The transaction with Jiayu went very smoothly.

Chi Yao set the meeting place, and all equipment and energy stones were transported without contact.

With Jing Xi, the boss of the legion stationed in Cetus, coordinating things, the energy stones were given the green light all the way and delivered to the location designated by Zhang Sheng.

“Worthy of being the boss of Extreme Shadow, your connections are truly wide.” Zhang Sheng clinked glasses with Chi Yao. “Do you accept business in this area?”

Smuggling energy stones was illegal in the empire, but the profits were huge, and countless people rushed into it one after another.

Chi Yao swirled his wine glass without drinking.

“President Zhang is joking. Although I don’t have household registration, I consider myself a law-abiding and patriotic citizen. How could I do such a thing?”

Zhang Sheng: “…”

Just after Chi Yao left, Zhang Sheng’s terminal rang.

The virtual screen that popped up was still pitch black, with only an old voice transmitted to his ear through the screen.

“You bought the energy stones back?”

Zhang Sheng put down his wine glass, straightened his suit lapels, and walked behind his desk. “Both e3 series and e7 series are rare energies. President Li and President Wu have three factories waiting for raw materials to rush orders. We can’t afford to delay.”

Rare energies not only had low output but were also extremely difficult to mine. They generally appeared in areas frequented by beasts in level-five danger zones.

Most of the time, even with money, one had to queue for goods.

This was also why the trading volume of rare energies in the gray area was so high.

The old voice: “Have you investigated Chi Yao?”

Zhang Sheng: “Just an insatiable star pirate. Need to bother investigating?”

The voice across the screen sounded somewhat displeased.

“He is not an ordinary star pirate.”

Zhang Sheng smiled nonchalantly: “No matter how extraordinary, he chases profit. As long as we don’t have a conflict of interest with him, he won’t be an enemy.”

The old voice: “You are too confident.”

“It’s you who are too cautious.” Zhang Sheng rested his hand on the armrest, looking levelly at the virtual screen. “If he really had other purposes, with his personality, could we live peacefully until now?”

The old voice: “He captured so many of your and my people, you call this peaceful?”

Zhang Sheng chuckled: “It’s just that not enough benefits were given. Leave this matter to me. I will make him send the people back intact.”

The old voice: “Buy people with money?”

Zhang Sheng: “Not impossible.”

The old voice hmphed coldly.

Unable to reach a consensus, the two parted on bad terms.

After the virtual screen disappeared, Zhang Sheng was silent for a moment, then called his assistant in.

“Make another appointment with those three companies to re-transact.”

The assistant said awkwardly: “These days, they send people to trouble us every day, demanding compensation for losses. They may not have the willingness to trade now.”

Zhang Sheng stood up and looked out the window.

“Tell them we will compensate them according to the contract agreement. If they don’t want the energy stones, plenty of people are lining up to grab them.”

Assistant: “Yes!”

On the main ship of the Dark Division spaceship, a group of programmers was monitoring Jiayu’s network.

One person suddenly stood up and shouted at Chi Yao.

“Boss, they are preparing to trade!”

Chi Yao ate the strawberry in his hand, wiped his hands, and walked over.

On the enlarged virtual screen was the transaction information intercepted by the programmers.

“Keep following.” Chi Yao said to the soldiers specializing in tracking energy stones, “Pay attention to the movement of energy stones.”

Everyone: “Yes!”

By noon the next day, the energy stones had flowed out for less than a day, yet had already spread to ten planets, involving hundreds of companies and institutions.

Jing Xi organized this data, not sleeping for a day and a night.

When Chi Yao returned from the detention cabin, Jing Xi was resting on the sofa with his eyes closed.

He tiptoed to the bedroom to get a blanket and cover Jing Xi, stealing a kiss while at it.

“Hard work.”

Just as he was about to leave quietly, he saw Jing Xi suddenly raise his hand, press his head down, and kiss him.

“Go sleep on the bed?” Chi Yao’s fingertips brushed across the corner of his eye. “Dark circles are hanging down to the corners of your mouth.”

Jing Xi pulled him to sit down: “Look at this.”

He pulled up a summary document he had just organized from his terminal, opened it, and enlarged it in mid-air.

“These are all established manufacturing companies. I checked the military’s procurement lists over the years. They all occupy a significant share, and the second-level approver at that time was him.”

Saying that, Jing Xi pulled up an old procurement list from the system and turned to the page of approvers.

“Bo Jin?”

Chi Yao’s expression changed, his heart feeling like it was hit by a hammer.

Looking at the time of this contract, it was twenty-six years ago.

Jing Xi: “I checked. This was the second year after he was promoted to Major General.”

Chi Yao was thoughtful: “Can you find all the contracts he signed in those years?”

“Found them.” Jing Xi clicked open a folder. “For these companies appearing in the summary document, all procurement contracts in those years passed through his hands.”

Chi Yao clicked open, comparing them with the company files one by one.

