Cub 045: With Such Pathetic Talk, What Are You Even Fired Up About?!

In the end, little Chu Zao, with a sticker on his face and a transparent Holy Cas Empire flag card clipped to his hat, pattered along beside Anya and Feiman.

He looked around curiously at everything.

The little flag on his head bobbed with every move.

So small, loved by his family and bundled up like a chubby little penguin, lips red and teeth white, fluffy black hair, honey-colored eyes shining sweetly—regardless of his Crown Clan identity, he was just obscenely pretty for a baby.

The Holy Cas flag bobbing on his head drew countless stares from Holy Cas citizens.

—Oh my god, he’s just too cute!!

“What’s that, some angel baby?”

The Holy Cas reporter, who was supposed to interview residents involved in the negotiations and stalls, was broadcasting live to all of Holy Cas.

She was just adjusting her microphone when she suddenly spotted, not far away, a little cub waddling like a penguin.

She couldn’t look away for a second.

“He’s too adorable, right?”

The cameraman behind her instinctively aimed the camera his way, but caught just a glimpse before the reporter quickly stopped him.

“Wait, don’t film randomly, that’s—Princess Feiman and Prince Anya?”

Images of the Crown Clan emperor and princes were classified in Holy Cas, only released by permission and through layers of approval for live events.

Although they stopped in time, the camera still caught a split-second glimpse.

The reporter and cameraman watched their broadcast chat.

Normally sparse, the chat exploded the moment Crown Clan figures appeared.

“Ahhhhh, Princess Feiman!!!”

“That was Prince Anya, it flashed by—that was definitely Prince Anya!”

“Wait, isn’t this a civilian Holy Cas broadcast? Does that mean just attending this event, you might actually bump into a Crown Clan prince?! I need to blast my idiot boss, if he tried just a little harder, we could’ve joined this multi-nation conference representing our field!!!”

“Hey, wasn’t that kid just now standing between two princes? Aaaah, lucky! Is he the child of some minister? Or an outstanding role model’s cub—reaching the top of life at such a young age, that’s the dream of every Holy Cas citizen!”

Of course, such cases had precedents.

Some talents in their fields might get an imperial audience.

“But that little one is just so cute!!! Heavens, where did such an adorable baby come from?”

The Crown Clan’s situation was known not only to Holy Cas. When their habitat planet was destroyed and the first Crown Clan met extinction, every alliance and drifter planet had heard—so big was the event, it was almost a calamity.

Thus, it was common knowledge no more Crown princes would appear.

No one suspected little Chu Zao’s true identity as a Crown cub.

The reporter and cameraman were sweating bullets.

When the camera passed their way, Feiman immediately noticed. By instinct, she blocked the view, letting only a second-long shot of the cub slip through.

She walked over.

The tall Crown Clan woman, with deep features that stood out from ordinary Holy Cas citizens, glanced over the stream, then at the almost-crying reporters.

She simply did something on her comm device, then looked up.

Her presence was reassuring, even calming.

“Just be careful, it’s fine. Go do your work.”

“Y-yes, Princess Feiman!”

The little reporter stammered, face flushed with excitement.

Feiman walked back. Chu Zao had been hiding behind Anya, but when she returned, he poked his little head out.

“Auntie.”

Feiman squatted and stroked his fluffy hair.

“It’s alright.”

The little cub, patted on the head, instinctively closed his eyes.

Before Feiman could say more—

A tremblingly excited voice came: “P-Princess Feiman, you—you’ve always been my goal and inspiration!! G-glory to the Sacred Crown!”

Feiman turned to look.

“Uncle Wen, Aunt Wen!”

Little Chu Zao waved, all bundled up, delighted to greet Wen Qingfeng and Wen Qingyu coming over.

The Wen siblings clearly wanted to say little highness, but swallowed it at the last moment.

Usually calmer than her brother, Wen Qingyu’s eyes sparkled at Feiman, as they sincerely bowed to Feiman and Anya.

Royal guards hid all around, quietly encircling the group.

At home, the cub still thought of planting potatoes. That bag of seeds was kept by Mori, waiting for the right season.

The Wen siblings were among the rare contacts the little cub had made outside the court.

Amos finally arranged for them to accompany the cub around the exhibition.

At first, they were a bit awkward around Anya and Feiman.

But soon, they opened up, explaining why they were here.

