The host moved the microphone slightly away, lowering his voice, "We just received word that after you sent out your invitations, Bai Lanxue, in the name of the Federal President, also sent out invitations asking them over for tea. Now, the Legion leaders and reporters are all gathered in the VIP lounge." Karu was never a man of excessive restraint, and already furious that Bobo hadn't shown up, hearing these words made the veins visibly pop on his forehead; Bai Lanxue was pushing him too far!

He addressed the host, "If they don't come, they don't come. We start when the time is up." He silently added to himself, he would definitely make those who refused to come pay the price!

At that moment, the VIP lounge was buzzing with activity. Bai Lanxue received the various Legion leaders like an elegant hostess.

She was extremely pleased with herself for having stolen Illya's spotlight. Even Queen Fia had appeared in the VIP lounge, rather than at Illya’s wedding venue.

A smile played on her lips. She, Bai Lanxue, was the main attraction!

The proportion of women in the VIP lounge was extremely low, perhaps only three percent. Besides her, there was only the Redhead, Queen Fia, and the female companions brought by two or three minor Legion leaders.

Bai Lanxue was supremely confident that she would be the media's darling, displaying a flawless smile and noble etiquette from every angle. However, Bai Lanxue had forgotten one crucial thing: she was not a beautiful woman.

Her figure and appearance were utterly unremarkable amidst a crowd of men, and the most luxurious brand's sky-blue gown she wore today looked as if it had been draped over a man. In a way, Bai Lanxue’s extreme self-confidence regarding her looks, coupled with her refusal of cosmetic alteration, was an act of great audacity.

But in this kind of scene, reporters were utterly unforgiving. All they cared about was ratings!

Among those present, there were quite a few people who could boost ratings, but the most prominent one was the Redhead, first and foremost. Men loved politics.

Men loved the military. Those who followed these two fields had an excess of hormones, all of them wishing they could be on the battlefield themselves.

The conservative, long-established methods of warfare favored by the old guard hardly caught their attention; the only things that could truly captivate them were beautiful women and aggressive combat styles. There was only one person who possessed both these prerequisites: the Redhead!

The Redhead boasted a stunning length of red hair, lustrous and shimmering, standing out starkly amidst the sea of black, chestnut, and blonde locks. Secondly, the Redhead was tall, and with fifteen-centimeter heels, she towered a full half-head over some men wearing dress shoes.

Furthermore, the Redhead was wearing a fiery red evening gown! This gown, which required five meters of fabric, used very little for the bodice, leaving the entire back bare, while the skirt layered three times inside and three times outside.

It possessed a subtle sheen, devoid of diamonds or embellishments, yet it was so scorching hot it could make a group of men practically bleed. Red hair paired with a red dress, viewed from afar, resembled a proud, blazing flower, inspiring awe.

She didn't need to flirt or preen; she had instantly become the most dazzling and vibrant color amidst the sea of men dressed in black, white, and grey suits. If beauty were all she possessed, men would view her as nothing more than a lovely vase, paying little serious attention.

But since the war began, the Redhead had accomplished several feats that shook the world. Every conflict saw many fall, and many others rise to riches; the Redhead belonged to the latter group.

She made a fortune by reselling warships, salvaging wrecks, and selling vast quantities of ammunition to legions engaged in conflict. When the Interstellar Federation and the Fia Allied Forces advanced into the Angel Star Domain, threatening the safety of the Wolf's Den, she stepped forward and single-handedly turned the tide...

Most powerfully, the Redhead had subdued all the pirates in the Tama Star System, and half the pirates in the Tem Star System had already pledged allegiance to her. The Redhead was now an interstellar legend.

She was the goddess figure for every warmonger. The Military Council had long been a man's domain, and the warmongers were sick of a group of old men endlessly debating.

Every time the Redhead's image appeared in the headlines, their spirits soared. Previously, the warmongers' primary focus had been Queen Fia.

But Queen Fia was aging; compared to the rising star that was the Redhead, she was too conservative, too set in her ways, and destined to be replaced. The Redhead became the darling of the military headlines.

Even the Wolf's Den, due to her presence, had seen a massive spike in exposure. No matter where she went, she would be swarmed by reporters.

"Are you here to negotiate? We heard the Federation and Fia’s joint forces have already reached your doorstep—will you surrender?" "Every time you attend a meeting, you appear with Lan Li, the Deputy Commander of the Angel Legion.

Are you two in a relationship?" "Some say that the Tang Sect only allied with the Wolf's Den because the Young Master of the Tang Sect is fond of you. Is this true?" Military matters were indeed the focus, but gossip was universally loved, especially concerning the private life of this stunning redhead.

Reporters pressed forward while asking questions, one microphone nearly knocking against the Redhead's teeth. The Redhead calmly stepped back, her smile impeccable: "I am here to congratulate Mr.

Karu and Ms. Illya, and this has nothing to do with the war.

The Wolf's Den is doing well, and its future will be even brighter; there is no need to worry." Then, she raised her hand to check her watch, "I have a pressing engagement." The reporters persisted: "What about the Young Master of the Tang Sect? Is he providing aid because he has a thing for you?" The Redhead actually felt like lashing out.

But the media was not a Legion; striking them would ruin her reputation across space. She could afford to be unrestrained with the media before, but now, bearing the title of Combat Director of the Wolf's Den, she couldn't be too reckless.

Suppressing her impatience, just as she was about to reply, a reporter shoved forward and shouted: "The Strategic Weapons Director of the Wolf's Den has fallen. Will all future Wolf's Den warships be supplied by the Tang Sect?

Has the Wolf's Den reached an agreement with the Tang Sect?" Another reporter smelled a scoop and immediately followed up: "How did the Strategic Weapons Director of the Wolf's Den die? Is it true she perished alongside Admiral Morin in the Tuba Star System?

Why did she do that?" The Redhead paused slightly, her expression turning serious: "I wish to make a solemn announcement here today: our Strategic Weapons Director, Zi Ye, never went to the Tuba Star System, nor did she ever meet Admiral Morin. She has been diligently working on combat matters on an affiliated planet of our Wolf's Den Legion." After finishing, she didn't rush to leave but stood her ground with a faint smile: "In one month, at the warship exhibition center at Space Station Korai VII, the latest works by our Strategic Weapons Director will be unveiled in full display.

Everyone is welcome to attend." The reporters erupted in excitement. So Zi Ye had only been hiding on the planet creating secret weapons!

No wonder she hadn't shown up for so long! Were those warships supplied by the Tang Sect actually Zi Ye's designs?

Was the cooperation between the Wolf's Den and the Tang Sect merely a smokescreen, using the Tang Sect's name to sell Zi Ye's warships? That was quite a bit of information to process!

-RS