"Old Huang, how can you speak in a tone like that? Zhao Chen is a junior; if there are matters he hasn't thought through, then of course we must give him time to consider them slowly, mustn't we?"
The Azure Governor looked at Zhao Chen, all benevolence. "Zhao Chen, is it that you feel what we're offering isn't enough? Then let's do this. I see that you and I are fated — I'm willing to take you as my adopted son! I'll give you the 20% share of the profits that was to be mine. Hand these ship technologies to the Hurricane Conglomerate to run, and I'll have Chairman Feng give you 50%! And then I can guarantee that within five years I'll see you raised to Viscount, and within 20, to Count!"
An adopted son?
I wouldn't want you for a son.
Zhao Chen had it figured now: this lot were playing good cop and bad cop, kindness and intimidation both, meaning to bring him to heel first. As for whether he'd ever actually see that so-called 50% of the profits — that wouldn't be for Zhao Chen to say.
Set against this pack of crafty men, Zhao Chen trusted Governor Chu the more. For by the record of Governor Chu's past, he was at the least a man of his word — loyal, righteous, and one who hated evil like a mortal foe. The Chu River Star Region under his governance was, in matters of public order at least, many times better than other star regions; never had one heard of some noble there running riot over the common folk.
"Your Excellency, I still feel we'd best let this proposal go. I've had about enough of this banquet, and I'm feeling somewhat worn out, so I'll take my leave." Just as Zhao Chen made to rise and go—
At that very moment, a ring of light-screens rose up around the crescent-shaped booth where he sat, and four men, bodyguards by the look of them, planted themselves squarely across the path he'd have to take to leave.
"Will Zhao Chen truly not grant me even this little courtesy?" The Azure Governor watched him through narrowed eyes; the smile on his face was brimming now with a chill.
So it was time to lay the cards down.
Zhao Chen leaned sidelong toward the Azure Governor with a smile, put his mouth near the man's ear, and — in a voice everyone within the booth could hear — said, smiling still:
"And if I say no — what can you do to me?"
Those words of Zhao Chen's were like a pot of oil poured on the fire.
The Azure Governor's gaze, fixed on Zhao Chen, went cold and grim.
At this, Marshal Huang Zhixiong beside him spoke up. "What can we do? Here and now, in my capacity as a marshal of the Imperial military, I suspect your ship technology of ties to the Mechanical Race! I mean to take you into custody for interrogation! I hope you'll cooperate, Zhao Chen — otherwise… some suffering of the flesh may be hard to avoid."
Zhao Chen kept a smile on his face. So this lot were ready, the soft way having failed, to try the hard — with never a thought for the fact that Su Lan and the others were present too. Truly a rather ugly way to dine.
Still, from the expressions of the banquet guests around them, they'd yet to catch what was being said inside: that curtain of light didn't block sound from outside, but it did seal off the sound within from carrying out.
"That's nonsense! How could Zhao Chen possibly have any ties to the Mechanical Race — he's the hero who saved the teachers and students of both academies! You have no proof! You can't just smear a man with vicious lies!" Single-minded as ever, Xue Xiaoxiao shot to her feet and spoke up for Zhao Chen straightaway. It took Zhao Chen a little by surprise — this cannon-mad slip of a girl.
"Are the words of a marshal of the Imperial military not proof enough? Are you questioning the authority of an Imperial Five-Star Marshal? If he really has nothing to hide, then naturally I'll release him once the interrogation is done!" Marshal Huang Zhixiong said, chin lifted.
Interrogation?
Let this fellow haul me off to be interrogated, and he'll fabricate a few "problems" for me even if there aren't any, Zhao Chen thought with a quiet, inward laugh.
Instructor Qin rose to her feet, expression grave. "My lords — Zhao Chen is a cadet of our Northstar Academy! You cannot treat one of our cadets this way. I can see plainly enough: you're after the ship technology Zhao Chen carries. But wherever his ship technology came from, under the laws promulgated by the Empire, any ship technology developed by any person, organization, or research institute is protected by Imperial law — it is private property. Even the Imperial royal house cannot compel a man to hand over private ship technology! This is against the law! Aren't you afraid I'll spread word of what you've said, and drag the standing and good name of you three lords through the mud?"
The Azure Governor gave a light laugh and shook his head. "Since I dared say these things with all of you present, do you imagine we're worried about that? I know who you are — the daughter of that dean of Northstar Academy. But don't forget: this is the Azure Star Region, not your North Wind Star Region. Here… my word is law! Today, Zhao Chen stays. You three may leave as you please. Whatever you say once you're outside — I don't care."
That the Azure Governor should be so utterly without fear was proof enough that he, and the powers behind him, cared nothing at all for such threats. So long as Zhao Chen was on their ground, they were confident they could squeeze this trifling little baron dry.
"You— you people…" Instructor Qin's face was ugly to look at. She hadn't imagined these people could be so utterly shameless.
Zhao Chen looked at Instructor Qin. This teacher was still far too naïve. The Empire's rules existed only to bind the lower and middle ranks; to the pack of them standing at the top of the pyramid, those rules were mere tools. Set enough profit before them, and naturally they'd disregard the rules altogether. And Zhao Chen, right now, was precisely the enormous profit that made them willing to disregard them. That T3 Blizzard-class Light Interstellar Battlecruiser — they had to get their hands on it, whatever it took! And let Northstar Academy not think to stop them!
"And if I say Zhao Chen is one of us — one of the Su family?" Su Lan, who had said nothing all this while, now spoke.
The Azure Governor fixed his eyes on Su Lan and said with a smile, "I know who you are — the illegitimate daughter of the eldest branch of the Su family, of the Purple Perilla Star Region. Never mind whether words from someone of your standing carry any weight. Even if the Su family truly meant to shield this Zhao Chen — don't forget what I just said!"
At this the Azure Governor's eyes flashed with murder, and he brought a palm down flat on the table. "This is my Azure Star Region — not your Su family's Purple Perilla Star Region! Your Su family's reach doesn't extend into my turf!"
Su Lan's expression was complicated. In truth she knew this outcome perfectly well: the Su family was on the very worst of terms with this Azure Governor, and since he dared do this, he plainly had no fear of the Su family making trouble. And even if they did — would they really dare lead troops in a punitive campaign? The royal house would be the first to refuse it. With Zhao Chen in his hands now, he held the initiative!
Only now did Xue Xiaoxiao sense that the mood had gone wrong. She looked to Zhao Chen with worry. Now the other side held neither Su Lan's Su family nor the Northstar Academy behind Instructor Qin in the least regard. Was Zhao Chen really to be detained here? If so, then Zhao Chen truly was a lamb walked into the tiger's maw — even if he didn't die, he'd be skinned alive!
"Governor of Azure, Marshal Huang Zhixiong, Chairman Feng. I wonder whether you've ever heard an old saying. 30 years the river runs east, 30 years it runs west — never scorn a young man for being poor.[1]" Zhao Chen regarded the three big shots before him with a mocking eye.