Since the Holy Cas fleet returned, the whole mining planet chain had upgraded defenses and driven off many thieves. This time, they represented the entire chain to discuss cooperation with neighboring countries and alliances.

The little cub couldn’t quite follow, just nodded along dully.

He looked dazed but cute and obedient.

Made Wen Qingyu pinch Wen Qingfeng’s leg.

Wen Qingfeng yelped and jumped.

He grumbled, “Sis, why pinch me?”

He had to keep his image in front of the princes!

Wen Qingyu withdrew her hand, whispering.

“Sorry—too excited. The little prince is too cute, it’s hard to control myself, had to do something to stabilize my emotions.”

Wen Qingfeng: …So you pinched me?

In public, Anya and Feiman usually acted calm and composed. They knew well they were the backbone of the Empire. Born long-lived, they’d seen too much already. Rarely would they get too excited about anything—except, perhaps, when Chu Zao took off his coronet and halo, which still challenged their sense of reality.

You couldn’t blame them for being amazed.

Only the cub was seeing all these things for the first time—the moving starship models, the beautiful crafts—he was dazzled, unable to look everywhere at once.

Anya and Feiman followed behind, buying whatever caught his interest.

“Little one—”

Then Chu Zao heard a particularly gentle voice.

He looked up with a jerk, alert.

It was a stall hung with bright Holy Cas flags, run by an aunt in a wheelchair.

She looked middle-aged, smiling, glanced at the nearby Anya and Feiman, then, with the aid of an exoskeleton, stood to hand him a pretty little badge.

“Here you go—with stickers and clips, you can’t miss out on this.”

This was one of the cub’s rare interactions with strangers.

Chu Zao’s eyes widened, looked at the aunt, then at her badge, guardedly—he’d been burned before by this sort of thing.

But now, the formerly friendless little cub was different.

Anya and Feiman were only a few steps away; Chu Zao reached out to accept the badge.

Then looked again at the aunt.

Bundled up by his worried dad, half his face hidden by a scarf, only his bright eyes visible from afar, only his neat face from up close.

The aunt inhaled quietly: “Too cute.”

Whose baby was this?

Chu Zao blinked.

Facing strangers, he was a little braver now.

“Thank you, Auntie.”

“You’re welcome, you’re welcome.”

The aunt waved her hand.

“We’re all family in Holy Cas, anyway. Besides, you really are just too cute!”

The cub was praised by a stranger.

His big eyes lit up, and he softly asked, “Auntie, can Zao Zao have two more?”

He looked at the badge, then at Anya and Feiman behind.

The Holy Cas aunt didn’t know their relationship, but looked at him, then Anya and Feiman, “Are these for Princess Feiman and Prince Anya?”

The cub nodded.

“I’ll pick out two perfect ones for you, wait a sec—”

She was a bit excited.

Anya and Feiman watched quietly, as Wen Qingfeng and Wen Qingyu had rushed off for a mining meeting halfway through.

Anya: “Zao Zao’s handling himself with others pretty decently.”

They’d often wondered how to help the timid, easily overwhelmed cub open up to strangers. Chu Zao was guarded, a bit wary, and though his attitude toward the Crown Clan was different (since Crown traits had led to his previous rejection), for him, the Crown Clan meant belonging.

But given time, Holy Cas Empire would certainly pass into the cub’s hands.

Feiman was expressionless: “Mm.”

Cute, cute, cute!

“Second Brother watches him too closely now.”

Anya flexed his wrist.

He looked at Feiman curiously: “What are you thinking anyway?”

“I want to steal Amos’ cub.”

Feiman stated her grand ambition.

Anya: …?

Seriously, you dare?

He watched his outwardly cool sister make a fist.

“A sister who won’t steal her brother’s cub isn’t a good sister. I’ve been plotting for a long time—”

Anya was shocked: “You’re so wild now…”

He knew Feiman was always unconventional. As a kid, she always schemed against Amos and never learned her lesson. Now—

Feiman cut him off: “Just wait, next life I’m gonna be Amos’ elder and take his cub! Now? Now I’m just dreaming.”

Anya: …

With that pathetic attitude, what are you even fired up about?!

Sounded almost like rebellion!

At that moment, not far away, the cub came running, badge in hand, eyes glowing.

Though there were people from other countries and races, every Holy Cas citizen who saw them would wave and praise his cuteness.

Chu Zao had found a new sense of belonging—not just because of the Crown Clan.

