IMAO Chapter 79

Double update to bid farewell to 2024.

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While Basil was busy comforting himself, the competition venue fell into complete silence.

The slow-motion replay showed every movement of the Thunder Fighter. Each rotation and dodge of Fighter 02 had the entire audience holding their breath.

With a lateral double-track maneuver, Fighter 02 dodged one attack, then, moving in seemingly random steps, it continued to evade Iron Fortress’s attacks one after another.

A laser beam!

Less than a centimeter away from the mecha!

Yet somehow, the mecha managed to dodge it!

Once, twice, three times, four times…

In the replay, the mecha kept avoiding attacks. Such intense operations demanded incredible physical and mental energy from the pilot.

Boom boom boom—

Another dozen laser beams, and under extreme pressure, Fighter 02 persevered and continued to block Iron Fortress’s concentrated attacks!

Under such intense and terrifying attacks, Nolan doubted he could last even thirty seconds, let alone two and a half minutes. But Jiang Yuan succeeded, and not only succeeded, his mecha emerged without a scratch!

This…

The entire audience was stunned, even the commentator was too excited to speak!

The venue was dead silent. During the match, although they witnessed Jiang Yuan’s operations, everything happened too fast for their eyes to follow. Only when watching the slow-motion replay did they realize just how many precise maneuvers Fighter 02 had executed in those brief two and a half minutes!

To avoid all laser attacks from Iron Fortress, it was nothing short of a miracle!

—”Holy shit, what kind of moves were those? Nearly gave me a heart attack!”

—”All I can say is that was freaking awesome QAQ”

—”Mom asked why I’m watching the match on my knees. I’m literally crying.”

—”Data experts are already analyzing YUAN’s operations from the livestream. It’s insane, absolutely insane! These moves! I’m in love!”

—”The Rick team must be traumatized after this.”

…

“Bang! Bang! Bang!”

Muffled sounds came from outside the mecha cabin.

“Hey student, are you okay?” The voice from outside transmitted through the audio collection system into the cabin. Only then did the Rick team’s pilot snap back to reality.

“Are you alright?” the staff member asked with concern.

The Rick team’s pilot swallowed hard, finally coming to terms with their defeat. He never imagined they’d lose so quickly on the Iron Fortress map.

“Student, student, are you okay? Can you hear me?”

“I’m fine…”

The Rick pilot replied helplessly. Although they knew their team would lose, no one expected the match to end in just 150 seconds.

While the replay was showing above, Jiang Yuan had no time to admire his own performance. He was exhausted.

Even he struggled with such intense operations. Even though the AI Alphonse helped with the mental strain, physically he couldn’t take it. He could clearly feel his body temperature rising.

Opening the cockpit, Jiang Yuan climbed down from the mecha, breathing heavily.

Ji Rong also came down, but somehow, he’d already gotten two bottles of water from the staff. He quickly walked over, twisted open one bottle cap, and handed it to Jiang Yuan.

“Thanks.” Jiang Yuan didn’t bother to be polite with Ji Rong. He took the opened bottle and tilted his head back to drink, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed.

“You’re wel-” Ji Rong’s words stopped halfway, “come.”

There seemed to be a scent of pheromones.

Ji Rong sniffed the air lightly. The scent was very faint.

It was very similar to what he smelled in Jiang Yuan’s room before.

“What’s wrong?” Jiang Yuan lowered the bottle, noticing Ji Rong’s frown.

Ji Rong: “I think I smell pheromones.”

Jiang Yuan gave Ji Rong a strange look. “Isn’t that normal? There are so many people here.”

Ji Rong touched himself and nodded.

He suspected he might be going crazy thinking about Jiang Yuan. His nose must be playing tricks on him!

…

Near the exit of the competition venue.

“I have matters to attend to, so I’ll head back first,” the man wearing sunglasses said softly to the tall, handsome man beside him. “Remember to tell our son that he performed very well in today’s match.”

Ji Chong wrapped an arm around his lover, his sharp brows furrowing slightly in displeasure. “Why are you leaving so soon?”

Horace looked somewhat helpless. Although he wanted to stay with Ji Chong, there were many matters requiring his attention. After all, he was about to announce his abdication, and many preparations were still needed. “There are some things I need to handle urgently. Only after the competition ends can I leave with you all.

“Wait for me a little longer.”

Ji Chong kissed his lover’s forehead. “Alright.”

“Now that the Thornflower family knows you’re Ji Rong’s father, will they cause trouble for you?” Ji Chong asked softly.

Horace shook his head. “Don’t worry, they wouldn’t dare, not even if they had a hundred times more courage.”

Seeing his lover’s confident expression, Ji Chong recalled Alfonso’s words. In all of Hoyt, perhaps only the ‘Iron-Blooded Emperor’ could make the Thornflower family apologize so submissively.

At this thought, Ji Chong tightened his arms around his lover.

Ji Chong frowned and asked, “Who did you ask for help back then?”

Horace: “…”

“Was it your country’s emperor?” Ji Chong pressed when his lover didn’t answer.

Horace made a sound of agreement. Well, sort of. He did not ask anyone for help, since he was the emperor himself.

Ji Chong immediately tightened his hold on his lover.

This Emperor of Hoyt was young and an unmarried Alpha, while his lover was an unmarried Omega noble in Hoyt. This… he couldn’t help but overthink it.

Although he never met His Majesty, he heard stories. The emperor was supposedly outstanding in both appearance and ability. Ji Chong considered himself excellent, but this emperor, known as the ‘Divine Emperor,’ was clearly extraordinary.

The mere thought of his lover seeking help from another exceptional Alpha made him uncomfortable.

And the Hoyt Emperor had been far too quick to help!

He couldn’t help but suspect the Hoyt Emperor had intentions on his lover!

Ji Chong’s voice wavered slightly. “Are you two close?”

Horace replied matter-of-factly, “Yes.”

Of course, they were close, since they were the same person.

As Horace was privately amused, Ji Chong looked into his eyes earnestly and said, “I can handle this matter. Your Emperor must be very busy. Even if you’re close, there’s no need to trouble him with such small matters.”

Hearing Ji Chong’s words, Horace waved dismissively, “Don’t worry, he won’t find it troublesome…”

Horace stopped mid-sentence when he noticed Ji Chong’s face had darkened.

Horace paused, suddenly realizing something, and raised one corner of his mouth. “Ji Chong, are you jealous?”

The handsome man’s face remained dark as he finally forced out, “Good that you know. Don’t go to him for help again!”

Horace: “…”

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