Chapter 5: Meeting the Wife

Chapter 5: Seeing the Wife

Without a moment to overthink, Xie Chi, afraid the volatile Tyrant might actually order him dragged out and castrated on the spot, immediately held out the blueprint with both hands.

"Your Highness, this is the mineral map I mentioned."

Yan Wanqiu snorted coldly and grudgingly took the hand-drawn map from Xie Chi.

After seeing what was on the map, his expression grew serious.

This really was a thermal ore distribution map.

Even though it was just a rough hand-drawn sketch, it still showed the general layout of Blizzard City, and the thermal ore ranges circled in red ink on the map almost perfectly overlapped with the thermal ore ranges discovered so far.

The thermal ore near the camp being marked could still be chalked up to Xie Chi having insider info, but the thermal ore near the Night Owl Syndicate's underground casino in eastern Blizzard City was also right there on the map.

That particular thermal ore deposit had only been discovered by accident when the casino was blown up yesterday. His men had only just reported it to him, and they hadn't even started surveying or mining it yet, but Xie Chi, who was under house arrest, had already mapped out the full range.

And there was more—

Yan Wanqiu narrowed his eyes, studying the precise map of Blizzard City in his hands.

The factions in Blizzard City were deeply entangled, each controlling their own turf, and the biggest of them, the Night Owl Syndicate, had a deep grudge against him. Even he hadn't been able to explore all of Blizzard City because of the Night Owl Syndicate's interference. How did Xie Chi get such an accurate map?

Who put him up to this? What scheme was hiding behind it?

Yan Baiyue? Or Yan Huishi?

Or maybe his paranoid father?

No, none of them had that kind of reach. There had to be someone else backing Xie Chi.

Yan Wanqiu sank into thought.

Seeing that Yan Wanqiu still hadn't said anything after taking the mineral map, Xie Chi, standing below, grew more and more nervous.

He hadn't said anything wrong, right? He couldn't get dragged off and castrated just for breathing through his nose, could he?

Please no, anything but that QAQ

"Xie Chi." Yan Wanqiu finally spoke.

He set down the map and looked down at Xie Chi: "Why are you giving this map to me?"

Xie Chi answered carefully, following the best response he'd simulated with his terminal AI over the past few days.

"Because I know Your Highness thinks I'm a traitor, doesn't want to see me, and just wants me dead. So I came up with the idea of offering this map just to see Your Highness one more time. Besides, Your Highness is my sovereign. If Your Highness wants to get a foothold in Blizzard City, thermal ore is the most important resource, so of course I have to do everything I can to help."

Yan Wanqiu scoffed: "Your utmost? I doubt that. This mineral map is incomplete, isn't it? The whole western side of Blizzard City isn't marked. Don't tell me there's not a single bit of thermal ore in the entire western area."

Xie Chi lowered his head and admitted: "It's incomplete, yes. That's because I was afraid that if I handed over the full map, Your Highness would have me killed on the spot. Please let me explain."

"At least you know yourself." Yan Wanqiu rested his chin on his hand and said bluntly, "Just the fact that you fed me false intel about the Night Owl Syndicate is enough for me to kill you ten thousand times over. How are you going to explain that?"

"Thud—"

Xie Chi didn't hesitate and dropped straight to his knees: "Your Highness, the intel on the Night Owl Syndicate was my mistake, but I was misled by bad information. I would never betray Your Highness! I'm willing to assassinate the Night Owl Syndicate's leader for Your Highness, to get rid of this thorn in your side, and to prove I have nothing to do with the Night Owl Syndicate."

Yan Wanqiu was a bit taken aback.

As one of the local powers in Blizzard City, the Night Owl Syndicate had its headquarters hidden deep, and its leader, Boss Ye, was as slippery as an eel. Even he hadn't been able to find the man's hideout.

What's more, the Night Owl Syndicate had recently come up with a weird, powerful weapon. He'd given it to his mechanic for three days, but the guy couldn't make heads or tails of it either.

Xie Chi, just a shadow guard, was suddenly saying he'd assassinate Boss Ye. Where was he getting that kind of nerve?

