Volume 3 Chapter 9 Translator: Aoi, LilsxD Proofreader: Arc, Catchkatch, Wryn Yue Baylian indolently lay on the chaise, holding on to the television remote as he channel surfed. The global economic situation looks pretty normal. It seems like your fabled secretary Kyle really is competent. He could actually stabilise the situation even though the both of us are missing. Devon Solaris sat on another chair, leaning against the backrest in a relaxed position. A cup of his favourite black coffee sat on a coffee table at his side. Besides the shackles restraining his feet, the scene looked extremely normal. It was as if two friends were sitting in the lounge drinking tea and watching TV as they chatted. Of course, he coldly replied. How could I have chosen a second-rate secretary? Uh huh! Maybe it would be alright even if you didnt return? A tinge of malice crept into the corner of Yues eye. Since it seems as long as Kyle is there, it doesnt matter whether the Solaris Emperor exists. Devon ignored him, despite the provocation. He proceeded to peruse a book laying nearby. Seeing this, Yues flirtatious smile suddenly went wild as he snatched and threw the book across the room. Youre not allowed to ignore me, Dev! You know what the consequences are! he shouted. Devons expression changed as the thought of the consequences made his heart ache. Dar Okay! What do you want to say? Yue revealed a victorious smile and went back to reclining on his chaise. Why do you trust Kyle so much? he asked curiously. Arent you afraid that he will take this chance to betray you? For all you know, he might have already given up on the search for you. Devon snorted. Because hes sick. Yues expression soured suddenly. It seems like the Solaris Emperor is not even willing to tell me a story! he said, his voice cold. Devon rolled his eyes. Annoyed, he replied, I mean Bill has an extremely rare genetic disease. Oh? Yue was momentarily stunned. He had not thought that was what Devon meant. He thought it was an excuse Devon invented to blow him off. He could not help but ask more. Even if he has an illness, what does that have to do with his loyalty to you? Every day he has to take medication to manage his illness. If he were to not take the medication his body would gradually calcify. Within a year, his body would be completely calcified, like a living statue. It is impossible for him to remain alive with that degree of calcification. In the final three months, when his organs begin to calcify, he will die. Yue frowned unconsciously upon hearing about this fearful disease. Only I have the medicine he requires. Every six months, I give him half a years worth of medication, Devon continued impassively. Youre threatening him. If he doesnt stay your loyal secretarial dog, you wont give him medication? Yue chuckled. Youre so ruthless, Dev! Devon harrumphed. He has no right to complain. Just the research and development for the medication cost me billions. Even if he were to be a secretary for ten lifetimes he still wouldnt be able to repay me! You put it that way, but its not like you only invested in the medication for his sake, right? Yue smiled. If you were to put that kind of medicine on the market, how could you not recover the billions? Its impossible to put it on the market, Devon said coldly. This genetic disease is extremely rare. There are less than three incidences a year. In addition, the shelf life of this medication is a short six months. Coupled with an extremely complex manufacturing process, and ingredients that are difficult to source, the production costs of six months worth of medication is already around ten million. How many sufferers of this disease do you think could afford medication fees of twenty million per year? Therefore, even if I didnt monopolise the manufacturing of this medication, Bill couldnt possibly afford it. Yue did not know whether to laugh or cry. So thats how it is. He is a secretary with a base value of billions, with an inflation rate of twenty million each year? Devon corrected him with a serious tone. Its thirty million per year; I give him a salary as well. Youre making me jealous! Back then, you didnt care about me nearly as much, even when you still saw me as Yuer! A puzzled yet slightly suspicious look passed over Yues face. Why are you willing to invest billions on a secretary? Im really curious, Dev, he asked. Even though he was being forced into this conversation, Devon could not help but reminisce about the past. A bit annoyed, he began narrating. He was originally my personal secretary. I interviewed him myself. Initially I thought I had found a highly competent secretary, but then, afterwards, I realised that he was an agent sent by my father, from the very beginning. He even lied about his name being Bill. So you know his name isnt Bill... Yue could not help but raise his eyebrows. He was rather surprised by this discovery. Maybe it was divine punishment. One day, he suddenly fell ill. As a swan song, he confessed that he had been sent by my father. Devon grew silent. Not only Avery, but even Kyle had once been a traitor. He forgave Kyle back then because he had not yet ascended the throne as the Solaris Emperor and could still make decisions based on his likes and dislikes. Even if he were to make mistakes, his father would take care of it. However, he could no longer do that. I have already risen to the pinnacle; all the consequences of my decisions must be borne by me. No one has the power to help me fix my mistakes anymore.Therefore, Dar, Didi! Please understand and forgive me. Gege stands at the apex but I am not my own man. I did not mean to lie to you. I must kill your beloved Papa Avery not because I hate him, but to preserve the order and discipline required for the Solaris Federations continued prosperity, and for your protection. Thus, this rule cannot be broken! I want to see my brother. Devon frowned. One thought of Dar and he became so worried that he needed to see him. Yue raised his eyebrow. Didnt you just see him this morning? I want to see him now! he shouted, furious. He is my brother; even if I were to see him ten times a day it still wouldnt be enough. Yue rolled his eyes. He could not stop himself from teasing. Why dont