Many men can survive in the direst of straits, but when success and beautiful women are within reach, they often falter in their final years.

The woman in Karu’s arms was his new bride, fresh from their wedding. While not quite a complete failure in his later years, it was close enough; he was dizzy with elation, struggling to distinguish north from south.

Iliya’s eyes were silken with seduction, yet beneath them lay perfect clarity.

A faint, scornful smile flickered across her lips and vanished instantly before she leaned into the role, wrapping her arms around his neck and offering her soft mouth.

Karu felt his life had been worth it.

Karu’s mind was utterly relaxed, but his body was taut, primed for action! He eagerly lifted Iliya, tossing her onto the super-king bed large enough for four people, and pressed his body down upon hers.

He held Iliya tightly, crushing her body against his, capturing her lips with his own. His tongue darted in quickly, ravenously attempting to drain every drop of sweetness from her mouth.

Iliya couldn't suppress a soft moan.

Moments later, the five-million-credit custom wedding dress was roughly torn away by Karu. He acted like an impetuous youth who had never known a woman, leaving a bright red mark where he squeezed her body.

As a military commander, Karu's strength had always been formidable.

Iliya grimaced and patted him: “Be gentler, it hurts!”

Karu paid her no mind.

The sensation was akin to rape.

A dark glint appeared in Iliya’s eyes. Her hand moved toward the nape of Karu’s neck; on her right index finger, she wore a ring, and through the gap in her fingers, the sharp needle extending from the ring was faintly visible.

With the slightest movement, Karu would cease to live.

She hesitated.

Karu, dissatisfied with her distraction, caught her hand. “Darling, don’t let your mind wander.”

The instant he reached for her, Iliya retracted the needle. Karu, completely unaware he had just walked the edge of the abyss, remained in a state of intoxicated fervor.

Iliya embraced his neck again, pulling him toward her, and pouted: “Who told you your technique was poor?”

Poor technique—that was an immense insult to any man.

Karu playfully, half-annoyed, scraped his nose: “Let’s see who can’t get out of bed today.”

Iliya simply didn't reply, offering her fragrant lips once more.

As their tongues danced, Iliya skillfully used her tongue to peel away the outer coating of a sugar pill that dissolved instantly upon contact, silently slipping it into Karu’s mouth.

Karu only registered that the taste between Iliya’s lips held an unprecedented sweetness, a sensation he had never experienced with any other woman; he adored the feeling of soaring ecstasy.

“Darling, you are so sweet.”

Karu gasped, resting his head in the hollow of Iliya’s neck, whispering near her ear.

Iliya held Karu close, a fleeting look of triumph crossing her face as she smoothly pushed him back slightly. “Mr. President, even though we’ve reached this point, we can’t afford to be careless. We must be wary of that slut Bai Lanxue. And Peizhe, who appeared so strangely at the start of the banquet—we…”

Karu, utterly lost in passion, had no capacity to process what Iliya was saying. He grumbled, covering her lips, “Darling, this time is just for us. No distractions, or I’ll spank you.”

Iliya closed her eyes and fell silent.

Karu was finally satisfied with her obedience, allowing his body to move unrestrainedly over hers.

However, perhaps due to neglecting his regular check-ups at the recuperation center or simply being exhausted from work, he couldn't sustain the effort for long. He felt dizzy—perhaps it was the lack of oxygen since the Koly Hotel was sealed off?

His thoughts seemed beyond his control.

His movements grew sluggish.

Karu lay heavy upon Iliya, forgetting to move.

Iliya looked at him with utter contempt: “Sleep next to me!”

Karu nodded obediently: “Sleep next to me,” and then rolled heavily to the side.

His body was rigid, his tone flat, as if bewitched.

Seeing him like this, Iliya finally revealed the most contented smile she had worn all day.

To hell with Karu!

Iliya flung off the bed; the first thing she did was bathe.

Karu had drooled a little on her, which was disgusting.

The Presidential Suite was fully equipped. She soaked luxuriously in the tub, and by the time she emerged, the marks Karu had left were almost entirely gone. Wrapped in a towel, she turned once in front of the mirror, satisfied; looking like this, she could make anyone fall at the mercy of her towel, easily!

Her breasts—gleaming, lubricated, and firm—made even her own heart race with excitement!

Barefoot, she walked out of the bathroom and settled onto a seat in the outer lounge, propping both legs up on the coffee table. The towel barely covered her most private parts, revealing a perfect curve.

Sitting before the monitoring console, Iliya felt as if she were on a stage center, exposed to the gaze of thousands, showcasing her allure without reservation.

In the monitoring room, the figures of Red Hair and Lan Li flashed across the screen, then vanished.

Speaking of Red Hair, a fire of jealousy flared in Iliya’s eyes.

