FT DR Chapter 87: A Mess!

Chapter 87: A Mess!

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

 

The Presidential Residence, Jin Zhe had just returned to his office when Hobert knocked on his door.

“Come in.” Jin Zhe opened his office system to write a letter. Without looking up, he asked, “How’s it going in York?”

“Dean Mu’s situation is okay, and the child is healthy. Sienna is handling the lawsuit, and the lawyer you recommended is staying in Saint Martin,” Hobert said. “I talked to Sienna once, she is grateful for the Cabinet’s care for Mu and said she would use her influence in Parliament to support us in amending the Protection Act.”

“What about the ‘Free Guide Protection Organization’? Did she show any inclination to cooperate with the Cabinet?” Jin Zhe lifted his head slightly and asked.

Hobert hesitated for a moment and said, “Not yet, but she indicated that if we can improve Wu Chenghe’s situation at the guide school, she would be willing to share some research findings on guides with the Cabinet to support the investigation of the ‘Black Pearl’ case to the fullest extent.”

“Ask her for samples. I know the ones they gave to the police initially were fake. Terrorists wouldn’t want just any physical enhancers; it must be drugs related to guides,” Jin Zhe said. “With real samples, I will consider negotiating with NTU and the guide school to have Wu Chenghe temporarily transferred to the task force as a consultant.”

Hobert frowned, “That’s against regulations. He’s a medical student, not military, and he’s a guide. He can’t leave the guide school before being marked.”

Jin Zhe’s hand paused, “He’s six and a half weeks pregnant.”

Hobert’s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets in shock. After a while, he stammered, “You’re not serious, are you?”

Jin Zhe didn’t answer his question. Hobert silently calculated the time. Six and a half weeks ago was precisely when Jin Xuan was preparing to leave Dunkirk’s capital for the Tianque Spaceport. Heavens! Could this damn kid get any more troublesome?

“What do we do now?” Hobert asked, feeling overwhelmed. “If I remember correctly, they’ll perform the ‘severance’ on him.”

“Mrs. Balon has already drafted an application to repeal the hidden clauses about ‘severance’,” Jin Zhe said, his fingers flying as he wrote the letter. “Follow up on that, make moves in the Supreme Court, get them to sign off as soon as possible, and bring it to me. I want this matter resolved within a month.”

“Alright.” Hobert thought for a moment and then asked, “Without ‘severance,’ direct exoneration isn’t possible either. I suppose the final result will probably be a restoration of the terms from five years ago—exile plus a fine.” 

Jin Zhe wasn’t worried about the fine; the Jin family had stakes in many companies, and the annual dividends were not a small sum. But exile was troublesome. Jin Xuan’s career had just begun. If he was sent to some remote planet, it would ruin his entire life.

Jin Zhe sighed imperceptibly, “We can’t expect to solve the problem all at once. Let’s take it step by step.”

“Alright.” In politics, Hobert knew his brainstorming capabilities could never match Jin Zhe’s. He could only defer to him and said, “Information lockdown has been implemented, so I don’t think the news will reach the front lines for a while. We still have a month or two to maneuver. Given Jin Xuan’s temperament, we have to figure out how to appease him once he returns.”

Jin Zhe frowned but didn’t respond. He silently made modifications to the letter written by his subordinate, then after reading it twice, he sent it to Hobert. “Check it over and send it to Hannibal on my behalf.”

Hobart opened the letter and found it to be a letter of condolence written in the President’s private capacity. In the letter, His Excellency the President sincerely apologized for his mistakes, admitting his lack of concern for Wu Chenghe, not even realizing he was a guide. He expressed deep remorse that the guide school had forcibly taken Wu Chenghe to Tungusic, causing significant psychological trauma to the Commander and his son. The President felt extremely guilty and implored Commander Hannibal to consider the bigger picture and not perceive the guide school’s actions as targeting him. In the future, the President assured that he would urge the guide school to take care of his son, and the Federation would consider compensating for the emotional distress he suffered.

