While Ruan Shiqing attended the banquet, the cubs were left home.
The three little ones were blissfully unaware of the risks he faced, playing gleefully in the yard during the shop’s closed hours.
The merman and the dragon cub soaked in the pool, attempting to coax Nota to join them.
Perched on a lounge chair by the pool in her beast form, Nota carefully groomed her fur and coldly declined their invitation.
Though the treatment pod had healed her external injuries, it couldn’t restore the luster to her red fur, dulled by years of hardship.
In her previous lifestyle, Nota didn’t care about appearances. But after joining this family, she noticed that the merman meticulously maintained his hair and tail scales daily.
She used to envy him, thinking he looked far worse than her. But as they grew closer, she had to admit that despite the scars on his face, the merman remained beautiful. His face and neck bore fierce scars, yet they didn’t detract from his appearance. Instead, they added a fragile, tragic beauty.
Broken beauty always evokes pity.
Even Nota, not exactly a gentle or ladylike fox, found herself speaking in softer tones when addressing him.
She thought, maybe this is the advantage of being beautiful.
Her own species, known for their beauty, could also inspire admiration and sympathy. Determined, Nota began diligently grooming her fur to restore its former glory—her first step toward transformation.
Meanwhile, the dragon cub tumbled in the water, splashing waves everywhere. He turned to the merman with confusion:
“Why doesn’t little sister think like me?”
Since the night she woke up, she hadn’t called him “brother” again.
The dragon is angry!
The merman glanced at the fox grooming her fur, gently patting the dragon cub’s head. He couldn’t help but smile.
Of the three of them, wasn’t the dragon cub the smallest?
***
The luxurious banquet was sparsely attended. Most people present were servers or provocatively dressed women, leaving only a handful of actual guests.
When Ruan Shiqing entered, the lively atmosphere froze for a moment.
Everyone turned to look at him, eyes full of scrutiny. It felt as though the banquet had been waiting just for him.
“Marlin isn’t a native of B3024,” whispered 09, trailing closely behind him with a black case. “He’s rumored to have been a notorious star pirate before crossing a powerful figure and fleeing here to lay low. This estate, Fragrance Tower1Tried to give it a nicer sounding name in english, otherwise it would have sounded like Feta Manor, which is… not that luxurious sounding lmao Manor, belongs to him.”
Ruan Shiqing remained unfazed, walking through the hall without so much as a glance around.
He had known all along that this wasn’t a friendly invitation and had come prepared.
“Welcome, Mr. Ruan. Mr. Marlin has been expecting you,” said a well-dressed but sharp-eyed server, bowing slightly.
Though polite, Ruan Shiqing noted the tension in his posture, the tight muscle tone under his shirt, and the calluses on his fingers and knuckles—marks of someone well-acquainted with firearms.
“Lead the way,” Ruan Shiqing said lightly, following the server.
As expected, Marlin was waiting in the lounge, flanked by two sultry female Beastkin companions holding wine glasses.
Upon seeing Ruan Shiqing, Marlin patted the women on their shoulders, signaling them to leave.
“Mr. Ruan, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you,” Marlin said warmly, rising to extend his hand.
His friendliness was unexpected, but Ruan Shiqing remained vigilant. After a brief handshake, he sat across from Marlin, sipping his wine without hurry, waiting for him to make the first move.
“Mr. Ruan, you’ve made quite a name for yourself on B3024 recently,” Marlin began, his deep voice and rough demeanor incongruous with the opulent setting. Despite this, his casual, hearty manner had a disarming effect.
But a fugitive with a bounty on his head wouldn’t be so guileless.
“I’ve merely opened a small repair shop,” Ruan Shiqing said modestly. “It hardly deserves your attention.”
Marlin chuckled and waved for a server. “Show the video.”
Turning back to Ruan Shiqing, he added, “I assume you haven’t watched the preliminary round of the hover cars race? Your modified hover car, Gaia, has been causing quite a stir.”
Ruan Shiqing already knew. After advancing to the semi-finals, Luther had sent him a message, boasting that Gaia had made a big “splash”. Many racers had approached him after the race, eager to know where his vehicle had been modified.
This is also why Ruan Shiqing’s repair shop has been flourishing.
However, due to his family matters, he hadn’t managed to find time to watch the preliminary races.
As the waiter activated the virtual screen, the banquet hall lights dimmed, and the music faded, replaced by the roar of engines.
A black race car roared across the track. Even in slow motion, one could imagine its commanding speed on the field.
“The Titan 3782 engine, produced by Lyser Corporation, measures 25.5 feet long and has a top speed of 735 kilometers per hour. It was once a highly popular engine model. But as faster, newer engines emerged, it was phased out, and Lyser Corporation eventually went bankrupt. Even on Planet B3024, the Titan 3782 has been retired, only purchased by underprivileged people like Luther.”
