173: Chapter 173 Ye Shenge

Facing this obvious hostility and pressure from her seniority, Deputy Minister Ye Shengge not only wasn't angry but calmly stopped in her tracks.

She turned her head, her clear eyes looking at Minister Su Hongye through her glasses.

"Minister Su, a glorious history is indeed admirable. But as you said, Sky City is now all-inclusive."

Deputy Minister Ye Shengge elegantly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, smiling as she countered.

"In this cruel airspace, living in the past is dangerous. Seniority can represent past loyalty, but it may not solve the complex wars of tomorrow. The City Lord needs efficient value, not a thick memoir, wouldn't you agree?"

"You—"

Minister Su Hongye's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of anger flashing within them.

Just as the confrontation between the two women intensified and was about to spark, heavy, oppressive footsteps came from around the corner.

"Minister Su, Deputy Minister Ye, what are you two talking about so happily?"

The newcomer was burly and robust, like a dormant grizzly bear.

He wore heavy City Defense Army General's Armor. He was the former Vice Guild Master of Tianqing Guild and now a core figure in Sky City's defense forces.

He was also City Lord Zhao Tianyu's trusted confidant—Minister of City Defense, Han Xiao.

"Minister Han."

The two women tacitly retracted their sharp edges and nodded slightly in greeting.

Minister Han Xiao strode forward, his gaze direct and with a clear hint of goodwill, falling upon Deputy Minister Ye Shengge's intelligent and cool face.

"Deputy Minister Ye, your data analysis at today's meeting was thorough."

Then Minister Han Xiao stroked his rugged chin and directly extended an invitation.

"It's just dinner time. To celebrate your smooth entry into the core layer, would you honor me with your presence for dinner tonight? I also want to discuss in depth with Deputy Minister Ye the integration of city defense deployment with your Sky Net Intelligence System."

Watching this sudden scene, Minister Su Hongye, standing to the side, subtly raised an eyebrow, a strong hint of schadenfreude flashing in her eyes.

She knew too well the immense ambition of this woman, Deputy Minister Ye Shengge. Deputy Minister Ye Shengge had fought tooth and nail to enter the core layer, her true goal clear: to use this opportunity to climb up to the highest position, City Lord Zhao Tianyu! But Minister Han Xiao was a core general holding significant military power. If Minister Han Xiao could take down this aloof "white lotus," then Deputy Minister Ye Shengge would be completely labeled as Minister Han Xiao's, and she would never again pose any threat to Minister Su Hongye's position beside City Lord Zhao Tianyu!

At this moment, Deputy Minister Ye Shengge was also clear-headed.

She knew that her goal was the domineering City Lord who held ultimate power. If she easily agreed to Minister Han Xiao, her ceiling in this cruel power game would be completely locked to the position of a minister's dependent. However, Minister Han Xiao held a high and powerful position, and a blunt refusal would inevitably sow huge hidden dangers for her future work.

After a brief second of deliberation, Deputy Minister Ye Shengge naturally showed an apologetic yet graceful smile.

"Minister Han, Shengge appreciates your kind offer."

Deputy Minister Ye Shengge subtly glanced at the Tactical Terminal on her wrist, her tone filled with a strong sense of responsibility and helplessness: "It's just that the City Lord sternly set the tone at the meeting just now. The intelligence separation of the 20,000 frontline reinforcement troops and the massive data network for rear material allocation must be fully established tonight. As a newcomer, I dare not be negligent in the slightest."

At this point, Deputy Minister Ye Shengge sincerely looked at Minister Han Xiao: "Moreover, it is a critical period of full preparation for war. As the core of city defense, your burden is much heavier than mine. If someone with ill intentions were to set a trap at this time, it could easily lead to rumors unfavorable to military morale, which would be bad for everyone. How about... after we work together to defeat these Beastmen, Shengge will solemnly host a celebration dinner for Minister Han and Minister Su?"

These words were flawless, both elevating Minister Han Xiao's important status and using work and the sensitive situation as perfect shields.

Seeing Deputy Minister Ye Shengge politely refuse and give such a noble reason, Minister Han Xiao could not say much more.

Although he was a rugged military general, he was also clear-headed enough to survive in this cruel survival game, knowing that wartime was indeed not a good time for romance.

"Deputy Minister Ye is absolutely right. I was inconsiderate; military affairs are paramount." Minister Han Xiao laughed heartily, not insisting, "I've noted that celebration dinner. We'll gather again after we crush those hairy beasts!"

Minister Han Xiao decisively turned and left, immersing himself in the tense city defense deployment.

Watching Minister Han Xiao's retreating back, Minister Su Hongye pouted in disappointment.

"Deputy Minister Ye's Tai Chi is truly masterful," Minister Su Hongye sneered.

"Minister Su, you flatter me."

...

After the undercurrent-filled meeting in the Sky-Lift Tower, Minister Su Hongye took the City Lord’s Mansion’s dedicated hovercar back to her private residence.

As a high-ranking official and the current powerful minister of Sky City, Minister Su Hongye's treatment was naturally top-tier.

