Chapter 309: Searching for the truth

Translated by: La0o9

Edited by: Juicetin

Proofreader: Arya

As the 9 of spades was played, the next player was about to draw a card, but got cut off by the player preceding the Empress.

“Steal!” the preceding player happily called out.

After stealing the turn with a 9 of spades, she played another card.

It was the Empress’ turn again.

As she drew a new card, she found it was another 8 of hearts.

Two 8 of hearts in a row formed a pair.

The Empress unexpectedly scowled.

Gu Qing Shan’s voice came again.

“Let’s say this is a theory ——if the situation has become so bad that your life is in danger, please play the 2 of diamonds”

The Empress put the second 8 of hearts in her hand.

Glancing at her cards, she took the 2 of diamonds and put it down without hesitation.

“2 of diamonds”

Gu Qing Shan’s voice came again: “Then I understand the situation, I’ll come back a bit later”

A gentle breeze blew through the room.

Gu Qing Shan’s inner sight had left.

On the card table, the player after the Empress wanted to draw, but got cut off by the Empress’ preceding player again.

“Steal! Your Highness, you’re much too kind to me today” the preceding player smiled as she stole her turn.

She then randomly played another card.

She had stolen two turns in a row, leading to the other two not having a chance to play any cards, while giving the Empress another turn.

The Empress drew another card, then looked below, a bit surprised.

“Hoh, Seven Straight – I win”

She put down all the cards in her hand at once.

Everyone else sighed, shuffling their cards for a new game.

While playing, the Empress suddenly muttered: “I really must say, sometimes the little girl’s eyes are the sharpest”

Her fellow players couldn’t understand what she meant at all.

…

Gu Qing Shan got out of the stall, washed his hands and face, then left the toilet.

He once again found himself a secluded place, got himself a whole bottle of strong liquor and an empty gla.s.s.

He topped himself off and took a sip.

Gu Qing Shan was savoring the flavor, smiling full of curiosity looking at all the officials at this banquet.

He needed a bit of time to scan the entire palace with his inner sight to ensure nothing was amiss.

His phone rang.

It was Liao Xing.

“What is it?” Gu Qing Shan answered in a low voice.

[There’s no problem with anything else. Right now I wanted to see the data from old Tang’s lab, but all the data has already been deleted]

“What do you need me to do?” Gu Qing Shan asked.

[Only Impartial G.o.ddess can restore the data, but since this is against Confederate laws and I don’t have the appropriate authority, Impartial G.o.ddess won’t accept my request]

“Give him a one-time access authority” Gu Qing Shan spoke.

[Understood, sir] Impartial G.o.ddess responded.

“I owe you one” saying so Liao Xing quickly hung up.

Gu Qing Shan poured himself another gla.s.s full.

No person in this world could deal with the f.u.xi Emperor without being noticed considering how strong he is.

But the f.u.xi Empire is still operating normally without any abnormalities.

Right now, the Empress’ life hangs in the balance.

In the entire f.u.xi Empire, the only person capable of such a feat is the f.u.xi Emperor himself.

After such a long time, although the Emperor and Empress’ marriage is a political one, they seem to get along just fine.

Even in the past life, up until the very last year of the Apocalypse, they were still living happily together.

Yes, the f.u.xi Emperor is an ambitious person, while the Empress hopes for the current balance of the world to continue.

Because only when the world situation is stable can she think of a way to help Anna reclaim the Holy Empire.

The Emperor and Empress wish for different things, but they can and have compromised.

In the past life, after the Apocalypse came, calamities appeared one after another, after Worlds’ Apocalypse Online launched, everyone was busy getting stronger.

At that time, the f.u.xi Emperor realized that his strength was nothing special in the cultivation world.

The same as everyone else, the Emperor began his quest to quench his thirst for power.

After all, as your cultivation increases, not only will you become stronger, but your life span will also increase.

A Rejuvenation realm cultivator’s life span is 1000 years.

Faced with such an alluring possibility, the Emperor directly ignored his previous plans to expand the Empire’s country borders.

Just like that, his relations.h.i.+p with the Empress mellowed.

But this life, it’s not yet time for the game to launch yet.

Which means the Emperor’s thoughts haven’t been changed.

In that moment, a thought flashed through Gu Qing Shan’s mind.

——the last calamity to descend during the final days of the Apocalypse was the Frost Calamity.

If the disaster this time truly is the Frost Calamity, then he already knows what the Emperor wants to do.

After all, the Frost Calamity had more than one origin points, one of which was inside the f.u.xi Empire.

At the time that this unique, overwhelming calamity struck, the f.u.xi Emperor of the past life, as a cultivator, stood on the side of humanity.

