IMAO Chapter 72.1

Ji Chong raised an eyebrow, his grip on Ji Rong’s collar loosening slightly.

Ji Rong’s grin widened when he noticed Ji Chong’s hesitation.

“Tattling? You have the nerve to tattle?” Ji Chong bellowed, his stomach churning with anger.

“Why shouldn’t I? This happened because you weren’t clear with me. Once I explain everything to him, he’ll definitely forgive me! But if you hit me, I’m not sure he’ll forgive you,” Ji Rong replied.

“Don’t think I won’t beat you just because of that.”

As Ji Chong spoke, he glanced at the students and military officers who rushed over.

Having lived in Noth for years, Ji Chong naturally had an icy demeanor. Combined with his powerful presence from years of military service, his angry expression was terrifying. Gu Bai froze on the spot, stammering, “M-Marshal, we… we just heard a noise and thought something happened to Ji Rong…”

Ji Chong knew his usual effect on people. Even his soldiers in Noth wouldn’t dare breathe loudly around him, let alone these students. Seeing Gu Bai’s face turn pale with fear, he paused, released Ji Rong’s collar, and nodded at Gu Bai. “This brat needs discipline,” he said.

Gu Bai nervously replied, “Marshal, we’ll… we’ll head out then, you can continue…”

Ji Chong swept his gaze across everyone, shot Ji Rong a side glance, and said firmly, “You may leave.”

Gu Bai and the others hurriedly filed out, including Jiang Yuan.

Everyone gathered downstairs.

Due to Ji Rong’s scream earlier, they all sat in the lobby in their pajamas, exchanging bewildered looks.

“Ji Rong is the War God’s son?”

“Seems… like it.”

“Holy shit!” Gu Bai froze, nudging Cyril beside him. “Pinch me, I must be dreaming!”

“I already pinched myself,” Cyril brushed off Gu Bai’s arm, looking dead inside. “It’s definitely real.”

What kind of life winner was Ji Rong? Gu Bai thought helplessly. Younger than him, stronger than him, and his father was the idol worshipped by the entire Federation!

“Jiang Yuan, did you know Ji Rong was the War God’s son?” Gu Bai asked, noticing Jiang Yuan’s unusually calm expression.

Jiang Yuan shook his head. “No.”

“Really?” Gu Bai asked skeptically.

“Really.”

Gu Bai stared at Jiang Yuan for a moment, unconvinced. “Then why are you so calm? You’re not shocked at all!”

“He told me he grew up on Noth.”

Jiang Yuan said calmly.

When Jiang Yuan first met Ji Chong, he noticed the resemblance between the two. Given that Ji Rong had mentioned growing up on Planet Noth, and noticing Ji Chong’s name wasn’t on the entourage list, he suspected their relationship was special. However, he never guessed they were actually father and son.

After all, Ji Chong’s marital status showed that he was unmarried. The Noth Border Army wouldn’t gossip about Ji Chong having a child out of wedlock, and even if high-ranking officers on the mother planet knew, they wouldn’t discuss it online. So naturally, Jiang Yuan had no way of knowing.

“Isn’t the real shock that the War God has a partner?”

“That person at the banquet must be the War God’s wife! Damn, so the War God stayed single all these years because his heart belonged to someone.”

Ah… pfft.

This was more than just having his heart belong to someone.

The War God had stayed pure for his lover while ‘painstakingly’ raising their child alone.

What kind of Omega must Ji Rong’s Omega father be, to have the War God so completely smitten?

Everyone exchanged glances, their imaginations running wild.

The officers: …

Several officers found Gu Bai’s group’s speculation reasonable, yet something felt off.

Yesterday when Marshal Ji returned, he was covered in an unfamiliar Alpha’s pheromones. If Ji Rong was the child of Marshal Ji and an Omega, how could they explain the Alpha pheromones on the Marshal yesterday?

The more they thought about it, the more unsettling it became.

They didn’t know, and they didn’t dare ask.

The hall fell silent. No one spoke for a while. Gu Bai glanced upstairs, feeling as curious as a cat, and asked, “Do you think Ji Rong will get beaten today?”

“Yes!”
“Yes!”
“Yes!”
…

Jiang Yuan: “No.”

“…” Everyone turned to look at Jiang Yuan simultaneously.

Even Cyril couldn’t help asking, “Why?”

“No reason, just a feeling,” Jiang Yuan recalled what Ji Rong had told him about his stepfather.

Cyril glanced at Jiang Yuan, moved closer, and patted his shoulder. “Jiang Yuan, want to make a bet?”

Jiang Yuan raised his eyebrow. “What’s the bet?”

Cyril smiled slightly and said, “The loser has to call the other ‘Ge’ whenever we meet. I’m older than you anyway, so it’s not too much to ask, right?”

