IMAO Chapter 48

TLN: Used Hosea for 霍齐亚 (Huò qí yà), it’s a Hebrew name meaning ‘salvation.’ Since he also came from Hoyt (霍伊特 Huò yī tè) and is the brother of the emperor, which is named 霍瑞斯 (Huò ruì sī), which I am translating as Horace, their surname should be Huo, but I will keep the Western sounding name for consistency.

---

Alfonso had just picked up his military cap from the table when he heard Ji Chong’s words. He turned to Ji Rong with an incredulous yet amused expression and asked, “Are you serious? Trading the Silver Palace for Noth?”

Ji Chong didn’t respond to Alfonso’s question. Instead, he lowered his gaze and continued packing his belongings, his intention clear without words.

Alfonso shook his head. Years ago, Ji Chong became the youngest Marshal through his military achievements. After the war, for various reasons, the military ordered him to guard Planet Noth for ten years. Now that the decade was coming to an end, the seven Marshals had been arguing endlessly about who should take over next, only for Ji Chong to announce he wanted to stay in Noth.

Alfonso raised an eyebrow. Although Ji Chong had never explicitly expressed unwillingness to go to Noth initially, it had taken him a long time to adapt to the weather when he first arrived. Yet after ten years, he was choosing to stay rather than return.

Alfonso pinched the rim of his military cap, placed it on his head, and walked out the door.

In the room, Ji Chong finished packing and looked up at the bright sun outside. The warm sunlight falling on his arm felt almost scalding.

In his memory, a pair of clear black eyes curved into crescents, brimming with joy. The voice brushed against his eardrum like soft silk against skin—

“Ji Chong, you said it snows every day in Noth?”

“Yes.”

“That’s wonderful! When I live with you, I can watch the snow every day!”

“…Oh? You like snow?”

“I love it!”

“Actually, it’s very cold when it snows. I’m worried you won’t be used to it. In another year, I can apply for a transfer…”

“No need! Snow is wonderful! I love snow! When it’s cold, I’ll have a legitimate excuse to hide in your arms and make you hold me! You can’t refuse!”

“…Alright.”

Ji Chong recalled the young man’s smile like a rising sun as he pecked his lips, clinging to him entirely. He could only reach out to detach the person from himself, causing the young man to puff his cheeks in dissatisfaction like an angry goldfish.

He thought himself incredibly foolish back then. How could he have believed such a flimsy breakup excuse from a young man who loved him so deeply, and left Planet Deyo in anger because of it?

He clenched his fists, wondering what emotions the young man felt when giving birth to Ji Rong.

…

After wandering through the Silver Palace for half a day, as the sky took on a golden hue, everyone discussed returning to their lodgings for dinner.

“Do you… remember the way back?”

Gu Bai, who was walking in front, suddenly turned back with a conflicted expression. The Silver Palace was unreasonably beautiful, and they had been touring for two hours, taking photos along the way. Although he wasn’t usually directionally challenged, looking back now… he really couldn’t recognize the way!

What was more outrageous was that they hadn’t even finished exploring this private palace of the Emperor of Hoyt. How enormous was this place? And this was just Hoyt Emperor’s private residence, where he occasionally stayed.

He couldn’t imagine the joys of being an emperor!

No, no normal person could imagine it!

Stay calm, must stay calm! *sob sob* Tears of envy falling.

“Of course I—” Liu Shan heard Gu Bai’s words and curled his lips, lifting his chin smugly, “have no idea.”

Gu Bai glared at Liu Shan in exasperation. Beside them, Cyril looked around for a while before shaking his head, “Don’t remember.”

“Want to head back?” Jiang Yuan said quietly. “I remember the way.”

“Really?” Hearing Jiang Yuan’s words, everyone’s gazes instantly fell on him in shock. “After walking for so long, with no signs anywhere, you remember the way back?”

Jiang Yuan nodded, considered for a moment, and said tactfully, “I roughly remember. Shall we go back now?”

“Let’s go back. If we walk any further, we might need someone to come get us out, and that would be embarrassing,” Cyril said after serious consideration.

“Follow me,” Jiang Yuan said, slightly lowering his head.

Jiang Yuan walked in front, with Ji Rong walking beside him as before.

Following Jiang Yuan, they returned to their lodgings arranged by Hoyt in about an hour. A group of strangers stood at their door, and upon seeing them, these dejected-looking strangers’ eyes instantly lit up.

“Hello, are you students here for the mecha competition?” A male student stepped forward, extending his hand in greeting.

Jiang Yuan shook his hand briefly. “Yes.”

After exchanging pleasantries, they got to the point. Jiang Yuan realized that they were just another group of lost lambs…

“The Silver Palace is too big, and there are no signs. We don’t know the way, and except for the soldiers at the main gate, there isn’t even a single robot here…” the male student said helplessly.

Jiang Yuan listened to his description and thought for a moment before saying, “Mm, there are no signs here. I’ll tell you directly. After you leave here, go straight ahead, then left, left, right, right, right, left, right, left… and you’ll reach the main gate. Once there, ask the soldiers to escort you in.”

The group of students listened in a daze. The lead student looked at Jiang Yuan questioningly but still thanked him.

