83 Emergency Strategic Meeting at the Imperial Fortress [Double-Length Chapter—Please Subscribe!]

Abujai, the commander of the Achilles Cube Fortress and also a major general at the Empire headquarters, was a hundred-level Sword Spirit Warrior. Bald and fond of wearing simple gray attire, he was a Buddhist, passionate about stroking cats—a soldier far too gentle in temperament. If not for the Empire’s conciliatory policies, Abujai would hardly be fit for military service.

Except during meetings, he would don the sharp imperial silver uniform, with only two pitiable medals pinned to his chest. He restrained himself from bringing his white cat into the conference room, which left him feeling ill at ease, his hands constantly rubbing his thighs.

The meeting table was a long, low tea table. Officers, strategists, information officers, and press liaisons all sat cross-legged on the floor. Abujai sipped his tea, striving to maintain his usual relaxed air, but in truth, his lack of feline company made him anxious.

"Concerning the atavistic black dragon, relevant videos surfaced on the Darknet a month ago. Numerous powerful figures on the Blizzard Route are already making moves. Now everyone understands why headquarters suppressed this news, right?" said the chief of staff, echoing the sentiment.

"Entertainment Weekly’s actions have gone too far. Years ago, headquarters even changed their name, but they still resort to foolish tactics, using shady methods that could never win true hearts… Now we’re left to clean up the mess."

"Once the black dragon controversy heats up, the Pangu Corridor will soon usher in a new Age of Exploration. The Chaoxia Route is the first to bear the brunt. Should we rapidly expand our military preparedness?"

"Since antiquity, the Empire has relied on technology, not treasures. The mining zones on the Chaoxia Route are ones others lack the expertise to exploit; attacking us yields little reward for great cost… We’re not landlords of Pangu Corridor; it’s the Crownless Realm that should be worried."

"Mining is merely our method of self-reliance. Our real focus has always been singular: to identify any chosen ones who might threaten the Empire’s future, intervene in their growth, either recruiting or eliminating them."

"This black dragon is too powerful. Though from the Empire’s third-tier alliance area, it’s suffered greatly in laboratories and is unlikely to be won over. Yet it’s too precious to simply kill, and forcibly capturing it could cost us dearly."

"I’ve already reported to headquarters. The Silver Rose Mechanized Special Forces will handle this matter. Hopefully, the black dragon won’t linger in the Chaoxia Route too long and will head to the Blizzard Route soon. Our pond is small and our temple shallow; we can’t afford much turmoil."

The political officer next to him shook his head repeatedly, helpless. "General, please mind your words and strive to uphold the Empire’s military prestige… I’d rather apply to the political department and grant you permission to bring your cat to meetings."

Abujai suppressed his joy, nodded with studied calm. "Then I’ll leave it to you."

Political officer: "?"

Sensing the odd atmosphere, the chief of staff quickly summoned someone to bring a stack of large photographs. To prevent infiltration by newly emergent hackers, the Empire’s emergency strategy meetings abandoned holographic displays and even prohibited wristbands in the conference room.

"We can turn a blind eye to the black dragon, but this young man who entered the New Star Rankings within a month of setting out to sea deserves our attention," the chief of staff said gravely.

Abujai picked up the oversized photograph of Lu Chen, which printed detailed information about all members of the Primal Star Vault expedition group.

"A nineteen-year-old from the Blue Valley star system, level twenty cultivation, a genius in spirit machinery and piloting, seized first place in the Sea Knight Port flight examination, recipient of both the Empire’s Hero Medal and the Crownless Realm’s Idealist Medal… Talented youths from backwater worlds are common along the Pangu Route, aren’t they?"

"He’s rather special. On Sion Star, he exposed Entertainment Weekly’s schemes, then evaded pursuit from the level fifty Justice Hunter and a level sixty Empire News Special Forces ship, even called in emergency rescue from Southward of the Adventurers’ Guild. Now he’s a star explorer on Mist Sea Star, escaping the Fish-Ket ship’s chase… What’s remarkable is his uncanny ability to escape. If he were truly a supernova fostered by the Adventurers’ Guild, there’d be no need for him to flee."

"Coincidentally, the hacking incident at the Adventurers’ Guild News Network began within an hour of news about him being released… And the post by the Guernica Beast Tamer Group afterwards also concerned the Primal Star Vault’s adventure on Sion Star, though Guernica’s intent was to steal credit."

"You mean… he’s a top hacker even our own engineers can’t handle, the culprit behind our offline meeting, and just a nineteen-year-old?"

