MPWATMBC Chapter 92

Omega Military Base. It was yet another ordinary day, with spaceships of all sizes coming and going at the docking port. No one paid any special attention to three Xiao starships departing. They streaked across the sky, disappearing beyond the horizon, piercing the atmosphere en route to their designated planetary coordinates. These ships carried Ryan and his team, departing the military base to execute a crucial mission. Their success or failure would determine whether the upcoming joint operation of the three military corps would take shape.

On the sixteenth floor of the base’s central complex, Auston, clad in a dark military uniform, stood with his hands behind his back, gazing up at the sky. The azure expanse was dotted with drifting white clouds, and now and then, a starship streaked past. Other than that, there was nothing out of the ordinary.

Beside him, General Ivan, rough in appearance yet equally unsophisticated in emotion, held a small clay teacup with his thick thumb and forefinger while curving his pinky. Strolling over to Auston’s side, he shook his head and said, “Young folks sure have it good. Not like my old lady back home—when she knows I’m heading out, she’s more anxious than I am, packing my bags in a hurry, practically wanting to kick me out the door. There’s none of that young romance anymore.”

Awkwardly pinching the teacup, Ivan attempted to imitate General Tolkien’s refined habit of sipping tea. But as soon as his lips touched the rim, the cup seemed to take on a mind of its own and tilted sharply. By the time he set it down, the tea was already gone in a single gulp. Smacking his lips to savor the taste, General Ivan shook his head, clearly unimpressed by the experience.

General Ivan glanced at the cup and admitted to himself that he simply couldn’t feign sophistication.

Auston smiled but said nothing. Since being with Ryan, this was the first time Ryan had undertaken such a significant military mission. It was inevitable for Auston to feel some concern. His worry wasn’t tied to Ryan’s past—it was simply that as Ryan left on his mission, half of Auston’s heart went with him.

General Ivan set the small clay teacup aside, declining General Tolkien’s offer to refill it. Instead of tea, Ivan would have preferred a glass of vodka with extra olives—something with a proper kick. “Never thought your little hubby was such a big deal,” he remarked. “When the news broke, I didn’t believe it at first—you, married? And you didn’t even tell us old folks? We practically watched you grow up, and your dad was a good friend of ours.”

“There was never a suitable opportunity to bring it up.” 

“Well, now’s as good a time as any. Ryan gave up his position as the director of the Imperial Mecha Research Institute?”

“Yes.” Auston, ever concise, was even more reserved when it came to discussing personal matters.

General Ivan stroked his coarse, bushy beard, a glimmer of thoughtfulness in his eyes. “Young people sure are willful. To give up such a high-ranking position just like that—must’ve been for you.”

Auston responded with a faint smile, neither confirming nor denying it. Ivan took his silence as agreement. “Hahaha, I like Ryan’s attitude. If I were young again, I’d probably do the same. What’s the point of a career if you can’t even spend time with your wife and kids? There was a time I was so busy working overtime that I couldn’t make it home. It wasn’t until my wife was three months pregnant with our second and had to undergo fetal relocation that I found out.”

…What?

Both Auston and Tolkien, listening to Ivan’s lament, paused for a moment, a faint question mark flashing through their minds.

Oblivious to their reaction, Ivan continued, “The years gone by are lost forever, and there’s no undoing them. The once young and lovely lady of mine has turned into someone with a waist thicker than mine—nothing to complain about, though. I’ve become a grumpy old man myself, with a waistline bigger than my height. Hahaha! By the way, Ryan’s got a lot of good stuff, doesn’t he?”

With a sudden shift in tone, Ivan veered off on a tangent before finally arriving at his point. “I heard Ryan got you a beast-type mecha, Tolkien?”

“That was through our application process,” Tolkien clarified.

General Ivan waved his large hand dismissively and looked at Auston, continuing, “I was just a step too late in submitting my application. Otherwise, I would’ve spoken to you earlier to get that beast-type mecha for my Legion. We’d definitely make better use of it than those pretentious Honor Legion.”

“That’s not something Ryan can decide. The approval was a decision made by the Military Commission,” Auston replied with a flawless, noncommittal tone.

General Ivan placed his broad hand on Auston’s shoulder and, with a knowing grin and a conspiratorial waggle of his eyebrows, said, “I get it, I get it. So, when’s Ryan designing the next beast-type mecha?”

