The matter was of great importance, and the Mu Family indeed sent a special envoy the next day to investigate. Accompanying him was General Xu Qi. Originally intending to arrest Qi Ze, they were thwarted by Li Yu and were forced to settle for an interrogation, scheduled to take place at Neptune's military headquarters.
Li Yu had already prepared Qi Ze the previous night. Not only did he bring a large team of lawyers, he had also submitted an application to record and publicly broadcast the interrogation process. This was a citizen's legitimate right, and there was no reason for the military to refuse. Moreover, the Mu Family envoy, believing that the case was ironclad, saw no harm in outsiders knowing, and thus agreed without a second thought.
Yan Junyu sat beside Xu Qi, a lit cigarette between his fingers. In the ashtray beside him, several cigarette butts lay haphazardly.
Xu Qi sighed, "Yan Bo told me you've been smoking heavily recently. Take it easy, the Old Man is doing this for your own good. To tie your future to a carbon-based lifeform who's bound to have a short lifespan, I really don't know what you're thinking. Mu Ran spent hours last night coaxing the Marshal, that's why he's calmed down. Otherwise, you'd have been done as the young patriarch."
"The position of young patriarch, let whoever wants it take it." Yan Junyu stared intently at the door, his peripheral vision occasionally sweeping over the Mu envoy. This envoy was young, but his aura was impressive. He sat in a single sofa, legs crossed, eyes half-closed as if dozing, but occasionally revealing a cold gleam in his eyes.
He was clearly well-prepared, with piles of information packets filling the table, several bearing the distinctive red seal of the Mu Family and the Imperial House, indicating their high level.
A moment later, the door was pushed open from the outside. Qi Ze led the way, followed by the murderous-looking Young Master Ouyang on the left and the smiling Li Yu Family Head on the right. Behind them was a sea of heads; a quick count revealed at least forty or fifty. These were the lawyers, forensic experts, and recorders hired by the Li Family, each taking their seats around the round table. They pored over documents, set up equipment, and adjusted amplifiers, their presence more imposing than the Mu Family's.
The military receptionist looked helplessly, "Since you agreed to Li Yu Head's request to 'record the interrogation process', they brought their tools. This is a basic right of every citizen of the Empire, we cannot stop them. Try to understand each other."
"I can certainly understand." The Mu envoy opened his eyes, smiling and nodding. He never expected that even when facing off against the Mu Family, Li Yu would still support Qi Ze. But it didn't matter. The truth was the truth, and no matter how they wriggled, they couldn't escape it.
The two groups sat down around the round table. On one side, there were only six people, with empty space to the sides; on the other, there were at least forty or fifty social elites, all in black suits and white shirts, their expressions solemn and their gazes sharp. In terms of aura and presence, the Mu Family was already at a disadvantage.
Qi Ze sat lazily in the center, tapping his fingers on the table. "Let's get right to the point. I need to pack my bags and prepare to report to the Imperial Academy."
Yan Junyu touched his thin lips, to prevent them from curling uncontrollably. Although the situation was dire, seeing Qi Ze, he couldn't help but feel a sense of calm.
The Mu envoy had never seen a criminal so openly brazen. His composure, cultivated over the years, almost cracked. The veins on his forehead throbbed, and he decided to get straight to the point. "I've reviewed your exam paper. There are several high-level source codes that belong to the core technology of the Mu Family, and are also the highest state secret. With your status, you shouldn't have been able to access them. How do you explain this? Don't bother lying that you guessed it. Let me let you in on a secret. For other cases, the court could follow the principle of 'innocent until proven guilty.' However, since this involves the core technology of mecha fighters, the Imperial House has already approved a special document, instructing the court to follow the 'guilty until proven innocent' principle. In other words, if you can't prove your innocence, we can send you to prison."
His tone grew more severe. "Not only have you committed the crime of infringing intellectual property rights, you've also stolen state secrets. You're lucky if you're sentenced to life in prison. Now I'll give you a chance to confess. Tell me where you got the source code from. Who are you? What was your purpose?"
