IMAO Chapter 70

Watching Hans’ retreating figure, Horace frowned, knowing he had put his minister in a difficult position.

A few minutes later, the medical pod opened.

“Feeling better?” Horace asked softly to Hosea, who lay weakly inside.

Hosea’s face was pale. Seeing Horace, he nodded, “Much better.”

“I told you not to get involved with those things. Why didn’t you listen?” Horace gazed helplessly at his brother.

“I won’t give up, no matter what you say.” Hosea sat up and continued, “More importantly, how are things between you and him?”

Horace: “…”

Hosea smiled cryptically, “You rarely come back to the palace lately.”

Horace: “You think someone like Ji Chong can change my mind?”

Hosea: “Do you think he can?”

Horace: “…No.”

Hosea said softly, “Ge, you hesitated.”

Horace: “…”

Changing the subject, Horace said, “Do you know how many people’s interests you’ve affected? How many want you dead? Why do you think I have Hans arrange protection for every one of your gatherings? How many times has this happened?”

“Have you forgotten how Father and Eldest Brother died?”

Hosea removed the IV from his hand and stepped out of the medical pod. Taking a deep breath, he said, “Ge, this country isn’t the Hoyt of twenty years ago, and you’re not the same emperor who was forced to ascend the throne.”

“Now, no one dares oppose your words. The only question is what you really think.”

“Is it you who’s unwilling, or the nobles?”

Hosea placed his hand over Horace’s heart, pressing against his left chamber. “Ask yourself.”

People outside heard movement and, seeing Hosea emerge, rushed to surround him, checking his condition.

Horace placed one hand on the medical pod…

The domestic reform faction had existed since his father’s time. His father supported reform because few countries in the entire galaxy still maintained monarchies. Having one person determine a nation’s fate, it was inevitable that mistakes would be made. And for an emperor, one mistake could plunge the entire country into chaos.

Before his father’s accident, he and their eldest brother were preparing to propose reforms. Although he was still young then, he knew some of what was happening. But soon after, the accident occurred, claiming both his father and mother.

Later, when he was forced to ascend the throne, the nobles consistently tried to eliminate the reform faction. However, due to domestic turmoil, there were as many as seven political parties…

It wasn’t until later that he gradually positioned his people into the military through various means, and after surviving seven coup attempts, he finally gained true power.

Hosea was right. Now, with just one word from him, reform could proceed. This wasn’t the Hoyt of twenty years ago under his father and brother’s rule, but Hoyt in his hands.

No one dared oppose his words.

Horace walked out. When others saw him and were about to bow, he waved his hand to stop them. He then turned and entered the adjacent room, where Hans’ arm wound had just been healed by the medical device. However, due to delayed treatment, he had lost substantial blood and looked deathly pale.

“Your Majesty.” Hans stood up and called out respectfully.

Horace waved his hand, “Sit.”

Hans obeyed without hesitation, “Yes, Your Majesty.”

Horace looked at his minister, “You’ve worked hard. My brother has caused you much trouble. All these years of looking after him have been difficult for you.”

“It’s my duty,” Hans hesitated before asking, “How is the Prince feeling?”

Horace gave Hans a deep look, “He’s already out of the medical pod, and already bouncing around[mfn]活蹦乱跳 (huó bèng luàn tiào) – to leap and frisk about (idiom); lively / healthy and active[/mfn].”

“Hans, what do you think about reform?”

Hans abruptly raised his head to look at Horace, eyes filled with disbelief, but he answered without hesitation, “I’ll follow Your Majesty’s decision.”

Horace: “After all these years, you really haven’t changed at all.”

“Always following my lead. I don’t know if that’s good or bad. That’s why I chose you back then.”

Hans remained silent. His family had been fallen nobility in Hoyt when Horace first ascended the throne. Everything he had now came from following this emperor. Hosea wasn’t wrong in calling him blindly loyal.

“Take care of yourself,” Horace said softly before leaving.

…

Ji Rong pulled out his communicator and glanced again at his father’s message.

Ji Chong: Tomorrow I’ll introduce you to someone. Hoyt Royal Hotel, 6 PM, dinner together.

Introduce someone?

No need, your son already knows them well!

Last time at the Hoyt Royal Hotel, I even saw you carrying someone into a room!

His father wanted to formally introduce him to his ‘stepfather.’

The next day, as night approached, Ji Rong tidied his clothes, preparing to meet his ‘stepfather’ at the hotel. For a formal meeting, he should make a good impression.

“I have something to do so I’m heading out for a bit,” Ji Rong announced.

Jiang Yuan, who was holding his study device, was reading through study materials sent by Ji Yang. Without looking up, he waved at Ji Rong, clearly meaning ‘goodbye.’

Ji Rong felt deflated at not getting even a glance. Jiang Yuan didn’t even ask where he was going!

After Ji Rong left, Gu Bai and the others swarmed around Jiang Yuan.

“Jiang Yuan, do you know what Ji Rong’s going out for?” Gu Bai asked.

Still looking at the materials, Jiang Yuan replied, “How would I know? I’ve been with you all this time, and he just now said he was leaving. How would I know what he’s doing? Who am I supposed to ask?”

Gu Bai: “You two are like conjoined twins. If we can’t ask you, who can we ask?”

Cyril: “Yeah, you two are practically joined at the hip.”

Jiang Yuan looked up at Cyril, Gu Bai, and the others. “Is it that exaggerated?”

