236: The emperor can handle everything.

"I really... Star Worms, I only encountered their attack once in Sand City."

Tu Nan thought back to the chaos of that time.

That could be said to be another turning point in her life.

There were two knocks on the door, and it opened. It was Shou standing at the door.

This caused both people in the conversation to briefly stop their topic.

"How is it?" The Emperor asked.

"Doctor James said it's nothing serious, just exhaustion; he needs rest."

"Mhm."

"However, I didn't see him; Doctor James told me to stand guard at the door."

"Mhm."

Even the two Silver Armored Knights couldn't see each other's faces? This level of secrecy is truly high... Tu Nan thought with emotion.

The Emperor frowned, covered his mouth with his hand and coughed twice, then pulled a handkerchief from his robe to wipe his hand.

Seeing Tu Nan looking at him with concern, he tilted his chin slightly.

"Continue. Once in Sand City, and then?"

Shou, who had just entered, lowered his head and silently stood in the corner.

Just like his name.

"That time, I only saw those worms falling from the sky from a distance. I heard there was a problem with the air defense chain."

Tu Nan recalled while comparing it with the information she had read.

"That time probably wasn't a very large attack; it seems Kong Jiamu didn't even have to step in."

The ones who stepped in were the local soldiers, including... Li.

"You're right, the attack that reached the ground that time wasn't severe. However, that doesn't mean it wasn't dangerous."

"It was later discovered that the problem with the air defense chain was caused by suicide attacks from several high-level Star Worms, which is why only the small fry were left to fall to the ground."

Tu Nan hadn't expected such a reason behind it.

"Then there's what I heard about the time Kong Jiamu encountered them, and then this time. Does this count as me being on a battlefield? My physical sensation of it isn't strong."

The Emperor smiled slightly.

"You are on the flagship. If the flagship directly participates in combat, that would be a true decisive battle."

Tu Nan didn't quite understand.

"Even you going out to fight doesn't count?" If The Emperor personally going to the battlefield didn't count as a decisive battle, it was actually calculated based on the flagship.

The Emperor felt helpless.

"I was the one asking you, yet you have so many questions." He tucked the handkerchief back into his robe, but ultimately answered the question.

"Our current technology allows starships to coordinate with high-level Orcs in battle. The number of people a flagship can coordinate with is staggering. In a true decisive battle, we wouldn't stray too far from the flagship."

The Emperor told a dry joke.

"If your luck is good, well, you should be able to see my Beast Form with your own eyes."

How cold, Tu Nan thought.

That would mean a time of great war, and she would be in the core circle.

Was The Emperor planning to have her stay on the flagship indefinitely? She had originally been thinking that once things were more or less settled, she would request to return to the Capital City to manage a series of matters.

"Don't want to?" Your Majesty asked with some confusion.

"Your Majesty, I have admired your elegant demeanor on the Empire's promotional videos."

That was indeed a beautiful creature that very much fit the aesthetics of people from Blue Star.

If one didn't distinguish carefully, it was very similar to the Dragons in those scrolls and sculptures.

A body of shiny white scales, sparkling as he moved through the clouds. He was surrounded by mist, and his golden vertical pupils made him look mysterious and distant.

Your Majesty's Beast Form was like the Incarnation of order and majesty.

The Emperor was stunned for a moment, realizing that was indeed the case.

He coughed lightly and shifted the topic.

"Mhm, a few days ago we discovered Star Worms surrounding the flagship. Perhaps our recent navigation speed has been slightly slow?"

The Emperor wasn't quite sure.

In fact, they were using the same speed as before.

"Their perception isn't that keen, so as long as we move a bit faster, they can't pinpoint our location."

So that's how it was; that's why S-ranks couldn't stay in one place for long. It's also why starships and transport ships like those of Hongtu Aviation could traverse interstellar space.

"A few of us went out to lead them away. If we were truly surrounded by them, it would be difficult to handle."

"I see... so it's settled now?"

"Not quite. This time is very strange; we only led away a portion, and there are still many staring at this place."

"However, it's enough for the legion to break through a path, increase speed to move out, and redeploy the formation."

"Is it because of Lord Shou?" Tu Nan saw Shou in the corner.

"He is also an S-rank, right? Is it that portion of Star Worms that has their eyes on him?" Silver Armored Knights were all S-ranks; it was indeed a waste to keep him by her side.

The Emperor paused and looked at Shou.

"Shou. He is A-rank, he hasn't reached S-rank yet," he said.

Tu Nan hurriedly apologized: "Ah! Sorry, I didn't mean it that way."

This almost made it seem like she was poking at a sore spot.

It turned out that The Emperor didn't even have two S-ranks assigned to his side. He truly was very considerate of these high-level Orcs.

This seemed to be a secret.

"I will keep it a secret!" she promised solemnly.

No one had any extra reaction to her statement.

"But this is indeed very strange," Tu Nan thought randomly.

"It's as if there's something even more attractive on the flagship. Something even more delicious and palatable than a feast of three S-ranks."

The Emperor gave up on correcting her habit of using messy descriptions.

「Strange? What is it?」

Little Bird woke up from a nap and found his mother still by his side, feeling very happy.

Hearing his mother speaking, the little fellow started to secretly chime in.

「Um, it's nothing. Mama is still in class...」

Due to the fluctuations of their conversation, The Emperor's gaze fell upon the Children.

Tu Nan's gaze was also fixed on the two little fellows.

After a long while, she looked up in shock and met The Emperor's eyes.

"I, I have a rather bad guess."

The Emperor's expression was serious; he seemed to have thought of something as well.

"Tell me, do you think what the Star Worms are staring at could be my Children?"

She counted on her fingers, calculating neurotically.

"Look, that time in Sand City, Ao Ao and Miao Miao were both there. Not long after they were born, the Star Worms came."

"They moved to the Capital City and stabilized the coordinates. The Star Worms headed toward the Capital City, but were blocked."

"This time, Little Bird and Little Fish are on the flagship, too close to them, and they were discovered again?"

The more Tu Nan thought, the more chaotic her heart became. She stood up abruptly, her whole body trembling.

The Emperor rose along with her.

He grabbed the Female Beast, who rarely appeared so flustered, with both hands and gently shook her.

"Calm down. These are all just your guesses."

"No... you don't understand."

How should Tu Nan explain the relationship between the Children and the Star Worms?

Ever since the System told her that the final question He needed the Children to explain was related to the Star Worms, she had been worried about this risk.

"I don't need to understand!"

The Emperor's tone didn't change at all; it was very composed.

Tu Nan glared at him.

The Emperor's golden eyes were still so majestic as he spoke steadily.

"I don't guess because this can be verified."

"Want to try? Take the Children, go out for a lap, and everything will be clear."

"How?" Tu Nan asked softly.

The Emperor smiled.

"I'll take you and the Children, take a separate starship out for a lap, keep the speed down, and see if we can bait them."

"The other two S-ranks will stay here."

"Let's see what this is all about."

"You, by yourself..."

Tu Nan shook her head.

The Emperor sneered.

"What, I'm personally taking action and you're still worried? Would I use my own life to play a joke with you?"

"I wouldn't dare..."

Tu Nan believed that The Emperor must have absolute confidence in himself to dare to do this, and she absolutely had to know what kind of danger the Children would face.

But Shou actually walked out and knelt before Your Majesty.

"Your Majesty, this is too dangerous." The Silver Armored Knight tried to stop this dangerous action.

"Please do not do this."

His head was bowed very low.