Chapter 111: The Princess is Truly Wicked
Xie Qiang walked into the VIP room, her gaze resting lightly on the head of the Sand Wolf family sitting opposite her.
Based on the information Cang Jiu had provided, combined with parts of the original novel’s plot, she knew that the Sand Wolf family currently controlled the land resources of three planets in the Alpha Galaxy. Nearly a quarter of the Star Sea Empire’s metal mineral resources came from their family. In the novel, they were staunch supporters of the First Prince.
Why would the Sand Wolf family head suddenly ask for a private meeting with her?
Upon seeing Xie Qiang, the Sand Wolf family head stood up and nodded to her in greeting.
He was a thin, middle-aged man whose sharp features gave him a rather authoritative air. Xie Qiang nodded back slightly and took a seat on the sofa across from him.
As soon as she sat down, she saw Cang Jiu half-kneeling by her side. His slender arms rested on her lap, and atop his silver, fluffy head, his fox ears emerged. Like a pet starved for affection, he gently rubbed his head against her fingers, seeking a caress.
Xie Qiang: …
He really loved playing this game, didn’t he?
Xie Qiang cooperated by stroking the youthâs fox ears. However, the youth was not satisfied. He looked up with misty fox eyes, a pitiful expression accentuated by those two sexy beauty marks. It was hard to tell if he was pleading or seducing. “Princess, use a bit more force~”
Xie Qiang: …
Catching the startled look in the Sand Wolf family head’s eyes from the corner of her eye, she gave a silent cough. Mimicking the original host’s arrogant persona, she said, “Just a little hobby shared between Young Master Cang and me. Surely the family head doesn’t mind?”
“Of course not, of course not.”
The Sand Wolf family head stared in horror at the silver-haired youth kneeling on the floor.
Anyone in a family of standing in the Imperial Capital knew that this ninth young master of the Heavenly Fox family was ruthless and had killed countless people.
Just months before his departure for the Third Combat Zone, eight of his paternal half-brothers had died suddenly, one after another. Their influences were gradually uprooted, and the family head himself had his “roots” severed. Since then, only Cang Jiuâwho hadn’t even awakened back thenâremained as the undisputed successor!
Such a ruthless person was actually willing to kneel before the Princess, adopting the undignified posture of a pet in broad daylightâ
This Second Princess truly had formidable methods!
The Sand Wolf family head secretly wiped away a bead of sweat, re-evaluating the girlâs value.
Although the First Prince had the support of ten S-class Sentinels, he was, after all, only an A-class Sentinel himself. Furthermore, for the past century, the First Prince had mostly engaged in charitable work, with no remarkable achievements to speak of.
In comparison, the Second Princess had not only successfully destroyed the Zerg wormhole in the Third Combat Zone within a short three years but had also utterly captivated the next head of the Heavenly Fox familyâwho controlled nearly sixty percent of the Empire’s metal resources. Not to mention that SSS-class Sentinel, who, as long as he received purification, could quickly regain his status in the Empire…
Clearly, in terms of both ability and personal charisma, the Second Princess far outshone the First Prince.
However, he still wanted to keep his options open.
The Sand Wolf family head stood up and bowed to Xie Qiang again, speaking respectfully, “Princess, a new mine was recently discovered on a planet under our family’s jurisdiction. It is estimated to be extractable for a hundred and eighty years.”
“The First Prince is fighting hard for it, but I thought the Princess might also be interested in this mine.”
The so-called “fighting for it” meant taking a portion of the mining rights to build a private Sentinel armed force in secret.
Xie Qiang picked up her tea, took a small sip, and threw the question to Cang Jiu. “Xiao Jiu, what do you think?”
“Under the wide heavens, all land belongs to the Sovereign. What is there to ‘fight’ for?” Cang Jiuâs eyes were filled with an intoxicated smile, but Xie Qiang could see the mischief brewing inside him.
He really loved increasing the difficulty of the game.
Xie Qiang set down her teacup and said to the Sand Wolf family head, “I want the entirety of the mining rights for this mountain.”
“What!” The family headâs eye twitched. “Princess, even the First Prince only dared to ask for eight percent of the extraction rights…”
He had originally planned to give the First Prince eight percent and then secretly give the Second Princess another eight percent.
Xie Qiang didn’t answer. Instead, she glanced down at her lightbrain. “Family Head Wanyan, you have twenty minutes to reconsider. My time is limited; I have other family heads to meet.”
She toyed with the tip of the fox’s ear, her fingertip occasionally flicking the bell on the base of his ear. The crisp ringing echoed in the VIP room from time to time, like a death knell, making the Sand Wolf family head increasingly frantic.
“Princess, the most I can cede is fifteen percent. You know that the Empire’s resources are limited, and these extraction rights are what we nobles rely on…”
Xie Qiang turned a deaf ear. The soft flesh inside Cang Jiuâs fox ear was being rubbed red by her. She truly couldn’t bear to ravage it any further, so she patted his back and commanded, “Xiao Jiu, bring out your tail, too.”
The Sand Wolf family headâs entire body shuddered.
Was the Princess hinting that she had seen through his “fox tail”? Was she warning him that one family cannot serve two masters?
The Sand Wolf family head gritted his teeth. “Princess, forty percent of the extraction rights!”
She hadn’t expected him to jump straight up by twenty-five percent. Xie Qiang instinctively tightened her grip on the fox tail in her hand. The silver-haired youth immediately let out a muffled groan, biting his lip as he looked at the girl pitifully.
Xie Qiang: Oops~
She looked up at the Sand Wolf family head and said with a pleasant smile, “You’ve wasted twenty minutes of my precious time.”
“A mere forty percent? That isn’t even the loose change Xiao Jiu gives me.” A look of disdain appeared on her face. “It seems that after I inherit the throne, the priority extraction rights for the new planets can only be given to the Heavenly Fox family.”
Cang Jiu tilted his head, puzzled. “Princess, when did Iâ”
Xie Qiang squeezed the fox tail hard.
Wicked fox, don’t you dare expose me and make the game harder!
The silver-haired youth groaned in pain. The words he was about to say were interrupted, and he lost the chance to continue.
“Princess, may I ask… how much of the extraction rights did the Heavenly Fox family give you?” the Sand Wolf family head asked cautiously.
Xie Qiang laid her cards on the table. “Everything.”
“Princess… mmm!”
Just as Cang Jiu was about to stir, Xie Qiang squeezed his tail several times. This time, she specifically pinched the base of the tail, making him tremble uncontrollably and collapse into her lap.
“The Princess… is truly wicked.” The silver-haired youth panted, finally following her lead. “Taking all my extraction rights and still bullying me like this~”
The Sand Wolf family head was breaking out in a cold sweat.
He hadn’t expected Cang Jiu to love the Princess to such an extent. If he wanted to show absolute sincerity to the Princess…
He steeled his heart. “The entirety of the extraction rights shall be gifted to the Princess. I hope the Princess will look after us in the future!”
Xie Qiang stopped squeezing the tail and blinked her feline eyes. “You certainly change your mind quickly, Family Head.”
She thought it would take the full twenty minutes for him to decide.
The Sand Wolf family head wiped the sweat from his forehead and hurriedly expressed his loyalty. “Princess, the Sand Wolf family will only serve you in the future. We will never change our minds again!”
Xie Qiang: …
These people involved in power struggles really loved overthinking things.
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