A serious look finally crossed Yan Wanqiu's face: "Oh?"

Xie Chi noticed the change in Yan Wanqiu's attitude and quickly added: "Just give me three days! In three days, I'll definitely bring Boss Ye's head to Your Highness!"

Yan Wanqiu narrowed his eyes: "Talk is cheap. Why should I trust you? If you really are a mole, three days is plenty of time for you to run."

Xie Chi pursed his lips: "Because Your Highness has a hostage."

A bad feeling crept into Yan Wanqiu's chest: "What do you mean?"

Xie Chi said seriously: "Ji Chou is my wife. We've already promised ourselves to each other. Your Highness should know that from questioning him these past few days. Since Your Highness has my family in your hands, you don't need to worry about me running off."

Yan Wanqiu: ???

Completely caught off guard by the fake name he'd casually invented, Yan Wanqiu nearly lost his balance and fell off the throne. His cold, stern expression cracked as he blurted out in shock: "Who agreed to be your—"

Realizing he was about to let something slip, Yan Wanqiu shut his mouth.

Stay calm. Don't let Xie Chi throw you off.

There was no way this guy would own up to a one-night stand. He must be using this as a cover for something else.

Yan Wanqiu quickly pulled himself together and asked with a half-smile: "Oh? So you're not planning to get engaged to Yan Baiyue?"

Xie Chi, the fall guy, explained with a pained look: "Your Highness, I like alphas. I don't know the Third Prince, and there's no way I'd ever be with him. If you don't believe me, when the Third Prince gets here, I'll kill him for you."

Yan Wanqiu: "..."

Yan Wanqiu had Xie Chi's logic figured out by now.

Whenever he suspected Xie Chi of being close to someone, Xie Chi would offer to go kill that person. Once the person was dead, there was naturally no chance of betrayal.

The logic was simple and brutal, but Yan Wanqiu couldn't argue with it.

Blizzard City was split into two main local powers—the Night Owl Syndicate and the black market.

The black market was a motley crew of exiles from all walks of life, split into two factions led by arms dealer Viper and energy merchant Mr. Ai, while the Night Owl Syndicate was backed by the main planet.

Right now, the black market was staying neutral about his expansion. The Night Owl Syndicate's leader, Boss Ye, and the incoming Yan Baiyue—one controlling most of Blizzard City and blocking his thermal ore development, the other representing the main star and trying to grab the thermal ore—were real thorns in his side. If Xie Chi could really take out both of them, the resistance to his plans in Blizzard City would drop a lot.

Yan Wanqiu was quiet for a moment, then let out a low chuckle and said: "Fine. If you can really bring me Boss Ye's and Yan Baiyue's heads, I'll believe you're not a traitor."

After all, believing him and killing him were two different things.

Xie Chi breathed a huge sigh of relief.

Killing people was something he was damn good at.

Yan Wanqiu: "..."

Watching Xie Chi look so relieved, he couldn't help wondering if he was being too soft.

Yan Wanqiu warned: "Of course, if you don't bring me Boss Ye's head in three days, it'll be Ji Chou's head that falls."

Xie Chi: ?!?

The Tyrant really was threatening him with his wife, just as he'd feared!

Xie Chi's sigh of relief caught in his throat: "Your Highness! Don't drag family into this! If I fail, just kill me directly—don't hurt Ji Chou. He doesn't know anything. He's innocent!"

Yan Wanqiu raised an eyebrow.

He hadn't expected the Ji Chou identity to be so useful, actually making Xie Chi lose his composure like that.

He made a mental note.

Though his wounds had healed, sitting for too long was still uncomfortable, and Yan Wanqiu had no intention of dragging this out with Xie Chi: "I won't make a move against either of you for these three days. As for whether Ji Chou lives or dies after that, it depends on your performance. Give me the remaining mining maps and you may go."

Xie Chi pressed his lips together, thought for a moment, then gritted his teeth: "Your Highness, actually... there is one more thing."

Yan Wanqiu: "Speak."

Xie Chi kept his head down: "Could you let me see Ji Chou? I'm truly worried about his safety. I'll give the other half of the thermal ore map to Ji Chou to pass on to you."

