Chapter 58: 058 New Product Teasers and the Night Before the Move part 1
After sending that message, Zhu Ran set his optical computer aside.
The day of the move would be incredibly busy, and he likely wouldn’t have much time to catalyze plants. Taking advantage of the ample time over these next two days, Zhu Ran planned to prepare and stock up on essential oil products.
On the other side, Zefaer first arrived at the B-grade planet Messiah via a spatial channel. From there, he launched a surprise return to Ghalan Star, heading straight for the Sovar Palace.
Figures clad in external power armor suddenly appeared, surrounding the Sovar Palace in layers.
Flanked by his retinue, Zefaer stepped into the palace that belonged to him, coming face-to-face with the man who had usurped his place: Byron Suoye.
When Byron emerged from the room that originally belonged to Zefaer, a triumphant smile was plastered on his face, as if everything were under his control.
The pinnacle of interstellar power, this very palace—it was all about to be his!
However, the moment he laid eyes on Zefaer, Byron froze like a plaster statue.
Wasn’t Zefaer supposed to be in a coma from severe injuries?
How… how had he suddenly appeared?
Furthermore, the man’s body looked… perfectly fine, and his mental state seemed even better than before.
How was this possible!
He had personally sent the person to trigger Zefaer’s spiritual sea riot; how could Zefaer be completely unharmed?!
Facing a pale-faced Byron, Zefaer remained silent.
He simply swept his blue-and-gold heterochromatic eyes over Byron as if looking at thin air, his aura chillingly indifferent, radiating a sense of disdain and slight.
“Bro… Brother—”
Before Byron could finish the word ‘Brother,’ Zefaer’s merciless voice cut him off.
Zefaer adjusted his cuffs, flicking away non-existent dust.
“Entering the restricted areas of the royal palace without authorization… I cannot afford to be called ‘Brother’ by you.”
“I only wanted to come see you, Brother, that’s right, I only…”
Byron continued to defend himself, but Zefaer had no intention of listening.
“Take him away. Deal with him according to interstellar law.”
“The evidence… attempted murder of the interstellar supreme ruler, trespassing in restricted areas, and conspiring to rebel. These charges are more than enough.”
The moment the words left his mouth, the armored guards seized Byron without mercy, snapping a spiritual power limiter around his neck.
Byron’s expression no longer held the refined elegance seen in media reports; rage made his features hideous. “Zefaer! You can’t do this! You have no evidence!”
“I am your brother! You cold-blooded, heartless test subject! You should have died back then with your useless mother!”
Vicious curses echoed through the empty corridor, foul and hysterical.
Zefaer cast a sidelong glance at Byron, the depths of his eyes darkening.
In the next instant, a small black hole five centimeters in diameter suddenly appeared.
As the black hole expanded and contracted, Byron’s ear and a portion of his cheek were swallowed whole.
“Argh!!”
Byron screamed in agony as blood dyed half of his face crimson.
Zefaer simply walked past him without sparing another glance or saying another word.
In his heart, Byron was not worth wasting a single second of his time.
Zefaer reached the door of his office, noting traces that things had been rummaged through.
However, Zefaer kept all important documents on his person or recorded within his optical computer; there was nothing of true value left in this room.
With a focus of Zefaer’s spiritual power, a circular black hole manifested within the room.
It was pitch-black and void, possessing a non-organic metallic feel.
In the span of a single second, the black hole expanded to cover everything in the room. When it contracted, every piece of furniture had vanished.
The reinforced metal walls and floor were left with a circular curvature, carved away by the black hole.
The entire room was suddenly cavernous, echoing with a desolate silence.
Zefaer retracted his spiritual power.
In the past, using his spiritual power would have been a burden, so he rarely used it in daily life. But after Zhu Ran’s aromatherapy treatments, the state of his spiritual sea had improved; he felt no discomfort after using his ability this time.
Turning the once neatly arranged study into an empty, discarded space had taken Zefaer only a single thought.
“Disinfect it.”
With that, Zefaer strode out of the study and headed toward the other reception rooms.
His deep-blue cloak billowed with his steps, his presence as grand as a mountain and as sharp as a blade.