Jiang Yuan glanced at him. “Not at all.”

Gu Bai immediately chimed in, “Wait, count me in!”

Hearing this, Jiang Yuan shot him a sidelong glance, and Gu Bai responded with a sheepish smile and a wink.

Since Jiang Yuan and Ji Rong joined the team, they had never called them seniors, let alone ‘brother.’ Although they could never win against him in terms of ability, just hearing Jiang Yuan call them ‘brother’ would be awesome!

Jiang Yuan smiled. “Alright then.”

“Um… count us in too.” The other two teammates looked at Jiang Yuan with bright smiles. “You don’t mind, right?”

“Not at all,” Jiang Yuan replied.

Seeing Jiang Yuan agree, Gu Bai smirked. The War God was known for his strict military discipline, often training alongside his soldiers. Anyone with family in the military knew War God Ji Chong’s personality.

How could the War God possibly yield to Ji Rong’s threats? Impossible!

No matter how much the War God liked that Omega, he wouldn’t give in to something like this!

Just imagining Jiang Yuan calling them ‘brother’ gave them a secret thrill.

At that moment, everyone’s attention was focused on a certain room on the second floor.

After the others left, Ji Chong looked at the closed door and said to Ji Rong, “Don’t think I can’t deal with you just because you have someone backing you up. I have plenty of ways to handle you!”

Ji Rong carefully peeled off Ji Chong’s fingers from his collar one by one, then winked at him. “Dear Father.”

“You wouldn’t want me, a little lightbulb , to go home right after you just met with my dad, would you?”

Ji Chong: “…”

Although Ji Chong was irritated that Ji Rong had upset his lover, he indeed didn’t want Ji Rong interfering with his time with his beloved.

Ji Chong stared at his smugly confident son, released his grip, and tossed his communicator to Ji Rong, barking, “Explain yourself now. Don’t make your dad sad.”

Ji Rong caught the communicator and opened it to search through the contacts. His finger paused.

“Pfft!” Ji Rong burst out laughing.

“Hmm?” Ji Chong raised his eyebrow and looked at Ji Rong disapprovingly.

“‘Lover’? Weren’t you comfortable calling my dad ‘baby’? Why didn’t you use that for his contact name?”

“Shut up,” Ji Chong glared at Ji Rong. “Stop wasting time and call him to explain!”

…
In the Hoyt Palace.

Ludwig Forrest, the Minister of Finance approaching his forties, had graying hair. A bead of sweat rolled down his forehead and dropped onto the floor with a ‘plop’. This veteran official had served in the Treasury since Emperor Horace’s father’s reign.

Behind him stood several senior ministers who had served under three Hoyt emperors. All of them were as quiet as cicadas in winter.

The current Emperor was nothing like his two predecessors.

Two officials had already been summoned by His Majesty. When they came out, their faces were as white as paper, barely able to walk straight.

Like the others, Ludwig Forrest rushed forward when they came out, wanting to ask what His Majesty had said. But these two longtime friends just shook their heads, signaling him not to ask, before quickly leaving under the escort of the palace guards.

“Lord Ludwig, His Majesty summons you.”

Ludwig Forrest wiped the sweat from his forehead with trembling hands. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he responded and hurriedly followed.

As soon as he entered, Ludwig Forrest noticed the extraordinary silence in the great hall. You could hear a pin drop.

The Iron-Blooded Emperor Horace was a god in the hearts of the Hoyt people. For senior officials like them who had witnessed Horace’s rise to power, he was also a god.

A god who held absolute power over life and death.

Horace’s face was grim. Ludwig Forrest carefully recalled everything he had done recently. He hadn’t done anything wrong…

When Horace first ascended the throne, a noble’s son accidentally killed a commoner. The commoner’s family sought Horace’s help, but at that time, Horace could barely protect himself, let alone help others. Everyone thought the matter had been forgotten…

But once Horace gained control and became the true Emperor, he had the killer, those who covered up the crime, and all related officials executed.

A few years ago, when corruption was discovered in the country, previous emperors would have simply followed the law and imprisoned a few people. But under Horace, it led to a nationwide investigation. He executed as many as were found guilty, including those who knew but didn’t report, and those who facilitated the crimes.

He had always been careful with his words and actions. There was nothing to worry about, nothing at all!

After giving himself this mental pep talk, Ludwig Forrest cautiously and respectfully called out, “Your Majesty.”

Just as Ludwig Forrest spoke, he heard a familiar sound.

It was the vibration of a communicator.

The only one who dared to call His Majesty was His Majesty’s younger brother, Prince Hosea.

Please don’t anger His Majesty, Your Highness…

Ludwig prayed silently.

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