Chapter 43: The Velvet Trap
Prince Valen's shuttle landed in the Sol-Invictus hangar with a grace that felt almost offensive in its perfection. Unlike his brother Kaelen, who radiated violence, Valen was dressed in simple, flowing white robes made of "Spirit-Silk." He carried no weapon, and his aura was as calm as a mountain lake—a stillness so profound it felt like a vacuum that sucked the aggression out of the room.
Carson met him in the center of the hangar, flanked by Hobs and a squad of "Broken Gear" soldiers. The soldiers looked terrified; it was one thing to fight a monster, but another to stand before a man who looked like a saint while representing a tyrant.
"Carson McCain," Valen said, bowing deeply. His voice was melodic, lacking any of the arrogance of the Liang family or his brother. "My brother was a brute. He didn't understand that a man of your caliber cannot be broken—only invited. The Emperor has watched your progress with the 33rd Strand. He acknowledges your claim to New Seattle. He acknowledges you as a peer."
Valen reached into his robe and pulled out a golden scroll. "We are prepared to recognize the 'McCain Autonomous Zone.' You will have total sovereignty over this sector. We will even return your family's seized assets in the Sahara and provide the 'Purification Catalysts' needed to cure the Void-Poison in your heart."
Hobs stepped forward, his hand tightening on his hilt. "And the catch? The Hegemony doesn't trade planets for handshakes."
Valen's eyes flickered toward Carson, a glint of steel beneath the velvet. "The catch is a merger. You must marry the Imperial Princess, Elara. You will become a member of the Royal Family. Your Primordial bloodline will be merged with the Eternal Sun. You won't be a rebel anymore, Carson. You'll be a Prince. You'll have the power to change the Hegemony from the inside."
Carson felt the 33rd Strand spike in his chest, its emerald light clashing with the white robes of the Prince. It was a "Blood-Binding" trap. By marrying into the family, his Primordial Qi would be legally and spiritually tied to the Emperor's throne through a "Soul-Bond." They didn't want to kill the Saber God; they wanted to own him.
"And if I refuse the crown?" Carson asked, his voice echoing through the vast hangar.
"Then the 'Diplomat' leaves," Valen said, his smile remaining perfectly in place even as his aura turned cold. "And the World-Eater fleet arrives. My father is a patient man, Carson, but he doesn't like being told 'no' by his own property. You have twenty-four hours to decide if you want to be a King... or a memory."