TL: Hua

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Chapter 44

Half a day of consideration was too long; the two of them circled the plaza twice and had already finalized their decision.

When the metal door opened again, Ying Xun, sitting behind his desk, showed no surprise at all, as if he had been specifically waiting for them.

Thus, half an hour later, the captains of the First and Seventh Azure Bird Guards received their orders and arrived at Office Hall No. 1 on time.

“This is Colonel Ji Jingche of the First Guard,” Ying Xun introduced unhurriedly. “And the commander of the seventh guard, Lieutenant Colonel Aslan.”

Ji Jingche nodded in acknowledgement, his gaze turning toward Ji Xuan. He stared at this face, which seemed more angular and composed than at their last meeting, and hesitated for a moment. Since it was an official setting, he debated whether to call him “Xiao Xuan” or something more formal. Ultimately, he chose a neutral: “Ji Xuan.”

Unexpectedly, as soon as he spoke, he heard Ji Xuan’s flat, toneless voice: “Colonel Ji.”

The voice carried no emotion, as if he were merely stating an ordinary job title. Ji Jingche couldn’t explain the feeling, only that it felt like something had pricked his heart.

Then, Ji Xuan’s gaze calmly swept past him and landed on Aslan beside him.

He continued his greetings: “Lieutenant Colonel Aslan.”

His tone actually sounded a few degrees warmer and more natural than when he had faced Ji Jingche.

Ji Jingche’s fingertips curled slightly as an indescribable sense of stagnation spread through his chest. However, aside from him, no one seemed to notice this subtle prelude. Ying Xun soon signaled for the four of them to sit.

The seventh Azure Bird Guard was primarily responsible for intelligence work, so the specific details of the mission were introduced by Captain Aslan. Aslan was a striking female Alpha. She was very tall, standing nearly as high as Ji Jingche, and her red hair, whether natural or dyed, looked like a brilliant fire under the light.

Skipping the pleasantries, she opened an encrypted terminal and projected several pages of data.

Even though Ji Xuan and Pei Yingye had guessed the mission’s direction downstairs, seeing it for real still felt somewhat thorny.

It started six months ago when the Azure Bird Guards began intercepting several smuggling fleets. Most of the seized materials were prohibited supplies and weapons. Subsequent investigations by the Seventh Guard revealed a vast smuggling network behind these fleets. One of their core businesses was Zerg gene extraction fluid.

However, this extraction fluid was slightly different from what Pei Yingye and Lai Zhou had described in the full-domain simulation; its effects were closer to hallucinogenic and mind-clouding. No one knew where it was coming from or who was continuing the research. The Seventh Guard had only traced the distribution chain within the Alliance and identified a few public figureheads. As for the true source, aka the “Seller” providing the goods, they still had no clue.

“Zakun, code-named ‘The Collector.’ All the extraction fluid we’ve traced so far initially flowed from his hands,” Aslan said. “But he has a supplier above him. We haven’t found any information on that person yet. However, based on Zakun’s recent capital flow and communication records, we believe he will soon conduct another transaction with that mysterious supplier.”

“The Collector?” Pei Yingye repeated the code name. “Sounds like a creep.”

Aslan remained non-committal. She switched the projection to show a few more pages of files. “We’ve tried to infiltrate several times, but the target is extremely vigilant… You are new faces. Although the General initially told me the infiltration mission would be carried out by military academy students, I almost thought his brain had finally been ruined by the bitterness of Neo’s coffee—”

Before she could finish, she felt Ying Xun’s gaze move toward her.

Aslan immediately changed her tune smoothly, even winking at Ying Xun’s side. “Of course, after reviewing your assessment records at Mars and seeing the video of a certain student thrashing Alphas last night, I suddenly feel that sometimes fresh blood might just bring some unexpected surprises.”

So this guard captain is the type who can’t stay serious for more than three minutes, Ji Xuan and Pei Yingye thought, sharing a knowing look.

“So, the objective of this mission is to use this ‘Collector’ to find the supplier behind him?” Pei Yingye leaned forward, his fingertip unconsciously tapping on the table.

“Correct, smart!” Aslan snapped her fingers and switched the projection again. A massive, elegant starship model appeared before everyone’s eyes.

“This is “Seraphina,” a playground for the old money of the Fourth Galaxy, and a place where Zakun is a regular. He will board this starship in three days. After cruising the Carter Nebula, he will head to the planet Belheim.”

For various reasons, Belheim was not entirely under the jurisdiction of the Alliance.

“Our analysis suggests their planned transaction site might be on the starship itself, or perhaps somewhere at the final destination. I need you to board the ship, find a way to get close to Zakun, earn his trust, and extract the specific time and location of the deal. If possible, confirm the identity of the supplier.”

Pei Yingye rubbed his fingertips together as his gaze swept over the model. An interested smile curled at the corners of his mouth. “This really is a vital mission… but what identity are we using to sneak into a place like that? We can’t exactly go in as plumbers or something, right?”

“Of course not,” Aslan let out a light laugh, her fingers sliding quickly across her terminal. “We’ve prepared several identities: old nobility from the Fourth Galaxy, heirs to a family on a mining planet… roles like these make it easier to approach Zakun.”

As she spoke, her gaze lingered on Ji Xuan for a moment. “However, given that Ji Xuan is an Omega, my suggestion is that the two of you should pose as a couple or a married pair.”