Yan Wanqiu: "..."

Seeing that Yan Wanqiu hadn't responded for a long time, Xie Chi's heart was in his throat: "Just fifteen minutes is enough. He's my family—I only want to confirm he's safe. I have no other intentions!"

...There it was again, that irritating word "family."

Yan Wanqiu's fingertips tensed slightly.

He looked at the young man below, whose head remained bowed, and suddenly realized that Xie Chi hadn't once looked up at him since entering.

"Raise your head."

Xie Chi looked up, confused.

The boy was barely eighteen, his tender, youthful face still carrying a hint of boyish innocence. His round eyes lifted slightly, and the tear mole at the corner was captivating.

Yan Wanqiu watched his long lashes tremble nervously, and suddenly recalled the flustered confession Xie Chi had made when he'd been pinned in the bathtub and taken by force. He let out a soft scoff.

He really did have a face that could bring down a kingdom.

Yan Wanqiu didn't believe for a second that Xie Chi would fall for a one-night stand so quickly. Rather, Xie Chi was likely using his "devotion" to Ji Chou to prove his harmlessness—that was probably the real goal.

But Xie Chi's plans were about to fall through. Ji Chou and he were the same person.

Fine, let them meet. This would let him personally expose Xie Chi's hypocrisy.

Somewhat irritated, Yan Wanqiu averted his gaze from Xie Chi's face: "Stop looking at me with that pathetic look. If you want to meet, then meet. Don't make me out to be some heartless villain tearing lovers apart."

Xie Chi's eyes lit up: "Thank you, Your Highness!"

Yan Wanqiu sneered, his words laced with thorns: "Don't thank me yet. If I don't see Boss Ye's head in three days, you and Ji Chou will die together."

Yan Wanqiu's attitude was still just as bad, but Xie Chi understood that giving him three days instead of having him dragged off and castrated or executed on the spot already meant he'd been given a chance.

Having gotten through the hardest part, Xie Chi relaxed considerably, staring at Yan Wanqiu with bright, eager eyes: "Your Highness..."

Yan Wanqiu felt creeped out by that stare: "Are you out of your mind?"

Xie Chi looked at him with pleading eyes: "So... when exactly can I see my wife?"

Yan Wanqiu: "..."

Xie Chi: 0.0?

Yan Wanqiu ground his teeth: "Tonight."

"Thank you, Your Highness, for granting this!"

Having achieved his goal for this visit, Xie Chi didn't dare stay longer. He bowed and left immediately.

Yan Wanqiu stared at Xie Chi's retreating figure, his expression dark and unreadable.

Before long, there was another knock at the door.

"Enter," Yan Wanqiu said.

Nie Huaiyi appeared at the doorway, holding a small box, walking in with his head bowed. After a respectful bow, he said: "Your Highness, this is what I found in Captain Xie's room, in a hidden compartment."

Yan Wanqiu took the box: "You may go. Continue monitoring Xie Chi. I'll overlook your failure to keep watch three days ago."

Nie Huaiyi let out a long sigh of relief, but at the same time, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt toward Xie Chi.

Though he didn't know exactly what had made Yan Wanqiu suspicious of Xie Chi, the act of personally throwing a colleague under the bus to make up for his own mistake weighed heavily on this honest man's conscience.

If Xie Chi really were a traitor, that would be one thing—but Nie Huaiyi felt Xie Chi probably wasn't. If the man were executed by the unpredictable Yan Wanqiu because of what he'd found, Nie Huaiyi's conscience would never rest.

Nie Huaiyi left, heavy with guilt. Yan Wanqiu sat alone in the audience hall, studying the box in his hands for a moment before opening it.

Inside was a strange, spherical object.

A little surprised, Yan Wanqiu poked at it, puzzled.

It felt like cold, mechanical metal. The instant he touched it, it transformed into a pair of silver-rimmed glasses.

Yan Wanqiu picked up the glasses to examine them, and the next moment, a holographic display popped up.

"Welcome to the Smart Terminal. I am your AI assistant, Xiao Zhi. Please click here to scan your iris and bind to the terminal."

