Chapter 16
Is Your Highness thinking of Lord Lanhua?
Lan Hua used the humanoid number plate painter and the money-grubbing prophet and then threw them away. After learning about Regas, he went directly to planet LM68.
Although both LM68 and LM10 share the same "LM" designation, LM68 is not located in the Tianjian Galaxy, but rather in the more remote Beimen Galaxy. Beimen Galaxy is situated on the border of the Cali Federation, representing the northernmost edge of the Federation's northern frontier.
"LM68 Ptolemy Port has arrived." The announcement from inside the interstellar passenger ship confirmed its arrival. Ptolemy Port is the largest interstellar port on LM68, used for passenger and cargo transport in peacetime, and for warship take-off, landing, and docking during wartime.
Lan Hua disembarked from the starship with the others. Tired of the endless attempts to strike up conversations, he found a shop and bought a black hooded cloak, covering himself completely. His attire blended seamlessly into the strangely dressed crowd, even appearing somewhat understated.
LM68 is the northernmost planet in the Cali Federation. Beyond this planet lies the territory of the Zerg. LM68 has no mineral deposits, but it does contain the ruins of an "Ancient God." When humans first landed on this planet, it was a barren wasteland, one side of its surface covered with basalt, riddled with impact craters, while the other side was a desert.
Transforming this planet into a habitable one would be far too costly, and the Cali Federation originally had no intention of doing so. However, in the desert of this planet, a large number of enormous humanoid corpses were discovered. The sheer number of them was comparable to the total number found on all other planets combined. Moreover, deep within the desert, there were many enormous palace-like structures, built of massive stones, which, despite their dilapidation, still retained their basic form.
However, these humanoid corpses and architectural ruins were difficult to handle and transport, forcing researchers to build research institutes and numerous supporting facilities on-site. To prevent other countries from coveting and plundering, the Cali Federation also dispatched troops for protection. Thus, unknowingly, this planet was transformed into a habitable one for humans. After the corpses of these "gods" were moved away and researchers largely evacuated the planet, many adventurers, gold prospectors, and mystics still flocked to LM68 because the ruins of the "ancient gods" remained. Coupled with interstellar refugees and space pirates, the planet gradually transformed from barren to a melting pot of diverse elements.
So many people are drawn to the ruins of the "Ancient Gods" that bustling residential areas and commercial streets have sprung up around them. Many exploration teams stop here to rest and regroup before venturing deeper into the ruins. Some even purchase mansions or estates here as temporary residences due to the lengthy nature of their expeditions.
"Your Highness, the last Philosopher's Stone has still not been found," Loying reported, standing before Regas's table.
"You've worked hard." Regas raised his head, his eyes were a deep purple, but his gaze was clear and gentle. "It's much faster than expected."
Even though she could see His Highness the Crown Prince every day, Luo Ying still couldn't help but feel her heart skip a beat when she saw Regas's incomparably handsome face.
"You may leave," Regas said.
"Yes." Even though Luo Ying was reluctant to leave, Regas's command was like an instruction written in his genes, making it impossible for him to resist in the slightest. However, he still couldn't help but ask, "Is Your Highness thinking of Lord Lan Hua?" When he came in, he saw the Crown Prince writing a letter on black and gold rose paper. He had seen it more than once; every time the Crown Prince finished writing, he would burn the letter, and no one knew what was written inside.
“You’ve overstepped your bounds,” Regas said calmly. “From now on, let Borene report on the progress. You may leave.”
Regas's voice remained gentle, but Luo Ying felt a chill run down his spine. However, regret was useless now. No matter how deep His Highness's feelings for Lan Hua were, they could never be together, yet he could stay by His Highness's side. He had been controlling his emotions so well before, so why had he suddenly lost control?
The study door closed, and Regas picked up the letter from the desk. His expression softened, becoming tender and affectionate, yet his gaze held a hint of melancholy. He sighed softly, lit the letter, and watched as the flames gradually consumed it, leaving behind charred gray embers.
"I wonder how he is now?" Regas closed his eyes and uttered softly. Rationally, he hoped that Lan Hua had forgotten him and could have a new life, but what if Lan Hua really forgot him, or even had a new lover? Regas laughed silently. He didn't want to think about that possibility, he didn't want to know, because thinking about that possibility would drive him crazy.
******
LM68 is a very large planet, the largest in the Cali Federation, and 30 times the size of the Cali Federation's capital planet.
After leaving Ptolemy Starport, Lan Hua didn't rush to find Regas. Instead, he went to a bar. He leaned against the bar, ordered a drink, and slowly sipped it.
Actually, he already had a general idea of Regas's location when he disembarked from the passenger ship. Although his personal computer bracelet was in standby mode because it couldn't connect to the star network of his universe, he and Regas's personal computer were connected by a special device. When he disembarked from the passenger ship, his personal computer received a signal from Regas's personal computer. After memorizing the location, he deactivated the communication device.