“Auntie, Uncle—”

The cub handed them the badges.

His wings weren’t showing, but they could imagine them happily fluttering behind him.

“Zao Zao got these for you too.”

Anya took his badge; after being hit this morning with Chu Zao’s direct sweetness, he still felt awkward.

Feiman crouched down, took the badge, put her arm around his shoulder, then pinned the badge to his coat, looking at his soft white face.

Adorable—

No one looking, Feiman snuck a kiss.

Both the cub and Anya’s eyes widened a bit.

Feiman was casual.

One more, one less, didn’t matter.

She had figured it out!

“So cute, Zao Zao.”

Chu Zao, wary about dodging: kissing fiend, but complimented.

“Later, the conference over there will end, and all the national and clan leaders will come out; there’ll be a crowd, so we’ll head over, too.”

To find Baba?

Chu Zao nodded.

Feiman’s comment conveniently shifted the cub’s attention.

Then she stood and took his hand.

The whole sequence left Anya a bit stunned.

Could it be he had misjudged? Should he… learn from her?

Start with kisses?

Anya hesitantly looked at the cub’s soft white cheek.

*

Elsewhere.

The international multi-clan conference continued.

Most of the meeting had passed. Countries exchanged barbs and accusations, but in this quadrant, no one dared direct them at Holy Cas.

The Boel core world sent the president’s son, Barney.

Another long-lived race, the Spirit Eye clan, though also with a large organization, was completely unlike the Crown Clan in details.

The Spirit Eyes weren’t as combative as the Crown Clan. Their psychic powers resembled the Holy Chalice Clan’s—they had acute danger sense; their psychic energy worked like eyes, telling them all that was happening nearby.

Boel Revolutionary Army leader Lin Yuan was the star of the show.

He always flaunted himself as the galaxy’s young power, bringing a new order to space.

Amos couldn’t be bothered to look up, silent throughout.

The surrounding countries and clans, big or small, even those who thought Crown Clan was finished, didn’t dare show it publicly, nor openly oppose the Crown Clan. One after another, they copied Amos’ indifference, ignoring Lin Yuan.

Lin Yuan, snubbed, eyes darkened. Fingers brushing the chemicals meant to provoke Amos’ psychic meltdown, he sneered.

What’s so awesome about the Crown Clan, anyway?

Just another long-lived race with no future, suffering in pollution, losing their minds, almost extinct—and still putting on airs here.

His original purpose was to destroy the Spirit Eyes, but his hatred shifted, and he liked the Crown Clan even less.

“Fine, let’s not mention star sectors separated by severe contamination. Who knows if there are even other civilizations out there? Any worlds that used to talk with us probably collapsed long ago—it’s been centuries. What we really need to solve is the pollution expansion.”

“Better deal with those endless beast armies—their tactical ops have started, and most countries and clans can’t handle it.”

“Or the energy crisis—”

So many issues, yet no consensus, though the rest of the trade talks went smoothly.

“Time’s almost up.”

Lin Yuan cut off the neutral world representative, smiling at Amos.

“Holy Cas Emperor, our Boel Revolutionary Alliance has developed new battle mechs. I’ve heard that top-of-the-line tech is at Holy Cas. I invite you and your leaders to come view them.”

Frey glanced at Amos.

Amos lazily raised his eyelids—finally giving Lin Yuan a real look.

He smiled briefly.

His normally stern face twisted in ridicule—

Amos actually had a strong dark side; his coldness wasn’t just a matter of personality. He truly looked down on those around him.

Just like the Hymn Organization said of Crown arrogance—Amos was the most arrogant of them all.

Even the confrontations at this meeting bored him, and he hadn’t yet picked up a trace of Hymn Organization clues.

Until now.

“Very well, let’s go.”

*

Another region of space.

“How many is this now? This Boel Revolution Alliance is nuts?!”

Feeney paced the starship bridge.

He clutched his head and tugged at his beard: “Never mind all this crap we keep finding—just their defenses, is this deliberate? Like some obstacle course—one after another! Where’s our other fleet? Push the warp drives to the max! Get to the heavy pollution zone fast! Verify if that footage is real—don’t let the Hymn Organization beat us! Aaaagh, why can’t we reach Holy Cas, just internal comms!”

His deputy, who’d promised they’d be home in three days, didn’t dare answer, only mumbled,

“Prince Feeney, the drifter planet garrison outside is probably still Boel Revolutionaries; looks like they’re making moves.”