The return of the ruthless monarch, who had been missing for nearly a month, made the already restless power-holding class feel the approaching storm, a blood-soaked aura of killing intent permeating the air.
[Anonymous: Holy crap… Byron was just strutting into the Supreme Council Chamber a few days ago. Now that His Majesty is back, Byron is finished!]
[Rumor Mill: Everyone was saying His Majesty was at death’s door. But the way he was walking just now… he didn’t look sick at all.]
[Inside Source: Byron is in custody and his ear is gone. No doctor dares treat him without permission. His Majesty’s methods are just as ruthless as the legends say.]
…
The sudden return of the supposedly dying Emperor and his lightning-fast disposal of the conspirator Byron caused the rumors to collapse instantly.
Zefaer hadn’t hidden his actions, so it didn’t take long for the news to circulate through the interstellar political sections.
And right now, the Emperor—described by the public as ‘calculating,’ ‘ruthless,’ and ‘devoid of family feeling’—was in another reception room, staring at his optical computer with a deep frown.
Anyone seeing the Emperor in this state would assume he had encountered some grave political dilemma—perhaps Byron had another co-conspirator, or there were dire consequences for the galactic government.
The reality, however, was that Zefaer was feeling anxious because of the message Zhu Ran had sent him.
Zhu Ran said he had bought a house on Ghalan Star.
Good; he could find excuses to stay over at Zhu Ran’s in the future.
But… what was all this stuff at the end?
Someone asked about Zhu Ran’s orientation? And wanted to pursue a deeper relationship?!
He had been away from Zhu Ran for less than a day, not even twenty-four hours, and the youth was already being hit on.
Zefaer was furious, a storm of lost control gathering in his eyes—much like a rampaging tornado, it was full of chaos and sharpness.
The oppressive atmosphere caused his spiritual power to materialize. Predictably, the room was filled with razor-sharp energy. Within seconds, the tea sets were shattered, the furniture was reduced to scrap metal, and the walls and floor were covered in gouges.
The room looked as though it had been savagely ravaged.
Only after venting his emotions did Zefaer feel a slight sense of relief.
The frantic air in the room settled slightly.
Zefaer sent a flurry of emojis: [Heterochromia cat crying.JPG] [Heterochromia cat feeling wronged.JPG] [Heterochromia cat in isolation.JPG] …
Then, Zefaer suddenly realized something and began typing rapidly.
Z: [What did you say in response?]
Having sent that, Zefaer waited quietly for Zhu Ran’s reply.
He wondered what Zhu Ran would say.
It should be a rejection!
Based on his understanding, while Zhu Ran appeared gentle, he wasn’t actually easy to get close to. Zhu Ran couldn’t possibly have feelings for someone he had only met once.
But if it was just a rejection, Zhu Ran probably wouldn’t have asked him that question specifically.
So… how exactly did Zhu Ran respond?
As he thought it over, Z calmed down, no longer as angry as when he had first seen the message.
Soon, Zhu Ran’s reply arrived.
Zhu Ran: [I said, I already have someone I care about.]
At the sight of that message, Z’s world felt as though it had suddenly burst into bloom, becoming bright and warm.
The heavy clouds and frantic storm vanished instantly, leaving behind a beautifully tended garden where flowers and leaves intertwined in a soft, spring-like display.
Z couldn’t stop smiling, a brilliant light dancing in his eyes.
Z: [Heterochromia cat opening its eyes wide to act cute.JPG]
Z: [I assume I’m not just being self-indulgent here?]
The long-haired yellow cat in the emoji blinked its watery, mismatched eyes; it couldn’t be any cuter.
Looking at the emoji on his screen, Zhu Ran recalled how Z would occasionally watch him with those exceptionally beautiful heterochromatic eyes; it was exactly like the emoji.
He didn’t answer directly, only sending a [Black cat cuddling.JPG] emoji.
Z immediately followed with a [Double cats cuddling.JPG] emoji.
Zhu Ran then sent [Black cat patting a head.JPG].
The two of them continued to exchange childish emojis, filling several screens.
The smiles in their eyes only grew deeper.
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