Unedited chapter
34. Edgar Makes Clarification
The Beastman Empire already had the technology of inter-planet network, but it took an immense amount of manpower and physical resources to maintain the star network. Therefore, a remote planet was unlikely to be connected to the star network and would mainly rely on establishing various information points within the interstellar to transmit information.
The speed of such an information transmission was very slow. If the information point was damaged, the information might even be lost. If there was any emergency, such as being invaded, using the point to deliver the news was obviously unsuitable. Afterwards, the military used a new technology to set up a military emergency communication channel.
This kind of communication channel was usually closed off. It took a lot of energy to open each time, but it allowed the capital star’s military department of video communication to directly receive the signal from a remote planet, which was very handy.
Edgar himself was on Ga.s.s planet, and the fastest way to contact the capital star was undoubtedly to use the military communication channel.
Justin had never used this communication channel and would never use it. On the contrary, Edgar had been serving in the military. He also had such a communication channel on his warship and had even used it several times, so he was very skilled in using it.
Watching Edgar swiftly go into the communication device’s energy pad to input the pa.s.sword, Justin, holding the manual that he still hadn"t read clearly until now, was rather stupefied.
In order to avoid having others realize that he was actually not the one who was going to use this communication channel, he lightly coughed and put the manual away where he could not see it.
"Come over here, I want to scan your pupils." Edgar said to Justin.
He also had to sign in? Justin quickly went over to scan his pupils. Watching the complex machine switched on at last, he breathed a sigh of relief. He felt like he was practically the same as a country b.u.mpkin . . . .
No, he was not that bad. The sub-beastman brought by the crown prince was the real country b.u.mpkin . . . . Glancing at the sub-beastman who was rather dull, a feeling of superiority sprung up unbidden in Justin’s heart.
Shu Shu was indeed the number one country b.u.mpkin here. Not only was he unable to make sense of all kinds of things he saw here, he was even unable to make sense of what these people said.
Of course, what he did not understand the most was why the disciple brought out by himself seemed to understand everything?
Why was there such a big difference between daemons?!
Maybe . . . Edgar actually wasn’t an ordinary daemon? Looking at Edgar"s confident appearance, Shu Shu started to ponder over this matter seriously.
Indeed, Edgar was a mythical animal, ah! A mythical animal! It was said that, by nature, as soon as a mythical animal was born, it developed intelligence and even had the golden core in defiance of the natural order of the domestic animal that had to cultivate to reach that stage!
Maybe there was someone who had taught Edgar all along . . . . As for why he had stayed alone in the forest, maybe he had been abandoned because he had not been able to become a human?
Shu Shu’s brain hole was getting bigger, and at this time, Edgar was already waiting for the call to be connected.
Meanwhile at the capital star.
The Imperial family scandal three days ago had been getting more and more intense in the past three days because the Imperial family had not come out with any explanations for the cause of it. After people discovered that they could not find the fallen beast who had injured a sub-beastman, they got even angrier because they suspected that the Imperial family had started to do a cover-up.
It was at this time that the medical treatment of the bullied and humiliated sub-beastman came to an end, and the condition of his injuries was completely made public.
This sub-beastman had been violated by a snake beastman in his beast form, resulting in a damaged body. From now on, the sub-beastman would not be able to have children anymore. At the same time, he had also suffered severe psychological trauma and might not be able to live normally in the future.
The ma.s.ses’ emotions that had been brewing for three days could no longer be suppressed and spurted out like a volcanic eruption. For a time, the Imperial family was fiercely questioned by the people.
The emperor and the empress clearly knew about this matter, but they still had not stepped forth to explain because they suspected that the beastman who had injured that sub-beastman might truly be Edgar, and because they didn"t know where exactly Edgar was.
Now though, they had no choice but to stepped forth.
The Imperial family held a press conference especially to explain this matter.
"What can we say at the press conference?" The empress of the Beastman Empire was called Ian. He had once been a military doctor. He had met Emperor Chris in the army and eventually gone out with him.
After marrying into the Imperial family, he did not give up his own career. Not only did he open a hospital focusing on charitable cause, he would also perform surgeries frequently. He was a very strong sub-beastman.
But now, he looked particularly fragile.
