The General's Love Glitch - Chapter 39

Just as Ruan Wei was about to tell the citizens of the Federation that there were two more vampires like her, Jun Jue abruptly cut off the communication.

“General, I wasn’t finished speaking. Why did you suddenly turn off the neural interface? I wanted to introduce Sister Tao and Sister Sun to everyone.”

“Yeah, General. Such a great opportunity, why didn’t you let Madam Weiwei speak?” Jiang Tang asked, puzzled.

“Now isn’t the most suitable time.”

Jun Jue turned to Ruan Wei and said, “The Federation citizens believed you before, but when Zhuo Hanjun framed you, they panicked and followed her to cause trouble. Now they claim they’re willing to trust you again and even ask if there are more vampires to adopt. But that doesn’t mean they can truly accept vampires other than you. It’s just a passing whim.”

“Then how can we make everyone believe that vampires won’t harm humans?”

“For humans, it’s impossible to trust vampires completely. Humans can’t even trust each other completely, that’s why we have the Federation, laws, and law enforcement. What we need to make everyone understand isn’t that vampires won’t harm humans, but that normal vampires won’t harm humans indiscriminately, just like normal people don’t break the law to harm others.”

“That’s so complicated.” Ruan Wei lowered her head. “Would it be best if my sisters and I just stayed on Planet GR03?”

“Weiwei.” Jun Jue ruffled her hair. “Theoretically, yes. But I’ll find a way to solve this problem. Vampires and humans can coexist and live together.”

“Do you need us to do anything?” Tao Xinran and Sun Qian asked softly, holding hands.

“Not for now. I’ll inform you when the time comes,” Jun Jue replied.

Jiang Tang added, “Including Madam Weiwei, there are only three vampires left. That makes you even rarer than the Federation’s first-class protected flora and fauna. We must protect you well.”

“Miss Tao and Miss Sun will be under the protection of you three for now,” Jun Jue instructed.

“Yes.” The Jiang sisters: Lan, Tang, and Li accepted the order.

…

There was still some gold left in the hovercar, which they tossed out as well. Amid the cheers, Ruan Wei asked, “Should we continue playing cards?”

She had almost won the last round, and ending it like this left her feeling a bit unsatisfied.

“Let’s go!” Jiang Tang loved organizing card games whenever there was free time. They didn’t gamble, just small punishments for the losers. Since they hadn’t finished the last game, she wasn’t done yet either.

Back in the golden house of the star lord, they played a game called “Fight the Landlord” with two groups of three.

Ruan Wei, Jiang Tang, and Tao Xinran formed one group. Jiang Lan, Jiang Li, and Sun Qian formed the other. Jun Jue didn’t play but sat beside Ruan Wei, watching and occasionally guiding her moves.

When Ruan Wei was about to play a pair, Jun Jue stopped her hand and rearranged a few adjacent cards into a different combination.

Understanding immediately, Ruan Wei pulled out the cards. “Tractor, double bet, any takers?”

“No? Then I win!” Ruan Wei happily tossed out a pair of threes.

Then she turned to Jun Jue, who was gathering and shuffling the cards for her. “General, how do you know how to do everything?”

Jiang Tang said enviously, “Madam Weiwei, you have no idea. The General doesn’t just know everything, she excels at everything. She’s never even played cards with us before. Just by watching from the sidelines, she could beat all of us.”

“Maybe it’s just natural talent,” Ruan Wei mused.

Jiang Tang, who had lost the most miserably, was to be punished. Ruan Wei thought for a moment and said, “Then you’ll have to do ten squats while holding Sister Jiang Li.”

Jiang Li waved her hands. “Madam, I’m quite heavy. Please give my second sister a lighter punishment.”

Ruan Wei turned her gaze to Sun Qian, who had just been released from prison and still looked frail. Sun Qian shook her head at her, clearly unwilling to become an added burden to Jiang Tang’s punishment.

She then looked at Tao Xinran. Sister Tao’s cheeks were slightly flushed, but she didn’t show obvious resistance. So Ruan Wei said, “Then, Sister Jiang Tang, you’ll have to do ten squats while holding Sister Tao.”

