ABFMV Chapter 57 Part 2

And indeed, she was right.

Hami spoke lightly. “Rest? I’d say you’re forcibly suppressing it. At this rate, how long do you think you have left to live?”

Xu Linlang looked at Hami’s casual demeanor and gradually understood. “You have a solution?”

Hami: “Once it’s done, I’ll naturally tell you.”

Xu Linlang realized that Qiye’s sudden arrival to rescue her was an unexpected event. If she left with him now, the previously planned bait strategy would fail.

No matter what, Hami didn’t want his ready-made bait to escape.

But at this point, force alone couldn’t solve his internal and external problems.

So he had to rely on Qiye’s unique traits to coerce and entice.

Qiye said, “If it concerns me, then I’ll handle it.”

Xu Linlang: “It’s fine, just being the bait.”

Qiye frowned, speaking without hesitation: “I’ll go.”

Xu Linlang: “But if it’s you, it won’t serve as bait…”

In terms of status and appeal, the marshal’s daughter was far more tempting.

Qiye had no reply. “Then I’ll stay by your side.”

Hami shook his finger. “Young lady, don’t assume you know my thoughts. This bait… he’s more suited to the role.”

Xu Linlang froze. He’s saying Qiye is a better bait than her?

She thought it over again.

The Red Flame Corps’ conflict with the insect race had sparked this crisis, and Qiye happened to have insect blood—making him, in Hami’s eyes, perfect bait.

The insect race was always experimenting, and a hybrid like Qiye could be of great use to them.

As she pondered this, worry crept across her face.

Hami glanced at her. “Look at you, all worried. You weren’t this tense when you volunteered to be the bait yourself.”

Qiye’s eyes brightened slightly, a hint of happiness showing.

Xu Linlang had wanted to question Hami further, but his remark flushed her ears with heat—she dared not ask more for fear of being teased.

…

Compared to Xu Linlang’s worry, Hami seemed completely at ease, as if he weren’t the one facing someone scheming to usurp him.

Meanwhile, Qiye was trapped inside a protective barrier.

Xu Linlang quietly moved beside him and whispered, “They want you. If danger comes, don’t worry about me—run. They won’t harm me.”

Qiye looked at the girl, seeing himself reflected in her gaze, and felt warmth in his heart.

If danger came, he would shield her, no matter the cost—even if it meant giving his life.

Hami: “I’m not deaf.”

Xu Linlang blinked. “So I didn’t avoid you either.”

Hami: “……”

A chime sounded outside the airlock. “Captain, are you looking for a subordinate?”

Xu Linlang tensed.

Hami lazily pressed a button. “Come in.”

The airlock opened, and a man in a red work suit entered. Xu Linlang recognized him as the one who had delivered her to Hami.

Hami glanced at him. “Terrence, you did well this time. What reward do you want?”

Terrence looked taken aback. “I’m just doing my duty, sir. I don’t seek any reward.”

Hami looked at the secured airlock. “You don’t want my reward… but do you want one from the insect race?”

Terrence blinked. “I don’t understand what you mean, Captain.”

Hami’s lips twitched as he stepped aside, fully revealing Qiye trapped inside the barrier.

“This person infiltrated my ship alone, and yet none of you seemed concerned for my safety. How admirable.”

Terrence remained calm. “Without your summons, sir, none of us would have entered recklessly. Besides, from my estimation, he couldn’t defeat you, so we didn’t worry further.”

His reasoning was sound, making it hard to fault him.

Hami, however, smiled wider. “Is that so? I suspect he found this place thanks to you. Our ship is normally untrackable; for him to locate it, someone must have disabled the ship’s shielding.”

Terrence lowered his head slightly. “Captain, I have no hidden intentions.”

Hami’s eyes narrowed. “You think I don’t know about your secret dealings with the insect race?”

Terrence’s expression shifted slightly, but he lifted his head, showing no fear—only a hint of pride at finally being discovered.

“Dirty dealings? Captain, you need to open your eyes to the times. Don’t be so set in your ways.”

He stared at Hami. “By cooperating with the insect race, the Red Flame Corps will have a better future. Or do you want us wandering the galaxy forever, with nowhere to settle?”

Hami scoffed. “What a load of nonsense.”

Terrence: “Clearly, many in the corps agree with my logic. That’s why they no longer follow you, but me. Captain, I respect you, but don’t block my path—what I do next is out of your control.”

Xu Linlang held her breath. Terrence had completely laid his cards on the table.

Unexpectedly, his motives weren’t selfish—he simply believed differently from Hami.

In Terrence’s view, only cooperation with the insect race could strengthen the Red Flame Corps.