The Mad King's Heir

Faint, obscene sounds of moaning and grunting muffled by the soundproof walls could be heard in the hallway. Waiters with trays filled with drinks, toys for pleasure and lubricants walked by their expressions unchanged, like they were used to it. When they passed Li Jun, they made way for him and bowed wordlessly. Li Jun nodded in response as he continued walking.

He reached the elevator at the end of the hallway and tapped the panel on the side. The doors opened and he stepped in. As soon as the doors closed, blue lights swept his body, scanning to confirm his identity. His identity confirmed, the elevator went downwards. Four levels down and the elevator finally stopped. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

The door opened up to a completely different world from the club above. It was neat and organized with military gear and mech gear prototypes in glass displays. There was classical music playing in the background and the raspy voice of an older man singing along enthusiastically.

Li Jun followed the voice and found the man working on a mech part. He leaned against the wall and stared at him for a while. This was his maternal grandfather, Haku Ki or as they called him, Draco, the founder and head of Blue Sapphire. For decades, Aurelia had fought for territory with Helion, and there was a need for more personnel to fight on the frontline and new innovative military equipment.

People like his grandfather, who was infamous in the underworld, took the opportunity to legitimize his organization. Instead of doing illegal arms deals, he could openly have contracts with Aurelia’s army and his mercenaries could fight alongside the military.

Draco was satisfied with the ability to do business openly and didn’t ask for much. But who would have thought Imperial Prince Mingze would fall in love with his daughter on the battlefield? Draco was uncomfortable with this relationship and would rather his daughter pick one of his subordinates if she wanted a boyfriend.

But his daughter was stubborn. She had her heart set on Li Mingze, so how could he refuse? He blessed their relationship and when the princes were fighting for the throne, he helped Li Mingze to get that position. His daughter, Haku Ume, who spent most of her time in the trenches beating the shit out of the enemy, was now sitting in the second most powerful position in Aurelia.

Haku Ume was a simple-minded woman. She beat up those she didn’t like and treated those who were good to her with genuine care. She wasn’t suited for the schemes of the royal family. This was what led to her demise. Draco’s biggest regret in his life was not being able to protect his daughter. He had failed his daughter, but he was determined not to fail his grandson. Thus, he moved to this dingy downtown basement just to be close enough to protect him.

Draco said, "Are you going to keep standing there watching me?" his eyes still focused on the mech part he was working on.

Li Jun slowly walked over, saying, "Your singing voice has gotten worse. It sounds like a goat being strangled." Draco gritted his teeth, angered by the brat. He spun around, about to yell at him, when he saw his bruised face.

"Jun Jun, who the fuck did this to you?" he exclaimed as he got up in a hurry and cupped his face. He pulled him over to take a seat and said, "Where else are you hurt?"

Li Jun smiled, seeing someone worry this much about him. "Gramps, you don’t have to make a fuss. It doesn’t hurt that much," he said, trying to reassure him, but Draco wasn’t reassured. He knew about the plot against Li Jun and had offered to take care of it, but Li Jun stopped him. Who would have thought a raid would lead to him getting beaten up this bad?

"You have been beaten up like this and you still think it’s nothing," he said while texting the doctor to come over quickly. Draco rushed over to a closed cabinet and pulled out a first aid kit. He took out a pair of gloves and began to clean the cut on his face.

Li Jun chuckled and said, "You should see the other guy." He made a biting gesture and continued saying, "I sank my teeth into him. He probably will have a scar."

Draco’s brow arched. What kind of fighting was this? Who in a fight would resort to biting unless they are a dog? "Did you have to resort to biting dirty things? What if you get sick?"

His grandson chuckled and replied, saying, "I couldn’t beat him, so I bit him. That will traumatize that neat freak for the rest of his life."

The old man sighed as he dabbed antibiotic ointment on the wound. Li Jun winced from the sharp pain. Seeing this, Draco said, "Now you know it hurts. I asked to give you more security, but you refused." He not only wanted to give him people to protect him but he also wanted to take Li Jun away from this place.

In the past, he had tried to take Li Jun away from that madman, but Li Mingze refused. He held onto Li Jun with a fierce possessiveness, and he had even threatened to end him if he dared take his son away. This left Draco helpless and he could only watch from a distance.

So, when Li Mingze died, he came back in the picture and begged Li Jun to give it all up and come with him. Li Jun agreed but he emphasized that he would do things his own way. Draco didn’t know what Li Jun was waiting for. All he knew was that the longer Li Jun stayed here, the more anxious he became.

Li Jun said, "I don’t want them to come looking for trouble with you. That woman is already asking about you. She wants to use me as leverage to get you to do what she wants. This trumped-up charge was just the beginning. Once they put me in prison, they were going to use me to get to you."

Draco was furious. His way of solving things was attacking the perpetrator directly but in a place like the imperial capital, that would lead to more problems. It seemed Li Jun’s approach was the best otherwise, the organization he had built in the slums of the dying star would fall into the hands of the enemy.