IMAO Chapter 108

“I’ll be right back, wait for me,” Ji Rong said softly to Jiang Yuan beside him.

“Okay.” Jiang Yuan replied casually, turning his attention to his communicator. After leaving North Mali, his communicator was nearly exploding with messages.

There were many text messages and communication requests.

From his father, mother, aunt, uncle, and many friends and classmates.

He was now responding to the messages one by one, letting everyone know he was safe.

“Ahhh, Jiang Yuan, I knew you were still alive! You scared the hell out of me!” Upon receiving Ji Yang’s call request, Ji Yang’s face lit up with joy, clearly happy to see him.

“Quick, let me see if you’re missing any arms or legs?” Ji Yang continued.

Jiang Yuan glared at him with amusement, “Your Jiang-ge is perfectly intact, stop jinxing it!”

“How’s Ji Rong? I heard only you two were left in North Mali…” After learning about the unrest in North Mali, Ji Yang couldn’t reach Jiang Yuan and Ji Rong. He had to use his family connections to find out that they were trapped there, and could only worry anxiously at school.

“He’s fine.”

“Where is he?” Ji Yang tilted his head and asked.

Jiang Yuan: “He’ll be back soon. Want me to have him call you?”

Ji Yang quickly shook his head, “Never mind, as long as he’s okay. But what happened with you two? Everyone else in the team got on the ship on time, except you two!”

“We had something to take care of at the last minute.” Jiang Yuan awkwardly rubbed his nose and said quietly.

“What was so important that you almost lost your lives over it!” Ji Yang asked, puffing up with anger.

Jiang Yuan replied awkwardly, “We went to the hospital.”

“Hospital? Who got sick? What happened, is it serious?”

“You’re asking so many questions at once, which should I answer first?” Seeing Ji Yang’s concern for his two friends, Jiang Yuan asked before continuing, “It was me, but strictly speaking it wasn’t an illness. It’s not really serious, just troublesome. I’ll tell you the details when I get back.”

Ji Yang studied Jiang Yuan carefully for a moment. Seeing that he didn’t look seriously ill, he nodded, “Alright, when you return, I’ll pick you up at the spaceport!”

“No need to trouble yourself. My father is on Earth now, he’ll pick me up and take me to the hospital,” Jiang Yuan said softly.

“Are you sure it’s not serious? Your father…” Ji Yang’s brows furrowed when he heard that Jiang Yuan’s father was on Earth. He knew Jiang Yuan’s home was on Red Star, a month-long spaceship journey from Earth!

Jiang Yuan helplessly spread his hands, “I’ll explain everything when I get back. Really, it’s not serious, just a small troublesome issue.”

“Alright then, come back soon. Oh right, I’ll send you the class notes later, take a look. We have an exam coming up.”

Receiving the notes from Ji Yang, Jiang Yuan skimmed through them. They had learned quite a bit of new material recently, not from textbooks but apparently Professor Xu’s new theories about mechanics.

**

Ji Rong didn’t ask Jiang Yuan to come along with the military officer, because he knew his father’s personality. He would just want to see that his son wasn’t dead or disabled, nothing more special than that.

This was how he grew up. Although the war between the Federation and Rick had ended before his birth, there were still occasional attacks, but they were quickly controlled by his father Ji Chong.

In the command room-

Xiang Ye’s brows furrowed slightly as his eyes fell on the man who had arrived with Ji Chong. The man was extraordinarily handsome, emanating an aura of immense power.

He had already learned the man’s identity from the earlier communication.

Hoyt’s Holy Emperor.

Although His Majesty was indeed as intimidating as rumored, why was the War God being so… so gentle when speaking with him?!

The War God was famous in the military for his icy demeanor and rare smiles! Could it be that because this person was the Emperor of Hoyt, even the War God had to kowtow[mfn]卑躬屈膝 (bēi gōng qū xī) – to bow and bend the knee (idiom); fawning / bending and scraping to curry favor[/mfn] before him?

No, no, “kowtow” wasn’t the right phrase…

Xiang Ye stopped his wild thoughts. Not kowtow, just being… a bit polite, yes, that’s it – polite!

