Monster Cub Live Stream – CH18

Chapter 18

Imperial Capital Star, Amio Palace.

“…Say that again?”

Fan Xiu, who had come to deliver the test report, trembled slightly. “I-it’s just ordinary soil…”

“Ten billion.” Xia Yuanhan’s voice was cold as ice. “Ten billion, and you bought me back a lump of mud?”

Fan Xiu dared not make a sound. Cold sweat poured down his back.

“Who sent the information?” Xia Yuanhan asked coldly.

Fan Xiu replied, “One of the pieces we planted in the auction house.”

Xia Yuanhan gave a cold snort. “Reward him with one special-effect medicine.”

Fan Xiu’s heart shuddered, but he still acknowledged the order and passed down the prince’s command. His tone grew even more respectful. “Your Highness, we recorded the video you requested. Would you like to watch it now?”

Xia Yuanhan lifted his chin slightly and pointed toward the large screen ahead.

Fan Xiu hurried forward and connected the video to the huge light display. The dim screen immediately showed footage—clearly the scene of the buyers signing documents backstage at the auction after purchasing the special medicine.

Fan Xiu explained, “The first person to receive the medicine was one of our people.”

Of the remaining two, one wore a loose robe, but even so his broad build could not be concealed. A section of his arm was exposed, with a faint dark shadow visible on it.

“Looks like a star pirate,” Fan Xiu said. “He could be an unknown pirate, or he might have used a second disguise.”

Xia Yuanhan did not see anything suspicious.

The last person was someone they both recognized—gray hair at the temples and an aged figure. It was Shang Youyuan, who had also bought the special medicine last time.

“Him again?” Xia Yuanhan scoffed lightly. “He never learns his lesson. Last time he spent three hundred million, and this time over eight hundred million. He really is rich.”

Fan Xiu seized the opportunity to flatter him. “What good is money in the end? Sooner or later he’ll die, and his wealth will eventually fall into Your Highness’s hands.”

“Why did he buy the medicine? I remember his health wasn’t that bad,” Xia Yuanhan asked suddenly.

“Probably for Madam Shang,” Fan Xiu said. “Her condition doesn’t seem very good. Shang Youyuan being so anxious is understandable.”

Xia Yuanhan hummed and continued watching the video for quite some time, but found nothing suspicious.

“Did we capture the person who sold the medicine?” he asked.

Fan Xiu quickly played another clip. The image on the screen shifted, and a voice speaking Interstellar Common with a strange accent came from the recording.

The person in the video wore a black robe. The loose robe concealed his true figure, but it was obvious he was very tall—much taller than the staff member walking beside him.

The video was short, less than a minute. After replaying it several times, Xia Yuanhan finally rubbed his temples and told Fan Xiu to turn off the screen.

Fan Xiu asked carefully, “Your Highness, did you discover anything?”

“A Federation accent. The walking posture is disguised, but you can tell he has military training. Not from the Empire’s military, though.” Xia Yuanhan curled his lips. “Most likely someone from the Federation military. His intentions are unclear, but we can be certain he isn’t targeting us.”

The most likely explanation was that the other party had seen a business opportunity in the “special medicine” they had released earlier and wanted to take advantage of it to make a fortune. That was why he had disguised his appearance and identity to sell it at the auction in City C, where almost everyone was from the Empire.

Having been cheated out of ten billion for nothing, Xia Yuanhan’s mood was naturally terrible. But at least they had confirmed they were not exposed yet, which counted as good news.

Fan Xiu sounded slightly relieved. “That’s good. Your Highness has keen judgment—you must be correct.”

Xia Yuanhan waved his hand and dismissed him.

After Fan Xiu left, a cold mechanical voice sounded in the room.

“You needn’t worry so much.”

Xia Yuanhan did not speak, so the mechanical voice continued, “Without our help, none of you could produce a real Alpha special-effect medicine. Since you have chosen to cooperate, you should trust us more.”

Xia Yuanhan chuckled softly. “Just taking precautions. It’s not a matter of distrust.”

He had always been cautious. Being careful never hurt.

“Did you get it? Did you get it?”

“Relax. The boss is operating the mech,” Si Youlin said, nudging Xiong Yingjun lightly with his elbow to signal him to keep quiet.

Lin An’an stared at the screen in front of Feng Wu without blinking, while still remembering to pass a steaming corn cob to Si Youlin.

Feng Wu was wearing a holographic helmet, completely focused on controlling the miniature mech they had deployed.

The person he was monitoring was the one who had spent ten billion to buy the special medicine. This individual was their primary target, and Feng Wu was personally keeping watch.

The miniature mech had been specially modified by Feng Wu. It possessed cloaking capabilities, and anyone with mental power weaker than his could not sense its presence, making it relatively safe.

At this moment, the sugar-coated mud pill worth ten billion had already passed through several hands and was now on an interstellar courier ship bound for the capital star.

The last person who handled it was extremely cautious. Only after sending the package away and returning home—and activating his home security system—did he finally contact his liaison.

