Jiang Yun’s gaze turned icy, cutting to the bone. The rare glint of color in his eyes vanished as well. Along with it disappeared the restless stirrings of the Alphas.
With a single sentence and a mere look, Jiang Yun forcibly drew the turbulent atmosphere back under control.
The three Alphas, whether through realization, caution, or guilt, temporarily reined in their errant pheromones.
Ian slumped back into his chair, disappointed; Maurice and Miyazawa both took large gulps of ice water, seemingly to calm themselves.
Jiang Yun could dismiss pressure from the Congress and the military with ease, but Marshal Lu Zhengqing was different.
A request coming from the grandfather of one’s deceased husband, even someone as decisive as Jiang Yun could not ignore it.
Using Marshal Lu’s longing for his grandson to coerce Jiang Yun into compliance and thus accept the Olin side’s terms, was, in fact, a rather clever plan.
“Marshal Lu?” Miyazawa seemed surprised. “How would he know about Colonel Lu’s remains?”
At present, only the Alliance’s upper echelons and the Olin side knew the truth: Lu Huai’s remains were on Icewasteland Gamma.
Jiang Yun had always prioritized secrecy and under his formidable methods, no insider could slip into the Xinya Sanatorium and reveal Lu Huai’s location to Marshal Lu.
Unless, of course, the “insider” was already a member of the sanatorium staff.
Ian clicked his tongue twice, feigning regret. “Ah, the once the legendary hero of the Alliance now spends his remaining days in a sanatorium, still thinking about the grandson who died for his country. Marshal Lu truly is pitiful.”
Jiang Yun ignored Ian’s commentary and continued, “The leaker has been identified.”
Ian’s eyes flicked to Jiang Yun’s increasingly flushed face, curiosity piqued. “Oh? Who would that be?”
“Cecil,” Jiang Yun said. “A Beta caregiver working at Xinya Sanatorium.”
Ian let out a “huh,” amused, “Strange. Why would a lowly caregiver know such a highly classified secret?” He smirked, taunting, “Seems your Alliance isn’t so great at keeping secrets after all, Ambassador Jiang.”
“That question should be directed at you, Lord Ian.” Jiang Yun’s temperature rose steadily, and his AI assistant issued a series of warnings in his ear, yet he maintained his calm diplomatic tone.
“Tell me, who do you think told Cecil and had him relay the information to Marshal Lu?”
Ian tapped the table with his fingers, pretending to ponder, “I’d say… Speaker Miyazawa.”
Maurice blinked. “What?”
Miyazawa narrowed his eyes, “Hmm?”
Ian leaned back, taking command of the conversation, “Speaker Miyazawa has always wanted to facilitate talks between Olin and the Alliance to recover Colonel Lu’s remains quickly. It wouldn’t be surprising if he brought in Marshal Lu as a ‘rescue’ to make Ambassador Jiang agree.”
Miyazawa adjusted his glasses calmly, analyzing, “Marshal Lu’s immediate staff are almost entirely Ambassador Jiang’s people. Any operative daring to leak information to the Marshal in the sanatorium would immediately reveal themselves. Cecil had knowingly risked exposure. Sacrificing a single operative to gain greater benefits, that’s very much your Empire’s style. Cecil is your man, Lord Ian.”
“My man?” Ian smiled, asking mockingly, “Evidence? You interrogated Cecil, right? Did he say my name?”
Jiang Yun’s voice chilled, “Cecil immediately shot himself after being exposed and destroyed all personal records.”
Ian’s mock regret surfaced. “Ah… What a pity.” Yet he lounged back in the poolside chair, radiating overconfidence.
Even Maurice, usually less politically sensitive, realized who the true mastermind was behind the incident. Yet without proof, they could do nothing to Ian.
Maurice’s suppressed anger finally broke, “Sacrificing a life for a mission so casually, is this what your Empire glorifies?”
