Chapter 5: Attending the Victory Banquet

Chapter 5: Chapter 5: Attending the Victory Banquet

"I just received a battle report from the front lines. Commander Qin personally led the Federation Army to successfully repel the Insect Race in the R-N3 Star System. He’s returning in triumph tonight!" Qin Songlin’s voice overflowed with the joy of victory.

Shu Guohua praised him with solemn respect. "As expected of the Commander-in-Chief!"

’Much more reliable than a certain Your Majesty who only knows how to indulge in pleasure!’

Hearing his younger brother being praised made Qin Songlin happier than if he had been praised himself. He couldn’t help but reveal a smug and proud expression.

Shu Guohua was still worried about registering the child.

"Your Majesty..."

"I’m hosting a victory banquet at the Imperial Empire Building tomorrow. Shu District Chief, you must bring your family and grace us with your presence!" After smoothly interrupting him, Qin Songlin added with a sincere expression, "As for the Shu Family’s matter, the Imperial Family will give you a proper explanation at that time!"

’It would be better to discuss this in person anyway,’ Shu Guohua thought.

Seeing him nod despite himself, Qin Songlin sighed in relief.

"Then I’ll leave it at that."

He quickly ended the call.

Only when Shu Guohua’s image had completely vanished did a flicker of panic cross Qin Songlin’s face. He felt a pang of guilt.

Wait!

’What do I have to feel guilty about?’

’Every injustice has its perpetrator, and every debt its debtor. Qin Shiwei was the one who got her pregnant, not me.’

Afterward, everyone in the Shu Family received an electronic invitation from the Imperial Family via their Light Brains.

Shu Yao was on the invitation list as well.

’A victory banquet hosted by the Imperial Family... Many important figures from the Federation will surely be there.’

’My status is a bit awkward. I’m afraid I’ll embarrass the Shu Family.’

"Great-uncle, I think I’ll skip the victory banquet tomorrow," Shu Yao said, making an excuse. "I’ll stay home with Xiao Juzi."

Shu Guohua’s expression turned stern, as it usually did. "The entire family is going to the banquet tomorrow. No one is to be left behind!"

"It’s a banquet hosted by the Imperial Family. The occasion is too formal. It’s really not appropriate for a little troublemaker like Xiao Juzi to be there. And he can’t be left without someone to look after him, so I..."

Before Shu Yao could finish, Shu Xin gently interrupted her.

"The banquet will have lots of delicacies we don’t normally get to enjoy. You and Xiao Juzi are sure to love them."

The moment he heard the word "delicacies," a small, orange furball darted over. He pounced into Shu Yao’s arms, transforming into a chubby little boy.

Xiao Juzi reverted to his human cub form, though he still retained some Beastman features. His eyes gleamed and he drooled, the picture of gluttony, as he twitched his ears and wagged his tail to win over his mother.

"I wanna go! Mama, I wanna go!"

Shu Yao patted his bare bottom. Adopting a teasing, sing-song tone, she taunted him, "I bet there will be lots and lots of yummy food at the banquet, but oh dear, you weren’t invited!"

Xiao Juzi leaned in and whispered in her ear, "I can just follow you and sneak in!"

"Do you think we’re still in Zone 9?" Shu Yao said, rubbing his ear and deliberately using a stern tone to scare him. "Out here, if you don’t follow the rules, they’ll arrest you for being a bad guy!"

Shu Guohua said, "Xiao Juzi, you stick with your Great-grand-uncle tomorrow. Let’s see who dares to arrest you!"

"I’ll take Xiao Juzi tomorrow," Shu Chao Yu said as he approached. "Yaoyao and Sis, you can go with Big Brother."

Thinking he was about to be manhandled again, Xiao Juzi got such a fright that he reverted to his beast form. All his orange fur stood on end, and he let out a tiny, low growl, warning Shu Chao Yu not to come any closer.

Shu Chao Yu found the little guy’s bristling appearance absolutely adorable.

