Chapter 1623: The biggest suspect
This clue diagram shows all the clues and information collected so far regarding this incident.
The latest clue they've obtained is the MyCOS family, and now they've acquired the identity of Duke Chomay.
And coincidentally, the biggest connection between the MyCOS family and Duke Chomay is the second prince.
"The biggest suspect right now is this second prince."
The second prince is also the crown prince of the Mahas interstellar empire and the future heir to the empire.
But what about the motivation?
I have absolutely no idea what his motive was for attacking our mission.
Moreover, based on my investigation so far, I have a feeling that something is amiss.
It felt as if all these clues had been deliberately placed in front of us, intentionally leading us to investigate this matter.
The vice-captain pondered what Marshal Medusa had said.
She thought about it for a moment, and then said, "What you said makes sense."
This second prince of the Majas interstellar empire is indeed completely unaware of the possibility of attacking us.
On the contrary, if someone deliberately framed him.
This makes perfect sense from that perspective.
This caused a conflict between us and the second prince.
As things stand, now that we've invited his father-in-law over, the Second Prince must already know about this, which will inevitably create a rift between us.
In addition to the matter entrusted to us by the head of the Max family, we will definitely investigate this Duke Qiao Mai next. We have been causing trouble for the people around the Second Prince one after another. If the Second Prince has a bad temper, he might clash with you and us.
If the conflict escalates, someone might step in to mediate, or even overthrow the second prince, and then express goodwill towards us.
Wouldn't that mean I could get another throne?
When the vice-captain finished his analysis, he had a look of sudden realization on his face: "This is clearly a dispute over the succession to the throne."
Marshal Medusa remained silent, perhaps pondering the vice-captain's analysis, or perhaps reflecting on her own thoughts.
The vice-captain's analysis was indeed reasonable, but she still felt that something was wrong, though she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
"Then which prince do you think is the most likely?" Marshal Medusa countered.
The vice-captain pondered the question for a moment.
Then he immediately said, "This must be the Fourth Prince!"
Of all the princes, the fourth prince is the only one who currently holds real power.
As luck would have it, the Fourth Prince was the person in charge of contacting us about this attack, which allowed him to keep track of the progress of the matter in real time.
If the Second Prince really has a conflict with us, or even a violent clash, then...
He had contact with us and our impression of him wasn't bad, so it was only natural for him to step in and mediate.
The most important point.
He said that as a diplomat, he was naturally well aware of the current situation of our Xiaolong Interstellar Empire.
If we can resolve the issue, we naturally wouldn't want to engage in battle with any interstellar power under the current circumstances.
Moreover, this is a well-established T5 interstellar civilization, and may even be a near-T6 interstellar civilization.
Even if we are certain of victory, an outbreak of war at this time would inevitably bring unnecessary trouble to the Dragonflight Interstellar Empire and affect our vow to fight the Devouring Civilization.
After another series of analyses, the vice-captain...
The possibility of this fourth prince has increased considerably.
Marshal Medusa raised her hand and zoomed in on the portraits of the Second Prince and the Fourth Prince.
"But the biggest problem right now is that all the evidence points to the Second Prince, while we are just guessing that the Fourth Prince is the most likely suspect."
"We can't possibly go and investigate the Fourth Prince directly, can we?" the vice-captain said thoughtfully.
Marshal Medusa was silent for a moment, then said, "Regardless of whether the mastermind behind this is the Second Prince or the Fourth Prince."
Since they want us to follow Duke Chomay's trail...
Then we'll play along and continue the investigation, stirring up trouble and alerting the enemy.
If there were other perpetrators, they would inevitably have been exposed during the process.
The first mate looked at Marshal Medusa with surprise, and said with some concern, "So, are we going to capture... invite this Duke Chomai next?"
Duke Jomay was, after all, a trusted confidant of the Second Prince, so it was one thing for him to arrest the head of the Mycos family.
He was just a marquis; even if his daughter married the second prince, she would still be one of his dozen or so wives.
