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

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

......

When Commander-in-Chief Qi came over, it seemed he had something to discuss, so Gao Tian stood up to give him his seat.

Commander-in-Chief Qi was seated next to the Crown Prince, and Gao Tian was seated on the single sofa on the other side of the Crown Prince.

Commander-in-Chief Qi nodded slightly, without saying anything more. He sat down on the sofa that Gao Tian had given him, a little distance away from Lan, and his adjutant came over and handed him a glass of warm water.

Commander-in-Chief Qi took it, drank a sip, and moistened his still somewhat uncomfortable throat.

He calmly swept his gaze across the room, taking in the bustling crowd of politicians surrounding Orion and the silent aloofness of the military personnel. His face was expressionless, revealing only deep weariness and a knowing calm.

Commander-in-Chief Qi remained silent, as did the Crown Prince.

He picked up a glass of champagne from the table, swirled it slowly, and glanced at the radiant figure in the distance and the crowd surrounding him, his face expressionless.

Gao Tian was getting a little anxious.

Orion's scandal is a part of the Liernia royal family's life, and the situation is indeed a bit awkward. It would be difficult for the Crown Prince to speak, so let him do it.

Gao Tian lowered his voice and leaned closer to them: "President Qi, that Orion..."

"Let me speak," the Crown Prince interrupted him, putting down his cup and standing up. "After all, this is our family scandal, so I'll speak for myself. Commander-in-Chief Qi, it's true that Liernia is going to cause trouble for the Human Federation this time. The banquet hall is crowded and noisy; may I invite you to the outdoor terrace for a detailed discussion?"

"please."

The Crown Prince invited Commander-in-Chief Qi to the terrace outside the banquet hall for a detailed discussion.

The noise inside the banquet hall was kept out by heavy glass doors and curtains.

On a secluded terrace to the side of the White House banquet hall, the night was deep and the evening breeze was cool.

The Crown Prince's personal guards and Commander-in-Chief Qi's orderly surrounded and sealed off the entire area around the terrace entrance, preventing other guests from approaching, blocking any possible prying and ensuring that no one else could hear their conversation.

Several rattan armchairs were placed in the center of the terrace, with a small round table between them.

The Crown Princess stayed in the banquet hall to observe the scene, while the Crown Prince and Commander-in-Chief Qi went to the terrace alone for a private talk.

There were chairs on the terrace, but they didn't sit on them.

Standing by the railing, with their backs to the brightly lit banquet hall and looking at the bustling human city not far away, the Crown Prince and President Qi were both somewhat silent.

Both leaders have their own difficulties.

Everyone just wants the Liernia Empire and the Human Federation to get better and better, but each race has its own drags on.

There are people everywhere who disregard their own country for power.

Then the Crown Prince sighed first and turned to Commander-in-Chief Qi, the human.

His light blue eyes looked exceptionally bright in the night.

"Commander-in-Chief Qi, please come here because there is something I need to explain to you regarding Orion Skelway."

Commander-in-Chief Qi placed his hands folded on the railing, his face still showing signs of illness, but his eyes were calm. Without any unnecessary formalities, he nodded and said, "Please speak."

The Crown Prince revealed everything: "Orion Skelway is not simply an Imperial general or envoy. He competed for the throne with my female father, the former Queen of Lyrnia. After losing the competition, he betrayed the Empire and became the leader of a space pirate force."

"A researcher from the Human Federation named Lu Jianan went missing in the border region of Liernia, thanks to Orion. At the time, we were unaware of the existence of the Human Federation. Orion passed by the border planet and saw the researcher named Lu Jianan. He mistook him for a precious male Zerg and kidnapped him with the intention of selling him. He was later rescued by our regular army."

"Aurion and my mother are twins, but their personalities are completely different. I don't know why such a bug would appear in our Liernian royal family. Aurion has a record of killing stars multiple times when he was a space pirate. He is bloodthirsty, cruel, despicable, cunning, and utterly wicked."

"Later, the current Insect Emperor of the Empire, who is also my father, was dissatisfied with the decline in the status of male Insects within the Empire after establishing friendly relations with humans. Orion took this opportunity to join the Insect Emperor, cleared his name as a space pirate, restored his identity, and obtained the mission to the Human Federation."

"The Insect King does not have goodwill towards humans. Orion's trip is probably to sabotage the relationship between the two races or for some other ulterior motive. In any case, it's not for anything good."

The terrace fell into a brief silence, with only the faint sound of the evening breeze.

Commander-in-Chief Qi listened quietly the whole time, maintaining a calm demeanor and showing no signs of agitation.

The Crown Prince concluded by saying, "These are all family scandals. I'm sorry to air them in public."

