Capital Star.

Ever since the incident on C8586, Bai Yi had feigned illness and taken a long leave.

Pei Zhenyue had sent people over twice, but Bai Yi didn’t feel there was anything to fear. However, seeing the situation online now, he felt a bit panicked.

“What exactly is going on? There’s still no feedback even now?!”

Bai Yi paced back and forth in the living room with his hands behind his back. The tea in his cup had already gone completely cold.

The butler bowed, sweat slowly trickling down from his temple.

He reached out to wipe it and said in a low voice, “I don’t know what happened over there. No one has replied to the messages sent out for quite a while. I’ve already urged people to check.”

Bai Yi pointed at the virtual window, his voice rising an octave.

“Extreme Shadow has already run a lap around the battlefield, and they still haven’t sent any news! Do they all fucking think I’m dead?!”

The butler lowered his head even further.

“Perhaps there are other circumstances?”

As he was speaking, his terminal suddenly vibrated. Seeing it was the internal line, he checked it.

The butler glanced cautiously at Bai Yi and turned slightly sideways to answer.

“What is it?”

A panicked voice came from the other side.

“There’s a problem with our network! All data can’t be sent out, only received!”

The butler’s expression changed.

“Impossible. There was no notification of failed transmission after sending.”

“But I checked the backend data feedback, and indeed, it wasn’t sent successfully. It must have been tampered with.”

Hearing what the butler said, Bai Yi roughly guessed what had happened. He walked over in a few steps and ordered him to turn on the speaker.

“Lift the restrictions immediately!”

Hearing Bai Yi’s voice, the person on the other end became even more panicked.

“We are already trying hard to crack it.”

Bai Yi said sternly, “I want an accurate resolution time!”

There was a burst of noise on the other end, and after a moment, a different person spoke.

“Sir, ordinary hackers can’t invade at all, let alone cut off our network. Judging from the data, it shouldn’t be the work of amateurs.”

This person spoke euphemistically, but he was just short of naming names.

After hanging up the communication, the butler said urgently, “Master, should we go out and hide for a bit?”

Bai Yi looked contemplative with a dark face. He walked to the window in a few steps and looked at the main gate through the one-way glass, his gaze sweeping over the surveillance equipment and patrol AI in all directions.

This was a residential area assigned to high-ranking officers in the military district. Usually, security was tight, and few people walked on the roads.

Indeed, there was no one around now, but the number of patrol AI was higher than before.

“The AI patrol paths have changed in the last few days.” Bai Yi narrowed his eyes, his voice cold. “He’s monitoring me.”

The butler was scared pale, his heart beating faster.

Hearing this, he hurriedly contacted the Information Department to inquire about the patrol AI situation.

A male voice came from the other end of the terminal.

“I pulled it up for comparison. It is indeed somewhat different from the previous paths, but patrol paths change every month. It might be a routine change.”

To increase security, the patrol AI’s activity paths were indeed changed irregularly, but after this change, the number of times these AIs passed by the Bai residence had at least doubled.

Surveillance everywhere, network cut off… Pei Zhenyue hadn’t said anything openly, but in reality, he had already imprisoned him here, unable to go anywhere.

Bai Yi sat on the chair, his face showing no emotion, but his hands gripping the armrests were tight enough to make his knuckles white.

Even if they suspected him, they couldn’t do anything to him without sufficient evidence.

Now that outbreaks had occurred everywhere, if they couldn’t find a way to deal with that thing, they would eventually have to come begging to him!

A vibration suddenly sounded in his ear, and Bai Yi’s eyes swept over.

The butler was startled and swiped it open. Seeing it was a message from outside, he said with pleasant surprise, “Master, the network is back! They sent a message!”

Bai Yi couldn’t help but straighten up.

“What did it say?”

The butler’s hands trembled with excitement as he opened the message.

【The thing on Golden Shark J23 has been blown up. Vulture has changed its combat strategy, and the situation currently looks good. Extreme Shadow already left the airspace in the morning.】

Before he could even rejoice, after clearly reading the content of the message, the butler felt as if his head had been hit hard by a hammer. He was dizzy and could barely stand.

“T-they solved it—”

Bai Yi stood up abruptly, reading the message over and over again, his face full of disbelief.

“Impossible!”

“Exactly! If that thing could be blown up, it wouldn’t have gotten to this point—” the butler muttered.

