Chapter 93

Soon, Lin Yun's eighteenth birthday arrived.

Every child who turns eighteen must go to the local planetary testing hall for evaluation, with the results instantly uploaded to the Star Network's main system.

A group of media personnel specifically stationed outside the testing hall awaited the arrival of individuals like Lin Fu or Cheng Jiu, labeled as "waste" or "genius", eager to interview them for stories that would capture the netizens’ attention.

Lin Fu's notoriety as a "waste" spread wide and far across the interstellar, almost universally known, thanks largely to these media outlets.

Regrettably, extreme cases like Lin Fu, born into nobility, are rare to encounter even once in decades. And while geniuses among the nobility are common, they don't stir up enough public interest.

As for top-tier geniuses from commoner backgrounds, they are as scarce as a Lin Fu among the nobility. The emergence of one becomes a significant topic to seize, attracting massive public attention.

But this time, there were bound to be some exceptions.

Because the level of interest Lin Fu himself generated was far greater than that of any emerging “genius” or “waste”.

The moment everyone saw him, their minds, without exception, were filled with the same thought: why is he here?

Surrounded by his personal guard, the crowd was parted, and they smoothly entered the testing hall.

Lin Yun, nervous and uneasy, followed closely by Lin Fu's side.

To foster a closer relationship between them and ensure Lin Fu would take good care of him, Lin Siji, as a father, did not attend. Instead, he allowed Lin Fu, his cousin, to accompany him to the testing hall.

Lin Yun couldn't help but wring his fingers, eyeing the approaching testing device, and whispered, “Brother, what if the test shows I have a poor constitution?”

Lin Fu asked, "What should we do?"

Suddenly, Lin Yun recalled the person beside him, who had once been frail in health, yet had risen to his current status.

Taking a deep breath, he saw the inspector approaching. After speaking a word to Lin Fu, he went over voluntarily and lay down in the detection pod.

Like any ordinary family member, Lin Fu waited on the side.

Around them, surreptitious photographers were plenty, and those sneaking glances were countless.

Lin Fu sat in quiet repose, neither stopping the shutterbugs nor showing delight, his expression detached.

The test was swift; after a prolonged beep, the results flashed on the screen. Lin Yun was an A-grade guide.

He emerged from the testing pod, assisted by the technician. Catching sight of his grade, he first breathed a sigh of relief, then exhaled in resignation.

Not bad, but not great either.

An A+ would have been preferable.

In the Lin family, an A-grade wasn’t a cause for much pride.

He sneaked a peek at Lin Fu, hoping for some solace, yet Lin Fu said nothing. After the test, they departed the way they came, the snapping of cameras trailing their retreat.

That evening, back at home, Lin Siji pulled Lin Yun aside for a clandestine chat: "How did your cousin treat you today?"

Lin Yun hesitated, choosing his words carefully, "Alright, I suppose."

Lin Siji caught on immediately: "As long as he doesn't dislike you. Stay close to your cousin, be proactive, got it? It'd be best to accompany him out, get acquainted with his circle of friends."

Lin Yun replied softly, "Okay."

Lin Fu's stay at the Lin residence spanned a week, and his rapport with Lin Yun visibly deepened.

Lin Sixing was aware but helpless.

He detested Lin Fu and resented Lin Siji, an outsider, receiving his favor; this also added to his irritation towards Lin Rui and Lin Yan, the siblings.

Of course, what irked him most was Luo Qirui.

Repeatedly causing uproar in the Luo family, she fretted over Lin Fu’s stay at the Lin residence and couldn’t stand the thought of Luo Weichen's son returning to her domain.

Her antics fueled Lin Sixing’s fury.

As he stepped out, he happened upon Lin Fu.

Cheng Jiu was likely there to pick up Lin Fu, and there was Lin Yun, that little brat, tailing them as if he were Lin Fu's own brother.

Upon seeing him, Cheng Jiu merely glanced indifferently, his smile tinged with mockery, devoid of any respect for his future father-in-law.

Given the disparity between their statuses, Lin Sixing even had to proactively offer a flattering smile: "General Cheng."

Leaning against the car, Cheng Jiu waved to him: "Patriarch Lin, where are you off to so early?"