Feeney grunted and waved his hand.

“Blast ‘em!”

How many is this now?

Aren’t we almost at the conference planet already?!

How come we keep running into Boel Revolutionaries’ garrisons?!!

*

The galaxy-wide stream continued.

The leaders of all nations and races appeared; Lin Yuan led the procession, showing off their “new tech.”

Anya and Feiman, with Chu Zao, watched the crowd, then moved to a quieter side with fewer cameras.

A side gate.

Not many people, but after the meeting ended, they would exit this way.

Feiman lifted the cub onto a tall platform—a hidden corner, unlikely to draw attention.

This time, Feiman and Anya had learned to put several soft cushions under his seat.

It was high up; the little cub’s legs swung as he watched the door, full of expectation.

“Baba’s coming out soon, right? There’s the lady who gave Zao Zao the badge!”

“Mm.”

Anya nodded, glancing that way.

“Brother Amos will be out soon.”

They both watched the situation closely.

They suspected there’d be trouble at this conference.

But nothing happened.

Strange, or maybe it just hadn’t started yet?

After all, the conference ran beyond today.

Across the way, Lin Yuan glanced at the time, and got word from subordinates.

All his units were in motion, per his orders on radio silence. By now, they should be arriving—and soon he’d have the perfect chance to seize the Spirit Eye boy, Barney, and take over Boel.

As he looked at Amos, Frey, and all the streaming equipment, malice flashed in his eyes.

He smiled at Amos: “Your Majesty Amos, what do you think of this conference?”

He boasted, “In the end, long-lived races all fade from history. Like the Spirit Eyes… and, of course, the Crown Clan. If you publicly lose control, coronet shattering, psychic powers erupting, wouldn’t that—”

Amos glanced over.

Did this guy take something?

Amos didn’t hesitate.

His tyrant reputation wasn’t for nothing.

Before anyone else moved—

Blood splattered.

Lin Yuan did have some skill, staggering back ten meters, the open canister in his arms knocked away—Amos caught it with his sword, capped it again, but a wisp of red-brown gas escaped.

Clutching his wounded arm, Lin Yuan saw a black shadow approaching on the horizon—like a vast fleet. He sneered, leaped into his new battle mech.

Amos and Frey didn’t know what the red-brown gas was for, hesitated a moment, then heard Lin Yuan gloating,

“Your Majesty Amos—aren’t you already losing control of your mind?”

Amos: …?

I’m perfectly fine.

“It only takes a little. You’ll show everyone the Crown Clan is a cosmic danger, a ticking bomb we should unite against, you and your people—surely you recall last time contamination hit you? The place is surrounded by my troops, and the local starchain too. I know you have forces here, but too late, I only need—Barney. The rest, I have no interest. The Crown Clan? Just a bonus.”

Lin Yuan seemed to be in a dreamworld. In his flight mech, he spread his arms, watching his troops seal off the crowd, carrying special weapons, much stronger than other countries’ or races’.

“Hymn Organization really are amazing.”

He marveled—about the weapons, neutral’s planet privilege, etc.—

Amos just watched him, waiting for the intel dump to finish.

“Tighten the web and lock down the sector, Hymn Organization may be nearby.”

Amos ordered, “Wipe them out.”

As for now, Amos drew his spirit sword (handle already nibbled by Chu Zao).

“Clear the way.”

Lin Yuan sensed something was wrong: “Why aren’t you affected?!”

All his planning assumed Amos would collapse, the scene plunged into chaos.

Far overhead, the Hymn Organization’s lieutenant, who’d been silently watching, punched in escape coordinates, cursing, “Idiot.”

From his position, he could see more clearly what was coming in the sky—it certainly wasn’t Boel Revolutionaries poised to seize Barney in the chaos.

That emblem was clearly—Holy Cas Third Army!!

*

Feeling the stir below, the little cub, sitting high up, scrambled to his feet, bundled up like a mobile snowball.

He pulled up his hat for a better look, tugged his scarf down.

Eyes wide, he stared around.

“Auntie, Uncle? What’s going on?”

“It’s nothing, just a rabble.”

Anya glanced at the scene.

Feiman echoed, just about to step out when—

She saw it—the cub had a golden little bow in his hand.

Feiman froze.

The last arrow flashed back through her mind.

With this crowd of riffraff—

Feiman pressed the cub’s little hand down—

Love and peace?

That would never do.