Ian laughed, as if hearing the greatest joke in the world. Halfway through, he gave Maurice a near-pitying glance and struck straight at the heart, “You think you could ever replace Lu Huai in Ambassador Jiang’s heart?”
Maurice froze.
Ian came prepared. Jiang Yun was in a weakened state, the Alliance had no other evidence, and Miyazawa knew continuing the discussion would only worsen the Alliance’s position.
“Time is late. Let’s end here for today.” Miyazawa’s calm voice carried his usual reassuring authority, “Ambassador Jiang, shall I escort you home?”
Maurice hurriedly stood, eager, “I’ll take him.”
Jiang Yun raised a hand, declining both, and gestured for them to sit. His eyes remained fixed on Ian, “Indeed, sacrificing one Cecil for the Empire’s gain is trivial to you. Just like the 1223 Starfall Heist, you deemed sacrificing a few hostages insignificant, didn’t you?”
Ian looked at Jiang Yun, a slow smirk forming, inspecting him as a victor would a vanquished subordinate, “I suggest you take your suppressant injection now. Otherwise, wandering around in heat before me, I might mistake your presence for… solicitation.”
Maurice’s anger reached its limit, fists clenching, ready to strike. Miyazawa too abandoned diplomatic decorum, “Ian, consider this your final warning. Any disrespect to our ambassador will be treated as a blatant military provocation by Olin.”
Jiang Yun observed the Alphas’ drawn tensions coldly, expression unchanged, as if none of it concerned him. Ian provoked, Maurice and Miyazawa appeared protective but all they could do was rage and warn.
Two Alphas, one Speaker, what use are they?
Jiang Yun’s shoulders relaxed slightly, voice calm, “What if it’s not just Cecil?”
Ian froze, a sudden sense of dread creeping in, “What did you say?”
Jiang Yun produced a sealed document from his inner pocket and slid it across the table to Ian.
Like the day Ian had slid that old photo to him during negotiations.
Ian took it, “This is…”
One page, a few sparse lines, yet it made the red-haired Alpha blanch, legs snapping together, back rigid.
Names.
Including Cecil, Jiang Yun had given him six names.
Every one of them was familiar. Each had been carefully selected, nurtured, and sent secretly to the Alliance capital at enormous cost in manpower and resources.
How had Jiang Yun discovered them?
Ian’s face darkened as he scanned the names repeatedly, seeking a flaw, a counterstrike.
These operatives were hidden perfectly. Only with Ian’s orders would they act, and his only recent command had been relayed through Cecil’s superior.
Cecil was the lowest tier, Jiang Yun had been monitoring him constantly. The moment he acted, Jiang Yun would know.
Everything was a trap, laid years ago. Jiang Yun had lured him into a snare set long before, step by step.
And the one behind it? The widow of Lu Huai himself.
Ian’s signature smirk vanished, replaced by pure shock, “What… have you done to these people?”
Jiang Yun’s tone was calm. “Don’t worry. They are luckier than poor Cecil, they’re all still alive… for now.”
Ian forced a cold laugh, hiding his panic, “So you already discovered Cecil’s true identity, deliberately left him… to catch bigger prey. Marshal Lu’s longing for Lu Huai… was only part of your act, yes?” Ian’s voice spat Jiang Yun’s name for the first time, syllable by syllable, as if he wanted to gnaw it from his teeth and swallow it. “Jiang… Yun.”
“Yes,” Jiang Yun replied, a rare truth, “but Marshal Lu’s feelings are genuine. That is why I promised him to retrieve Lu Huai with minimal cost.”
The Alliance intelligence had long identified Cecil as an Olin agent but connections among agents were so well-hidden that months could pass without contact. Jiang Yun waited patiently for the right opportunity to force them to reach out.
That sunny afternoon, he had pushed Marshal Lu through the sanatorium garden, explaining the plan, and the ailing marshal had nodded, writing one sentence in Jiang Yun’s hand:
‘Lu Huai cannot become a bargaining chip.’
