Chapter 144 Top Alpha: He was once a crippled Omega. 54.

December 8th, 324th year of the White Night Era.

Three days have passed since the live broadcast of the alien laboratory that shocked the entire White Night Federation. The Central Star Government Square is still in chaos. The statue of the Light Party leader and former president, who was once highly praised for fighting against the aliens, has been toppled and covered with mud and rotten eggs.

The military activated its emergency plan, and the president and speaker of parliament were placed under house arrest in the government office. The atmosphere on Central Star was tense and tense.

Various political parties have stepped forward, giving speeches one day and making appeals the next, stirring up public sentiment and leaving people confused and disoriented.

As the most powerful opposition party, the Citizens Alliance quickly attempted to consolidate power and stabilize the situation.

However, due to the delayed announcement of the punishment for the Komyou Party and the continued disappearance of Qi Pingye, who exposed all of this, the public remains dissatisfied.

"In this situation, ordinary measures are no longer effective. We must have enough courage and be open and transparent to let the people vent their anger! Otherwise, public resentment will be hard to quell!"

"The Light Party has been operating for decades, how could it possibly be eradicated completely? Besides, it's always better to leave some room for maneuver. If you really try to wipe them out, even a rabbit will bite when cornered, let alone the Light Party. The White Night Federation simply cannot withstand such a blow..."

"Even if you can't bear it, you have to bear it! You have to give up something to gain something! Fifty years of alien wars have resulted in far too many human deaths and left behind too many wounds. Now that everything has been exposed in a completely transparent way, how can it be easily suppressed or forgiven again?"

"The citizens of the White Night Federation are gentle humans, not docile lambs! My suggestion is to establish a people's court and have the entire population try the Party of Light!"

"Nonsense!"

The lights in the government council chamber stayed on all night, and the arguments inside never stopped.

Overt and covert, the reckoning, the encirclement, the counterattack, the contest—all swirled in the chaos of each burning cigar.

Finally, on the morning of December 10th, Central Star Time, the Prime Minister and a member of parliament, under pressure, publicly apologized to the entire Federation on behalf of the government and announced that a public trial would be held two days later, marking the first time a people's court would be opened to try high-ranking members of the Light Party, including the President, Speaker, and Deputy Speaker.

The news was met with cheers both in real life and online, seemingly indicating a victory for public opinion.

Only a very few people vaguely realized that this might just be the beginning of some kind of battle.

On December 12, the People's Court held its first hearing, with hundreds of millions of people, both in person and online, participating in the proceedings.

The president led the leaders of the Bright Party to the dock. Facing countless accusations and insults, they remained silent, only shedding tears. As the evidence presented by the prosecution was revealed one by one, more and more high-ranking officials broke down, crying out about their hardships and the coercion they had been forced into.

The public was outraged.

However, due to insufficient evidence and a lack of key direct evidence, the trial was suspended, and the first hearing was adjourned.

That evening, some seemingly conflicting pieces of evidence began to circulate vaguely on the StarNet.

The alien laboratory incident has been linked to elections, leadership transitions, and partisan infighting. Furthermore, some information about Qi Pingye, the veracity of which is unknown, has been circulating, suggesting that he had contact with the Citizens' Alliance during his military academy years and may have already joined it.

On December 15, the People's Court held its second hearing.

The defense lawyers, who were absent last time, reappeared and presented a large amount of evidence proving that the current president, speaker of parliament, and others were also victims. They were unaware of the true nature of the alien laboratory, were kept in the dark by high-ranking officials of the former government and some of their subordinates, and unintentionally became accomplices, not the main culprits.

In addition, the lawyer questioned Qi Pingye's identity and the authenticity of the alien laboratory, seriously suspecting that it was just a "show".

The public was in uproar, but faced with conflicting evidence and various claims, they also began to waver.

"Perhaps it was just a coup, and we were all used as fools!"

"Those alien species are right in front of us, how could they be fake!"

"Is it definitely a member of the Light Party? I don't think so..."

"Thinking about it now, Qi Pingye is also very suspicious. He caused trouble and hasn't been seen since, he's disappeared..."

Opinions vary.

The defendant's lawyer also looked wronged, saying, "Direct evidence, we only recognize direct evidence! After the live broadcast ended, all parties sent people to check that coordinate point. The procuratorate went, and those internet celebrities and live streamers went too. Besides a broken small satellite, what else was there? Laboratory wreckage, data?"

"At the very least, we should still have the original chip from that live stream, right?"

"There's nothing to it. All we've talked about regarding the alien lab so far is a live broadcast, a few documents, and a massive propaganda war. To smear the president based on just that is a bit too unfair, isn't it? If all else fails, why don't you have Qi Pingye do another live broadcast and come out and say something?"

The president, with tears streaming down his face and a look of suppressed grievance, the disgruntled defense lawyer, and the incomplete direct evidence, further shook the already wavering public.

The court session was adjourned again at its second hearing.

On December 20, the People's Court will hold its third and final hearing.

The eyes of the entire Federation are fixed on this place.

Many people know that the Light Party's death throes cannot turn the tide, but as long as they manage to salvage something, there will always be a chance to rise again in the future. Even a weakened camel is bigger than a horse; the Citizens' Alliance dares not completely destroy them, and the Light Party is confident that it can manipulate people's hearts.

