Chapter 122: The Empire’s Shadow and Lively Orphans

Zores might have a high standing within the Syndicate Collective, but the moment the Drac Empire gets involved, he’s basically a nobody.

After all, the Drac Empire is a level-four civilization, ruling as the overlord of the entire Orion Arm.

You could even say that every civilization in the Orion Arm counts as a vassal of the Drac Empire.

The Drac Empire also holds a tour of the arm every century.

Of course, that’s putting it nicely. In reality, every hundred years they spend a full decade circling the arm, visiting every level-two civilization along the way.

Why do they do it?

Simple—tax collection!

That’s right. The entire Milky Way is carved up and split among about a dozen level-four civilizations.

And the Drac Empire is one of them.

Though, out of all the level-four civilizations, they’re the weakest.

There’s a reason for that…

Orion is just too barren.

Still, even the weakest among level-four civilizations is unimaginably powerful compared to any level-two or three civilization.

So the Drac Empire set down a rule.

Any civilization in the Orion Arm that reaches level-two must pay tribute.

It’s basically their way of buying a century of peace for their own people.

To put it bluntly…

It’s protection money!

As for how much? It’s different for each civilization—they calculate the tax based on resources mined in the previous century.

According to the Drac Empire’s rules, every vassal has to hand over 70% of their resources.

Don’t even think about dodging taxes. With their tech, they can track every bit of output with brutal accuracy. No loopholes.

If you can’t pay up, then…

Just give up and wait for total annihilation.

Thinking of fighting back?

Forget it. Don’t even bother.

That’s why civilizations in the Orion Arm never really get anywhere, even after thousands or tens of thousands of years.

Most of them stay stuck at level-two forever.

Except for a few lackey civilizations loyal to the Drac Empire, that is.

As the Empire’s faithful servants, Reis actually managed to bring a few civilizations up to level-three.

So now, among the ten or so level-three civilizations in the Orion Arm, eight are Drac Empire flunkies, the most devoted of lackeys.

“Sigh… Who knows when days like this will finally come to an end…”

Zores could only sigh.

——

Mars, City 37.

Lin Yu and Mu Qingxue arrived outside Wang Jing’s orphanage.

The moment they stepped inside, they spotted two little ones crouched by the door, whispering furiously to each other.

“Director said Mom’s coming today. We better hurry and clean up, act like the perfect little angels!”

“Yeah, if Mom thinks we’re troublemakers, she’ll totally let us have it!”

“But what about the director? She won’t rat us out, will she?”

“Relax, I already cried buckets in front of her and looked super pitiful. She couldn’t possibly have the heart to tell on us!”

“Nice work! That’s my little sis!”

“Hmph, of course!”

Standing at the orphanage gate, Lin Yu listened in, stunned speechless.

Then he glanced over at Mu Qingxue.

His eyes seemed to say, Are you sure these two troublemakers are really ours?

And they’re not even two years old, saying stuff like this?

As if she understood the look, Mu Qingxue gave a weary sigh.

She’d said it before—the things these little ones get up to are way beyond imagination.

Back then he wouldn’t believe her. How much trouble could kids under two really be?

Next moment, Mu Qingxue finished her sigh and her face went cold.

“Sis, do you feel kinda chilly all of a sudden?”

“Yeah, it’s just like when Mom used to get mad…”

Then a thought suddenly hit them.

The two rascals crouched on the floor slowly turned their heads.

And straight away, their knees gave out. They dropped to the floor in shock.

“Sis, what do we do now?”

“Run for it?”

“Good idea! If we can just make it to the director’s office, we’ll be safe. Even Mom wouldn’t dare get rough in front of her!”

“Alright, you stall Mom and I’ll get the director to rescue you!”

As soon as she finished, Lin Yun—the little sister—took off running, leaving her brother Lin Feng momentarily stunned.

Are you kidding me? She wants the director to save me? Some sister she is!!

He got ready to bolt, too.

Only…

Someone grabbed him firmly from behind.

Who else but Mu Qingxue could it be?

Meanwhile, Lin Yu covered his mouth, doing his best not to burst out laughing.

These two little devils were just too funny.

“Oh, you find this funny?”

“Alright, alright. I’ll stop, I promise.”

Mu Qingxue could only shake her head helplessly.

Honestly, what kind of two-year-olds have logic this sharp? Already scheming and reading adults like books.

And yet, you can’t even lay a hand on them.

After all, they’re still not even two…

“Don’t be mad. They’re just little. Give it some time and they’ll grow out of it…”

Lin Yu patted her back gently, offering comfort.

Except that only made Mu Qingxue more annoyed. What do you mean, give it time?

When they turn ten, you’ll still be saying that.

Even when they’re eighteen, you’ll still say it.

Plenty of parents parrot that line even when their kids are well past thirty.

In the end, they spoil their kids rotten.

Mu Qingxue was utterly fed up with that attitude.

Although to be fair, this time she misunderstood what Lin Yu was really getting at—because he wasn’t finished.

“Once they’re three or four, you can punish them however you like. If it comes down to it, we can even try out a little two-on-one parenting combo.”

“With the Federation’s medical capsule tech these days, as long as you don’t go too far, everything else is fine.”

“Just toss them in a medical capsule afterwards—it’ll all work out.”

Lin Yu smiled as he spoke, leaving Mu Qingxue genuinely speechless for a second.

“Hey! Who do you think you are? Get your dirty hands off my mom! When my dad gets home, you’re in big trouble!”

“Oh? Your dad’s that tough huh?”

“Of course! My dad’s Lin Yu!”

……

……

Lin Yu’s face darkened. He had a sneaking suspicion Lin Feng’s last line was nothing but trouble.

He couldn’t shake the feeling he was about to get sold out by his own kid.

“You little rascal! Don’t ever say that again!”

“Why not? My dad is Lin Yu—none of your business!”

“Say that again and I swear I’ll smack you!”

“Go on, then!”

Lin Feng wasn’t scared at all.

He knew Mom was still holding him. Would she just stand by and watch him get hit?

So, with nerves of steel, he started trading barbs with Lin Yu.

“That’s enough. Are you seriously arguing with your own son in public? Aren’t you embarrassed?”

Uh…

Called out by Mu Qingxue, Lin Yu froze for a second.

He honestly didn’t know why that one line riled him up so much just now.

He just couldn’t figure it out!!

Meanwhile, Lin Feng hung in Mu Qingxue’s grip, looking completely dazed.

So… that guy’s my dad?