Inside the warship, Lu Meng watched his colleagues hollering and cheering, feeling a kind of bleakness like “everyone else is drunk and I’m the only one sober.”

If this big dog were just something the Boss had casually picked up, that would be one thing; but its owner was a bona fide space pirate, the top dog of Extreme Shadow.

“Minister Lu, did you help the Boss find this big dog? It’s amazing!” Yan Kai looked over with sparkling eyes. “It’s the first time I’ve realized a level‑five mutant can be trained as a military dog!”

Lu Meng: “…Forget the ‘military dog’ part. It has household registration.”

Yan Kai: “Household registration?”

Another shout rang out, and Lu Meng looked toward the surveillance feeds.

Yin Wei was cutting through the wolf pack like breaking bamboo, charging straight through, while the mutant wolves refused to give up and kept chasing behind it.

The whole screen turned into a live broadcast of a large mutant beast hunt.

Running along the mountainside, Yin Wei reached a cliff edge and, with a lift of its front paws, lunged out.

“Holy shit!”

Yan Kai couldn’t help swearing. “It’s got to be several hundred meters to the other side!”

“We’re done for, it ran too fast and couldn’t brake!”

“I’ve never heard of a level‑five mutant falling to its death, so it should… be fine, right?”

“That has to be a hundred, two hundred meters down. If it falls, who knows!”

Lu Meng’s heart clenched. He rushed to the console and yelled, “Get back!”

If the Extreme Shadow boss’s beloved pet died while carrying out a military mission, would Flying Dragon ever see another peaceful day?

Lu Meng’s shout seemed to have some effect. Yin Wei flicked its big tail, and just before its hind legs left the ground, it pulled an insanely sharp turn, skimming along the cliff edge and vanishing in a blur.

The wolf pack chasing it didn’t react in time and tumbled over the edge like a rainstorm of bodies.

“Brilliant!”

“It’s way too smart! Do all level‑five big dogs have this IQ?”

“Shit, this makes me want to keep a dog. Think mutant dogs can be drafted into the military in the future?”

“I want one too!”

Lu Meng: “A level‑five mutant dog? Is it going to be training you, or are you training it?”

The officers: “…”

In the Flying Dragon mecha cockpit—

Chi Yao eyeballed Yin Wei’s distance from the cave and had Flying Dragon’s AI open the sonic test module.

Jing Xi glanced at it and asked quietly, “Your ring can block part of the sonic waves. This data will probably have to be discounted.”

If the main force went in later, a single ring would not be able to protect everyone.

“The ring isn’t for blocking sonic waves for it,” Chi Yao beckoned, and the sonic analysis interface floated over to his side. “The ring is the key that activates the armor, and it also assists the dumb dog so its infrasound can unleash greater offensive power.”

As he spoke, Yin Wei had already entered within ten kilometers of the cave in a straight line.

The sonic waves grew stronger. It bared its teeth and let out a continuous low growl, clear anxiety and killing intent in its throat.

“Little Wolfhead,” Chi Yao activated his personal terminal’s AI, “open the ring’s monitoring backend.”

A small window quickly popped up in front of him.

Jing Xi looked over.

In addition to various environmental readings, there was also Yin Wei’s physical data.

Beneath the numbers were system‑generated analysis results and recommendations.

Jing Xi suddenly understood why Chi Yao had set up a “key” to manually activate the armor.

No matter how docile Yin Wei acted normally, at its core it was still a level‑five mutant with terrifying killing power. If it controlled the armor on its own will, once it lost control, it would be extremely hard to handle.

But he could tell Chi Yao’s feelings toward this dog were far more than just treating it like a pet.

Ever since Yin Wei set out, he could sense Chi Yao’s tension to some extent.

When it was within five kilometers of the cave in a straight line, Yin Wei suddenly stopped and roared toward the cave.

At the same time, both the mecha and the warship detected an anomaly in the sonic waves.

“Holy shit!”

