CH 65

Honesty is a virtue praised by everyone, but for some, it’s a toxic potion that eats away at their insides.

“Lieutenant Eddie, we are about to reach the main star.”

“Mhm.”

Eddie Claude snapped out of his daze, his scattered gaze still clouded with a layer of gray. His face was pale, devoid of any color, and he held a glass of red wine, its rich aroma permeating the air.

His subordinate faintly glimpsed the blood red on Eddie Claude’s lips, which seemed even more gruesome against his pallid complexion, as if his lips were stained with blood.

In his heart, the subordinate muttered to himself, perhaps it was just the red wine Eddie Claude had been drinking.

Back on the main star.

The imperial citizens and media flocked in. During this period, the most shocking news in the empire was the hijacking of the K108 spacecraft, which not only caused numerous casualties and property damage but also led to the unexpected death of General Pei, the current president of Blue Air Mech Corporation, and the innocent deaths of hundreds of imperial soldiers.

It all started with a simple act of space piracy.

Yet, it exposed numerous flaws in the empire’s military defenses, triggering the anger of the imperial people.

For a moment, the entire empire mourned for those who lost their lives in this incident. Flags were lowered, and the Star Network turned gray.

Relatives of the sacrificed imperial soldiers held banners, anxiously standing under the scorching sun, waiting for the imperial investigation team to return and provide them with a just answer for their children.

As Eddie Claude got off from the spaceship, he instinctively furrowed his brow at the noisy crowd. It wasn’t until the journalists arrived with their cameramen for an interview that he put on a solemn and mournful expression.

The journalists and cameramen wore identification badges with the emblem of the Imperial Avian Television Station. This television station was controlled by an old and influential aristocratic family and owned various entertainment and political magazine companies, effectively influencing the majority of the empire’s public opinion.

The live broadcast light was on.

The entire empire’s network could synchronize the live broadcast, and even the television stations were broadcasting this news interview.

“#K108 hijacking investigation team returns, the truth is about to be revealed!#”

With the title displayed, the discussion’s heat continued to rise. In no time, the online viewers for the live stream reached a staggering 70 million.

The experienced journalist, holding the interview script in his hand, looked unusually nervous. Holding the microphone, he awkwardly approached Eddie Claude, the head of the investigation team.

“Lieutenant Eddie, what did the investigation of the K108 hijacking incident uncover?”

Eddie Claude, who was supposed to wear a composed and disheartened expression, sarcastically responded, his mind in a muddled state.

“Investigation results? What’s there to investigate?”

The journalist’s face stiffened, let alone the relatives of the victims eagerly awaiting the results.

Eddie Claude’s eyes flickered, realizing he misspoke, and quickly tried to make amends. “No, I mean… I’ve known the truth behind the hijacking for a long time. What’s the point of an investigation?”

After speaking, Eddie Claude fell into a deathly silence.

The journalist, with a forced smile, began asking a series of politically sensitive questions from his script, questions that had the potential to destroy his career. He started, “So, Lieutenant Eddie, how did you come to know the reason behind the hijacking of K108?”

“Of course, our Claude family was involved in it. In order to ensure Pei Zhaozhou’s complete demise in the K108 hijacking incident, the Claude family took significant risks. We even went as far as silencing the entire star pirates group to shift the blame onto them.”

The reporter and the crowd were in an uproar, all eyes fixed on Eddie Claude, seemingly both shocked and slow to react.

The pre-broadcast audience had been busy with their barrage of comments.

Upon hearing Eddie Claude’s confession and criminal statement, the comment section froze.

It took a while for someone to react.

“Am I hearing correctly? Lieutenant Eddie just admitted to his crimes.”

“Damn! This self-exposure has left me dumbfounded!”

“Is it true?! He caused the deaths of so many people, yet he has the audacity to stand in front of the victims’ families?!!!”

“My uncle died in this hijacking incident, so the person standing before us is the murderer?!”

Eddie Claude’s shocking revelation immediately went viral on the Star Network. Due to his excessive honesty, netizens suspected he was on drugs, given his pale complexion that was difficult to explain.

Despite the commotion both on-site and on the Star Network, the reporters continued to read the scripted questions, nervously wishing they could close their eyes and even abandon their jobs. They feared that asking these questions would jeopardize their own careers. However, they had no choice but to fulfill the orders from their superiors.

When the reporter first saw this list of questions, it felt like holding a hot potato. He wanted to return it to his immediate boss, but every boss he had ever reported to had a grave expression and said it was an order from even higher-ranking individuals. They reassured the reporter to read the questions without worrying about any backlashes.

The reporter recalled his superior’s words, swallowing excess saliva with nervousness and anxiety, and opened his eyes to continue asking, “Lieutenant Eddie, why did you do such a thing? Did someone instruct you to do it?”

Eddie Claude’s face turned deathly pale. Realizing something was amiss, he tightly covered his mouth and fled in front of everyone.

However, as he tried to escape, the reporters and the numerous Imperial citizens who had gathered to witness the scene grew agitated. They formed a circle around Eddie Claude.

“Why are you running? Explain yourself clearly! Are you saying that my hard-raised Beta child didn’t die in service to the Empire but died at your hands?!!”