“Not only did we pay no price, but the other side paid dearly.” Miyazawa couldn’t help but remark. “If Olin hadn’t tried to pressure Jiang Yun through Marshal Lu, these five agents would not have been exposed so quickly.”
“Exactly. We must thank Lord Ian for giving us this chance,” Jiang Yun said, raising his glass as though to toast Ian. “Years of waiting have not been in vain.”
“Well… very well.” Ian’s grip on his glass caused a hairline crack, rage simmering at the edge. “Jiang Yun… you and Lu Huai… truly a perfect couple.”
Miyazawa shook his head helplessly, “Ambassador Jiang was ready all along, but even we were startled.”
Ian inhaled deeply, struggling to maintain composure, “So… your terms. You want these five people returned safely to Olin in exchange for Lu Huai’s remains?”
Sacrificing one Cecil was trivial, but Jiang Yun held five lives, including the prince’s most beloved son. As Olin’s top diplomat, he could not stand by.
“You jest, Lord Ian. Perhaps too much vodka has affected your judgment to propose such an absurd condition,” Jiang Yun said with a faint smile, leaning back.
His sweat soaked white shirt clung to him, yet he remained composed, “Even if you surrender Lu Huai and 85% of the primary mining rights, I can only ensure these five survive temporarily in the Alliance.”
Eighty-five percent? The Alliance had initially asked for only 65%!
The air froze. Even Miyazawa looked surprised.
The pool water lapped relentlessly at the walls, echoing Ian’s surging anger. The red-haired Alpha’s gaze locked on the Omega before him, teeth clenched, “85 percent… Jiang Yun, you truly dare to demand!”
Jiang Yun met the Alpha’s gaze, unfazed, voice calm, “Indeed? Yet by your empire’s principles, the prince’s beloved son is worth the price. Don’t you agree, Lord Ian?”
“Jiang Yun!”
Ian exploded, rising as if to pounce on the stunning, untouchable Omega, to vent his fury.
Miyazawa and Maurice immediately flanked Jiang Yun, left and right.
“Olin man, remember you are on Alliance territory.” Maurice warned gravely.
Miyazawa’s eyes narrowed behind gold-rimmed glasses, “Lord Ian… are you attempting to spark a war between nations?”
The three Alphas faced off, pheromones stirring a storm of tension, each Omega willing to bow under it.
But to Jiang Yun, this standoff was laughably childish. Even now, with violence a possibility, all they could do was rage and warn.
“No rush, Lord Ian. Take your time, I await your reply.” Jiang Yun stood behind Maurice and Miyazawa, offering a courteous smile,“Gentlemen, I’ll take my leave.”
Halfway out, he paused, turned to the three Alphas, and smiled, a dazzling, almost seductive curl of his lips:
“Tonight, no other Alpha will know my scent. If you wish to know, you’ll have to ask my late husband, Lord Ian.”
Ian: “!!!”
Under all the Alphas’ gazes, Jiang Yun strode out. The diplomatic car awaited at the hotel entrance.
Once inside, he dismissed the driver and security. Soon, he was alone.
Jiang Yun loosened his tie, drew out his suppressant, and let the icy liquid enter his veins. He exhaled long and deep, letting his tense body relax, sinking into the soft sofa, sweat-soaked back melting into the cushions.
…It was over.
“Good evening, Mr. Jiang,” the AI’s voice said. “Where shall we proceed?”
Jiang Yun stared at the car ceiling, momentarily lost.
Where should he go now?
Today was a day off. The twins were home; he could not let them see their father in this state.
He had another apartment prepared for his heat cycle, stocked with everything an Omega might need to endure it.
That was the logical choice.
“Mr. Jiang?” the AI repeated.
Jiang Yun closed his eyes and quietly gave a destination: “…No. 5, Shallow Water Road.”
No. 5, Shallow Water Road, the apartment where he had lived with Lu Huai for two months.
Their old marital home.
✦ ✧ ✦
Cressilia
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
The chapter is finished. The chaos is not.