The entire text was filled with genuine sincerity and warmth that even Hobart, who knew Jin Zhe extremely well, found it somewhat overwhelming. However, the message conveyed in the letter was very clear: first, the President did not support the guide school in this matter. Second, please, do not casually show paternal feelings. Third, listen to the President’s words, there’s a benefit to be had.

“Do you intend to use Hannibal to pressure the guide school?” Hobart quickly understood his intention, hesitated for a moment, and said, “That’s a good idea. With Hannibal’s pressure, there will be less resistance to temporarily transferring Wu Chenghe. But I feel Hannibal’s attitude towards Wu Chenghe is somewhat subtle. It’s like he cares deeply about this son but also seems indifferent, especially after the Gabriel Outer Ring incident. He hardly inquired about Wu Chenghe. He might not necessarily be willing to bother with him and the guide school for his sake.”

“Indeed, his attitude is strange. He seems to harbor deep animosity towards Jin Xuan. Even his quantum beast shows disdain towards Jin Xuan’s lion,” Jin Zhe said thoughtfully. “After returning that time, I asked Jin Xuan why Hannibal kept Wu Chenghe in the Outer Ring. He was vague, as if hiding something…”

“Yes, I find it strange too. Jin Xuan seemed to know there would be a fierce battle before going to Gabriel, and he even sneaked out your ‘hyena’,” Hobert agreed. “Speaking of which, this child is becoming more and more cunning. Don’t let him run wild behind your back too much, otherwise, one day, it will cause trouble.”

Jin Zhe sighed and shook his head. “Does he cause fewer troubles now? Would he listen to me if I said something? Sigh, this incident should serve as a lesson for him to learn. Anyway, you don’t have to worry about Hannibal. Regardless of the situation between him and his son, I know Hannibal very well. He’s a thorough pragmatist. As long as I offer him benefits, he will surely accept.” He paused and smirked. “It’s been so long since the letter from the guide school was sent, and he hasn’t responded yet. He’s just waiting for my reaction, waiting for me to offer him benefits.”

Hobart fell silent. Jin Zhe was very accurate in judging people’s minds. If he said Hannibal would accept, then he would definitely accept. “Alright, I’ll make the modifications and send it out.”

Gabriel Military Harbor, Hannibal sat in his study, looking at the letter of condolence sent by the President, a cold smile playing at the corner of his lips. He had been waiting for this day to come ever since he saw the red mark between Wu Chenghe’s collarbones at the Military Commission headquarters.

He hated Jin Xuan, envied him, wished he had shot him dead then and there, and locked Wu Chenghe away, watching him wither away, dying in depression! He couldn’t bear his beloved son being possessed by another man; he belonged to him, he was his guide! Anyone who dared to take away what belonged to him would die!

But he calmed down immediately, spared them, and didn’t even report to the guide school. He was not just a sentinel; he was a General, a commander, a ruler destined to rule all mankind!

Jin Xuan was Jin Zhe’s younger brother, and Jin Zhe was the President. Dead, Jin Xuan was worthless, but alive, he could become a vulnerability for the President, making Jin Zhe compromise as a “father” of a guide and allowing Hannibal to humiliate him at the right time! Even if Jin Zhe was ruthless, giving up Jin Xuan for his status would still greatly damage him psychologically. Marking a guide without authorization would be fatal, and once Wu Chenghe was “severed,” Jin Xuan would undoubtedly die! Remember, this President was an individualist who had always treated his brother like a son, and the taste of ending the family line would definitely not sit well with him.

Whichever ending, it was what Hannibal was willing to see. He had lost his carefully nurtured guide. Instead of recklessly seeking revenge, maximizing benefits and using Wu Chenghe against the President was more strategic. The black-and-chestnut eagle was a species that wouldn’t even spare carrion; even if a tainted son, he should still serve as a stepping stone to Hannibal’s success.

The most optimistic outcome: after being “severed,” Wu Chenghe would still remain pure. As long as he was willing, there would still be ways to obtain him.