Marlin let out an appreciative sigh. “But in your hands, it was reborn.”
He brought up a series of data on the virtual screen. “After modifications, the Titan 3782 now has a top speed of 989 kilometers per hour, with an average speed stabilized at 873 kilometers per hour. Gaia’s outstanding performance allowed Luther to stand out in the preliminaries, turning him from a ridiculed ancient human racer into the dark horse of this year’s high-speed hovercar race.”
“This is all thanks to Mr. Ruan,” he continued.
“Even with the best car performance, the driver still needs to handle it perfectly.”
Though Marlin concealed it well, his words inadvertently betrayed a disdain for ancient humans—or more specifically, for the underprivileged. Ruan Shiqing subtly frowned. “With another driver, the results might not have been better than Luther’s.”
The day he test-drove with Luther, Ruan Shiqing had noticed Luther’s courage, precision, and innate reflexes that made him a natural racer. His modifications to Gaia addressed ancient humans’ visual limitations in dynamic situations, allowing Luther to operate Gaia as an extension of his body and maximize its performance.
He didn’t appreciate Marlin attributing Luther’s success solely to him.
Marlin, unaware of Ruan Shiqing’s displeasure, pressed on. “Without your help, he wouldn’t have advanced so smoothly.”
Then his tone shifted. “I wonder if I might have the honor of enlisting your help?”
What was bound to happen finally came.
Ruan Shiqing deflected. “You’re too kind. I’m just an ordinary person who tinkers with things. How could I possibly help you?”
“You’re far too modest, Mr. Ruan. Your work on Gaia and your self-made energy gun are awe-inspiring. A mere repair shop hardly does justice to your talents.”
Seeing Ruan Shiqing dodge the question, Marlin got straight to the point. “As you may know, the North and South Districts are merging. My influence is expanding, and new trade routes will be established. Since you specialize in weapon design, why not join me? You could design firearms and weapons while I handle production and distribution through these routes. This could be a tremendously lucrative business.”
Few enterprises are as profitable as arms dealing.
Marlin gestured at the lavish banquet hall. “If you agree, everything here could be yours one day.”
So this extravagant banquet had been orchestrated for this moment.
Ruan Shiqing found it amusing. Despite Marlin’s efforts to appear mature, his young appearance betrayed him. Clearly, Marlin saw him as a naive teenager of 17 or 18, easily awed by grandeur.
Marlin’s flattery lacked finesse, and at its core was the plain message: “I need people. Come work for me.”
Even in his previous world, headhunters would at least discuss salaries upfront.
But Marlin merely dangled vague promises of wealth.
What’s more, Ruan Shiqing didn’t need to work under anyone. What he sought was not a boss but a partner.
His expression remained unchanged, but his tone grew colder. “I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint you. I have no plans to join any factions for now.”
Marlin’s smile stiffened, and his gaze grew sharp. He tapped the table forcefully. “I believe I’ve been quite sincere. If you’re dissatisfied, just say so.”
Ruan Shiqing swirled his glass and took a sip. “Perhaps I should make myself clearer.”
His demeanor turned serious, and he gave Marlin a knowing look, his gaze revealing a depth that belied his youthful appearance. “I came to this banquet seeking a partner, not a superior.”
“I work only for myself.”
This was a blatant slap in Marlin’s face, making it clear he understood Marlin’s motives but had no intention of being controlled.
Marlin’s expression hardened, and he sneered. “So, Mr. Ruan, you won’t drink a toast when it’s offered, only a penalty drink2Meaning that he’d only drink when forced, not to preserve the face of the other person or to “accept” their “kindness”?”
As he spoke, the banquet hall’s guests and servers began closing in, subtly forming a circle around the lounge area.
Hidden nearby, Rong Heng watched the scene unfold, his thoughts racing.
That bird is audacious, he thought, restraining the urge to step in. If Ruan Shiqing couldn’t handle the situation, what role should he assume to intervene?
Would Ruan Shiqing still remember him?
If he knocked down Marlin and proposed a partnership, would Ruan Shiqing agree?
The crown prince pondered deeply.
But Ruan Shiqing wasn’t one to fall into disadvantage. His politeness toward Marlin was merely an extension of his innate decorum.
“I brought something along,” he said, setting down his glass. He gestured for 09, his robot companion, to place a metallic case on the table. Slowly, he entered the code, revealing four energy guns inside.
“Perhaps Mr. Marlin isn’t familiar with their capabilities?”
Marlin snorted and cast a scornful glance at the guns. “I heard you used them to scare off two lowly Beastkin.”
He knew their power but thought his recently purchased laser guns far superior.
With a casual clap of his hands, Marlin’s guests and staff revealed their weapons—state-of-the-art laser guns—all aimed at Ruan Shiqing.
“Now that you’ve shown yours, let me show mine,” Marlin said smugly.
