Chapter 115: The Princess Delivered at the Doorstep

“Zhu Lan is completely different. He built everything from nothing, and his potential is so immense that I hardly need to explain it, do I?”

Ji Ruxiang nodded. Chiyomoto Sakurako had not praised the sale of the gene-optimization serum for the first time. It was the most successful deal she had ever completed for the Sakura Group, and many within the group were extraordinarily pleased with it. Because of that transaction, Chiyomoto Sakurako had also received the highest commendation from the board of directors—in other words, from the imperial family.

“More importantly, Zhu Lan is still very young. Although he has had a relationship before, he is single now. And there is something else you do not know: if you successfully win Zhu Lan’s acceptance, I guarantee that no one within the imperial family will oppose it.”

Ji Ruxiang was astonished. No one would oppose it? The gene-optimization serum developed by Fantasy Technology was indeed impressive, but it was nowhere near valuable enough to make the imperial family compromise.

Chiyomoto Sakurako naturally understood her surprise.

“Ruxiang, I told you, didn’t I? When Fantasy Technology was first established, a spy from the Black Dragon Group obtained something that shook the Japanese military. They originally wanted to steal more of it at any cost, but Fantasy Technology was protected almost immediately, leaving them no opportunity. The Japanese military is utterly obsessed with that thing. If you win Zhu Lan’s acceptance, then even if some members of the imperial family object, the military will absolutely support you!”

“Cousin, are you telling me to become a spy? No, no, that won’t do!”

Chiyomoto Sakurako smiled helplessly.

“What are you thinking? I mean that if Zhu Lan accepts you, the imperial family’s arrangements will naturally become irrelevant. And according to the information I have gathered, Zhu Lan is a very devoted man. If you win his heart, your future will be a happy one. It will be far better than marrying that prince from Indonesia.”

The reason Chiyomoto Sakurako had introduced Ji Ruxiang to Zhu Lan was that Ji Ruxiang’s marriage had already been arranged. Once she turned sixteen next year and received the princess’s approval, she would be married off to the son of a prominent Indonesian family—a man who was practically regarded as a prince. In exchange, Indonesia would increase its annual supply of materials to Japan by four percent.

That four percent was not something to underestimate. It could bring Japan hundreds of billions of dollars in revenue every year. If the price was merely giving away a princess, Japan was naturally willing to pay it.

Ji Ruxiang did not want to marry some prince and live an unhappy life. Thus, she had turned to her cousin, Chiyomoto Sakurako, for help. At that time, Chiyomoto Sakurako had been racking her brains over the matter when Zhu Lan called her. Zhu Lan had also entered her consideration. After comparing the circumstances, she discovered that if Ji Ruxiang married Zhu Lan, it would be an exceptionally favorable outcome for everyone.

Fantasy Technology possessed something the Japanese military coveted desperately. If Ji Ruxiang could enter Zhu Lan’s inner circle, the Japanese military would welcome it with open arms. As for the imperial family—there were still several other princesses. One more or one fewer made little difference. They could simply choose someone else.

“Cousin, I am rather curious.”

Chiyomoto Sakurako shook her head.

“Ruxiang, there are some things you are better off knowing nothing about.”

Ji Ruxiang nodded and did not ask further.

“Cousin, then what about this matter?”

Chiyomoto Sakurako patted her shoulder.

“Relax. Once your cousin takes action, success is guaranteed!”

After returning to the car, Zhu Lan received Ji Ruxiang’s information through the Red Queen. The material he had seen earlier had been vague, and he had not learned much about her. Ji Ruxiang was a member of the Japanese imperial family, and very little information about her had been made public. Investigating her thoroughly would take time.

After reading through the information, Zhu Lan finally understood everything.

Put simply, she was a rebellious young girl dissatisfied with her family’s arrangements and determined to carve out a path of her own. Somehow, she had set her sights on him.

The information he had found was highly credible. It had been confirmed not only by the aristocratic school, but also by sources in Indonesia. Japan could not possibly fabricate the matter and deceive him. Japanese influence did not extend to the aristocratic school founded by the British centuries ago. At that school, even the Queen of England would have to obey its rules. No person or nation in the world could break them. It was the ultimate realm of tradition. Even if the United States tried to interfere, more than a thousand European noble families would rise together, and America would not dare utter a word.

Zhu Lan had initially suspected that the Japanese had laid a trap for him. But now it did not seem so. If it were a trap, certain people would certainly have noticed it, and the Red Queen could find any trace left on the Internet. If necessary, she could even break into Japan’s classified communications satellites in orbit and obtain their conversations. Unless everything were sent by ancient paper documents, no one could escape the Red Queen’s surveillance.

Zhu Lan still remembered clearly that the Japanese had stolen the gene serum before.

The raid on the Japanese base inside the country had found nothing, and the matter of the gene serum had seemingly come to an end.

But Zhu Lan had never given up. He had continued investigating, though pursuing the truth was easier said than done.

Nor was Zhu Lan alone. The state had not abandoned the matter either.