Their conversation contained nothing particularly unusual. They exchanged a few brief sentences before ending the call.

The miniature mech continued following the man. Only after he changed clothes and blended back into everyday life on Sin Star did Feng Wu finally recall the mech.

“This… we didn’t find anything at all!” Xiong Yingjun said in frustration.

Si Youlin sighed as well. “He’s too cautious. Even when reporting progress, he used coded language.”

Feng Wu said nothing. Instead, he pulled up the recorded video and began examining it frame by frame.

Lin An’an climbed along Feng Wu’s arm onto his shoulder, raised a small tentacle, and stuffed a piece of cucumber into Feng Wu’s mouth.

The little cub secretly gave himself a thumbs-up.

He was the most considerate little cub in the entire universe—no contest!

After a moment, the image on the screen froze at the section where the man reported his progress during the video call.

Feng Wu zoomed in and tapped the screen. “Here.”

Xiong Yingjun leaned forward, puzzled. “There’s nothing special. The man is disguised. I can’t see anything that identifies him.”

After observing for a moment, Si Youlin said slowly, “That is—”

His eyes widened slightly.

Feng Wu circled the man’s wrist with the holographic pen. When the man raised his hand, the wide sleeve slid down a little, revealing the watch on his wrist.

“That watch was released in a limited edition across the entire galaxy. If I remember correctly, there were only ten of them?” Si Youlin murmured. “…I feel like I’ve seen it somewhere before.”

Feng Wu said, “The watch faces are customized. Each one has a unique pattern and engraving.”

He captured the image of the watch strap and sent it to his subordinates for further investigation.

Beside him, the little cub stared with wide eyes.

Th-this was modern Sherlock Holmes, wasn’t it?! With just such a tiny clue, Brother Wolf could trace it back! That was insanely amazing!!!

Lin An’an was so excited that he accidentally stuffed half a tomato into Feng Wu’s mouth.

Feng Wu: “…”

The cub’s concern was a little… overwhelming.

A bit hard to chew.jpg

Ten minutes later, his subordinates submitted the information they had found.

“Yu Jin… Colonel Yu?” Si Youlin sucked in a breath. “Deputy commander of the Second Legion? I remember he’s always been very close to the Second Prince.”

Xiong Yingjun frowned in confusion. “But… why would the Second Prince release a medicine that causes ability rampages?”

No one could answer his question.

Feng Wu stared at the information in his hand, his brows tightly furrowed.

But the little cub on his shoulder suddenly perked up.

Yu Jin?

That name sounded a little familiar. Lin An’an seemed to remember hearing it in the dreams he’d had over the past few days.

That dream had been vague. Both the images and the voices felt as though they had been blurred or muffled.

Lin An’an only remembered that in the dream he had been allowed out of his room for once and permitted to bask in the sun in the family’s back garden.

As he passed the fountain, he saw someone in the distance making a phone call. The distance was too great, so he could only vaguely hear fragments like “Yu Jin” and “last time… not bad.”

At the end of the dream, the teenage version of himself called out, “Second Brother!”

The young man on the other side of the fountain ended the call and smiled warmly and kindly at him.

Second brother… He himself was the Third Prince, so his second brother must be the “Second Prince” Feng Wu and the others were talking about.

When he woke up from that dream before, Lin An’an had always felt that his second brother’s final smile looked strange—but he could never quite explain why.

The little cub’s thoughts tangled together into a mess, leaving him dizzy. He immediately flopped down on Feng Wu’s shoulder like a soft cub pancake.

So confusing, really confusing.

He was just a cute little cub—why did he have to use his brain so much?

He really wanted to slack off. qwq.jpg

Since the Second Prince’s motive could not be determined for the moment, they set the topic aside.

Feng Wu then took out the herb that Lin An’an had asked him to buy and held it in front of the cub.

“An Cub, this herb?”

Lin An’an snapped back to attention, his bean-like eyes lighting up.

[This herb is called Mind-Calming Grass. It can repair and stabilize mental power.]

Xiong Yingjun asked curiously, “This bumpy-looking grass can repair mental power?”

[Yes, but this particular one can’t.]

All three of them looked at the cub in confusion.

The cub typed slowly.

[Mind-Calming Grass must be harvested and used within three days after it matures. After three days, its medicinal effect gradually fades until it disappears completely.]

[This one has probably been mature for over a month already. It’s useless now.]

Xiong Yingjun sighed. “What a waste. Got excited for nothing.”

Feng Wu lifted the cub into his palm. “You have another solution, don’t you?”

[Of course!] The little cub’s dark face was full of excitement. [As long as we extract the seeds and grow new Mind-Calming Grass!]

This was exactly his specialty. If it was about growing things, he was the right cub to ask!

The little cub raised his head proudly, puffing out his chest. His bright bean-like eyes gleamed as he waited for praise, looking extremely smug.

Xiong Yingjun could not help thinking—

If they stuck a few peacock feathers behind An Cub…

The little cub might just perform a full peacock display right on the spot.

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