Gu Bai said seriously, “No, actually, we’re just stating facts.”

Jiang Yuan: “Pfft… Actually, when I first met him, we didn’t get along.”

Hearing this, Cyril’s face screamed ‘you’re kidding’. “Really?”

Jiang Yuan put down his study device, “Really.”

“Well, you get along great now. Isn’t Ji Rong using that strawberry-scented concealer because you don’t like his pheromones?” Liu Shan said, looking at Jiang Yuan, “It’s weird though that you’re a Beta but sensitive to pheromones.”

Jiang Yuan raised his eyebrows, saying, “I find it strange too. Your pheromones don’t bother me, but his make me uncomfortable.”

Liu Shan mysteriously leaned close to Jiang Yuan and whispered, “Actually, they make me uncomfortable too.”

Jiang Yuan: “?”

Liu Shan blinked and explained, “Pheromone suppression. Ji Rong’s pheromones are very strong. Alphas don’t like it either.”

Everyone began sharing their reactions to Ji Rong’s pheromones, which basically amounted to ‘wanting to kneel and surrender.’ But what Alpha would enjoy being suppressed by another Alpha’s pheromones?

After chatting about pheromones for a while and discussing their preferred scents, Gu Bai returned to the earlier topic, “I’m curious who would ask Ji Rong out here…”

Liu Shan grimaced, “More than Ji Rong, I want to know where our War God disappeared to.”

Cyril: “We dare not speak of it, we dare not ask.”

Gu Bai: “These days, we could not even see a shadow of him. His Excellency has been stolen away by a foreign enchanter.”

…

Hoyt Royal Hotel.

Ji Rong was led upstairs and immediately spotted his father Ji Chong and the person beside him.

The person was very handsome, and upon closer inspection, their features somewhat resembled his own.

Ji Rong’s heart suddenly pounded. Could his ‘stepfather’ actually look like his ‘birth father’ whom he’d never met? Honestly, it seemed possible.

This stepfather’s features really did look like his, even the mouth was similar.

When Ji Rong looked at Ji Chong again, his brows furrowed. Was his father using his ‘stepfather’ as a substitute…

The moment this thought popped into his head, Ji Rong’s mouth twitched.

Damn.

His father was such a scumbag.

“You’re here, sit,” Ji Chong said coolly.

Ji Rong pulled out a chair and sat down, turning to study the man beside his father: the more he looked, the more similarities he saw. They shared at least fifty percent of their features!

Poor stepfather.
And with a child too, so they can’t even break up now.
Dad, you scumbag!
Should’ve just stayed single!

Horace usually had a strong presence. After all, he was the monarch of a nation. However, facing his son whom he had not seen or spoken to for many years, he felt somehow timid. “I-I am…”

Horace had never been this nervous. He didn’t expect that he would stutter upon meeting his son, unsure how to introduce himself.

Ji Rong made a stopping gesture, saying, “I know who you are.” My future stepfather, I understand.

Horace: “You know?” You know I’m your Omega father?

Ji Rong: “Mm, I knew when I saw you with my dad last time.” That’s when I knew I was getting a stepfather, and I’ve mentally prepared myself.

Horace: “So you’ve known for a while. What do you think about me?” What do you think of me as a father who abandoned you for so many years?

Ji Rong glanced at Ji Chong, thought for a moment, and said, “It’s fine, I just need some time to adjust. When we return to Noth, you can live with Dad. I’m studying on my home planet and don’t go back very often. We’ll take it slow, I’ll get used to it.” As long as you treat me well, I can accept you as my stepfather.

Hearing Ji Rong’s words, Horace froze, “Son, you want me and Ji Chong to return to Noth?”

Ji Rong: “…”

Ji Rong: “???”

Calling him son already? This fast?

Seeing Ji Rong’s silence, Horace’s heart tightened. Just then, someone stomped hard on Ji Rong’s foot, and he looked up to see Ji Chong glaring at him fiercely.

Ji Rong: “…”
I don’t have a father anymore!
Goodbye!

Although Ji Rong complained in his heart, he still obediently answered the question. “If you don’t want to go to Noth, other planets are fine too. Dad can actually be transferred to other planets.”

Seeing Ji Rong answer his question and tacitly accepting being called ‘son’, Horace suddenly made up his mind about the matter he’d been hesitating over. “No need for other planets. Noth is good. You grew up there; I’d like to see it.”

Ji Rong: “…” This stepfather was quite considerate of him.

As they ate, Ji Rong’s feet were stepped on several times.

“I watched all your matches. You were excellent,” Horace said.

Ji Rong tilted his head and said, “We’re going to win the championship this year.”

“Are you confident?” Horace asked.

Ji Rong nodded noncommittally.

“Then you’ll need to work hard. Besides the trophy and prize money, Hoyt will provide special prizes for the championship team this time,” Horace said.

Ji Rong: “?”

Horace took out his communicator and sent a message.

…

Hoyt Royal Research Institute.

The Dean’s brows furrowed deeply. He had just received His Majesty’s message. The Emperor wanted him to provide seven space keys as additional prizes for this competition’s champions.

Space keys were extremely costly to produce. Unlike other countries where only Marshals and Generals could purchase and use them from Hoyt, even within Hoyt itself, one needed to reach a certain military rank to possess a space key.

Providing seven space keys as prizes was unprecedented.

But when His Majesty speaks, who dares question?

Sigh, better have someone prepare them right away.

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