Bai Yi’s gaze skimmed over the words “Extreme Shadow” and fell silent.

“It was Chi Yao.”

The butler was startled.

“You mean he killed that thing?”

Bai Yi stood with his hands behind his back, looking out the window.

“There’s no other possibility. He was created to deal with these things.”

Thinking of the situation back then, the butler still had lingering fears.

The experiment failed, accidentally creating something even they couldn’t deal with. They lived in fear every moment. If the military found out, they would face the heaviest punishment.

—If something is too strong to deal with, then create something even stronger to deal with it.

He still remembered clearly what Bai Yi said at that time.

But if they couldn’t control the former, how could they possibly control the latter?

The terminal rang again; it was the internal line.

The butler hurriedly answered: “The network is back.”

There was a pause on the other end of the terminal, then a hesitant voice: “Now we can only receive data, not send data. W-we tried every method, but it still won’t work.”

The butler’s legs went weak, and he could barely stand.

---

Flying Fish Constellation.

Flying Dragon’s fleet flew out of the jump point.

In the main ship’s command cabin, Jing Xi glanced at the current position and said to Chi Yao on the screen, “I’ve arrived. Let’s discuss later.”

Chi Yao: “Be careful, don’t be reckless.”

Jing Xi: “Don’t worry, I still have to go back and stew chicken soup for you.”

Chi Yao: “…”

How do you still remember that?

After hanging up the communication, Jing Xi waved his hand, and one of the virtual screens floating on the monitoring console moved in front of him.

Looking at the detected sound wave intensity on it, he sent a communication request to the Lion Legion commander responsible for clearing F881.

The signal was intermittent, connecting only after a long time.

“Jing Xi?”

Jing Xi looked at the middle-aged beta on the screen and said indifferently, “Flying Dragon is already outside F881 airspace. Please grant passage.”

Middle-aged Beta: “Request granted.”

He looked away from the screen, gestured in a certain direction, then turned back to look at Jing Xi. “Little brother, you’re finally here! If you didn’t come, I’d be gone!”

Jing Xi gave his subordinates the gesture to advance and said expressionlessly, “What’s the situation on the battlefield?”

Middle-aged Beta: “The beasts are too fierce this time—”

As they spoke, Flying Dragon’s fleet entered the atmosphere of F881.

Jing Xi quickly recorded the obtained intelligence and issued orders methodically.

“Old Jin, lead a team to help evacuate civilians on the western front—”

Jin Ze: “Yes!”

Jing Xi: “Old Lu, go support the eastern front. Most of the variants there are armored types; bring armor-piercing rounds.”

Lu Meng: “Ro~ger!”

Jing Xi waved Yan Kai over.

“Inform Jiang Feng that the three teams delivering medicine this afternoon will arrive at the entrance outside N1. Have him personally escort them to N15, N23, and N24. Report to me immediately after finishing.”

Yan Kai: “Yes!”

After assigning tasks, Jing Xi strode out.

Inside the hangar, the Flying Dragon mecha was on standby at all times.

Jing Xi entered the cockpit and buckled the safety harness.

As soon as the power lit up, he heard the voice of the Flying Dragon AI.

“Master, initiate highest-level sound wave shielding mode?”

Jing Xi set the target location and flew out from the runway.

“Mm, I’ll have Xiao Hong assist you.”

Flying Dragon AI: “No need, there’s already a record in my log.”

Jing Xi understood, a smile touching his eyes.

“Did Yao Yao set it up?”

Flying Dragon AI: “Mm, applied quite a few patches.”

There was a hint of grievance in the voice.

Jing Xi chuckled lightly. “Only through polishing can you become a good mecha.”

Flying Dragon AI: “Oh.”

There was only one sound wave source on F881, so no time was needed to confirm.

There was nothing in the vast desert, only a few sporadic small oases.

Jing Xi pulled the joystick and dove down.

The mecha raised its left hand and shot the agent towards a patch of sand.

Soon, that patch of sand began to writhe, burrowing desperately into the sand.

The mecha raised its right hand, laser cannon aimed in that direction.

On the Lion warship, ever since Flying Dragon arrived, many officers, including the commander, were observing Flying Dragon’s movements.

“Their execution is so strong.”

“Major General Jing acts decisively and resolutely; his subordinates are very obedient.”

“The gap in the east is plugged! Holy crap, Colonel Lu’s firepower is intense!”

