Chapter 216: Chapter 216: Narration

Lu Xiao knew very well that Admiral Clan would never just give up on her, so she wasn’t overly troubled by being here.

On the contrary, she decided that since she was already here, she would find out what Platinum and C Luo were up to and what they ultimately wanted.

So that evening, Lu Xiao told C Luo she wanted to see Platinum.

C Luo hesitated for a moment. “If there’s anything, you can speak to me directly.”

Hearing this, Lu Xiao immediately sensed something and scoffed. “It seems you two don’t have absolute trust in each other. I want a tour of the base, and I want to know what you’re really planning. You went to all this trouble to bring me here; you’re not just going to keep me locked up, are you? Can you call the shots on any of that?”

C Luo felt the aggression in her words and sighed inwardly. This incident had clearly offended her to the core, and they could never go back to the way things were.

She would never smile at him again.

“I’ll go inform Platinum. Please wait.” This matter was indeed outside his purview. He also didn’t bother to refute Lu Xiao’s claim about the lack of trust between him and Platinum.

In fact, Lu Xiao’s guess wasn’t wrong. There wasn’t much trust to speak of between him and Platinum. The only reason they worked together was that they shared a common goal.

Seeing C Luo’s response, Lu Xiao continued to smile. “So, he’s the one calling the shots at this base. In that case, C Luo, what’s your role here? Are you just responsible for logistics and running errands? I really don’t understand what you’re doing here.”

In the face of Lu Xiao’s words, C Luo’s attitude remained gentle. “Ma’am, you’re not very good at sowing discord. Whether Platinum and I trust each other doesn’t change my decision to stay here. You don’t need to keep trying to drive a wedge between us.”

At this, C Luo gave Lu Xiao a faint smile. “Please wait. I’ll be back shortly.”

As C Luo turned to leave, Lu Xiao’s brow furrowed slightly. She wasn’t surprised that he had seen through her attempt to provoke him—she was, after all, doing exactly that. What did surprise her was that C Luo and Platinum were still willing to stick together despite their lack of mutual trust. ’They must share a common goal.’

’What could it be?’

Platinum himself arrived shortly after. C Luo was not with him this time.

Platinum feigned surprise that Lu Xiao had come around. “It’s wonderful that you’re willing to see me.”

“Cut the crap. I assume you didn’t go to all this trouble to bring me here just to keep me locked up. Spit it out. What do you want from me?”

A brilliant smile spread across Platinum’s face. “It’s for the best that you think that way. In fact, our research on the serum has entered a new phase. It’s much more stable now. You’ll be quite surprised when you see it.”

“You’re still experimenting on males and females? Do you have any idea how inhumane that is?!”

Facing an enraged Lu Xiao, Platinum blinked innocently. “But they’re all volunteers. We have signed agreements, so how can you call it wantonly killing the innocent? Oh, come now, Lu Xiao. Must you get hung up on such things? I know you’re kind and can’t bear to witness this, but so much of past scientific progress was built on sacrifice. Theirs won’t be in vain. Aren’t they contributing to the Empire, in their own way?”

“Hah. You’re good at twisting words.” Lu Xiao stared at Platinum, clearly seeing the madness in the depths of his eyes. ’He’s a complete lunatic.’ “What is it you people really want?”

“I’m so happy, Lu Xiao. Are you finally trying to understand me?” At that moment, Platinum’s smile was exceptionally gentle, as if the woman before him were a lover he had cherished for years.

But his gaze was enough to make Lu Xiao’s stomach turn. “Wipe that disgusting look off your face, Platinum. I’m not your possession, so don’t give me more reasons to hate you.”

“Fine. It seems you’re still unwilling to give me a chance. I’m truly curious what Ares did to make you so utterly devoted to him. I’d really love to meet him someday, if I get the chance.” Platinum said, then chuckled to himself. “Alright, alright, I’ll stop. Let me show you around. I think you’ll like it.”

Lu Xiao had no desire to waste any more breath on Platinum, so his unilateral decision to end the conversation was actually a relief.

She followed Platinum to the main laboratory hall. There were numerous labs of varying sizes, and, naturally, quite a few researchers.

“Where did you scrape all these people up from?” ’She didn’t believe for a second they had all joined voluntarily.’

“Scrape up?” Platinum chuckled. “I must be an unforgivable villain in your eyes. Is there no possibility that they’re here voluntarily?”

This time, it was Lu Xiao’s turn to let out a derisive laugh, her disbelief obvious.

“My father left them to me,” Platinum explained, for once sounding serious.

Lu Xiao’s heart skipped a beat. “So this is a family business?”

Her “family business” comment amused Platinum. “A family legacy, you could say. My father once worked for Her Majesty the Queen. It’s just that no good deed goes unpunished.”

Lu Xiao looked at him. “Are you telling me your life story?”

Platinum had never underestimated Lu Xiao’s intelligence. A female who had achieved so much in the Empire could hardly be a fool.

“Yes. I want you to understand me better. I wasn’t born this way. These days, everyone has their own sob story, especially a powerless male of humble status like myself.”

“I don’t find you pitiful in the slightest. Fate is what you make of it, and aren’t you making the most of yours right now?”

Detecting the sarcasm in her tone, Platinum didn’t get angry. “Well, do you want to hear my story or not?”

“Say it if you want. If not, don’t. I’m not that curious.” ’In truth, Lu Xiao did want to know. The more she learned, the better she could understand the goals of Platinum and his people.’

’But she didn’t want to give him the satisfaction so easily. She had a feeling it would please him too much.’

“Alright, fine. I want to tell it, you don’t have to listen.” Platinum sighed with feigned resignation, as if he were completely indulgent of Lu Xiao, incapable of getting angry no matter what she said or did.

“My father was a researcher and a doctor. The very first inhibitor for male Spirit Sea disorders? He was the one who developed it. Surprising, isn’t it? Because of that, Her Majesty the Queen personally appointed him as Prince Li Ke’s attending physician, charging him with finding a cure.”

Lu Xiao was genuinely shocked to hear this. She hadn’t expected Prince Li Ke to be involved yet again.

It seemed Her Majesty the Queen had gone to great lengths to save Prince Li Ke, establishing the Fifth Research Institute and sanctuaries, dispatching specialized researchers, and developing serums.

And yet, she herself had been unwilling to expend even a bit of her own energy to treat Prince Li Ke.

No matter how many times she heard it, the irony was palpable.

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