Admiral Weather was in charge of nearly one-third of the troops in Horsburg, and his prestige was extremely high. It was undoubtedly a smart choice for Yenia to win him over. Although Faeus did not pay much attention to it, according to the recent reports of the spies, Yenia seemed to have secretly formed an "alliance" with Admiral Weather.
Of course, it was one-sided on his part.
"In a few days, there will be a border garrison handover ceremony. According to the practice of previous years, the leader must attend in person. Although Yenia did not tell me the specific plan, I guess he will most likely choose to take action at that time."
Admiral Weather did not turn against him as he had done in his previous life. Late that night, he secretly visited Phaeth's residence and talked for a long time in the study on the second floor, revealing everything about Yenia's actions in the past few days.
Phaeth sat on the sofa with his legs crossed, tapping his knees lightly with his fingertips. Although his posture was lazy, he had a sense of control. "If I go to the border to participate in the garrison handover ceremony, I will definitely take some troops with me when I leave the city. By then, Horsburg will be empty. Yenia can take the opportunity to replace him with his own troops and find a chance to kill me outside. Then the mutiny plan will be half successful."
Admiral Weather was sitting opposite him. Hearing this, a deep ravine appeared between his brows. "I never thought he would have such thoughts. The position of deputy leader is already high enough, but he is still not satisfied."
Phaeth had a playful look on his face, his narrow eyes narrowed slightly in the darkness, and he said in a low voice: "We are greedy by nature, how can we be satisfied with just this."
Their ancestors taught them how to make fire and hunt, and taught them to be ambitious, but they never taught them to be loyal, and one day it will backfire on them.
Admiral Weather calmly made a gesture to silence him: "Should we take action in advance?"
Their two families lived close to each other, and the area was full of Phaeth's personal soldiers, so Yenia's spies could not get in for a while. Admiral Weather left the house under the cover of night without disturbing anyone.
Xu Cenfeng asked back: "Isn't strength what matters in a fight? Why is there a need to see who is more vulgar?"
Xu Cenfeng hummed, "My subordinates reported that 99% of the female insects in the slums are not doing their jobs properly, and they go to the fighting arena to earn star coins. In the final analysis, it is because the threshold of the fighting arena is too low. On the stage, they can easily win by using hidden weapons and poisons, so they all want to get a piece of the pie."
He loved the little cub so much that he took him wherever he went. Ever since Zog had the accident, he held him even more tightly and never left his side.
Seeing this, Xu Cenfeng put the documents on his knees aside, stood up from the sofa, touched Agu's head, and said in a gentle voice: "Come and play again next time you have a chance."
Admiral Weather couldn't help but smile when he saw this. He glanced casually and suddenly found a pile of black folders on the sofa. The covers were marked with gold edges. They were obviously documents for the leader to review. His expression changed slightly.
Phaeth flicked the folder with his fingers, making a crisp sound: "But the rules of the fighting arena have always been like this."
It can be seen that Agu likes Xu Cenfeng very much. Hearing this, he nodded vigorously, and his green eyes were sparkling.
Phaeth: “Well, no.”
Xu Cenfeng felt that he should say something, but since he knew Phaeth's character too well, he knew that he would never take him out of the city, so he changed his tone and said, "Is Yenia going to make a move?"
"I heard that the West believes in gods, and their insect god once said: If a weak tribe wants to survive for tens of millions of years, it must rely on unity. If a strong tribe only fights, it will inevitably perish after tens of millions of years."
He leaned on the armrest of the sofa. The fabric of his pajamas was soft and silky, reflecting a little in the dim light. He suddenly said, "I will be leaving the city in a few days to attend the garrison handover ceremony. I may not be able to come back for a while. You should stay at home and don't run around."
Phaeth frowned fiercely. He was reluctant to admit it, but it was the truth: "The North has begun to decline."
Agu still looked very thin, but he was much better than before. At least he no longer behaved like a beast as before. He nodded obediently when he heard that.
Faus walked down the stairs and saw Xu Cenfeng sorting documents. He casually took one of them and opened it to read it. After finding the other party's comments, he couldn't help but frowned: "You want to change the rules of the Mohanla Fighting Arena?"
Admiral Weather walked down the stairs, picked up the female insect cub from the ground, and ruffled his hair: "Agu, it's time for us to go home."
Phaeth choked.
He didn't think about it for a second, and it was obvious that he didn't include Xu Cenfeng in his plan, which also indirectly meant that this matter was not negotiable.
