TCFGBH Chapter 114

The duel between Xia Yan and Huo Ruihe had long since become the talk of the town.

In the aftermath, the disappearance of Xia Yan’s intelligent brain by the Enforcement Team and the cheating accusations had taken a baffling turn. Supporters from both sides started vicious arguments online, pushing each other into opposing camps.

The situation was escalating to a fever pitch.

Before the duel even began, the arena was already packed with people. Numerous live streamers flocked in to broadcast the event, and journalists weren’t about to miss such a golden opportunity. Their year-end performance reports hinged on this very occasion.

“Are the people I told you to arrange ready?”

“Everything is in place.”

Grover nodded in satisfaction, dismissing his subordinate from the private box.

The emperor’s intentions were unfathomable. Not long ago, the Xia family suddenly faced heavy suppression, and their industries shrank. Some perceptive nobles, believing they understood the king’s inclinations, rushed to pledge their allegiance to Grover.

On the surface, Grover attended banquets with confidence and poise, but inwardly, he was deeply uneasy.

He had not received any clear hints from the king, nor had the Gillingham family received any support. Most puzzlingly, in recent days, the king appeared to have changed his mind, actively compensating the Xia family. This left everyone confused.

The battle for the throne between him and Xia Yan had reached its boiling point.

In this struggle, there could only be one winner.

Grover had no intention of losing.

As time ticked by, more and more prominent figures arrived: Major General Judith, Earl Walter, Duke Xia Jiuqian, His Majesty the King himself, and… Her Majesty the Queen?!

The crowd rubbed their eyes in disbelief, looking closer.

Yes, it was truly the Queen.

Since the disappearance of her child, Queen Aina had retreated from public view. Her attendance at this event was nothing short of shocking.

Long unseen, the Queen appeared arm-in-arm with the King, gracefully greeting the cameras with a serene and elegant demeanor. Her complexion was radiant, and her spirits seemed high.

There was no trace of the rumored depression or frailty.

The media erupted into a frenzy of photography.

Hmm… compared to the Queen’s sudden reappearance, the outcome of the duel seemed to pale in importance.

The Queen and the King entered the grand private box. As protocol dictated, the attending nobles went to pay their respects. Clarence left a few ministers to accompany them, dismissing the others.

This group included Grover, Xia Jiuqian, and Huo Shan.

The politicians, ever adept at hiding their true emotions, maintained their composed facades regardless of any underlying tensions.

Queen Aina, while sipping tea, quietly observed Xia Jiuqian. The Duke’s appearance was exceptional, and his son was even more striking—no wonder her own son had been so captivated.

Xia Jiuqian: “?”

Having been noticed, Queen Aina unabashedly smiled at him.

The crowd: “?”

What just happened?

–

Countless flying cameras focused on the duel arena.

The all-encompassing live broadcast ensured that no detail would be missed.

Huo Ruihe stood in the waiting area, gripping his spatial bracelet tightly. From across the vast distance, his gaze locked onto the young man also waiting on the other side.

Light streamed in from every direction, casting pale gray shadows that fragmented into countless shapes.

He had become even more beautiful.

Huo Ruihe thought.

He had watched videos of Xia Yan online countless times. As the duel approached, Edwin had also spoken to him several times.

Even though he knew he had been set up from the beginning, he was still forced into this duel—a fight he had no desire to partake in.

Before the match had even begun, Huo Ruihe’s aura had already faltered.

As the final countdown echoed around him, memories of the day he had issued the challenge came rushing back: the stolen intelligent brain, Hans Dill’s withdrawal from school… and his father’s words.

“Don’t do something you’ll regret.”

After this duel, regardless of who won or lost, the Huo and Xia families would stand as irreconcilable enemies.

He… didn’t want that.

“Are you ready? Huo Ruihe, are you ready?”

“Ah?”

The referee’s rising voice jolted Huo Ruihe out of his thoughts. He suddenly looked up, his face appearing on the massive screen. His lips were slightly parted, giving him an unintentionally silly expression.

A roar of laughter erupted.

The crowd burst into good-natured chuckles.

Huo Ruihe’s face turned crimson, the blush spreading all the way to his ears. “I’m sorry, but before the duel begins…” His expression grew resolute. “There’s something I need to say.”

He looked directly at Xia Yan.

Xia Yan’s hair had grown a little long, and to keep it from covering his eyes, he had tied the upper portion back with an elastic band.

His features, already exceptionally striking, were now even more prominent.

Those naturally alluring peach blossom eyes, the cold pupils, and the sharp, upward slant of his brows created a contradictory and breathtaking picture.

Even magnified on the big screen, he was flawless.

The crowd, once laughing, gradually fell silent as the camera focused on him.

Xia Yan asked, “What do you want to say?”

“When I challenged you back then, I said some inappropriate things.” Huo Ruihe’s words had clearly been rehearsed countless times in his mind; they flowed effortlessly now. “At the time, I was ignorant and blind to the truth, causing you to endure unwarranted accusations. I deeply regret my actions.”

The interstellar cameras, equipped with high-quality audio receivers, captured his voice perfectly.