Just then-

Beep-

The warship’s command room door opened. Xiang Ye smiled when he saw Ji Rong. He hadn’t missed a single match of this year’s mecha competition, and Ji Rong and that kid called Jiang Yuan’s outstanding performance had sparked discussions in their military department. Now knowing Ji Rong was Ji Chong’s son, he wasn’t surprised. Like father, like son!

“Father,” Ji Rong called out upon entering and seeing Ji Chong. Then noticing Horace beside him, he thought for a moment and called out, “Dad.”

Xiang Ye: ???

Everyone on the warship: ???

Guards: …

Xiang Ye stared at Ji Rong, his jaw nearly hitting the floor. Wait, who was this kid calling Dad? That was Hoyt’s Holy Emperor, a single Alpha! How could he have a son this old?!

While Xiang Ye was still processing this, the young man walked right up to the Holy Emperor and even hugged him.

“I’m glad you’re safe.” After holding his son and checking him over for injuries, Horace finally relaxed.

“You got lucky…” Horace said more after hearing his son’s brief account of what happened in North Mali. Although his son glossed over the details, he knew it must have been extremely dangerous. One wrong move would have meant death!

“You kid… good thing Jiang Yuan was with you. Why didn’t you ask him to come along?” Horace thought for a moment and asked.

Ji Rong spread his hands helplessly, “Father won’t give me any special treatment anyway. I’ll still have to wait in the main hall later.”

Hearing this, Horace turned to look at Ji Chong.

Ji Chong immediately explained, “I’m a Marshal, I must set an example. Special treatment isn’t good.”

Horace glanced at him and said to Ji Rong, “No worries, I’m the Emperor, everything I do is special treatment. If the Federation warship won’t do, you can come aboard the Hoyt warship with me.”

Emperor?

Ji Rong was slightly stunned, unable to keep up with Horace’s words.

“What Emperor?”

Horace just then remembered his son didn’t know his identity.

Beside them, Xiang Ye was nearly coughing blood in frustration. What Emperor? What else could it be! The Holy Emperor of Hoyt! But why are you calling the Hoyt Emperor Dad?!

What was with the War God’s hurried explanation just now, full of self-preservation instinct?!

What exactly is your relationship!

Xiang Ye wanted to grab their collars and shake them for answers. It wasn’t that he was being nosy, but this news was just too explosive! Look around! Everyone in the command room’s jaw was about to drop!

“The Holy Emperor,” Horace answered.

Ji Rong: “The Iron-Blooded Emperor?”

Horace nodded, “Indeed, some people in the galaxy call me that.”

Ji Rong froze completely upon hearing Horace’s words.

My dad is the Iron-Blooded Emperor?

Ji Rong turned to look at Ji Chong, his eyes seeming to say ‘Father, is Dad joking with me?’

But he saw Ji Chong spread his hands helplessly and nod.

Horace watched his son’s dumbfounded expression with amusement. It was similar to Ji Chong’s reaction when he learned of his identity, but that day he didn’t have time to appreciate Ji Chong’s shocked expression, his heart full of worry for their son.

As an observer, Xiang Ye finally understood the situation. Ji Rong was actually the child of both the War God and the Holy Emperor!

If looks could speak in the command room, the Federation and Hoyt people would definitely be saying-

“So which one of them actually gave birth to Ji Rong?”

“Heh, obviously the Federation’s War God. Our Emperor is an Alpha! A royal Alpha!”

“Nonsense, it must be your Emperor who gave birth. Our War God is definitely an Alpha, and he’s been guarding the border forces. If he’d given birth, how could no one know?”

“Were you there on Planet Noth to see it? Even if he gave birth there, no one would tell you!”

“If your Emperor had a child, the people in the palace wouldn’t dare speak of it either, hmph…”

Xiang Ye exchanged several meaningful glances with others but didn’t dare voice his questions. His gaze fell on Ji Chong’s back, and due to his blind admiration for Ji Chong, only these thoughts ran through his mind: War God is mighty! War God is awesome!

“Let’s go,” Horace said to Ji Rong, ignoring everyone’s shock. “Come to my warship.”

Ji Rong had recovered from his shock by now. Although he complained verbally, he had always respected Ji Chong’s arrangements. “Better not. Just have Father arrange a private room for Jiang Yuan. His condition is special, and he can’t share a room with others right now.”

