Chapter 81: Qiao Lao’s Plot

Once Bai Muchen left the hall, the Demon Lord's eyes glinted with excitement. Securing two sets of T4 warship blueprints was a fortuitous gain. Wasting no time, he forwarded the recording of his conversation with Bai Muchen to Qiao Lao, then waited briefly before initiating a video call.

When Qiao Lao appeared onscreen, the Demon Lord greeted him first. "Mr. Qiao, I've carried out your instructions as planned. Can I expect the quasi-T5 warship blueprint now?"

The silver-haired elder on the other side of the screen nodded in approval. "Well done. The blueprint will be sent to you shortly. Proceed according to our plan. Keep Bai Muchen in check, and in one month, the Snowhawk Bai family will be no more."

"Rest assured, Mr. Qiao," the Demon Lord responded with a sinister grin. "Now that Bai Muchen has entered my domain, he won't be leaving anytime soon."

The Demon Lord was not wrong. At that moment, Bai Muchen was being led around the pleasure district by the madam herself, his eyes widening at the indulgent offerings. This place catered to his every little kink and desire, and he soon found himself completely immersed, abandoning all reservations. It was clear that, when a person fully unleashes their pent-up stress, the result can be shockingly extreme.

Even the seasoned madam, who prided herself on having seen every twisted perversion imaginable, found Bai Muchen's behavior disturbingly deviant.

Meanwhile, Feng Mo's test voyage aboard the Hurricane-class warship had just concluded. Thrilled by the ship's performance data, he felt optimistic about the future. Once he secured blueprints for a few more T4 warships, the thought of founding his own nation didn't seem so distant anymore.

The Hurricane, a quasi-T5-class battleship, now provided a significant security buffer for Feng Mo. The outside world wouldn't question this either, as the Chu family had already publicly declared that Feng Mo's new warship was made possible with their support. To reinforce this narrative, the Chu family even spread rumors about Feng Mo's supposed weakness: a fondness for talented and beautiful women, regardless of their lineage. This portrayal of him as a playboy was a strategic move suggested by Chu Yunjian.

Previously known for his sharp, unrelenting demeanor, Feng Mo reluctantly followed Chu Yunjian's advice to soften his image. The rationale was simple: a flawless, intimidating figure often becomes a target. Showing a humanizing flaw could divert attention and reduce hostility.

Upon returning to Storm Starport, Feng Mo's fleet made a show of unveiling the Hurricane-class warship and two T4-class Scorpion Stealth Bombers. Since the Hurricane was already exposed, there was no point in keeping the other ships hidden.

On the journey back, Feng Mo received an unexpected video call from Qiao Lao, the chief steward of the Qiao family. Facing the elder's stern, silver-haired visage, Feng Mo asked, "To what do I owe the honor of this call, Qiao Lao?"

The old man smiled and praised Feng Mo. "The younger generation always surpasses the old. With the Chu family's support, you've even managed to design a quasi-T5 flagship. The Chu family's generosity to their son-in-law is famous throughout the Federation, but you're impressive in your own right, having crafted a T4-class warship of your own."

Qiao Lao's tone then shifted. "I wonder, Feng Mo, would you be interested in toppling the Snowhawk Bai family?"

"Oh?" Feng Mo's curiosity was piqued. This was something he had long considered but never had the right opportunity to act on. "I'm all ears."

Qiao Lao chuckled. "Bringing down the Bai family hinges on two factors: the Federation's stance and the Snowhawk Empire's reaction. The former is crucial, but what if I told you I have evidence of Bai Yanbing's illicit deal with the Demon Star System involving a quasi-T5 warship blueprint?"

"This kind of semi-restricted technology isn't strictly illegal to trade with outsiders, but it is a serious breach of trust among the Federation's noble houses. The Bai family has crossed a line, and the powerful families will push for retribution."

"The noble houses have enough influence to sway Federation decisions, making the Bai family's fall inevitable. The details of their punishment will be debated, but the execution of that punishment—that's where you come in."

Feng Mo pondered this for a moment. "I understand, Qiao Lao. The Bai family's dealings with the Demon Star System warrant consequences. The specifics of those consequences can be left to collective deliberation, but I, Feng Mo, am willing to be the blade that strikes them down."

Qiao Lao burst into laughter. "Good! The young Count of Storm is as resolute as they say. The Qiao family will back you, and with support from the Chu family and the Yue clan, your foundation in the Yunshan Empire will ensure that you are the one to see this through."

The video call ended, and Feng Mo found himself deep in thought. Qiao Lao's offer seemed like an olive branch, but Feng Mo wasn't naive. The Qiao family must have a deeper motive. Perhaps the Bai family had slipped out of Qiao Lao's control or committed some offense that made Qiao Lao eager to use Feng Mo as his weapon.

The issue of the quasi-T5 blueprint, though serious, wasn't enough to warrant such drastic measures on its own. Even if the Demon Star System managed to build a quasi-T5 fleet, the Federation still viewed them as nothing more than a slightly larger nuisance. Feng Mo couldn't discern the exact reason for Qiao Lao's urgency, but one thing was clear: this was a deal worth taking.

Over the next week, the Federation appeared calm on the surface, but beneath, it was in turmoil. Rumors spread like wildfire: the Snowhawk Bai family had colluded with the Demon Star System, plotting to secede and establish their own dominion. The uproar was immense, and Bai Yanbing, realizing the gravity of the situation, hastily contacted Qiao Lao. After much pleading and cajoling, Qiao Lao gave him empty assurances, temporarily easing his fears.

But the storm was far from over.

On July 9th, Federation Year 7494, Feng Mo received an urgent mission on his personal terminal. The sender was General Gu.

"Xiao Mo, things have gotten complicated," General Gu explained. "The Bai family scandal has involved the military, the Federation Council, and the noble houses. The military wants to use this to crack down on any dealings with alien races, eliminating threats in one decisive move. The Council, as always, seeks balance and stability, and they'll announce in three days that the Bai family has committed high treason against humanity, arresting and publicly prosecuting them."

"The noble houses, meanwhile, want to handle matters internally. They plan to investigate and eliminate any parties secretly trading with alien species, and they aim to wipe out the Bai family before the Council's declaration to make an example of them."

"These three factions represent three very different approaches. Uncle Gu wants to hear your thoughts.Rest assured, whatever you decide, I'll support you."

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