When Qin Tian and Yan Qing met again, it was at the 27th Army base.

"Director Yan, Qin Tian reporting to you."

Qin Tian stood straight and saluted.

"Qin Tian, you've worked hard."

Yan Qing patted Qin Tian's shoulder, his tone filled with emotion.

He knew that during Qin Tian's infiltration into the Hundred Hunt Star Thieves, he must have faced tremendous pressure. Although they ultimately couldn't rescue Dr. Xie, destroying the Hundred Hunt Star Thieves' lair and unexpectedly discovering the Blood Demon Cult's clues was still a major achievement.

Behind Yan Qing, Zhao Rui, Chen Wei, and Jiang Yihan's gazes were complex.

For months they had struggled without success, yet Qin Tian infiltrated the Hundred Hunt Star Thieves within just a few days and completed the mission so successfully.

In contrast, they felt their supposed elite status in the Seventh Bureau was not much different from being useless.

"Qin Tian, this time the Military Department is very satisfied with your performance. After the general assembly's decision, you are rewarded with 300,000 Military Merit Points, and a first-class merit badge." Yan Qing said seriously.

300,000 Military Merit Points

Qin Tian's eyes lit up. Although his current merit points were rather abundant, no one would complain about having too many.

The first-class merit badge was just as rare.

Accumulating several first-class merits, his promotion to Major General would be within reach.

What Qin Tian did not know was that his Major General rank was originally close at hand.

After the Hundred Hunt Star Thieves were eradicated, Yan Qing personally wrote a report to the Military Department, applying for Qin Tian's promotion to Major General.

At the assembly, the senior officials of the Military Department reviewed Qin Tian's resume and thought the promotion was too swift, not supporting it. But who would have guessed the Dongfang Clan would speak for Qin Tian, suggesting special talents require special treatment.

In the territory of the Azure Wood Star Realm, with the Dongfang Clan speaking, the Military Department had to treat it prudently. Moreover, this was just an upgrade from Colonel to Major General, not yet reaching the rank of General, so the Military Department promptly approved the application.

However, no one expected the process to be interrupted, with the promotion application being rejected.

The rejector was none other than Marshal Lin, the top boss of the Seventh Bureau.

Even with Dongfang Clan's support, Qin Tian's boss rejecting the application rendered it ineffective.

No one could fathom why Marshal Lin, far away in the Royal Star, would personally reject a small Colonel's promotion from the Azure Wood Star Realm.

For Marshal Lin, Colonels or even Major Generals probably held little distinction from the lowest-ranking soldiers.

Yet Yan Qing could guess Marshal Lin's intention.

The tallest tree in the forest is bound to be destroyed by strong winds.

Qin Tian's growth was too fast, his promotion couldn't be too swift, lest he attract attention.

If people found out that Qin Tian was a clone and had been out of the pod for just a year, such alarming growth would inevitably lead people to associate Qin Tian with the former Marshal Lin.

Within the Empire, almost no one wished to witness the rise of a second Marshal Lin.

Once Qin Tian heads to the Royal Star to work under Marshal Lin, there would be plenty of opportunities for promotion and merit; forget Major General, even reaching Brigadier or Lieutenant General might be a matter of years.

"Qin Tian, in the coming period, I plan to conduct a major internal investigation within the Military Department. Initially, you were supposed to participate in this action, but considering you've just completed a task, you need some time to rest, so I'm giving you a leave. Wait for my notice afterward." Yan Qing said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Qin Tian was delighted.

An internal investigation is a tedious and offending task, one he had no interest in.

He had many things to do next.

Such as settling Xiong and the Poisonous Widow, handling the batch of Energy Crystal Stones in hand.

But most importantly, he must commercialize Karsas' research results from the Netherworld Ghost Cave.

The Youth Potion that slows aging, what kind of terrifying wealth could it contain?

Just thinking about it made his blood boil.

In addition, he also had plans for another potion Karsas researched, the Superman Potion.

"Thank you, sir!"

Qin Tian saluted.

Zhao Rui and Chen Wei looked on with envy. They also wanted a break, but alas, with unfinished tasks previously, despite months of effort, they had to continue working.

With Dr. Xie's death, the intensity of the internal investigation was escalated several levels.

They had to find out who leaked Dr. Xie's whereabouts, and how much the secret of the anti-Star Cannon project had been compromised.

After bidding farewell to Qin Tian, Yan Qing met Dongfang Yao at the 27th Army base.

"Mr. Dongfang Yao."

"General Yan."

The two shook hands warmly.

"General Yan, the clan has conveyed the Military Department's intentions to me."

Dongfang Yao handed over a prepared paper document to Yan Qing, saying:

"This is the information I got from the Blood Demon concerning Dr. Xie."

He paused before continuing:

"The Blood Demon Cult is always cautious. The Blood Demon didn't know who the mole was; he only received orders to wait near certain coordinates and attack the battleship Dr. Xie was aboard."

"However, we've captured the Blood Demon's superior and extracted some information, hoping it helps in your future investigations, General Yan."

Yan Qing accepted the file with gravity, saying:

"Thank you, Mr. Dongfang Yao, this information is crucial for us."

The beginning is always the hardest.

As long as there are clues, they can follow the trail and ultimately eradicate spies hidden within the Military Department.

"General Yan, please don't mention it. Capturing the Blood Demon was largely thanks to your Seventh Bureau's Colonel Qin Tian."

Dongfang Yao chuckled and, half-jokingly, said:

"Frankly, I came to Baiguan Star partly to interrogate the Blood Demon and partly out of personal interest—having long heard of the young Colonel Qin Tian's extraordinary skills, greatly praised even by the clan's Great Elder. But days ago, I heard that Qin Tian's promotion to Major General was personally dismissed by Marshal Lin. Offending Marshal Lin, I believe Qin Tian won't have better prospects in the Seventh Bureau. If General Yan cherishes talent, why not transfer Qin Tian under my Dongfang Clan? I believe within five years, Qin Tian will certainly become the youngest Brigadier General."

Yan Qing, hearing this, displayed a gentle smile but shook his head slightly: "Mr. Dongfang, you're joking. Qin Tian is a key talent in the Seventh Bureau, having just achieved major feats in the Hundred Hunt Star Thieves mission, and now is the time to entrust him with responsibilities; it's really inappropriate to relocate him. As for the promotion rejection, Marshal Lin has other plans for Qin Tian, and soon, Qin Tian will be transferred to the Imperial Capital to work under Marshal Lin."

Upon hearing this, Dongfang Yao's eyes flickered; Qin Tian's assignment to work under Marshal Lin was a valuable piece of information.

"All right, perhaps I was too forward."

Dongfang Yao smiled faintly, saying: "I believe with Colonel Qin Tian's capabilities, he will shine under Marshal Lin."

"General Yan, I won't disrupt your work further. I hope you quickly find clues to clear the Military Department of those infestations; goodbye."

Once Dongfang Yao and his silver-haired elder left, Yan Qing's smile slowly faded. He walked to the window, gazing at the distant airship, finger softly tapping the window ledge—Dongfang Clan's interest in Qin Tian was stronger than expected.

It seems Qin Tian's transfer to the Imperial Capital needs to be expedited.

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