Xu Qi's expression also became serious. He suspected that Qi Ze was a Federation spy. But how could a spy make such a low-level mistake, writing the hard-stolen source code into his exam paper instead of selling it for a high price? There were more than enough Professors surnamed Mu in the Mecha Manufacturing Department for him to bump into by chance.
Qi Ze endured the lecture, waiting until the Mu envoy finished before tossing out an ancient book. "You ask me where I got the source code. I'll tell you, it's from the heirloom passed down by my ancestors. This is an ancient dictionary, recording tens of thousands of ancient characters, including their pronunciation, form, and meaning. All the answers I wrote on my exam paper came from here. I also have an appraisal certificate for this dictionary. It was unearthed on Earth, 40,000 years old. Its material is bamboo, sandalwood bark, dragon's beard grass, all species that only exist on Earth and are now extinct. This book is a complete antique, impossible to forge. Feel free to check it yourself. I doubt you'd say the contents of this book are also plagiarized from the Mu Family's source code."
Qi Ze slowly took a sip of water and continued. "If you really dare to say that, I'll just accept it. In the Black Eye Galaxy, there aren't many families as shameless as yours. Clearly, what's recorded in the ancient book, the cultural heritage left by our ancestors, was taken by you and registered as the intellectual property of the Mu Family. Intellectual property was meant to protect the origin of knowledge, but you've used it to cover up your plagiarism. If you aren't embarrassed, I'm embarrassed for you!"
As he narrated, the Mu envoy's expression turned extremely ugly. Realizing his fingertips were trembling, he quickly hid them under the table, rubbing them, only to find a layer of cold sweat. The Mu Family also possessed an ancient dictionary, passed down from their ancestors, only accessible to direct descendants. During a period, the Federation often dispatched hackers to decipher the source code of the Empire's mecha fighters. Master Mu Feixing had no choice but to change the traditional letter source code into a block source code, all derived from that dictionary.
From then on, no hacker could decipher the source code of the mecha fighters produced by the Mu Family, leaving even the other mecha manufacturers of the Empire out of this core technology. Slowly, the Mu Family became the leader in the mecha manufacturing industry, and this dictionary became the highest state secret, only accessible to the Mu Family Head and his successors.
Now, however, an even more ancient and comprehensive dictionary had appeared, and Qi Ze had openly taken it out, making the situation suddenly more complicated. The Mu envoy regained his composure and signaled Xu Qi to verify the authenticity of the dictionary.
The military staff quickly brought over an antique detector, and the results matched Qi Ze's description exactly. A 40,000-year-old dictionary, full of detailed and comprehensive content, with a spirit aura value of 2S. This was undoubtedly a national treasure, capable of filling in the cultural gap in the Huaxia Nation. If Qi Ze's answers really came from this book, the Mu Family would be in danger.
Xu Qi dared not think further. His throat felt slightly itchy, and he also wanted to find a cigarette to smoke. Li Yu had already filmed the conversation and obtained the military's public consent. If he angered him, Li Yu could instantly release all of this on the star network, that would be fun.
After confirming the authenticity of the dictionary, the staff put on white gloves. They compared the exam paper to the content of the dictionary, carefully searching for the answers. Half an hour later, they nodded slightly, indicating that the young man wasn't lying.
