501: True identity

“Mobilizing Imperial Soldiers? Notifying Longlan Star Cluster officials to gather for a meeting?”

From these two points, the so-called Imperial Citizen in front of them was none other than the newly appointed Chairman of the Longlan Star Cluster, holding two positions.

After everyone reacted, their legs instantly went soft, losing all strength, and they slumped to the ground.

Their faces were filled with despair and remorse, and their hearts were full of fear for their actions.

Ma Dong, in particular, looked incredibly disbelieving, his eyes filled with shock and despair.

The Imperial Soldiers surrounding them, like an unforgiving mirror, told him that all of this was real and inescapable.

At this moment, Bai Luo, still holding Li Yang's hand, had her mouth wide open, as if a fist could fit in it.

Her eyes were filled with astonishment and confusion, and her hand slowly loosened.

She felt as if all the strength had been drained from her body, and like everyone else, she couldn't help but slump to the ground.

She never expected that the person she had just been desperately trying to protect had such a noble identity.

At this moment, her heart was a mix of emotions, both fear for her reckless actions and shock at Li Yang's identity.

Li Yang seemed oblivious to the chaos and horror behind him, merely raising a hand to smooth out the wrinkles on his clothes before walking straight out of the hall with Pal.

He left, but the heavily armed Imperial Soldiers remained like iron stakes nailed to the ground, their energy guns steadily locked on everyone, the cold metallic feel through the air making it hard to breathe.

No one dared to make a move, even their breathing softened, fearing that a single mistake would bring about a fatal disaster.

Ma Dong slumped to the ground, his back already drenched in cold sweat.

His eyes darted around, and while the Soldiers' attention wasn't fully on him, he quietly activated the smart brain in his mind and sent a call to the Bianlong Star Administration Department.

The moment the call connected, an impatient voice came from the other end.

“What's going on, Ma Dong? Is that Imperial Citizen dealt with? You're so slow at getting things done.”

Ma Dong forced a smile that was uglier than a cry, his voice trembling uncontrollably.

“Vi-Vice Minister... we... we're in big trouble!”

“Big trouble? What trouble could be bigger than failing to win over an Imperial Citizen?”

The other party's tone was scolding.

“Is the Yu Beast Association trying to snatch him again? I told you long ago to...”

“No, it's not!”

Ma Dong almost shrieked, then quickly lowered his voice, afraid of being heard by the Soldiers, speaking rapidly like pouring beans.

“That ‘Imperial Citizen’... he's not an ordinary person at all! He's the new Chairman of the Longlan Star Cluster! His name is Li Yang! He just brought Soldiers and surrounded all of us...”

“What did you say?!”

The voice on the other end of the communication suddenly rose, with an incredulous sharpness.

“The new Chairman of the Longlan Star Cluster?! How could he come to a place like Bianlong Star? The Administration Department hasn't even sent any news!”

Ma Dong wanted to cry but couldn't, forcing a bitter smile.

“How would I know... Who would have thought this new Chairman wouldn't play by the rules? Instead of going to the Administration Department, he came to this godforsaken place for a ‘private visit,’ and even pretended to be an ordinary Imperial Citizen to deal with us... Isn't this clearly setting a trap?”

As he spoke, he secretly glanced at the Soldiers around him, and seeing no one was paying attention, he quickly added,

“Vice Minister, you have to think of a way! If we really get investigated, all our shady dealings...”

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the communication, only heavy breathing remained.

After a long while, a trembling voice finally came through.

“It's over... This time it's really over...”

Ma Dong's heart instantly sank to the bottom.

Even this Vice Minister, who had always been fearless, said such words, indicating that things had gone horribly wrong.

He slumped on the cold floor, looking at the dark muzzles of the guns, and finally understood — they had run into a brick wall, and it was a brick wall with the might of thunder...

In the corridor of the Longlan Star Cluster Administration Department, footsteps and low discussions surged like a tide.

Officials clutched documents, their faces showing haste, hurrying to the conference hall in twos and threes, exchanging urgent news as they passed.

“Have you heard? The new Chairman didn't even enter the Administration Department's main gate, he went straight to Bianlong Star!”

“Undercover visit? That place Bianlong Star... Tsk tsk, he probably stepped into a quagmire the moment he landed.”

“Otherwise, why would there be an emergency meeting? I heard someone say earlier that even officials dispatched externally were urgently called back — it must be a huge mess!”

Everyone knew about the shady dealings on Bianlong Star; smuggling lines entwined every corner of the planet like vines, from energy minerals to prohibited biological agents. No one mentioned it openly, but secretly, they profited from this network.

Even mid to low-level officials in the Administration Department had heard rumors, but no one bothered to intervene — after all, the “fat” of that star system wasn't theirs to share, so it wasn't worth causing trouble.

In less than an hour, an enormous starship silently docked at the Administration Department's exclusive berth.

When Li Yang descended the gangway, there was no honor guard, no crowd of officials, only two Staff members in uniform who quickly came forward, bowing and gesturing “Please.”

“Chairman, the conference hall is ready, and all the officials are waiting for you.”

The corridor lights cast a long shadow behind Li Yang, his boots made regular sounds on the polished floor, like a countdown drumbeat for this belated “meeting.”

Upon reaching the conference hall entrance, as the Staff member opened the heavy door, a sudden burst of chatter erupted from within — dozens of officials near the door were whispering to each other, but upon seeing the figure at the entrance, they instantly fell silent.

Li Yang walked directly into the conference hall, his steps silent on the carpet, yet carrying an undeniable sense of oppression, each step landing squarely on everyone's hearts.

Inside the conference hall, a giant lamp shaped like the Imperial emblem hung from the dome, illuminating the entire space as bright as day.

The central dark red wooden oval table gleamed with a warm luster, the silver lines inlaid along its edge outlining exquisite patterns under the light. High-backed chairs around the table were occupied by high-ranking officials from various departments of the Administration Department, each with a different expression.

And the position at the head of the table — the main seat symbolizing the Chairman's power — was currently empty, a stark contrast to the densely seated officials surrounding it.

Everyone quickly looked towards Li Yang, only to see him in a crisp official uniform, the star insignia on his epaulets shining brightly under the light. His face was expressionless, but his eyes were as sharp as knives, and the aura emanating from him seemed to solidify the air.

“Is that Chairman Li Yang?”

A young official in the back couldn't help but whisper, his fingertips nervously digging into the armrest of his chair.

“Just this presence alone is much stronger than the previous Chairman...”