His words echoed clearly through the massive screens, reaching every single spectator.

“During this time spent with you, I have witnessed your strength, magnanimity, and integrity. I would be honored to follow you for the rest of my life.”

Huo Ruihe suddenly smiled.

He knelt on one knee, reaching out to the still-dazed young man before him. He gently pressed a kiss to Xia Yan’s fingertips.

“I offer you my kiss of loyalty.”

“I submit to you.”

“Until the end of my life.”

Countless high-definition cameras captured this moment in its entirety.

They watched him take his oath, as if they were witnessing history unfold.

In that instant, whether they were ordinary spectators, military academy students, nobles in attendance, or simply viewers watching the live stream, they all let out thunderous exclamations.

“Ahhhh!!! Take pictures, quick, take pictures!!”

“The Huo family has chosen their side.”

“Oh my God! What a dramatic twist! I thought the Huo family would align with Grover’s faction, but Huo Ruihe is so bold. Publicly pledging allegiance like this—he’s completely binding himself to Xia Yan.”

…

….

Xia Yan was so shocked he didn’t even know what expression to make.

As the second gong in this small world, Huo Ruihe was supposed to assist the protagonist shou in suppressing him later. Why was he suddenly improvising and adding drama out of nowhere?!

However, according to the original owner’s setting, Xia Yan couldn’t reject the other’s pledge of loyalty. Otherwise, his character would collapse entirely.

Uncomfortable, Xia Yan slightly retracted his fingers and responded in a cold tone: “Hm.” After briefly pausing, he added, “I won’t hold back during the duel.”

Huo Ruihe stood up with a gentle smile, now relieved after expressing his true feelings. “I know. I trust that you’ll win.”

“…”

What else could he say?

Even the referee was taken aback by the rollercoaster of events.

Two opponents, who were supposed to be on opposing sides, had suddenly declared themselves allies. On top of that, one was wishing the other victory. Did this duel even need to happen anymore? It was obvious to anyone with half a brain that Xia Yan was going to win.

What was supposed to be a tense and hostile competition now felt oddly relaxed.

A white light flashed from their spatial devices, and two mechas materialized on the field. Huo Ruihe still used his usual Silver Wing model, while Xia Yan’s mecha was one that no one had ever seen before.

Primarily black with sharp gold accents, its design was clean, sleek, and exuded an oppressive aura.

Unbeknownst to the audience, this mecha was equipped with the most advanced technology available.

The mecha bent down gracefully, its hand touching the ground, palm facing upward. When Xia Yan stepped onto its hand, it gently lifted him and placed him into its chest—right where its heart would be.

The moment Xia Yan sat down, countless microscopic, almost imperceptible threads quickly connected to his body.

“Ugh.”

He let out a low groan.

In the next instant, his perspective shifted.

He… had become the mecha.

Ian truly deserved the title of a genius designer. Most modern mechas require a combination of AI and manual controls, with external conditions displayed only on the cockpit’s screens.

But this mecha allowed the pilot to fully integrate with it.

Using it felt as natural as moving his own limbs.

The preparations were complete.

Huo Ruihe initiated the first attack.

The audience initially assumed that after his earlier oath, Huo Ruihe would only go through the motions during the duel. But to their surprise, his first strike was incredibly fierce, drawing gasps from the crowd.

Xia Yan was no less aggressive.

Each of his moves was swift and powerful, reminiscent of a feline predator hunting. His actions were light yet imbued with a raw, violent elegance.

“Even though the outcome is already determined, they’re still giving it their all without any pretense. I… I’m oddly moved by this.”

“An S-class battle is just too thrilling. I’m so glad I ditched work to come here.”

“As expected, Xia Yan is stronger. Huo Ruihe is clearly at a disadvantage.”

…

While the spectators in the stands debated, the online discussions raged as well.

The fans who had been at each other’s throats earlier quietly began deleting their posts, pretending nothing had happened.

Fifteen minutes later, with the referee’s whistle, the duel finally came to an end. With his new mecha, Xia Yan’s victory was as expected.

–

System Interface:

[Task 4: Defeat Huo Ruihe. (Completed)]

[Task 5: Participate in the Interstellar Mecha League. (Incomplete)]

[Task 6: Bully Ludwig and Ian in the league (0/3). (Incomplete)]

[Task 7: To be unlocked.]

No matter what changes had occurred along the way, completing the tasks was always a good thing.

Xia Yan retracted the mecha into his spatial device. Standing at the center of the stage, the bright lights shone down upon him, cloaking him in a golden halo. Proud and confident, strong and beautiful—he was someone destined to become their king.

It was as if…

Something quietly flowed into their hearts.

Countless spectators rose to their feet, waving flags and cheering for him.

His name echoed throughout the entire dueling arena.

In his radiant brilliance, Grover paled into insignificance.

He was the uncrowned king!

Grover’s expression darkened, and he forced two words through gritted teeth: “The king is still here. These people are so disrespectful.”

Queen Aina glanced at him and said lightly, “It’s good for young people to have passion. Clarence won’t mind such a small thing.”