Resurrection Empire

Chapter 1494: Chapter 562: A New Height, the Historic Conferment of the Earl (Part 2)

But later, he realized that the person crushed and torn by Ren Zhong was actually the spokesperson of Duke Wenle’s Mansion. He knew that Ren Zhong’s side had not truly gained momentum, yet he had already offended an old duke of high rank and power. It was indeed a great thing.

The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

Although I have been stripped of my position and lost the authority of the Chief Officer of the Nanxiang Military and Political Center, I am still the Commander of the Regular Garrison Fleet in the Nanxiang Star Cluster, with authority over the Red Blade Clan.

If Duke Wenle is determined to deal with Ren Zhong and collaborates with me from the top down, it would be the best choice.

I might even turn misfortune into a blessing, directly hitch a ride on Duke Wenle’s ship, make a comeback without any trouble, and ascend to great heights, which would be entirely reasonable.

But just as Liu An was fantasizing about this, he saw that famous High Rank Deacon of the Empire Administration Department and began to listen to him recite the various ratings of the Red Blade Clan, almost as if announcing the countdown of his life.

Soon after, once the Deacon finished reading Ren Zhong’s personal ratings, Liu An faintly felt like one foot had already stepped through the Ghost Gate.

"Over, it’s all over. My century of suppression... what the hell did it produce?"

"If I had known Ren Zhong had such potential, such charm, why did I bother making him an enemy at the start? Even if I had immediately submitted and become his dog, holding tightly onto him, my future might not have been limited to just a marquis."

"I... I... I hate it!"

Unfortunately, in Liu An’s worldview, time cannot be reversed, and there is no medicine for regret in this world.

No matter how anxious or remorseful he is, it is all in vain.

Nanxiang Marquis Liu An is very clear-minded. He knows that the conflict with Earl Red Blade is deeply rooted, with no possibility of reconciliation.

Between the two, sooner or later, one must fall — either Liu An himself or Ren Zhong.

It is evident that, as things stand, the likelihood of Liu An himself facing ruin is higher.

Even though Liu An still holds an advantage in the Nanxiang Star Cluster and maintains fleet command authority, there is no doubt that with time, Earl Red Blade and his Red Blade Clan followers will inevitably reach the pinnacle of power.

By then, with a reversal of status, given Earl Red Blade’s vengeful nature, the Red Blade Clan will find thousands of ways to retaliate comprehensively against the Liu Family.

As Liu An pondered and tried to find a new solution, the live broadcast of the enfeoffment ceremony before him gradually approached its conclusion.

The High Rank Deacon announced in an impassioned tone that Ren Zhong had officially passed the review and become an Imperial Earl.

Following this was the final stage: the public granting of the enfeoffment edict signed by the Regent King himself, and the awarding of the purple robe of the earl with a new shoulder badge encircled by three layers of purple light rings, marking the official end of the ceremony. Ren Zhong thus officially entered the ranks of the Empire’s nobility.

Ren Zhong slightly bowed his head, and with a respectful posture, received the edict from the High Rank Deacon.

At this moment, fireworks exploded in the sky, announcing the climax of the ceremony.

However, oddly enough, Ren Zhong felt little during this moment. Instead, he was secretly glad that the ceremony did not include a kneeling pledge to the Royal Family; otherwise, he would have found it hard to accept. Despite his outward declarations of loyalty to the Emperor, and others believing it to be true, only he knew in his heart that this so-called loyalty was merely surface-deep, with no substance beneath.

Ren Zhong carefully placed the edict into a beautifully crafted alloy box carried by a follower, and then turned his attention back to the High Rank Deacon, awaiting the earl’s purple robe.

Unexpectedly, the High Rank Deacon was looking up at the sky.

Ren Zhong turned his face and followed his gaze skyward.

In the sky above, a slender woman in a long dress, illuminated by the glow of a gravitational traction energy beam, was flying down at an angle.

The woman’s long dress was of a slightly profound emerald green, exuding an air of regal elegance.

In the next second, all the holographic projections in the sky gathered together to form a new image.

This image was a full-body close-up of the woman in the green dress in the air.

The woman’s skin was fair, translucent, almost jade-like, giving an impression of semi-transparency, whether due to a display error of the holographic projection or her genuinely unusual skin tone.

The loose green dress floated gently like that of an immortal, completely covering her figure, making it hard to discern clearly, yet it instinctively conveyed a sense of straightness and heroic bearing.

She had willow-leaf eyebrows and a pair of phoenix eyes. Her expression was cold, yet there was a trace of liveliness and curiosity.