A is in StarCraft, just disembarked from the Zerg Prince spaceship.

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......

"If only I were a little smarter..." said Servisma Serenopsis, president of the Xiongbao Association, in a hoarse voice.

"No, Sevisma, you've always helped me a lot," said Speaker Invika Serenopsis, biting the mouthpiece of a gold cigar and looking out the window in a low voice.

This is not just a polite remark.

Although Sevisma wasn't very smart.

However, the Xiongbao Association and the Noble Council are complementary.

Over the years, if the Sevisma Male Protection Council hadn't controlled the male insects and used the mating rights of superior male insects as leverage, the council's influence among the nobles wouldn't have been so great.

After the parliament gained more influence, it shifted resources and policies toward the Xiongan New Area Council.

Then the Xiongan New Area Protection Committee will also have greater power.

The two sides have worked together to achieve their current political influence.

What's good about Sevisma is that he wasn't his biological brother, but his cousin.

The Zerg's own brothers are each other's biggest rivals.

They are cousins; he inherited the red fire ant family, and Sevisma inherited the black fire ant family. They are related by blood but have no conflict of interest.

Sevisma's expression gradually shifted from numbness to pain: "But yours..."

Speaker Invika sat down opposite him, pulled up a holographic projection on his personal computer, and summarized their losses from the incident:

Parliamentary seats were reduced by 30%.

The deputy treasurer of the red imported fire ant genus was dismissed and his home confiscated.

Remove parliamentary control over the Supreme Court.

The law on the privileges of the dominant ruler was abolished.

Sevisma stared at the projection he was showing, his fingers unconsciously digging into the armrest of his chair.

"Brother, are we doomed?"

Speaker of the Council of Invika turned off the projection.

"I feel it hasn't come to that point yet; there might still be a chance for things to turn around."

"But the Crown Prince—"

"He hasn't openly targeted us yet," Speaker Invika said calmly. "So we still have some time. Let's take it one step at a time."

Sevisma stared at the shards of broken bottles scattered on the ground: "But the prestige of the Xiongbao Association has collapsed."

"That's why we should bow our heads even more."

Suddenly, Speaker Vika pinched a shard of glass, and blood seeped from his fingertips.

He stared at the drop of blood.

His genetic grade wasn't very high, and his physique wasn't as good as those female soldiers.

It's impossible for female soldiers to have their hands pierced by an ordinary shard of glass; the instruments of torture used to injure them are all specially made.

Even if they accidentally get pricked by something, such a small wound will heal in just a few breaths.

But he couldn't. He didn't have that kind of constitution or self-healing ability, so he couldn't take a path outside of politics.

"As it stands, the Crown Prince only wants to change the gender roles, not the existing administrative system. He still needs nobles to maintain the current system, and that's our opportunity," Speaker Invika patiently explained to him.

Sevisma wasn't very bright, but he always managed to understand.

He has a very short temper, so you need to be patient and break things down for him step by step.

As long as they don't go to extremes, they'll definitely find various opportunities within that environment.

"The Crown Prince wants you to be present tomorrow at the sentencing hearing for the abolition of the Male Insect Privileges Law," Council Speaker Invika told him, a piece of news that might be very upsetting for him. "He also wants to add a supervisory team to the Male Protection Agency, and the chairman of the supervisory team is Kelley Drakenfer."

Sure enough, Sevisma exploded like a powder keg, yelling, "What?! This is an insult! He's insulting me—"

Speaker Invika remained calm and spoke to him in a measured tone: "Yes, you're right, that is an insult. And so what? Sevisma, he is your monarch, and he has the right to insult you. Don't be so immature. Do you really think you are equals?"

Sevisma froze.

"But...but..."

"No buts. Adjust your mindset. Don't give up, Sevisma. If outsiders saw you like this, they would laugh even harder."

Sevisma's eyes flickered, then he sneered, "Let them laugh. The Xiongbao Association is finished anyway."

"The Xiongbao Council is over," said Speaker Invika, "but the Noble Council still exists."

He reached out and pressed down on his brother's shoulder, the force not too light or too heavy, but enough to prevent Sevisma from breaking free.

"Listen to me," Council Speaker Vika's voice was low and steady, "the male insect is indeed finished now, but it's not time to give up yet."

Sevisma turned his face away, but the councilor Vika's hand remained motionless.

"Now, half of the noble family heads who have ties with the Xiongbao Association are in exile, either arrested or defected." Speaker Invica stared into her brother's eyes. "But do you know why you're still standing here?"

Sevisma remained silent.

"Because you weren't directly involved in these matters, on the surface you're still clean, and the Crown Prince has no reason to punish you. Make good use of this and know when to back down."

Sevisma didn't move.

"Sevisma".

Sevisma remained motionless.

Speaker Invika stood up and straightened his cuffs: "I must go back now."

Upon hearing this, Sevisma looked up at him and cried out, "Brother—!"

"Clean yourself up. After you sign the papers tomorrow, you'll move to the family's old residence in the North." Speaker Invika ignored him and continued calmly, "Don't give anyone any leverage against you."

Sevisma asked anxiously, "What? Brother—why do I have to move to the tribe's territory? Can't I stay here?"

Speaker Invika stopped at the door and looked back at him.

"No, Sevisma," he said softly. "You can't continue to appear in public now. You have to wait."

Sevisma looked at him: "Wait?"

"right."

"What are you waiting for?"

Speaker of Parliament Invika said, "Wait until the citizens forget about this."

"What...?"

"Once they forget about this, we can find a new direction for the future of the Xiongan New Area Association."

The male insects were merely tools they used to control the empire.

It could be a male insect, or it could be something else entirely.

Once they find a replacement male, they seize the opportunity and can then rise again.

"Stop drinking."

Seeing that Sevisma still looked confused, Speaker Invika had no choice but to turn back and gently pat his hair. "Things aren't looking good. Cheer up. You'd better be prepared to be a dog from now on."

If they can be found, they can rise again; of course, they may not be found, and then they will become stray dogs, cursed and driven away.

Or lick someone else's shoe tips.

"Run away with your tail between your legs?" Sevisma suddenly grabbed a bottle opener and smashed it against the wall. "No way! I'd rather—"

"What would you rather be?" Speaker Invica grabbed him by the back of the neck and pressed his face directly against the icebox of ice wine.

"Are you more awake now?"

The cold ice melted into damp vapor on Sevisma's face.

He suddenly began to sob and choke back tears.

Speaker Invika held his hand firmly without letting go: "Cry, cry in front of me, and then don't let anyone else see."

Speaker Invika lowered her voice: "I know you've always been a privileged child, never experiencing this kind of life. Enduring ten years, twenty years..."