As soon as Lien roared out those words, the Crown Prince's face darkened. Originally intending to deal with Lu Yu, he now wished both of them would just drop dead.

He glared coldly at Lien. "If you don’t want to walk out of here alive, just say so. It makes no difference whether you’re here or not."

Then he turned to Lu Yu. "Correction—whether any of you are here or not makes no difference."

"This stupid alliance hasn’t accomplished a single thing since the day it was formed."

"Forever oscillating between acting clever and getting caught—not one minor success has come from working with you."

"I don’t see any reason for this alliance to continue existing."

Lu Yu chuckled. "That’s a bit harsh. It’s not like we’ve gained nothing, though—"

Before he could finish, Lien cut in impatiently. "Stop deflecting, damn it."

"Who said we’re desperate to work with you? Isn’t it because you’re too stupid to handle that woman, even with all the prison guards at your disposal, that you came crawling to us?"

"Now I’m asking you—how the hell did you end up in that woman’s bed when you were supposed to meet the contact?"

"Don’t tell me your contact was hiding under the mattress."

The Crown Prince found the idiot’s words utterly revolting, but Niu Xi interjected, "Probably outsmarted by the Warden."

"The Warden had me instruct the coder to tweak the program earlier. Seems she anticipated your plan and set a trap."

The Crown Prince, Lu Yu, and Lien stiffened, then slowly turned to stare at Niu Xi, who had just openly admitted to betrayal.

Lien lunged at him. "So it was your doing, you bastard!"

"And you had the nerve to say it outright?"

Lu Yu’s gaze darkened as he studied Niu Xi. "Right… The Warden hinted at this back in the simulation. I forgot afterward, with His Highness causing so much trouble."

"So it really was you passing false intel and sabotaging us?"

"Niu Xi, by saying this so bluntly, have you decided to betray me?"

Niu Xi shrugged. "Not at all, Boss. You know my position—I take orders from both you and the Warden. I don’t dare disobey either."

"That just leaves it to you two to outmaneuver each other. I’m just the tool—no messages, no leaks. Whoever’s smarter wins."

Lu Yu sighed inwardly. Fair enough.

Niu Xi had caught the Warden’s eye—useful, efficient. If the Warden demanded his cooperation, he couldn’t refuse. Asking him to defy her before their escape was both foolish and unfair.

Lu Yu nodded. "Fine. I was outplayed this time. The failure isn’t on you."

Niu Xi was just a messenger. Even without him, the Warden could’ve forced the coder’s hand another way.

But Lien suddenly muttered, "What did you get out of this?"

Niu Xi smirked. "Like talking to a bull about music."

Lien frowned. "What?"

Niu Xi. "You wouldn’t get it."

Lien seethed. It was clearly something indecent, but his limited imagination couldn’t grasp what that woman had done.

He glanced around. Lu Yu, that bastard, had endured several "punishments"—meaning it had happened more than once.

And Niu Xi, that shameless scoundrel, always reaped some reward for his dirty work.

Now even the Crown Prince had fallen prey. The man looked furious now, but Lien knew—that kind of reaction meant it would happen again.

In just one day, Lien felt surrounded by enemies.

Fine. No more pretending. He was replaying that day in his head, craving a repeat.

He even wished the Warden would show the same expression in reality as she had in the simulation.

So Lien tested the waters. "Guess our alliance is done for?"

Lu Yu sighed. "No need to be so rash."

He turned to the Crown Prince. "Are you really that hung up on the 'defilement'? It was just the simulation. And you had no memory then—just treat it like a dream."

The Crown Prince’s scalp prickled at the word "defilement." "You dare bring that up? Not everyone’s a beast with no principles like you!"

He sneered. "Almost forgot—you’re the scum who forced someone to wash your fishtail for hours. What integrity do you even have?"

Lu Yu. "Listen to yourself. Do you really think I forced the Warden to wash my tail?"

"You’re still buying her lies? Are you okay?"

Lien. "Wait—she washed your tail for hours?"

Lu Yu. "…"

Staring at Lien’s jealous face, he nearly forgot his point.