The enraged crowd surrounded Eddie Claude, their eyes filled with hatred as if they wanted to tear him apart alive.

The reporter squeezed into the crowd, his face far from composed, with the cameraman following closely behind, livestreaming the chaotic scene.

Eddie Claude couldn’t physically push back the angry Imperial citizens facing the camera, so he resorted to scolding, “Get out of the way! Stop blocking the path!”

Faced with the live broadcast, he even tried to use his hand to shield himself.

“No more filming! Delete what you just recorded, or I will hold you accountable!”

Eddie Claude became infuriated and began issuing direct threats.

A fresh wave of comments flooded the screen.

[This guy is so arrogant! He exposed his own dark secrets during a live news broadcast and now wants to chase away the reporters!]

[I just looked up some information. This guy is indeed a real aristocrat. The Claude family he mentioned is considered an old noble family, although they lack outstanding descendants. Their noble titles have gradually diminished, making them somewhat of a joke within the aristocratic circles.]

[True or false, that’s what the curious public wants to know. Let’s get to the bottom of this!]

[It’s a miracle the livestream hasn’t been shut down. This is definitely the Empire’s biggest scandal recently.]

The reporter held the microphone high, almost shoving it into Lieutenant Eddie Claude’s face, shouting, “Lieutenant Eddie, can you tell us who ordered you to do this?”

Eddie Claude’s pupils dilated in fear as he realized he couldn’t control himself, and his lips involuntarily parted, “It was Prince Kyle, the Second Prince… he instructed me…”

Without exception, the onlookers in the Star Network held their breath upon hearing this answer.

Seconds later, the live broadcast was abruptly cut off, relevant search terms were swiftly blocked, and countless people began communicating online using hidden words.

[By the way, how should we refer to that person mentioned at the end?]

[Lie flat.]

[People are dumb, that’s why they end up in such positions and do these things.]

[Ha, it proves that nobles are useless, just a group of vermin plaguing the empire. The highest-ranked vermin is still vermin.]

[Even the bystanders have been stunned. It proves that scandals are one after another. If you haven’t watched this live broadcast, you wouldn’t know how dark things are around us. Don’t even talk about obtaining a noble title, even the lowest-ranking imperial citizen can become superior.]

[…]

After the incident, the enraged crowd violently attacked Eddie Claude, and by the time the imperial police arrived to arrest him for questioning, he had already been beaten to the ground, his face swollen and bruised, completely losing the dignity of a noble. The Claude family was labeled with shame and humiliation, and what awaited them was the terrifying prospect of a trial in court.

However, the subsequent fervor had far from subsided.

A simple two-word hot search attracted countless viewers, placing it at the top of the trending list.

#The Truth#

“Why can’t we remove this hot search!”

Kyle, the Second Prince, furiously dialed a phone number to interrogate the influential noble who controlled public opinion behind the scenes, who also happened to be the owner of Ying Niao Television.

“Second Prince, it’s not something I can easily control. The public’s reaction has been overwhelming, and there are comments that we can’t delete. It might be better for you to explain to the people and the King why Eddie Claude mentioned your name. Things have gotten complicated.”

Facing the Second Prince, the influential noble maintained the inherent arrogance of an old-school high-ranking noble. Perhaps if his father, the King, were to question him, he would respond earnestly and sincerely. But the Second Prince, who was merely the King’s second son without inheritance rights, posed no threat to him, so he brushed it off with a casual attitude.

In reality, the influential noble didn’t put much effort into removing that particular hot search.

Why?

The influential noble hung up the phone and looked at his friends around him.

The chief justice removed his old-fashioned silver-framed reading glasses and said slowly, “It seems he has big plans. It’s my turn next…”

And what was Si Huaixi doing?

He gazed at the enormous advertising screen, playing the live broadcast of today’s Imperial News on Empire News Channel, revealing Eddie Claude’s twisted and despicable behavior to the imperial citizens.

Si Huaixi withdrew his weary azure gaze.

Compared to the disgusting actions of these people, he had something more important to do today.

“I’ve come to pick up the ring I pre-ordered.”

The receptionist at the jewelry store retrieved it from the safe, her smile radiant as she asked, “Sir, are you planning to propose to your partner?”

Si Huaixi looked tenderly at the pair of silver-white men’s engagement rings, adorned with star-like gemstones. The inside of the ring was engraved with initials, and he spoke with a deep and hopeful tone.

“Yes, I promised Brother Pei.”

Imperial Civil Affairs Bureau.

The staff responsible for registering marriages gradually regained their senses as they looked at the newly entered marriage certificate on the system.

[Male Party: Pei Zhaozhou, born in the year 30XX, Alpha, deceased.]

[Male Party: Si Huaixi, born in the year 30XX, Beta, 20 years old.]

[Both parties have successfully registered as legally married in the Empire.]

An unusual marriage certificate appeared on the system.

There was only one handsome man present, still smiling at the camera, but on his hand, he wore two silver-white rings.

Hello, everyone ヾ(＾∇＾). I hope you enjoyed the story! If you’re feeling generous, please buy me a coffee, share/comment on my translated works! Check out the link below for early chapters.  (๑>ᴗ