“That depends on the research institute’s project schedule. When there’s a need, a design will be made.” 

“There’s always a need if a Legion submits a request,” Ivan chuckled. “Tell Ryan to design a grizzly bear model—make sure it’s imposing and fierce, something that embodies the brave and fearless spirit of Baikal.”

It was clear he was trying to cozy up for a custom design. While the current bat-shaped beast mecha was unique, it didn’t quite scream dominance. For beast-type mechas, Ivan thought wolves, bears, tigers, or lions were far better choices for projecting strength and ferocity.

General Ivan curled his lip in disdain, glancing toward Tolkien, who was brewing tea. There was an unmistakable mix of envy and resentment in his expression. That beast-type mecha was, after all, one of the most powerful models to date. (He instinctively ignored Master McAryan’s wolf-type beast mecha—despite its indisputable stats—because Ryan’s designs were undeniably superior.) Having such a machine was enough to make any commander hold their head a little higher among their peers.

General Tolkien, however, merely smiled nonchalantly. As a low-profile “winner in life” (compared to Auston), he saw no need to explain himself.

Auston kept his words cautious, and Ivan, in turn, didn’t confide in him deeply. Everyone simply smiled—it was the way ordinary professional camaraderie went.

At a warp point several light-years away from the Omega Military Base, space twisted and deformed for a brief moment. A small, 20-ton starship emerged from the distortion, stabilizing itself before rapidly advancing toward its target. Inside the ship, Jack was at the helm, piloting the vessel, while Fan Lanting calibrated the course. Beyond the cockpit, Ryan, Derrick, and Harriet were discussing the upcoming operation. They spoke loudly enough for those in the cockpit to hear, ensuring they could chime in with suggestions if necessary.

“This planet lies within the Storm Starfield at coordinates X33.33, Y66.68, Z111.23. It’s an asteroid far off the standard trade routes, with no nearby human settlements larger than small outposts. It’s extremely desolate, with no valuable or exploitable resources,” Harriet explained.

The universe was vast, and the sectors sprawling. Many regions remained outside the reach of administrative or military influence—like the deserted islands that once drifted in the open seas of ancient Earth.

Regions unwanted by the regular military often became breeding grounds for wild pirates. Occasionally, the military would launch a sweep against areas that became too unruly. Other times, they would turn a blind eye, letting things run their course. After all, as long as these areas remained within controllable bounds, there was no need to waste manpower, resources, and energy on them.

Their destination this time was the Cranberry Planet—a name that sounded soft and adorable, and, in truth, it lived up to that impression. This planet was a haven for female pirates.

Ryan, leading the male members of the team—regardless of whether their genetic sequence was X or Y—all turned their gazes toward Harriet, who was casually sitting cross-legged in a chair. For this mission, Harriet was unquestionably in charge. Women operated on Cranberry Planet with greater ease, freedom, and confidence.

As for men? On this planet, they were either subordinates, henchmen, or little toys for entertainment.

Harriet glanced at the men in the room and smiled modestly, “Alright then, I won’t hold back—haha, honestly, I have no intention of being modest. From this point on, you’ll all be listening to me. Now, let’s review the intel on Cranberry Planet one more time. The military only has a rough terrain map of the planet, which doesn’t offer much help. Once we enter Cranberry, our first priority is to establish an escape route. Any objections to that?”

The men shook their heads unanimously. Indeed, there were no objections—securing a way out was essential to ensuring the mission could proceed with a safety net in place.

Cranberry had been a thriving pirate stronghold for over twenty years. It was said that the planet was discovered and claimed as a long-term base by a red-haired woman with a fondness for cranberries, hence the name. The planet itself was a satellite of a larger, fast-rotating planet, with a day-night cycle of just twelve hours. The entire surface was perpetually blanketed in heavy snowfall, but deep within the snowy mountains lay abundant geothermal resources. If the planet it orbited had been habitable and resourceful, Cranberry could have easily become an ideal vacation spot.

There were no so-called space stations orbiting Cranberry, nor did the planet have robust security systems. However, the pirates living on its surface were all armed to the teeth. These desperate, reckless individuals had planted countless explosives across the planet as a tradition. Every new pirate joining the ranks was required to bury a few devices in the ground as part of their initiation ceremony. Over time, they’d lost track of how much ordnance lay scattered beneath the surface.