On the warship, the officers stared at the red warnings flashing across the main screen, stunned.

“The instantaneous sonic burst just exceeded the original sonic wave’s power!”

“This is absolutely a superweapon!”

“Look! The original sonic wave is weakening!”

Lu Meng’s throat went dry as he watched the display.

This was freaking absurd.

Back when Flying Dragon first clashed with Extreme Shadow, Lu Meng had gone through the intel files.

The dog at Chi Yao’s side had appeared together with him, almost never leaving his shadow.

Even kids knew how strong a level‑five mutant was, but he hadn’t expected it to be this strong.

Just what kind of god‑tier creature was Chi Yao to keep a weapon like this as a pet?!

After weakening for a brief moment, the original sonic wave returned to its previous level, but the data clearly showed Yin Wei had the upper hand.

But Yin Wei couldn’t keep roaring forever.

It paced restlessly in place a few times, as if hesitating.

After running another kilometer forward, it finally chose to retreat.

On the way back, it ran into the pursuing wolf pack and inevitably got into a brawl.

Watching Yin Wei fight the pack, its teeth and claws covered in blood, Jing Xi marked the position where it had turned back. “Other than marrow bones, what else does it like to eat? We should make it up to it when it comes back.”

Chi Yao was amused. “Don’t spoil it until it goes useless.”

Jing Xi tilted his head to look at him. “You won’t let me pet it, and now you won’t let me feed it?”

Keeping an eye on Yin Wei’s status, Chi Yao said casually, “You can only feed me.”

Jing Xi: “…”

Childish.

A little over ten minutes later, the two of them stood by the mecha hatch waiting for Yin Wei and saw it burst out of the forest in the distance, trailed by a long line of little tails.

The moment Yin Wei saw its master, its tail wagged high.

“Awooo~”

Seeing it charging straight at them, Chi Yao grabbed Jing Xi’s hand and pulled him aside.

As soon as it leapt in, Chi Yao shut the hatch, blocking the mutant beasts that had been chasing behind.

“Start up,” Jing Xi ordered Flying Dragon’s AI.

Flying Dragon AI: [Boot sequence engaged—]

Chi Yao pointed toward the corner, telling Yin Wei to go squat there, his face full of disgust.

“Don’t move before you’re clean.”

“Awoo…”

Yin Wei’s tail drooped to the floor; all its joy was gone in an instant.

“You can wash over here.” Jing Xi waved, motioning it to follow.

“Awooo!”

Yin Wei glanced at Chi Yao, then carefully got up and followed.

As if moving gently would make Chi Yao unable to see it.

Chi Yao snorted. “The older it gets, the dumber it is.”

Jing Xi: “It probably listens to me because it feels familiar with me.”

Chi Yao: “Who knows.”

After letting Yin Wei enter the sterilization chamber, Chi Yao took the ring from its collar, and the armor segments retracted back into the collar one by one.

Moments later, a fluffy, clean big dog came out.

Jing Xi tightened the hand hanging at his side and resisted the urge to move.

“You want to pet it again, don’t you?”

Hearing Chi Yao’s chilly voice beside his ear, Jing Xi calmly averted his gaze. “No.”

Chi Yao took his hand and led him back to the cockpit.

“Stop thinking about it all day. Isn’t there enough of me for you to touch?”

Jing Xi: “…”

Jing Xi: “You don’t have fur.”

“If I beastify, my fur will be even nicer than its—” Chi Yao stopped halfway, turned his head to look at him, and narrowed his eyes slightly.

Jing Xi felt baffled under his gaze.

“What is it?”

Chi Yao: “You said that even if I turn into a beast, you’d still marry me.”

Jing Xi: “Is there a problem?”

Chi Yao: “Do you actually like me, or do you just like my fur?”

Jing Xi: “…”

In the north, Jin Ze had a splitting headache.

Reinforcements had arrived, yet it felt like they hadn’t.

