“…” Zhou Mingkai said resentfully, “Big Brother, you’re the one who doesn’t understand love, yet you have the nerve to lecture me.”
“?” Lucas glared at Zhou Mingkai.
“Who would want to kill their own one-night stand partner, right?” Zhou Mingkai shook his head and smiled. “But in your case, it’s not surprising. Love and marriage haven’t been part of your outlook on life for more than ten years.”
Lucas sat down on the edge of the bed. “What does drugging someone and setting them up have to do with love?”
“It does!” Zhou Mingkai stood up to give him a little lecture. “Even though it was a setup, you can’t rule out the possibility that the person did it because they liked you, because they loved you, and that’s why they did something so out of line. That’s a possibility, right?”
Lucas frowned slightly.
“Heh! Why do you think having sex is called making love? Because there’s love involved!” Zhou Mingkai swirled his wineglass. “Not everything is strictly black and white. How can feelings ever be so clear-cut?”
Lucas said coldly, “I’m going to sleep. Get lost.”
“Waaah.” Zhou Mingkai left, carrying his bottle with him.
The office returned to silence.
Lucas lay on the bed, frowning slightly.
To be honest, all these years, he really had never thought about love or marriage. He had never even entertained any fantasies or expectations about them.
For him, that part of life was a blank. It was as though it didn’t exist.
But ever since he had inexplicably spent a night of passion with someone, that something had suddenly appeared out of nowhere, bursting into existence just like that.
The body of an Alpha in his prime could no longer remain as dormant as before after experiencing a temporary marking.
Lucas thought to himself, Looks like I’ll need to take more suppressants.
At that moment, the bottle of special white tea wine sat on the bedside table. The delicate fragrance of white tea drifted through the air, accompanying the empire’s lion as he gradually fell asleep.
…
——— XXXX ———
The following day, Luobing and the empire officially held a grand conference.
The important figures from the empire and Luobing sat on opposite sides of the long table. Lucas held a lofty position and sat just beside the seat of honor. Even Luo Ran, who held no official government position, had a seat at the table.
The demands made by Luobing were naturally unacceptable to Crown Prince Zhou Mingyu, who was temporarily handling state affairs on behalf of the ailing king, with the empire taking the lead. Several ministers seated around the table even openly darkened their expressions.
Luobing was merely a vassal state, yet it was trying to elevate its status through a political marriage. It wanted to change from a vassal into an alliance partner, thereby reducing its mineral supply obligations.
Luobing’s leaders had always been belligerent and restless. The only reason they seemed a little more obedient now was that they had been beaten into submission before.
Yet the empire had never treated them harshly. Food supplies had never been suspended or reduced. It wasn’t that Luobing couldn’t afford to provide the ore, lacked resources, or lacked workers to mine it. They were simply greedy and unwilling to abide by the agreed terms.
After the two sides had discussed the matter for quite some time, Zhou Mingyu finally frowned and asked, “How can Luobing guarantee that UNK actually has value?”
If UNK had no value, then Luobing’s entire trip would have been for nothing. It wouldn’t matter what terms they proposed.
An expert from Luobing spoke up. “Our research institute cannot extract it, but we can measure its radiation and energy levels. The readings are a full six times higher than those of ordinary ice ore! I believe everyone present understands what six times means.”
This was more than just a mineral. It might even have the potential to become a weapon.
“If the empire doesn’t want it, others will covet it.”
For example, the space pirates.
The space pirates had grown into a formidable force by now. They had their own bases, could seize Luobing’s ice ore for fuel, and were capable of manufacturing weapons.
Zhou Mingyu frowned slightly.
Lucas hadn’t participated in the discussion or said anything, but when he heard this, he merely sneered.
Every route leading out of the empire—whether for transporting goods, satellites, or aircraft—had been fought open by him, Lucas, one by one.
Ice ore and UNK were indeed precious. However, if the empire refused to buy them and provided no protection for their transportation, he would like to see how Luobing intended to deal with the space pirates.
Luo Ran knew what Lucas was thinking, but he had more concerns.
Yes, without the empire’s protection, Luobing would naturally be exposed to the space pirates. But… what if Luobing changed its trading partner from the empire to the space pirates?
The crown prince probably had the same concern, which was why he hadn’t completely closed the door on negotiations.
The meeting lasted half a day. In the end, both sides agreed to compromise. They would wait until the empire’s research institute had thoroughly investigated UNK and produced a detailed report, then renegotiate the contract based on UNK’s actual value.
As for the political marriage, Luobing brought it up repeatedly. In the end, the crown prince continued to give an evasive answer, saying that the two princes of Luobing should spend more time with Lucas first. Afterward, they could see what the younger generation decided. There would be no arranged, forced marriage.
After the meeting ended, Lucas and Luo Ran were heading toward their aircraft when they happened to run into the Countess.
Always dressed to the nines and full of enthusiasm, the Countess greeted Lucas as soon as she saw him. Then she clapped her hands in delight and said, “So you’re the general’s secretary! I knew you looked familiar!”
Lucas frowned slightly.
“You’ve met Luo Ran?”
Luo Ran’s heart gave a sudden lurch.
Oh no. I’m done for.
“Of course! Just yesterday afternoon!” the Countess said with a smile. “I was watering the flowers in my courtyard yesterday when I saw Secretary Luo visiting my neighbor. I was even wondering whose aircraft that was, since it didn’t look like it belonged to anyone in our residential community.”
Lucas’s expression turned unpleasant. “Who is your neighbor?”
“Miss Nina, of course!”
Since Nina and Lucas had once been in a political marriage arrangement, the Countess simply assumed that something had been left unresolved and Luo Ran had gone to negotiate on their behalf. She didn’t suspect anything else.
“I see.” Lucas sneered.
Luo Ran: “…”
After the Countess left, Luo Ran glanced at Lucas’s terrifying expression and smiled ingratiatingly. “Um, General, I’ll step away for a moment to… ah!”
Luo Ran was dragged straight onto the aircraft by Lucas.
“What did you go to see her for?” Lucas pressed a hand against the window behind Luo Ran, trapping him between the wall and his own body.
“I…” Luo Ran stared blankly at Lucas.
He didn’t understand why Lucas was angry. He hadn’t even realized that he was feeling guilty.