Jing Xi looked serious: “There are generally three second-level approvers. Unless he requested this order, it would be randomly assigned among general-level officers. It can’t be this coincidental.”

Chi Yao’s face darkened.

“He can’t escape involvement with Ghost.”

Jing Xi noticed his expression and didn’t know how to comfort him for a moment.

Discovering one’s deceased father might be a mole within the military would make anyone uncomfortable.

Chi Yao said lightly: “Major General Bo had a close relationship with Bai Yi. Continuing to investigate along this line will definitely catch something on Bai Yi.”

Jing Xi: “Even if Bo Jin isn’t one of Ghost’s people, he is a stakeholder. But—I always feel there is something else we overlooked.”

Chi Yao turned his head to look at him: “What?”

Jing Xi shook his head, saying seriously: “Someone my father constantly praised, I don’t believe he would be such scum.”

Chi Yao was amused: “You have a lot of confidence in your father’s judgment?”

Jing Xi: “Of course. Otherwise, who do you think I inherited my judgment from?”

After joking a bit, the heavy atmosphere relaxed slightly.

Knowing Jing Xi was trying hard to comfort him, Chi Yao rubbed his head.

“No matter what he was like before, it won’t affect me. However, seeing you struggle to comfort me puts a lot of pressure on me.”

Jing Xi kept a straight face: “…Why?”

Chi Yao spread his hands: “You are comforting me so seriously, so shouldn’t I show that I care a bit more? Otherwise, wouldn’t I be letting down your comfort?”

Jing Xi: “…”

A knock on the door suddenly sounded. Chi Yao waved his hand to let Xiao Hei open the door.

Li Yuan strode in.

“Boss, they found Ying Wei!”

Chi Yao didn’t understand for a moment.

“Who found the dog? Why look for it?”

“They said over there, while monitoring, they accidentally discovered a spaceship and the dog. It seemed to be lingering in a place with no signal—”

Chi Yao’s expression changed, and he got up to walk out.

“Which planet detected it?”

Li Yuan quickly followed, puzzled: “Right here.”

Chi Yao couldn’t believe it: “810?”

“Go ask clearly first.” Jing Xi walked beside him, equally anxious.

Ying Wei went to find the base where Chi Yao lived as a child. It was lingering there. Could it have found this place?

Arriving at the main cabin, several officers were discussing this matter.

Seeing Chi Yao and Jing Xi enter, they immediately saluted.

“Boss, this is Ying Wei’s location.” An officer enlarged a spot in the eastern hemisphere on the holographic map. “We didn’t notice this area had no signal during the first monitoring scan. This time we noticed it because we saw this mark.”

Chi Yao looked at the map. In a large primeval forest, a patch of vegetation on a mountain body was bald, forming a very large “S”.

Chi Yao enlarged the image again. Only when close could he see clearly that this S went from the mountaintop to the foot of the mountain. The trees on the path were all broken.

At the tip of the S at the top, a big dog was romping around.

Chi Yao: “…”

Jing Xi glanced at it, leaning close to his ear and whispering: “Is it here?”

Chi Yao flipped the map and looked for a moment, shaking his head: “Can’t remember clearly.”

Most of these places were obscured by trees. Just looking like this, he couldn’t see clearly at all.

Soldier: “Should we rescue them back?”

Chi Yao: “I’ll go personally.”

There was nothing special to prepare. After handing over the matter of the Ghost people to Li Yuan, Chi Yao requested a small fighter jet to fly to the eastern hemisphere.

On the fighter jet, Jing Xi sat in the pilot seat setting the course. He turned his head to look at the silent Chi Yao, not knowing what to say for a moment.

The base he had been looking for for so many years was actually so close. Chi Yao’s mood was very complicated.

The empire was too big. Even a small planet wasn’t something one person could casually explore completely.

“Xixi, faster.”

Chi Yao urged.

Jing Xi pulled the lever, increasing the speed to the maximum.

“Remember if that base was above ground or underground?”

Chi Yao: “Both.”

Recalling the past, he explained in a low voice.

“Living and R&D areas were underground. There were many哨points on the ground. If they haven’t been demolished, we should be able to see them once we get there.”

In just an hour, that huge “S” appeared on the monitoring screen.

The fighter jet landed steadily, gliding over the tall trees.

Only here could they see clearly that those trees weren’t cut down, but knocked down.

One look and they knew whose masterpiece it was.

“Go find Xixi first?”

Jing Xi asked.

Chi Yao nodded.

Dogs were more sensitive to smells, especially since it was searching for the place where Ying Wei was born.

On the ground, several soldiers were camping and waiting, loud booming noises constantly ringing in their ears.

“Captain Chen, should we give the dog a tranquilizer? It’s been crazy for two days.” A soldier with a buzz cut asked in a low voice.

The beta called Captain Chen looked into the distance.

“Wait a bit longer. After all, it’s the boss’s dog. Let the boss come—”

Boom!

Strong vibrations came from the ground, and dust swept over like a sandstorm.