After the Crown Prince finished speaking, Commander-in-Chief Qi nodded, indicating his understanding: "Your Highness is too kind. Power shifts and political infighting are normal occurrences in any civilization, so please don't take it to heart."

Having held power for many years, Commander-in-Chief Qi understood the situation in Lehrnia after hearing this.

The Crown Prince has not yet ascended the throne, and the Liernia Empire still has the Insect Emperor, who is naturally opposed to humans.

The fact that a single male Zerg can rule as the Zerg King indicates that there must be other power organizations within Liernia that support the Zerg King's rebellion against the Crown Prince, most likely an administrative organization similar to the Alliance.

The Crown Prince has only recently come of age, and the current situation is not something he can decide.

Orion seems to want to compete for power with the Crown Prince, and given his past history of trafficking his own kind, he can't be much better to humans.

Humans cannot support Orion.

The politicians in the Alliance Bureau only care about power and are in complete agreement with him. If the Alliance Bureau Chief is not stopped, the Human Federation may also be thrown into turmoil.

He may subsequently schedule a meeting with Director Rhodes of the Alliance.

......

***********

......

It was just past 8 p.m.

Ferdinand was having dinner with his mother in their newly moved-in private house, in front of Commander-in-Chief Qi's residence.

The dining table was covered with a clean white napkin, and the crystal chandelier overhead shone brightly and softly, illuminating the living room and dining room.

The air was filled with the aroma of roasted lamb chops and fresh rosemary.

His mother sat at the other end of the table, wearing a soft, light pink knit dress, her long black hair loosely tied up.

Time seems to have been exceptionally kind to her.

Her son is already in his twenties, but time has only left a few gentle lines at the corners of her eyes. When she speaks softly, the unique tranquility and gentleness of an Omega permeates the entire restaurant like a warm current.

The former number one beauty in the league remains gentle and beautiful to this day.

Ferdinand kept his head down as he ate, occasionally responding to his mother's words.

He had just finished a long day of work and was exhausted. All he wanted was to enjoy the peace and quiet of his family and listen to his mother gently asking him about everyday things, such as the newly blooming roses in the garden or what he wanted for breakfast the next day.

Omega people are born to be the best therapists.

Ferdinand was happy to be able to come home and have dinner with her, and his wife looked at him tenderly.

Her son has grown up so much, he's become such a handsome young man, a mature adult.

As long as the Alliance Director doesn't go home, the relationship between the mother and son is quite harmonious.

I've only taken a few bites of my food.

A slight vibration came from the terminal that Ferdinand had placed beside him.

The screen instantly lit up with a pale blue light, which was particularly dazzling under the warm glow of the lamp.

Ferdinand's fork paused in mid-air, and he frowned.

At this time, with this special notification sound... only one person would contact him like this.

He put down his knife and fork, picked up the terminal, and unlocked it.

Sure enough, a very brief message popped up on the screen, with the sender identified as a highest-level privilege code.

[The White House. Immediately.]

There was no title, no reason, and no explanation.

Only cold, commanding locations and times.

A familiar, rusty-smelling irritation surged up from his stomach, instantly extinguishing his appetite.

The warmth of dinner and the aroma of the food suddenly lost their meaning.

It happened again, without warning. No matter what he was doing or whether he was alright, there was no concern, only orders, as if he were just a pawn to be summoned at any time.

"What's wrong, Ferdinand?" the lady asked, looking at him with concern.

She keenly noticed the pause in her son's movements and the sudden change in his demeanor. She put down her fork and asked worriedly, "Is there some urgent matter at work?"

Ferdinand looked away from the screen and at his mother.

The lady was wearing a comfortable loungewear dress, her eyes were clear and bright, and her face held a gentle yet puzzled expression.

His mother is a typical omega.

He doesn't understand politics, the power struggles, or the dramatic events surrounding the position of Alliance Director.

Her world consisted only of this home, flowers, clothes, meals, and countless social salons and charitable events for wealthy women.

A faint sense of impatience, which even he himself did not notice, swept through Ferdinand's mind. He was an alpha, and there was a natural, unspeakable barrier between him and his mother.

He didn't want to explain.

For a homebody omega like Mom, power struggles and manipulation are too distant and complicated; telling her about them would only increase her worries.

"It's nothing serious," Ferdinand reassured his mother, then stood up and left without hesitation. "My father wants to see me. He wants me to go to the White House right now."

"Don't wait for me for dinner. Enjoy your meal." He said as he left the dining room and strode towards his room.

"Now?" The lady also stood up, her beautiful face showing even more worry.

She instinctively took a step after him: "So late? Did something happen? What about your father...?"

