| PN | Fictional | 188
As the new emperor, Elliton received unprecedented attention. Those who had previously ignored him seemed to have undergone a complete change, now smiling at him with enthusiasm and warmth.
The maids around him carefully arranged his hair and tidied his coronation clothes, softly praising him, "Your Majesty, you look incredibly handsome."
Elliton remained silent.
He thought that, though they were complimenting him, their praise felt especially hypocritical and ironic compared to the puppets he had made himself.
When Qiao Sheng entered, he saw this scene.
Just as one of the maids was about to reprimand him, Elliton stopped her, his gaze shifting to Qi Chao, who was standing behind Qiao Sheng.
After a pause, he said, "You can leave. I have important matters to discuss with these two."
The maid, who had been trying hard to please the new emperor as the former emperor's lady-in-waiting, immediately understood and left, closing the door behind her.
"Congratulations," Qiao Sheng said, leaning against the wall with a weary smile.
Elliton nodded upon hearing this. "Thank you. If it weren't for you and Brother Qi, I probably wouldn't have had such a smooth path."
Since Elliton wasn't very familiar with Qiao Sheng, his response sounded a bit formal. However, he was more at ease with Qi Chao, who had helped him make connections, and even moved a bench to make it more convenient for Qi Chao to sit down.
Seeing this, Qiao Sheng raised an eyebrow.
He had finally understood that, whether it was Shen Yuxi or Elliton, both of them seemed to have a "good person filter" when it came to Qi Chao.
From the way Qi Chao had behaved earlier, following behind him with a particular attitude, it was clear that he too was curious about whether Elliton would disband the association.
If Elliton didn't go through with it, Qiao Sheng might have to use hypnosis to force the dissolution of the association, and Qi Chao might very well be on the lookout, standing by to help.
Why did both of them seem to think so highly of Qi Chao?
Qiao Sheng couldn't understand. He scratched his messy hair and decided to stop dwelling on these random thoughts.
Instead, he looked at Elliton and said, pretending to be respectful, "Dear Emperor, now that you've achieved your goal, when do you plan to fulfill our agreement?"
Elliton wasn't surprised by this.
He pressed his lips together. "Soon."
Before becoming emperor, Elliton rarely cared about anything other than his puppets. However, when it came time for his coronation, he realized the heavy burden he was about to shoulder.
He could disband the association without hesitation, but what about the puppet masters within the association?
What would happen to the people with special abilities?
How would he handle the officials and nobles connected to the association?
One issue after another—it wasn’t something that could be solved just by ordering its dissolution.
Elliton would definitely disband the association, but for the sake of his people, he needed to approach the matter gradually, rather than trying to resolve everything with a single command.
Thinking this over, and facing the two men to whom he had made a promise, Elliton couldn't help but feel a bit guilty.
His lips trembled pale with worry, afraid they might misunderstand him, so he hurriedly explained his inner thoughts.
"Such a responsible emperor," Qiao Sheng said with a hint of sarcasm. To him, Elliton's words seemed like nonsense. He just wanted the association dealt with as quickly as possible, and Elliton's delay made it hard for him not to think that Elliton was reconsidering his decision.
"Have you forgotten how your puppets died? They were thrown into the ability converter device, their bodies crushed, and their agonizing screams. Have you forgotten all of that?"
Of course not.
Elliton wanted to retort, his fingers were thin and withered, the flesh on his cheeks sunken due to his gaunt appearance, his body frail like paper—one gust of wind could blow him over.
All of these were proof that he had not forgotten his puppets.
Even now, he still viewed his puppets as pure and innocent, like fairies from a fairy tale, possessing the most genuine emotions. Compared to the scheming humans, he preferred his puppets.
However, even so, he still couldn't disband the association immediately. Elliton's breath quickened as he anxiously tried to explain, unwilling for the two men, who had gone to great lengths to push him onto the throne, to misunderstand him.
Qiao Sheng had already decided that Ailidun was trying to delay the decision, his lips curled into a mocking smile.
Elliton could tell from his expression that Qiao Sheng wasn't accepting his reasoning, and his heart sank with unease.
"Since you have your thoughts, then let's do it your way."
A deep voice suddenly rang out in the room.
Both Elliton and Qiao Sheng turned to look at Qi Chao, who had hardly spoken before. One expression was full of surprise, the other disbelief, clearly shocked by Qi Chao’s attitude.
"Doesn't what Elliton said make sense?"
Qi Chao's deep brown eyes turned toward Qiao Sheng.
Qiao Sheng knew all too well, but he was too selfish to think about it. Of course, a large part of his reluctance stemmed from his distrust of Elliton.
Elliton, standing aside, understood that by promising to disband the association after ascending to the throne and then delaying, he had already effectively broken his word. He had been prepared for both of them to be angry.
However, Qi Chao's tolerant attitude only made Elliton feel more guilty.
"Once my position is secure, I will immediately disband the association and destroy all information related to the converter of abilities," Elliton vowed, deeply moved.