A group of people couldn’t dodge in time and ended up covered in dust again.

A soldier couldn’t help coughing, shrinking into the tent, pulling a long face.

“Can we wait until the boss arrives?”

Covered in leaves, Captain Chen: “…Take out the needle.”

The commotion was too big. It wouldn’t be good if it attracted enemies.

The soldier’s eyes lit up, and he took off his backpack to search.

Before he found it, a strong gust of wind suddenly appeared overhead, blowing up all the surrounding fallen leaves again.

A group of people raised their hands to shield their eyes but were still blinded.

Amidst the roar, a black battleship slowly appeared before them.

Captain Chen raised his hand to touch the pistol at his back but saw the Dark Division’s logo in the next moment.

His eyes lit up.

The fighter jet landed. Moments later, the hatch opened, and Chi Yao jumped down.

Seeing him, a group of soldiers almost burst into tears.

“Boss, you’re finally here!”

Chi Yao’s rare heavy mood vanished upon seeing their ghostly appearance.

“Who ravaged you guys?”

Captain Chen dusted off the leaves on his head and trotted over.

“After arriving at this place, Ying Wei suddenly barked incessantly. It hasn’t stopped since we let it down. It’s been two days.”

Boom!

Vibrations came from the ground again. Chi Yao subconsciously pulled Jing Xi into his arms to protect him, turning his back to the wind.

After a shower of leaves, Captain Chen’s head, which had just been cleaned, was green again.

“…”

Infinite loop, damn it?

Jing Xi struggled slightly free. Seeing Chi Yao’s hair, he almost laughed.

“You’re green.”

Chi Yao: “…”

“Awooo—!”

Dog barking came from the distance. Chi Yao took Jing Xi towards the direction of the dog.

Ying Wei had just accumulated strength, about to claw down the obstructive tree in front, when he saw Chi Yao coming from the corner of his eye. His paws slipped, and he face-planted on the spot.

“Awooooo—”

The dirty fur was simply too much for Chi Yao to look at directly.

“Is it here?” He asked.

Ying Wei scrambled up, nodding vigorously, gesturing something with his front paws, even his tail exerting force.

A group of people watched, a bit confused.

Jing Xi looked at Chi Yao: “What is he saying?”

“He says this is the place.” Chi Yao sneered, “The place where he met the little she-wolf.”

Jing Xi: “…”

Although the focus was wrong, the place was correct.

There was no signal here. Jing Xi took a few old-fashioned communicators from the battleship and distributed them.

Chi Yao: “Split up to find the哨points. Contact anytime if there’s a situation.”

That said, with the dog romping around for so long without incident, this place was probably long abandoned.

They didn’t have many people. Jing Xi wanted to split up and act alone, but Chi Yao refused.

“Either follow me or stay on the fighter jet.”

Jing Xi: “I’m not weaker than those guys.”

Chi Yao said calmly: “I mean, you either protect me or protect the fighter jet.”

Jing Xi: “…”

Walking for half an hour, there were trees and more trees before their eyes, with almost no memory points.

Seeing Chi Yao occasionally identifying the route, Jing Xi asked: “Can you remember anything?”

Chi Yao shook his head: “Going by intuition.”

Walking to a certain spot, Xiao Hong’s voice sounded in Jing Xi’s mind.

[There is radio wave interference here.]

Jing Xi’s eyes flashed, suddenly thinking of something.

Chi Yao: “What’s wrong?”

“I know a special radio wave transmitter that can affect brain waves, influencing people’s judgment and perception.”

Jing Xi observed the surroundings, “Don’t you think the trees here are planted with regularity?”

“Every certain distance, a tree similar to the previous one appears.” Chi Yao sneered, “Manual anti-theft?”

Jing Xi: “I’ve only heard of this method in military academy classes so far.”

Chi Yao’s eyes flashed: “In other words, the people who built this place likely have a military background?”

Jing Xi: “Can’t rule out this possibility.”

Walking for another half hour, Chi Yao’s steps became faster and faster.

Jing Xi noticed a short-necked tree appearing ahead again. This was already the twelfth one along the way.

Even if they weren’t exactly the same when placed side by side, the impression formed in the brain at a glance was very limited. Average people, after seeing the same tree for the third time, would think they were going in circles and choose another path.

“Here.”

Chi Yao grabbed Jing Xi’s hand and walked quickly in one direction.

The sound of splashing water came to their ears. Through the gaps in the trees, they could see a small waterfall.

“Arrived.”

Chi Yao stepped out of the woods, a small valley before his eyes.

Across the pool water, there was a high cliff opposite. At the bottom of the cliff, rocks were piled up, and there was a cave full of weeds.

“Is that where you gave birth to Ying Wei?” Jing Xi asked.

This place was exactly the same as Chi Yao’s previous description.

Chi Yao was about to nod, but reacting, he crooked his finger and knocked on his forehead.

“It was taking him out of the she-wolf’s belly.”

He looked up above the cliff, his face turning cold.

“That place is right up there—”