Chapter 446: Hiran

The news that Bree was actually a Zerg caused absolute chaotic uproar across the entire Empire.

Not long after Sylas and Hayden left Rory’s castle, agents from the Imperial Security Department came knocking on their door. Yilan, having just returned from the Divine Battlefield, was similarly taken into custody the moment her ship touched down at the Central District.

"What do you think you’re doing?!" Escorted aboard the Security Department’s private vessel, Yilan’s face turned deathly pale from sheer panic. She frantically placed a call to Aren on her optical computer.

"Brother, didn’t you say you would help me?! Why are the Security Department people still coming for me?! They’re about to drag me away to their headquarters for interrogation! Brother, hurry up and save me!"

On the other end of the line, Aren replied with calm unhurriedness. "Given how close you were with Bree, it’s only natural they need to question you. Just give them a completely honest account of everything you two did together. Once the Security Department confirms you weren’t complicit, they will release you."

Standing beside Yilan, her companion instantly scowled upon hearing Aren’s response. "Female Master... does Brother mean he’s washed his hands of us entirely?"

Yilan hadn’t picked up on the underlying meaning at first, but her companion’s prompt brought the realization crashing down. Aren had never intended to step in for her at all.

"Aren, what is the meaning of this?! Are you playing me for a fool?! You never planned to help me from the start, did you?!"

Aren let out a cold sneer. "Everyone must take responsibility for their own actions. Yilan, I told you long ago—I am no longer the Young Patriarch of the Incubus Clan. I will never clean up your messes again."

With that, Aren cut the connection instantly.

Yilan was so furious she nearly smashed her optical computer onto the deck. "Damned Aren! How dare he lie to me...!" She was practically bursting with rage.

Watching Yilan hurl non-stop curses at Aren, her companion offered a hushed reminder: "Female Master, now isn’t the time to curse my brother. We need to figure out a way to keep from being shipped off to Sunken Island!"

Yilan didn’t want to go to Sunken Island, and her male companions were even more terrified of that fate. While female convicts sent to Sunken Island were granted a degree of free living on the island, the males forced to accompany them faced a grim existence: not only did they have to wait on their female hand and foot, but they also had to perform grueling hard labor daily just to secure basic food rations. Star coins were useless there, and beast cores for ranking up were non-existent. Going there meant nothing short of endless manual labor until death.

Inside the castle.

Rory had just finished her lunch and returned to her bedroom to rest with Xarion when officers from the Imperial Security Department arrived at the gates. Even though Xarion had been the one to slay Bree, procedure dictated that the Security Department conduct a routine inquiry with Rory’s household as well.

In the living room, Vincent glanced at Yuel upon hearing that the Security Department officers had arrived.

"I’m heading back upstairs to incubate the eggs, so I won’t be participating in this," Vincent declared gracefully. Those Security Department personnel were an utter headache—let alone talking to them, just seeing them gave him a migraine. Dealing with security officials was a task best left to Yuel.

Vangar immediately pushed himself up from his seat as well. "I just remembered I have an important matter to attend to. I’ll take my leave too."

Jasper chimed in, "I’m merely the leader of a hunter organization; it’s not appropriate for me to get involved in official business. I’ll be off as well."

"What’s wrong with the Security Department?" Nix watched Vincent, Vangar, and Jasper scramble to make themselves scarce, his face a giant question mark.

Jasper pulled Nix up by his arm. "It’s nothing for you to worry about. Didn’t you say you wanted to prepare afternoon tea for Rory? Come with me to the kitchen."

"Oh, right!" At the mention of making afternoon tea for Rory, Nix’s eyes lit up with excitement. "Jasper, teach me how to make that pastry you baked two days ago! I saw Rory really enjoyed it, so I want to learn how to make it too!"

Jasper nodded. "Sure, I’ll teach you."

Yuel, left entirely on his own: "..."

Watching the rest of them scatter, Terry popped his head out from Yuel’s hair. "Daddy, are the Security Department people really that scary? It’s one thing for Papa Jasper to leave, but why did Papa Vincent and Papa Vangar look so eager to avoid them too?"

Yuel reached up, gently patting his little head. "It’s not fear, it’s just the hassle. The Security Department’s procedures are overly rigid and tedious—dealing with them always takes up way too much time."

Terry’s little voice carried a hint of confusion. "But in your memories, Papa, I’ve seen you deal with the Security Department many times before. It didn’t look particularly complicated or troublesome at all." You usually wrapped things up with just a few sentences!

Yuel simply smiled, offering no reply.

Before long, the captain of the guard escorted the Security Department officers inside. The male leading this investigation was named Hiran. Upon spotting Yuel, Hiran smiled and extended a hand in greeting. "Long time no see, Commander Yuel. Ah, wait—I suppose I should address you as Governor now."

Hiran was clad in a dark obsidian uniform that tightly tapered around his lean waist, with delicate silver embroidery flowing along his neckline and shoulders. His deep golden eyes shone like liquid ink. As he looked at Yuel, the corners of his lips curled into a warm, affable smile.

"Why is it you?" Yuel asked, somewhat taken aback.

Hiran sat comfortably on the sofa and chuckled softly. "I just got back today and saw the battle footage circulating online. The moment I realized this case was tied to you, I personally took on the assignment so I could come pay you a visit."

As he spoke, his gaze drifted toward the little sprout sitting atop Yuel’s head. "I’ve only been gone for a year, and to think you already have a cub."

Terry blinked his big eyes, looking at Hiran with keen curiosity. This man had appeared in his daddy’s memories before, though seemingly only once. Still, he looked quite different from the typical Security Department personnel in those memories—this guy seemed like he’d be a lot harder to brush off!

Yuel poured Hiran a cup of tea. "Given our history, there’s no need for pleasantries, is there? Since you’re here to investigate the Zerg situation, let’s get right down to business."

Hiran let out a quiet sigh. "I had a feeling you’d say that. Very well, let’s begin!"

Top Floor.

Rory woke up after a short nap, feeling a wave of thirst. Lying right beside her, Xarion opened his eyes the moment Rory stirred.

"Female Master, what’s wrong?" Xarion pulled Rory close, nuzzling his face against her cheek affectionately.

"I can’t sleep anymore." Rory gently shifted his hand away and sat up. "You keep sleeping. I’m going over to Vincent’s room to check on the egg, then I’ll be back shortly."

She had already taken a nap aboard the airship, so she truly couldn’t sleep any longer. If she kept lying in bed now, she wouldn’t be able to sleep at all tonight.

Hearing that she was going to check on the cub, Xarion obediently drew back his arm. "Female Master, kiss me once before you go, okay?"

"Alright." Rory leaned down and gave his cheek a firm kiss before pulling the blanket over him. "Go back to sleep. I’ll come back to accompany you in a bit."

Truth be told, Rory was simply tired of lying down and wanted to head downstairs to stretch a bit.

Swapping out the outfit Xarion had ruined before they fell asleep, she casually tied her hair up and stepped out of the bedroom. But as she rode the levitating elevator down, she happened to glance at the surveillance feed—and noticed an unfamiliar male seated on the living room sofa.

He was dressed in the Imperial Security Department’s uniform, facing Yuel. From her angle, Rory could only see his side profile. Yet, no matter how she looked at it, that side profile felt strangely familiar—though she couldn’t quite recall where she had seen him before.

Unable to place it right away, Rory didn’t dwell on it. Seeing that Vincent wasn’t in the living room, she skipped the main hall entirely and headed straight for Vincent’s private suite.

When Rory walked in, Vincent was sitting quietly in his study, engrossed in a book.