Chapter 144: Chapter 127: Wrath of the Ants

"Lanlan!"

From far away, he saw Yu Lan’s figure appear at the entrance of the Science Research Institute’s first-floor lobby.

An irrepressible wave of excitement and affection surged from the bottom of his heart. Jun Lin Yuan was the first to raise a hand in greeting, his long legs already striding forward to meet her.

But another figure was faster than him.

The moment Yu Lan’s figure appeared, the woman from the alley clutched the child in her arms—unconscious with a high fever—so tightly her knuckles turned white.

’Could the Empire’s kindest, gentlest Princess Yu Lan really save them? Or would she be just like Louisa?’

’Was her so-called gentleness and kindness just a public facade? Beneath the mask, were there just bloody human lives and the anguished cries of countless people?’

But she had no other choice now.

"Princess Yu Lan, I beg you, please save the people of Garbage Star."

The woman, carrying her child, suddenly rushed in front of Yu Lan and fell straight to her knees. She slammed her forehead heavily against the ground three times, so fast Yu Lan couldn’t stop her.

By the time the woman lifted her head again, her forehead was already slick with blood.

"Your Highness, I beg you, please save the people of Garbage Star."

Her voice was mournful and filled with grief, her face weathered and worn.

She seemed utterly out of place on the glamorous and splendid Central Star.

Jun Lin Yuan had already moved protectively in front of Yu Lan. He frowned, staring intently at the woman, afraid she might suddenly lash out and harm Yu Lan.

He never underestimated anyone, especially not the desperate.

Meanwhile, Yu Lan was completely stunned.

She stared blankly at the woman before her and the unconscious child clutched in her arms.

"What on earth is going on?"

"Didn’t Louisa already go to Garbage Star with a large supply of precious medicine? Videos of people from Garbage Star receiving treatment are sent back to the Central Star every day."

These past few days, Yu Lan had vaguely sensed that something was wrong.

But she had even had Huo Zhanting and the others examine the videos, and they found nothing amiss.

Furthermore, Queen Belina and Louisa had joined forces to prevent her from investigating further, acting as if they were afraid she would steal their credit.

Yu Lan could only put her suspicions aside.

’The people on Garbage Star are Queen Belina’s subjects, too. Surely they wouldn’t do something so monstrous just for personal gain.’

However, Yu Lan never could have imagined that the truth was a thousand, ten thousand times more severe than her initial suspicions.

"Your Highness, as soon as Princess Louisa arrived on Garbage Star, she had her people seal off all outbound transportation routes and cut off the Star Network. None of us can contact the outside world."

"As for those so-called videos," tears streamed down the woman’s face.

"They’re fake. All of them are fake."

"She forced people to film them under threat. If you refused to participate, your family would pay the price."

"Now, the entire Garbage Star has become a complete Purgatory."

"The plague started by infecting ten people, then a hundred. Now, everyone on Garbage Star has contracted it, but with no medicine to treat them, they can only wait quietly for death."

"We don’t want to die!"

"Princess Yu Lan, I’m begging you! You grew up on Garbage Star too. It’s your home as well. Please, save us!!!"

As she spoke, the woman, still clutching her child, once again slammed her forehead forcefully against the ground several times.

Just then, the child held tightly in her arms seemed to be affected by his mother’s terrified and anxious state.

His weakly shut eyes fluttered open, and his gaze immediately fell upon Yu Lan, who was standing not far away.

A hoarse, weak voice, filled with a child’s questioning, piped up.

"Mama, is that her? The Empire’s kindest and most gentle Princess Yu Lan?"

"Did she agree to save Garbage Star?"

How could Yu Lan not be moved, being looked at with such an innocent, clear, and hopeful gaze?

She spoke before the woman could, her expression firm as she made a promise:

"Rest assured, I will find a way. I will save everyone on Garbage Star, no matter the cost."

"But right now, the most important thing is for you and your child to get treatment."

Yu Lan reached out, intending to take the extremely weak little boy from the woman’s arms and bring him into the Science Research Institute behind her.

"The Science Research Institute has a newly developed medicine for the plague. It might be able to help."

Yu Lan explained to the woman, inwardly relieved that she hadn’t given up on researching the plague just because Louisa had taken medicine to Garbage Star. Now, her work might just come in handy.

Though her heart was filled with reluctance and fear, the woman suppressed her trembling and held out her child.

"Lanlan."

Jun Lin Yuan stepped forward first, taking the child from the woman’s arms. He shook his head at Yu Lan, his jaw set in a firm, unyielding line.

’No matter what, these people came from Garbage Star, where the plague is rampant. I’ve heard how terrifyingly contagious it is. I can’t let Lanlan have even the slightest chance of getting infected. I’m strong and healthy. I should be the one to do this.’

Yu Lan had no choice but to let Jun Lin Yuan hold the child. She turned her head and gestured for the woman to follow them.

Just as the group was turning to walk into the Science Research Institute, the large screen in the Central Square not far away began to make a crackling sound.

ZZZT! ZZZT! ZZZT!

This anomaly instantly drew everyone’s attention. Even Yu Lan, Jun Lin Yuan, and the others couldn’t help but turn to look.

Only the woman, who had been cautiously following behind them, remained motionless. Her lips were pressed into a thin, white line, her body ramrod straight.

The large screen in Central Square flickered for a moment.

The next second, a video started to play.

The scene was, shockingly, the current state of Garbage Star.

This was completely different from what the Empire’s citizens had been led to believe. It was nothing like the videos Louisa had released, which showed the people of Garbage Star receiving treatment, recovering, and preparing to rebuild a better home.

On the screen, countless people from Garbage Star were shown, wailing in agony.

[Princess Louisa lied to you.]

[What medicine? What ’the plague on Garbage Star is almost over’? It’s a lie! A lie! It’s all a lie!]

[It was just a show for you to see! The Empire chose profits! The Empire has abandoned us!]

[Save us! Save Garbage Star!]

On the screen, one after another, sallow, emaciated people with sickness etched on their faces cried out in pain and roared in indignation.

The woman, sent out with the combined hopes of Garbage Star to cry for help, had not failed them.

Fearing that Yu Lan might be just like Louisa, she had taken a precaution. Before seeking out the princess, she had already gone to several reporters with her information.

Among the silent majority, reporters were the brave ones who spoke out.

Reporters were also the last people in this era who told the truth.

The fact that the woman was able to arrive safely and smoothly before Yu Lan was not because she was particularly capable.

She was just an ordinary person. The only thing that set her apart, perhaps, was her good fortune in not having contracted the disease during Garbage Star’s massive plague outbreak.

That was why she was sent to the Central Star to seek help and expose everything.

But the journey was long, and she had to face countless inspections.

But there were also so many kind, ordinary people along the way who were willing to let her pass.

"It wasn’t for any kind of reward."

"We just couldn’t bear to see it."

"So what if they’re from Garbage Star? They’re our compatriots, too."

"Since the Royal Family is making such fools of us, then let them see the fury of the downtrodden."