Taking a deep breath, he said to the Crown Prince, "Have the guards bring you a memory suppressant."

The drug was used after long simulation sessions to protect the user’s core memories and personality from being diluted by the simulated experiences.

With it, everything in the simulation would fade like a dream, soon forgotten.

But the Crown Prince remained silent for a long time before finally saying, "No."

Lu Yu. "What?"

The Crown Prince’s eyes were bloodshot. "I refuse."

"I don’t run from shame. Every humiliation, every trick she played on me—I’ll remember it all and pay her back double one day."

Lu Yu turned away, inwardly lamenting. Another one lost.

Before his gloom could peak, Lien spoke up. "Well, since that’s settled, no need to worry about teamwork."

"You’ve seen how harsh she’s gotten with us lately, thanks to all our moves."

"Since we’re stuck here for now, I’ll do what I must to improve my conditions."

Lu Yu rubbed his temples. "Just say you’re selling yourself outright."

The Crown Prince. "…"

Niu Xi. "…"

Had this pirate really no shame left?

Meanwhile, Shen Ying sat on her bed, skimming the day’s news before sleep.

Nothing noteworthy—major events buried under flashy, trivial headlines.

Only fragments surfaced, the full picture obscured.

[Emperor’s Health Improves—Royal Physicians Report Optimism.]

[Minor Unrest on B-16 Planet—Clashes Between Locals and Corporations.]

[Parliament Members Rally to Strip Crown Prince’s Succession Rights—Supporters Clash.]

No denying it—the young, handsome, war-hero Crown Prince enjoyed overwhelming public support.

But the most explosive, controversial news was just a smokescreen.

B-16 was another junk planet, though recent discoveries of rare minerals had changed its fate.

This mineral could potentially increase mental capacity limits, making it an unparalleled strategic resource in the interstellar era.

It held the key to enhancing the overall strength of the military, and thus countless factions and capital poured in.

However, the residents of the garbage planet did not benefit from their homeworld’s treasure. As one of the earliest garbage planets, after centuries of reproduction and development, Planet B-16 now housed hundreds of millions of inhabitants.

Relocating and resettling such a massive population would require an astronomical sum. Moreover, the extraction method for this special mineral involved destructive plowing, leaving over half the planet’s residents homeless.

The so-called "minor unrest" reported in the news was merely the result of desperate individuals risking their lives to capture evidence and bypass layers of network censorship, finally exposing the truth to the public.

Yet that glimpse of brutality was swiftly distorted by powerful factions and capital, downplaying the severity while diverting attention with more sensational headlines.

After all, what could possibly concern the Empire more right now than the Crown Prince’s predicament?

Before long, Shen Ying watched helplessly as the story plummeted off the trending charts.

She only knew the full truth thanks to the original novel’s plot.

It seemed the Crown Prince wouldn’t remain imprisoned much longer.

Shen Ying felt a twinge of regret—some things could only be accomplished by specific individuals.

She had no grand ambitions to save the world, perfectly content to laze around when possible. While certain plot points could be altered, others simply couldn’t.

What a shame about the Temple. Had she known this incident would unfold so quickly, she would’ve lingered longer in the simulation pod.

At least she could’ve enjoyed the Temple’s open services a few more times.

The next morning, after breakfast, Shen Ying led a group on a prison inspection.

Two members of Team Leader Yan’s investigation team tagged along.

Normally confined to designated areas, they seized the chance to stretch their legs during the warden’s rounds, if only to relieve the stifling boredom.

Passing the warehouse, the investigators spotted Zheng Yanhui hunched over a workstation, wearing mechanic’s goggles as she struggled to repair something.

One broken component in her hand, a mountain of others beside her—it looked like an endless task.

One investigator asked, “Warden, this—?”

Shen Ying replied, “Ah, Miss Zheng destroyed hundreds of critical parts while helping move equipment. Now she’s responsible for fixing every single one.”

The investigator’s lip twitched. “How long will this take?”

Shen Ying: “That depends on her efficiency. If she picks it up quickly, maybe just over three hundred days.”