Red Hair was the textbook example of a female powerhouse in the space age.

She was beautiful, curvaceous, and possessed undeniable charisma; men always clustered around her, yet she never gave them a second look. In terms of rank, Red Hair was no less capable than any man; in strategy, she vastly outmaneuvered her male peers; in execution, she was clean, decisive, and chillingly ruthless.

In short, Red Hair was Iliya’s target.

Iliya had investigated Red Hair long ago, but since she wasn’t an immediate adversary, and with too many enemies already demanding her attention, she had shelved the matter for later.

Now, seeing her walk past with Lan Li in the corridor, Iliya scoffed, “Putting on an act of purity? She still has to use her body to seduce men!”

She shifted her focus from Red Hair, scrutinizing the monitors for Bai Lanxue instead.

Bai Lanxue was her greatest enemy right now!

Her eyes darted across the monitoring screens, finally locking onto a small corner display.

Peizhe was there with Bai Lanxue!

She narrowed her eyes slightly and rewound the footage to the scene involving Peizhe Chu Xiang: Peizhe Chu Xiang was seen outside the entrance to the diplomatic hall, holding Bai Lanxue hostage.

When the incident first broke, Bai Lanxue had been seized by Peizhe. With numerous security personnel present, just as Peizhe was about to be shot dead, he went berserk!

On the screen, Peizhe moved with the speed of a martial arts master, throwing Bai Lanxue aside and scattering the security guards in disarray.

Several thoughts flashed through Iliya’s mind instantly.

First: “Why is Peizhe still alive?”

Second: “How is Peizhe’s skill so high?”

Third: “If only I could make him work for me!”

Just then, the metal walls of the hotel descended, throwing the guards into panic. Peizhe let out a terrified shriek and charged forward aimlessly like a bull, abandoning even Bai Lanxue.

What a shame, she didn’t choke that woman to death.

Iliya thought venomously.

She stopped focusing on Peizhe, making a mental note: find an opportunity to seduce Peizhe. She was certain Peizhe had come to the venue today because he still held feelings for her!

Then, she returned her attention to Bai Lanxue.

Bai Lanxue was sharp enough to have sensed foul play the moment she encountered the poisoned cup.

She had seen these tricks many years ago.

However, for the moment, she couldn't quite grasp who this scheme was targeting, or who the true mastermind was.

There were too many schemers present. As long as it didn't involve her, she could watch coolly, intending to settle accounts with the presumptuous conspirator later.

If it did involve her, hmph!

Bai Lanxue had never feared anything, even within the confines of this sealed hotel.

The tighter the enclosure, the more venomous the conspiracy.

She was starting to look forward to it.

Yet, she also made a mental note: during this lockdown, she absolutely had to find a chance to eliminate Peizhe, or subdue him. Keeping him around was a hazard!

Thinking this, Bai Lanxue turned to find Rayner.

It wasn't that she trusted Rayner implicitly, but it was too late to find her confidants now.

This interstellar war hadn't concluded yet, and for her, it was already a failure because Fia and the Federation had formed an alliance!

She detested the concept of an alliance.

In her view, the Interstellar Federation shouldn't engage directly; inciting various large and small legions into a brawl while reaping the rewards was the only way.

Alliances were bullsh*t!

From this failure, she drew a lesson: never put all your eggs in one basket, or when the basket falls, nothing remains!

Her trusted aides had all been dispatched to orchestrate the seizure of Karu’s military power, and she hadn't expected such an incident to occur during a mundane diplomatic event.

It was infuriatingly despicable.

She glanced back at the corridor she had just traversed, where the white gauze curtains for the Spring Festival still hung. A sudden realization struck her: this couldn't be the plot of a minor legion.

If her guess was correct, was Karu attempting to hold the Emperor hostage to command the lords?!

Damn it!

Several candidates to protect the President flashed through Bai Lanxue’s mind.

Without hesitation, she dashed forward. Running too quickly, she failed to notice someone rounding the corner, and smack—

They both tumbled to the ground.

Bai Lanxue sat up, her face green: "Damn, it’s this lingering ghost Rayner again!"

Rayner paused momentarily, then scrambled up using all fours.

He was perhaps unlucky, and yet lucky. After being thrown by Peizhe earlier, the dazed Rayner had no appetite for drinking; he had only been focused on clutching his injured spots and writhing on the floor. Just as the pain subsided slightly, Bai Lanxue ran into him again.

Who did he cross to deserve this?

Bai Lanxue stared intently at his movements: “Are you healed?”

Rayner grimaced: “Yes.”

—Even the little brother was ruined.

Bai Lanxue stood up, adopting a superior posture: “I can heal you, but you must do one thing for me. Are you willing?”