Transform into a human

Love turned around again and looked at the dark night sky.

"I weave destiny, I do not create it."

"You still treat me like a child, just like before, and say things that don't make sense to fool me. Back then, I even admired you because of that."

Love smiled gently:

"Yes, time seems to flow faster only when you're young."

Li suddenly remembered Yue Lai, who had left in a hurry without even sharing the joy of victory with her.

Although the charge of illegal immigration remains, and he is currently under some form of bail pending trial, given his current reputation, these are not problems at all.

Combined with the solemn promise made last night, Li seemed to understand something.

"Avery wasn't the culprit at all, was he?"

Love was unusually surprised:

"How did you figure that out?"

Li said earnestly, "Yue Lai promised me that he would use the most severe means to punish the culprit and give him the punishment he deserves. But Avery is still fine, so there is only one possibility: the culprit is not him."

Love chuckled, "Still saying you're not a child? Isn't this just like children playing house...? That kid, no, I should say that old monster is actually quite nice to you."

Ignoring her mother's teasing, Li's eyes gradually turned cold:

"You are here waiting for me as the victor... So this was all part of the Imperial faction's scheme, wasn't it? You were the mastermind behind this for the Imperial faction, and your initial target was Avery."

"Yes and no."

Love had ample patience to teach her daughter the political rules of the Federation:

"How could your mother, as a congresswoman, do these things herself? I am completely unaware of the details, so how could I possibly ensure that I have not violated federal law in any way?"

"What's that saying again? A son of a wealthy family would never sit under a dangerous roof."

"As for Avery, although the Supreme Court Justice of the Police Department has already reached the threshold of the federal high command, he is not worthy of my painstaking efforts."

"You witnessed the true history of that time, but you didn't consider that the Grand Preceptor wouldn't sit idly by and let his plans be disrupted. The Sea Demon God's power is as imposing as Mount Tai. Even if the Guard Hub is his territory, and it's inconvenient for the Star Constellation to be stationed there permanently, why wouldn't he send a few high-ranking nobles to keep an eye on things?"

"Li, there is still a lot you need to learn."

"Learn? Do you want to turn me into someone like you, so that it will make your dirty heart feel better?"

Words were like knives, yet Love still wore a smile:

"You're exactly like me when I was young... You'll understand in the future, Li."

"You've forgotten that I am a child, Mother."

"I have come to understand the true meaning of a childlike heart, which is to never regret the choices I have made in the future."

"I will not, and will not, become what you imagine me to be."

Love shook her head:

"Alright, alright, we haven't seen each other for so long, do we have to make things so tense between us?"

Li said calmly, "I hope you won't be furious then."

"Exasperated? You mean Yue Lai?"

Love dipped her hand into the lake of fate and gently shook it; the silk threads symbolizing Yue Lai and the Imperial wielders made no entanglement.

"Let alone the fact that he doesn't even know who the murderer is, even if he did, what could he do? With just a mere martial arts practitioner?"

"There are some people you can trust even if you've only known them for a month, while others, even if you're a mother, will only be labeled as schemers and will never be trusted."

"We'll see, Madam Congressman."

……

……

University Town Star Harbor.

As the hearing concluded and many participants dispersed, the small Star Harbor welcomed its peak visitor flow.

The "Hospitable" planetary spaceship slowly took off. Although its engine and hull performance were as unremarkable as its name, it only took half an hour to reach the Red Palace on the other side of the planet—and that was with most of the time spent on take-off and landing.

Hou Fan was sitting quietly in the corner reading a book. This police chief had power no less than Avery's, yet he only took the most ordinary flights. The only thing that could be remembered about him was his slightly mean face.

The visitor turned his gaze to the book in his hand, which was titled "The Marionette".

"This looks like a novel?"

"However, that's not the case," Hou Fan said, placing the book aside. "It's a textbook about directing."

Yue Lai pondered for a moment: "Director, I've heard a few things about you—"

"What's your opinion on the saying, '90% of a director's job is casting'?"

Hou Fan sighed: "That's right. This is a principle that any novice director should understand, but I made a mistake in it."

"It's true that the audience should have all the pieces of the puzzle, but they don't have to see the whole picture before the movie ends. But the audience I chose, or rather the characters, were too smart, which made me, as the director, feel very unfulfilled."

Hou Fan, one of the Thirty-Six Extraordinary Men, is a film producer.

"Let's talk. How did you find me?"

"I asked Principal Tang, and he said that the Imperial Clique has two leaders in the police headquarters. You are the one in the public eye, but his protégés and associates are all over the police headquarters, and his influence far exceeds that of you."

"The discovery of Damian's hidden Siren Queen bloodline was an accident. If I'm not mistaken, Avery intended to use this to test the state of Neptune's Crown, but the Ocean Group had already prepared for your betrayal."

"Imagine how things would have changed if this accident hadn't happened? The Neptune Crown would have completely spiraled out of control, and the Imperial faction would have rightfully unleashed god-level power, leaving even the Director speechless. Tang Xiao would have been held accountable for his negligence, and Avery's fate would not have changed."

"The Imperial faction can now extend its influence to the police headquarters and exclude the other two factions."

"In the face of such a great achievement, your framing of your colleagues will become insignificant, and even the big shots will not hesitate to use it as a 'reward'. You will become the true head of the police headquarters and use this as a springboard to enter the power center of the Federation."

"You've really got a good plan, Director Hou Fan."

"Clap, clap, clap," Hou Fan clapped his hands to himself, having disappeared from the cabin at some point. "Impressive, truly impressive. For a mere artifact hunter to have such a scheme."

"But these alone are not enough to make you suspect the Imperial faction and ask Tang Xiao that question."

"It's the Lake of Destiny, Chief Hou. You were the one playing the game, but to conceal your identity, you transferred that role to Bryce. But he's only fit to be a pawn; how could he possibly be qualified to play against me?"

"So I asked Principal Tang another question—'Who are the people in the University Town who can make a splash on the lake of destiny right now?'"

"Sigh," Hou Fan sighed, "who knew that a liar like you would have the power to interfere with fate? In the end, the casting was the problem."

"Is it some kind of relic?"

Yue Lai did not answer his question.

"So, are you ready to face trial, Director Hou Fan?"

"Trial?" Hou Fan revealed an ugly smile. "Mr. Yue Lai, haven't you forgotten something? These are all just your speculations. Where's the evidence?"

Having already staked everything, the Taiyang Group would never betray him, and as for Bryce… that kind of person is even less likely to do so.

"Evidence?" Yue Lai laughed loudly. "Hou Fan, you've got one thing wrong. I was talking about a trial..."

"I'm not here to take you to court!"