Her residence was located in Sky City's most central affluent district, a vast detached villa. The villa was not only equipped with a 24/7 Simulated Constant Temperature Garden but also had a huge one-way transparent floor-to-ceiling window. Standing in the living room, one could hold a glass of red wine and take in the prosperity of the lower-level streets and the rolling sea of clouds outside.

Pushing open the heavy Alloy Door, Minister Su Hongye kicked off her expensive pointed high heels, her bare, snow-white feet treading on the soft wool carpet.

She walked to the spacious walk-in closet and reached back to pull down the zipper of her alluring red dress. The form-fitting dress slid down her slender waist, pooling at her feet.

Minister Su Hongye casually changed into a dark purple silk deep V camisole nightdress. The thin fabric clung closely to her mature and charming curves, large expanses of fair skin and a full, proud figure subtly revealed under the warm lighting, exuding a ripe, alluring scent.

"Sister, you're back a little late today."

Just then, accompanied by light footsteps, a slender figure emerged from the shadows on the second floor.

It was Minister Su Hongye's younger sister, Su Mei.

Before merging into Sky City, Su Mei was the Vice Guild Master of Hongyan Pavilion.

Now, in this giant city, although she only held a mid-level management position and was not qualified to attend top-level closed-door meetings like today's, she was still Minister Su Hongye's most capable blade in dark web intelligence and personnel deployment.

Su Mei wore a black short camisole of the same style, revealing her fair and slender waist. Her features were seventy percent similar to Minister Su Hongye's, but her temperament was completely different. If Minister Su Hongye was a thorny red rose, then Su Mei was a poisonous vine entwined in the shadows.

She quickly walked behind Minister Su Hongye and clung to her like a boneless cat. Her arms tightly wrapped around her sister's slender waist, her chin greedily resting on Minister Su Hongye's shoulder, and her delicate nose sniffing deeply at the pale curve of her neck.

"Sister... you have another woman's perfume on you, how annoying."

Su Mei's eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of morbid obsession and resentment appearing on her originally delicate face, which looked particularly enchanting under the light. Her fingers were not idle, tracing up Minister Su Hongye's arm and gently caressing her exquisite collarbone.

Minister Su Hongye seemed long accustomed to this intimacy, which far exceeded the boundaries of ordinary sisters.

She even leaned back somewhat enjoyably into her sister's soft embrace, reaching for a glass of red wine on the bar and taking a sip.

"I encountered a troublesome woman at the meeting today."

Minister Su Hongye sneered, swirling the red wine in her glass.

"That newly appointed Deputy Minister of the Sky Net Information Department, Deputy Minister Ye Shengge."

"That fake puritan with glasses?"

Su Mei's fingers paused slightly, a cold killing intent flashing in her eyes. She leaned close to Minister Su Hongye's ear, her breath like orchids.

"I've heard of her; she's been very active in the City Defense Department and the Internal Affairs Department recently. Sister, is she threatening your position in the City Lord's heart?"

"Her ambition is not small, and her methods are slick. She's a difficult character to deal with."

Minister Su Hongye briefly recounted what happened in the corridor today, her eyes full of disdain and wariness. "She wants to climb over me, but she should see if she has the life for it."

Hearing that someone dared to block her sister's path, the curve of Su Mei's lips became increasingly twisted. She extended her tongue and gently licked Minister Su Hongye's rounded earlobe, her voice filled with chilling excitement: "Since she's so unappreciative... Sister, leave it to me. I'll find an opportunity to have someone break her limbs, disfigure her face, put her in a Sealed Capsule, and throw her into the sea of clouds to feed the Mutated Birds, okay?"

"Nonsense."

Minister Su Hongye immediately pressed down her sister's restless hand, her expression instantly becoming serious.

"This woman's life is nothing, but in Sky City, we absolutely cannot harm her."

Minister Su Hongye's voice was very low, with a deep hint of apprehension.

"Do you think City Lord Zhao Tianyu is just a figurehead? And don't forget Shadow, who always follows the City Lord like a shadow!"

At the mention of that name, even the fearless Su Mei's pupils involuntarily contracted.

"In this city, any slight disturbance cannot escape 'Shadow's' eyes. Private disputes among high-ranking officials are strictly forbidden in the city; this is an iron rule set by City Lord Zhao Tianyu. If we make a move in the city, no matter how cleanly we do it, it will absolutely not escape the anti-tracking system in the Sky-Lift Tower. At that time, sacrificing ourselves for a Deputy Minister Ye Shengge would not be worth it."

At this point, Minister Su Hongye put down her wine glass and sharply scanned the spacious living room.

She cautiously walked to the window, checked the operation status of the anti-peeping shield, then looked up and stared intently at the dead corners of the ceiling and ventilation ducts, confirming that none of the miniature defense monitors had been tampered with and there were no suspicious listening devices around, before finally letting out a slight sigh of relief.

"To touch her, we can only wait."

Minister Su Hongye turned around, pulled Su Mei into her arms, and gently ran her slender fingers through her sister's short hair, a ruthless glint flashing in her eyes.