The middle-aged beta sitting in the commander’s seat looked at the screen, filled with mixed feelings.

The Flying Dragon Legion was just like their commander: young and capable. It seemed that any task in their hands became simple.

“Thinking back, I was young once too. Now—sigh, I have to admit I’m getting old.”

Hearing the superior’s sigh, the adjutant beside him couldn’t help but say, “Sir, you’re still young, don’t give up!”

Middle-aged Beta: “…”

“Sir, the abnormal sound waves disappeared!”

Someone suddenly shouted.

Others immediately looked at the detection values; indeed, they had dropped to the normal range.

Everyone widened their eyes in disbelief.

“I’m truly impressed!”

“How long has Flying Dragon been here? A-And it’s resolved already?!”

“Look! The attack intensity of the beasts on the frontline has weakened!”

Thinking of something, the middle-aged beta hurriedly sent a video request to Jing Xi.

“Brother Jing, d-did you handle the sound waves?”

Inside the window, the handsome alpha sat in the mecha cockpit, looking calm.

“Mm, thanks to the Extreme Shadow leader, we were able to find the solution so quickly.”

The middle-aged beta frowned. “Extreme Shadow leader? Isn’t that Chi Yao?”

Jing Xi nodded. “I saw two star pirate groups helping with rescue and clearing. Please report truthfully afterwards.”

Speaking of this, the middle-aged beta agreed readily.

“I would have reported it even if you didn’t say! They were indeed very active.”

Before, when rumors spread online about Extreme Shadow providing support everywhere, he and many colleagues in the military didn’t believe it, assuming it was some strategic cooperation between the higher-ups and Extreme Shadow to rectify the star pirate circle.

But this expedition changed his view.

Compared to some branch armies that liked to play fake, these star pirates were just too real! Working their butts off, they were simply more passionate than the legions.

Jing Xi instructed Flying Dragon to check the frontline. Just as he was about to hang up, he heard the middle-aged beta’s voice from the screen.

“I used to think people in the star pirate circle were hopeless. Now it seems it’s just because we hadn’t found the correct way to rectify them.”

Jing Xi: “Judging human nature by their circle is wrong to begin with.”

Middle-aged Beta: “Thinking about it carefully, Chi Yao is actually pretty decent sometimes.”

“Of course.”

Jing Xi looked at the monitor and said casually, “After all, he is my partner.”

The middle-aged beta was about to nod when his face suddenly froze.

“W-What?!”

---

Imprisoned at home, Bai Yi grew more anxious day by day.

Although reason told him the situation hadn’t completely spiraled out of control and there was no need to panic too much, he still couldn’t calm down.

He opened the social platform for the eighteenth time, only able to guess the situation on the battlefield by checking online news and comments.

【Flying Dragon mecha flew past my roof, awoooo!!! The Lion Legion just broadcasted that the battlefield is under control! With you guys here, we are very reassured! [Image][Image]】

【Flying Dragon is here!!! Pity I didn’t see Major General Jing, but the Flying Dragon soldiers are also so handsome!】

【Had chest tightness and nausea for the past two days, but as soon as Flying Dragon arrived, I felt refreshed hahahaha】

Bai Yi frowned, looking confused.

He scrolled down quickly and found another update posted by a netizen 30 minutes ago.

【Although didn’t wait for Flying Dragon, waited for Extreme Shadow. Not a loss [Dog Head]】

Bai Yi looked at the displayed coordinates: Golden Shark Constellation.

For a moment, his mind went blank, unable to think.

Why?

Chi Yao was clearly in the Golden Shark Constellation, yet the sound waves on F881 in the Flying Fish Constellation were also controlled?

Was his previous guess wrong?

It wasn’t Chi Yao who killed it, but they found another solution?

Just as he was thinking this, his finger swiped across, accidentally refreshing the page again.

【Ahhhhh tears can’t stop, family, what did I see?! Do you still recognize this logo?! Is it him? Is the Xuanwu Legion back? [Image]】

Seeing the word “Xuanwu,” Bai Yi’s mind exploded with a buzz.

With a stiff hand, he clicked on the short video.

It was shot from a low angle. A mighty fleet flew across the horizon, gradually descending.

On the hull of the nearest warship, the Xuanwu logo was engraved.

Bai Yi’s face changed drastically.

“H-How is this possible—!”