Gu Qing Shan took another sip from his gla.s.s.

His thoughts changed a bit.

That’s not necessarily the truth.

Outwardly, he stood on the side of humanity, but who knows what he was actually thinking at the end.

In the past life, during the last days of the Apocalypse, the world was already in ruins, humans died in battle one after another.

Most of those who were still alive had already gone mad.

Some even sold their souls to join with the calamity.

Then if the Frost Calamity erupts now, what would the ambitious f.u.xi Emperor do?

Even the 9 Lords weren’t able to deal with this calamity.

If given the chance to destroy the 9 Lords, what would His Majesty the Emperor do?

Gu Qing Shan’s eyes peered into the dance floor, looking for His Majesty the Emperor.

He was holding a n.o.ble lady tight, dancing.

The lady was flushed, obviously enjoying the feeling of being swept off her feet by the Emperor.

The Emperor wasn’t wearing his crown today.

Gu Qing Shan had thoughts of his own.

Regardless of the Emperor’s circ.u.mstances, I need that crown.

No matter what, I need that Sun Moon Bloodgem.

Gu Qing Shan took another sip of liquor, concluding his investigation.

Under his inner sight, he found no problems in the entire palace.

The only problem is that there are quite a few Empire officials here.

Normally, even if he’s on vacation, the Empire would still bring a few officials to conveniently take care of national business.

But right now, almost half of his officials were here.

Gu Qing Shan shook his head.

Suddenly, a tall military man came up to him.

“h.e.l.lo” the military man spoke.

“h.e.l.lo, is there any problem?”

“You are Gu Qing Shan? The Confederate’s Mobile Mech Expert?”

“Yes that’s me”

“Her Highness the princess is still young, she didn’t show you enough respect at the time of your dance, so I’m here to apologize in her stead”

“No worries, her dancing skills were fine ——-speaking of which, the two of you are lovers, correct?”

“That’s right”

“To your happiness”

Saying so, Gu Qing Shan called a servant over and asked for a gla.s.s with ice.

He then poured the other party some liquor and offered it.

“Ah, thank you”

The military man received the gla.s.s and glanced at Gu Qing Shan.

Gu Qing Shan’s eyes were clear, his att.i.tude casual and calm.

Hiding away any extra thoughts he had, the young military man’s impression of Gu Qing Shan improved.

They knocked gla.s.ses.

The young military man was purposefully trying to befriend him, and Gu Qing Shan stayed at the f.u.xi Empire for quite long during the past life, so they easily mingled without any problems, quickly getting to know each other.

“The princess wanted me to openly challenge you to a duel”

The military man spoke a bit helplessly.

Gu Qing Shan instantly replied: “I’m a scientist, not a Professionist”

The military man sighed: “That’s right, as a Professionist, if I were to challenge a mental worker, I’ll be the laughing stock for months to come”

“Then what are you going to do now?” Gu Qing Shan asked.

“Of course I’m not going to fight, even if the princess will sulk later, I can’t bully a person such as you” the military man said.

“I respect your decision; power shouldn’t be used to bully the weak” Gu Qing Shan praised him.

“No need, no need” the young military man felt a bit embarra.s.sed.

Gu Qing Shan suddenly changed the subject: “Pardon me asking but, what position do you hold?”

The young military man puffed out his chest: “I am a royal guard”

Gu Qing Shan seems impressed: “Ah, so that’s it”

In f.u.xi, only descendants from family lines with absolute loyalty to the royal bloodline are allowed to become a royal guard.

Becoming a royal guard is an honor and privilege, a symbol of status that represents the Emperor’s dignity.

It’s exactly because of his outstanding origin that this young military man is silently allowed by multiple sides to get close to and date the princess.

Gu Qing Shan smiled and asked: “Your daily job as a guard must be quite easy huh”

“It truly is easy, but even if just for show, we still have to stand at the Emperor’s sides as his guards” the military man answered.

Gu Qing Shan and the young military man both laughed.

The Holy Empire’s king is a Casanova, the Confederate’s President is voted from the citizens, both of them aren’t necessarily powerful people by themselves.

But the f.u.xi Emperor is a globally recognized powerhouse.

Most Professionists in the world can’t even hurt him.

Why would such a powerful person need guards?

Gu Qing Shan poured the other party another gla.s.s.

“A toast to your powerful Emperor” he said.

“To His Majesty” the military man followed.

They once again downed the entire gla.s.s.

This is a very strong type of liquor, but Gu Qing Shan is already used to it so he didn’t show much reaction.

The young military man on the other hand was a bit flushed, already feeling tipsy after a few consecutive shots.