Three days had passed since the anti-ambush battle in the asteroid belt at the Mars base.
Adrian Vale was currently waiting with Lena Sterling in the starport's docking area because a message had just arrived stating that the spaceship carrying the negotiation team had arrived.
Soon, a destroyer docked at the starport.
However, when Adrian saw the person leading the way down, he felt a strong sense of familiarity.
Wait, he remembered now. He used to see him on TV often. Wasn't this Ed Hart?
He probably belonged to the same family as Adeline Hart, Adrian thought to himself.
Ed walked down the gangway with four people, and Adrian also went forward to greet him with Lena Sterling.
"Hello, I'm Adrian Vale, commander of Task Force 101. This is my adjutant, Lena Sterling."
Adrian directly extended his right hand.
"I say, kid, why are you saying hello to me? Have you forgotten who I am after only nineteen years? I even held you when you were born."
Adrian's face darkened. Forgot him after nineteen years? Please, he was only nineteen years old, alright.
The only time they had ever met was when he was just born. Was that something a human could remember?
Adrian was speechless. This uncle's thought process was a bit too much.
"Alright, don't just stand there. I was just joking with you. My name is Ed Hart, and I'm the leader of this negotiation team. These four are my subordinates. It's also true that I held you when you were born."
"Uh, alright, Uncle Ed!"
"That's more like it!"
Ed nodded in satisfaction when he saw Adrian consciously change his address.
"Oh, right, Uncle Ed, let me ask you something. Is Adeline Hart from the Interstellar Military Academy related to your family?"
"What do you mean 'related'? Adeline is my daughter. What—do you know my daughter?"
"Uh, yes, we're in the same class, after all. Seeing that you have the same surname, I just wondered if you were from the same family?"
"Is that so? Wait, I remember a few years ago, my daughter mentioned that there was someone in her class who kept telling her dirty jokes. It wasn't you, was it?"
"Uh, it definitely wasn't me!"
Well, Adrian shamelessly denied it. Speaking of which, when Adrian first entered the Interstellar Military Academy, he discovered a great beauty named Adeline.
However, this beauty was like an ice mountain, though, of course, much better than Lena Sterling, who was standing beside Adrian.
So, the shameless Adrian would run to her side every day, telling dirty jokes. At first, Adeline was annoyed every time she saw Adrian.
But, when someone tells you jokes every day for two years...
The result was that after more than two years, Adrian had significantly changed Adeline's personality.
Of course, this matter could not be admitted in front of Ed Hart.
"Hmm, you're right. You don't really look like that kind of person."
"Indeed, Uncle, you are very discerning!"
Lena Sterling's expression twitched slightly, unnoticed by others. I think that person is Adrian Vale, she thought to herself.
"Alright, let's put other things aside for now. Take me to see the Ninth Prince. I need to understand his importance to the Orx Empire first so that I can formulate the correct negotiation strategy."
"Okay, Uncle Ed, please follow me!"
Adrian led Ed towards the detention room, while Lena Sterling followed behind them.
"I say, Adrian, your adjutant seems too cold!"
"Yes, Uncle Ed noticed it, too. I've been trying to find a way to correct her personality, but I don't know where to start."
"To deal with this type, just tell them dirty jokes every day."
"Hmm, you're right. I'm good at that. I can say a few every day without repeating..."
Wait, did I fall into a trap?
"Slap!"
Adrian suddenly felt a hand pat his shoulder.
Slowly turning his head, he saw Ed Hart smiling at him. However, why was that smile so terrifying?
"Uncle Ed, I think there's a bit of a misunderstanding between us..."
"No need to talk about it now. Focus on this mission. When we get back, I think we need to have a good chat..."
Beside them, Lena Sterling, who had been listening to the entire conversation, was twitching at the corners of her mouth, clearly trying very hard to hold back her laughter.
At first, when she heard them talking about her being too cold, Lena almost exploded, but the subsequent developments almost made her lose control and laugh.
Fortunately, as someone who had been an 'ice block' for many years, her basic skill in maintaining her expression was still excellent, though it was a bit difficult to hold back.
Adrian looked at Ed Hart with a wry smile.
"Indeed, people in charge of negotiations are all old foxes. What a headache."
Soon, the three arrived at the detention room.
"Uncle Ed, this is it. Open the door!"
"Yes, sir!"
The guards of the detention room immediately jogged over and opened the door for the three of them.
After the three walked in, they saw a humanoid creature confined in a single cell.
Although it was a humanoid creature, its appearance still had many differences from humans.
It had two horns on its head, somewhat resembling ox horns, and its skin was red, giving it a menacing appearance.
Ed was not surprised by Doron's appearance. After all, this was not the first time humans had captured an Orx prisoner, and this appearance was commonplace.
He walked up and spoke through the cell door of the single room.
"Oh? So you're the Ninth Prince of the Orx Empire?"
"Who are you?"
"Me? My name is Ed Hart. I'll be going to your side for negotiations soon. Do you have anything you want me to convey?"
"Are you trying to use me as a bargaining chip for negotiations?"
"Oh, quite clever!"
Even though Doron was completely green and his military tactics were all theoretical during wartime, he was very seasoned in politics. After all, he had represented the Orx Empire in negotiations with other civilizations many times.
Moreover, the Orx imperial family was full of intrigue. Doron had been in such an environment since birth, so how could he not understand what Ed was trying to do?
"Don't bother. I'm the most unfavored prince, otherwise I wouldn't have been thrown to the front lines to command a small fleet."
"Hmm, that's enough. Let's go!"
Ed turned to Adrian and said, then walked out.
Lena Sterling, on the other hand, was full of questions. What was the point of seeing him?
After leaving the detention room, Ed looked at Lena Sterling and said to Adrian,
"It seems your adjutant doesn't quite understand! Would you explain it to her?"
"Actually, it's quite simple. First, from the few sentences just now, it's clear that this Ninth Prince isn't foolish; on the contrary, he's very intelligent and understands political intrigue very well, so asking more questions wouldn't yield any results."
"Secondly, the most important information has already been obtained. Just now, when he said not to waste our efforts and that he was the most unfavored prince, his eyes drifted to the left, and his hands made some subtle, unnatural movements. Therefore, he was lying."
"This Ninth Prince is not only not unfavored, but extremely favored, very likely the Orx Emperor's favorite prince!"
You can tell all that from just a few sentences? Are you two really human? Lena Sterling thought to herself, utterly shocked.