“Lord Tilt, the investigation is mostly complete. Bascade’s reckless ambition led to the sinking of the Kunpeng. At the same time, his lax discipline allowed personnel from the Forty-Second Legion to loot supplies under the guise of a rescue operation. However, the matter of the Energy Crystal and the egg probably has nothing to do with him. Bassaf, on the other hand, is loyal to the Star Alliance. After the Kunpeng went down, he fought bravely, a fact that can be verified by the footage stored on the Mechanical God.”

Aikaden reported to Tilt.

“Lord Tilt, you must see the truth! I am truly loyal to the Star Alliance!”

Seeing Aikaden speak up for him, Bassaf latched onto his words like a drowning man clutching at a straw.

Tilt merely glanced at Bassaf before ignoring him and speaking to Aikaden.

“I don’t care whether he’s guilty or not. All I care about is that egg and the Energy Crystal. We can set aside the matter of the Energy Crystal for now, but that biological egg was what Dr. Hilofa wanted. Now it’s gone! What am I supposed to tell Dr. Hilofa? So, I can only hand him over to Dr. Hilofa and let him decide whether he lives or dies.”

“Yes, sir!”

Aikaden replied respectfully.

When Bassaf heard the name “Dr. Hilofa,” an expression of utter terror appeared on his face, and beads of cold sweat began to pour from his forehead.

Tilt immediately sent a long-range communication request to Dr. Hilofa.

SWOOSH~

A virtual image frame materialized beside them.

The connection was quickly established.

A huge laboratory appeared, filled with all sorts of instruments, equipment, and beakers.

A man in a white research coat with golden hair and handsome features, holding a bottle of a prepared chemical solution, turned his head toward them and asked with a smile.

“Tilt, what can I do for you?”

“Hilofa, that experimental egg you wanted has been lost. The culprit has been found. I’m handing Bassaf over to you for disposal.”

After speaking to Hilofa in a grim tone, Tilt immediately cut the connection.

When Hilofa heard Tilt’s words, the smile vanished from his face. His handsome features instantly turned deathly pale. His eyes and mouth turned black as bloody streaks appeared across his skin.

In an instant, the atmosphere shifted. Hilofa transformed into a demonic specter, glaring murderously at Vice Legion Commander Bassaf as he spoke.

“You actually lost my specimen?”

“Lord Hilofa, please, let me explain.”

Bassaf said, terrified.

“Since you lost my specimen, you can take its place.”

Hilofa said to Bassaf with a savage grin.

Bassaf felt as if he had been plunged into hell, an expression of pure terror on his face.

‘A quick death has now become an extravagant hope,’ he thought.

Just as Bassaf thought he was doomed,

Aikaden suddenly spoke to Hilofa.

“Lord Hilofa, while Bassaf deserves death for losing your specimen, he is extremely loyal to the Alliance and a very brave warrior. I believe that using him as experimental material would be a waste. He’s more valuable alive.”

Hearing Aikaden’s words, Hilofa turned to him with a chilling gaze.

Aikaden met Hilofa’s gaze, his expression unreadable.

Bassaf was also stunned.

He hadn’t expected Aikaden to speak up for him again. He hurriedly said to Dr. Hilofa,

“My lord, I am loyal to the Alliance! As long as you spare me, I will be your dog. I will absolutely not disappoint you.”

Hilofa thought for a moment. His distorted face returned to normal, and he broke into a brilliant smile.

“Fine. The living are more valuable than the dead. I’ll let this slide… for now.”

“Understood.”

Aikaden replied respectfully.

Dr. Hilofa then cut the communication.

Seeing the connection cut, Bassaf collapsed as if paralyzed, gasping for breath.

He had truly just taken a trip to hell and back.

Just then, Aikaden walked up to Bassaf, reached out, and pulled out the metal spikes pinning him down. Blood flowed freely from the wounds.

“HISS~”

Bassaf couldn’t help but cry out in pain.

“Vice Legion Commander Bassaf, congratulations on surviving. You’re fine now. You can be reinstated to your original post!”

Aikaden congratulated Bassaf with a deadpan expression.

“Thank you for saving my life, Lord Aikaden. I will never forget this debt. And that safe… I will make sure it is delivered to you fully intact.”

Bassaf said to Aikaden, full of gratitude.

“Good.”

Aikaden replied coolly.

…

—————————————-

「H1 District Commercial Street.」

Luoxue wore a form-fitting blue lace dress, a delicate necklace gracing her fair neck, and her hair was let down over her shoulders.

The girls beside her, Zhihan and Mira, had also changed into casual dresses.

They walked together toward a restaurant called World of BBQ.

“This time, we have to make Long Ming treat us to a huge meal.”

Mira said excitedly.

“Aren’t you afraid of eating him into poverty?”

Luoxue replied with a smile.

“Sister Luoxue, are you worried about Long Ming?”

Mira asked with a grin.

“Not at all.”

Luoxue replied with a light laugh.

Just then, a few non-commissioned officers with worried expressions walked past Luoxue and her friends, deep in conversation.

“Sigh, people from the Dark Abyss department are constantly investigating us. My captain was taken away.”

“Same here. Dozens from our squad still haven’t been released. They even sent one back as a corpse.”

“I can’t believe this.”

“The Forty-Second Legion is completely rotten.”

“Tell me about it. The higher-ups don’t give a damn about us. There’s no future in this legion. If I had any other choice, I would’ve left long ago. Any other legion would be better than this one.”

“Alright, what’s the use in complaining?”

“Yeah! What’s the use… It’s just our bad luck.”

…

Hearing their conversation, Luoxue’s heart skipped a beat.

‘There’s a saying: the speaker may be careless, but the listener pays attention.’

‘It was certainly a good thing that Long Ming had joined their squad.’

‘But to be blunt, weren’t they just holding him back?’

‘They couldn’t help Long Ming at all; they would only drag him down.’

“Luoxue?”

Zhihan called out softly.

“What is it?”

Luoxue asked, snapping back to reality.

“What’s wrong with you? You suddenly went quiet. Did something happen?”

Zhihan asked with some concern.

“It’s nothing. Let’s hurry. Long Ming and the others should have arrived by now.”

Luoxue said to Zhihan and the others.

“Okay.”

Zhihan and the others nodded quickly.

「Meanwhile.」

Long Ming, Qian Wei, Jing Chuan, and the others had already arrived at World of BBQ long ago.

The restaurant’s decor was average, but its main advantage was its ample space.

Long Ming’s group sat around a grill table, having ordered a huge pile of beef platters and various vegetables.

Although anxiety was in the air, the restaurant’s business was still quite good, with many customers seated at the surrounding grill tables.

“It’s been so long. How come Luoxue and the girls aren’t here yet?”

Jing Chuan and the others kept looking toward the entrance.

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