All the work they were supposed to do was still there, and in the end the credit might even be stolen.

“Captain, you’ve been tired all day. Go get some rest.” Chu Xiao walked up to the lookout point and handed Jin Ze a bottle of water.

The bustling commercial street that was usually lively was now deathly silent.

Jin Ze sat on a bench at the entrance of a café, twisted the cap open and drank half a bottle. Seeing Chu Xiao sit down, he asked quietly, “How have you been feeling these days?”

Chu Xiao said with self‑mockery, “Only after going to the battlefield did I realize there’s way too much to learn. I’m still far from good enough.”

“Mm, there’s indeed an endless amount to learn.” Jin Ze looked toward the dark end of the street. “But knowing your own position is important too. At your age, I wasn’t doing any better than you are now.”

Chu Xiao was a bit flattered. “I’ll work hard.”

Jin Ze patted his shoulder and smiled. “Being young is nice.”

Chu Xiao did not quite agree with that.

What was so good about being young? No experience, no background, powerless in everything, and always underestimated.

A faint sound reached their ears, and both their expressions changed at the same time.

Jin Ze pulled the sidearm from his lower back. “Tell them to move!”

Chu Xiao: “Yes, sir!”

In just a moment, a creepy rustling drifted over from the street ahead.

Thin, sharp tips of legs scraped across the ground, producing a shrill screech.

More mutant spiders.

Something flickered at the edge of his vision. Chu Xiao’s scalp went numb as he yanked Jin Ze behind a wall.

A strand of web shot over from the air on the right, piercing through the café’s glass window.

The next second, a spider two meters tall with a five‑meter leg span landed where they had just been standing.

Seeing the spider turn toward them, Jin Ze aimed at its eyes and fired several shots in succession.

“Move!”

They had barely taken a few steps when another spider dropped from the sky ten meters ahead.

“Shit!” Jin Ze cursed under his breath and shot again.

“Watch out!”

Chu Xiao swung down the light sniper rifle from his back and was just about to aim at the spider behind them.

Bang!

A dull thud sounded.

The spider took a hit and dropped; someone had been even faster than him.

Almost at the same time, the spider in front let out a shriek.

Chu Xiao turned his head and his eyes widened.

A young man in his twenties was crouching on the spider’s head, pulling a dagger out of it.

“Ugh—” Chen Sheng flicked the slime from his fingers and was about to wipe it on his clothes when Chun Qin’s face suddenly flashed through his mind, making the flesh on his face tremble three times. He changed course and wiped it on the spider’s fur instead.

Chu Xiao had some impression of this person.

He had seen him during recruit training; he seemed to be called Chen Sheng and was Li Yuan’s partner.

“Where did he pop out from?”

Jin Ze frowned and was about to rush over to help when Chu Xiao stopped him.

“He’s stronger than us,” Chu Xiao pointed at the spider. “He killed it with a single stab.”

The situation had been too urgent earlier for Jin Ze to see clearly, but now that he looked, that was indeed the case.

“What the hell… is going on?”

This man wasn’t wearing a uniform—he wasn’t Flying Dragon or Cygnus.

Was there really a civilian out there strong enough to kill a level‑three mutant spider with one blow?

A roar came from overhead. Chu Xiao looked up to see a formation of fighters sweep by.

One of the small fighters descended, and through the open hatch they could see a burly man with a machine gun in his hands.

“Brother Li!” Chu Xiao’s eyes lit up, and he waved in that direction.

Li Yuan noticed him and looked disgusted. “Why is it you again, kid?”

Chu Xiao grinned. “Must be fate.”

Li Yuan: “…”

“Old Li, what are you dawdling for?” Chen Sheng jumped down from the spider and yelled at the fighter, “Get over here and explain the situation, or these two grunts are going to turn us into sieves.”

Jin Ze: “…”

Seeing Li Yuan, Jin Ze had nearly opened fire for real.

He was all too familiar with this Extreme Shadow enforcer who had gone toe‑to‑toe with Old Lu.