Much of the Red Queen’s information came from reports uploaded by the authorities.

The stolen serum had already been transported by Japan to a base somewhere in Africa. China’s external military intelligence agencies had begun an extensive investigation. If the location were confirmed, special forces stationed in the Gulf of Aden could be deployed. If necessary, they could even destroy the serum completely. The warships in the Gulf of Aden were more than capable of accomplishing that. Even if they were not, China could simply send additional forces. Since China was already escorting vessels through the Gulf of Aden, it had ample justification for reinforcing its presence.

Although the investigation had uncovered clues, the base itself had not been located.

The authorities had failed to find it, but the Red Queen had discovered it long ago. A modern base, no matter how careful it was, had to rely on wireless technology. However well-hidden its signals might be, they would eventually reveal a flaw.

The Red Queen mobilized more than a dozen satellites belonging to Europe, the United States, and other countries to monitor the African continent around the clock. She soon found traces of the base. By combining that information with her investigation of Japanese satellite activity, locating it was not difficult. In fact, the Red Queen had identified its existence even more quickly than China had.

Zhu Lan had once considered sending a small force to destroy the base. But later intelligence caused him to abandon the idea, because someone else had already acted in his place. A mysterious unit had attacked the facility and stolen a large quantity of research data. In the end, the person in charge of the base had destroyed the remaining gene serum. It could be said that, aside from a certain Chinese research institution, only Fantasy Technology still possessed the gene serum.

Although the Japanese had obtained the serum, without understanding the combination of genetic sequences, they could never reproduce it.

The earlier base inside China had only taken part of the serum for comparison. But they had greatly underestimated its power. Their experiments spiraled out of control, forcing the entire base to be abandoned and eventually drawing the attention of the Chinese military.

What remained had been transferred to Africa only after immense effort. Yet before research could even begin, someone had followed them there.

When Zhu Lan saw that news, he finally understood why Fantasy Technology had remained so calm. They had found a better choice: Africa.

Compared with China’s mysterious research institute, even the world’s most powerful special forces would not dare to target it. But Fantasy Technology was different. Attacking it would simply be suicide. A naval base in the South China Sea lay little more than a hundred kilometers away, and if necessary, it could send an elite company to provide support within minutes.

If heavy weapons were used, the air bases in the surrounding area would answer with J-10s, J-11s, and Z-10 attack helicopters.

Even if the attackers had someone waiting to receive them, could they pass through the layers of naval security in the South China Sea?

The South China Sea base was like a tightening curse, locking fear firmly into everyone’s heart.

Suddenly, Zhu Lan thought of something and smiled.

“Qong Yan, do you think I should accept her?”

A flicker passed through Qong Yan’s eyes.

“Judging from your psychological responses, Boss, you are strongly inclined to accept her.”

Zhu Lan froze, then shook his head.

It was true. He was more than willing to accept Ji Ruxiang. But given his position, he could not help wondering whether some hidden plot lay behind her approach.

Besides, Zhu Lan needed a shield—a shield formidable enough to make others retreat.

He had originally intended to reduce the number of times he appeared in public. But now it seemed that more and more matters required his personal presence, and having a female companion had become necessary.

Neither Tang Xuejian nor Qin Sisi was a suitable choice for him now. Their identities, as well as his feelings for them, made it inappropriate. Zhu Lan had always been thinking of finding someone new. It was not that wealth had changed him; he simply did not want to confront his former emotions.

Whenever he spoke with Tang Xuejian, Zhu Lan deliberately avoided communicating with her as his former self. Instead, he interacted with her as the head of Fantasy Technology. More often than not, he left Tang Xuejian to Lan Tianxin rather than facing her directly. He was afraid that he might lose control of himself.

The appearance of Ji Ruxiang showed Zhu Lan another path—a path suited to him.

It was not difficult to imagine that if he remained single indefinitely, sooner or later someone would begin to harbor ideas about him. And if anyone managed to investigate his parents, Zhu Lan would find himself in an awkward position.

Zhu Lan was a deeply filial man. If his parents truly wanted him to be with someone, it would be difficult for him to refuse.

Rather than wait for that situation to arise, he might as well take the initiative and find someone suitable first.

Moreover, Ji Ruxiang’s identity was powerful enough to give certain people a headache—especially some of those above.

Having thought it through, Zhu Lan smiled.

“It seems this may not be entirely a bad thing.”

The car slowly merged into the bustling streets and headed toward Fantasy Technology.

Although Zhu Lan’s car was an ordinary one, quite a few people recognized it. It had been the earliest vehicle owned by Fantasy Technology, and according to rumor, only Zhu Lan was permitted to drive it.

More than a few people were tempted to act. But they soon fell silent, because they could vaguely sense watchful eyes surrounding them. Some understood the warning immediately: do not act recklessly, or risk losing your life.

Did Zhu Lan really bring only three people with him when he came to this foreign quarter? Of course not. If anyone harbored hostile intentions, Zhu Lan’s preparations would make them regret it. And no one knew how many State Security Bureau agents were secretly stationed along this street.

To be continued.