"I need to lay low for a while. Maybe I can go to T76 for some time. I have two planets there. I can treat it as a vacation, change my mood, and then I'll have the motivation to fight again..."

"This time I was really unlucky, but things might not be the same in the future."

We'll see.

"Hey, right, will that kid Qi Pingye keep causing trouble?"

"Don't worry, he'll be blown to smithereens, he definitely won't survive... Even if he's lucky enough to survive, all the factions won't let him show up again and disrupt the situation that's finally starting to stabilize. Politics is for adults, what are little greenhorns doing here? One wrong move and he could really lose his life..."

In the room where they were under house arrest, high-ranking members of the Light Party were already smoking cigarettes and chatting amiably.

They had been secretly negotiating with the Citizens' Alliance for several rounds, and everything was settled and stable. They believed there would be no more surprises.

Most people seem to have already anticipated this and are prepared to accept an outcome where some take the blame while others continue to go unpunished. While regrettable, this is a very real situation.

In this atmosphere, the third public court session was held.

Presenting and examining evidence, debating and making statements, voting and deliberation...

The judge looked down at the verdict, a sigh on his face, but still reached out and grasped the gavel.

However, at this very moment...

Suddenly, the alarm for an emergency airborne landing by the military sounded over the central square, which had been requisitioned as temporary site for the people's court.

Countless people subconsciously looked up.

Amidst the blaring alarms, a small fleet of ships, each adorned with silver wings, hurtled through the air.

After the lead starship landed, its gangway unfolded, and two tall, handsome young men stepped out.

"Who says there's a lack of direct evidence?"

Qi Pingye's cold, hard voice echoed and reverberated in the momentarily silent square, "Fifty years ago, twenty-four years ago, and now, which one do you want?"

"Qi Pingye...it's Qi Pingye!"

"The Silverwing Legion..."

"No...impossible!"

Eyes widened, revealing a variety of expressions, some of surprise, others of fear.

...

December 20th of the 324th year of the White Night Era is known as the "Day of Renewal of Light".

Occupying the word "light" plunged the White Night Federation into a war of alien species. The Light Party, which had suffered for fifty years, was completely destroyed. Other parties, such as the Citizens' Alliance, were also affected. After the general election was postponed for three months, the Fermé Party, a party that rose from the bottom, won the election.

The alien laboratory was destroyed, and all remaining personnel were wanted throughout the Federation based on the list collected by Qi Pingye's AI. Both the doctor and Director Liu were captured one by one.

Military cases related to the chaos on the distant planet have been reopened for trial. The Silverwing Legion has been restored to its legion-level status and is now responsible for clearing out the alien species on the border. Although the laboratory is gone, the alien species continue to multiply, and the fight continues.

The public has returned to their usual routines, only occasionally glancing at related news and then sighing and cursing.

Everything has settled down.

The chaos in the central square is gone, and a new musical fountain has been completed, replacing the old statues.

Before his execution, Qi Yun requested to see Qi Pingye.

Qi Pingye still had some doubts, but he agreed to the meeting.

The meeting took place in a small monitoring room, filled with hidden cameras and smart devices. When Qi Pingye entered, Qi Yun was already strapped into a metal chair.

Hearing the sound, Qi Yun propped himself up on the table with his elbows and turned to look.

Qi Pingye had called Qi Yun "father" for over twenty years. Although he knew there was more to the story and that Qi Yun was no good, the sight of him after so long still stirred something within him.

"Mr. Qi."

He suppressed his emotions, his expression calm, and said in a deep voice, "I heard you specifically requested to see me."

Qi Yun was wearing prison clothes and had stubble on his face. At first glance, he looked more than ten years older, completely unlike the father Qi Pingye remembered who was always neatly dressed, clean-faced, and gentle.

But Qi Yun didn't seem to realize it. He still showed his usual gentle smile and said to Qi Pingye, "Is it strange that a father wants to see his son before he dies?"

“Playing games,” Qi Pingye scoffed. “There’s no need to use that on me, is there? I thought we’d already broken off all ties long ago.”

Qi Yun remained unmoved: "Young people are just hot-tempered. Sit down first, Xiao Ye, don't stand while you talk. As the only S-class Alpha in the entire Federation, you need to know how to protect your body and understand your position. You shouldn't be standing while talking to me now, but rather sitting down, or even looking down at me."

He chuckled with a sigh, "To be honest, when we banished you to the Wind-Riding Sky Domain two years ago, no one imagined you'd return to Central Star, let alone... so quickly, with such fanfare, and under such intense public scrutiny. You could say you single-handedly destroyed the entire Light Party, and our entire Qi family..."

"I'm really starting to regret it. You should be my son, Qi Yun's son..."

Qi Pingye said, "You think you're worthy?"

Qi Yun's lips stiffened, and a crack appeared in his smile.

Qi Pingye laughed and raised an eyebrow: "Finished? Have a safe journey."

He turned and left as soon as he finished speaking.

Qi Yun's expression changed. He stared at Qi Pingye's unfamiliar yet familiar back and finally understood once again that this was no longer his child, nor was it the Qi Pingye of two years ago.

He trembled his lips, then spoke decisively.

“Qi Pingye, I know why you agreed to see me,” Qi Yun said. “Twenty-four years ago was an accident, but you’re curious about exactly what kind of accident it was. I can give you the answer, and I guarantee there will be no deception.”

"But you have to agree to one condition."