Chapter 121: The Call of the Throne

Bai Sha ended her call with her uncle, slumping back into the sofa's cushions, eyes half-closed, teetering on the edge of sleep.

Behind her, the Imperial team sprawled in various states of collapse, exhausted from the harrowing match.

The lounge, though small, was well-equipped and tucked away in an obscure corner of the arena. Without Bai Sha's prior study of the venue's map, it would've been nearly impossible to find. As everyone scrambled to leave, their hideout ensured no one—not even the swarm of reporters—could track them down.

A perfect shield against the media onslaught.

"Your Highness," Cen Yuehuai mumbled, face buried in a pillow, voice muffled like a buzzing fly, "who were you talking to?"

"My uncle," Bai Sha replied. "He's sending someone to pick us up."

"We could hitch a ride with my cousin's fleet," Ji Ya rasped, voice hoarse. "Tianxuan Fleet's based in the Tianshu System anyway. But they're busy tracking the enemy—probably won't have time for a while."

Ji Lun was reverse-tracing the jump point's origin for the Silver machines.

Reverse-tracing was tedious, all about speed. If they couldn't pinpoint the location within an hour, the effort failed. Even if they succeeded, Ji Lun's fleet wouldn't handle the capture—by the time they arrived, the enemy would be gone. The task would fall to the nearest forces.

But if the Silver Core was behind it… Ji Lun was prepared to find nothing.

The Silver Core was a shadow lurking in civilization's roots. Often, only fragments of its presence could be glimpsed. Its true form was a mosaic of countless shards.

In short, Ji Lun was occupied. Their original starship was besieged by reporters, some even livestreaming on starnet with sensational headlines…

A knock sounded at the lounge door.

"That quick?" Cen Yuehuai dropped her pillow, cautiously cracking the door to peek—

"?" Her eyes widened, and she eased the door shut. "Your Highness, it's for you!"

Bai Sha opened her eyes, puzzled.

She pushed the door open, looking up in surprise. "Uriel?"

The "angel," rarely seen beyond Youdu Star, bowed his head, golden hair cascading, exuding gentle warmth. "Irrelevant personnel have been cleared. I'm here to escort you home, Your Highness."

Bai Sha glanced past him. The wide corridor was empty, silent as a tomb.

"Thanks," she said, shoulders sagging. "But just to pick us up, my uncle sent you?"

"It's no trouble. In truth, not staying by your side was my oversight," Uriel said, bowing slightly. "Today's chaos shouldn't have fallen to you. Star Devourers are dangerous, and your spirit is still maturing. Handling them was my duty. I'll correct this error and guard you henceforth."

Bai Sha: "…" No need for that!

"It's not your fault. Who could've predicted the Silver Core's attack?" Bai Sha said patiently, partly to secure her independence. "Besides, the attack wasn't aimed at me—"

"That may change," Uriel said, a faint smile flickering. Before Bai Sha could parse it, he continued, "You'll soon be the Empire's Crown Prince, first in line to the throne. If the Silver Core seeks to topple Imperial rule, you'll be their prime target."

—A fledgling heir, wings yet to spread.

Bai Sha: "???"

What happened? Crown Prince, just like that?

Behind her, Xino and Ji Ya exchanged a glance at "Crown Prince," unsurprised.

"Her Highness is finally becoming Crown Prince," Cen Yuehuai sighed, clasping her hands, grinning skyward. "I'm set for life, haha—ow!"

Xino rapped her head.

"Quiet," he said. "It's too early to gloat."

Cen Yuehuai rubbed her head, ready to argue—Bai Sha was the only heir; who else would be Crown Prince?

But she caught Bai Sha's deep frown.

…Why did Her Highness look shocked, not thrilled?

Youdu Star.

Bai Sha strode into the Emperor's palace, white boots clacking angrily on black-and-gold tiles.

The golden-haired "angel" trailed three steps behind, silent as a shadow.

Guards and servants they passed saluted, but Bai Sha, unlike her usual nods or smiles, ignored them.

At a corridor turn, a fluffy cat darted out, meowing and pawing her leg.

Bai Sha flicked it aside with a sweep of her boot.

The cat tilted its head, blue eyes like starry skies flashing confusion. It scampered after her, flopping before her, baring its fluffy belly—

It adored this two-legger. Though she'd been absent lately, the cat's memory was sharp. She couldn't resist this charm!

"Mew~ow~"

The cat tilted its head, purring its sweetest call.

But the two-legger paused only a second, her gaze sweeping over it, then stepped over and walked on!

Impossible!

The two-legger was unmoved!

Did she not love it anymore?