Hannibal’s smile widened gradually. Now, what he wanted had arrived. The President had personally written him a letter, promising that the Federation would provide him with “emotional compensation.” He took a sip of his drink, then began writing a reply to Jin Zhe, thanking His Excellency the President for his condolences, expressing gratitude for the Cabinet’s care of Wu Chenghe, and appreciating the Federation’s trust in him. After that, he opened the notification letter from the guide school and penned a stern reply before sending it off.

Alright, now it was just a matter of waiting for the right moment to demand that “emotional compensation” from Jin Zhe. Hannibal finished his drink with pleasure and was about to close the terminal when he heard a knock on the door. It was Lilith.

“I received an email from Marlow,” Lilith got straight to the point. “He said Charlie has been found and has been sent to the guide school.”

“Ah, yes.” Hannibal remained calm, showing no sign of disturbance. “I have already received the official notification from the guide school and the President’s letter of condolences. Would you like to see them?” 

He displayed both letters for her to see.

Lilith was somewhat surprised by his calm reaction. After quickly scanning through them, she asked, puzzled, “Aren’t you worried?”

“Worried about what?” Hannibal replied lightly. “Isn’t it natural for guides to stay in the guide school? Didn’t you also say that we should send him to the guide school? Now someone has done it for us. Isn’t that good?”

“But…”

“Lilith.” Hannibal closed his personal terminal and gently touched her hair. “Stop being so suspicious, alright? I’ve explained countless times. I promised you I wouldn’t have such thoughts anymore, and I will keep that promise. It’s been half a year, have you seen me inquire about that child again? What more do you want from me?”

Lilith stiffened, turning her head away silently. Hannibal withdrew his hand, sighed, and said, “Lilith, I swear, I just wanted to bring him back to take care of his health at that time. I never thought he would be a guide, let alone that he would come of age those two days! Lilith, you’re a sentinel too. You know what compatibility means. With him, my compatibility is so high, and we’re so close, I can’t control myself!”

“Alright, let’s not talk about it.” Lilith felt nauseated thinking about the scene where he was pressing down on Wu Chenghe. She couldn’t determine whether Hannibal had known all along that Wu Chenghe was a guide or if, as he said, he was just blinded by bonding heat. All she knew was that she would never forget that scene in her life and the feeling of returning to their past with her husband.

“How can I make you forgive me?” Hannibal furrowed his brow, helpless and distressed. “I know you’ve wanted me to send him to the guide school for a long time, but he’s my son, and he loves studying medicine so much. He was terrified by me, and I can’t bring myself to hand him over. I can’t hurt him anymore… Now that he has been discovered by the guide school on his own, isn’t that good? We don’t have to feel guilty, and he has a safe place to belong to.”

Lilith remained silent. Hannibal continued, “Lilith, I haven’t told you this because I was afraid you wouldn’t understand. I feel guilty towards you and Charlie. He’s my son, and I didn’t take care of him well. I almost caused a catastrophe. You saw how he looked when he left Gabriel with the President, how he hated me, how scared he was. I felt terrible. But I can’t do anything because I’m afraid of hurting you, of hurting our family, Lilith.”

Lilith turned her head away, her breathing unsteady. Hannibal gently took her shoulders and said, “It’s okay now. He’s gone to the guide school, and at his age, it won’t be long before he attends the graduation ball and marries the right person. A happy marriage will heal his trauma, and time will heal everything. Perhaps in another ten or eight years, he’ll naturally forgive me and let me back into his life as a father.” Pausing for a moment, he added, “If I live that long.”

The last sentence caused Lilith’s tense shoulders to slump suddenly. Yes, they were both sentinels, and at this age, more than half of life had passed. Who knew when a manic episode might strike, leading to the end of life?

“Okay.” Lilith suppressed her frustration and forced herself to regain her composure. “How did you reply to the guide school and the President?”

