Counterattack [Interstellar] - Chapter 7

The Evda Palace was originally an adulthood gift from Austen to Queen Marianne years ago. It was also the residence where Queen Marianne had spent the most time. After her passing, Austen had ordered the palace sealed, but for some reason, it had become a place he frequented in recent years.

“Your Majesty.” Allen removed his military cap and gave a smiling salute. “I have returned.”

Austen looked at Allen with a complex expression. After a long silence, he said in a deep voice, “Allen, you’ve grown up.”

Allen chuckled. “The Crown Prince just said the same thing to me.”

Remembering the holographic images he had just seen of the two meeting at the port, Austen’s expression darkened. After a pause, he said, “It was my idea to have Anthony replace Jane to welcome you. He has too much negative news lately but cannot remain hidden forever. It was unfair to you not to give you a heads-up, but… you didn’t exactly suffer for it.”

Allen smiled faintly. “I unintentionally stole the Crown Prince’s spotlight, didn’t I? My sincerest apologies.”

Austen’s mental energy was low lately. He didn’t want to beat around the bush with Allen and said directly, “You know the current situation on the Home Star. Be cautious during interviews during this period; your wording must be precise. You should know what to say… The top priority is to make the public see the Parliament’s determination for reform and the Royal Family’s sincerity. We are committed to improving the current situation… do you understand me?”

Allen smiled. “Perfectly. But Your Majesty, may I ask why I should do such a thing?”

The giant lion beside Austen slowly arched its back. Austen narrowed his eyes and said solemnly, “Allen, do not test my patience.”

Facing the overwhelming wave of mental pressure, Allen showed no fear. He remained calm. “Your Majesty, if you are dissatisfied, you are free to send me back to Planet Apollo. In any case, after Anthony’s crisis is resolved, you likely won’t tolerate me staying on the Home Star anyway. Rather than being discarded after being used, I’d prefer to leave now. What do you think, Your Majesty?”

Austen’s giant lion let out an angry roar. The state of a Quantum Beast is the most direct reflection of its master’s emotions; Austen was clearly enraged. Allen responded by directly releasing his taipan snake. The giant serpent slowly raised its head and flicked its tongue threateningly at the lion.

Austen was incredibly thankful he had injected himself with a sedative before summoning Allen; otherwise, he truly feared he might tear his younger son apart in a fit of rage! Wasn’t he a Guide? Austen had seen countless people in his life, but this was the first time he had seen a Guide dare to challenge a Sentinel by releasing a Quantum Beast to threaten him! Was this brat looking for death?!

Prioritizing the bigger picture, Austen stroked the lion’s mane to soothe it. He said deeply, “What do you want? Speak.”

Allen said directly, “Military power.”

“That is impossible!” Austen refused without a second thought. “Anthony has no heir yet. Giving military power to you, the second-in-line to the throne, is equivalent to fueling your threat to him! And even if I approved it, the Parliament wouldn’t agree. The Home Star is chaotic enough; we cannot have more complications. Think of something else.”

Allen chuckled. “That is a pity. This is the only thing I want.”

Austen stared at Allen for a long time before finally making a concession. “I can only give you the Imperial Guards. Do not even think about the regular army.”

Allen nodded slightly. “Rest assured, I never expected that.”

Austen opened his light-computer and frowned. “Which unit do you want? Don’t tell me you want the Paladin Legion; that is the private property of successive Crown Princes. That is non-negotiable.”

“Private property of the Crown Prince…” Allen gave a mocking smile and continued, “I want to re-establish my own Imperial Guard. The name will be the ‘Glory Legion,’ and I will select the members myself.”

Austen nodded. “The number of personnel cannot exceed half of the Paladin Legion. What about the Legion Commander? Who do you want to choose?”

A flash of softness flickered deep in Allen’s eyes. He whispered, “Pei Yao.”

Austen sneered. “I said, do not even think about anyone from the Paladin Legion.”

“I only want Pei Yao.” Remembering the scene at the port, Allen felt a sense of unease. If he hadn’t seen wrongly, the Cross Medal belonging to Pei Yao was now being worn by that stupid dog Matthew. What about Pei Yao then? It had only been ten years; surely he hadn’t been promoted again?

“I cannot grant you this.” Austen looked at Allen coldly. “Pei Yao’s father was a brother-in-arms who lived and died with me. Both his parents died in battle for the Empire. I promised that he, like his father, would become the right hand of my successor. That is why I made an exception to let him become a Legion Commander at such a young age. Giving him to you now would not only betray my dead comrade but also invite unnecessary gossip.”

Allen’s brow knit slightly. “But from what I saw just now… he no longer seems to be the Commander of the Paladins.”

At the mention of this, Austen felt a wave of exhaustion. He waved his hand. “There are too many complications involved. I will tell you the details later.”

Allen was forced to let it go. He said, “Then it’s perfect. Since he is no longer a Commander, transferring him to me won’t cause much of an impact.”