What would it do? Languish in this lonely palace, clutching its fancy bed and gourmet fish treats forever? No!

"Mew!"

"Meeeow—!"

Bai Sha stared, stunned, at the cat throwing a tantrum at her feet.

Its cries shifted—wailing her cruelty one moment, grumbling as if to swat her, though its soft paws held no claws, not truly angry.

Bai Sha: "…What's wrong with it?"

Uriel mused, "It probably thinks you don't love it anymore."

Bai Sha eyed the cat's skewed cape, embroidered with royal passionflowers, its pistils studded with tiny sapphires—undoubtedly her uncle Cecil Roning's pampered pet. How, with such indulgence, did it become so dramatic?

Sighing, Bai Sha scooped up the ten-pound cat. Not heavy.

It ceased grumbling, purring in her arms.

Bai Sha entered the Emperor's study, cat in tow.

Cecil Roning, head down, worked on his light-brain, pretending not to notice her.

Bai Sha huffed, strode over, and plopped the cat on his desk.

"Uncle," she said, slapping the desk and clearing her throat, "look what you've done to my cat!"

Cecil Roning: "…"

He dropped his busy act, dismissing the holo-screen, chuckling. "That's what you want to talk about?"

Bai Sha coughed awkwardly.

"What's wrong with it?"

Cecil reached to pet the cat's back, but it, fixated on Bai Sha, dodged his hand, leaping to swat him twice.

Cecil Roning: "…Fine, it's getting out of hand."

Frowning, he leisurely grabbed the cat's scruff—it tried to evade, but he pinned it easily, setting it on the floor.

"You wanted a cat. You were busy with studies, so I took the burden. How's that my fault?"

"It just wants your love," Cecil said. "All creatures are like that. The more love they get, the greedier they become."

Bai Sha faltered.

Was he talking about the cat or people?

"It's not that serious," Uriel laughed. "The cat's not bad—just craves Her Highness's company. You, Majesty, play with it often, but it's never interested. Even cats have true desires. Without them, no pile of gems makes it happy."

Cecil Roning hadn't expected Uriel to back Bai Sha.

"You seem an expert on cats," Cecil said, handing it over. "Why don't you take it?"

The cat sniffed Uriel, turning away.

If Cecil couldn't win its favor, a bioengineered being stood no chance.

Uriel took the cat, restraining it. "I'll leave you to discuss matters." He exited, locking the door.

Cecil Roning and Bai Sha faced each other.

Bai Sha took a deep breath, cutting to the chase. "Didn't we agree I'd consider being Crown Prince after graduation?"

"Too late," Cecil glanced at her. "If you didn't want to reveal yourself, you shouldn't have shown your Blackbird or triggered 'resonance' in the arena."

Bai Sha frowned. "What is resonance?"

Cecil raised a brow. "Didn't you finish the video chip Xipes left?"

He meant the chip given to Bai Sha.

Xipes recorded lessons for Cecil before military academy, and Cecil passed it to her.

Bai Sha touched her nose. "Two lessons left… I didn't want to finish it."

Cecil: "…"

Speechless, he rubbed his temple. "'Resonance' is what you did—linking nearby Imperials' mental energies into one network, unifying their strength. It's voluntary, but most spirits answer the Blackbird's call, an instinct in their genes. They trust and admire the Blackbird's power."

"'Resonance' is a Roning direct-line trait, the Blackbird's hallmark. But it's not to be used lightly—it's addictive."

Bai Sha recalled entering resonance.

She'd felt the world's power in her grasp… That omnipotence, repeated, could indeed addict.

"Snap out of it—I didn't mean you'd get addicted," Cecil said, expression odd. "I meant others."

Bai Sha: "…Huh?"

Cecil waved. "Just be cautious. Moderate resonance boosts strength—for you and those linked—but it can't be overused. Avoid pulling the same person in repeatedly. That's the main rule."

Bai Sha didn't know what to say.

"Back to succession. Your Blackbird's revealed, and the royal house must explain your origins. Brushing it off breeds suspicion," Cecil said, lips curving. "Blame yourself for hiding your spirit, catching everyone off guard."

Bai Sha deadpanned, "Who hid their spirit?"

She summoned her spirit: the same chubby Little White Chirp, now with a silver-blue streak in its crest.

"Chirp!"

Little White Chirp, proud of its new look, puffed its chest.

Cecil glared. "…Didn't it become a Blackbird? Why's it back?"

Little White Chirp: "Chirp!"

"It's cuter this way," Bai Sha said. "It thinks so too."

Sensing Cecil's critical gaze, Little White Chirp turned its back, flapping to Bai Sha's shoulder, tugging her hair, chirping loudly.

