Chapter 2: The Old King is a Faction, Not Belonging to the Royal Family
Neither the Soul Clock Tower, the Gods, nor the Three Ministers (Luen Family) — the old king stands as a force apart from these three factions. Moreover, he clearly understands that, under the grand perspective of the impending Abyss calamity in the Star Realm, both the Soul Clock Tower, the Gods, and the Luen Family will intensify their demands on this world, forcing the empire to exhaust all possible resources in a short time and deliver them into the hands of these three major powers.
As for the empire's ultimate fate, even if this world itself collapses, the three major powers would not care, let alone the empire's outcome.
The old king, however, does not care whether the Soul Clock Tower, the Gods, or the Luen Family ultimately fall or survive. What he wants to do is protect the empire and its billions of loyal subjects as the three major powers gradually bare their fangs.
Clearly, Su Xiao and the old king are natural allies.
Furthermore, this old king has spent his life maneuvering against the three major powers. Not only has he not been sidelined, but he has also completely taken control of the royal capital. His intellect is a solid D in physical stats, but his political cunning is SSS+++++++ level.
"At present, I can offer you limited support."
As the old king spoke, he gestured for his attendant maid to bring the prepared items. The maid approached the table and picked up a tray. On it lay a black-based coat with bright red lining at the collar and inner layer, adorned with unique insignia similar to those of Vice Minister Tuo'enta, but more intricate.
This was a position vacant for over a decade, left empty after the old king's partner was murdered — the position of Minister of the Imperial Special Affairs Department.
The old king raised his hand with some difficulty, indicating that this position was now Su Xiao's.
"..."
Su Xiao locked eyes with the old king for over ten seconds, then picked up the black coat and documents from the tray, rising and walking out of the room. Tuo'enta followed closely, as from this moment on, this Law Destroyer was his direct superior.
Watching Su Xiao leave the room, the old king's smile faded. His eyes could no longer maintain their brightness, visibly dimming and clouding. He frowned in thought, then suddenly felt discomfort in his chest, forcing him into a series of dry coughs. He took the velvet cloth hastily handed over by the maid and pressed it to his mouth.
"Hoo~! Hoo~! Hoo~!"
The old king gasped for air. After nearly half a minute of dry coughing, his face was as pale as gold paper. Clearly, during their meeting, he had been forcing himself to maintain composure. Facing this fearsome, blood-soaked "beast" of notorious reputation, the old king had to meet him in the best possible state.
He handed the velvet cloth stained with fresh blood to the maid, who looked distressed. The old king just smiled.
"Leave me. Let me rest alone."
"Yes."
The maid withdrew from the bedroom, closing the door behind her. At that moment, the wall clock suddenly stopped. Its mechanical structure began to twist and dissolve, eventually forming a blurred metal face.
"That Law Destroyer has come."
The metal face spoke, its voice layered and overlapping.
"Perhaps."
The old king leaned back, closing his eyes for a brief rest.
"You should understand, Adez. If you just compromise with me — not submission, not obedience, just compromise — your life would be endless."
"You gods have immense power and long lives, but your hearts..."
The old king, Adez, struggled to sit up a bit, staring directly at the metal face, and said: "Your hearts are too small."
Hearing this, the metal face did not tremble but snorted coldly and faded away. As it left, the wall clock gradually returned to its former state.
Seeing this, the old king sighed inwardly. It wasn't that the plan had failed; he was just regretful that only one had taken the bait. That old beast had indeed not fallen for it.
...
South District, Jike Street — one of the royal capital's affluent areas. Originally a plantation zone, it was the main source of seasonal fruits and vegetables for the capital. But ever since the "Imperial Special Affairs Department" was established here, accidents caused by "Aberration" in the entire South District dropped by ninety percent, making it second only to the royal palace in safety.
Wealthy merchants were the first to eye this area. Nobles who couldn't qualify to reside in the rear districts of the royal palace also gradually discovered its safety. Over time, wealth attracted all walks of life. The South District visibly flourished, and as land became increasingly valuable, the plantation zones were appropriately relocated.
Having been established here from the start, the headquarters of the "Imperial Special Affairs Department" was vast. As the vehicle entered the main gate, large flower fields flanked both sides. Continuing along a flat gravel road, passing through a forest path, the five-story headquarters of the "Imperial Special Affairs Department" came into view.
