Volume 3, Chapter 1 – Xue Tian’ao’s Plan

Translator Note

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Inside the Crown Prince’s palace in Sky Dome City.

After several days of recuperation, the injuries on the Crown Prince, Xue Tian’ao, had mostly healed. Today, he had finally changed back into his usual professional attire and sat silently at his desk, staring thoughtfully at the documents in his hands.

The entire office was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop, a silence that felt eerily strange.

The quiet atmosphere, combined with the bursts of chill emanating from the Crown Prince, made his adjutant Toma, who stood beside him, feel a shiver run down his spine. Toma glanced curiously at the blonde man beside him, wondering what kind of intelligence could make His Highness wear such a serious and displeased expression.

After a moment of internal struggle, Toma couldn’t help but ask, “Highness, did something happen?”

Facing his subordinate’s inquiry, Xue Tian’ao gave a cold laugh and tossed a document directly into Toma’s arms. “See for yourself.”

“Hmm?” Toma, confused, followed Xue Tian’ao’s instruction and began reading the document delivered by the intelligence department. As he read the contents, the corners of Toma’s eyes began to twitch. “The Emperor… how could he do this?! Using your inability to procreate as a reason?! He wants to remove you from your position as Crown Prince?! Clearly, you just lost one of your balls! It’s not like it’s completely charred!”

‘Can you stop f*cking mentioning the balls?!’ Xue Tian’ao thought.

“This is merely an excuse. That old man simply wants to take the opportunity while I am heavily injured to suppress my influence.” Xue Tian’ao’s expression grew even colder as he spoke.

“It seems my reputation in the Empire grew too high after defeating Inferno. I have become a threat to his authority, prompting the old man to act so hastily. He even had a group of ministers sign a joint petition to replace the Crown Prince? Heh…”

“Then, then what should we do, Highness?! No matter how high your popularity is, the people might not support an Emperor who cannot produce heirs. Right, we must dispel the rumors quickly! I’ll go find Doctor Vidoru right away!”

“No need to rush.”

“Highness?”

“Since the old man wants to make a move, I might as well do it once and for all and eliminate him along with the other opposition forces in one fell swoop. Inferno? In some ways, she actually did me a great favor. If Duke Crowe, who supported the Emperor in the south, hadn’t been burned to death during her attack, I would actually be in a bit of a passive position now.”

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A cruel smile gradually appeared on Xue Tian’ao’s face.

‘Old man, since you are looking for death, then don’t blame me for being ruthless.’

“It is time for this Empire to have a new master.”

“Highness, you mean…?”

“Yes. Start the plan early. Go and notify the Great General to be prepared.”

Hearing these words, Toma was momentarily stunned, but a moment later, he revealed an incredibly excited smile. He had followed the Crown Prince originally to earn merits and bring honor to his ancestors. Now, that opportunity seemed to have arrived!

He would become a founding official for the new Emperor!

“Understood, Highness! I will go at once!”

After speaking and bowing respectfully to Xue Tian’ao, Toma immediately left the office and rushed toward the residence of the Great General outside the palace. With Toma’s departure, only Xue Tian’ao remained in the room.

After negotiating with the Archbishop of the Ashurmos Church, he would now seize the supreme power of the Empire without fear!

It was true that the old Emperor had vast influence, but a well-prepared Xue Tian’ao still had absolute confidence in sending his body’s ‘father’ to meet the King of Hell…

‘My foolish father, do you still think the Great General is on your side? After I healed and won over the Great General’s daughter, that old man chose to help me long ago, hahaha!’

Having risen from a despised child to become the Crown Prince, he was now about to rise again and become the Emperor of the Snownight Empire!

However, after becoming Emperor, he would still need to consider the stability of the Empire. With his current strength and the help of the Great General, who was an eighth tier battle god, clearing out the opposition in the capital would be far too easy.

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‘The issue was The Duke Family of the Northern Frontier…’

Thinking of this, Xue Tian’ao slowly picked up a black tablet and scrolled through various pieces of intelligence sent back by Pelochi. As the information entered his view, the smile on his face grew more radiant.

The previous attack by the Snow Devourer and the invasion of the Divine Punishment Holy Church?