"Warning: Terminal battery below 1%. Please connect to the Star Network to charge."

Meanwhile, back in his room.

The moment Xie Chi returned to his room, he immediately noticed the carpet by the door had shifted slightly.

He bent down to look, then straightened up and put on the terminal glasses.

The backup terminal was set to reset automatically, but before the reset, it had already transmitted a piece of footage.

Watching the footage of Nie Huaiyi picking up the backup terminal he'd hidden in his room, Xie Chi muttered to himself: "That's cold, Uncle Nie. Selling me out like that."

Despite his words, Xie Chi wasn't actually that bothered.

For one thing, Nie Huaiyi was no relation of his—there was even some rivalry between them. The man had already gone above and beyond for him, and had no obligation to risk his life covering for him. Besides, that terminal had been deliberately left there by Xie Chi.

To Xie Chi, that terminal was just a half-dead piece of junk—barely any battery, no data, no network access. Formatting it was no loss. But to Yan Wanqiu, a man of this era, even just the terminal's built-in AI would be enough to blow his mind.

Xie Chi's reasoning was simple.

According to the trajectory of history, not long after Blizzard City entered its Ice-Sealed Period, the Mechanical Civilization would gradually become active in the United Kingdom of Eberis with Yan Huishi's backing, attempting to annex the ABO race. The conflict between the two races continued to intensify, and war broke out, which gave Yan Wanqiu, who had just subdued parts of the Northern Domain Star region, the chance to seize power in the chaos.

Coincidentally, the advanced tech on him could be linked to the Mechanical Civilization.

Proving he wasn't "a spy sent by Yan Baiyue" was just the first step. Yan Wanqiu was suspicious and ruthless—he'd even blow up Nie Huaiyi and the entire Blizzard City, so what's an ordinary shadow guard to him?

Xie Chi wanted Yan Wanqiu to suspect that he had a more mysterious force backing him—the Mechanical Civilization.

Historically, Yan Wanqiu expanded rapidly on the frontier, surrounded by genius mechanics, loyal generals, and a steady stream of soldiers... but he just so happened to be missing a subordinate who understood the Mechanical Civilization well enough.

That's exactly why Yan Wanqiu was caught off guard by the sudden appearance of alien armies and mysterious weapons, suffering defeat after defeat and finally dying a miserable death.

Yan Wanqiu needed him, so he wouldn't dare lay a finger on him.

As for Yan Wanqiu's life or death—he couldn't care less.

What Xie Chi was short on now was time, and the Northern Domain Star System was about to enter a ten-month Ice-Sealed Period.

During the Ice-Sealed Period, the highest temperature throughout the entire Northern Domain wouldn't exceed minus 100°C. Even though Blizzard City ran warmer due to its basin terrain, dropping to minus 100°C was common during this time.

Under such extreme weather, all space routes from the Northern Domain Star System were completely sealed off. Although this cut off communication with the outside world, it also removed many external threats.

This gave Xie Chi a full ten months of breathing room.

By the time he saved up enough money and repaired his weapons, the Ice-Sealed Period would be over. Within half a year after that, Yan Wanqiu and the entire Blizzard City would be destroyed.

Get promoted, get rich, and outlive the boss—he could prepare in advance, slip away right before Yan Wanqiu's death, and take off with his wife.

But for now, the Mechanical race hadn't yet become active in ABO territory. Yan Huishi had kept these matters tightly under wraps, and Yan Wanqiu had no idea that other races existed in the stars.

If he brought up the Alien Civilization to Yan Wanqiu, he'd probably be written off as crazy.

Xie Chi could only find a way to make Yan Wanqiu start speculating in that direction on his own.

The terminal was just a seed of suspicion, and for that seed to take root and grow, what it needed most was time.

Xie Chi tossed a few energy stones into the boiler.

All that training in reconnaissance and psychology back in the organization really hadn't been wasted.

As the energy stones burned, the cold room gradually warmed up, and Xie Chi began his real work.

—Cleaning the room, tidying his appearance, and preparing gifts.

Xie Chi curved his eyes, his dimples faint, and revealed a genuine smile.

Tonight, he would finally meet his wife!