"There are just some things that need to be taken care of." Ferdinand didn't turn his head; his voice came from the dressing room.

He took off his comfortable loungewear and put on a well-fitting suit.

"But you haven't finished dinner yet... You can tell Mom if there's anything wrong, and Mom will see if she can—"

The lady was interrupted.

"It's alright, don't worry, I can handle it."

When he came down again, he was dressed in a sharp suit, ready to step into the halls of power at any moment.

The gentle look on his face disappeared; now he was Ferdinand Rodriguez.

"I'm leaving." He skillfully straightened his tie in front of the mirror in the porch, opened the door, and said to his mother, who stood behind him with a worried expression.

Without offering any further explanation or glancing at the dinner that followed, he picked up his suit jacket and walked away without looking back.

"Ferdinand..." The lady knew he was determined to leave, so she could only call his name softly from behind.

Ferdinand did not hear.

"Bang."

A soft sound.

The door closed.

The huge mahogany dining table in the restaurant appeared unusually spacious under the soft lighting.

She was sitting opposite Ferdinand, who had barely touched his dinner, eating only a little bit.

The lady stood on the porch, watching Ferdinand's car drive away through the window, when suddenly a strange sense of unease welled up inside her.

She was in a state of utter confusion.

The White House, such an urgent summons, the Alliance Secretary, a dinner for foreign dignitaries...

She didn't understand the complex political situation, nor did she know what her husband was thinking, but for some reason, she had an instinctive intuition.

Dark clouds are gathering; something terrible is about to happen.

She suddenly felt very cold, slowly walked back to the sofa and sat down, found a blanket and draped it over herself, and lost her appetite.

The maid noticed that she looked unwell and came over anxiously to ask, "Madam, are you alright?" She just shook her head haphazardly and then told them to take away the dinner.

The light from the crystal chandelier became dazzling.

She felt her child was sliding into an abyss.

......

The dark-colored hovercar glided silently along the familiar tree-lined avenue.

It finally stopped at the inconspicuous side door of the West Wing Alliance Director's office.

Ferdinand got out of the car and returned to the White House, which he had recently moved out of.

The night breeze carried a familiar scent, a mixture of grass, moisture, and floral fragrance.

The White House remains as beautiful as ever, its magnificent white building brightly lit.

The familiar outline, the familiar lawn, the familiar fountain—everything was exactly the same as when we moved out a few days ago.

The scenery remained unchanged, and the clamor of the power arena never ceased.

The banquet hall was brightly lit, and a welcome dinner for an important foreign guest was being held. Faint melodious music and indistinct voices could be heard from within.

For the sake of that insect king envoy general who suddenly appeared.

I haven't heard much about his specific identity, but I heard he's already 70 years old.

They were from the previous generation, and he lost interest in the general at that time.

He did not head towards the banquet hall, which was not of a level he could enter with his current official rank; his father's instructions were to go to his office in the west wing.

There are hardly any other rooms in the entire west wing; they are almost all offices of the Alliance Office.

The air was clean, filled with the scent of disinfectant, paper, and power.

At this time, the senior staff in the office had all left work, and the entire west wing was empty and very deserted.

He walked through the empty corridor to the door of his father's office.

Before he could even knock, his father's personal secretary suddenly appeared, bowed slightly, and gestured for him to follow: "Mr. Ferdinand, the Director is waiting for you outside the banquet hall. Please come with me."

Ferdinand nodded and followed.

Instead of leading him into the banquet hall, the secretary turned and led him to a more secluded passageway to the side.

Because the banquet was being held in the main hall of the White House, the Union Secretary could not leave the hall, so he found a secluded terrace to talk to him.

Passing through an inconspicuous side door, you'll find a terrace that connects to the side of the banquet hall and is cleverly partially enclosed by tall green plants.

The White House has many terraces like this.

It is relatively secluded, allowing you to return to the banquet hall at any time while maintaining sufficient privacy.

Washington, D.C. is located in the subtropical monsoon climate zone, near the Atlantic Ocean. Spring temperatures rise rapidly, and the East Coast is in full bloom during the rose season, with roses in full bloom and filling the air with fragrance.

The White House's Rose Garden is world-famous (even though they are roses).

Ferdinand went up to the terrace, where the Commissioner of the Alliance was standing with his back to him by the railing, looking down at the sea of ​​roses blooming in the courtyard under the moonlight and landscape lights.

He was holding a glass of water, seemingly just out for some fresh air.

Hearing footsteps, the Alliance Director turned around and coldly scrutinized him.

"Father." Ferdinand stopped a few steps away, nodded slightly, and waited for instructions.

