That Alien Feeling

Chapter 24

When he left the queen's office, Keza was in a pretty good mood.His parents were enlightened enough to fully understand Hachter's situation without him even having to influence their minds.This made him a little surprised, but also quite relieved.It seems that this child is not just his heart and soul.Of course, the queen was not pleased with his news, but on the whole, things went better than Keza had expected.The current situation is worrisome, but the parents are more worried about Hachter.Hachter needs the unconditional support of his parents as Keza prepares to work through Harry's bond with Raylan 'Heaney' Goole, as well as Harry's legal problems with the Earthlings.

Keza pursed his lips.Harry was so dependent on the Earthling - a fact that still resented him.

At first, he was skeptical of the Borg'gon's assessment report until he examined Harry's mind himself.

The inspection results are not optimistic.Harry's mind had always been warm and bright, full of happy - or naive - thoughts.Now, it's gloomy and empty, lifeless.His mind was chaotic, his reaction was slow, and his spiritual core surged with a strong primitive desire, which made Keza feel sick.Harry was also in great pain, but his brain didn't seem to be functioning properly, so he could only feel part of it.The bond that wrapped his spiritual core failed to alleviate his pain, but made his mental and physical suffering worse.He didn't think Harry would last long, that he would go mad, or that his mind would stop functioning altogether.

So, whatever his personal attitude toward the matter, he could only give Harry what he needed: his Earthling.

Keza gritted his teeth and walked towards his office.

The situation annoyed him. "Annoyed" might not be accurate, it should be cold anger.He wanted to kill the earthling.Hachter was still a child.The problem wasn't so much Hachter's age—Kerza had been to hundreds of planets, and he knew very well that the Kaluvians' bar for "adulthood" was set too high by most races' standards.Hachter is 23 years old, and people of this age are fully capable of making their own decisions.Ultimately, the problem wasn't Hachter's age, but his naivety and gullibility.Hacht has been so well protected that he didn't even go to an alien school like most Kaluvia princes.Parents always spoiled Hachter like a baby, and he developed this temper-innocence and friendliness to the point of being annoying.

Keza hadn't had a chance to get a close look at Adam Crawford, but he knew the guy: good-looking, thick-skinned, and a womanizer.This kind of person is not good enough for Hachter.

But things have come to this, what else?

Keza put his hand on the scanner and opened the office door.

"Borg'gon, the information I want." He sat down behind his desk.

A laser holographic projection appeared in front of him.

Borg'Gon replied: "The data is not yet complete; but preliminary surveys show that among the justices of the Ministry of Intergalactic Affairs Management, 20.00% three support the relaxation of restrictions on former TNIT races, 40.00% six have no preference, 30.00 %One is a staunch supporter of existing legislation."

Keza pondered for a moment thoughtfully. 20.00% Three, the situation is better than expected, and there is still room for maneuver.

"The Queen of the Sixth Clan accepted my invitation?"

"Yes, Your Highness. She will be here soon."

"Okay." Keza leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes.Various possibilities kept rolling in his mind, and he thought quickly, ruling out some of them.

Let's hope he doesn't have to resort to the last resort.

For a moment, he reconsidered Sean's suggestion that he might save himself some trouble by simply smuggling Hachter to Earth.But he again rejected the plan.To do that, he would need to take full control of the teleportation technicians' minds and erase their memories over and over again—they would see Hacht's trips to Earth again and again in the transmission logs.Even if he could do both of the above—and, in fact, he never had time to do so—he would not be able to keep the mechanics' companions out of their awareness; their companions would immediately notice that something was wrong.

No, the political route is less risky and more secure in the long run.

There is nothing wrong with his decision.

"Your Highness, the Queen of the Sixth Clan has arrived," Borg'Gon reported.

Keza opened his eyes and sat up straight. "Let her in."

The door opened, and Queen Zenai 'Heaney' Vaali entered with grace and ease.

Keza didn't get up.While that would have been more polite, it didn't suit him.As the crown prince and future monarch of the second clan, his social status is higher than that of Queen Zenai, and they know each other well.Right now, Queen Zenai was neither friend nor ally, and any inappropriate behavior aroused her suspicions.He can't be too eager.

"Kesa 'enkh' Chaali," she said with a smile. "It's a pleasant surprise to hear that you intend to support my last proposal."

"Really?" Keza whispered, looking into her eyes.He skimmed through her thoughts, which he expected: she was curious and eager to seize the opportunity to make her own political case.She was still wary of him and didn't trust him.

very good.She's not a fool.He doesn't need stupid allies.

"Actually, that's what I proposed this meeting for," Keza said. "I'm open to reconsidering my position."

Zena tilted her head. "What changed your mind?"

Keza smiled at her.

She adjusted her sitting position a little uneasily.

"Your adoptive brother is the Grand Judge of Qiwufeixing," he said. "I hear he's going to have a motion at the next meeting of the Ministry."

She frowned, looking confused, but she was clearly whetted by him.K'za knew she didn't care too much about intergalactic politics.

"About what?" she asked.

"Repeal Act 156," Keza replied.

She stared at him. "This must be a rumor," she said cautiously. "Doing that is tantamount to ruining your career and reputation. It's impossible to pass."

"The bill you submitted to the council is similar." Keza pointed out kindly. "But politics is always changing and everything is possible."

She narrowed her eyes and looked at him speculatively for a while.

"Perhaps," she said at last. "Maybe we should cut to the chase so that there is no misunderstanding."

Keza smiled and leaned back in his chair. "If your adoptive brother brings that motion at the next general meeting of the Ministry, the proposal you are going to put to Parliament at the next meeting will have my mother's support."