It was demanding she keep her promise.

She'd vowed to let it feast on energy after defeating the Devourers.

"Let it eat," Cecil said. "Hopefully, it'll eat its way back to a Blackbird."

He dialed an internal line. Ten minutes later, a guard in black delivered a metal box.

The box had a sliding seal.

Cecil verified his palm, opening it to reveal three azure energy cores.

"This…" Bai Sha gasped.

She'd seen pure cores from Jiang Gui, glowing like daylight, sparking under stimulation.

Cecil's were smaller but deeper, their power serene yet profound, with faint black swirls inside, like ocean vents.

Unimaginable, the ferocity contained within.

"These are cores the Mech Design Institute made for my mech," Cecil said, pushing the box to Bai Sha, eyes on Little White Chirp. "They're yours now."

Bai Sha: "They look priceless…"

"They are," Cecil nodded. "One's worth a day's output of the Tianshu System. Collecting the energy is hard; purifying and binding it costs even more—"

Before he finished, Little White Chirp launched, diving so fast neither reacted. A whoosh—one core vanished into its belly.

Bai Sha and Cecil stared.

One second, two.

No change, except its crest gleamed brighter.

Cecil's gaze darkened.

Bai Sha ventured, "Maybe take them back? We don't know if eating cores makes it a Blackbird…"

As she reached for the box, Little White Chirp dove again, whoosh-whoosh, snatching the remaining cores.

Gulping them—nearly choking—it looked like a starved ghost reborn.

Bai Sha: "…"

She grabbed its crest. "What. Are. You. Doing?"

Little White Chirp's feathers bristled: "Chirp chirp chirp!!"

"Forget it," Cecil soothed. "It's nothing."

Bai Sha tossed Little White Chirp into her mental space. "Uncle, I'll find a way to repay those cores…"

"Actually," Cecil smiled, "you can't."

Bai Sha: "…?"

Cecil: "I didn't elaborate. One core equals Tianshu's daily output. In star credits or resources, can you fathom the cost?"

He named a figure.

Bai Sha's pupils quaked—

"Uncle!" she snapped. "You gave them to Little White Chirp!"

"Who saw? Who'll vouch?" Cecil chuckled, stowing the box. "I was just admiring them in my study. They're valuable collectibles, among my priciest possessions—"

Bai Sha gritted her teeth, running numbers.

Selling all her assets, plus a century's royal stipend, wouldn't cover it!

"You're cheating," she said.

"Yep, I'm cheating," Cecil's smile widened. "Your mother dumped the Crown Prince role on me—wasn't that cheating? Now you inherit her debt. Perfectly fair."

Bai Sha: "…If I become Crown Prince, does it clear the debt?"

"Of course," Cecil nodded. "Once crowned, you'll rightfully inherit your mother's estate. When I step down, my treasury's yours. It's all yours eventually—why fuss?"

Bai Sha: "…"

"Child, tell me, do you truly not want to be Crown Prince?" Cecil's voice dripped honey, seductive. "Look at me. Look at the throne before you."

Did becoming Crown Prince need a reason?

The throne was there—the simplest, starkest reason.

Bai Sha wasn't swayed by Cecil's promised treasury. But his confident smile stirred her memory of "resonance"—

An open palm, grasping power.

The world in her hand.

Maybe being Crown Prince wasn't as bad as she'd thought…

The thought stirred her mental space, rippling.

A silver-blue Blackbird emerged, its lush wings fluttering, its cry a soaring hymn—

Bai Sha's eyes trembled. She turned, but the Blackbird vanished, as if never there.

"Well?" Cecil asked, patient, coaxing softly.

The room fell silent for a dozen seconds.

Bai Sha raised her gaze, locking eyes with Cecil, her voice low, rasping from her throat:

"…Fine."

Cecil froze, then beamed.

"No turning back," he said, his tone unprecedentedly solemn, detached. "No whining. Understood?"

"I understand you. I didn't sleep the night I was crowned—not just missing family, but questioning my worth. The future was a fog…"

"But I'm here."

Cecil's words, weighed and measured, carried grave sincerity.

"I won't let you walk my path—that's a foolish demand, a blind chase for shadows," he said.

Bai Sha blinked.

Her uncle was… an open-minded guardian. But it muddled her vision of the future.

"Now, I can only offer grand platitudes. Stay resolute, charge forward… I'll say them if you want."

Cecil stood, ruffling her hair. Their near-identical faces, identical eyes, met.

"But selfishly, I don't think your future holds mishaps—no trials, no need for maxims."

"I'm your strongest shield."

"All you need to do, like a tree… is grow."