For pirates, life was lived with their heads metaphorically tied to their belts—every day alive was a day earned.

The small starship entered Cranberry’s atmosphere and was soon tailed by a small craft. Upon landing, the craft stopped directly in front of Ryan and his team’s ship. Two men disembarked, waving for them to open their hatch and step out.

Harriet was the first to rise. She put on her hat, adjusted the white fur trim on the brim, and lifted her chin confidently. “Alright, folks, let’s go.”

“Yes, boss,” Derrick responded enthusiastically.

Fan Lanting, ever the cooperative soldier, added with a flourish, “Got it, Your Majesty!”

“Aww, Little Fan is such a sweet and obedient one~,” Harriet said with a teasing smile as she slung an arm around Fan Lanting’s shoulders. With her other hand, adorned with black nail polish, she lifted his chin playfully. “Your height is just perfect for your big sis.”

Fan Lanting: “…” His knees hurt—he was the shortest among them!

Harriet shot Derrick a sidelong glance. “Seriously, you are so tactless. What should you be saying? Doesn’t your brain have a clue?”

“…Understood, Your Majesty,” Derrick corrected himself begrudgingly.

Ryan decided to play the role of an emotionless henchman. Together with Jack, he wore a stern expression, neither speaking nor smiling—just keeping it simple.

When the hatch opened, the two armed men outside saw a group of five stepping out: a tall, commanding woman and four exceptionally good-looking men. The one in the lead was grinning mischievously and addressing the woman as “Your Majesty” with exaggerated enthusiasm.

The two men exchanged glances. Perfect. Visitors to Cranberry Planet were often like this, and sometimes even more outrageous. Men, after all, weren’t particularly valued here.

“The things on the ship are yours to check, as long as you don’t mess anything up,” Harriet said, her tone casual, but her eyes were icy cold—those of someone who had killed and seen plenty of bloodshed. “If you so much as disrupt a single item, though… heh.”

The two men felt a shiver run down their spines. In a place like this, being a gatekeeper required sharp eyes and careful judgment; offending the wrong person could be deadly.

When they entered the small starship to inspect it, they took a slow circuit through the interior. The main bedroom in particular left an impression, as it contained numerous… less-than-appropriate items. One of the men contacted the base on the ground, reporting, “No suspicious signs. They’re clear to enter.”

“Got it. Start by taking them somewhere random to dig a hole and bury some ‘boom-boom-booms.’”

“The ritual has to be completed,” muttered one of the inspectors, his gaze lingering on a rather conspicuous object lying on the bed. With a smirk, he added, “Is that thing even meant for humans to use?”

The other man, still inspecting the starship, chuckled. “Hey, maybe they’re just gifted, you know? Besides, it’s not like it’s for the woman to use. She can do whatever she wants with it.”

“Fair point. These women sure don’t hold back when it comes to messing with others. The ones who come here are always something else, haha.”

After a thorough check that revealed no anomalies, the two men exited the starship, though their gazes towards Fan Lanting were filled with undisguised pity.

Fan Lanting: “…” What’s with that awful look? Get lost!

Ryan, who had been keeping a stoic demeanor, felt his expression darken further. “…!” Why were they looking at him like that? He was clearly just here as muscle!

The lead inspector, snapping out of his momentary distraction, turned to Harriet with a fawning smile. “There’s still one more ritual left to complete. Since Your Majesty knows Cranberry, you must know what it entails, right?”

“I know,” Harriet replied impatiently, rolling her eyes. “Isn’t it just burying mines? Here, I’ve brought a whole box. Let’s get it done right here.”

“This…” The lead inspector hesitated, glancing nervously at their surroundings. After all, this was the designated landing zone.

“Not acceptable?” Harriet’s eyes narrowed sharply, a dangerous glint flashing within.

“Acceptable, acceptable,” he quickly stammered, swallowing his objections.

With the go-ahead, it was naturally up to the “muscle” to dig the pit. Ryan and Jack, faces expressionless, silently got to work. Yet, beneath their apparent compliance, much more was happening.

As Ryan methodically moved his hands, he discreetly activated several miniature detectors hidden within the mines. These were an upgraded version of the trackers they had deployed during their previous mission to the Plantation Star. The second-generation devices boasted superior performance, longer standby times, and enhanced capabilities. However, they still had one unavoidable drawback—they were single-use only.