It seemed they had helped him quite a bit, weakening the Northern Frontier’s army and severely wounding the Marquis and his wife, along with that eighth tier Guardian Beast. Haha, heaven is truly on my side.

And most importantly, the issue of having a legitimate reason to act? That was also solved.

The daughter of the Duke Family turning into a humanoid Abyssal Demon; wasn’t this a reason sent by the heavens?! One must know that on the Ancheka Continent, almost every country has strict laws forbidding contact with Shadow Essence! Though he didn’t know why Lady Yuan’er had turned into an Abyssal Demon, since she had already become one, it gave him a reason to frame them.

If his judgment was correct, he might even be able to lure out a demon king tier.

As long as he eliminated it, it would be another massive wave of points.

‘This is truly great news.’

Thinking of this, Xue Tian’ao’s azure eyes were filled with joy.

However, in the next moment, as if remembering something, the Crown Prince suddenly raised his eyebrows and looked again at a photograph Pelochi had sent back before losing contact, one that concerned him quite a bit.

“Blood Butterfly, a humanoid Abyssal Demon with intelligence…”

She could communicate.

If he could…

After a brief daze, Xue Tian’ao used a communication magic stone nearby to try and contact an acquaintance.

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“Moxiao, could you please come over for a moment?”

…

…

About an hour later, an ordinary-looking black-haired man who would disappear in a crowd entered Xue Tian’ao’s office with some trepidation. His shrinking manner caused the two guards outside the door to show a hint of displeasure.

However, upon seeing this thin black-haired man, Xue Tian’ao showed a rare smile.

After all, this unremarkable man was of A-grade value. He was an information broker with unique methods and someone extremely skilled at investigation.

Because he hadn’t yet officially recruited this man into his ranks, Xue Tian’ao felt a slight sense of joy seeing the other party accept his invitation to the Crown Prince’s palace.

“Long time no see, Moxiao. Are you accustomed to life in the capital?”

“Th-thank you for your concern, Crown Prince. Everything is fine,” Moxiao said respectfully, though his tone still carried a hint of fear.

In response, Xue Tian’ao retracted the faint pressure surrounding him and intentionally put on a kind appearance. “Don’t worry. Just like before, treat me as a drinking buddy. However, the fact that you are still in the capital and willing to come see me truly makes me feel flattered.”

“I wouldn’t dare. Your Highness repelled Inferno and saved my family in the south. Naturally, I need to repay you. Since Your Highness has an urgent matter for me to do, I naturally came.”

“Oh, I see.” Xue Tian’ao nodded with a smile. “Then I won’t beat around the bush with you.”

Speaking thus, Xue Tian’ao stood up from his seat and handed a portrait of a woman to the black-haired man nearby.

The moment he took the portrait and saw the woman depicted on it, Moxiao trembled all over. His pupils shrank violently as he revealed an expression of utter shock, and his heart instinctively began to race.

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“Th-this girl is so beautiful? Wh-who is she?”

“An Abyssal Demon.”

“Huh? Highness, you’re joking, right?”

“No, I am not joking. She is the new demon king tier existence known as the ‘Blood Butterfly’ that has been rumored across the continent recently.”

“Wh-what?!” Upon receiving Xue Tian’ao’s confirmation, Moxiao couldn’t control himself and let out a cry of surprise. He then stared intently at the woman in the portrait. “This is the Blood Butterfly’s true appearance? Such a beautiful girl is actually a cruel Abyssal Demon? This is… this is too much of a pity…”

“Heh, that might not be the case.”

“Eh? Crown Prince, what did you say?”

“Ah, nothing. Don’t worry about it.”

“Oh, alright.” After staring at the portrait for a few more moments, Moxiao recovered from his shock and looked at Xue Tian’ao with confusion. “So, Crown Prince, why did you give me this portrait? What do you want me to do?”

“I want you to help me investigate the relationship between these two people, or rather, if they are the same person.” Saying this, Xue Tian’ao handed over another portrait. This image was one Xue Tian’ao had found while organizing Pelochi’s intelligence over the last two days.

“This is?”

“This is the eldest daughter of the Blackrose Family, who has been causing quite a stir recently.”

“Hmm?! Wait?! They… how?…” Moxiao froze in place again the moment he saw the second portrait.

Because the girls in these two portraits, aside from their eye color, looked far too similar.