Chapter 457: Chapter 457: Escape

At that moment, the Purple Phantom Butterfly was extremely wary of the Spear of the Dead in Long Ming’s hand and didn’t dare give chase to stop him. It just continuously chirped, commanding its vast swarm to encircle and kill him.

WHOOSH~

The dense swarm of insects fired volley after volley of light beams at Long Ming.

Long Ming swiftly dodged the attacks, gathered his Power, and fired a sweeping, dark-red beam of light.

BOOM BOOM BOOM~

Swaths of insects were annihilated.

But the converging insects were too numerous; they filled the cleared area in an instant.

They swarmed toward Long Ming.

Long Ming charged forward without fear, sweeping the Spear of the Dead at the onrushing insects.

SLICE!

Insect after insect was sliced in two, their severed bodies decaying rapidly.

But there were simply too many of them to kill.

Just then, a barrage of missiles slammed into the swarm.

BOOM BOOM BOOM~

A series of violent explosions erupted, engulfing swaths of the swarm and tearing a gap through their ranks.

Long Ming looked up toward the distant starry sky.

The Azure Blue had already exited the unstable region and turned around to provide him with long-range fire support.

Just then, Hopka’s voice came over the comms channel.

"Hurry, get on board!"

Hearing Hopka, Long Ming frantically unleashed his Power, transforming into a dark-red streak of light that shot out of the unstable starfield toward the Azure Blue.

WHOOSH~

Countless flying insects gave chase, frantically firing beams of light at him.

In the central control room.

"Bring the bow around, now!"

Seeing Long Ming approaching, Fakadon immediately gave the order.

"Yes, sir!"

The numerous operators immediately complied.

The Azure Blue began to rapidly turn its bow.

Long Ming dodged the attacks from behind as he sped toward the Azure Blue.

BOOM BOOM BOOM~

Several beams of light struck Long Ming and exploded on impact.

Long Ming tanked the hits, continuing to accelerate.

CLICK!

The Azure Blue immediately opened its emergency boarding hatch.

Long Ming shot inside.

By then, the Azure Blue had also successfully turned its bow.

However, the swarm of insects had caught up and was now frantically attacking the Azure Blue.

WHOOSH~

Volleys of light beams hammered the Azure Blue’s armor plating.

The entire ship shuddered violently.

In the central control room.

Piercing alarms blared continuously.

Red warning prompts popped up one after another.

"C18 armor plating damaged!"

...

Fakadon ignored the damage reports and roared at his subordinates.

"Quick! Engage the FTL drive!"

"Yes, sir!"

The subordinates immediately slammed the power output levers to maximum, forcing an engagement of the FTL drive.

Scorching flames erupted from the Azure Blue’s rear thrusters.

The space ahead of them rippled.

The Azure Blue forced its way into subspace.

The oppressive black swarm lunged forward, only to find empty space.

The Purple Phantom Butterfly watched the Azure Blue escape, then slowly glanced down at its injured wing. In the end, it decided not to open a Wormhole in pursuit.

...

「The next day.」

Luminescent Star Sea.

A ripple spread across the pitch-black starry sky.

The Azure Blue emerged from subspace.

In the central control room.

Fakadon reported.

"Captain, we’re back in the Luminescent Star Sea. Sending a docking request to Spine Fortress now."

"Excellent."

Hopka nodded.

"We finally made it back safely!"

Long Ming let out a sigh of relief.

"We really have you to thank for this. We would’ve been toast otherwise."

Hopka thanked Long Ming.

"Why the sudden courtesy? That’s not like you."

Long Ming grinned at Hopka.

"Hmph. I’m taking Yuri to hand in the mission report. Wait for me!"

Hopka said to Long Ming.

"Alright."

Long Ming didn’t say anything more.

...

「A short while later.」

The Azure Blue docked smoothly inside Spine Fortress’s shipyard.

While Hopka was off turning in the mission, Long Ming took the opportunity to return to his room and rest.

「Several hours later.」

BZZZT~

Long Ming’s wristband suddenly vibrated.

He opened his eyes, saw it was Hopka calling, and answered.

"Hello?"

"Mission report’s filed. I’m waiting for you in the main hall."

"Got it!"

Long Ming stretched, then got up and left.

...

「Over half an hour later.」

Long Ming arrived on the first floor of the main hall and met up with Hopka and the others.

"This is the merit report form for the rescue mission."

Hopka handed a report form to Long Ming.

Long Ming took it and glanced at it, speaking in surprise.

"Hopka, when did you become such a cheapskate?"

"Bullshit,"

Hopka replied, annoyed.

"Then why am I only getting 50 merit points?"

Long Ming looked at Hopka with a strange expression.

"Shit, I’m the one who took the mission, and I only got ten, alright?"

Hopka shoved his own form at Long Ming.

"Damn, no wonder nobody takes this mission."

Long Ming couldn’t help but shake his head.

"This mission never offered much merit to begin with, plus we have to split it among everyone on the ship."

Hopka explained irritably.

"Fair enough."

Long Ming replied with a smile.

"But don’t be disappointed. There’s another form!"

Hopka picked up a second report form and handed it to Long Ming.

Long Ming took it and glanced at it.

This merit report was for "Strategic Intelligence," with a value of 500 points.

"This many merit points?"

Long Ming replied, a little surprised.

"The intel we brought back is extremely valuable, so the merit payout is much higher."

Hopka then explained.

"I see."

"Come on, I’ll take you to the verification office."

"Okay!"

Long Ming then followed Hopka upstairs.

They soon arrived at the verification office.

Hopka took the forms for Fakadon and the others and found a clerk to process them.

Long Ming, meanwhile, walked up to Zhou Xiaokang’s desk again.

"Red Ghost Officer?"

Zhou Xiaokang looked up at Long Ming, stunned.

"File these for me."

Long Ming handed the two forms to Zhou Xiaokang.

Zhou Xiaokang accepted them, completely shocked. ’How long has it been? He’s back filing for merit points already?’

When he saw the numbers on the forms, he sucked in a sharp breath.

"Is there a problem?"

Long Ming asked when he saw Zhou Xiaokang just holding the forms without starting to process them.

"No, not at all. It’s just... Sir, after this filing, you’ll be officially promoted to Major. Congratulations!"

Zhou Xiaokang quickly congratulated Long Ming.

"Thanks."

Long Ming replied calmly.

「A little over ten minutes later.」

Zhou Xiaokang finished processing all of Long Ming’s paperwork and said with a cheerful laugh.

"Red Ghost Officer, the paperwork is all done. Once it’s approved by the City of Stars, you can collect your major’s uniform."

"Alright."

Long Ming nodded and turned to leave the verification office.

As he walked out, he saw Hopka waiting for him.

"Everything go smoothly?"

Hopka asked.

"More or less."

"Let’s go grab a bite then. My treat!"

"Can’t. I’ve got something else to take care of."

’I should deal with this ore I have first,’ Long Ming thought.

"Alright, we’ll get together next time, then. I’ll hit you up if another mission comes along."

Hopka wasn’t one to dither, so he simply nodded.

"Please don’t. Just don’t call me. Bye!"

A priceless look crossed Long Ming’s face as he hurried away.

"Tch. Coward,"

Hopka retorted irritably at Long Ming’s retreating back.

...

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