Qi Ze wasn't one to let someone off the hook when he had the upper hand. Seeing the Mu envoy's arrogance extinguished, he became even more assertive. He tapped the dictionary and sneered. "I understand without you saying it. Your Mu Family's source code must also come from some ancient dictionary. Otherwise, even if you had ten heads, you wouldn't be able to know the writing style and meaning of ancient characters. Now, it's not whether you're willing to let me off, but whether I'm willing to let you off. I was just taking an exam quietly, but you slapped me with the label of stealing state secrets, even saying you'll sentence me to life in prison, or even death. That's too much bullying, isn't it? Treating me like a soft target? Let me tell you, I've already photocopied this dictionary and sent it to the courier station. If I can't walk out of the military headquarters in one piece after half an hour, the courier company will send the dictionary to all the mecha manufacturers in the Empire. I think they'd definitely be interested in the Mu Family's source code. You don't have to think about tracking down which courier company it is. I've already warned them that once someone investigates, they should immediately send it out. The good thing about Neptune is that the black market business is too developed. As long as you can pay the price, you can find any bold merchant."
The Mu envoy was not only sweating in his palms, but his forehead was also covered in a dense layer of sweat. He had seen earlier that the content of this dictionary was much more comprehensive than the Mu Family's collection. That is, what's in the Mu Family's dictionary, it has; what's not in the Mu Family's dictionary, it also has. Even more, its unearthed age was several thousand years earlier than the Mu Family's dictionary. Which was the descendant of which, a single test would reveal. The hat of stealing source codes couldn't be pinned on Qi Ze, instead, the Mu Family might be criticized by the public as plagiarists.
This wasn't the main point. The main point was that once this dictionary spread, the Mu Family's closely guarded secret would be widely known by industry insiders, and the Mu Family's monopoly position would crumble overnight. Mecha fighters with the same performance, firepower, and operating system would sprout like mushrooms after a rain.
The Mu Family had great influence in the Empire, that was true, but at the same time, the Imperial House had long endured the Mu Family's arrogance. If the mecha manufacturing industry could achieve a state of parity and diversity, not only the Imperial House, but the other major families would be happy to see it.
As Qi Ze said, the positions had completely reversed. It was no longer whether the Mu Family would let go, but whether Qi Ze would be merciful. The Mu envoy didn't show it on his face, but his heart was virtually stopped. He vaguely felt that a catastrophe was looming for the Mu Family. This grand family, which had basked in glory for countless years, might walk down the path of decline by tomorrow.
But he couldn't do anything. One reason was because Li Yu could openly release the video in his hands at any time; the other was because of the dictionary that Qi Ze stored in the delivery station. The Mu Family came prepared, but who knew they were also prepared? Moreover, it was obvious that the chips they held were much heavier and scarier than the Mu Family's.
"Where did you get this dictionary? You're an orphan, how could you have a family heirloom?" The Mu envoy asked with insufficient confidence. The two secretaries he brought had already turned off the recorder and dared not speak at all. The severity of the matter far exceeded their expectations.
Qi Ze lifted his wrist, smiling ambiguously. "You have twenty-nine minutes left."
The Mu envoy secretly adjusted his breathing. He wanted to let the person go, but felt unwilling; if he didn't let him go, he dared not.
Xu Qi could no longer watch. He decided, "You may leave." The way the Mu Family handled this, he gritted his teeth, and a Federation word popped into his head - LOW, it was as low as it could get! It made him lose face as well! What they claimed to be their own invented source code, turned out to be plagiarism from their ancestors!
Qi Ze rose leisurely, smiling and nodding at Yan Junyu. "In the future, I will rely on Young Master Yan's care." Although these words sounded nice and were very polite, the sarcasm was sharp. Of the six people sitting opposite, only Yan Junyu didn't turn green.
"That's a given." Yan Junyu was the first to walk over and pushed open the door for the young man. He had originally prepared for the worst. Once the young man was convicted, he would send someone to whisk him away that night, to the Federation, to the primitive planet, anywhere, as long as he was alive and well. But the result was beyond his expectations, and even beyond the Mu Family's control.
In the Empire, the authority of the Mu Family was above that of the Imperial House, but they might never have imagined that one day, the entire foundation of their family would be shaken by a commoner. Yes, the dictionary in Qi Ze's hands was enough to topple the Mu Family, and effortlessly at that. The various families that had been suppressed by the Mu Family to the point of suffocation, even the Imperial House, would become his levers.