"Everything. We tell them the truth." Emperor Chris said, his expression was a bit ugly. After Edgar’s disappearance, he had spent a lot of effort searching for Edgar. He originally thought that it was going to be a simple matter and didn’t expect that it was really not the case. Even more, he didn’t expect that . . . someone would take advantage of Edgar’s disappearance to come up with this kind of thing.
"If we tell them the truth, they will know that Edgar has disappeared for half a year and might has become a fallen beast. His name will be dragged through the mud!" Ian said. How his son was, he knew best. He couldn’t be sure of the fallen beast incident this time, but in no way those incidents of bullying new recruits and framing up cla.s.smates had ever happened.
"The people who planned this thing come prepared. If we tell a lie, people will only grab it to be used against us. We might as well tell them the truth!" Chris said. He had dispatched some people to investigate the brains behind this incident. Upon investigation, he had even found some clues already . . . . Unfortunately, he had no evidence yet. And now, he had to stand up and give an explanation to the ma.s.ses.
"Your Imperial Majesty, it’s almost the time." Someone outside said.
Chris stood up, straightened out his clothes, and reached out to pull his partner up: "Let"s go."
The two men were about to walk out of the room when the communication device on Ian"s hand suddenly rang.
"It"s a message from Jones. I’ll leave after I read it." Ian subconsciously wanted to stall for time.
Chris also came to a halt, waiting for Ian to read the message.
Opening the message, Ian was pleasantly surprised at first, but soon after, his face was white.
"What happened?" Chris immediately asked.
"Jones said Edgar was on Ga.s.s planet." Ian said: "Edgar is still alive and has not been controlled by someone nor has he hurt someone, but he did become a fallen beast."
The light that appeared in Chris’ eyes on account of Ian’s first sentence almost instantly disappeared without a trace, and the wrinkles that had unexpectedly appeared on his face in the past six months were a bit deeper.
"Edgar said that we could announce the news of his death." Ian"s hands started to tremble.
"Now, this is actually a good way." Chris said. "But he’s my son. Since he’s still alive, then he should stay alive and should not die!"
"We tell them the truth then?" Ian asked.
Chris nodded. "Correct!"
After speaking, Chris walked forwards in large strides. He walked a few steps and then said, "My son isn’t someone whom all can slander. I will certainly investigate this incident until the truth comes to light! And those betrayers, I will definitely make them pay the price!"
Hearing those words, Ian’s expression relaxed a little. The two men, an emperor and an empress, held hands and walked out of the door.
The place the Imperial family used for holding a press conference was an auditorium in the Imperial palace. They had announced quite a lot of news here, but their mood at those times was never as bad as their mood today.
Looking at the seats below which were packed with reporters and their various shooting equipments, Ian had an urge to break into a run and leave, but he still stayed in the end.
"Today, all of us are standing here for Edgar’s case. I will try to explain about it." Chris regarded the people below.
The reporters heard these words and immediately calmed down. Chris had always been a respected emperor. Even though Edgar’s incident made a very big noise, but the people still loved and respected the emperor.
In fact, Edgar . . . if he had not become a fallen beast, it was estimated that the ma.s.ses wouldn’t have fully believed such accusations.
However, there had not been any news about Edgar, the Crown Prince, for the whole six months. Now that something bad happened, there was also no explanation all along . . . . Even if people wanted to trust him, there was nowhere they could place their trust in.
The reporters had quieted down, but some people didn"t want to be quiet.
"Please explain, Your Imperial Majesty. Are you going to help Edgar absolving himself?" A young beastman stood up and asked loudly.
Many people had not known this beastman before, but nowadays, there wasn’t many people who didn"t know him. He was one of the people who really stood up and accused Edgar.
This man was very gifted and had been admitted to the Empire’s Imperial College as a commoner. He was already a seven-star beastman now, yet he expressed that he should have had a better development. At the Imperial College, Edgar had been jealous of his innate skill and had framed and suppressed him several times, making him miss many opportunities. He should have already advanced to eight-star beastman then, but up until now, he still hadn’t advanced.
He was a tiger beastman, tall and handsome. Having become a seven-star beastman in such young age, his strength was also not bad. As a result, he had many fans now. After he stood up, some reporters immediately looked over with deep concern for fear that he would be too forthright and provoke the Imperial family’s anger.