Ji Xuan remained expressionless, his eyes scanning Zakun’s personal profile for a long time.

Zakun: thirty-two years old, S-grade Alpha, born on planet Garan in the Fourth Galaxy. The code name “The Collector” originated from a grand banquet he hosted three years ago to display the collection he had gathered from various planets—every single one of them was an oriental beauty.

“Pei Yingye’s grade cannot be hidden,” Ji Xuan, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up, drawing everyone’s attention to him. “High-grade Alphas naturally repel one another, not to mention Zakun grew up under the oppression of the old nobility. In his eyes, any Alpha stronger than him represents the people who once oppressed him. He will harbor a natural hostility toward Pei, making it very difficult to earn his trust.”

Aslan arched an eyebrow and inquired, “Then, what do you suggest?”

“A fallen noble Omega should find it easier to make him lower his guard and create the illusion that I am ‘controllable,’” Ji Xuan said slowly. “It is also the fastest way to get close to him.”

“The risk is too high,” Ji Jingche interrupted, knitting his brows tightly before Aslan could speak. “If he forcibly releases his pheromones, with your grade…”

“Colonel, since you have seen my accomplishment and allowed me to join the operation, you should acknowledge that I am not a useless person incapable of self-defense.”

Ji Jingche was stunned.

Aslan rubbed her chin, quickly weighing the pros and cons. In truth, they had considered similar plans, but the risks were simply too high, and the Seventh Guard lacked a suitable candidate to execute it. The idea had resurfaced when Ying Xun notified her, but it was quickly dismissed.

It was deemed inappropriate; for a military student without formal training, infiltrating Zakun’s inner circle was dangerous enough.

“Then what about me?” Unexpectedly, Pei Yingye was the first to speak. “If you want to be a fallen noble, what am I? A bodyguard? A fiancé? Or…”

“Can’t you just be a boxer?” Ji Xuan looked at him with a beaming smile. “An underground boxer born on a poor, remote planet with a similar background to Zakun, who was picked up because of his exceptional looks.”

“Oh,” Pei Yingye gave a meaningful laugh. “So, a male toy.”

“I have no problem with that; it depends on what the officers think.” After that, Pei Yingye simply threw his hands up and leaned back against his chair.

Ying Xun’s fingers tapped lightly on the desk, his gray eyes glancing over everyone present before finally coming to rest on Ji Xuan.

“How much confidence do you have in controlling the situation?”

“If the data provided by Lieutenant Colonel Aslan is accurate, this man is conceited and suspicious, with an extreme preference for a specific type of ‘collectible.’ He enjoys the process of acquisition and conquest; that is our room for maneuver.”

Ying Xun remained silent for a moment before turning his gaze to Aslan.

The latter nodded and said, “General, I think it’s feasible.”

Ying Xun pondered for a moment before finally nodding. “Then we will proceed with this plan. The Seventh Guard is primarily responsible for this mission. Aslan, brief them on the remaining details, especially their backgrounds. The First Guard will provide support; once they obtain the transaction location or the supplier appears, act immediately.”

“Yes, sir!”

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After leaving the office hall, Pei Yingye and Ji Xuan were grabbed by Aslan to head to the Seventh Guard’s territory for a temporary meeting.

Ji Jingche stood where he was, watching the three figures walk away. Pei Yingye followed beside Ji Xuan like a wolf guarding its food; he had his hands in his pockets, his elbows seemingly intentionally bumping or brushing against Ji Xuan’s back and hands. The latter didn’t seem to care at all about these childish movements. His back was straight, his gait light, and when he turned his head to speak, there was a slight curve to his lips—perhaps a smile, or perhaps just a polite gesture.

He no longer resembled the thin, timid younger brother in Ji Jingche’s memory but was instead a calm, decisive, and powerful…

From beginning to end, he and Ji Xuan had barely exchanged eye contact. No, it wasn’t just barely. Ji Xuan almost never let his gaze linger on him.

He hadn’t felt it before, but in this moment, it seemed he truly understood that there was an invisible, untouchable mist between him and Ji Xuan. Ji Xuan was walking further and further away behind that mist, as if he would never look back and no longer needed to.

Was it because they were too harsh on him that he has already given up on the Ji family?

Fragments of memories flashed uncontrollably through his mind: the boy’s timid yet longing eyes when he first arrived at the Ji family, his father’s cold response, and his own sharp reprimands… They seemed to have never asked what he went through on the garbage planet, nor what kind of compensation he wanted; they had simply tried to crudely shove him into a pre-designed mold.

And Ji Xuan had never complained, never resisted, to the point where now, aside from the interlude caused by his secondary differentiation, everything about him met the Ji family’s expectations. He had even caught the eye of the Supreme Commander of North Star Fortress.

Except…

Ji Jingche raised his hand and pressed his brow hard, trying to dispel this inexplicable irritability and a sliver of… panic that even he was unwilling to admit.

Ji Xuan could maintain basic politeness with Aslan and shared an inexpressible closeness and trust with Pei Yingye, but toward him alone, he used the most official, most distant title.

It’s not out of spite, Ji Jingche thought. Spite at least implies expectation and care, but Ji Xuan’s attitude was clear: he truly didn’t care anymore. He didn’t care about his opinion, no longer needed his attention, and didn’t even… need anything from the Ji family. They seemed to have pushed Ji Xuan too far away.

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