Yan Junyu silently watched the young man walk away, then turned back to the meeting room.
Xu Qi lit a cigarette and took a fierce drag. "Where did you find this wild kid? His courage is bigger than the sky! No, I have to quickly contact Old Man. We, the Yan Family, can't handle this, the Mu Family can't handle this, we need to involve the Imperial House and the Senate."
"Can they handle it?" Yan Junyu sneered. The Imperial House and the Senate publicly showed great respect to the Mu Family, but privately never stopped cultivating their own mecha manufacturing team, to prevent being held hostage by the Mu Family. Imagine, when a country's most powerful armed force is in the hands of a single family, whether it continues to prosper or collapses in a single day is entirely up to the family's will. How terrifying would that be?
Not only was the Senate afraid, weren't the other six major families? It was just that they had never been able to crack the core technology of the Mu Family, so they chose to tolerate and compromise. The power of the Mu Family Head had long exceeded all the limits that others could tolerate. This dictionary would certainly be revealed, the Senate wouldn't stop it, and the six major families wouldn't stop it. That was why Xu Qi let Qi Ze leave when the Mu envoy was thoroughly disoriented.
Breaking the Mu Family's monopoly status was in the interests of these aristocrats, even the entire Empire's population. It was just unknown which family would take the lead to make trouble.
The Mu envoy's hands trembled as he smoked two cigarettes, his mind slowly becoming clear, and he gradually realized that he shouldn't have let Qi Ze go. He glared fiercely at Xu Qi and pointed at Yan Junyu, his voice hoarse. "You two should wait for our Family Head's questioning."
"I'm truly sorry, I didn't think Qi Ze would have an ancient dictionary." Xu Qi wasn't ready to completely break with the Mu Family, so he hurriedly apologized. But this seemed more like a perfunctory act, making the Mu envoy's face even more sour. He didn't have time to argue and left the meeting room in a hurry with his two secretaries to report the situation to the Family Head.
Yan Bo was full of shock and horror. He vaguely realized that from today onwards, the towering palace that Mu Feixing built for the Mu Family would slowly crumble, and he was the fuse of it all. He offended Yan Junyu and Mu Ran, neither side would be pleased with him. This matter was so big, Head Helian couldn't possibly not know. He might also investigate his abuse of power, and Old Man would definitely make him shoulder all the blame.
Finished! Yan Bo slumped back in his chair, feeling regretful. If he had known that Qi Ze was a thorny ball that couldn't be touched, he definitely wouldn't have provoked him--
Qi Ze boarded the flying car, smiling ambiguously. "The Mu Family's envoy is only of this level. Anyone who dares to turn my Supreme Divine Creation Sect's top-notch inheritance into a common good, even if I perish, I'll drag him down with me! No matter how arrogant they are, when people die, they're dead. They can't enjoy the fruits of victory, can they?"
Li Yu said respectfully, "People with the courage and audacity like Young Master Qi are rare." He was truly impressed by Young Master Qi, daring to take on the Mu Clan alone and overthrowing them. His trouble-making capability was unparalleled in the entire Galaxy.
Ouyang Ye was younger and was a bit uncertain. "Young Master Qi, you've offended the entire Mu Family. Aren't you afraid they'll retaliate? You should quickly cancel the delivery. The Mu Family's power is too great, it's easy for them to deal with you."
"I'm a man who values fairness. You respect me an inch, and I respect you a foot; if you want to harm me, do you think I'll just stand there and let you hit me? The Mu Family came at me with full force, ready to sentence me to death. If I could still let them go, I wouldn't have the face to see my ancestors of the Qi family!" Thinking of his hatred following the sect's destruction, Qi Ze's words were filled with killing intent. His previous leniency was what led to his betrayal by his peers, even to the point of losing his family and being stranded in a foreign world. From now on, whoever dared to touch even a single hair on his head, he would cut off that person's hands.