"Could it be that the Imperial family hold this press conference only because you want to help Edgar get away from his crimes? If this is indeed the case, I will be thoroughly disappointed with the Imperial family!" This beastman stood in the audience and looked up straight at the emperor and the empress, not shrinking back in the slightest. And his action was broadcasted live through the webcams. After it was seen by people who were concerned about this incident, of course their anger started to ignite once again. Furthermore, countless netizens posted their supports of him.
The whole audience was silent.
"Your Imperial Majesty, I also want to get an answer." Just then, a sub-beastman sitting in a wheelchair opened his mouth. This sub-beastman was the one who had been violated by the snake beastman a few days ago.
"There was a set of Imperial Guard uniform on the hand of the fallen beast who has violated me. He was so unscrupulous and dared to do such a thing to me . . . . Is he your son after all?" The sub-beastman asked again.
This sub-beastman looked very pretty, but now, sitting in a wheelchair with tears in his eyes, he looked extremely weak. And yet, he was facing upward and looking at the emperor on the stage without showing any weakness.
Under his weak appearance, he had a strong heart! Two contradictory characteristics appeared in one sub-beastman, making him even more radiant. Watching the live broadcast, the beastmen were full of anger, while the sub-beastmen already shedded tears of sympathy because of his tragic experience.
"No!" Chris answered without the slightest hesitation.
"Who is he? Who exactly is this brute that you have been protecting? I called the police at once, why could he still escape?" The sub-beastman in the wheelchair started to shake. He clenched his fists and raised his head to face Chris, exposing his slender and alluring neck: "What about Edgar? Have him come out and tell me that it’s not him!"
After the sub-beastman said that, he suddenly burst into tears. Chris, however, frowned.
He didn"t expect that this man would come and question him, which actually made this case become more difficult to handle.
It was impossible for Edgar to come out and explain since he had already become a fallen beast.
Let’s say Edgar, who was a fallen beast, come out and explain the incident right now . . . . In all likelihood, even if Edgar was currently on Ga.s.s planet, everyone would still insist that the fallen beast who had violated this sub-beastman was Edgar.
As for the fact that Edgar was not in the capital star at present . . . . Presumably, everyone would think that he was running away.
Moreover, Edgar had been missing for six months. During the whole six months, the Imperial family had never announced the matter of Edgar having become a fallen beast or sent Edgar to the fallen beast planet. How would they explain this?
Should they say that they actually had not found Edgar before? Who would believe it?
Chris suddenly realized that telling the truth was not feasible at all.
"Your Imperial Majesty, did Crown Prince Edgar really become a fallen beast?"
"Your Imperial Majesty, the crown prince hasn’t posted any message since half a year ago. His social account has also never been logged in. Has he already become a fallen beast six months ago?"
"Your Imperial Majesty, regarding this sub-beastman who has been violated by a fallen beast, what do you think about the fact that said fallen beast has not been caught yet?"
"Your Imperial Majesty, is the Imperial family harboring the fallen beast?"
. . . . . .
The reporters asked in unison, and Chris didn’t have time to answer all the questions.
Standing beside Chris, Ian’s expression showed both grief and indignation.
"Don’t talk rubbish! It’s impossible for His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince to do such a thing!” A member of the Imperial Guard suddenly shouted in anger. "His Imperial Highness is not here, so everyone pounces on him?! His Imperial Highness is so powerful; did he need to s.n.a.t.c.h other people"s opportunities in school? As for the sub-beastman, so many sub-beastmen throw themselves at His Imperial Highness, but he doesn’t want them all. Why would he still take liberties with a sub-beastman? His Imperial Highness won’t do this kind of thing even if he becomes a fallen beast!"
The ma.s.ses who didn"t know the actual facts could be misled by some things on the Internet, but those who had been with Edgar all believed in him. This member of the Imperial Guard was one of them.
He just said those words in support of Edgar, but nevertheless, he was called into question straightaway.
The sub-beastman sitting in a wheelchair turned towards that guard: "So, you said I framed him?"
"Who knows where you came from!" The guard instantly replied. "Do you have any evidence that the fallen beast who violated you is His Imperial Highness?"
