Minister Zhao’s smile was about to falter.
As the saying goes, an overly comfortable environment had made him complacent. Before this, he would never have imagined, nor believed, that any race would be so audacious.
While Earth was not the most powerful race in recent years, it was by no means a race that anyone could casually bully.
The malicious smile on Alger’s face, hiding his true attitude, was already incomprehensible to him.
Alger suddenly chuckled. He was indeed a handsome individual, a fact even Minister Zhao had to admit.
His slender eyes curved slightly, the corners of his lips lifting, completely erasing the aggressive demeanor from moments before. However, the words he spoke still made Minister Zhao’s lungs ache with anger.
“Do you know who our young prince is?”
Minister Zhao: “?”
“Although our young prince is only eight years old, he already owns over thirty planets, not including some remote smaller ones. The various resources on these thirty-odd planets, at the current Star Coin exchange rate, are enough to purchase two-thirds of Earth.”
Minister Zhao’s fingers involuntarily curled.
Alger maintained his languid posture. “As far as I know, the highest-level battleship on Earth currently is the G-718 model. Although I haven’t tested it, I estimate conservatively that it would take about an hour.”
Minister Zhao’s face instantly turned pale. What could be done in an hour? Destroy the battleship? Or simply tear it apart?
Alger spoke softly, “There are about tens of thousands of Insect Generals like me in the Insect Race.”
With a crash, Minister Zhao slid off his chair.
Alger seemed not to notice, frowning slightly, his voice still nonchalant, “You apologize, but with what can you apologize?”
His gaze fell upon Minister Zhao, the smile vanishing from his face as he let out a cold sneer, “What are you, anyway?”
Minister Zhao was rendered completely speechless.
When fear reaches a certain point, the heart gradually calms down.
Minister Zhao even had the leisure to recall Ye Yun’s words: if he died here, killed by this imposing-looking Insect General, who would seek justice for him?
The answer was no one.
Minister Zhao tragically realized that in the face of an overwhelmingly powerful opponent, talk of reason, etiquette, or even interstellar principles was all in vain.
For rules are always made by the strong.
As for Alger’s words, he could not muster any doubt. He even wondered, if a mere Insect General possessed such a powerful aura, what would the Insect King be like?
Minister Zhao dared not think further, even cautiously observing the seemingly ordinary living room.
Perhaps its ordinariness was merely a guise. At any moment, the Insect King, accompanied by a full contingent of Insect Generals, might emerge from a corner and twist his head off.
Minister Zhao forced himself to calm down and spoke softly, “I am here representing Earth…”
Alger said with disdain, “If it weren’t for that, you wouldn’t even be able to enter the door.”
Minister Zhao: “……” He had never endured so much humiliation in his entire life as he had in these past two hours.
He felt utterly choked with rage but dared not retort. He could only nod, replaying Ye Yun’s instructions in his mind before suppressing the pain in his chest caused by anger, and spoke cautiously,
“To express Earth’s apologies, is there anything Earth can do? If it is within Earth’s capabilities, Earth will absolutely not refuse.”
After speaking, Minister Zhao lowered his head, prepared to face the cold mockery from the Insect Race. However, he waited for Alger’s voice for a long time.
He raised his head in surprise and saw Alger still wearing a cold smile, taking out his terminal.
Minister Zhao watched as the Insect Race’s expression instantly changed, as if a harsh winter had suddenly turned into a warm spring.
His eyes and the corners of his mouth softened. Minister Zhao couldn’t help but wonder what information on the terminal could cause such a rapid shift in Alger’s demeanor.
The terminal was likely set to private mode, with the semi-transparent screen displaying information only to Alger. Minister Zhao had no idea what had happened.
Alger read the message twice, his smile growing wider, as if he had completely forgotten the person in front of him.
The person in front of him, watching Alger seemingly grin foolishly at himself: “……” It was quite sudden.
Alger raised his hand and tapped his terminal twice, sending a message to someone. After sending it, he stood up from the sofa. His eyes fell upon Minister Zhao, and the corners of his mouth instantly drooped again.
Minister Zhao: “……”
Alger asked, “Why are you still here?”
Minister Zhao: “…Ah?”
Alger recalled the previous conversation and said, “The Insect Race has received your apology. You may leave now.”
At that moment, Minister Zhao couldn’t articulate whether he felt relieved or a sense of loss.
He stood up, only to find his legs felt as heavy as lead, soft as noodles, making him sway as he walked.
But he swore that this was the fastest he could walk while maintaining politeness.
Just as his hand reached the doorknob, he suddenly heard Alger speak from behind him:
“Someone has already informed me of your purpose today. I hope you will conduct yourself wisely.”
Minister Zhao paused and then fled out of the Insect Race villa. Once outside, he felt as if he had been given a second chance at life. He took deep breaths, his legs still trembling as he walked towards his hovercar.
Stepping into the hovercar and sitting in the seat, he finally let out a sigh of relief.
His subordinate in the front seat asked, “Minister, what happened?”
Minister Zhao did not mention any of the embarrassing events at the Insect Race villa. What concerned him was Alger’s last sentence:
“The Insect Race said someone had already informed them of my purpose.”
The subordinate in the front, aware of his conflict with Ye Yun, immediately understood his implication:
“Minister, it must be that Ye Yun who set you up. He already knew, yet he still sent you here. He must have wanted the Insect Race to make things difficult for you.”
Minister Zhao wiped the sweat from his face, looking at the villa, which now seemed solemn and majestic due to the presence of the Insect Race, and said blankly:
“Perhaps it’s not like that.”
He looked at his subordinate, a thought constantly turning in his mind: “Perhaps, I truly was in the wrong.”