Lan Hua felt she needed to adjust her mood so that she wouldn't be unable to resist taking drastic measures against the liar Regas after seeing him.
Although Lan Hua's cloak hood covered most of his face, the lower half was still visible. The dim light outlined his perfectly sculpted jawline, and his lips, wet with wine, were perfectly alluring. His hand holding the wine glass was fair, long, and slender with clearly defined fingers, but the fact that his nail beds weren't blue also indicated that this man was not a "god."
A beautiful woman alone, and just an ordinary person at that, stirred the desires of those secretly observing her. In the already dimly lit bar, a turbulent undercurrent swirled around Lan Hua, the gazes directed at her becoming increasingly undisguised, brazen, and frivolous. The person at the center of the circle, however, seemed oblivious, maintaining the same posture he had adopted upon entering, idly sipping his drink. If those growing, increasingly intense gazes could materialize, they would surely reduce Lan Hua to ashes.
Although those people were eager to make their move, they were also waiting for someone to take the lead so they could assess their own strength among the covetous men and see if they had the ability to win the beauty's heart.
Soon, the first to stick their neck out arrived. A burly man with a scarred face walked towards Lan Hua. He wore a black leather armband on his muscular arm, with a bronze six-pointed star embedded in it.
Some of those who had been harboring ambitions lost their gloomy and damp thoughts upon seeing the armlet. Those who had spent considerable time on LM68 would be very familiar with this metallic six-pointed star symbol. It was the emblem of the Luther Mercenary Group, one of the largest mercenary organizations on LM68, a paradise for outlaws.
"Beautiful lady, drinking alone?" Scarface pulled up a high chair next to Lan Hua and sat down beside her.
“Yes.” Lan Hua swirled the wine in his glass, the amber wine moving within. A slight smile played on his lips. “I’m in a bad mood, and I have nowhere to vent.”
"Oh?" Scarface grabbed Lan Hua's wrist and licked his lips. "Want to vent? It's simple. Come with me, and I guarantee you'll be in heaven all night."
"Are you sure?" Lan Hua chuckled softly, her voice slightly hoarse.
Hearing the laughter, Scarface felt a surge of heat coursing through his body, wishing he could take the beauty before him right then and there. Although only half of the man's face was visible, he had slept with countless beauties and could tell at a glance that this was a top-tier woman.
"Come with me." Scarface touched Lan Hua's wrist, his body growing increasingly hot. "You're just an ordinary person. If you come with me, I guarantee you'll become someone of high status."
Lan Hua tapped the scarred man's hand on her wine glass, signaling him to let go, and said softly, "Originally, I didn't know how to vent my anger, after all, I still couldn't bring myself to lay a hand on that person. But now that you're here, I feel—"
He chuckled and said, "It's been a long time since I've really taken action."
Scarface burst into laughter upon hearing Lan Hua's words, "My beauty, how do you intend to make a move? Are you going to punch your little fists in my chest? Well, I'll fight you, you little vixen, right now."
"Oh?" Lan Hua put down her wine glass and pinched the hand that Scarface was holding on his wrist.
When Scarface saw Lan Hua reach out her hand, he didn't take it seriously and even laughed, "Does the beauty want to touch her brother's hand?"
However, Scarface's smile quickly vanished. He felt excruciating pain in his wrist, which was being gripped, and he could even feel that his wrist was fractured. The intense pain ignited his rage, and he raised his other hand to slap Lan Hua across the face, yelling, "You bitch, you won't listen to reason, so you'll have to suffer the consequences!" But his other hand missed Lan Hua's face; it was intercepted once again.
Having lost face in front of everyone, Scarface went completely berserk. He roared, "Kill this bitch!" Scarface's henchmen rushed forward upon hearing this.
Lan Hua released Scarface's hand, cracked her knuckles, and smiled warmly, "Let's go together."
Ten minutes later...
The bustling bar fell silent, leaving only a mess on the floor: shattered glass, overturned chairs, and a large man groaning in pain.
"Thanks, I feel much better now." Feeling refreshed after beating up the man, Lan Hua stomped on Scarface's chest and smiled. "Also, remember to compensate the bar owner for the damages." Scarface, who was already the most seriously injured, vomited blood again after Lan Hua stomped on him.
Lan Hua walked towards the bar entrance, and no one dared to stop him along the way. After all, those people lying on the ground, unable to get up, were the best example of what would happen if they went against this terrifying beauty.
Lan Hua walked out of the bar, then activated her communication device and left a message: I'm here, Regas—
A note from the author:
Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 2:43:42 on August 2, 2022 and 23:33:43 on August 4, 2022!
Thank you to the little angels who watered the nutrient solution: Willow Catkins on the Road (10 bottles); One Flower One Sword (6 bottles); wawa (3 bottles);
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
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