At eleven o'clock in the evening, Faus finally finished his detailed discussion with Admiral Weather. They walked out of the study and looked down from the second floor, only to see Xu Cenfeng sitting on the sofa with his head down, writing something, while a half-grown female insect cub was lying on the carpet beside him, playing with a toy ball.
Admiral Weather held him and turned to Xu Cenfeng: "Say goodbye to this Excellency."
Phaeth threw the document on the table without even looking at it: "Change it if you want."
Xu Cenfeng paused when he heard this: "Are you leaving the city without me?"
Admiral Weather did not expect that Phaeth would trust this male insect so much that he even handed over confidential documents to the other party. He looked up at the stairs in surprise.
Phaeth said coldly: "I will dig them all out."
“Both the fertility of the land and the number of our people have begun to lag far behind those of the West. If we don’t want our civilization to disappear from this land, we must make changes.”
Admiral Weather had no choice but to nod: "Chief, I will leave first then."
Admiral Weather shook his head slightly. "I only know that he was very close to several generals in the army, and even won over many nobles in the city. But Yenia was too cautious, and I haven't dug out a complete list of the people who had instigated the rebellion."
If Phaeth hadn't been lazy and passive, Xu Cenfeng wouldn't have helped him mark the documents. When he saw Phaeth marking documents carelessly before, it was like seeing a poor student scribbling on the test paper. To be honest, it was a bit annoying.
Those betrayers were like a thorn in Phaes' throat. If the thorn was not pulled out in time, it would surely fester and rot in the future. He could not tolerate any grain of sand in his eyes.
The first step to change is to use a sharp blade to scrape away the hidden danger called "betrayal" from the bones and blood.
Phaeth stood in the middle of the stairs, leaning against the railing with his arms folded, but did not go down. He noticed Admiral Weather's gaze, but did not make any statement, only saying, "It's getting late, you should go back as soon as possible, and don't let Yenia find you."
Phaeth didn't say anything. He stood up and walked to the window, looking out at the endless night outside, and remained silent for a long time. Although Phaeth couldn't see the entire northern scenery, he was familiar with every piece of land and every snowflake here:
"I'm getting tired of betrayal."
Phaeth asked without being able to tell the emotion: "Do you know how many bugs Yenia has secretly instigated to rebel?"
Admiral Weather frowned: "You mean to use the enemy's trick against you? No! That's too risky! If you make any mistakes outside the city, the North will be leaderless. Yenia is the deputy leader, so you can apply to take over the position of temporary leader!"
Xu Cenfeng handed him the sorted documents: "If you think it is not feasible, you can review it again."
This was all the information Phaeth could reveal, no more. After all, the battlefield was changing rapidly and even he himself was unsure of what would happen.
Phaeth raised his hand to wipe away the mist on the window, and the scene outside became clear. He spoke in a low, distant voice: "Don't you think the North has been living in this fog for too long? We can't see each other clearly at all."
Agu actually stuttered out two words: "See...bye..."
Phaeth did not hide the truth from him: "He will probably take action on the day of the garrison ceremony. No matter what happens in Horsburgh, don't listen to a word of it, and don't believe a word of it."
It was rare for Phaeth to speak like this, so Admiral Weather was stunned for a moment: "Leader?"
He seemed to think that the words "don't run around" were not strong enough to warn people, so he frowned and added: "No matter what happens outside, you are not allowed to go out at all."
Xu Cenfeng didn't say anything after hearing this. After a moment, he asked, "Will you die?"
Phaeth tilted his head and glanced at him: "Are you afraid?"
Logically, Xu Cenfeng should be afraid, after all, separation from life and death is extremely sad no matter where you are. But I don’t know if it’s because he has experienced a more painful death in his previous life, so he is calm at this moment.
Hearing this, Xu Cenfeng reached out and pulled Phaeth into his arms, hugging him gently. He did nothing, but felt very relieved, and said calmly in a low voice: "Don't be afraid, even if both of us die, there is nothing to be afraid of."
Death itself is not frightening. What people fear is the regret and pain that comes with death.
The two of them were separated in different realms in their previous life, and there were many misunderstandings in between. When they were dying, they felt regret and hatred, pain and regret, but no relief. Xu Cenfeng didn't think there was any pain that could surpass that feeling.
Phaeth raised his eyelids: "Why aren't you afraid?"
