237: What are the star worms eyeing?

The Emperor's lips pressed into a thin, straight line.

He looked coldly at the Silver Armored Knight kneeling before him.

"What, do you really think you're qualified to speak?" The Emperor was very displeased.

Ah! Tu Nan recovered from her shock, only to see that the atmosphere between the two had frozen.

Just a moment ago, she learned that Shou was only an A-rank, not a Silver Armored Knight.

But for Your Majesty to speak like that was a bit too much.

Over the past few days, Shou had helped her a lot. Although he was taciturn most of the time, he always did his best to help Tu Nan handle all the trivial matters at hand.

Including all the tasks involved in caring for the Children.

He was very skilled... Tu Nan even suspected that he might have secretly had Children of his own, despite being a Silver Armored Knight.

Of course, she couldn't ask that out loud.

However, at this moment, she was willing to put in a word for Shou because of these past favors.

"Your Majesty." Tu Nan reached out and tugged on The Emperor's sleeve.

"Shou is just worried about your safety, just like me." Tu Nan was adept at flattering him. "After all, you are the anchor of the Empire."

The Emperor looked at the hand tugging on him and mocked her.

"If you're so worried about me, why not just not go?"

"Ah..." Tu Nan choked for a moment. Then, she thought about it and carefully suggested, "How about I ask Kong Jiamu to make the trip with me? After all, he..."

Is the father of the Children, one of them.

But before she could finish, The Emperor flicked his sleeve and impatiently pointed at the Children.

He commanded.

"Carry one each and follow me."

He meant for Shou to follow as well.

Tu Nan went to pick up the Children without a second word.

Shou was still kneeling. She turned back and called out to him in confusion, "Shou, come and help."

This knight was quite straightforward.

Did he really think he could persuade The Emperor to change his mind?

For an Emperor like him, whether it was a big matter or a small one, if he had made up his mind, no one could persuade him otherwise.

Those who had been persuaded were only because he hadn't truly made up his mind yet.

Shou finally stood up and came to the cradle.

He reached out towards Tu Nan.

"Give them to me, let me add some clothes for them." Shou was very meticulous.

Tu Nan didn't say that she was just about to do that, handing the Children to him so he would have something to do.

"Hmph."

The Emperor snorted lightly, letting this muddle-headed Male Beast off the hook.

* * *

After they left the flagship, Tu Nan realized that The Emperor hadn't really just taken her alone in a warship to charge into the swarm of Star Worms...

He had mobilized an entire column, including a command ship and hundreds of auxiliary ships.

They turned and headed towards the rear of the flagship.

In the command room, Tu Nan watched the flagship drifting further away on the screen, her smile strained.

After The Emperor finished giving instructions to the original commander of this starship, a Lieutenant General, he saw Tu Nan still standing there foolishly.

His mood finally improved.

He beckoned her forward.

"What? You aren't imagining some lone hero scene in your head, are you?"

He observed her with great interest.

Tu Nan smiled at him obsequiously, feeling awkward. "How could that be... How could you possibly..."

"Oh." The Emperor nodded, mocking her.

"You really did think that." He made a direct judgment.

Tu Nan retreated into her shell.

"You've missed quite a few lessons." That was The Emperor's conclusion. "Have you never heard the saying, 'A person of great wealth does not sit under a dangerous hall'?"

"Didn't you 'sit under the hall' quite a bit during your coming-of-age ceremony?"

Tu Nan muttered back, unwilling to accept it.

Did he even remember this saying when he was being fierce back then?

"That's different." The Emperor glared at her not-so-seriously. "Besides, I had an army group behind me back then. Do you really think a battle of this level is a one-on-one fight?"

Tu Nan really did think that.

The Emperor in the films really did weave through the pile of Star Worms as a lone Dragon, leaving corpses everywhere he went... Who knew they were all artistically embellished films!

The Emperor shook his head. "What exactly have you been reading when you say you've been studying the materials?"

He chided Tu Nan. "I had people organize them for you; study them properly and learn."

What else could Tu Nan say? She could only silently accept the new batch of lessons.

The Emperor didn't speak to her again; he was paying close attention to the screen.

"They're here," he said.

Following his gaze, Tu Nan saw the dense, bizarre-looking Star Worms on the screen gradually enlarging from the size of rice grains.

Until they filled the entire screen.

She held her breath, facing this scene head-on for the first time.

It was a physiological fear.

Just as she innately knew that enemies were nearby.

"Wah!"

The loud cries of the Two Children echoed in the command room.

Before Tu Nan could go over, the voice of Little Fish rang out.

[Mom, it hurts, I'm uncomfortable.]

[Disgusting, what is that!] Little Bird screamed and wailed.

Were the Children sensing the Star Worms that were now not far away? Tu Nan widened her eyes, looking at The Emperor in shock.

"What?" The Emperor asked.

"They seem to... have sensed them," Tu Nan told him.

"Really?"

The Emperor was truly surprised this time. Their Talent abilities hadn't even undergone Awakening yet, and they already had perception?

"Alright, as we discussed, take them to the designated position. When they reach the midpoint between us and the flagship, report it."

"Yes!" His order was relayed down.

The starship formation changed direction again, leading the Star Worms forward.

In the command room, there were only the sounds of orders being issued and feedback.

The Children's emotions were finally soothed.

"Report, we have entered the designated position and are now maintaining an equidistant advance from the flagship."

"Mm."

Now it was time for verification.

Tu Nan stood with The Emperor in front of the tactical map, watching the distance markers on the star map.

The Star Worms' markers were moving towards them without hesitation.

There was not the slightest trend of them deviating towards the flagship.

"Do it again," The Emperor ordered.

And the result was exactly the same.

They tried this back and forth a few times.

Tu Nan fell completely silent.

"No need to try anymore. It's very clear, isn't it?"

Tu Nan braced herself against the command console, realizing that there had never been an easy path before her.

Regardless of how easily the System spoke.

【System, are you there? Let's talk.】

She kept calling, kept calling out to the System, refusing to give up until she got a response.

【He is here.】

The System finally responded to her, but it was to warn her that The Emperor could perceive It.

【Does it matter?】 Tu Nan asked It. 【If I'm not afraid, what are you afraid of? With the help of The Emperor of this world, whatever goal you want to achieve should be easier.】

The Emperor was already watching her side vigilantly; he had indeed discovered it.

【If you tell him, aren't you afraid it will affect your mission completion?】

【Forget that, let's talk about the Star Worms.】

Tu Nan told It clearly, 【Don't talk nonsense. I want to complete the mission more than you do. Leave these matters to me to worry about. You just need to tell me.】

【Are the Star Worms "coveting" my Children?】

【Tell me everything you can.】

Tu Nan demanded.