He was determined not to disappoint Qi Chao's trust.
Strictly speaking, Qi Chao was the first real friend Elliton had made.
Qi Chao looked at Elliton, his instincts telling him that Elliton wasn't lying. He smiled and said, "I know. The situation with the association is indeed difficult to handle. If you need my help, just ask. After all, we have a cooperative relationship, don't we?"
Elliton hadn’t originally wanted to trouble Qi Chao, but hearing him say that made him realize he didn’t have anyone else suitable to help.
After a brief hesitation, he said, "If possible, I'd like you to temporarily join the association and uncover the hidden, shady dealings within it."
These transactions could be used to finally bring the association to justice.
Of course, Ellitonalso wanted to mention that if Qi Chao joined the association, they could work together from within and outside to undermine the upper echelons of the association, which would allow them to destroy it more quickly.
However, since Qiao Sheng was still present, Elliton didn't want to say too much.
Qi Chao seemed to sense that Elliton was hiding something. He nodded and then said, "Alright, we can discuss the plan later."
Qiao Sheng, seeing how the two of them had come to an agreement so smoothly, felt a bit displeased.
At that moment, there was a sudden knock at the door, followed by the voice of a maid: "Your Majesty, the coronation ceremony is about to begin."
"I know," Elliton replied.
Seeing this, Qi Chao didn't linger any longer. He glanced at Qiao Sheng, who, though initially reluctant to leave and planning to have his second daughter hypnotize the emperor before leaving, hesitated when he met Qi Chao's gaze.
He remembered Shen Yuxi, and after a moment of hesitation, stood up and followed Qi Chao out of the room.
The coronation ceremony was not being held here. Only officials were allowed to enter the venue.
After leaving the room, Qi Chao and Qiao Sheng headed directly to the aircraft docking area.
"Do you really believe Elliton will disband the association?" Qiao Sheng asked, walking behind Qi Chao with his daughter, Chao Yang. He adjusted his glasses and looked at Qi Chao.
"He will," Qi Chao paused for a moment. "At least, that's what he thinks right now."
Hearing this, Qiao Sheng smirked. "Oh? So you mean, there's a chance he might break his promise in the future?"
Qi Chao didn’t respond to Qiao Sheng. No one could guarantee that Elliton, who would soon be facing numerous temptations as emperor, wouldn't change his mind in the coming months.
"If he really breaks his promise, what will you do?"
Qiao Sheng was curious about Qi Chao’s answer.
Qi Chao glanced at him sideways and jokingly replied, "If he really breaks his promise, wouldn’t it be just like the situation we just had?"
What?
Even though Qiao Sheng heard what Qi Chao said, he was momentarily confused. What he meant was that if Elliton did break his promise, there would be no need for Qi Chao to take action.
Instead, his daughter Chao Yang would simply hypnotize Elliton first?
Although Qi Chao's statement was technically correct, Qiao Sheng’s question was directed at him, so it felt like he hadn't really answered it.
Clever, Qiao Sheng thought. It was baffling how people like Shen Yuxi and Elliton still saw him as the world's greatest good guy—it was truly frustrating.
He didn't press further on Qi Chao's thoughts, deciding to wait for about ten days to see how things played out. If Elliton truly planned to drag his feet on disbanding the association, he would take matters into his own hands.
On the other side, Qi Chao, who hadn’t been aware of Qiao Sheng's internal musings, hadn’t actually meant to avoid the question. In fact, his earlier response had been his answer.
As the incarnation of the Mother Tree, Qi Chao naturally possessed most of the abilities of the puppets. However, because he still subconsciously considered himself human, he rarely used his powers.
If Elliton truly couldn't resist the temptation, chose not to solve the association, and even wanted to continue researching abilities, Qi Chao wouldn’t need Qiao Sheng to intervene. He would use his abilities to hypnotize Elliton first.
When Qi Chao returned home, Shen Yuxi and the children in the house were sitting on the sofa, watching the projection screen of the coronation ceremony.
As soon as the puppets saw Qi Chao come home, they became visibly excited. Some happily surrounded him, while others enthusiastically shouted "Dad!" The more reserved puppet’s eyes sparkled with joy at his return.
After greeting each one, Qi Chao leaned his head on Shen Yuxi's shoulder, softly complaining about the series of events that had unfolded that day.
The children in the house were used to seeing their parents being affectionate. Some played together, while others focused on their own activities.
In contrast, Qi Chao's younger brother, Qi Yang, who had originally planned to go downstairs to greet him, silently retreated back to his room upon seeing this scene.
It wasn’t that he felt embarrassed.
Mainly, Qi Yang was concerned that his older brother might feel awkward.
Of course, if the system knew his thoughts, it would definitely mock him. Qi Chao wouldn’t feel embarrassed—if he did, he wouldn’t have leaned on the villain's shoulder in the first place.