Her nostrils fluttered slightly.Keza didn't have to read her mind to know she was interested.

"Your mother is very influential," Queen Zenai said carefully. "But still not enough to get the bill passed. There are too many disaffected MPs in Parliament."

Keza looked at her calmly. "This is up to me to solve."

She examines him and doesn't seem to fully trust him.But she was quite knowledgeable about current affairs and did not question her face to face.If he showed his feet, she might tactfully evade him.

And she was too eager for that bill to pass.It's hardly a secret.Queen Zenai has spent several years pushing for revisions to the Bonding Act.Her motive is obvious: for her son.Her son's consort is the former Crown Prince of the Fifth Clan, and their bond has full legal force, except that the other party has been missing for decades.It is suspected that he was kidnapped by lawless people, but nothing has been confirmed.Although the prince's identification chip has expired, their bond still exists, which means that he is still alive...just a mystery.If the son of Queen Zena wants to marry someone else, he must break the existing bond.When he was studying in an alien planet, he got acquainted with the monarch of Xike Xing, who has been pursuing him for many years, providing the public with an endless stream of gossip materials.Fortunately, King Xi Ke is a golden bachelor, otherwise this scandal may turn into a scandal—after all, the son of Queen Zena is still bound by the bond.There can be no doubt that Queen Zenai intends to break her son's bond with the missing prince so that he can marry his noble suitor.As for Keza, he would do the same.

So he waits patiently for her to accept his terms.She won't say no.

Finally, Queen Zena nodded and got up. "Very good. I'll be in touch with my brother. Looking forward to hearing from you."

"It's a deal." This time, out of politeness, Keza stood up.

She smiled at him and left lightly.

The door closed behind her, and Keza sat down again.He closed his eyes and let the sensation extend to the lady.There was no one around her, and she didn't worry about being snooped by the sensor, so she didn't set up her spiritual shield, and her thoughts were completely displayed in front of Keza.

He seems to be overly zealous about repealing Bill 156.I can take advantage of this weakness.Maybe I should use my brother's support to get some more from Keza.Um.

Even if Keza still had doubts in his mind—and he didn’t—as long as he got through with the next thing, things would be safe.

He carefully planted an idea into her mind.Follow the trend without leaving a trace.She wouldn't notice, and wouldn't find the thought out of the blue.Just a suggestion: she should go with Kza's for the time being, but she could still use her wits to turn on him—but that would be a long, long time later.

She didn't notice anything.

But then again, how could she have thought that eye contact was the way to implant ideas?

Keza smiled.

A force that is too powerful is bound to fall.A stern voice came from his subconscious mind.Sounds a bit like Sean.

Frowning, Keza checked his spirit shields, but they were indestructible, as always.Just his imagination.

Or, it was his long-lost conscience speaking.

He pursed his lips, dismissing the thought.He didn't have time to think about it.He still has a lot of business to attend to today.He still has a lot to convince.

"Persuade" is a good word.Its meaning is quite broad.

Keza's fingers tapped on the armrest of the chair.

But before jumping into political negotiations, he has one special person to meet.

"Borg 'Gon, is Miss Leilan 'Heaney' Goole here?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

The door opened again, and Keza adjusted his expression to a friendly mode, welcoming Hacht's mate.

Keza scrutinized her.She was pleasant, pleasant in manner and appearance.Hachter was lucky.She's certainly not as annoying as Sean.

He actually remembered that kid again.This made him very angry, and his smiling face could not hold it anymore.

"Miss Leilan 'Heaney' Goole," he greeted. "Please sit down."

Her face flushed slightly, and she sat down as she said. "Your Highness, you summoned me to see me, do you think there is a reason for this?"

"Indeed." Keza lowered his gaze.He considered for a moment whether to induce her to obey, but gave up.It's too risky.A senior psychic would find out that her brain was affected - if his plans were to go off without a hitch, there must be such a psychic examining her brain for a specific reason.

"I'm afraid I don't have time for a long talk with you, so I'll just say it straight," Keza softened his voice. "An amendment to the Bond Act will be passed in a few months, and from then on, anyone of legal age will be able to request to be released from a bond. In three months' time, you will be of legal age."

She stared at him.He could see her thinking.She is not a stupid girl. "You want me to make a request to break the bond between me and your brother?" She said slowly. "But why would I do that? I'm very happy with my bond."

Of course she is satisfied.Despite her aristocratic ancestry and her family's possession of one of the largest reserves of columbium — an extremely valuable chemical element necessary for intergalactic transport — her family's social status was not high.She has climbed up to Hacht, and she will never be willing to break the bond.

Note ①: Korviu, the fictitious chemical element in this article.

A thought came to Keza's mind again: If only things could be simpler, he only needed to break the bond between Harhet and this girl with his own hands.It was easy for him, but it didn't solve Hachter's problem, and it didn't absolve him of legal responsibility.

If Hachter can wait until he reaches the legal age, he can ask for the release of the bond himself.But he understands his younger brother's current situation, and he doesn't think Hachter can last until then.Keza could of course be more radical and propose to completely abolish the Bond Law, but the clan council would never put such a proposal on the agenda, and it would be too suspicious if everyone suddenly changed their minds.

Therefore, negotiating with Leilan 'Heaney' Gul became the only option.Fortunately, Keza has enough weight to lure her to give up her bond.

Keza met her eyes. "What if I replace my brother?"

Her eyes widened and her face flushed. "I... I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean, Your Highness. I thought you were already bonded to Prince Sean 'Enh' Waheli."

Another wave of anger welled up in Keza's heart.He restrained his emotions and put on a happy expression. "Not soon."

She smiled.