Xu Cenfeng smiled and said, "Because I like you, and you like me too. When we both die, neither of us will hate the other." Phaeth thought, is this a reason? He sneered and said, "I won't die."
He is alive and well, why should he die
After saying this, Phaeth stretched out his hand and grasped Xu Cenfeng's collar, looking at him calmly. Although he said that he wanted to die with Xu Cenfeng, if that day really came, he would be reluctant to let him go.
Can't bear to see the other person die.
Phaeth said: "Xu Cenfeng, you are not allowed to die either."
They will hold the partner ceremony in the spring of next year, and it would be a shame to die now.
Xu Cenfeng also felt that it was not worth it. He hugged Phaeth and went upstairs together. They stumbled in the dark and thought for a long time before finally asking, "Would you like some pheromones?"
If Phaeth needs to make arrangements outside the city, he will most likely not be able to come back for a while, and without his own pheromones to comfort him, he will probably feel uncomfortable.
Phaeth stepped back on the stairs and took a breath with difficulty: "No need."
He was very tough. Before being marked by the male insect, he had relied on himself to survive the mental chaos. There was no reason for him to be unable to live without Xu Cenfeng's pheromones for a day.
Xu Cenfeng didn't force it: "Okay."
He originally wanted to feed Phaeus before he set out, but the other party refused to eat even when the food was handed to him.
In order to prevent the army from staying in the same place for too long and becoming self-reliant, the border garrisons were basically rotated once a year. When Faus left, he took most of the troops in the city with him, leaving only Admiral Weather to guard Horsburg, while Xu Cenfeng stayed in the residential area and was not allowed to go anywhere.
At the same time, Xu Cenfeng discovered that there were suddenly countless soldiers outside the house overnight. The leading general looked familiar. It was the deputy leader Hawke.
Xu Cenfeng was somewhat surprised when he saw this, because Hawke's name was on the military's entourage list, and he should be going to the border with Faus. He went downstairs and walked to the door, and saw Hawke patrolling outside with a gun, and asked, "Aren't you going to the border with the leader?"
Hawke was originally wandering at the door, but he paused when he heard this, raised his hand and saluted Xu Cenfeng: "Sir, the leader temporarily changed the order and asked me to stay in the city secretly to protect your safety."
Phaeth was suspicious by nature and it was impossible for him to place all his bets on Admiral Weather. He asked Hawke to stay in the city, firstly to protect Xu Cenfeng, and secondly to facilitate the transmission of news to the city, so that if there were any changes outside, he could cooperate with the outside world.
Xu Cenfeng thought it was appropriate. After all, there were only three leaders in Horsburg, and one had to be left in the city. "Where is Deputy Leader Yenia?"
Hawke glanced at Xu Cenfeng and answered every question: "He followed the leader to attend the garrison handover ceremony. If nothing unexpected happens, he will be back in four days at the earliest."
Xu Cenfeng asked back: "What if something unexpected happens?"
Hawke didn't seem to want to reveal too much. He turned to the garden, his back to Xu Cenfeng, and coughed softly, "I don't know when I'll be back."
Return date uncertain.
It is not clear whether this sentence refers to Phaes or Jenias.
Although Xu Cenfeng could face death calmly, he still couldn't help but worry about Phaeth when it came to this moment. In the next few days, he kept counting the days in his mind, but no news came until the seventh day.
Horsburg was unusually quiet. The troops stationed at the city gate were quietly replaced by one group after another. They were all unfamiliar faces, and the inspection was very strict. Without Admiral Weather's order, no one could enter or leave.
Just as Xu Cenfeng was sitting alone on the stairs, thinking about whether to find a way to escape and find Phaeth, a panicked voice suddenly sounded outside the garden:
"Oh no, deputy leader! Something happened to the leader!"
Upon hearing this, Xu Cenfeng stood up from the steps and walked quickly to the door, only to see a soldier running in from outside. He anxiously reported to Hawke, "It's bad, Deputy Chief! Yenia just led the team back to the city and said that there was an attack by rebels during the handover ceremony. The leader was surrounded and taken hostage. He has not been found yet!"
Hawke was horrified when he heard this and grabbed the soldier who reported the news by the collar: "What did you say?! Rebels attacked during the handover ceremony?!"
Xu Cenfeng keenly sensed that something was wrong and looked at Hawke with a frown.