"Unlikely as an individual; we suspect he has a whole team behind him. But so far, we can’t discern his position or whom he serves, which is why we need to monitor him."

"Best to let him grow more powerful first; the Empire’s fleet has its reputation to consider."

"He also has two particularly notable teammates."

"One is a Sirius girl named Elly, rescued from the hands of General Arden Fema from the seventh planet of the Rogel star system."

"Arden Fema—is that the same Fema who was dismissed for involvement in slave trading?"

"Indeed."

"He’s still not in prison?"

"Fema has powerful backers, and this Elly, the Sirius girl, may well be the most unusual atavistic beast-person among his slaves, though no evidence yet."

"That…"

"The other is a female warrior named Gloria, of half-demon heritage, said to be a disciple of Lady August."

"Lady August?"

Abujai suddenly frowned.

"Her other student caused the Empire no end of trouble… Where is Lady August now?"

"Running a clinic aboard the White Dew."

"Didn’t she leave a century ago to become an adventurer?"

"She’s retired now, enjoying her later years on the White Dew, though perhaps embarking on new adventures. Given her unique status, unless she acts out, we cannot monitor her."

"Her pupil committed earth-shattering deeds, yet she, as teacher, enjoys a peaceful retirement… Truly enviable!"

"General, you’re not even a hundred; far too early to talk about retirement!"

As a level one hundred power, Abujai’s expected lifespan was a thousand years. Not yet a century old, he was, in theory, still in childhood, yet already contemplating retirement.

Faced with everyone’s silence, Abujai set down his teacup and said helplessly, "Ahem, by this reckoning, all three on that ship are troublemakers. We can’t stand by any longer. Send someone to observe, and when the time is right, I’ll make contact personally."

He drew out the word "personally" as if by doing so, he might justify his military salary. Then, he unconsciously put his hands on his waist, lamenting, "General Heathcliff promised me daily cats and tea, so I returned to duty… Unlike Heathcliff, whose waist suffers from personal quirks, mine is wounded for the nation. The Chaoxia Route’s situation grows ever more precarious; who knows how long my old waist can hold out?"

Having roused the general’s spirits, the political officer casually drank his tea. "A splendid new era is coming; the Empire’s just a backdrop. Watching the show quietly isn’t so bad, is it?"

Abujai looked down at Lu Chen’s photo, his deep gaze darkening slightly. "I only fear someone wants to scribble on the backdrop."

…

Two and a half days later.

The Leonine was about to arrive at the Thousand Islands Sea.

Under Gloria’s uncertain (but tolerant) command, the ship was barely able to reach the Thousand Islands Sea on schedule.

Over these days, Lu Chen had been furiously cultivating aboard, using dozens of pills scavenged from the Bullhorn, pushing himself to the limit—if he wasn’t dead, he’d keep training. His practice required no special methods or routines, just raw effort.

Of course, he also needed some of Gloria’s blood.

This time, he improved his method, adding the power of Universal Resonance to his tongue, aiming to release Gloria’s magic while reducing her pain.

Her fingertips soon felt numb from Lu Chen’s blood-drawing, but her body experienced a strange sensation, requiring her to exert great strength to suppress her succubus backlash.

She soon refused to provide more blood.

Only when Lu Chen promised, using the black cat spirit as bargaining chip, to persuade Lady August to erase her debts did she let him place her middle finger on his tongue.

Her index fingers were already swollen.

After Lu Chen finished drawing blood, Gloria felt a strange sensation of ascension.

She patted Lu Chen’s head with a doting smile. "Now you know who’s the mother of the chosen one. My blood nourishes you like milk; you’d better honor me in the future!"

This reminded Lu Chen of a letter he sent to Wang Qunyu yesterday, claiming to have two beautiful wives… The family hierarchy was all messed up.

Fortunately, it had been confused long before today. In his past life, three of his dorm mates called him ‘dad’ at university.

He tugged Gloria’s ponytail, retorting, "What nonsense—dad will always love you!"

This time, thanks to the higher-grade pills from the Bullhorn, the addition of magic blood drawn during resonance training, and the shadow whale pearl’s boost to his talents, Lu Chen’s cultivation speed soared.

In just two and a half days of intense training, Lu Chen’s spirit power rose from level twenty-three straight up to level twenty-nine.

The breakthrough was close!

Thrilled, Lu Chen rushed to brag to Elly, who was engrossed in her books, gently stroking her canine head.

She looked so adorable and frail.

"Elly, I spent most of these days bathing and reading news, but my cultivation accidentally reached level twenty-nine. You need to study spells, but can’t neglect your training either!"