They had been sitting on the carpet. To accept the punishment, Jiang Tang and Tao Xinran stood up. Jiang Tang walked over to Tao Xinran but hesitated, unsure how to proceed.

How exactly was she supposed to hold her?

Jiang Tang was utterly perplexed. Her younger sister, Jiang Li, gestured to her, it looked similar to holding a baby, not unlike the legendary princess carry.

“Miss Tao, forgive my offense,” Jiang Tang said stiffly as she picked Tao Xinran up and quickly completed ten squats before setting her down.

Ruan Wei asked, “Sister Jiang Tang, why is your face so red?”

Jiang Tang didn’t answer. She felt that Madam Weiwei was exacting revenge for her earlier blunt questioning.

Tao Xinran’s face was also slightly flushed. Trying to ease the tension, she said, “Let’s continue playing.”

The Star Lord, who had been watching them play with growing envy, had held back from speaking several times. Jun Jue noticed and casually asked, “Would the star lord like to join us?”

“Count me in,” the Star Lord eagerly agreed.

“Let’s change the rules,” Jun Jue said. “The loser pays up.”

The Star Lord agreed without hesitation.

Since they were now playing for money, Ruan Wei, who had none on her, automatically gave up her spot to Jun Jue. The Star Lord brought out a considerable amount of capital, while Jun Jue used star credits.

Jiang Lan, standing to the side, shook her head slightly. She understood the general’s intention.

She probably wanted to squeeze more money out of the Star Lord to return to the oppressed citizens who had suffered for years.

The star lord was overjoyed while drawing cards but utterly miserable when paying up. In the end, clutching his purse in distress, he declared he was done playing.

Only then did Jun Jue dismiss everyone to rest. As they all returned to their rooms, Ruan Wei was still counting the spoils they had won from the hapless star lord that night.

“There are 43 gold bars in total,” Ruan Wei said, placing them all into a bag. She asked Jun Jue, “General, how much would these gold bars be worth in star credits?”

“One gold bar is 200 grams, and one gram is roughly 250 star credits.”

“So, one gold bar equals a month’s salary for me!” Ruan Wei was shocked. The Star Lord was so wealthy, while the other residents of the planet were so poor, those still alive were the slightly better-off ones.

Thankfully, the Federation had taken over Planet GR03. Otherwise, its people might have eventually died out under such conditions.

“General, do you have a secret stash?” Ruan Wei asked curiously.

“No, but I have enough to support you,” Jun Jue replied, patting her head. “Ready to sleep?”

“Mhm. General, when can we return to the Federation?”

“No rush. It’s not time yet.”

“Okay.” Free of worries, Ruan Wei soon drifted off to sleep in Jun Jue’s arms.

Jun Jue gazed out the window at the pitch-black sky. Those hiding in the shadows would likely reveal themselves soon.

…

The Federation prison welcomed a new inmate today, Future General Zhuo Hanjun.

Several guards suppressed their gossipy urges, only daring to speak after handing over the night shift and leaving the prison.

“What do you think Zhuo Hanjun is after? Why would she frame Lady Weiwei for no reason?”

“She’s a reserve general, you know. Think about it, if General Jun Jue steps down, that position would be hers, wouldn’t it?”

“But that doesn’t justify doing something like this. She’s too eager for quick success.”

“If you ask me, even if she got that position, she wouldn’t hold it for long.”

“True. General Jun Jue earned her reputation through her own strength and virtue, fighting battle after battle to defend the Federation. Her popularity among the citizens is even higher than the Chief Executive’s. What does Zhuo Hanjun have? Barely anyone knows her. No military achievements, and now she’s pulled this stunt. She was parachuted into the reserve general position in the first place, no credibility. How can she compare to General Jun Jue?”

“Then do you think there’s some inside story behind Zhuo Hanjun becoming a reserve general?”

“I’ve only heard that the Chief Executive wanted to marry his daughter to her. What else?”

“What kind of background does Zhuo Hanjun have for the Chief Executive to offer his daughter?”

“You’d have to ask the Chief Executive that. How would small fry like us know?”

