Chapter 357 Speculation
Xiaozhen sat quietly aside.
At this time, the crew of the Zejin had already woken up and were all fine. After learning that Liu Xingquan and Captain Ban were missing together, they were shocked.
"Xiaozhen, were Liu Xingquan and the chicken really captured?" Ren Anzhi asked him.
“……” Xiao Zhen lowered her head and hummed.
"Ah, how could it be..." Ren Anzhi had never seen Xiao Zhen in such a low mood since this trip. He immediately said, "Don't worry, they will be fine. Because... because of the chicken." After saying this reason, Ren Anzhi felt that something was wrong with the chicken, so he quickly changed his words , "It was Captain Spotted. Captain Spotted saved my life, and he is a great chicken. Uh, I mean, he is a very reliable chicken captain."
"Um."
Guan Yu followed up by saying, "Mr. Yan Zhen, Mr. Ren Anzhi is right. I believe Captain Ban."
Liu Bei said: "Mr. Yan Zhen, when our Zejin was facing tens of millions of times more Izel alien ships, it was our captain who responded calmly. He not only saved us, but also rescued the fleet of Inspector General Illian. Brother Liu Xingquan is with Captain Ban, I think he will be fine."
Zhang Fei shouted: "Me too!"
Ms. Fei said: "Mr. Yan Zhen, I believe in Captain Ban's ability. Even if he is in danger, he will not sit still and wait for death."
“That’s right!”
"Yes! Brother Liu Xingquan will be safe!"
"Captain Spotted is the most awesome chicken I've ever seen!"
The crew members were full of confidence and comforted one after another. Captain Madara's status reached its highest peak in history. Xiao Zhen heard the words of thought from Mr. Cat. (Although his brain capacity was a little small, he still became the real captain of this ship.)
Xiao Zhen answered with his mind, (If that guy was here and saw the crew praising him so much, I'm afraid he would lift his tail to the sky with pride.) The image of Captain Madara with his chest puffed out, wings spread and tail lifted up appeared in his mind. This funny picture immediately made his originally depressed mood a little relieved.
The sea of consciousness was surging, and Mr. Cat's thoughts were connected. He could feel a vague and hazy sound, which was Mr. Cat's chuckle, and he saw the image of Captain Madara in Xiaozhen's mind.
(It is indeed its majestic appearance.) said Mr. Cat.
(Ha ha.)
(Xiao Zhen, it's not just Captain Madara that you should trust, you should also trust your human friends.)
(Um?)
(Your friend Liu Xingquan is not as weak as you think. He once wandered alone on an alien planet, but not only did he escape unscathed, he later became a legendary hero who saved Hope Township.)
(Um……)
(Don't be arrogant, trust your friends more.)
(……) Xiao Zhen heard something very gentle in Mr. Cat's tone. In the past, most of the time, its silent communication with him was directly in his mind, sharp and impolite, like cold and sharp raindrops, like lightning hidden behind rain and fog, but now its silent words were like a gentle breeze.
He turned to look at Mr. Cat. Cats' facial expressions are different from those of humans, and most of the time, no expression can be seen. At this moment, Mr. Cat still had an unfathomable cat face, and his golden irises were like deep and beautiful crystals, exuding a confident and stable atmosphere. Now, this high-level figure of the Eye of Supervision, who was always unfathomable, was counseling and comforting him, and he seemed very patient.
Xiao Zhen stood up, his mood had been sorted out. What was left was action.
…
…
Duke Gil appeared in front of everyone. At this time, he was no longer the little Xilin man, but a tall and handsome man. Now he was several inches taller than Guan Yu, the tallest member of the Zejin crew. When he appeared, Ren Anzhi was confused.
"Excuse me, who is this..."
"It's the captain." Xiao Zhen said.
Ren Anzhi was stunned for a moment, then he blurted out, "Is it that Duke Xilin?"
"Yes."
"But shouldn't he be very..." Liu Bei interrupted Ren Anzhi's disrespectful words in time, "When the Xilin people travel, they also choose to ride in a bionic Homo sapiens shell, which is basically the same size as a regular Homo sapiens."
"Oh oh!" Ren Anzhi looked at the "captain" in front of him who was taller than himself in surprise, and tactfully restrained his sigh.
After everyone gathered, Xiao Zhen announced his next plan.
"I'm going to go find Prince Alsiel." Xiao Zhen said, "According to Yin Ran, Liu Xingquan and Captain Ban are likely in his hands."
This is an obvious inference, and it seems to be the only way at the moment.
Ren Anzhi said, "It sounds like Prince Alsiel kidnapped Liu Xingquan and Captain Ban for the True Special Drink, right? As long as the True Special Drink is in our hands, they should come directly to us to discuss the terms of exchange."
Zhang Fei murmured, "This is ridiculous. Why is this bottle of drink so valued?"
