Tempest of the Stellar War - Chapter 209

Chapter 209: Is Princess Huiyin Giving Me Face?

"Haha, why do I feel like you would be more suited to be a team leader instead?" Wang Zheng said jokingly . Raston may have had a rough exterior, but a calculating mind lay underneath . He was nobody's fool .

"I know my limits . I have moments of clarity, but I'm unwilling to dedicate it all to leadership . With a good leader, I can bring out the full potential of my powers . "

Raston had touched on a key point . Although it seemed inconsequential as to who took up the mantle of leadership, in truth, it mattered very much . As a team member, you had to obey orders, but what if the leader's orders left you frustrated and with a bad taste in your mouth?

In a place like IG, a leader needed to have the power to cow the masses, as well as be able to coordinate the team dynamic, in order to bring out the team's full strength . After all, the Solar System IG qualifiers was not the goal . The true goal lay outside .

Otherwise, Meng Ao and the rest would not have needed to go through such pains .

Raston saw clearly that Wang Zheng had not contemplated these matters before, mainly because his thinking was not on the same level .

"Actually, you're pretty suited to be a team leader yourself," Raston suddenly said .

Wang Zheng started, and brushed it off . "This is overblown praise . I accept it, haha . "

"Keke, these aren't empty words . Your performance in the first phase was admirable . Some people might feel it was luck, but in matters of strength and weakness, you did well in keeping your team together and taking care of the details . "

Raston recounted how he had seen Wang Zheng run the mountain with Zhang Shan on his back . Someone who did not desert his teammates could not be all that bad . He was also not one of those weak nice guys who would encumber the team . Zhang Shan had later risen to the occasion and helped the team succeed .

This spoke well of Wang Zheng's judgement of character .

One other thing made Raston curious was that Achilles was not one to actively seek out others – he would feel it was beneath him . But was Li Er not different?

He could not believe that a good judge of character like Li Er would not have recognised Wang Zheng's potential .

Furthermore, with the name of the Cronos family behind him, it would have been all too easy to seek out anybody he wished .

Actually, Taros was holding the same question as well .

A person like Wang Zheng, who had solid foundations and yet did not have an Ability X, was definitely a good find .

"Li Er, isn't this Wang Zheng an Earthling too? He seems to be one of the better ones from Ares College . Why don't you take advantage of this opportunity to improve your chances?"

At that moment, Taros was luxuriating in Li Er's hospitality at one of the Cronos family's palaces . He was living as comfortably as a Tibetian king and loving every moment of it .

If even Taros could spot this, it was inconceivable that Li Er had not considered this . As it were, Li Er had already done so in the past .

"After further observation, I decided that it was impossible to go far without Ability X . " Li Er smiled .

"That's true too . Taros reached a hand under the robes of one of the beauties attending him and began to fondle her enthusiastically .

There were four of them attending him, each a beauty in her own right . Li Er remained alone .

"Li Er, are you sure you don't want one of them? Good things are meant to be shared, you know . " Taros' other hand patted an ample rump . What a pert and firm buttock, and a virgin to boot! Li Er definitely treated guests well .

Li Er smiled mildly . "A gentleman never divests the benefits of others for himself . It is rare that you have come . You must enjoy yourself to the fullest . But remember to take care of your body . "

"Haha . Rest your mind . This little bit of frivolity will not wear me out . A man like myself only gets more energetic the more I exert . Isn't that right, my dearies?"

Wine and women, the pleasures of life . Taros was no fool . He would play when he could and get serious when he should . Li Er recognised his abilities . But Li Er's reminder put Taros at ease . It was meaningless to fret over the petty details .

After leaving the room, Li Er had already put Taros out of his mind .

Wang Zheng . . . in the end, he left Li Er with a sense of unease .

Drupe materialised without a sound . "Master, everything went smoothly . He has departed . "

Li Er nodded . The Cronos family had pulled many strings in influencing the invitations of the Solar System Alliance's Science College . Wang Zheng's giftedness in other aspects was a good thing . Would more glory and accolades lead him to consider another path?

Regardless of the result, distraction was inevitable .

Drupe opened his mouth, then closed it . Li Er smiled slightly . "Don't stand there gaping like a fish, out with it . "

Drupe, who followed Li Er around every day, dared not mince his words .

"Master, is this person worth it?" Drupe felt that a person who did not even have Ability X was not worth such an effort . Besides, there were other ways to overcome the problem .

Li Er shook his head slightly . "Take this as a form of experiential learning . "

What Li Er was referring to was a king's agonising discipline of the inner self . Victory and defeat were decided by his control, judgement, and foresight .

Whether one wanted to eliminate a person or conquer them, rushing into battle was a mediocre means to accomplishing one's ends .

Wang Zheng and Taros were good examples .

The best kings in history were those who could influence development intangibly .

Things could be planned, but when it came down to it, nothing beat experience .

Wang Zheng and Raston were both talkative . Raston's easygoing nature suited his temperament . In the IG qualifiers, everyone was a rival, and interactions were rarely forthcoming . But things were different now; one was free to express oneself . Both parties were confident and needed nothing – conversely this made them even more natural in expressing themselves .