Li Yuan didn’t come down; he just jerked his chin in Jin Ze’s direction.

“Hey, we’re doing volunteer work this time. Look carefully and don’t shoot randomly.”

Jin Ze ground his teeth. “Who asked you to help?”

Coming to loot while the house was on fire was more like it.

Li Yuan: “Ask your own boss for the details.”

Jin Ze: “…”

More and more spiders crawled over, and soon Flying Dragon’s fighters joined as well.

The air was quickly filled with the smell of gunpowder and a strange fishy stench.

Chu Xiao ducked into a safe corner, raised his light sniper at the spiders, and went from needing two shots per kill to dropping them with one, getting more and more in the zone.

Within the rescue force, Extreme Shadow’s sudden appearance caused temporary chaos.

Extreme Shadow weren’t bystanders but a pirate group that had opposed the military for years, and showing up on the battlefield without a word clearly didn’t bode well.

People argued heatedly over the open channel, and most supported driving them away.

Jin Ze’s head hurt like it was going to explode. His terminal suddenly buzzed, and he swiped it open at once.

[Temporary alliance. Don’t let Cygnus find out.]

Jin Ze’s expression froze. He wiped his face and issued an order on the public channel.

“Drive off the beasts first. We’ll deal with everything else later!”

The fighting went on all night.

By the time this wave of spiders dispersed, the star had already risen.

With his gun on his back and water bottle in hand, Chu Xiao searched the ravaged battlefield and finally found Li Yuan smoking on a collapsed low wall.

“Brother Li!” Chu Xiao climbed up and sat beside him. “Thanks, and… good work.”

Li Yuan glanced at him but didn’t take the thanks. “Why so attentive to a space pirate like me?”

Chu Xiao: “You’re not like those other pirates who only know how to rob people.”

Seeing him chatter on and on, Li Yuan exhaled a puff of smoke and smiled. “If my son were still around, he’d be about your age.”

Chu Xiao paused. “You have a son?”

Li Yuan glared at him. “Do I look like someone who couldn’t get a partner?”

Chu Xiao nodded seriously and gave him a thumbs‑up. “Widow maker.”

Li Yuan: “Get lost.”

It was the first time Chu Xiao had heard Li Yuan talk about himself, so he asked curiously, “Where is your son?”

Li Yuan took a drag. “Lost him.”

Chu Xiao froze and was about to ask more when he caught sight of Chen Sheng approaching from the corner of his eye.

“Old Li, found something good!” Chen Sheng came over and waved the ring in his hand. “Twenty carats.”

Li Yuan: “What’s the use of that? I like gold.”

“Vulgar.” Chen Sheng sat down and grinned roguishly. “This is a chick‑magnet artifact.”

Watching them banter, Chu Xiao: “?”

As more Extreme Shadow members came over to report, he finally realized they’d swept the downtown area clean.

Chu Xiao: “…”

Truly, pirates would be pirates.

Li Yuan looked very satisfied, holding his cigarette and chuckling. “Not bad at all. Maintaining world peace pays way more than robbing.”

Chen Sheng joined in with a hooligan grin. “As expected of Boss, your thinking is way more open than ours.”

Chu Xiao: “…………”

No, what kind of misunderstanding did they have about “maintaining peace”?

In the south, with the test data brought back by Yin Wei, Jing Xi and Chi Yao worked through the night on a detailed assessment.

“At minimum, we can shrink this circle’s radius to ten kilometers.” Chi Yao pointed at the cave area on the holographic map. “Any further in, we’ll have to screen the personnel again.”

Jing Xi walked to his side and handed him a cup of coffee.

“Will that be pushing them too hard?”

Chi Yao took it and drank a sip.

“Give them enough pay and everything else is negotiable.”

Jing Xi: “What kind of pay?”

Chi Yao smiled. “Pleasing their boss.”

Jing Xi: “…”

Shameless.