"Thank you for your concern, Captain, you’re amazing!" Elly smiled sweetly, pushed her glasses, her cute face turning serious. "Last night, I took a cleansing pill before bed, and this morning I reached level thirty!"

A mouthful of blood spilled from Lu Chen’s lips…

Overtraining, and the shock, caused instant internal injury.

Elly hurried to steady him, worried. "Captain, are you alright?"

Lu Chen covered his mouth, quickly explaining, "It’s nothing—drank too much of Gloria’s blood, overflowed, perfectly normal."

He then observed in secret, even using his item identification cheat to check Elly’s cultivation.

She really was at level thirty…

Impossible!

I can’t accept this!

Lu Chen kept a straight face, but inwardly he screamed.

Gloria was nearly convulsed with laughter.

Holding back, she patted Lu Chen’s back. "Did you think Sirius people’s cultivation talent equals yours? With Elly’s gifts, long confined in a spiritless environment, once freed, her power should skyrocket. If she weren’t considering your feelings and training alongside you, she’d probably surpass me by now… Of course, compared to my pace back then, she’s still a tiny bit behind."

Lu Chen’s mind buzzed, face pale.

Elly quickly explained, "Gloria, it’s not like that. I study ways to accelerate training; my constitution is weak, so I can’t take a lot of pills like the Captain. This is already my fastest pace."

Do you think I’ll believe that… Lu Chen was nearly in tears.

Having finally shattered Lu Chen’s posturing, Gloria grinned triumphantly, then opened her collar and drew out a black pea-sized pill from her deep chest.

"This is a pill to erase the past twelve hours’ memories. I’ll give it to you for free… Some truths are better unknown, lest they undermine your captainly dignity. Men need their pride!"

Isn’t this still mocking me…

Also, is your chest a treasure box? Anything can fit in there?

As for the pill, Lu Chen didn’t know whether to accept or refuse, so he decided to redirect the conversation, just like Empire’s Entertainment Weekly.

He suddenly stood upright, adopting an interrogator’s expression. "Why do you have such a pill?"

Gloria was still posturing, holding her wine flask with a proud look. "How would I know? I only know it’s potent. Many things from early days I don’t recall—like how strong I once was. Though the memories are gone, the mark of a power above the stars remains."

Lu Chen snorted, mercilessly retorting, "Strong my foot. You’re always hungover, needing pills to erase your memory? You have no memory; how can you erase what isn’t there?"

Gloria felt her memory was fine, so she retorted, "Your name’s Lu Chen, right? You drink my blood, right?"

Lu Chen raised one finger, wearing a ‘wise-guy’ grin.

"Let me test you. There’s a wristband in your chest—do you remember why you put it there?"

"Huh?"

Gloria froze—so that’s why she hadn’t seen her wristband lately…

She reached into her snowy, deep chest, and indeed, the wristband was there!

Her wristband was made of soft, skin-friendly material, thin and flexible, so easy to forget when placed in her chest.

The thing was, she usually only kept pills in there, not wristbands.

Why was it there?

Oh no!

Completely forgotten…

Lu Chen had caught her out!

She had to redirect the conversation too.

Her gaze turned sly, sizing up Lu Chen as if he were a pervert. "You, the captain, don’t focus on navigation and adventure, but spend all day pondering things in women’s chests—and you dare say you’re not a pervert?"

Lu Chen laughed, "Whether I’m a pervert is debatable, but your lack of brains is beyond question!"

Even Elly couldn’t help but giggle.

Gloria, defeated, blushed and asked, "So why do you think it’s there?"

Lu Chen certainly wouldn’t say—it involved his own dark history.

Anyway, he’d achieved his aim; nobody remembered the previous topic.

"What’s the point of telling you? You’ll just forget again. Better hurry to the White Dew, and let Lady August prescribe you something like the Six Monkey Brains—good for memory!"

With that, Lu Chen gave Gloria no chance to retort and went to the bath chamber.

A day earlier, he’d already contacted the star lord of the Thousand Islands Sea by email.

He announced his identity and said he’d arrive the next day.

He would receive the Idealist Medal in the Thousand Islands Sea!

The Crownless Realm’s Idealist Medal is rarely awarded to individuals, and such people are seldom encountered.

Hosting a ceremony was a small honor for the Thousand Islands Sea, or at least a tourist attraction.

Humans are creatures who love ritual.

This was Lu Chen’s first award ceremony since adulthood—the last one dates back to his elementary school days as a model student.

He had to wash up and dress brightly.

(End of chapter)