The soldier wanted to cry but had no tears: "After Yenia returned to the city, Major General Soto questioned him why he returned to the city without finding the whereabouts of the leader. As a result, Yenia demoted him and investigated him."
Hawke also had a bad temper: "Who gave him the authority to demote him?! Where's Admiral Weather?!"
The soldier who reported the news spit out even worse news: "Yenia said that the leader is now missing. Horsburg cannot be without a leader for a day. According to the rules, he will temporarily take over the position of leader. Admiral Weather conspired with him to replace all the guards in the city. Now no one can leave..."
Before he could finish his words, Hawke threw him to the ground: "This despicable guy! The leader is not dead yet, when will it be his turn to sit in this position! I think he is clearly planning a rebellion!"
Hawke drew his gun angrily and was about to lead his team to settle accounts with Yenia when a slow voice suddenly sounded in his ears: "Deputy Chief Hawke, where are you going?"
Hawke subconsciously looked up when he heard that, only to see a group of dark figures appearing outside the gate of the garden. Leading the group was a female insect with gray hair and green eyes, and it was Yenia, followed by the slightly silent Admiral Weather.
Hawke's face turned ugly when he saw this, and he gritted his teeth and said, "Yenya, Weiser, do you want to rebel?!"
Yenia had just been "promoted", and although he didn't show much emotion, he still revealed a bit of complacency. He stopped a few steps away from Hawke, waved his hands repeatedly, and denied with a smile: "No, no, no, why would I rebel? I have always been loyal to the leader, even if you rebel, I will not rebel."
Hawke's heart sank when he heard this, and he unconsciously clenched the gun in his hand: "What do you mean?!"
Yenia said nothing. He raised his hand and gave an order. Immediately, a group of soldiers rushed out from behind him and surrounded Hawk. The two sides confronted each other with guns, and the atmosphere was tense.
Admiral Weather frowned, and finally spoke in a deep voice: "Hawke, we suspect that you are colluding with the rebels in private and plotting to murder the leader. Your subordinates have already confessed the evidence of your correspondence with those rebels. Now the evidence is irrefutable. What else do you have to say!"
This is a blatant frame-up.
According to the rules of Horsburg, as long as the leader is away, the deputy leader has the right to temporarily take over the position. Hawk's existence is undoubtedly a threat to Yenia, and he will feel uneasy until he is eliminated.
Hawke knew very well that he was being blamed, and he was so angry that he drew his gun and pointed it at them. However, the soldier on the opposite side was faster. He immediately rushed forward, pinned him to the ground, and disarmed him in a few seconds.
The A-level elite standing guard outside the door remained indifferent. They were Phaeth's death squadrons, and their only mission was to protect Xu Cenfeng's safety. Other things were not within their responsibility.
Hawke struggled angrily, looking at Yenia with flaming eyes: "You colluded with the rebels to frame the leader?! Right?!"
Yenia neither admitted nor denied it. He just sighed and looked at Hawke with a look of pity and said, "It doesn't matter who it is. What matters is that you are no longer the deputy leader. You will soon be sent to Blackstone Prison to do hard labor. Don't worry, after all, we are brothers. I will not sentence you to death."
He was about to order the soldiers to take Hawke to Blackstone Prison when a calm voice suddenly sounded in his ears, interrupting his action: "Wait!"
Yenia paused after hearing that, and subconsciously looked up, only to see a male insect with black hair and black eyes appear at the door at some point. It was the pure-blooded male insect that was rumored to be exclusively possessed by Phaeth.
Yenia raised an eyebrow: “Sir, it seems that you want to plead for him?”
Yenia was not interested in the male insects. In his opinion, this kind of creature could not cause any trouble at all. It would be fine for Xu Cenfeng to stay in the north as a mascot. There was no need for him to jump out to show his presence.
Xu Cenfeng walked down the steps and slowly came to Hawke's side. He glanced at him, not knowing what he was thinking, and then he looked back at Yenia: "No, you misunderstood, I don't intend to beg for mercy."
Yenia: “So?”
Xu Cenfeng said shockingly: "He and I are accomplices. If he is to be convicted, I will go to Blackstone Prison with him."
Hawke: “?!!!!!”
Hawke's eyes widened in shock when he heard this. He instantly became excited, and the two soldiers almost couldn't hold him down: "Sir, are you crazy?!!!"
Yenia was also a little surprised. He frowned unconsciously, wondering if Xu Cenfeng and Hawke might have some affair.
(End of this chapter)