To ensure the independence and security of its communications, Snake Scale City had always used a system completely separate from the Star Network. Because of this, the Star Shining Empire was unable to monitor their conversations.

Noah expertly operated his brooch, sending the photo he had just taken with Su Yaoyao to Mingye. He attached a message: "Mingye, take a guess who’s coming back."

After sending the message, he leaned back in his seat, a mysterious smile playing on his lips. He could already picture Mingye’s shocked expression.

Inside the Lord’s ancient, opulent castle in Snake Scale City, Mingye sat before a massive desk. His brow was furrowed as he studied intelligence reports on the Star Shining Empire’s military deployments.

Just then, his snake-shaped earring communicator lit up, and a message from Noah appeared in his line of sight.

Mingye’s gaze froze as he looked at Su Yaoyao’s adorable, dazed expression in the photo. His breathing grew ragged.

"Su Yaoyao..." His lips trembled slightly, a storm of emotions churning within him.

He traced her cheek in the photo, his touch full of longing.

Before long, Noah’s octopus brooch began to flash. It was a video call from Mingye.

Noah’s lips curved into a smile. ’He knew it,’ he thought. ’I’m not the only one who can’t forget Yaoyao.’

It took so little to throw Mingye completely off balance.

He accepted the call, and Mingye’s cold, stern face appeared on the screen. Even as a virtual image, Noah could feel his ever-present air of authority.

Mingye’s eyes swept across the cabin, filled with a sense of urgency and expectation, but he saw no sign of Su Yaoyao.

"Don’t bother looking. Yaoyao’s in her own cabin," Noah said with a smug smile.

Mingye’s brow furrowed. "How did you end up with Su Yaoyao?" he asked slowly.

Noah gave Mingye a mysterious look, a cunning glint in his eyes. "You must have seen the footage of Yaoyao becoming the Holy Female, right? It was broadcast on a loop across the entire interstellar network and caused a massive uproar."

He paused, as if savoring the memory, before continuing with a sigh. "Suddenly, every male in the galaxy fell for her, all of them scrambling for a chance to be with the Holy Female. And me? I’m here representing the Sea Clan to propose a marriage alliance."

At these words, Mingye’s calm expression instantly tightened, and a strange, sour feeling welled up in his heart.

He pressed his lips together, a complex mix of emotions flashing in his eyes—annoyance at Noah for mentioning marriage, and anxiety over Su Yaoyao being pursued by so many males.

Seeing Mingye’s reaction, Noah was secretly delighted and decided to provoke him further. He added fuel to the fire, saying:

"Mingye, if you don’t hurry up and go after her, you’re really going to lose your chance.

You have no idea. There are countless males who’ve come to propose marriage—royalty and nobility from every star system. Even His Majesty the Emperor has set his sights on Yaoyao.

The line of suitors is long enough to stretch to the edge of the galaxy."

"You’re talking about Augustine?" Mingye’s voice rose involuntarily, a flash of disdain in his eyes.

Noah clicked his tongue in mock surprise. "Wow, you dare to use His Majesty’s name so freely. Aren’t you afraid word will get back to him and bring you a world of trouble?"

Mingye scoffed, his tone dripping with contempt. "Hmph. He ignores the suffering of his own people and is about to attack Snake Scale City, plunging countless lives into misery. You expect me to call him ’His Majesty’? His actions don’t deserve an ounce of my respect."

Far from being offended, Noah broke into a smile of admiration.

It was exactly this kind of bold, powerful personality that made him want to be friends with Mingye in the first place.

"But things are different this time. In fact, Yaoyao and I are on our way to Snake Scale City right now." Noah said, deliberately leaving him hanging. A sense of smug satisfaction washed over him as he watched Mingye’s confused expression.

"What do you mean?" Mingye’s brows knitted together, his eyes full of confusion. He couldn’t begin to guess the true meaning behind Noah’s words.

Noah cleared his throat and said with a straight face, "The Empire is going to amend its laws to include protections for males after marriage."

Mingye was taken aback by this news, and a complex mix of emotions stirred within him.

As the Lord of Snake Scale City, he was well aware of the helplessness and injustices faced by many of the Empire’s males in marriage. The introduction of such a law felt like a ray of hope for all of them.

But he was a deep thinker, after all. He quickly calmed himself and began to ponder. ’The Empire has always been obstinate. Why would they suddenly agree to change the law so easily? There has to be a reason.’

Mingye thought for a long time before an image of Su Yaoyao flashed through his mind. "Is it because of Su Yaoyao?" he asked tentatively.

Noah smiled and nodded in confirmation.

"Yes, it was the Holy Female’s request. She couldn’t bear to see the Empire and Snake Scale City go to war and watch the people suffer. So, she hopes to resolve the conflict between the Empire and Snake Scale City peacefully and prevent a war from breaking out.

To that end, she presented a series of requests to His Majesty the Emperor, including the legal amendment, hoping it would lead to peace talks."

Upon hearing this, Mingye’s admiration and love for Su Yaoyao deepened.

Noah then explained the whole situation to Mingye in detail: how Su Yaoyao was coming to Snake Scale City as a representative of the Star Shining Empire to negotiate a peace treaty, and how he had joined her delegation.

Only then did Mingye understand. Su Yaoyao had left Snake Scale City in the first place to stop the Star Shining Empire from declaring war.

"So... that’s why..." Mingye murmured to himself. The love he had buried deep in his heart, like embers fanned back to life, began to burn fiercely once more.

Once, Su Yaoyao had been a brilliant light in his life, illuminating his dark, cold world.

Even after she left, that love had only been forcibly suppressed, never truly extinguished.

After a moment of silence, Mingye frowned slightly and said in a low voice, "But amending the law to provide security for its citizens is something the Empire should have been doing all along."

’To think he could get his hands on my technology just for that... Augustine’s way of asking for a favor was far too arrogant.’

On the other end of the communicator, Noah quickly nodded in agreement. "Exactly. Which means our great Lord can make a few demands of his own."

Mingye’s eyes narrowed dangerously, his sharp gaze seeming to pierce through the screen and see right through Noah’s little scheme. "What are you plotting now?" he asked coldly.

Noah knew he couldn’t hide anything from Mingye, who knew him too well. He sighed in resignation and confessed, "Fine. I want you to propose becoming Su Yaoyao’s Beast Husband during the peace negotiations."

The moment he heard this, Mingye’s ears instantly turned beet red. He never imagined Noah would suggest such a thing.

He froze for a second, then subconsciously asked, "Why?"