With the task nearly complete and the mines concealed, Ryan was already planning ahead. Once they returned, he intended to file for a patent on his upgraded trackers—an endeavor that would still net him some extra cash.

Ryan gave Jack a subtle nod, receiving a small acknowledgment in return before they began filling the pit. The heavy snowfall blanketed everything, making outdoor tasks anything but enjoyable.

“Moving so slow—didn’t they feed you before this? Ridiculous!” Harriet was fully immersed in her role now, practically unshakable. “When we get back, you’ll be rewarded—thirty lashes each.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Yes, Majesty.”

Ryan and Jack answered in unison, their tones steady.

The lead inspector grimaced at the exchange. Punishments like flogging were just one of the many peculiar practices indulged by the queens who frequented Cranberry.

The climate on Cranberry was relentlessly harsh, with the weather cycling through heavy snow, moderate snow, and light snow—the latter being considered “good weather” here. Unfortunately, today was a heavy snow day. Visibility was nearly zero, and their landing had been more a matter of guesswork than skill—luckily successful.

On clearer days, Cranberry’s stark beauty could be appreciated, with its rolling snow-capped mountains and the occasional sight of large-winged birds. Even in such a harsh environment, life found a way to thrive.

The inhabitants of Cranberry naturally have ways to survive in such extreme and harsh conditions. The transparent, spherical flying device could fit all of them, but traveling in a blizzard was far from pleasant. Poor visibility was one issue, severe turbulence caused by the strong winds was another, and the third… Ryan’s gaze shifted slightly, his brows faintly furrowing. In an environment like this, retreating would be no easy task if something went wrong.

Hopefully, those improved detectors could withstand the intense cold.

Ryan’s hand moved slightly, and his personal terminal vibrated faintly—only perceptible to the wearer. This indicated that the detectors were continuously transmitting data to him.

In the howling wind and blinding snow, they traveled for an indeterminate amount of time, long enough for Harriet to grow impatient. “What’s the meaning of this? Taking us in circles? Ha! Do you believe I won’t detonate the explosives and send us all to heaven together?”

Xiao Jia clasped his hands together in a pleading gesture. “The wind is too strong today, slowing us down. It usually takes just thirty minutes, but it’s taking a bit longer this time.”

Ryan let out a cold “heh,” lifting his eyes to glare icily at Xiao Jia. “Don’t lie to our Queen. ‘A bit longer’—is that supposed to mean more than thirty minutes? If we don’t get there soon, today will be your death anniversary.”

“Two fewer men— Cranberry’s owner wouldn’t mind, would she?” Harriet yawned, crossing her arms lazily as she spoke.

Xiao Jia’s cheek twitched slightly. It wasn’t a matter of “not minding”—it was more like “not caring at all.” On Cranberry, countless men died every day. “It really is the bad weather. I just rerouted the flying device to take another path, which is a bit longer. We’re almost there, almost there.”

“And ‘almost there’ means when exactly?” Ryan demanded a clear answer.

“Ten minutes—no, twelve minutes.” Xiao Jia raised his hand as though swearing an oath. “If we’re not there in fifteen minutes, you can kill me.”

Ryan nodded, stepping back to resume his role as the silent, grim-faced enforcer.

Xiao Jia exhaled in relief and dared not delay any further. Within ten minutes, they arrived at their destination—a cave entrance halfway up Cranberry’s tallest mountain. Once the flying device entered, the difference from the outside world was immediately noticeable.

The cave was winding and rugged, with many branching paths. The mouths of side tunnels flashed past quickly, their ends unknown. The walls of the cave were dotted with glowing minerals, their faint light illuminating the paths clearly even without any lighting tools.

After descending over a thousand meters, they finally reached an open space, a place where humans had gathered. The temperature inside was extremely high, and both men and women walking around were dressed in nothing but thin, almost non-existent swimwear. What covered their bodies was not fabric, but the gazes of others that they deliberately kept off themselves. Ryan and the others felt a bit uncomfortable, as if their eyes were being hurt by the sight.

“Your Majesty, the real Cranberry has arrived.”

Harriet flashed a brilliant smile. “This is the true paradise!” She really wanted to blow this place straight into the sky.

