CHAPTER 997: CHAPTER 513: ADAM’S TRUE OBJECTIVE, THE EMPIRE’S GREATEST FOE (PART 2)

At least, he doesn’t know his son is trading with me and still thinks I’m clueless about Heckler.

"Not only that, I refuted certain individuals in the parliament who intended to hold me accountable," Adam said helplessly.

"Certain individuals?" Li Ming cooperated by putting on a stern face, "Who exactly?"

"Ah..." Adam sighed, looking more helpless, "After all, they are from the Empire. In the eyes of outsiders, we are one and the same."

"Please don’t ask specifically who, but I will investigate this matter thoroughly. If it truly is the act of someone within the Empire, I will give you an explanation."

Give me an explanation?

Li Ming’s mind stirred slightly, it was vague and ambiguous, clearly pointing to Heckler, yet not explicitly stated.

Li Ming pretended to be displeased, but Adam already spoke again, "This is my final bottom line."

Li Ming stared at him and said coldly, "Since Your Majesty the Holy Emperor has made such a promise, you should not mind cooperating with me to issue an announcement."

"An announcement?" Adam responded immediately, thinking briefly, he said, "If it is directed at the attackers, the Empire is willing to cooperate with you."

Only then did Li Ming’s expression soften, "Your Majesty the Holy Emperor, my attitude just now might have been somewhat inappropriate, I hope you will forgive me."

"Understandable." Adam was indifferent, nodding in acknowledgment.

After the screen went dark, he remained silent for a long time before exhaling, with a hint of smile, which he quickly restrained.

"Heckler, this time you gave me a surprise. I thought you wouldn’t dare to make a move, but I had an extra hand in the play, yet the problem shouldn’t be big."

Adam couldn’t help but feel somewhat gratified, the conflict between Azure Dragon and Heckler was hard to provoke.

Even with the natural conflict of the Holy Castle, Heckler remained cautious, unwilling to directly face Azure Dragon.

And Azure Dragon, concerned about the Empire, even though Scarlet Wolf was already at the door, he wouldn’t tear things apart, at most detaining people and causing some trouble.

Yet he blocked Heckler’s channels to seek other chosen individuals and repeatedly used Terrax bodies to provoke him.

Even at recent parliament meetings, he openly and secretly ridiculed Heckler, causing him pressure.

But he wasn’t sure if Heckler would take proactive steps.

He simply acted covertly, mobilized his people, and gave orders to Heckler’s subordinates, hoping to further intensify the conflict.

He knew the strength of Azure Dragon was formidable and unfathomable, he couldn’t possibly keep swallowing humiliation.

Yet it proved unnecessary, Heckler was much more decisive than he imagined.

"Now, Azure Dragon’s attention will inevitably have to turn away from the Eternal Silence Star." Adam was in good spirits, the plan had returned to its track, his eyes flickered:

"Once their conflict further escalates, I only need to hold back the Empire’s top-level combat power and let them fight on their own."

...

"Did Adam just hint it was Heckler’s doing?" After ending the communication, Li Ming couldn’t help but feel puzzled.

He thought Adam would at most feign ignorance and perform a charade with him.

Yet he was surprised to find not only a hint left behind but a promise to give him an explanation.

Adam seemed afraid he wouldn’t be able to find Heckler.

He had a faint outline in his mind, following this hypothesis. If Heckler really succeeded in capturing Li Ming.

Then Adam would surely express that the individual and the forces he represents are beyond his control and acted on their own.

If his attitude was stronger, Adam might even say, at most, he doesn’t care about such things.

Moreover, he secretly mobilized Heckler’s people, deliberately sowing discord, and intensifying conflict.

"Is he trying to use me as a tool?" Li Ming couldn’t help but mutter, "But is it necessary to be this complicated?"

"He even positions me within the Pioneers to gain significant influence, even nominating me as one of the founding ten of the High-level Life Form Union..."

"Just to guide me against Heckler doesn’t warrant this."