Guan Yu said: "Don't try to guess the thoughts of the nobles. I remember the last time a piece of coprolites broke the record of the Galaxy auction, it was sold for hundreds of millions."
"It may be absurd, but this bottle of drink is an important item for the bounty hunter," Liu Bei said. "Are we just going to hand it over like this?"
Ms. Fei frowned and said, "We also have to consider the possibility that the other party will kill the person after we hand it over."
"Killing the hostage?" Ren Anzhi asked in surprise.
"That's what aristocrats are like." Yin Ran said quietly.
"ah?"
"In order to get what they want, they will do anything awful. After doing something shameful, it is common for them to kill the person involved in order to save their own reputation. Don't use common sense to judge these interstellar dignitaries."
Ren Anzhi couldn't help but say, "Wait a minute, don't we have Mr. Cat? He's the Eye of Supervision you mentioned. He must be a very powerful person. I heard from Xiaozhen that I was able to be saved before because of Mr. Cat's connections. Can I ask him for help this time?"
Guan Yu said: "That's right, Mr. Cat is the inspector of the Eye of Supervision, we can use this relationship."
Liu Bei shook his head and said, "I'm afraid not."
"Why?"
"Kidnapping alien visitors is illegal. This kind of interstellar scandal concerns the reputation of the nobility. If the authority of the Eye of Supervision is used, Prince Alsiel will never admit that he has kidnapped Liu Xingquan and Captain Madara. Instead, it may alert the enemy and threaten the lives of the hostages." Liu Bei glanced at Mr. Cat, who nodded slightly in agreement with his words, "So we can't let the other party realize that we are related to the Eye of Supervision."
"... That's right!" Ren Anzhi still didn't give up hope, "We have another important person here, the noble Xilin!" He cast his hopeful eyes on Duke Jill, who was currently taller than him, "Could you mediate?"
Duke Gil said coldly: "No, I don't want to reveal my identity now."
“……”Ren Anzhi’s expression froze.
Yin Ran suddenly stood up and said, "Just now, my employer sent a communication."
"What?"
Yin Ran looked at Xiao Zhen, and the tone of the galactic thief became a little strange: "Prince Alsiel asked me to bring the captain of the Zejin to meet him."
…
…
"You need to change clothes?"
"No way, this is the local etiquette."
In order to meet Prince Alsiel, Xiaozhen changed into a loose local robe, which felt like silk on Earth, smooth and light. Yin Ran said that when meeting the local upper class, aliens must change into local robes to show goodwill. Otherwise, the meeting might be seen as hostile from the beginning.
Before Xiao Zhen set off, Duke Gil showed some rare kindness, "Let me remind you, based on my understanding of the Xiyiqi people, a prince of this status is not someone you can negotiate with in a friendly manner."
"I know." Xiao Zhen replied. He knew the meaning of Duke Gil's words, but now the lives of Liu Xingquan and Captain Ban were uncertain, so he had no choice but to make this trip.
What Xiao Zhen and the others never expected was that Prince Alsiel did not seem to be shy about his actions at all. As soon as they walked out of the hotel, there were already at least thirty guards waiting for them at the door.
The guards were almost the same height. They all wore green uniforms embroidered with the royal crest, brass helmets, and held halberds. They were Prince Alsiel's personal guards.
"Praise the Queen's sacred egg! By order of Her Majesty Queen Xiyiqi's Bazalu, the father of Princess Alji, the brightest and most brilliant night star in the world, the lord of the rich Beret Territory, the great Prince Aisiel, you are hereby summoned to summon the alien ship owner Yan Zhen and the tourist Yin Ran." A guard captain wearing a cloak and a purple ribbon announced loudly.
As soon as he said this, a buzzing sound immediately rang out in the hotel. The place chosen by Xiaozhen and his group was close to the local bustling commercial street. The group of royal guards gathered at the entrance of the hotel, which had already attracted the attention of passers-by. Now such a public and loud announcement caused even more discussion among passers-by.
"This group of outsiders actually had the honor of being summoned directly by Prince Alsiel. What an honor!"
"yes."
"It seems like he is an alien visitor who just arrived here not long ago. Who knows, he might be a big shot from somewhere."
The prince's guards split to the sides, and a dark square car appeared between the teams. A guard stood by the door and motioned Xiaozhen and Yin Ran to get on the car. After Xiaozhen and Yin Ran got on the car, Ren Anzhi, Liu Bei and others also wanted to follow. The guards' long halberds crossed with a bang, blocking the others.
"The prince summoned only Yan Zhen and Yin Ran." The guard said coldly.
"We are his followers."
"The prince summoned only Yan Zhen and Yin Ran." The words were still cold and without any emotion.
“We are in this together!”
Bang, bang, bang! The guards struck the ground with their halberds, making loud noises as a warning. The guards in the back row even drew their guns.