"Evidence? You asked me for evidence? Since you think I’ve framed Edgar, you make him come out and confront me!" In anger, the sub-beastman tried to get up from the wheelchair and stand, but he quickly fell back onto the wheelchair again because of his depleted strength. "You think I paid such a big price just to frame him?"
The sub-beastman looked really pitiful. The member of the Imperial Guard then remembered that the sub-beastman was said to be incapable of giving birth anymore and suddenly felt that some of his words were excessive. "It’s not necessarily you who has framed His Imperial Highness; maybe it’s other people who want to frame His Imperial Highness. You’re just unlucky."
"If he has been framed, why hasn’t he come out with explanation during the past three days? Could it be that he has disappeared just like that fallen beast?" The sub-beastman in the wheelchair sneered.
That member of the Imperial Guard was at a loss for words for quite a while.
Chris glanced at the sub-beastman with a profound look. Edgar had been framed, but in the current situation, Chris was literally unable to clear his own son’s name.
He took a deep breath and changed his mind. He, following Edgar’s idea, was going to say that Edgar was already dead.
His son had already become a fallen beast; in any case, he couldn"t let him be questioned repeatedly by these people.
However, although he had made up his mind, but he was still unable to say the words—that his son was already dead. Chris glanced at Ian, and both of them had hesitation in their eyes.
At this time, someone suddenly ran in from the outside. "Your Imperial Majesty! Your Imperial Majesty! There’s a military emergency communication from Ga.s.s planet!"
"Ga.s.s planet?" Chris’ expression was unchanged, but his heart actually jumped. Could it be Edgar?
"Yes, Your Imperial Majesty, it’s a call from His Imperial Highness.” The man holding the communication device wore a happy expression on his face.
The vast majority of the military officers were very worshipful towards Edgar, but unfortunately, there were still a few vermin inside who had seized some so-called evidence to accuse Edgar . . . .
Now that their Imperial Highness was back, let’s see what those people would do!
The Beastman Empire only had one Imperial Highness, and that was Edgar. Edgar called from Ga.s.s planet? The reporters all looked over, and the webcams responsible for the live webcast also aimed at that messenger.
“Is it Edgar?” Ian asked in a low voice.
"Let’s see." Chris replied.
In this situation, it was impossible for him not to put this call through . . . . Chris thought about it and quite straightforwardly connected the communication device to the wall-mounted computer behind him.
Both he and Edgar had a clear conscience, and inevitably, there would be a day when the truth of this matter came to light!
After the communication device was connected to the computer, the screen behind Chris and Ian flashed, and then a figure appeared on it.
It was . . . Edgar!
All the people present were shocked, most especially Chris and Ian. Hadn"t Jones said that Edgar had become a beast? Why was he now standing in front of them without rhyme or reason?
Ian was so emotional he almost cried looking at his alive and well son on the screen.
The military communication channel could guarantee that video call was possible. Edgar glanced around and immediately understood his parents’ situation. "Emperor Father, what did you say?" If his emperor father hadn’t had time to say anything, it was best. If his emperor father had already said something about his situation, or said that he was already dead, then he had to think about what he was going to say next.
Chris more or less understood Edgar"s meaning straightaway and showed his first smile of the day: "I haven"t had time to say anything."
"Because these people are hopelessly muddled?" Edgar asked.
All the people at the press conference had a feeling of being scrutinized by Edgar, and they immediately felt very embarra.s.sed.
They thought that Edgar had become a fallen beast and violated a sub-beastman, so they came running to question him. As a result . . . said man was obviously fine!
"I encountered a bottleneck six months ago, so I have been staying in Ga.s.s planet to practice in the past six months. The news here is lagging behind, and the news from the capital star takes three days to arrive." Edgar stated to the people on the other side of the screen. "I was just informed today that when I was training on Ga.s.s planet, I also violated a sub-beastman in the capital star at the same time. "
The people at the press conference were even more embarra.s.sed. Some people even lowered their heads and did not dare to face Edgar squarely.
"I apologize for opening the military communication channel without permission. I will bear the necessary cost of this opening." Edgar added: "But I think it is essential to use this communication method to explain."
"Your explanation is very timely." Chris said. A moment ago, he had still doubted whether this man was an impersonator, but now he was already convinced that this was his son, and he immediately felt great.
"It"s thanks to Governor Justin." Edgar turned towards Justin.
