Shadow Emperor Chapter 4: Chapter III: Cancel Culture and Conspiracies.

Read chapter 4 of Shadow Emperor by StarPrince on NovelPedia.

As if I thought the last two days could get any busier, I was now dealing with a potential terror crisis in addition to the scandal. It had only been ten minutes since the Izanagi went sublight over Xarra. I didn’t want to waste time going planetside, so I held the meeting on board the ship. I leaned forward in the Second Throne, resting my hands on the desk. Adryx leaned against the wall in the corner, and one very sweaty and tired Kiyana sat across from me. The data-drive sat, still dormant, on the desk. Adryx spoke up first, shaking his head. “With all due respect, can you turn that off?” The classic metal playlist was providing background music, much to the three-eyed Grand Master’s dismay. I shook my head as I leaned in further and smiled. “I thought you liked this stuff.” Adryx uncrossed his arms and stepped over to the desk. “Not while I’m working, sir,” he responded. He pressed his hand down on the desk and hit pause the second the holographic controls came up. Coincidentally, this happened just as I saw what was happening on my social media feed. I leaned back and closed my eyes, giving a small smile. “Looks like Tanaka’s trying to cancel me.” Kiyana spoke up next as she leaned in. “Pfft, keyword ‘trying’, don’t you think?” I shrugged as I pressed play on the video Tanaka had posted. It was a recording from his ocular implant, showing our conversation at the party where I’d thoroughly dismantled him. However, the video continued into a deepfaked segment where I pinned him against the bar and choked him nearly to death. The comments section was filled with replies calling me out on assaulting him, claiming I had abused my power and needed to be held responsible. Of course, there were plenty of very creative insults layered in which I mentally filed away for later use. The worst part, though? There were people talking crap in the comments who were actually there. People who knew what really happened. Needless to say, I was simultaneously frustrated and impressed. I quickly typed out my own response on my page, linking the video: “Say what you want but this video is fake. We’re investigating and will release information as it’s found.” I sighed, leaning back in my chair. “That clever bastard,” I said as I looked over at Adryx. “He even got the pores on my face right.” It was an extremely well-done deepfake. Nobody would be able to tell by looking, and I was pretty sure Tanaka had scrubbed all the markers. “Think you can deal with this for me?” Adryx nodded. “Yeah, but it’s gonna be a pain to figure out.” Without asking, he closed the page. “Division Three should be able to handle it.” Adryx smirked, his third eye glowing just a bit brighter. I just stared for a few seconds before responding. I knew that look. “You’re gonna do something absolutely wild, aren’t you?” “My lord, I have ten thousand alternate accounts. Either way, let’s table this.” Adryx shook his head as he set down his notebook, flipped it open, and started drawing something. “We need to get to the main event.” “Shoot then. I’d rather not wait if it’s what I think it is.” My eyes locked with Adryx for a second before I glanced over at Kiyana, who was still sitting in and listening intently. She’d rested her chin on her hand as she leaned over the desk. “And Kiki, I need you to wait outside.” Kiyana pouted as she put on the classic puppy eyes expression. “But dad, I wanted to do… cool emperor stuff with you!” I saw it coming a hundred parsecs away. I’d promised to spend time with her earlier, but I didn’t exactly think exposing my teenage daughter to classified information was a good idea. Well, there’d always be time after this mess got resolved. I smiled as I answered her. “Technically we already did. Why don’t you go and finish that game you got hooked on last week or something?” Kiyana rolled her eyes and stood up. “Alright, dad,” she said, exasperated, as she turned to leave. “Hornless, promise breaking… ugh.” That last part definitely wasn’t meant for