Ruan Shiqing remained unfazed. He calmly picked up one of the energy guns from the case. As he worked, 09, standing behind him, began transforming—a sight that wiped the smugness off Marlin’s face.
Marlin’s face twitched. “Mr. Ruan, this joke of yours is going a bit too far.”
Ruan Shiqing had finally completed reassembling the energy guns. Casually fiddling with the peculiar mechanical sphere he had constructed, he placed it on the table.
“I never joke,” he said as he pressed a button.
The mechanical sphere, reassembled from four energy guns, emitted a shield that enveloped Ruan Shiqing entirely.
The upper half of the sphere began to rotate slowly, and a flashing red light landed precisely on Marlin’s chest.
“You misspoke earlier,” Ruan Shiqing said, patting the mechanical sphere in front of him. “09 is not my backup plan. This is.”
He pointed at the sphere and explained unhurriedly: “Four energy guns, perfectly assembled into an energy bomb powerful enough to turn two Fragrance Tower estates into dust.”
“Of course, I didn’t come here to perish with you, so I installed a shield generator.” He gestured to the protective barrier surrounding himself.
Before attending the banquet, Ruan Shiqing had prepared two plans. If Marlin approached the negotiation with sincerity, this energy bomb modified from energy guns would serve as the starting point for their collaboration. But if Marlin lacked sincerity, the energy bomb would become his ace in the hole.
09 was merely the first layer of defense, primarily intended to divert attention and buy him time to assemble the bomb.
Marlin’s face turned ashen.
He half-believed Ruan Shiqing’s words but lacked the courage—or the necessity—to test them.
“Mr. Ruan, holding such a treasure, you’d achieve far greater gains by partnering with me,” Marlin said, realizing that a fight would not be worth it. He gestured for his subordinates to stand down.
Ruan Shiqing signaled 09 to return but did not deactivate the energy bomb. “That’s why I came to the banquet. But you’ve clearly shown no sincerity in collaboration.”
“Fifty-fifty is already my biggest concession,” Marlin growled, his anger simmering. Despite being on his home turf, the situation was entirely in Ruan Shiqing’s hands, leaving him furious and humiliated.
“Seventy-thirty is my final offer,” Ruan Shiqing said flatly.
Motioning for 09 to pick up the energy bomb, Ruan Shiqing added, “You should understand the immense potential here. Production lines can be found anywhere, and outside of Planet B3024, sales will never be a problem. But weapons development isn’t something just anyone can do.” He tapped his temple. “I am the core.”
In his mind, working with the government or military would have been ideal.
But he urgently needed money and had little trust in this world’s military—or its government.
In his original world, imperial rule had been overthrown thousands of years ago, and democracy, freedom, and equality were fundamental values. However, in the Galactic Empire, citizens were divided into rigid social hierarchies based on race. Concepts like democracy and equality had long become laughable ideals. The internal power struggles and scheming within the Empire, as gleaned from the holographic network, only made it harder for him to align with or trust this decaying state.
Thus, he had to carve out his own path.
Marlin knew Ruan Shiqing was right. But in the world of interests, ethics mattered less than who held the power and whose fists were stronger.
For now, however, he couldn’t do anything to Ruan Shiqing. Gritting his teeth, he said, “I’ll need time to consider.”
“Will three days suffice? I’m in urgent need of money, and if you’re unwilling to cooperate, I’ll have to seek another partner,” Ruan Shiqing replied, his tone steady.
“That will do,” Marlin ground out, barely containing his frustration.
Only then did Ruan Shiqing nod with satisfaction and leave with 09 in tow.
Hidden in the shadows, Rong Heng watched Ruan Shiqing’s figure retreat with a mix of admiration and astonishment.
Although he had expected the boy not to sit idly by, the elegance of this negotiation-turned-victory was striking.
Forceful yet not overly aggressive, Ruan Shiqing had wielded his advantages masterfully.
Rong Heng licked his upper palate thoughtfully, finally withdrawing his gaze and casting a cold look at Marlin.
As soon as Ruan Shiqing was gone, Marlin exploded in fury.
“I’ll make him pay for this!” he roared.
His subordinates bowed their heads, not daring to utter a word.
Watching Marlin’s impotent rage, Rong Heng thought of the devastating energy bomb and the transformations of 09. A sneer curled his lips.
Dare to covet what is mine?
Marlin was as good as dead.
So.many.things.happening.
Ruan Ruan is so badass.
Rong Rong following Ruan Ruan because he’s worried about him.
Rong Rong literally used “mine”. I know he probably thinks of it not romantically at this point, but hehe, it’s starting~
Thanks for reading!
For every three ko-fis, I will upload a bonus chapter~
Hehehe Rong Rong is showing signs of possessiveness (*≧∀≦*)
Thanks for the chapter translator-sama ~~
the big tsundere would never admit it, but we know!! Thanks for reading 😀
At first it was yandare. Now became full fledge tsuntsun lol
So cool!