“Sure, I’ll arrange it,” Xiang Ye replied before Ji Chong could speak. Although they couldn’t give everyone private rooms on the warship, arranging one single room wouldn’t be a problem.

Ji Rong didn’t leave the command room but pulled Ji Chong aside. “Dad, I have a question!”

Ji Chong raised an eyebrow, “What?”

Ji Rong pulled Ji Chong to one side, away from Horace.

Seeing Ji Rong being so secretive, Ji Chong asked, “What do you want to know?”

After making sure Horace couldn’t hear them, Ji Rong whispered, “Dad, I just want to know… who actually gave birth to me?”

Ji Chong: “…”

Ji Rong: “Dad, are you too embarrassed to say? I understand, I understand!”

Ji Chong had to restrain himself from killing his only son right there.

After Ji Rong left, Horace raised an eyebrow, “What did our son just pull you aside to say? Why did he need to avoid me?”

Ji Chong coughed lightly, “Nothing.”

He really couldn’t bring himself to say it. That kid Ji Rong was asking for a beating! If his lover weren’t here, he’d definitely teach him a lesson! When children misbehave, they probably need discipline!

Xiang Ye interrupted the two, clearing his throat with his fist against his lips, then asked quietly, “Marshal… the Federation citizens are still feeling down. Perhaps you could say a few words?”

Ji Chong initially thought it unnecessary since he wasn’t in uniform and it wouldn’t be appropriate to appear in the communication. But considering many citizens had just escaped danger and were still shaken, if his words could ease their emotions, it would be worth it.

Ji Chong took a deep breath and ordered, “Connect the warship communication.”

“Yes, Marshal!”

–

On both peacekeeping warships, suddenly all screens showed a handsome man in a dress shirt. The man’s expression was serious, his gaze profound.

He calmly looked at the screen before him and said in a low voice, “Everyone, you are safe now.”

“His Excellency, the War God!”

“It’s Marshal Ji Chong!”

“The Federation actually sent the Marshal here!”

“The Wall of the North…”

Seeing Ji Chong, the previously downcast crowd’s spirits immediately lifted. War God Ji Chong was here! They would definitely be safe, even though they hadn’t left this massive graveyard yet!

With the Marshal here, they were absolutely safe!

Ji Chong: “We will find your loved ones and escort you safely home.

Remember that the Federation stands behind you. No matter where you are, the Federation Army will protect you.”

Ji Chong’s deep, pleasant voice rang out simultaneously on both warships, inspiring not just Federation citizens, but everyone in the Federation military!

War God Ji Chong was the god in every soldier’s heart!

The god who protected this nation!

If Marshal Alfonso represented the entire Federation, then Ji Chong represented the entire Federation military, the guardian of the entire Federation!

After seeing Ji Chong, the heavy atmosphere in the hall instantly lifted, and people began chatting with each other.

The sadness that had filled the hall completely vanished.

Su Lan was initially excited and thrilled to see Ji Chong, but when he saw Ji Rong walking back, his mood suddenly plummeted!

He seemed to have discovered something incredible!

He had been eavesdropping earlier and knew this guy had just been called to the command room to see his father…

Ji Rong.

Ji Chong.

They shared the same surname!

No… impossible!

Su Lan tried to deceive himself, but he couldn’t. This father and son looked at least sixty percent alike!

The eyebrows, the eyes, the face shape, the nose, the mouth…

If this wasn’t biological, what was?

What happened to the Iceberg War God?

What happened to the single Alpha?

What happened to staying away from Omegas?

Why did you secretly get married and have a child!

And such a grown one at that!

Liar, big liar!

It wasn’t that Earth’s Omegas weren’t attractive enough. The War God was already married! How tragic, how tragic!

Su Lan felt completely dejected. No point competing anymore. He was just a poor little Alpha competing with countless siblings for family inheritance.

While this rich second-generation was wallowing in self-pity, he noticed a girl in the distance sneaking glances at him, her face red as she gestured for him to move aside. He was blocking her view of the handsome Alpha and Beta.

Fine, I’ll move!

So annoying…

But he had to be a cultured rich kid.

Waaaaaah!

I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. Please consider supporting the author directly.

You can also follow me on Ko-fi to get access to the latest updates on my translation progress and new projects. I appreciate your love and feedback.