…

After the two soldiers walked away, someone slipped quietly along the wall and sneaked into the prison.

Lin Qiyue had disguised herself in a soldier’s uniform, pretending to be a prison guard. She had come secretly, not daring to make a scene for fear her father would find out.

It took Lin Qiyue nearly half an hour to locate Zhuo Hanjun’s cell.

When Zhuo Hanjun saw her, her eyes lit up like a wolf in the dark. She lunged forward, gripping the bars of the cell door, veins bulging in her hands.

Lin Qiyue was startled, pressing a hand to her chest. “Keep your voice down. I came here in secret.”

“Qiyue, did the Chief Executive send you?” Zhuo Hanjun asked eagerly. The Chief Executive was her only hope now, but she wasn’t sure if he would save her.

“No, I came on my own.”

Zhuo Hanjun’s hands dropped, the light in her eyes vanishing instantly. She didn’t even care why Lin Qiyue had come.

She knew Lin Qiyue disliked her, there was no way she’d try to save her. If it were Jun Jue locked up here, things would be different.

“Zhuo Hanjun, I came to ask you two questions.”

Zhuo Hanjun sat on the ground, let out two loud laughs, and then said, “Go ahead.”

“Why did you try to harm Jun Jue?”

At the mention of Jun Jue’s name, Zhuo Hanjun seemed provoked, her eyes widening with fury. “Why? Isn’t it reason enough that she has everything I’ve ever wanted?”

“I don’t understand,” Lin Qiyue said. “Jun Jue earned her position step by step through her own efforts. You became a reserve general with my father’s help, it was much easier for you. If you’d just worked hard, you might’ve become a general someday. Why take this crooked path?”

“Crooked path?” Zhuo Hanjun laughed as if she’d heard the joke of the century. “You call this a crooked path? This was just a means to my end. I care only about success, not the method.”

Lin Qiyue pressed her lips together, lost in thought. Zhuo Hanjun asked, “What’s the other question?”

“Why did my father help you harm Jun Jue?” Lin Qiyue mustered the courage to ask.

“You figured it out?” Zhuo Hanjun frowned, suddenly realizing at which moment the flaw in her and the chief executive’s plan had begun.

“Did you tip off Jun Jue?”

“I didn’t tip off Jun Jue. I just told Ruan Wei to leave quickly.”

Zhuo Hanjun slammed the prison door hard, the noise drawing the attention of nearby soldiers. After a brief inquiry, she suppressed her anger and dismissed them with a curt “It’s nothing.” The soldiers walked away, though not without casting a few extra glances at Lin Qiyue, who was disguised as one of them.

“Does that soldier look like the chief executive’s daughter?”

“Are you out of your mind? If the chief executive’s daughter wanted to visit the prison, she’d just announce herself. Why would she need to disguise herself?”

…

“Zhuo Hanjun, you still haven’t answered my question,” Lin Qiyue whispered.

Zhuo Hanjun smirked at her. “Such a simple question, Qiyue. How can you not see it? From ancient times to now, what ruler could ever tolerate being overshadowed by a subordinate?”

“Outshining one’s master is a fatal mistake. Jun Jue may have no ill intent, but the chief executive can’t afford not to be suspicious. Otherwise, why do you think we were so certain Jun Jue had perished on Planet GR03?”

“So you’ve been plotting against Jun Jue since then?” Lin Qiyue asked, stunned.

“It’s just a matter of differing allegiances. Qiyue, I’ve told you what you wanted to know. Now it’s your turn to do something for me.” Zhuo Hanjun rose, gripping the prison bars.

Lin Qiyue was still reeling, unable to reconcile the image of her father, the gentle, benevolent, and diligent chief executive with someone who would harbor suspicion, let alone conspire to kill Jun Jue, whom he’d watched grow up.

She took two steps back. “What do you want me to do?”

“Find a way to get me out.”

“No. You should face the consequences for what you’ve done.”

“And what about your dear father?” Zhuo Hanjun’s smile was cold and mocking.

“Qiyue, you’d better find a way to get me out immediately. Every second you delay, the Jun Jue you love so much might truly die.”