The Imperial Star Fortress has fallen, revealing just how incompetent this royal bug is, unable even to operate a mech, appearing on screen for only five seconds before retreating.
Deploying such a bug as a leader is a miracle the empire hasn’t crumbled yet.
The video is shaky. In the center of the frame is a brand new, luxurious mech, clearly expensive. Yet its movements are alarmingly slow. Surrounded by stray bullets, it resembles a large, walking target. Indeed, within the next second, it is struck by an energy blast.
The giant mech crashes to the ground. Dust flies up, obscuring the view, and a bulky figure clambers out of the mech after a few seconds. This is Harvey. He escapes while wailing, abandoning his comrades and the mech on the front lines in a panic.
The comments below the video are filled with curses:
[Which fool let this thing onto the battlefield? Is their brain filled with water? Seeing him run like that, I suspect he wet his pants out of fear!]
[His limbs barely developed, and he can’t even drive that mech properly.]
[What a waste of such a fine mech! It’s infuriating; White Xingluo couldn’t operate such a mech and still managed to defeat the star pirates!]
[The empire is doomed; family, I’m retreating first.]
[I’m sorry, White Xingluo; I admit I spoke too harshly before. Can you come back? We need you!]
[Finally remembered how much General White Xingluo has sacrificed for us? He goes into a frenzy out of sheer will to protect us, participating in numerous battles, and yet you all criticize him like saints!]
[I take back the arrogant words I’ve said before; this position isn’t just for anyone to hold!]
[How can there still be bugs praising White Xingluo? He’s a traitor now; maybe because of him, the star pirates were able to strike so quickly.]
[I can’t believe he would do such a thing.]
[Then why hasn’t he come out to clarify? Why hasn’t he returned to serve us?]
[It’s because of idiots like you who take others’ sacrifices for granted.]
…
Tong Sui quickly skimmed through the video and turned off the holographic computer.
Although he wanted to reveal White Xingluo’s innocence immediately, now wasn’t the right time. He needed to wait until after the battle victory, when the star pirates acknowledged it; that would convince everyone.
The warship stopped in front of the palace. Tong Sui descended the gangway. A familiar figure approached him, “Your Highness, you must leave with me quickly; the Imperial Star is very dangerous right now!”
Tong Sui took a step back. Beside him, White Xingluo stepped in front, blocking his advance.
Payne Huana looked anxious. His family had already evacuated, but he stayed behind for Tong Sui’s sake, disregarding calls for him to leave, waiting only for Tong Sui to depart together.
“Thank you for the warning, but I don’t plan to leave.”
Tong Sui held a favorable impression of the female bug. He recalled the original plot regarding the fate of the Payne Huana family, pausing for two seconds as they entered.
He reminded, “Avoid the Y Star System’s route.”
Star pirates ambush ships in that area, and most bugs caught are cruelly abandoned on barren planets to fend for themselves, suffering serious casualties. This was his piece of advice for them.
Payne Huana stood still, stunned for a few seconds. Although Tong Sui didn’t explain why, he still decisively activated his holographic communication, calling back his family members who initially planned to take that route, redirecting them to another path.
“Your Highness, you’re going the wrong way.” A military female beside him said, “That way leads to the conference hall. You just returned; you should rest first?”
“No need.”
Tong Sui held White Xingluo’s hand and said to them, “You all go rest; there’s no need to follow me.”
He walked toward the domed conference hall.
From a distance, he heard a hoarse, unpleasant wail, “Your Majesty, I’m injured! Whoever wants this position can take it; I can’t hold on any longer!”
A bulky figure staggered out of the large door in front of him. It was indeed Harvey from the video.
But now, he looked incredibly disheveled, covered in dust, with bandages on his chest and hands. However, he seemed able to run and jump, indicating that his injuries weren’t too serious.
Harvey hurried past him, tearing down bandages as he dashed and agilely slipped into the starship. He was still justifying himself.
“Is everything gathered? If we don’t run now, it’ll really be too late; the star pirates are too fierce.”
Tong Sui paused momentarily and turned back.
“My lord, we’ve gathered everything.” The female attendant beside him said, “Which route will you take?”
“The Y Star System,” Harvey replied. “Enough with the chatter; set off quickly.”
Tong Sui: “…”
He acted as if he hadn’t heard anything and turned to enter the conference hall.
The enraged voice of the old bug emperor echoed in the room.
“Why did you come back? Do you want me to give you another severance payment? Useless thing!”
He was halfway through scolding when he noticed Tong Sui had entered, awkwardly coughing twice, “Back already, huh.”
Almost all high-ranking officials were present in the conference hall.
The atmosphere seemed less oppressive with his arrival.
Tong Sui said, “Can I sit down and listen?”
The old bug emperor responded, “Take a seat.”
The conference hall had a circular structure, with curved seating surrounding the speaker’s platform.
Tong Sui chose two adjacent empty seats and sat down, helping White Xingluo pull out a chair as well.
The old bug emperor on the platform frowned slightly.
Although he was somewhat displeased with the attendant who still followed Tong Sui, he didn’t have time now to worry about such trivial matters.