you ask other people who have siblings: who else needs to see their brother at least ten times a day? They probably wouldnt even be bothered enough to take a glance. Devon was silent. He finally raised his head and looked at Yue. Im worried about him, he beseeched. Ah! Only when were talking about your brother do you show an expression other than your standard look of superiority and arrogance! Okay, okay, how could I possibly deny you, Dev? As Yue was speaking, his fingers inched towards a few particularly messy strands of Devons hair. But Devon turned his head to the side and avoided them. But Yue was not angered as he withdrew his hand. There are still many more chances for things like this. Being too hasty will only make my plans backfire. Lets go see Didi. Hes my didi, not yours! Devon barked. He hated it when others tried to encroach on his big brother status. Yes, yes, yes! To see your little brother, alright? Yue laughed coquettishly as he lead the way, while Devon followed behind. The two of them stepped out of the lounge into a corridor suspended in midair like a miniature suspension bridge. Devon stepped onto the bridge and peered below. Under his feet lay dense jungle vegetation. When he looked into the distance, he was completely surrounded by the sea. This place was truly a small island. Yue had erected lodgings on three hills, connected by suspension bridges. The main residence was in the centre, flanked by one for the modified humans and the other for... Were here, Devon. Devon shook himself, and immediately rushed inside the residence. Dar... It was as if he had entered an ancient mausoleum. The dome-shaped roof, walls and ceiling were decorated with exquisite frescoes. A gigantic crystal sarcophagus was placed in the centre surrounded by four tomb guards. The only anomaly was the complex network of high-tech cables and tubing running beneath the sarcophagus. Devon rushed straight to the transparent crystal sarcophagus, where he could clearly see the person laying within. It was a youth clothed like a young prince. Even his hands were covered with finely embroidered white gloves. His soft, shiny, closely cropped silver hair framed his face. His features were refined and elegant. It was a pity that his eyes were firmly closed, making it impossible to discern the beautiful colour of his eyes. Although the scene looked dazzling at first glance, a closer look revealed the thick shackles securely binding the neck, waist, wrists, and ankles of the prince to the sarcophagus. Devon heaved a sigh of relief after seeing that Daren was lying untouched in the sarcophagus, the monitor indicating stable vital signs. Even though he knew that he could not touch him, he still placed his hand on the lid as he stared at his beloved brother. At that moment, the lines on his face relaxed; there was not a hint of cold-blooded ruthlessness. Yue greedily drank in the rare gentleness of the Solaris Emperors face for a long minute before he was finally willing to speak. So that powerful Dark Sun is actually this cute. No wonder you dote on him so much. Devon snorted, Of course. Dar is the cutest boy in the world. When hes sleeping hes cute, and when hes laughing hes even cuter. If he were to open his mouth and call out Gege it would be so cute that you could melt. Only you would melt away... Yue was between laughter and tears. If anyone were to hear these words, they definitely would not believe that this person was the cold-blooded and ruthless Solaris Emperor! Is Dar really all right? Devon asked with a bit of unease. When I fainted, wasnt he seriously injured? Youve asked a hundred times already! Relax! I have already allowed the modified humans to take care of his injuries before I placed your precious didi in this space hibernation capsule. You shouldnt have ordered the modified humans to attack him. Devons face darkened. Every time he thought about Dar getting beaten in front of him, his heart would ache and his limbs would tremble. Yue already knew how to handle this mans brother complex by now. He quickly apologised in a gentle tone. So-rry~! I wont ever hurt Didi again. Look, havent I allowed him to wear these beautiful clothes and sleep in this beautiful place? It suits him well, right? Well stay here from now on. Your brother wont ever be hurt again. Isnt this for the best? Dar wont ever be hurt again... Devon placed his hand on the crystal lid, feeling torn. Within the enormous office, there were two desks. The large black desk in the center of the room clearly belonged to the boss, but was unoccupied at the moment. The other desk was white and placed perpendicular to the other. This seat was not empty. Kyle was dressed in a crisp suit as he sat perfectly straight, working away with a solemn expression on his face. Although someone was in the office, only the tap tap tap of extremely fast typing could be heard. The mans eyes were glued to the computer monitor. There were ten conversation windows and ten document files opened on the screen. It was a mystery how he managed to talk with so many people and handle all those files simultaneously. In addition, the names of the conversation windows were rather unusual. There was Secretary 1, Secretary 2... All the way to Secretary 10... Kyle was addressed as the Head Secretary. A minute later, the office that had been filled with only the sounds of typing was suddenly filled with music. It was coming from the small clock on the table. The clock was the shape of a cube and roughly the size of a fist. The surface was polished to a bright sheen, and was carved from a kind of black rock-like mineral. Time to take some medicine. Kyle pulled the clock towards him and pressed the ruby ornament on top. The clock opened up with a click, and dozens of green pills came into view. On closer inspection, a portrait on the clock face could be seen. The subject looked around twenty years old, his handsome features and arrogant expression captured vividly. His ruby eyes were even more beautiful than the real ruby ornament. Kyle unconsciously let his mind wander. Solaris Emperor...
********************
********************
********************
********************
******************** Eclipse Hunter v03c09 END********************
-