Great. So Zheng Yanhui would spend the entire blackout period in the repair shop?

What was the point of her scheming then? Might as well have treated it as a vacation.

At least the recreational facilities here were decent.

Zheng Yanhui was miserable. She never expected this punishment after helping Lu Yu sabotage the parts.

The warden wasn’t cruel—just insistent that she clean up her own messes. First, it was cringe-worthy embarrassment; now, an endless pile of repairs.

On the verge of tears, she complained to her system, “You told me to cooperate with Lu Yu! And now? If I’m stuck here for a year, how am I supposed to interact with the male leads? Complete missions?”

The system, battered by its host’s dwindling trust, forced optimism: Don’t worry, the Crown Prince will be out soon.

Once he’s free, your investigation team will leave the prison too. Just endure a little longer.

Zheng Yanhui: “How can you be so sure?”

System: The garbage planet’s uprising against oppression is about to begin—it’s the Crown Prince’s defining moment.

He’d confront the exploiting factions as the Empire’s rightful ruler, pacify the people, and ascend the throne with a glorious record.

It added, “Even if your team didn’t accomplish much, you still contributed. With Team Leader Yan’s betrayal, you’ll be remembered as the acting leader.”

Zheng Yanhui: “But what if the warden interferes? You said she’s done it before.”

System: An event this big… she probably can’t overturn it.

Though privately, it wasn’t so confident. Right? Otherwise, the game would have no way to control her.

While both host and system clung to hope without much expectation, they were stunned when Shen Ying summoned Zheng Yanhui that afternoon.

The warden stood by the prison basketball court, watching inmates play through nano-metal fencing.

Zheng ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‍Yanhui approached nervously. “Warden, you wanted me?”

Shen Ying’s gaze followed Niu Xi, whose athleticism was extraordinary.

Sweat glistened on his dark skin, muscles sculpted like a masterpiece—raw power and aesthetic perfection.

He bulldozed past an opponent, leaped, and dunked with such force that only the reinforced rim kept the hoop intact.

Sporty Niu has his charms too, Shen Ying mused.

Then, on the opposing team, Lien yanked a player off by the scruff and tossed him to the bench like a ragdoll—despite the man towering over him by a head.

Lien immediately locked into a fierce back-and-forth with Niu Xi, stealing glances at Shen Ying between plays.

His emerald eyes, sharp and cunning, seemed to hook into her.

The warden’s pulse quickened—even as she felt the Crown Prince’s glare from across the court, his arms crossed in silent fury.

When Zheng Yanhui received no response, she waited anxiously until halftime.

Finally, Shen Ying spoke: “The Crown Prince’s escape is imminent. To avoid another failure, I’m assigning you a few tasks to assist him.”

Zheng Yanhui’s mind blanked. This morning’s speculation—was the plot advancing like this?!

“W-Warden?” Her voice trembled, unsure if this was a trap.

Shen Ying dismissed her hesitation. “Go. My office is unlocked. Steal the items on my desk.”

“Prepare thoroughly. I’d hate for another blunder—if they fail again, even I’ll be inconvenienced.”

Zheng Yanhui nearly wept. Steal? Couldn’t she at least pretend to respect their efforts?

Nothing humiliated a would-be escapee more than the enemy not just going easy—but outright doing the work for them.

She fled, tearful. Shen Ying shrugged.

Too naive. How could she trust that idiotic system as an advisor?

As Zheng Yanhui left, Lien seized the chance to approach.

Through the fence, he eyed Shen Ying. “Where’d that oaf Niu Xi get those new sneakers?”

Shen Ying: “A gift from me. He’s been well-behaved lately, so I let him choose. He picked the latest model on the market.”

Though the prison restricted purchases, its cutting-edge bio-printing tech could replicate almost anything from an image.

As long as the materials are sufficient.

Lien protested indignantly, "I want some too."

Shen Ying retorted, "No contribution, no performance—what right do you have to ask?"

Lien replied, "I can trade with my body."

Shen Ying: "…"