In the living room, Shen Yuxi had noticed the movement upstairs but didn't pay it much attention. With a smile in his eyes, he listened to Qi Chao as he recounted his conversation with Qiao Sheng and Elliton.
"So, you’ll be going to the association afterward?"
"If there are no major issues, I should," Qi Chao replied, handing over his light brain to Shen Yuxi. He slid his thumb across the screen, showing a plan that Elliton hadn’t mentioned during their previous meeting.
Elliton wanted Qi Chao and himself to work together to undermine the association’s upper management. Of course, that was just Elliton’s idea.
But Qi Chao had far more in mind than Elliton did.
"The association's influence will gradually be weakened, and it will eventually be replaced by a Puppet Master Alliance formed by others," Qi Chao explained, his voice becoming quieter as he spoke.
As he spoke, he felt Shen Yuxi embrace him, and then heard his gentle voice in his ear: "You focus on handling the association, and I will arrange for Bugu and You Zhao to expand their Puppet Master Alliance as soon as possible."
The Puppet Master Alliance was still just a fledgling organization.
Since Bugu and You Zhao had traveled across the empire to meet other puppet masters, the alliance’s members had grown to several dozen. These members were different from those in the association.
They didn’t see puppets as mere tools; they truly loved and cherished them.
Hearing Shen Yuxi's words, Qi Chao felt a little less weary. He understood that Shen Yuxi wanted him to relax.
Dissolving the association was certainly the right thing to do.
However, just as Elliton had considered, after dissolving the association, the lack of a leader for the puppet masters would become a problem. It was undeniable that, while exploiting the puppet masters, the association also provided them with protection.
The Puppet Master Alliance hadn't originally been created for this purpose, but now, looking back, it seemed that their decision to have Bugu and his three apprentices meet other puppet masters after arriving in Linjing District was indeed the right one.
With a clear direction set for now, Qi Chao and Shen Yuxi tacitly decided to stop discussing the matter and instead spent time playing with the children.
The puppets were well aware that their parents were fighting for their future. For the time being, they suppressed the urge to help, surrounding the two parents instead, showering them with affection and making themselves cute.
They all knew that the most important thing now was to let the two parents rest properly.
A couple of days later, Qi Chao was summoned to the palace, where he met Elliton, who looked radiant, full of energy, and in high spirits.
After pushing Elliton to the throne, the president had regained his status as a favored subject.
Upon hearing that the emperor wanted to have Qi Chao join the association, he was overjoyed.
He had always hoped that Qi Chao would join the association so they could research S-level puppet abilities together.
Now, seeing Qi Chao smiling, he kindly said with a benevolent expression, "This is wonderful. Working together, we can certainly contribute to the development of the empire."
"I hope so," Qi Chao replied.
Looking at the clueless old man, Qi Chao couldn't help but feel a little sympathy. But then he remembered that this guy had been looking for opportunities to research the ability of puppets, so his smile became somewhat more fake.
The president didn’t notice the change in Qi Chao's expression. He was too busy thinking about where to place Qi Chao when he heard the emperor suggest that he make Qi Chao his secretary.
That was indeed a good position.
It wouldn't affect his own status and would allow him to save face for both Qi Chao and the emperor.
Thinking this over, the president agreed happily.
After Qi Chao joined the association, he quickly adapted to the life there. Within a week, the president still thought Qi Chao was quite capable.
However, as time went on, the president suddenly realized one day that the only files left for him to handle were a few trivial matters, and his daily routine consisted mostly of sitting in his office, drinking tea, and waiting for the workday to end.
When he asked Qi Chao about this, the answers he received were always vague and evasive.
Even when he tried to arrange a meeting with the emperor, he was told that the emperor was busy and couldn’t meet.
It was only at this point that he realized something was off. A part of him still wanted to believe that he was just overthinking things.
To calm himself, the president shakily opened his light brain and logged into a rarely used forum for like-minded individuals. It was then that he saw a term that was unfamiliar to him.
"Puppet Master Alliance."
According to the forum, the Puppet Master Alliance was different from the association. They didn’t monopolize knowledge; instead, they shared videos and materials on puppet making.
It was said that any puppet master who truly loved puppets could join the alliance, regardless of their level of skill. The founder of the alliance was described as a master-level puppet master who loves puppets…
Each of these details seemed to be an open challenge to the authority of the association.
The president, furious, called Qi Chao into his office. "What's going on here?! Why didn't you tell me about this? Get someone to shut down this damn alliance!"
"It can't be shut down," Qi Chao replied calmly.
The president froze upon hearing this. He looked up and realized that Qi Chao's tone was calm, but there was no surprise in his expression, clearly indicating that he had known about this all along.
"The alliance is a legal organization recognized by His Majesty."
Upon hearing this, the president felt an absurd, almost nonsensical sense of realization. He collapsed into his chair, and at that moment, he had to admit something he hadn’t wanted to acknowledge.
He had been tossed aside.
And it seemed that the association was going to be abandoned as well.
0 Comments
Post a Comment