As a womanizer, the Second Prince naturally knew what was more important. Anyway, he had so many fathers-in-law, so one more wouldn't make a difference.
"Capture him." Marshal Medusa uttered this word with unwavering resolve.
"Where is this Duke Chomai now?" Marshal Medusa inquired.
The vice-captain immediately began an investigation, and then she obtained a result: "Duke Jomai is currently in the First Space City of the Imperial Capital System of the Maihas Interstellar Empire."
Attend a ceremony banquet with the Second Prince.
This ceremonial banquet is a once-every-five-years ceremony held by the Mehros interstellar empire, lasting for a week.
It is usually held by the emperor or crown prince of the Majas interstellar empire.
If we were to go to the scene now and ask Duke Chomay to investigate, it would undoubtedly be a slap in the face to the second prince.
"This is such a coincidence, if there really is someone else behind the murder."
"They really want to see us break ties with this second prince." Marshal Medusa sneered.
Then she asked, "During this time, what has been your attitude or actions regarding our taking his future father-in-law away?"
The vice-captain shook his head and said, "No, our people are monitoring the Second Prince's movements, but so far they have not made any statement or taken any action."
They didn't even ask us, as if the whole thing had never happened.
Marshal Medusa narrowed her eyes, then said, "Pass on my order to immediately send the fleet to the capital system of the Mahas Interstellar Empire."
The vice-captain was startled by the order; if this matter was not handled properly, it could very well lead to a conflict between the two empires.
But she still carried out the order.
Because Emperor Xiaolong had given the order before they set off.
Marshal Medusa was in full charge of this attack, and she could make any decisions without prior approval.
One of these provisions includes the right of Marshal Medusa to wage war without conditions and with unlimited authority over the use of force against the Majas Interstellar Empire.
It could even be said that as long as Marshal Medusa sends a message to the Dragon Star Empire...
Without hesitation, the Xiaolong Interstellar Empire will declare war on the Maihas Interstellar Empire, and then a large number of prepared Xiaolong Legion fleets will launch a surprise attack on the Maihas Interstellar Empire at the first opportunity.
End this battle in the shortest possible time.
This was a contingency plan prepared by Emperor Dragon and Grand Marshal Charlotte.
If this war is unavoidable, then end it as quickly as possible.
That was their plan.
Under this order, all the Dragon Legion fleets that had been gathered in the Max family's star system territory withdrew at that moment.
The storm surrounding the Max family galaxy seemed to have ended at this point.
But no one could have imagined that an even greater storm would strike the Mehs interstellar empire!
MyCOS Family Castle
When the guests waiting there saw a shuttle slowly landing, almost everyone's eyes fell on it.
The shuttle's hatch slowly opened.
The head of the Max family stepped down.
Subsequently, the JF-17 Space Marines in the vicinity boarded shuttles and left.
The starfighter mechs around them also took off and withdrew one by one.
In no time, no more members of the Wyvern Star Legion could be seen on the planet, as if they had never existed.
At this moment, the previously oppressive atmosphere completely vanished.
The guests gathered around the head of the Max family.
With a worried tone but also a curious heart, he spoke words of concern.
"Chief Michael, why did the Dragon Squad take you away?"
"What did you all talk about?"
"These people from the Dragonfly Interstellar Empire are far too rude! They actually took you away like that, it's outrageous!"
Some people were curious, but most were curious about what exactly happened.
The head of the Max family was naturally aware of this, and he nodded slightly, saying, "Thank you all for your concern, it's nothing."
I'm not feeling well, so this banquet will have to end here.
Please forgive any shortcomings in our hospitality.
A banquet will be held later, and I will personally apologize to everyone then.
After saying this, the head of the Max family left the banquet venue under the cover of his attendants.
Although many people were curious, they felt embarrassed to gather around and ask further questions after the person had already said so.
At most, it's just some people with whom you have a good personal relationship asking you a couple of questions through private chat.