Justin promptly squeezed up, wanting to show his face to the emperor. Unfortunately, he was too fat. Although he could show his face, but he couldn"t show his whole body. "This is what I should do! It’s my duty! It’s a pity that our news here is lagging behind. His Imperial Highness has just known about this troubling news, and he didn’t even change his clothes in his eagerness.” Therefore, you had better connect the Ga.s.s planet’s network to the star network quickly, ah!
Hearing Justin’s statement, only then did everyone realize that Edgar was actually dressed in a nightwear.
On the star network, everyone was crusading against Edgar, but when Edgar suddenly appeared, the wind direction changed completely.
"His Imperial Highness was obviously fine. So, who said that His Imperial Highness has become a beast?"
"Isn"t there a soldier who swore that His Imperial Highness has become a fallen beast? Who is it again?"
"Are they people who want to frame His Imperial Highness? Those people are too odious; I simply can"t stand them!"
"His Imperial Highness is so handsome!"
. . . . . .
Of course, there were always some people who were still struggling. "Maybe this is just a trick that the Imperial family comes up with. Can you be sure that person is really Edgar?"
"Previous poster, is His Imperial Highness that good at pretending? Also, if it’s really a pretense, sooner or later it’ll be exposed. Would the Imperial family do a stupid thing like this?"
"I searched for Ga.s.s planet, and that fatty is indeed the governor of Ga.s.s planet. You can see the news about Ga.s.s planet on this website. Of course, the latest news is three days ago."
"There’s a three-day news lag between Ga.s.s planet and the capital star, and s.p.a.ceships need even longer time for a round journey. It’s totally impossible for that fatty to be on Ga.s.s planet three days ago and then, three days later, ran off to the capital star to a.s.sist His Imperial Highness putting on a play."
"His Imperial Highness is so handsome!"
. . . . . .
Before, everyone had sympathized with that sub-beastman, but now, they actually began to sympathize with Edgar. Just staying quietly in a remote planet yet still being wrongly accused, His Imperial Highness was really pitiful!
As for why everyone was so sure that His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince was being wrongly accused . . . . Since he did not become a fallen beast, which sub-beastman didn’t fancy him? Was it necessary for him to s.n.a.t.c.h a sub-beastman to violate?
The netizens thought so, and the reporters on the scene naturally thought so as well.
The sub-beastman sitting in a wheelchair had been talking about wanting to seek Edgar out to confront him. Now that Edgar had really came out, the sub-beastman’s complexion actually became very ugly. But soon, he started to cry and cover his face.
The beastman who had hollered that Edgar had bullied him in the Imperial College, his eyes were spinning now. Then he gritted his teeth and suddenly shouted: "Edgar, you didn’t become a beast. The recent incident of a fallen beast hurting a sub-beastman was not your doing, but when you wielded your status to rob me of my opportunities because you’re jealous of me, that’s true!”
When this person’s words came out, people were stumped.
Yes, ah, apart from the recent incident of Edgar becoming a fallen beast and hurting a sub-beastman, there were also many other "crimes" done by Edgar.
For example, bullying cla.s.smates, forcing some sub-beastmen, and also beating up new recruits . . . .
However . . . looking at Edgar who was so tall and handsome in his nightwear, many people thought that these accusations were not true . . . .
"Guys, I’m not good at evaluating, but I think the sub-beastman who stood up and said that His Imperial Highness had forced him before was most likely lying . . . . I look better than him. His Imperial Highness doesn’t need to force me; I’m willing to follow His Imperial Highness. Unfortunately, His Imperial Highness doesn’t come and look for me . . ." There was a sub-beastman who posted such words on the star network, and the post quickly got so many likes.
Edgar didn"t know about the ruckus on the star network, but in the face of doubt, he immediately said: "I also saw other accusations concerning me. I will return to the capital star right away and explain everything clearly!"
“Everything must wait until I return." The military communication channel could not be opened for too long. After this sentence was spoken, Edgar turned the channel off.
TL’s notes:
那些脏水就都要被泼在他身上了= dirty water will be splashed on his body = his name will be dragged through the mud
他竟是洗不干净被泼在自己儿子身上的脏水 = he actually can’t wash clean the dirty water splashed on his own son’s body = he’s literally unable to clear his own son’s name