This was highly unusual!
"The Empire and the Federation have always operated independently, maintaining separate archives and guarding heavily against one another. It should be absolutely impossible for a single file to be classified by both sides simultaneously." Chiron's deep voice echoed in the quiet office.
"Does the destruction of Blue Star implicate the highest echelons of both the Empire and the Federation?"
"It's not just an implication," Chiron corrected her. "It looks more like they joined forces to cover something up."
"So, to open it now, we need to obtain the highest-level authorization keys from both the Empire and the Federation at the same time?"
The destruction of Blue Star was by no means simple. For the Empire and the Federation to put aside their prejudices and collaborate on a cover-up, the underlying web of interests had to be staggeringly massive.
"Can't you and Baal do it?" Jiang Lijin tilted her head to look at him, a glimmer of hope in her eyes. "Between the two of you—an Academician of the Imperial Academy of Sciences and the Commander-in-Chief of the Federation Military—isn't that enough to unseal a ten-year-old file?"
"You overestimate us," Chiron shook his head, a hint of helplessness in his tone. "Baal certainly has the final say in the military, but he's a pure soldier; his power is strictly martial. When it comes to top-secret matters at the core of politics, those old fogeys in the Senate guard against him like he's a thief. As for me..."
He paused, a flash of mockery passing through his eyes. "The Imperial Royal Family values bloodlines above all else. No matter how highly regarded I am, I'm still just an outsider. Deep down, those self-proclaimed noble aristocrats of the royal court look down on me."
"What about hacking it directly?" Jiang Lijin suggested a different approach.
Chiron shook his head again, ruthlessly shattering her fantasy.
"This office is less than a thousand meters away from the Mainframe. Any aggressive data stream would be locked onto by the Mainframe within 0.01 seconds. If that happens, not only will the file self-destruct, but we'll also face charges of treason."
Jiang Lijin was speechless.
Fine, it wasn't worth the risk.
She knocked on Xiao Yi in her mind: [Xiao Yi, did you hear that? Are there any backdoors, or super viruses or something? Here's a chance for you to show off your real skills.]
Xiao Yi stayed silent for two seconds before speaking up in a pitiful tone: [Host, did you forget the time I got blocked by the Mainframe? Once I evolve enough to conquer the Mainframe, I'll take you to dominate the galaxy! But for now... I can only cheer you on.]
Jiang Lijin expressionlessly blocked him unilaterally.
"So there's absolutely no way? We worked so hard, only to find a dead file that we can look at but can't touch."
"There is a way."
Chiron's voice was very soft, but it instantly drew Jiang Lijin's attention back.
He picked up the glass of water on the desk and took a slow, deliberate sip. He showed no intention of revealing the answer immediately, not even sparing her a glance.
Jiang Lijin could tell that this old fox was deliberately leaving her hanging, waiting for her to beg him.
"What way?" she asked through gritted teeth, trying to maintain her patience.
Chiron set down the glass and gently tugged at his collar. As if merely relaxing, he unbuttoned the first button of his shirt. From Jiang Lijin's angle, she could just faintly see the sharp contours of his collarbone.
He tilted his head back slightly, his deep gray eyes staring straight at her without saying a word.
The meaning in his eyes was all too obvious.
Jiang Lijin scoffed inwardly. Good heavens, it seemed their previous topic wasn't over yet; the esteemed Academician was even resorting to a honey trap.
But she had to admit, Chiron using this trick on her was damn effective.
Usually, this man was as restrained as a saint, making it impossible for her to harbor any profane thoughts.
But today...
Jiang Lijin admitted that she was a bit bewitched. Her heart skipped a beat in a rather disappointing display of weakness.
She didn't resist the feeling.
In fact, she found an inexplicable thrill in it, especially amidst the tense, life-threatening atmosphere of investigating a top-secret file.
She stood up slowly and walked over to Chiron.
"Chiron." She suddenly leaned down, resting her hands on the armrests of his chair. Mimicking his earlier posture, she trapped the tall man between herself and the back of the chair.
In that instant, the roles of hunter and prey were completely reversed.
"Hmm?" Chiron responded softly, looking up at her with a smile playing on his lips.
"Tell me exactly what you want me to do," Jiang Lijin's fingertips lightly traced his slightly open shirt collar. "I don't like playing guessing games."
Chiron's breathing hitched for a second.
He looked at the face so close to his. Those beautiful eyes, usually so guarded, were now brimming with a teasing amusement.
"I need a little..." He closed his eyes briefly. "...motivation."
"Motivation?" Jiang Lijin chuckled softly, her finger gently lifting his chin. "Like what, for example?"
Although his rationality was frantically dancing on the edge of losing control, Chiron tried his best to suppress it.
"My wife is very smart. I don't think I need to spell it out."