Without waiting for a reply, Cheng Jiu continued: "Ah, I'd forgotten you're a parliamentary councilor. There's been no shortage of council matters these days. Go on with your business, don't mind me. It wouldn't do to keep the council chairman waiting."

Lin Sixing managed a strained smile: "Then, till we meet again, General Cheng."

Lin Fu had already gotten into the car, with Cheng Jiu acting as the driver, and astonishingly, Lin Yun decided to join them.

Lin Sixing watched them drive away before he begrudgingly got into his own vehicle.

……

Naturally, Lin Fu and Cheng Jiu wouldn't involve Lin Yun in their private meeting.

They headed to the Artemis Military Academy, leaving Lin Yun in the office to wander as he pleased.

Lin Yun had no objections to this arrangement.

Lin Fu and Cheng Jiu went to meet Principal Carl.

Upon seeing them, especially Lin Fu, he was evidently pleased, but forced himself to maintain a principal's demeanor in front of the students, nodding to Lin Fu with feigned sternness: "Glad to see you've come back for a visit. What brings you here this time?"

With someone standing guard outside, ensuring their privacy, Lin Fu said with a smile: "Principal, there's news of Lin Sicheng."

Carl hadn't expected Lin Fu's first words to be about this and was taken aback. He had been forewarned by Lin Fu and was somewhat prepared, but upon hearing it, the scars on his face couldn't help but twitch momentarily.

"Are you certain he's alive?"

Lin Fu's eyes darkened: "Not only certain that he's alive, but also that he's colluding with the insectoid species."

Carl's hand clenched tightly: "Are you suggesting he's in league with the insects, both inside and out?"

The defeat and massacre of that year, were they all orchestrated by Lin Sicheng?!

Just the possibility of this made Carl want to tear Lin Sicheng into pieces on the spot!

Clutching the edge of the table to calm himself, he listened to what Lin Fu had to say next.

Lin Fu said, "I'm not certain if he had already allied with the insectoid species back then, but now his ties with them run deep. I suspect it was during the time he disappeared that he began making deals with the insectoids; otherwise, the Empire wouldn't have been at peace for so long."

Lin Sicheng's desertion led to the massacre of an entire city, after which he vanished. This coincided with Lin Fu's birth, and when paired with the fact that he was poisoned, the pieces start to fit together.

Carl's mood didn't improve much with Lin Fu's speculations. The timing of the collusion with the insectoids didn't matter, for the city had already been slaughtered because of Lin Sicheng, and now he was indeed connected with the insectoid species.

Lin Fu had more to tell him, but there was no rush.

What pleased him was that this time, Principal Carl managed to control his psychic power well, avoiding an outbreak like the last time.

He was trying hard to contain his emotions towards Lin Sicheng.

Once he had somewhat calmed down, Lin Fu continued, "I need your help. Before I left, I entrusted you with something. Now it's time to make use of it."

"You might wonder why I sustained such severe injuries on planet S177. Indeed, if the highest-ranking insectoid present wasn't above level nine, it should have been so."

"But there, I encountered an insectoid that could transform into a human. It claimed to be the king of the Nematode species, serving the insectoid queen. If I'm not mistaken, there should be insectoids of level ten. These level ten insectoids can take on human form and might be hiding somewhere within the Empire's borders, perhaps even within the royal palace or the council."

He paused, revising his statement: "To be more precise, it's highly likely that high-ranking insectoids disguised as humans are lurking in some corner of the palace or the council. And Lin Sicheng is with one of these insectoids."

Imagine, the two highest governing bodies of one's country now harbored one or more grotesque insects transformed into humanoid creatures. They were striking deals and discussing how to deliver civilians and territories into the jaws and feet of insectoids with those in positions of trust.

Merely imagining it was enough to induce nausea, yet it was unfolding in reality.

And if it weren't for Lin Fu's fortunate survival, if he had perished on planet S177, this secret would have remained buried there, unknown forever until every citizen of the Empire perished and its territories were eroded away!

Carl, having spent years on the battlefield and witnessed hell, was acutely aware of what that scenario entailed, his back breaking out in cold sweat.

Before him, a young guide who was unexpectedly admitted into the school and treated as a student, spoke with pale determination, uttering words that could decide the fate of the entire Empire: "Principal, I need command over the Fifth Legion."