"The Mu Family's power is indeed great, which makes them easier to deal with. We have a saying--'How can one allow others to snore beside one's bed?' There's also a term called 'overstepping one's bounds.' Do you understand what that means?"
Ouyang Ye's face was blank, and Li Yu thought about it for a moment and shook his head in confusion.
Qi Ze sneered. "How can one allow others to snore beside one's bed? It means 'How can one let others sleep soundly beside one's own bed?' It's a metaphor for not allowing others to intrude on one's own interests. Overstepping one's bounds refers to credit being so great that even the master can't suppress it. And the Mu Family has violated these two taboos. Over the years, they have violated not only the interests of the upper class but also endangered the safety of the entire Empire's population. Once the Empire can't satisfy their desires, they can easily switch sides and find a new master. The mighty Huaxia Empire, its lifeline in the hands of a single clan, who could feel at ease? As long as I leak the information, the Mu Family will be besieged on all sides, leaving them no time to deal with me. Of course, they are a major family, and they have their tricks. I can't help but beware."
Qi Ze began to publish the interrogation content online while writing a sentence. "All the people of the nation, pay attention. If I mysteriously disappear or die unexpectedly, the murderer is definitely the Mu Family."
The online world exploded, with all sorts of comments. Qi Ze's personal webpage was instantly overwhelmed by the surge of fans. Qi Ze didn't care and simply turned off the webpage, continuing. "The delivery can't be recalled. It was sent out last night. By now, it should have already been thoroughly studied by those mecha manufacturing masters."
Ouyang Ye was choked up, pounding his chest and coughing. He really thought the delivery was just a way for Young Master Qi to save his life, threatening the Mu Family but not really revealing it. He never expected that he sent it away last night. No wonder he spoke so resolutely in the meeting room, completely stunning everyone.
"Young Master Qi, you're too heartless and ruthless." Ouyang Ye said with difficulty.
"Can't compare to the Mu Family. If they hadn't provoked me, today wouldn't have happened. What you sow, you reap, it's all self-inflicted." Qi Ze waved his hand casually. "The delivery has been sent out. Naturally, there will be someone to help me clean up the mess. For a short time, no one will bother me. If the Mu Family has the ability, let them try to kill me. If they can't, I will definitely kill them in the future. This feud has been formed, and no one can resolve it. If you're afraid, quickly distance yourself from me." Qi Ze turned to look at Ouyang Ye, his tone serious.
Young Master Ouyang hurriedly shook his head, grinning. "Don't try to provoke me, Young Master Qi. I'm following you for the rest of my life."
Li Yu nodded. "That's right, Young Master Qi. In the future, please teach Xiao Ye more. Although his brain is dumb, he has enough brute force to be useful. Don't expect him to help you much, but as a bodyguard or a messenger, he's more than enough. As long as you don't mind, I'll leave him in your care."
Qi Ze didn't say anything, just ruffled Young Master Ouyang's head.
Initially, the interrogation video only circulated on Neptune, but due to the efforts of some people, it quickly spread throughout the entire star network. Fortunately, Xu Qi contacted the Senate in time, having them protect the mecha manufacturers who received the dictionary, preventing the Federation spies from taking advantage.
These mecha manufacturing masters originally didn't know the value of this book. After being placed under military surveillance and informed of the truth, their expressions could only be described as "richly varied." Qi Ze's choice of people was unique. The masters on his lucky list were all extremely dissatisfied with the Mu Family's technology monopoly, and had devoted their lives to deciphering the Mu Family's source code and inventing new operating systems. They possessed extensive knowledge, tenacious perseverance, a spirit of exploring and researching for the good of the nation, and differed from the Mu Family's utilitarianism. Everything they did was to make their motherland stronger and safer.
Therefore, the nation needed such talents, and thus formed a technical group, taking out one model of each type of fighter mecha for them to dismantle and study with the dictionary. It was believed that in no time, the Mu Family's monopoly would be broken.