"Ferdinand, you've arrived." The Alliance Director nodded, his gaze sweeping over Ferdinand, scrutinizing him from head to toe, from his impeccably tailored suit to his perfectly styled hair, confirming that his appearance was impeccable.

Ferdinand stood stiffly, like a soldier being inspected.

His father has nothing else to say to him now. When they meet, there is only a brief greeting, and not even a simple "Have you eaten?"

The director took two steps forward, closer to Ferdinand, and deliberately lowered his voice: "Listen, Ferdinand. The one inside today—"

He gestured with his eyes toward the brightly lit banquet hall: "It's the second prince of Liernia, a direct descendant of the royal family like the Crown Prince of Liernia, Admiral Orion Skelway."

"Yes, Father," Ferdinand replied.

He knows this.

"very good."

The Alliance Director's gaze was fixed on Ferdinand's eyes, his eyes sharp as an eagle's, devoid of any fatherly tenderness, only the cold calculation of a politician remained, as he uttered the crucial information: "He, like the Crown Prince, is a female insect, and unmarried."

Ferdinand's heart sank upon hearing those words, a sense of foreboding washing over him.

Sure enough, the Alliance Director's voice continued, a cold judgment, without any beating around the bush or concealment, blatantly treating him as a bargaining chip, even with a hint of reproach, as if he were a useless one: "Last time I gave you a chance to get close to the Crown Prince, and you didn't seize it. This time, don't disappoint me."

Ferdinand said anxiously, "But Dad, I heard he's already 70 years old—"

"What does age matter!" the Alliance Director scolded him. "If you keep acting like this, get out and never come back!"

Ferdinand opened and closed his mouth, but in the end he lowered his head and listened quietly to his father's reprimand and instruction.

The Alliance Director was very satisfied with his attitude; the most basic attitude of a good pawn is to be obedient.

The Alliance Director earnestly told him, "They are the Zerg, and their age conversion is different from that of humans. Moreover, he is a powerful Zerg general and the second prince. His power is the most important thing. Even if he really is an old man, you cannot hesitate."

Ferdinand's hands, hanging at his sides, clenched into fists silently, but he still didn't say anything.

The Alliance Director's gaze swept over the cluster of roses in full bloom, exuding a rich fragrance, before returning to Ferdinand's face.

The only redeeming quality of this son is his beauty, which he inherited from his mother.

Young and handsome, he could be called a jewel.

The Alliance Director leaned forward slightly, getting closer to Ferdinand, and stared at him with eyes that seemed to see through power: "If we can't get close to the Crown Prince, then we absolutely cannot miss out on the Second Prince, otherwise the military will become the only power in the country, and our Alliance will become a vassal of the military."

"Ferdinand, you won't let me down, will you?"

"You should know that I can have many more children, and if you feel you can't do it, I can find other children."

"I can do it, Dad," Ferdinand immediately pledged his loyalty.

The Alliance Director put on that gentle, kind old man's smile again.

His gentle demeanor remained unchanged, but the look in his eyes behind his glasses sent chills down Ferdinand's spine.

"Very well, Ferdinand, my son, you must believe that I will not harm you. I am sending you to seduce the prince of Lyrnia, but this is a win-win situation for us. How useful is a powerful partner? Just look at that Major General Gao Tian."

He patted Ferdinand's shoulder gently, the pressure neither too light nor too heavy, but leaving no room for refusal: "Go, go back and prepare. You should know what to do with princes like them."

The director's gaze lingered on Ferdinand's face, he smiled, then looked away, picked up his water glass, turned around, and walked back towards the side door leading to the noisy banquet hall.

Ferdinand was left alone on the terrace.

It lingered in the strong fragrance of roses.

Ferdinand stood motionless.

The night breeze carried an even stronger fragrance of flowers from the courtyard below, almost pungent.

This place smells like the White House, it smells like power.

He has no power, so he can be kicked out at any time.

He watched his father's figure disappear behind the door.

Only with power can one avoid being coerced, possess freedom, and have everything.

He then looked toward the brightly lit banquet hall, where many people were gathered.

Through the glass, one could vaguely see the figure of Major General Gao Tian sitting on the sofa in the banquet hall.

He had no right to go in for the socializing, but Major General Gao Tian was able to sit comfortably on the sofa inside, undisturbed.

That Major General Gao Tian's background is far inferior to his.

How useful is a powerful partner? A powerful partner is incredibly useful.

He raised his hand and straightened his already impeccably neat suit and tie once more.

His youthful and handsome appearance is now his greatest weapon.

The Crown Prince may not like it, but those high-ranking and not-so-young rulers will always like it.

Then he strode out, turned around and went out to prepare, to go to the side of that high-ranking, unmarried female second prince, and to step by step break through the gate of power.