This building had been expanded more than once, evident from the side wings and connecting bridges. Behind the headquarters stood over a dozen buildings of varying heights and peculiar shapes. Most of these buildings had no windows, only a heavily guarded main entrance. Three of them were entirely constructed of frosted iron-gray metal.
The vehicle stopped. Before Su Xiao, now dressed in the minister's attire, could get out, he saw many clerical and combat personnel waiting in front of the main entrance of the headquarters building. As he stepped out, the members of the "Imperial Special Affairs Department" welcomed him in a neither orderly nor enthusiastic tone:
"Welcome, Minister." ×38
"Welcome." ×1
"Greetings, Minister." ×21
"Welcome home, sir! Please change your shoes!" ×1
Su Xiao looked at the one who said "Welcome" — a short-haired, energetic girl about 1.5 meters tall. Good, so full of vitality. Whether she would die from intense training was unknown, but at least her spirit wouldn't collapse.
His gaze shifted to the fool who welcomed the minister home. This person had the "Fledgling Phoenix's demeanor," and the one beside him, whose eyes each seemed to have their own thoughts, was surely the "Crouching Dragon." They could later be considered for assignment to guard the entrance of the Abyss expansion zone.
Under Tuo'enta's guidance, Su Xiao went up to the third floor and arrived at the minister's office. The decor was somewhat outdated, but he didn't care. He sat behind the large black wooden desk, on which were various documents about major events in the "Imperial Special Affairs Department" in recent years.
After flipping through them, Su Xiao put down a classified document and asked Vice Minister Tuo'enta:
"I heard the Special Affairs Department has two vice ministers. Where's the other?"
Hearing this, Tuo'enta's face showed difficulty. He wanted to say the other vice minister was unwell and needed a few days off, but his instinct told him he absolutely could not lie to this minister.
"She... wasn't in a good mood, so she went back first."
Tuo'enta glanced at the rising morning sun outside, sensing trouble. On the first day of the new minister's tenure, a vice minister not showing up for the welcome could be dismissed as disliking flattery, but skipping work early in the morning on the new minister's first day was truly...
"Oh? Not in a good mood?"
Su Xiao looked at Tuo'enta with a kind smile, which sent a chill down the latter's spine. In his 53 years of life, which had been nothing short of tumultuous, this was the first time he felt his heart plunge into an ice cellar.
"Perhaps I should send someone... no, I'll go talk to her myself? Sir, she is the youngest Supreme in our department, ah, no, in the entire empire. Young people always have some pride and unwillingness to submit. With your experience, you can understand. Please show some tolerance to these juniors — this is my humble, immature opinion."
"..."
Su Xiao leaned back in the leather chair, as if resting with his eyes closed. His index finger tapped rhythmically on the classified documents.
This made Tuo'enta across from him uneasy. He knew that if this man truly made up his mind, he wouldn't blink at killing not just one person but an entire faction. Especially since he had dared to bomb the resource star of the Star Realm overlord, Arcane Eternal Star. What wouldn't he dare?
Tuo'enta was genuinely afraid that this new minister would, without a word, execute his colleague, Vice Minister Leshma.
Why was Leshma acting this way? The answer was that if Su Xiao hadn't come, in a few years at most, the minister's position would have been hers. That was her all-out goal. Moreover, the former minister was Leshma's father.
Tuo'enta, a subordinate of the former minister, would naturally do his utmost to protect Leshma. Besides, Tuo'enta also understood one thing: this Mr. Bai Ye would not stay here forever. If nothing unexpected happened, the future minister would almost certainly be Leshma again. Protecting the former minister's daughter was also protecting the future of the "Imperial Special Affairs Department."
"Have her here in half an hour."
"Yes, Mr. Bai Ye."
Tuo'enta quickly left the office, leaving only Su Xiao, Bubu Wang, and Baha inside.
"Any news?"
Su Xiao spoke.
"Woof."
Bubu Wang barked, indicating through the terminal he had been operating that there was still no news about the "Star Heart" on the "Network Cluster." After all, this was a Star Realm-level rare item. Even if the three major powers hadn't yet torn off their masks in the struggle for it, the competition was undoubtedly fierce.
Su Xiao wasn't surprised. He opened the series of prompts that had just appeared.
[Prompt: Settling all your actions within the first 24 hours of entering this world...]
[Settlement complete. You have triggered the highest difficulty/highest reward main quest.]
[Main Quest: Star Heart.]
Difficulty Level: Lv.99.
Quest Brief: Obtain the "Star Heart." After successfully acquiring it, you may choose one of the following two options.