"Although they belong to different factions, Heckler is still a strength of the Empire, unlike the matter of Ryan, where it cannot be covered up."

"Moreover, Heckler is just a superficial representative, like Ryan. Even if he is dealt with, the impact isn’t as significant as with Ryan. Even if he strikes against the Lower House, it wouldn’t be that simple..."

As he was thinking, a guess suddenly emerged in his mind, his expression changed: "No, it’s not just about using me as a tool."

Li Ming felt as if thunder struck his mind, igniting past happenings like a trail of grass snakes.

In an instant, he had a sense of enlightenment, he finally understood what Adam intended for him to do.

"This is to turn me into a major enemy of the Empire."

It’s a major enemy, not just a tool. Li Ming’s expression varied, there’s a vast difference between the two.

Pioneers could be considered a tool, piercing into the Empire’s decaying flesh.

But the limitations are too great, primarily because the Pioneers’ qualifications aren’t enough, those Navigators, Guides, Casters, all are shrouded in secrecy, unable to accomplish great deeds.

Even with Adam acting as an inside accomplice, once their identities are revealed, they’re collectively not enough for the Empire to beat, destined to have only temporary effect.

In the initial tense state, they could unite part of the Empire’s forces, but once the nature of the Pioneers is understood, they would suddenly collapse.

Adam needed a strong figure as the mastermind behind the Pioneers.

This tool ultimately couldn’t be truly wielded in Adam’s hands, but required a true wielder.

If he hadn’t used the Eternal Silence Star to lead the Pioneers into the Deep Dimension World, the Pioneers would still be causing trouble in the Main Universe now.

With Ryan as the representative, the Upper House had already fallen. Next, it would be the Lower House, represented by Heckler.

If Heckler also fell, Adam wouldn’t be greeted by submission.

But instead, the Upper and Lower Houses’ already dormant powers would launch a final assault.

Adam probably couldn’t solve this problem, and still needed a powerful external enemy to forcibly unite them.

Adam had already turned him into the person with the strongest voice within the Pioneers. Once the Pioneers fall, Azure Dragon would naturally emerge.

And what other identity does Azure Dragon have?

One of the founding ten of the High-level Life Form Union, one of the Three Great Masters of the Mechanician Association, mysterious and powerful.

Killed Ryan, perhaps even killed Heckler, along with many Empire X Level Life Forms.

With such a stealthy big boss doing things in the dark, the portrait fits perfectly, serving as an excellent internal conflict outlet.

Li Ming performed a deduction from a God’s-eye perspective.

Of course, the overall process wouldn’t be as simple as he thought.

Adam’s operations would undoubtedly be more meticulous to maintain this balance, avoiding a real implosion, lacking more details.

But he estimated, Adam’s general plan should be like this, maybe even the final step--

"Kill the major enemy, glory and power return to oneself."

"But his plan probably didn’t start like this, only as the situation evolved did he realize, Azure Dragon’s identity was just too perfect." Li Ming paused his steps.

As a fabricated identity, he certainly knew how useful Azure Dragon was, could be elevated infinitely, infinitely mysterious.

Adam didn’t know Azure Dragon was fabricated, but that didn’t prevent him from going with the flow.

Once realizing this, Li Ming’s first reaction was not anger but an indescribable emotion, "Why make it so complex, if you want me to act, just pay me."

"...Give me an X Level Gene Seed, I’ll kill whoever you want me to kill..."

Li Ming muttered a sentence, then shook his head, knowing this was a fantasy.

There was no foundation of trust between them, even if Adam really gave him an X Level Gene Seed, he wouldn’t dare to use it.

"Using me as the big boss, in the end, you must withstand it." Understanding Adam’s goal roughly, Li Ming’s mind settled a lot.

In the short term, this guy poses no threat, not only no threat but can leverage quite a bit of his strength.

Suppressing his thoughts, Li Ming didn’t open the smart terminal again but switched Controlled Objects.

In the next moment, he descended in a virtual projection form at the Divine Craftsman Joint Experiment Center.