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

***************

......

At 9:30 p.m., the reception hall of the Grand Palace of Liernia was opened.

The enormous crystal chandelier cast a bright, resplendent light, making it appear magnificent.

The black marble floor reflects the towering dome murals, and the portraits of gods and ancestors appear very stern under the strong light, looking down at the insects standing or sitting in the hall below.

The Insect King sat on the throne at the far end of the hall, a symbol of supreme power.

He had recovered from his fear, changed his clothes, and returned to a presentable appearance before meeting Orion.

At least that's how it appears on the surface.

He changed into an elaborate formal suit, his hair was meticulously combed, and he even applied a little powder to cover his pale face and the dark circles under his eyes.

His back was straight, his hands clasped together on the velvet-covered armrests, maintaining the dignity of the current holder of the Liernia royal power.

Even if you were once the second prince, Atticus is the rightful heir of the Lyrnia royal family, and I am the current King of Lyrnia.

Orion, even if you return, you will only ever be a subject.

But his eyes still unconsciously followed Orion's face.

so similar.

He did not love Atticus.

But still, it looks too much like it.

......

The Insect King sat on his throne.

Orion stood beneath the throne, looking up at the high and mighty imperial throne, and at the insect king's interlaced fingers twitching slightly on the velvet armrests.

He accurately grasped the appropriate level of etiquette.

There was no laughter, no deliberate attempt to be friendly; he simply stood there politely.

His handsome face, so much like Atticus', was serene, his brows and eyes relaxed, showing only a faint worry and no hint of hostility.

He didn't smile; when he made that expression, it was almost exactly the same as Atticus's in the past—gentle and sincere.

A clear breeze and a bright moon.

Just as he has always been a noble member of the royal family and has never become a space pirate.

The Insect King had never seen the space pirates, and he had no idea what Orion looked like on the outside.

Flowers in a greenhouse cannot imagine anything beyond his understanding.

He was a little younger than Atticus.

When he married Atticus, she had already become the Queen of the Blazing Insects, and Orion had long since rebelled against the Empire. He had hardly seen the former Second Prince, nor had he seen the later leader of the Star Pirates.

Even if a second prince of an empire is despicable, he can't be that despicable, right?

He naturally assumed that this was Orion's usual behavior and lowered his assessment of Orion's threat level in his mind.

"Your Majesty," Orion spoke, his voice low, clear, and steady. He nodded slightly, his posture impeccable: "Orion Skelway greets you."

He uttered the abandoned surname with ease, as naturally as if he had never left the empire.

The Insect King calmly hummed in agreement.

He knew that Orion's purpose in coming here was nothing more than to take advantage of the current situation where the Crown Prince was threatening the country. He wanted to help Orion fight against the Crown Prince in order to obtain his pardon, erase the stain of his identity as a space pirate, and restore his noble status as an imperial prince.

It was also mentioned that Vika found help from somewhere, which turned out to be the second prince, who had been defeated by Atticus and banished from the empire.

Orion said solemnly, "I bear the blood of the Empire. Though I have traveled far and wide to explore the stars, my heart has never been separated from my homeland."

"I have heard that the foundations of the empire have recently been shaken. His Highness the Crown Prince is young and impetuous, and his actions may be ill-considered."

"The bloodline of the empire and the male insect are the foundation of the empire; how can they be neglected so easily?"

His gaze returned to the Insect Emperor, filled with unwavering loyalty and concern: "Though I am but a humble subject, I dare not forget my duty to my kin. Therefore, I have traveled day and night, risking my life to return. I only wish to share Your Majesty's burdens, to do my utmost for the Empire, to dispel the gloom, and to rebuild its foundation."

The words were carefully chosen, only touching on the point, like a cold needle precisely piercing the insect king's most painful weakness.

The Crown Prince revoked the privileges of male insects, crushing the Male Protection Association and becoming irreconcilable with the Parliament.

The Crown Prince's power is growing day by day, and it seems that even the parliament is on the verge of collapse.

If the male insect privileges, the male protection council, and the council all collapse, what good will happen to him, the insect king who has mistreated him and the insect queen since childhood?

Now he can only do everything he can to suppress the Crown Prince and delay the Crown Prince's rise to power, hoping to stall for as long as possible.

Until the day when it can no longer be suppressed.

Orion shook his head for the Insect King, his worry deepening and his expression becoming increasingly anxious.

The hall fell into a deathly silence.

The crystal chandelier's countless facets refract light, creating a twinkling effect.

The Insect King scrutinized him: "Then what makes you think you can contend with the Crown Prince?"

The Crown Prince commands the Empire's Eleventh Legion. You, a former prince who was exiled and a space pirate he chases everywhere, what makes you think you can be called the Empire's savior?

Orion's face remained calm and composed, his lips still curved naturally as he calmly met the gaze of the Insect King.

He showed no anger or bravado at being questioned, but rather a reassuring confidence befitting a doer, and sincerely said, "Your Majesty is right. His Highness the Crown Prince commands an army and has already established his power; given our current conditions, it is not easy for us to confront him."

He lowered his eyes slightly, remained silent for a few seconds, as if he were considering something.

This subtle pause perfectly whetted the insect king's appetite.

The Insect King leaned forward slightly: "What's your plan?"

Orion raised his head: "Your subject has."

He reached into a hidden pocket inside his combat uniform and pulled something out.

It's not a weapon; it's very small, only about the size of a thumb, black, and cylindrical.

It can't be scanned at security checkpoints.

A small plastic bottle.

The bottle has no labels whatsoever, is completely opaque, and you can't see what's inside. The bottle opening is tightly sealed with a screw cap.

It has no visible color or smell, and there are no energy fluctuations.

It's just an ordinary little black medicine bottle, black bottle with a white cap, unremarkable, and even looks cheap and rough.

However, the cheapness and roughness, which were very incongruous with the times, gave off a strong sense of eeriness in the extremely luxurious environment of the palace, in the hands of Orion Skelway.

Orion did not hand the bottle to the throne, but held it steadily in his palm, raising it slightly to ensure that the Insect King could see it clearly.

"Your Majesty, please look, this is our empire's true savior."

"What is this?"

"The enhancement potion can increase the user's strength by more than ten times within one hour of ingestion."

What?!

The Insect King involuntarily moved closer, its eyes widening.

How could such a thing exist?

No, there's no way such a thing could exist!

But—but what if it's true?

If that's true, then firstly, the male insect—

"Your Majesty, please don't be hasty, this isn't for you." Orion withdrew his hand, narrowed his eyes, and turned his gaze to a servant beside him:

"Is the waiter next to you from the ant tribe?"