Hannibal hesitated for a moment, then candidly showed Lilith the two letters he had written in response to the Federation. “I wrote exactly as the President intended. Besides, the person is already locked away. Whatever I say now won’t change anything.”

As Lilith looked at her husband’s replies, her eyes gradually cooled down. After a while, she nodded and said, “Alright, following the President’s lead is always the right choice. Perhaps he has his own intentions.”

Hannibal closed his personal terminal, wrapped his arm around her waist, and held her loosely in his embrace. “Lilith, let’s put this matter behind us completely, alright? Let’s never mention it again, okay?”

“Okay.” Lilith rested her chin on his shoulder, her expression indifferent but her voice still calm. “I’m sorry, Hannibal, for losing control of my emotions these past six months and tormenting you, tormenting myself. It won’t happen again.”

“No, you never have to apologize to me.” Hannibal held his wife’s soft body close, his smile gradually growing. “Having you as my wife is the greatest blessing of my life.”

Lilith chuckled coldly in the corner where he couldn’t see.

Late at night, Hannibal was in the study reviewing documents, while Lilith, wearing a robe, quietly ascended to the rooftop.

The wind had picked up, and the air carried the scent of moisture; it was going to rain tonight. Leaning against the pure white railing, Lilith looked up at the dim clouds overhead, her caracal lying sadly at her feet. Quantum beasts were difficult to conceal their owner’s true emotions, and despite Lilith’s attempts to appear calm and indifferent, her inner pain and despair were fully exposed through the caracal.

She was a soldier, accustomed to battles and always straightforward in temperament. But that didn’t mean she was clueless; on the contrary, as the daughter of a General, her political sensitivity was no less than that of an ordinary person. She was just too proud to bother guessing others’ thoughts or catering to their opinions.

If she had only heard Hannibal’s words, perhaps she would have believed him. But after reading the President’s email and then his reply, everything became clear to her immediately.

Her husband was too clever, too pragmatic, too rational. Whether it was his desire to possess their son in the beginning or his current attitude of appeasing the President, it wasn’t because of bonding heat’s temptation or for Wu Chenghe’s happiness, as he claimed. From start to finish, the only thing he cared about was his own interests!

If he had shown anxiety, worry, or even a little leniency toward the guide school after Wu Chenghe was locked away, Lilith, though disgusted, would have understood his actions. After all, that was his son, the boy he had once hurt. For a man with emotions, there was still room for redemption.

Unfortunately… Lilith smiled self-deprecatingly to herself and told herself it was time to make a decision. As she was lost in thought, her left hand shook as Marlow’s call came through. Lilith answered it, and due to the distance from the capital, after several transfers, his three-dimensional projection was somewhat distorted. “Mom.”

“Marlow.” Lilith smiled gently. No matter what, her son was her pride.

Marlow hesitated for a moment and said, “Did you receive my email? They said the Federation is in lockdown, and I’ve tried to send it several times, but it didn’t go through. I had to use some… unconventional methods.”

“I received it.” Lilith interrupted him, saying, “I just didn’t reply to you.”

Marlow fell silent for a while before speaking softly, “During the summer vacation, I heard you two arguing.”

Lilith’s face showed a hint of regret. Her son was always smart and sensitive; she knew that. She just didn’t expect him to connect the dots so quickly…

Marlow didn’t wait for her response but took a deep breath and asked in a low voice, “Is the talk of divorce related to this matter about Charlie being a guide?”

Lilith’s mind went blank, and she stared at her son in fear, tongue-tied. Marlow looked into her eyes through the blurry video for a moment before lowering his gaze and saying, “Take care of yourself, Mom. I respect whatever decision you make, and I will always be your son.”

“Marlow.” Lilith couldn’t help but feel like crying. She covered her mouth, choked for a moment, and then swallowed back the lump in her throat. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll handle everything, and… don’t… he’s your father.”

“I know.” Marlow’s face was extremely ugly, but his tone remained calm. “I know everything, Mom. Please, take care of yourself, for my sake.”