As for what kind of response they will receive, that's a matter for their private conversation.
When the head of the Max family approached his castle.
His younger brother came up and whispered, "Brother, the Second Prince just sent a message."
Contact him immediately upon your return.
What's meant to happen will happen eventually.
The head of the Max family had long anticipated this event.
"I understand," the head of the Max family replied, then prepared to return to his office.
At this moment, his younger brother couldn't help but ask, "Um... brother, what brings these people from the Dragon Star Empire to you?"
"Taking you away like this, brother, isn't that incredibly rude?"
The head of the Max family glanced at his younger brother and said coldly, "Don't inquire about this matter, and don't discuss it."
Tell our family members not to utter a word about this matter. If I find out that anyone utters even a single word, they will all be sent to the mining planet!
"Yes." Upon hearing this, he could only suppress his curiosity.
At the same time, he also knew that this matter was absolutely extraordinary, otherwise his brother would not have been so serious.
Next, the head of the MyCOS family returned to his office. After adjusting his emotions and mindset, he sent a communication request to the Second Prince.
After waiting for about three to five minutes, the call finally came through.
Opposite him was a man who looked to be in his forties, with a rather composed face, wearing a formal suit, and seemingly having just come from some kind of banquet or ball.
This is the second prince of the Majas interstellar empire.
The future heir to the imperial throne.
"Your Highness," the head of the MyCOS family said respectfully, bowing.
The second prince cut to the chase and asked directly, "What did those people from the Dragonflight Interstellar Empire ask you?"
The head of the Max family did not hide anything and explained everything.
This included smuggling, his gift to Duke Jomai, and his speculation that the individual weapon was related to the attack on the Dragon Star Empire delegation.
He knew very well that some things couldn't be said out, but just as some things couldn't be hidden from His Highness.
From the moment he decided to marry his daughter to this prince, he and his family had already stood with the prince.
Therefore, if he aroused the prince's suspicion, it would inevitably lead his family into a desperate situation.
So he simply confessed everything.
"That's the situation."
"We would never dare to conceal anything," the patriarch of the MyCOS family said sincerely.
When the Second Prince heard this, he frowned slightly, but when he looked at the head of the MyCOS family, he still said, "I understand this matter. Remember, you are not allowed to say these words to anyone other than me."
Let's leave it at that for now.
After that, the video call was abruptly cut off.
Seeing the blacked-out video communication screen,
The head of the Max family breathed a sigh of relief. After the Second Prince finished asking about these matters, he did not reprimand the Second Prince, which meant that he had no objection to the things he had told the Xiaolong Interstellar Empire.
There was no mention of the smuggling activities he confessed to.
That's a matter of turning a blind eye.
Because of this kind of thing, the higher-ups know that someone is doing it, but they don't know who it is or how large the operation is.
Since the second prince didn't say anything, it basically means he has no objections.
Because basically every so often, when the head of the Max family went to see the second prince, he would present him with a gift.
This gift actually carries the connotation of a dividend.
Since he could also get some, the Second Prince naturally had no objections.
In this way, the Michaels family has managed to get through this hurdle.
However, the head of the Max family was not in much better spirits.
If the attack on the Xiaolong Interstellar Empire delegation was indeed carried out by the Second Prince, then the ensuing turmoil is inevitable.
The fact that the Xiaolong Interstellar Empire investigated this matter is enough to demonstrate its toughness.
If the Second Prince really did this, then a conflict will inevitably break out between the Dragon Emperor Interstellar Empire and the Mahas Interstellar Empire.
The outcome of this conflict is something neither of them wanted to see.
After all, that's the Xiaolong Interstellar Empire, currently the number one military power among us in the known universe.
To provoke such a being is tantamount to courting death.
Therefore, for these ordinary nobles and gentry, all they wanted were some benefits and privileges.
Rather than wanting to have a war, especially a war with a powerful being.
However, these were not things that a minor marquis like him could interfere with, so he could only pretend he knew nothing and take things one step at a time.