Xiao Zhen waved to them to show that it was nothing. Mr. Cat nodded to him. The car door was closed. With the roar of the engine, the car sped forward.
The journey was extremely boring. The windows on both sides of the car were completely closed, so Xiao Zhen couldn't see any scenery outside the car. There was only the slight sound of the air conditioner in the car.
There was no driver in the car, and it was in automatic mode. A guard in green uniform sat in the front seat with a cold face. Xiao Zhen tried to talk to him, but no matter what she said, the other party was like a mute and didn't answer a word.
"Don't waste your energy, he won't pay any attention to you." Yin Ran said. She gestured and quietly handed Xiao Zhen a small box the size of a button.
Xiao Zhen took the box and immediately understood the meaning of her action. This is a dark box that can emit special frequencies. When the Xiyiqi people talk to most aliens, they need to use a translator to convert sound waves into pheromones that they can understand. This box can effectively transfer the carrier's sound waves to a secret channel, thus achieving the "silent" effect that the Xiyiqi people thought. Now the conversation between Yin Ran and Xiao Zhen will not be heard by the surrounding guards.
He is indeed a famous interstellar thief. "I have a question." Xiao Zhen said, "What kind of person is Prince Alsiel?"
"I have no idea."
"Hmm? Isn't he your employer? From what you've seen?"
"He is my employer, but I am only working on orders. In fact, this is my first time meeting Prince Alsiel." Yin Ran answered honestly.
"Ah? Is this the first time you've met him?"
"Yes."
Xiaozhen frowned, and the subtle sense of disharmony in her heart became even stronger.
"What kind of answer do you want to hear?" Yin Ran showed a sly smile, "A stinky noble who would do anything to get a bottle of drink worth 700 million?"
"I once met Prince Alsiel at the auction." Xiao Zhen recalled the scene at that time, "I have a feeling."
"What?"
"He doesn't seem like someone with malicious intentions."
"Ha." Yin Ran laughed cheerfully, "Feelings, the most untrustworthy thing in this world is feelings. Now he is a villain who kidnapped two of your closest friends just for a bottle of drink."
"He is your employer, right? Is it in line with your professional ethics to belittle your employer?"
Yin Ran tilted her head and narrowed her eyes. "To be honest, you are the strangest young Homo sapiens I have ever seen." She leaned in and looked at Xiao Zhen's face carefully. "But are you really a Homo sapiens?"
"Of course I am a Homo sapiens." Xiao Zhen answered confidently without blushing.
"..." Yin Ran looked at him a few more times, then turned around and stretched her body against the soft cushion. "Prince Alsiel, according to my research, his reputation is quite good, and the local people like him very much."
"oh?"
"There has always been an incurable infectious disease on Xiyiqi, and the local people have been suffering from this terrible disease. As far as I know, Prince Alsiel has been donating all his money to medical stations in various places all year round to help those poor people who are in desperate situations. He is a member of the royal family who is well-received for his charity."
"oh oh."
"But, you know, now the Queen has a new love, Prince Linaru, and Prince Alsiel's status is not as high as before. In addition, with the birth of the little princess..." Yin Ran's eyes drifted to the dark car window that blocked all the scenery. "Power is the strongest poison. Perhaps even the most upright and kind people will be corroded."
"You mean, Prince Alsiel's actions are related to the struggle for succession?"
"I'm just guessing." Yin Ran whispered, "Some things are abnormal and there must be a reason."
"You mean to say that you made so much trouble just to snatch a bottle of drink, and even kidnapped my friend?"
"It's just a guess." The Galaxy Thief stretched out his white fingers to curl his long hair. "The real special drink is very likely related to power, and may even be the key to this battle for the throne."
"It's just a bottle of drink, what can it do to you?" As the father of Zhenxuan Special Drink, Xiaozhen couldn't help but shout.
"Who knows?" Yin Ran looked up, "Otherwise how can we explain Prince Alsiel's abnormal behavior. Maybe this bottle of drink made by who knows who has extraordinary magical brainwashing ability. I heard that this is a gift that the prince is preparing to give to the queen. Maybe after drinking it, it can really influence the queen's decision and immediately declare the eldest princess as the heir."
"Well, I think you're overthinking it." Xiao Zhen, who knows everything about Zhenxuan Special Drink, feels that this can only be described as an increasingly bizarre fantasy conjecture.
"Then wait until we meet the prince and see what he says."
"But have you ever considered another possibility?" Xiao Zhen said, touching his chin.
"What?"
"What if it wasn't Prince Alsiel who kidnapped Liu Xingquan and Captain Madara?"
Yin Ran's beautiful brown eyes stared at Xiao Zhen in surprise. After a moment's silence, the car stopped. The door opened automatically, and a guard urged them to get out immediately.