Jiang Lijin smiled, stopping her teasing. She lowered her head, her lips accurately covering Chiron's slightly cool ones. Chiron didn't move. His hands gripped the armrests tightly, veins bulging on the backs of his hands, as he let her clumsily nibble on his lips.
Jiang Lijin wasn't very experienced to begin with. After a couple of kisses, she felt that Chiron seemed a bit indifferent, like a block of wood. Frustrated, she tried to pull away.
But at that very moment, Chiron abruptly let go of the armrests, grabbed her waist, and pulled her hard against him. "Not enough," he murmured indistinctly.
Soon, he turned the tables. The kiss was just like the man himself: initially restrained, with a cautious, probing touch.
But when Jiang Lijin didn't resist, and even slightly parted her lips to respond, that facade of restraint instantly crumbled.
The long-suppressed possessiveness of a 3S-grade male completely erupted in that moment. He pried open her teeth, almost greedily plundering her breath.
The only sounds left in the office were the faint hum of the optical computer and the intertwined, increasingly rapid sounds of moisture and heavy breathing.
Who knew how long had passed. It wasn't until Jiang Lijin felt like she was about to suffocate that Chiron reluctantly let her go.
He leaned back against the chair, his chest heaving violently as he panted slightly. His usually immaculate collar was torn and messy, revealing a large expanse of cool, pale skin.
Jiang Lijin wasn't faring much better. Her lips were red and swollen, and her heart was beating so fast it felt like it would leap out of her throat.
She licked the corner of her mouth and tasted a faint hint of blood, unsure of who had bitten whom.
"Now, do you have your motivation?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
Chiron let out a low chuckle. He reached out and pulled Jiang Lijin onto his lap, wrapping his arms around her waist and resting his chin in the crook of her neck in an intimate posture.
"I do," his voice was incredibly hoarse. "Now we can talk business."
Jiang Lijin rolled her eyes at him. He had just finished taking advantage of her and instantly switched back to work mode.
"Spit it out. What is the way?"
"It's very simple." Chiron adjusted his posture to make Jiang Lijin sit more comfortably. "Both the Empire and the Federation need you."
Jiang Lijin remained silent, waiting for him to continue.
"Generally speaking, an interstellar citizen only belongs to one faction. They are either affiliated with the Empire or the Federation. But you are different. You are the only 3S-grade female in the entire universe. The Empire wants you, and the Federation will absolutely never let you go."
Jiang Lijin seemed to have grasped a crucial point.
"Since neither side is willing to compromise, let them both show enough sincerity." Chiron's voice carried the certainty of a master strategist. "You can accept appointments from both the Empire and the Federation simultaneously. On one side, have the Imperial royal family grant you an aristocratic title and a position of real power that matches your grade; on the other side, have the Federation council give you the status of a special consultant with a strong voice in the military."
"As long as you hold sufficiently high positions on both sides, you will be able to justifiably use two keys to open a single door."
Jiang Lijin frowned as she listened. "Would they really give me that? Aren't they afraid I'll rebel?"
"They will." Chiron smiled. His smile revealed a precise grasp and mockery of the psychology of the interstellar rulers. "They need you too much. They are fighting over you right now not just because your feat of mass purification on the battlefield could become the breakthrough in the centuries-old war between the Zerg and the Beastmen. It's also because—"
Chiron's eyes darkened, carrying a trace of displeasure.
"Those at the very top are also 2S and 3S grades. They can't find compatible mates and are in desperate need of purification. But to receive purification from a female, the female's consent is absolutely required. Giving you a lofty position is the best way for them to summon you and get close to you at any time."
There were even some young royals and nobles who would want to use their proximity to win her favor and directly become Jiang Lijin's mate. However, Chiron didn't say this out loud.
"So, as long as I make demands, not only will they not be on guard against me, but they will actually think I've exposed my greedy nature, and that having desires makes me easier to control?" Jiang Lijin summarized, hitting the nail on the head.
"Exactly." Chiron looked up at her, his eyes still holding a lingering trace of lust.
Jiang Lijin was in no mood to appreciate his masculine beauty at the moment; her mind was entirely consumed by the feasibility of this plan. This was a once-in-a-lifetime, golden opportunity! Whether it was to uncover the truth behind the destruction of Earth or to climb the ranks in this interstellar world step by step, she had to seize it!
"Do whatever you want to do, Jiang Lijin. Don't have any reservations. I will be the sharpest blade in your hand."
Hearing Chiron's almost vow-like words, Jiang Lijin's heart trembled uncontrollably. She secretly rejoiced that Chiron was on her side right now; otherwise, with his ability to see right through people's hearts, she really might not be able to outsmart him.
The corners of Jiang Lijin's mouth curled into a bold smirk. She suddenly felt that in this perilous interstellar world, having a few powerful beastmen husbands at her disposal really wasn't a bad thing.
