
He looked over Karya’s shoulder to the child on the platform above.
Karya’s back and Ye Muo’s figure overlapped in his eyes.
One of them was standing by the highest authority with everyone’s eyes on him, the other was being forcibly detained below. Soon, these two young adults’ roles would switch.
Allen regarded Ye Muo with a hint of pity.
The next second, Ye Muo inclined his head slightly and looked straight over. His gaze was like a sword, piercing through Allen and causing his mind to go blank.
He froze in place, knowing that he was being watched and unable to avert his gaze. The distance between them seemed too far and near at the same time, near enough that he could see a trace of dark red that had splashed by the corner of Ye Muo’s eye.
Allen sucked in a deep breath the instant Ye Muo withdrew his gaze.
It had only been a second, not long enough for most to noitce, but Allen felt like he had just startled awake from a complacent dream. He was all the more aware of the stinging pain from his back and the metallic scent in the air.
Crap.
He had been watching a lion cub and speculating on its fate.
As an audience member, he admired its lithe posture as it went on its way without acknowledging him at all. It didn’t care if he was there. Like two parallel lines, he had grown used to watching it like a movie.
But when it passed by him once more, it raised its head and shot him a look. The sensation of its tail whacking his leg brought him back to reality.
And now, he realized he had followed it into a savage hunting ground.
Around a dozen or so technicians soon came into the far less crowded hall. They carried no guns or swords, only tool kits.
They began to set up a central console in the hall according to schedule. This new console would interface with the entire planet and assume total control. It would also be the only point of contact for the outside world.
Screens gradually lit up both sides of the hall, each displaying conditions across the planet.
Elias couldn’t help but head over to peer at each of them and form a basic understanding of the planet’s condition. He was already brainstorming ideas about how to improve things around here.
As they worked, a pair of soldiers marched inside and got down on one knee in their mud-splatter fatigues without hesitation. “All insects have been taken care of.”
The other reported, “We’ve taken over command of two starship fleets. The advance force is ready to leave at once.”
Ambrose glanced to Ethan, who was by his side.
Ethan immediately got down on one knee and stared at Ambrose intently. Rika and Casper followed after a beat, then Fiona at a leisurely pace.
“No need to be hasty. Redistribute the starships into five groups and call Salem over. Each of you will go out and take over a planet.”
Elias frowned. “Isn’t it too risky to split the ships five ways? We can take over each planet one at a time. After all, it hasn’t been too long since we took this–“
Ethan cut him off, “And how far will we get until the insects devour all the supplies out there waiting for us? I can go, Big Brother, and I won’t stop at one. I’ll find one that’s beautiful.”
His eyes flickered to Ye Muo as he spoke before he got up first.
Rika and Casper turned to Fiona first. She scoffed, “He’s been very disrespectful lately.”
Once she left, Rika and Casper exchanged a look before following suit.
Unwilling, Ye Muo drew a little closer. “What about me?”
Ambrose sighed, he rested one elbow on the armrest and tapped his temple as he looked at Ye Muo. “Of course you have a job as well, my child. You’ll guard this place with me. How about it?”
Ye Muo paused.
Ambrose thought he was unhappy and pondered for a moment. “Or, you could go help Elias.”
He inclined his chin towards the man.
Elias snapped out of admiring the main interface’s permissions list. He seemed a little hesitant. “I was planning to go interrogate some people with Ye Wang.”
Theodore, who was on Ye Muo’s shoulder, stopped licking his hair and objected, “He’s not old enough to be learning torture techniques yet.”
Ambrose seemed troubled as well.
It wasn’t right to confine a Grantz like this, much less beside an older Grantz.
But the only entertainment he could think of was hunting insects or a bout of sparring. Rika and Casper often pounced on each other like a pair of kittens to tire each other out.
Elias spoke up from where he was leaning on a part of the central console, staring at the screens, “I think less violent methods will be enough if I can access the galactic network using the central console. Bring them over, Ye Wang. I have some questions for them.”
Ye Wang nodded and grabbed Allen by the shoulder first. He brought him closer. “Behave yourself. I don’t want to make you or your companion bleed if I can.”
Allen felt like his bones might get crushed any moment now. He managed to put on a smile. “Got it. Never said I wouldn’t cooperate. I’ll tell you everything I know.”
Meanwhile, Arval came over and escorted Sader away in a similar fashion.
Screen after screen popped up in front of Elias as Allen and Sader were brought over.
He stared at the screens. “If I were to bring up a dark-haired, dark-eyed powerhouse, who would first come to mind for you?”
Allen froze for a moment. He glanced at Ye Muo.
Elias cut him off before he could even speak, “Excluding him or anyone else you see here.”
The hall fell silent.
“Probably Carrick.”
Elias turned to Sader, who nodded. “I agree with him. Pure dark hair and dark eyes are an unusual combo.”
“His last name?”
“Boff.”
“Does he have children? Are they exceptionally talented in any way? What are their professions?”
“He has three children. One is a teacher, one is an actor and the other is still in school.”
“Okay, I understand.”
Elias paused. His eyes flickered to Ye Muo before he returned to staring at the screens in silence.
The hall fell silence once more. Everyone could tell Ye Muo was a little down.
Ambrose straightened in his seat and broke the silence. He tried to lower his voice, “Do you want to rest for a while, Xavier?”
“En, I’d like to take a nap.”
Before Ambrose could get another word in, he slid down with his back to Ambrose’s chair to a seated position, resting his head on the armrest and closing his eyes.
A while later, he adjusted his posture and laid his head on Ambrose’s knee.
It was more comfortable than the armrest, but different than Father’s. Ambrose’s combat suit was a bit rougher. It wasn’t like Mom’s lap either.
He closed his eyes again and turned so his face was pressed against Ambrose’s thigh. Just like how he would seek refuge under Father’s cloak, he fell into a restful sleep.