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
✦ thank you for reading ✦
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ChaptersChapter 1 · Who can compare to Colonel Lu?Chapter 2 · He should be deadChapter 3 · How were we born?Chapter 4 · That’s where Colonel died..Chapter 5 · No one knows my pheromone than Colonel LuChapter 6 · Colonel Lu’s remainsChapter 7 · Heat is approachingChapter 8 · CheckmateChapter 9 · A dream liked married lifeChapter 10 · What might be his pregnancy be like?Chapter 11 · He thought he would be the father of two childrenChapter 12 · So we just hang Colonel Lu on the wall?Chapter 13 · Finally, I have something to say to my wifeChapter 14 · Why doesn’t Colonel Lu understandChapter 15 · He doesn’t Love MeChapter 16 · You’ll see him soonChapter 17 · So casual, so carelessChapter 18 Part 1 · He.. He’s looking at meChapter 18 Part 2 · He..He’s looking at meChapter 19 · Lu Huai is still aliveChapter 20 · Wait until I bring back your zombie Alpha dadChapter 21 · Long time no see, Jiang YunChapter 22 · I still have that qualificationChapter 23 · It still tastes sweet when you kiss itChapter 24 · He seems to have forgotten how to act cuteChapter 25 · The two unfortunate children were completely terrifiedChapter 26 · Please make yourself at home.Chapter 27 · Hello, UncleChapter 28 · Am I not your deceased husband?Chapter 29 · Don’t you love me anymore?Chapter 30 · Our home is No. 5, Qianshui RoadChapter 31 · Is he… here to keep him company?Chapter 32 · What exactly did Alpha bring me?Chapter 33 · Thanks a lot, brothers!Chapter 34 · Hi?Chapter 35 · I only let you take care of the child for one dayChapter 36 · Did you have thoughts when you ‘died’?Chapter 37 · Put a double bed in your homeChapter 38 · They both suffered heavy lossesChapter 39 · Welcome back to the Alphas’ arena.Chapter 40 · Why should I lower myself?Chapter 41 · I have learned that Colonel Lu Huai is still aliveChapter 42 · They are sensitive and vulnerableChapter 43 · He would also feel regret.Chapter 44 · When a child is quiet, they’re definitely up to somethingChapter 45 · Dad, you have such a good eye for choosing a husband!Chapter 46 · Who made it wear a colonel’s uniform?Chapter 47 · I love him very muchChapter 48 · Okay, I believe youChapter 49 · I remember you went pretty hard on him at the end.Chapter 50 · Colonel Lu, don’t be too fierceChapter 51 · To…make up for the regretChapter 52 · A perfect match!Chapter 53 · Colonel Lu, let’s get married!Chapter 54 · When will you finally learn to stop talking nonsense?Chapter 55 · My darlings, we’re homeChapter 56 · Babies, please stopChapter 57 · I’m about to enter my heat cycle, not my due dateChapter 58 · Is he complaining to his wife?Chapter 59 · The only lieChapter 60 · Colonel Lu, the babies are all crying.Chapter 61 · Dad, Colonel Lu bullied me.Chapter 62 · A large number of foreign ministersChapter 63 · Jiang Mu definitely likes handsome guys tooChapter 64 · First time bringing a partner to a major diplomatic occasionChapter 65 · You’re still as handsome as you were back thenChapter 66 · Bedtime Strategic PartnerChapter 67 · How can you be so good at threatening people?Chapter 68 · I’m waiting for youChapter 69 · I’ll stay by your side, from beginning to endChapter 70 · Can you handle Lu Chao’s… educational session for me?Chapter 71 · The First SpringChapter 72 · Extra 1Chapter 73 · Extra 2Chapter 74 · Extra 3Chapter 75 · Extra 4Chapter 76 · Extra 5Chapter 77 · Extra 6Chapter 78 · Extra 7Chapter 79 · Extra 8Chapter 80 · Extra 9