Xiao Jia said, “My colleague and I are the ground-based guides, so we’ll leave you all here. I hope you enjoy yourselves, Your Majesty.”

“What a pity.” Harriet’s gaze openly scanned Xiao Jia from head to toe, her meaning clear.

Xiao Jia’s heart trembled. “Goodbye, Your Majesty.” Once the people from the flying vehicle had left, he complained to his colleague, “Thankfully, we’re the guides; if we were the ones staying inside, phew, those big and thick things would’ve been used on us.”

Xiao Yi nodded nervously. “You’re right, that woman was all over the man in her arms, but he looked like he was enjoying it, his face all red.”

If it weren’t for the mission at hand, Ryan and the others wouldn’t want to stay here any longer. They were decent people. Fan Lanting forced a smile, leaning toward Harriet’s ear, and gritted his teeth as he said, “If you touch me again, I’ll put my big foot on your butt and let you know the sun won’t rise tomorrow.”

Harriet replied, “If you stay in Cranberry, you won’t see the sun tomorrow.” There wasn’t even a sun here. “Hahaha.”

Fan Lanting: “…”

Ryan even felt a bit sorry for Fan Lanting. Being shorter meant he had to endure more.

The underground settlement of Cranberry was just one area, about the size of five football fields. It was well-equipped, like a small town. After walking through it for a while, they were all sweating heavily due to the abundant geothermal resources. As Ryan walked, he caught a glimpse of a figure darting through the crowd. He focused his attention, but it was already gone. He didn’t bother with it further and withdrew his gaze, continuing to follow Harriet.

As they walked, Ryan released one or two mosquito-sized detectors from his hand. These were an improved version based on the first and second generations—Smaller, more discreet, but correspondingly, their lifespan was even shorter. In a small area like this, it should be enough. Ryan temporarily referred to it as the third-generation detector. If it worked well this time, he could apply for a patent and make some small money. More money would mean more cakes for the Tuantuan to enjoy.

“Your Majesty, do you need accommodation?”

They were dressed in thick winter clothes, clearly newcomers. Hotel attendants loved to target people like this—new arrivals who didn’t know the rules, easy prey, ripe for the picking.

Harriet yawned and asked, “Where’s your place?”

“Just over there, Your Majesty, to the left.”

To the left, there was a hotel that wasn’t particularly special but was one of the top three in the area (the choices were quite limited). It didn’t really matter which one they picked. The group, without saying much, tacitly agreed, and Harriet, as the leader of the mission, said, “Alright, take us there.”

“Sure thing, Your Majesty, right this way.” The attendant’s words were especially sweet. He added, “Your taste is truly impeccable,” complimenting his own hotel in the process.

Just as they were about to enter the hotel, Ryan paused and glanced over his shoulder, feeling the weight of being watched.

“What’s wrong?” Jack asked when he noticed Ryan had stopped.

Ryan replied, “I think we might have run into someone I know.” He was fairly sure he hadn’t mistaken the figure he’d spotted earlier.

Jack raised an eyebrow, “Acquaintance?” But this place is full of pirates.

Ryan shrugged nonchalantly, “I’ve seen a lot. It happens.”

Jack paused, “…Oh.” What could the general possibly see in someone like that?

Ryan continued, “Let’s go, time to change clothes. Don’t you think it’s hot?”

Jack glanced around at the men and women nearby. “I don’t want to wear those transparent underwear. It just doesn’t feel secure.”

Ryan: “I don’t want to either.”

As the hotel’s revolving door spun open, someone stepped out. Derrick, without needing to hear what they were talking about, could guess the gist of it. He walked over and slapped the two on the shoulders. “Let’s go, the queen is waiting for us.” After saying what needed to be said, he leaned in and whispered, “What’s there to fear when you’ve got capital?” He then gave a little swagger, puffing out his chest.

Ryan shook his head, half-amused, half-exasperated. “We really should have let Bunier come here and see you acting like a thug.”

“Don’t, don’t say anything when we get home.”

Ryan: “We’ll see. I can still keep things secret…” Just as he finished speaking, he felt a light slap on his backside. Ryan turned his head to look… and his gaze moved down a little, realizing it was a short woman, less than six feet tall, who had just slapped his butt.

The short woman, dressed in a bikini, smiled and said, “How much for a day?”