As for the networking event, he would make it if he could, since he was already here . It was not a priority . He already knew himself well and did not see how the discussion could end up fruitful . Furthermore, he detested the fawning flattery that was inevitable at those events .

Knowing Xiao Fei, finding an excuse would be effortless .

Lie Guang and Raston were clearly familiar with each other and gave each other a warm hug upon meeting .

"Finally, you're here to visit after so many invitations . "

"Well, I'm here, aren't I? First let me introduce you . This is Wang Zheng, a prodigy at the Ares College on Earth . And this is Lie Guang, a rich playboy of the Lie family," Raston quipped with familiarity .

Lie Guang eyed Wang Zheng . "So you're the pretty boy? Your complexion isn't that pale though . "

Wang Zheng and Raston exchanged glances . This was unexpected .

"Haha, that's what Lie Xin told me . That there's a pretty boy with a good head . " Lie Guang was always one to speak whatever came to mind and spared not a thought for politeness even at the first meeting .

Anyone else may have turned to leave in the face of such an insult, but Wang Zheng was not a petty person . "Yeah, I'd love to be someone's pretty boy . Too bad my complexion's too dark . "

"Haha, anyone who left an impression on my sister as you did would have that problem . "

Lie Guang reached out a hand and the two grasped palms firmly . Lie Guang's eyes flickered . "Welcome to Mars . "

A slight probe was all that was needed to know what was expected of him . After all, Raston did not make friends with just anybody .

"You're the host here, so you'd better wait upon us well . Did you prepare the tickets for us or not?"

"Hmm? Tickets?"

"You little rascal . You aren't even a pretty woman, why would I come all the way here just to see you? Of course it's the tickets to Huiyin's concert . Didn't you say you could get front-row seats?" Raston said .

Lie Guang slapped his forehead . "Shucks, I forgot . Recently I've been too caught up in bigger things . These trivial matters must wait . "

The three were in a magnetic car that sped them towards the Lie family's villa in Jippu .

"What did you say? It can't be done? Do you even know who I am?" Lie Guang yelled . Just as Raston said, Lie Guang really seemed every bit the playboy .

The other person was clearly discomfited . The ordinary seats were definitely possible, but front row seats had been long reserved . It would be no small feat to even obtain anything . What was one to do when faced with such a sudden request for tickets?

"Forget it . Cut the bluster, man, we'll just get you for it later . " Raston cut in . After all, he wasn't here just to watch a concert . He had matters to discuss with Lie Xin as well .

Raston's situation was special . He had to make his choice and decide the team he would join . Faced with Achilles and Li Er, he would rather choose Lie Xin . At least he would maintain a degree of freedom and feel more at ease .

Lie Guang shrugged irritably . "Curse them . What in the world? I wanted to show off a little in front of a new acquaintance, but I stumbled . The Lie family's name is losing its luster . "

"You little rascal . You've been using the Lie family name to back your wanton lifestyle for so long that nobody believes you anymore . "

"Tch! These aren't hard times . It's the return of the prodigal son . What a pity that today's result was different . " Lie Guang laughed, apathetic to the Lie family's reputation .

"You and your nonsense . If I had known you were this unreliable, I'd have booked it myself . " Raston said, belying a little regret .

"Perhaps I could give it a try . " Wang Zheng smiled .

Lie Guang and Raston started, turning to stare at Wang Zheng . "Haha, are you trying to imitate me? Don't mind me, guys . I always brag without thinking . Once you're familiar with me you would know this all too well . " Lie Guang said .

Wang Zheng Skylinked Lin Huiyin's number . Truth was, he did not even know himself if Lin Huiyin would pick up .

The dial tone started up . No reply .

"Forget it, Wang Zheng . This concert's tickets are too hot, they must have sold out ages ago . Just make a note that this fellow's words are not trustworthy . " Raston jibed in Lie Guang's direction .

The two had been close since young, and their similar personalities meant that conversation was always unreserved .

Wang Zheng smiled . "I'm just giving it a try, if it doesn't work then it can't be helped . "

Lin Huiyin must be busy . She probably didn't have time to talk to him .

Neither Lie Guang nor Raston gave him much thought . They thought that Wang Zheng uttered thus because he was feeling inferior .

"Huiyin is beautiful and has an angelic voice . She's really not bad . I think she's worthy of being my girlfriend," Lie Guang said . "Argh, how could I have forgotten such an important matter?"

"Will you die if you stop bragging?" Raston bantered . "Say those words only when you become the Chairman of the Milky Way Alliance . "

"Tch! Behold my features . Look at this forehead, high and eminent, and admire my privileged life . Chairman of the Milky Way Alliance . . . I'll have to think about whether the post is worth taking," Lie Guang said .

Wang Zheng was beginning to get the impression that this person did nothing but brag . It would be foolish to get serious with this kind of person who spewed nothing but hot air .

At this moment, his Skylink began to ring .

"Wang Zheng!! Did you even remember that I was coming? How dare you take so long to get in touch with me!"

Lin Huiyin shrieked . Wang Zheng was not sure if he should laugh or cry . This pampered girl- no, this princess really saw no limit to her abilities . In her world, crossing solar systems, let alone planetary travel, was as normal as breathing .