“I will.”

The mother and son silently looked at each other across hundreds of light-years, and although the video was blurry, they gradually drew strength from each other’s eyes.

“Goodbye, Mom, I’m going to the library.” Marlow said hoarsely. 

Just before he disconnected the call, Lilith hastily said, “Marlow, listen to me. Make sure to marry a guide.”

Marlow paused for a moment, neither nodding nor shaking his head, and said, “I will wait until the day I feel I can make a decision before making one.”

“No, you don’t know how terrifying manic episodes can be. You’re still young and can’t understand the pain of knowing your life is about to end.” Lilith said softly, “Without a guide, one day you’ll regret it, you’ll go crazy, and by then, you won’t be yourself anymore.”

Silence. After a long time, Marlow nodded. “I’ll remember your advice. Thank you, Mom. Goodbye.”

“Goodbye.” Lilith hung up the call, leaned against the railing, and looked up at the sky. But there was no sky in Gabriel; through the clouds, all she could see was the city on the other side.

Once upon a time, she was an ignorant girl. When her father asked her what she wanted to do when she grew up, she proudly pointed to the stars and said, “I want to conquer those stars!”

How nice it would be if women never had to grow up.

Gabriel University, Strategy Academy, Marlow put away his personal terminal and leaned against the window, looking at the darkening sky outside. His life had once been perfect, envied by everyone, until today, when he realized it was all a joke. He felt like he should hate someone, but he didn’t know who to hate. Was it Wu Chenghe? The pitiful guide who had done nothing wrong but lost his freedom. His father? No, that was his father, and without him, there would be no him. Only his mother was innocent… Thinking of his mother, Marlow’s jaw tightened involuntarily.

At that moment, the dormitory door was suddenly pushed open with a bang, and Chen Miaomiao rushed in like a gust of wind. “Hey! What are you doing? Didn’t we agree to go to the library to get some internal information for our old men?” Looking at Marlow’s expression, which was somewhat surprised, he said, “Oh! Are you crying? Did you get dumped? Did a girl reject you?” Before waiting for him to answer, Chen Miaomiao had already put his skinny arm around Marlow’s shoulder. “Come on, let this old man comfort you. I just sent out a good karma card to give you some peach blossom luck, so you won’t…”

Before he could finish his sentence, Marlow suddenly turned around and hugged him tightly.

“Eh…” Chen Miaomiao was startled by his action, hiccuped for a moment, and then reacted. Feeling a bit awkward, he patted Marlow’s back and said, “It’s all just clouds, just clouds. Cheer up, Marlow… What happened in the end?”

“Shh, don’t talk.” Marlow hugged him tightly, trying to draw some hope and strength from his body, which was oblivious to sorrow. “Let me hug you, just for a moment.”

“…Okay.” Chen Miaomiao stiffly allowed himself to be hugged. After a while, seeing no sign that Marlow was letting go, he hesitantly wrapped his arms around his back and relaxed his body, resting his chin on Marlow’s shoulder. “Whatever happens, don’t worry about it. Is it because of your parents’ divorce? Well, adults are like that. My parents often argue, but after arguing, they still live together as usual. Adults are very childish; you have to learn to ignore their conflicts.”

“Shut up!” Marlow was annoyed by his chatter, and he tightened his arms, making Chen Miaomiao take in a sharp breath, finally shutting him up.

Damn! This deadpan guy is so strong! Chen Miaomiao cursed inwardly, trying to pinch his back, but found that Marlow didn’t have an ounce of fat on him, just muscles like iron plates that he couldn’t pinch. How can someone have such a perfect body! Chen Miaomiao was jealous to the extreme. As he was fantasizing about how to train himself to have such a body, he suddenly felt a sweet sensation at the back of his tongue, and saliva poured out of his mouth.

Damn it! Chen Miaomiao almost bit his tongue, realizing he was being seduced by the handsome guy. Where’s my dignity! 

Then, for some reason, his face turned red.

 

 

 

 

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