He chuckled and said, "Xiao Juzi, do you know what your Little Grand-uncle does? Your Little Grand-uncle’s job is to catch bad guys and lock them up in the interstellar prison."

Hearing this, Xiao Juzi got a little intimidated.

This just went to show how effective Shu Yao’s "scare tactic" style of parenting was. The poor kid was practically traumatized by the idea of the interstellar prison.

"I’m not a bad guy!"

"Of course our Xiao Juzi isn’t a bad guy. The people who bully Xiao Juzi are the bad guys. If anyone bullies you in the future, you just tell your Little Grand-uncle." Shu Chao Yu made a fist and said fiercely, "I’ll arrest every last one of them!"

Sensing that he could be trusted, Xiao Juzi lowered his guard just a little.

Just then, Shu Xin said, "Xiao Chao, I’ll leave Xiao Juzi with you, then. I’m taking Yaoyao to pick out a formal gown."

「The next day.」

The Shu Family’s Flying Machine arrived at the Imperial Empire Building.

Even though the journey had been smooth, Xiao Juzi only dared to hide in the pocket of his Little Grand-uncle’s tuxedo.

Upon entering the hall, his fluffy little head poked out of the pocket. He saw all the strangers and was suddenly struck with a bit of panic.

"Where’s Mama?"

As his little head darted back and forth, his gaze was captured by the figure of a man.

The man’s military uniform was immaculate, making him stand out in the bustling crowd. He exuded a cold, oppressive aura that was completely at odds with the festive atmosphere.

The moment Xiao Juzi saw him, a strange feeling welled up inside him.

He couldn’t explain it, but he just... really disliked the man.

Children can’t hide their feelings.

"Who’s that smug-looking guy over there?!"

Shu Chao Yu had to spin around twice before he located the person Xiao Juzi was pointing at.

’Have to admit, the kid’s got sharp eyes.’

"That’s our Federation’s First Commander!"

’The two of us are gossiping about him right behind his back... surely he can’t hear us. We’re too far away...’

’Oh crap... I think he heard us!’

Meeting the cold glint from the Commander’s sideways glance, his dark green eyes locking on, Shu Chao Yu guiltily pressed Xiao Juzi’s head back into his pocket and walked away, feigning nonchalance.

"Let’s go find your mama."

Shu Chao Yu glanced back and noticed the Commander seemed to be looking for someone as well.

They passed the buffet tables.

The moment Xiao Juzi saw the food, he lost all self-control and started desperately trying to squirm out of the pocket.

Shu Chao Yu pushed him back down. "Tell your Little Grand-uncle what you want to eat. I’ll get it for you."

’If I let him jump onto the buffet table like this, it would cause a huge commotion. After all, everyone thinks it’s practically impossible for a Beastman child to achieve full Beastification.’

"This one, this one, and that one!" Overwhelmed by the sheer amount of food, Xiao Juzi’s eyes went wide. He finally just declared, "The stuff over here and the stuff over there... I want it all!"

"Alright," Shu Chao Yu said indulgently. "Then let’s start with the first dish."

While the two were happily eating, Shu Yao and Shu Xin had run into some trouble.

Before arriving, Shu Xin had considered it very likely that the Lin Family would also be in attendance.

But she hadn’t expected them to have such a strong reaction to seeing Shu Yao.

"How could you bring *her* to such an important event!"

The dismissive tone made it sound as if Shu Yao had no right to be at such a grand affair.

The speaker was Shu Xin’s ex-husband, who was also Shu Yao’s biological father.

His words were loaded with disapproval, so Shu Xin’s tone was naturally just as sharp.

"Lin Yaodong, this has nothing to do with you, does it?"

"How does it have nothing to do with me!" Lin Yaodong retorted, frowning in displeasure. "Do you have any idea who’s here today? The Shu Family might not care about its reputation, but the Lin Family still has its dignity to uphold!"