Ultragene Warlord

le, and who knows what sorts of poison and disease they might carry? ”

The crown prince realized that he had taken his acting a step too far, and the ninth prince and Zhang Lie were taking advantage of that opening.

The king of the realm sighed.
”That the two of you could return so quickly is all I could ask for. ”

The king of the realm tried to smooth things over, his eyes betraying his words and revealing that he had seen through everything.

Nevertheless, it was too late.
The imperial physician was already making his way over.
After inspecting the crown prince ’s injuries, he was subject to a murderous glare from the crown prince.

He coughed and stammered, ”The c-crown prince ’s injuries are r-rather serious… ”

The crown prince was still looking at him expectantly, causing the imperial physician to suddenly change his stance.
”…but thanks to his strength, vigor, and youthful physique, he ’s already starting to recover.
I ’ll write him a prescription to speed up his recovery and prevent infection. ”

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The king of the realm nodded slowly.
”Very well. ”

Only then did the imperial physician, his forehead beading with sweat, retreat.
He glared at Zhang Lie as he stepped out of the tent.

The king of the realm ’s gaze landed on Zhang Lie.
”You did very well.
Even the crown prince suffered serious injuries, while you managed to protect the ninth prince perfectly.
A reward is due, I believe. ”

The ninth prince lifted a hand to his mouth to cover up his smile.

The crown prince bowed and interjected, ”Father, perhaps we should deal with the beast stampede first? ”

The king of the realm nodded.

The general asked, ”Princes, the two of you returned from deep within the hunting grounds.
Were you able to discover any reason for the stampede? ”

The reason the general hadn ’t asked this question earlier was because he didn ’t expect the ninth prince to know anything.
On the other hand, the crown prince, who had once quelled a rebellion, had some experience dealing with this sort of affair.

The crown prince shook his head.
”All I can say is that this beast stampede happened so suddenly and in such great numbers that it was likely a manmade incident, but I have no proof of such. ”

The ninth prince added, ”It was the Jinghun clan. ”

The king of the realm frowned.
”The Jinghun clan! ”

”Do you have any evidence, ninth brother? ”

The ninth prince shook his head.
”I learned of the matter and their involvement from my master. ”

The king of the realm turned to Zhang Lie.
”Indeed? ”

Zhang Lie bowed.
”Your majesty, I am confident in my hypothesis. ”

”And what do these Jinghun have to do with the beast stampede? ”

”They ’re able to control genetic lifeforms—the beasts that you refer to.
The third- and fourth-level lifeforms I slew possessed crystalline growths that serve as evidence for their involvement. ”

The ninth prince took out a translucent shard of crystal, which he had claimed from the carcasses.

”These crystals were introduced into these lifeforms ’ bodies by the Jinghun, who subsequently induced their growth and masterminded this stampede. ”

The king of the realm asked, ”Can we break them free of this compulsion? ”

Zhang Lie shook his head.
”Only the Jinghun clan can control these crystals.
Unless you destroy the crystalline growth on these lifeforms ’ bodies or kill the lifeforms themselves, you can ’t break them free of the compulsion.
Fortunately, the Jinghun can ’t control lifeforms that are too intelligent. ”

The crown prince understood the subtext behind Zhang Lie ’s words.
”In that case, you suspect that there are Jinghun within the hunting grounds.
Are you able to find them? ”

Zhang Lie shook his head.
”Unfortunately, that ’s outside of my abilities. ”

Zhang Lie wanted to watch the show unfold, after all.