After they left, Gu Bai scratched his cheek, “Jiang Yuan, you remember all that? When I first came in, I was just looking at the scenery…”

Jiang Yuan: “I paid attention when we came in.”

For Jiang Yuan himself, it would certainly have been difficult to remember the way back, but with Alphonse’s help, remembering routes was simple enough.

“Good thing Jiang Yuan was here today, otherwise we’d be like them. If we really couldn’t find our way, we’d have to call the instructor and have He Chuan come get us. He’d definitely be furious!”

“I bet even Instructor He would get lost in here!”

Ji Rong listened to their discussion in silence for a moment, seemingly deep in thought, before seriously raising his question, “Do you think the Iron-Blooded Emperor Horace gets lost in his own home like us?”

Everyone: “Definitely!”

The image of Iron-Blooded Emperor Horace getting lost at home was too beautiful to imagine.

Unlike the amusing scenes playing in everyone else’s minds, Jiang Yuan thought for a moment before saying, “Probably not. He can use navigation.”

“Pfft—”

A laugh sounded from outside the door, followed by approaching footsteps. Everyone turned to look.

The backlit man wasn’t particularly tall, with a handsome face graced by peach blossom eyes that held an attractive smile. His eyes sparkled as he stood with his hands in his pockets, lips curled into an elegant arc.

Every gesture of this man exuded an indescribable nobility, and one could tell at a glance that he was of noble status.

“That’s the first time I’ve heard someone say that. You’re interesting. Perhaps I’ll have the chance to ask Horace if he actually uses navigation at home.”

The strange man said with a smile.

A Hoyt citizen actually referring to Hoyt Emperor by name…

Jiang Yuan carefully observed the man. He was beautiful, really beautiful. Those peach blossom eyes seemed to speak on their own, adorned with a beauty mark at the corner that gave him an air of fickleness.

Strange, something about this man’s appearance felt oddly familiar.

As Jiang Yuan contemplated this, his gaze remained fixed on the stranger. Beside him, Ji Rong noticed his attention on the man, and internal alarms immediately went off. He stepped forward, positioning himself between Jiang Yuan and the man!

Ji Rong watched the man vigilantly, raising one eyebrow.

The man’s peripheral vision had been focused on Ji Rong, and noticing his small protective gesture, his eyes crinkled with deeper amusement as he cast Ji Rong a meaningful look.

Just then, Alfonso returned from his own tour of the Silver Palace.

Seeing Alfonso, everyone immediately stood at attention and saluted, calling out, “Marshal!”

Alfonso looked at them all fondly, gesturing for them to go rest, then turned to the man and said, “Prince Hosea, it’s been a long time.”

Hosea smiled, saying, “Not too long, just four months.”

Alfonso: “Your Highness, please come with me.”

Hosea nodded slightly, glancing back once more at Ji Rong, who was talking with Jiang Yuan in the living room, before quickly following Alfonso’s steps.

Their private discussion in the room lasted about twenty minutes until someone knocked to call them down for dinner. Only then did Alfonso lead Hosea downstairs, inviting him to stay for the meal.

“Your Highness, please stay and dine with us.”

Hearing this, Hosea’s beautiful brows furrowed slightly, appearing somewhat hesitant.

“Do stay. Ji Chong is here too,” Alfonso added with a slight cough, fist raised to his mouth.

At the mention of Ji Chong, a barely noticeable gleam flashed through Hosea’s eyes, but Alfonso still caught it.

“Then I’ll impose,” Hosea nodded with a soft sound of agreement.

Alfonso glanced at Hosea. He had indeed come for Ji Chong. Poor Ji Chong, tricked into coming here to sell his body, all for the sake of the nation. They could only let Ji Chong bear with it.

This Prince Hosea had even persuaded Emperor Hoyt to sell spatial technology for Ji Chong’s sake. Who knew how these two had met? Ji Chong’s charm was really remarkable, though understandable. The Federation’s youngest Marshal, the Undefeated War God, naturally handsome, perfect in every aspect, who wouldn’t like him?

Hosea clearly wanted to give Ji Chong a surprise.

Alfonso knocked on the door and after a moment, Ji Chong opened it.

Alfonso coughed lightly and said, “It’s time to eat.”

Ji Chong: “Okay.”

Alfonso watched as Ji Chong turned to close the door, not sparing even a single glance at Hosea beside him.

Meanwhile, Hosea was secretly watching Ji Chong from the corner of his eye.

Noticing someone watching him, Ji Chong glanced at Hosea but said nothing. Instead, he looked at Alfonso, his expression clearly asking ‘Who is this?’

Alfonso: “…”

Although he maintained the composure expected of a Marshal on the surface, internally he was far from calm!

The Hoyt Prince went crazy for you, even sold spatial technology for you, yet you don’t know Hosea?

Looking at Hosea now, Alfonso felt nothing but sympathy. Of all people to fall for, why Ji Chong! Too tragic! What Ice Queen of Noth? Ji Chong was colder than any Ice Queen!

I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. Please consider supporting the author directly.

You can also follow me on Ko-fi to get access to the latest updates on my translation progress and new projects. I appreciate your love and feedback.