"The front lines are about to go into full-scale war, with frequent transfers of various supplies and intelligence. Once we find a pretext to transfer her out of Sky City's defense perimeter... in the lawless zone outside, whether she dies at the hands of Beastmen or from stray bullets of space pirates will no longer be up to her."

...

Blood Moon Guild Command Room

At this moment, Finn was lazily leaning back in a luxurious, velvet-covered high-backed chair, holding a glass of red wine as crimson as fresh blood.

Behind him, Nora stood quietly.

In the center of the command room, two massive holographic projections flickered.

The ethereal figures of Guild Master Redford of the Dragonman Guild and Guild Master Valerie of the Deep Sea Guild were prominently displayed. This tactical meeting, following the breakdown of the All-Races Peace Talks, was secretly unfolding among these three Beast Race rulers.

"That human, City Lord Zhao Tianyu, who doesn't know his place, actually dared to provoke us in front of the entire airspace! 'Let the sky burn'? I'll lead the Dragonman Army to burn his Sky-Lift Tower to ashes tomorrow!"

Redford's temper was still volatile, his crimson dragon scales flashing with savage ferocity in the projection as he smashed the alloy adjutant's chair beside him to smithereens.

"Redford, rein in your frenzy. Incompetent rage won't win a war." Valerie stretched her voluptuous waist languidly on the other end of the projection, her sea-blue hair gently swaying in the water, her tone carrying its usual sarcasm: "However, City Lord Zhao Tianyu is indeed a tough nut. And that Elf girl named Rosalind, the Elf Race's forbidden magic raining down everywhere could damage my scales."

Valerie stretched her voluptuous waist languidly on the other end of the projection, her sea-blue hair gently swaying in the water, her tone carrying its usual sarcasm: "However, City Lord Zhao Tianyu is indeed a tough nut. And that Elf girl named Rosalind, the Elf Race's forbidden magic raining down everywhere could damage my scales."

"Valerie is right; you eat your food one bite at a time, and you should pick the easier prey first." Finn tilted his head slightly, enjoying Nora's gentle massage, a cruel smile appearing on his pale, handsome face. He swirled his goblet and spoke unhurriedly: "In this war, our goal is to gain control of the Golden Zone. So, there's no need to bite off the toughest bone right at the start."

"Valerie is right; you eat your food one bite at a time, and you should pick the easier prey first." Finn tilted his head slightly, enjoying Nora's gentle massage, a cruel smile appearing on his pale, handsome face. He swirled his goblet and spoke unhurriedly: "In this war, our goal is to gain control of the Golden Zone. So, there's no need to bite off the toughest bone right at the start."

"What do you mean?"

Redford suppressed his impatience and frowned as he looked over.

"That broken alliance composed of Gnomes, Dwarves, and Goblins is nothing but a bunch of rats hiding in ditches, a ragtag bunch temporarily cobbled together relying on sheer numbers. As for King Dominic's Winged Race, besides flying around as scouts, once they lose air defense fire cover, they become the best living targets."

Finn curled his lips in disdain, draining the red wine in his glass: "These two factions are simply not worth fearing. My suggestion is that at the beginning of the war, our three parties unite, concentrate fleet firepower and troop types, first cut off the wings of the allied forces, and cripple King Dominic's Winged Race troops! At the same time, send heavy armored troops to raid and completely disrupt the Goblin and Dwarf formations!"

"First, crush the soft persimmons and clear out the peripheral small fry. As for Elf Clan Leader Rosalind's Elf Race, we can tie them down with diversionary tactics for now."

"And City Lord Zhao Tianyu's Sky City, we will deal with last."

Hearing this proposal, Redford and Valerie fell into a brief silence, then nodded in perfect understanding, effectively passing the resolution.

The reason for this was also simple.

On the entire map of Cangyun Airspace, Sky City was an absolute anomaly. It possessed a terrifying population base of 400,000, 80,000 well-armed regular troops, and unfathomable war reserves.

Although the three Beast Race magnates were ostensibly allied and united, secretly each harbored their own schemes, with each wanting to preserve their core strength to gain a larger share of the pie after the war.

They all knew very well that neither Blood Moon, Dragonman, nor Deep Sea Guild was willing to face Sky City's main army alone.

If anyone rashly went head-to-head with City Lord Zhao Tianyu, even if they won in the end, their guild would undoubtedly suffer heavy losses and be severely weakened. At that time, they would surely be swallowed up by the other two "allies." Therefore, this mutual deferment based on selfishness and apprehension made Sky City a hedgehog that none of the three Beastman leaders wanted to easily touch, leading them to tacitly leave it until last, attempting to first pluck all of humanity's wings and allies before uniting the strength of the three factions for the final encirclement.

"Then it's settled."

Finn casually handed the empty wine glass to Nora behind him, stood up, and spread his arms, as if he could already see the raging fires of war.

"Notify the entire army. Target—the Winged Race defense line on the edge of the Golden Reclamation Zone. Let's enjoy the beautiful sight of those arrogant birds breaking their wings and falling into the abyss!"