Kading pushed open the door to Graces’ office, an irrepressible smile on his face. "Money really does make things happen. We bought out all fifty-eight light screens across the Empire for a simultaneous broadcast. The effect couldn’t have been better. That old crone has probably fainted from rage by now. I just wonder if her medical team is competent enough to save her."

Listening to Kading’s gloating, Graces didn’t object. "For now, we’re not going to do anything. We’ll let public opinion ferment."

Kading’s face was full of anticipation. "Of course. Now we get to sit back and enjoy the show. The most exciting part is next."

The words had barely left his mouth when he turned to Graces. "Imagine how much angrier that old crone would be if she found out our sponsor is a member of her own Imperial Family."

Graces looked at Kading. "Watch what you say. Don’t reveal this to anyone."

"Of course I know what to say and what not to say, don’t worry. I’m just venting to you. It’s because I’m just so happy."

Infuriating that old crone to the point of a breakdown without losing a single soldier—Kading couldn’t think of a more worthwhile endeavor.

"Those two have been taken away. Don’t worry, they won’t escape."

Graces knew Kading was referring to Mrs. Dain and Victoria. For now, their purpose was essentially fulfilled. Keeping them alive would only serve to periodically annoy Her Majesty Queen. Graces wasn’t particularly concerned about whether they lived or died, so he said nothing and immediately changed the subject. "I have to meet someone tonight. Make the arrangements. Don’t let anyone else know my whereabouts."

The playful look on Kading’s face vanished. He asked seriously, "You’re going to see him? Can he really be persuaded to defect?"

"How will we know if we don’t try?"

With that, Graces stood, took a file from his safe, and grabbed his jacket from the coat rack. "I’m leaving you in charge here."

Kading immediately saluted, signifying his commitment to the task.

After watching Graces depart, Kading let out a faint sigh. At times, he really couldn’t stand the intimidating pressure Graces exuded.

Even though they were close and he knew Graces would never harm him, the pressure from Graces’s bloodline still filled him with fear. He didn’t know just how powerful Graces truly was, and he certainly didn’t dare try to find out.

Graces left the Alliance Army garrison and piloted his private hover car to the predetermined location.

The moment he stepped out of the car, he noticed the covert security deployment in the area. ’So typical of Admiral Snop.’

The instant Graces appeared, Admiral Snop received confirmation of his arrival.

Learning that the Alliance Army’s representative was Graces, Admiral Snop was stunned, caught off guard, and even a little enraged.

At that very moment, Graces pushed open the door and walked into the private restaurant room where they had agreed to meet.

The moment he saw Graces, Admiral Snop shot to his feet, grabbed him by the collar, and slammed him against the wall. "Are you insane? Why would you do this?"

Admiral Snop’s eyes blazed with fury and disbelief. He never would have imagined that the commander of the Rebel Army was his own most capable subordinate. Before this, Graces had never shown any sign of treason. He’d never conceived that Graces would take such a step, so he couldn’t understand it, much less sympathize with it.

Graces didn’t struggle, allowing Admiral Snop to hold him there. He showed no emotional reaction to the Admiral’s furious questions.

He calmly looked at the furious Admiral Snop and said, "I apologize for meeting you under these circumstances, Admiral Snop. But I do not regret my actions, and my conscience is clear."

"’You don’t regret it,’ huh? A ’clear conscience’? Then tell me why you did it. You’d better have one hell of a reason to convince me, Graces!"

Snop stared at him, as if his intense gaze alone could extract the answer he so desperately wanted.

Graces straightened his clothes and handed the file he’d brought to Admiral Snop. "You can take a look. Of course, my reasons for doing this aren’t limited to what’s in there."

Admiral Snop took it, opened it, and pulled out the documents inside. He scanned through them, reading ten lines at a glance. His expression shifted from his initial fury to shock, then to disbelief, and finally back to fury—only this time, it wasn’t directed at Graces.

"How can this be? How could Her Majesty Queen do such a thing?" The file documented the entire process of Her Majesty Queen conducting biochemical experiments on young children in the Border Star System.

"I have video footage as well. If you feel this file is insufficient, you can watch the footage for yourself."

Admiral Snop’s eyes trembled, the corners of his mouth twitching. He looked at Graces. "Is this the reason you’ve gone this far?"

"That is certainly part of the reason. But more importantly, I refuse to let my Female Master suffer any unjust treatment. I can no longer place my complete trust in the Imperial Family, so I must forge a new path. I imagine you, Admiral Snop, have long been aware of the Imperial Family’s corruption."

Faced with such a question, Admiral Snop, for once, did not argue.

As a general of the Empire, how could he fail to see the decay within the Imperial Family? In fact, the current Imperial Family was rotten to the bone.

They were selfish and self-serving, had never done anything beneficial for the Empire, and were only interested in papering over the cracks to maintain a facade of peace.

So, when the Rebel Army rose up, he hadn’t actually been too surprised. He only felt it was a matter of time. But he had never, ever imagined that the one orchestrating it would be Graces. Now, his gaze held a new layer of complexity as he looked at him.

"So, what is your purpose in coming to me? Don’t think I won’t arrest you. If I capture you, the Rebel Army will naturally fall apart."

"I’m sure you have the power to do so, but I’m also sure you won’t. I came to see you for one reason only, Admiral Snop: I need you to join the Alliance Army and overthrow the Imperial throne."

He spoke with a powerful, resonant voice—direct, blunt, and completely unabashed, as if he weren’t uttering words of high treason at all.

Even though Admiral Snop had his suspicions, hearing the words spoken aloud still made his pupils contract. He hadn’t expected Graces to be so bold as to say it outright. "You’re insane, but I’m not!"

Graces continued, "The gene fusion agent can already allow defective males to become Gene Fusion Experts, even perfect ones. You know this. But there is one more thing that you don’t know."

Admiral Snop looked at Graces but said nothing. Graces had already raised his hand, and a ball of flame appeared in his palm. At the sight, Admiral Snop’s eyes widened involuntarily, and he let out a shocked gasp. "You have a superpower!"

A smile touched Graces’s lips, clearly satisfied with Admiral Snop’s reaction. He said softly, "It’s a gift from Xiaxia."