From Andrew Thompson's words, he obtained a lot of information about the Lin family.

His father, Lord William Lane, is at the helm of Wayne Industrial Group, which has provided reactive armor to the Imperial military for many years, making it quite well-known in these circles. Among the top military suppliers, the Wayne Group is also a recognized name.

Wayne Industrial's most glorious days were five years ago. However, with the advent of new technologies, the family's technical reserves have failed to make breakthroughs and have gradually fallen behind. Moreover, many powerful families have begun to enter the field of mech armor, so Wayne Industrial's position as a mainstream armor supplier to the military is now facing unprecedented challenges.

This is the fundamental cause of the family's decline. The worsening external environment has also led to growing anxiety within the family. At this time, several of his father's brothers, who also hold noble titles in the Empire, have begun to covet the position of family head and leader of the Wayne Group.

Therefore, the internal family struggle is inevitably becoming increasingly intense.

Henry Lane being brought to Riverside Star is, to some extent, also inseparably linked to this family business dispute.

This was the first piece of unfortunate news.

As for the second piece of unfortunate news for him at present, it was that he finally confirmed his ominous premonition.

Lord William Lane has an adopted daughter, Violet Lane. She is a woman famous throughout Riverside Star.

This woman, privately nicknamed the "Daughter of the Devil," is exceptionally outstanding in every respect on the surface. Not only is she the pride of the prestigious Qingyuan Academy, but she is also a design genius with an endless stream of inspiration in the field of mechs. Coupled with her God-given beauty, it makes people envious of how even God can sometimes be so partial.

In recent years, as William Lane's health has steadily declined, it has been this woman who has supported half the sky at Wayne Industrial. Without her support, the decline of William Lane's branch in the Empire's noble circles would likely have come even sooner.

If she were a man, or if she were William Lane's biological son, she would almost certainly become Lord William Lane's heir and the next leader of Wayne Industrial. Unfortunately, her status as an adopted daughter means she can only miss out on all of this.

But this does not affect her prestige within the Wayne Group and the Lin family.

From Andrew Thompson's words, Henry Lane learned that her "Daughter of the Devil" nickname comes from her ruthless methods and decisive actions in the company. And from the slightly obsessed look in Andrew Thompson's eyes when he spoke of her, it was clear that she had won the support of many nobles on Riverside Star not just through her abilities.

A beautiful woman can sometimes be as dangerous as a venomous scorpion in the dust.

The worst part is that this so-called "sister" has a relationship with Howard Lane that is said to be so doting that she lets him do whatever he wants.

He had hit her brother—the one she considers her real brother.

And now, this dangerous woman is on her way back to the manor from a business trip to the capital star.

She is coming straight for him!

Chapter 3: Slum Children Have Never Seen Good Things

"These stacked shantytowns are by no means a unique local feature of Haizhou No. 12. Inside, they are filled with undocumented residents, bandits, thieves, and prostitutes. Drugs, black markets, and human trafficking of all kinds are rampant. The filth of human nature is often on display here, and poverty and hardship hang over these shantytowns day and night. This dire situation has persisted for over a hundred years. Sadly, there is not just one such garbage planet, but hundreds or thousands of them, with tens of millions living at the very bottom of the stars, leading lives far removed from modern society, and there is nothing we can do about it." — "Great Eagle Empire National Geographic"

……

As a newcomer to the Lin family manor, with an awkward status and position, Henry Lane has been quietly observing this new environment these past days.

The manor is located in Ring Star Zone 2, the core area of Riverside Star. The extensive transportation network of Riverside Star weaves the entire planet into a modern society resembling a bird's nest.

High-rise buildings are constantly being developed on aerial platforms that extend ever upward into the planet's upper atmosphere.

As social space continues to expand, class stratification naturally arises. The higher the buildings and roads, the more they represent the latest technology and the most modern architecture. To own a place in the upper levels with the best views, one naturally needs a certain amount of assets and corresponding status.

Geography easily divides the whole society. The prosperity of the highest levels and the filth of the lowest gradually form distinct zones. Thus, the high-end wealthy districts and the dilapidated slums of Riverside Star came into being.

Ring Star Zone 2 is one of the few affluent residential areas in the upper levels, second only to Ring Star Zone 1. Here, many of Riverside Star's social elites and powerful families are gathered. The streets are spotless, with several monopoly cleaning companies' mech cleaners maintaining the cleanliness every day.

As the location of the Wayne Group president's manor, this place is usually quite peaceful and dignified. Occasionally, business land vehicles can be seen stopping at the manor for discussions before leaving. Or at night, Lord William Lane's extended land vehicle would drive in, and he would enter the brightly lit manor with a few people, breaking the silence.