“I said no!” Austen’s patience was completely exhausted. “You insist on him? Fine. Cut your guard force by half, and I will give him to you. Otherwise, forget it.”

Allen’s taipan snake instantly reared its upper body. Austen sneered at Allen. “Think carefully before you answer. Do you want half the military power, or do you want Pei Yao?”

Allen’s eyes were filled with hostility. After a stalemate of several seconds, he said, “The military power.”

Hearing this, Austen felt a strange sense of relief, though he also felt a bit of pity when thinking of Anthony.

“Then it’s settled.” Austen signed the document and instructed, “Three days from now is your twenty-fourth birthday. A banquet will be held here for you. I will have screened reporters brought in; you should know what to say during the event. As for the Famiga family, you had better pay them a visit today. We are in a very passive position right now and desperately need a family with significant influence to speak up for us.”

Austen handed the appointment document to Allen. Suddenly, he tightened his grip on it and said solemnly, “I have signed the bill; I hope the results will satisfy me. And one more thing…” Austen looked at the taipan snake coiled on the floor with disgust. “Control your snake! Once your identity as a Guide is exposed, you will bear the consequences yourself!”

Allen sneered and snatched the document. “Now, can you tell me about Pei Yao? I haven’t been able to find any news of him all these years. Why is that?”

“Pei Yao…” Austen tapped the desk and said slowly, “Ten years ago, he was embroiled in a military secret case. Anthony was very sensitive to and focused on that case, but Pei Yao was extremely uncooperative. Although the Secret Court eventually acquitted him due to lack of evidence, he still lost Anthony’s trust because of it. Anthony used other excuses to have the Parliament dismiss him. Now… he is just an ordinary knight in the legion.”

Allen looked at Austen in disbelief. “He was embroiled in a military secret case? What case?!”

A military secret case ten years ago… a premonition of disaster rose in Allen’s heart. Austen didn’t keep him in suspense and said straight out, “It was the case where you were nearly hijacked while being escorted to Planet Apollo.”

Allen chuckled in shock. “He practically saved everyone back then! Why would the investigation fall on him?! Has Anthony gone mad?”

Austen said flatly, “The autopsy reports showed that the seven enemy combatants in the West District of the Pearl were killed while they were unconscious.” Austen glanced at Allen’s taipan snake. “You should know this better than I do.”

Allen avoided the question and frowned, asking instead, “What does that have to do with Pei Yao?!”

“At that time, there were only the two of you in the entire West District, and you were ‘unconscious from shock.’ That left only Pei Yao who knew the truth of the situation,” Austen said mockingly. “Furthermore, Pei Yao destroyed all the surveillance in the West District. Autopsy reports don’t lie. The rescue team had already boarded, yet Pei Yao chose that moment to execute all the incapacitated enemy personnel and wiped the records in such a short time. Allen, if you were a bystander, don’t you think that is highly irregular? Why was Pei Yao so desperate to destroy the evidence? It’s impossible not to suspect he might have had a secret connection with the enemy! Moreover, a nurse on the Pearl testified that there were many suspicious aspects to Pei Yao’s behavior on the day of the attack.”

Allen gritted his teeth hard. Sensing his younger son’s fluctuating mental energy, Austen felt a surge of satisfaction. “As soon as Pei Yao returned to the Home Star and stepped off the ship, he was arrested. Since it involved you, an unexplained attack, and a Guard Commander responsible for his own safety, it was impossible for Anthony not to be cautious. Pei Yao stayed in a secret prison for three whole months. Although I warned Anthony not to use physical torture, I’m not sure if he used other interrogation methods on him—such as Mental Attacks.”

Allen tried his best to soothe his Quantum Beast and asked in a low voice, “And the result?”

“During the three months of investigation, Pei Yao remained silent from beginning to end. He didn’t say a single word.” Austen looked at Allen. “What were you doing at that time? Oh… you were on Planet Apollo, where it’s like spring all year round, enjoying the most luxurious recuperation in the Empire.”

Allen finally couldn’t restrain himself and flew into a rage. “You knew the situation at the time! Why didn’t you say a word for Pei Yao?! With you speaking up, would Anthony have dared to be so insolent?!”

Austen withdrew his smile and barked coldly, “Stop acting like a spoiled brat! You know very well why I couldn’t testify! Do I need to announce your status as a Guide to the entire Empire just to prove Pei Yao’s innocence? Keeping the news of him suppressed for these ten years was for his sake, but even more so for yours!”

Allen was speechless. He then said urgently, “I’ve changed my mind! Take back half my military power. I want Pei Yao—”

“It’s too late!” Austen capped his fountain pen, which he had used for nearly a century, and smiled faintly. “As a Prince, you never have the right to regret.”

Having successfully checkmated his younger son, Austen gave a cruel smile. “This is the first lesson for you, who has been away from home for many years.”