Chapter 92

The battleship received external communication the next morning, half an hour after it ignored the warning signals and entered the planet's orbit.

Xia You had just left the battleship's training room. As he listened to Sen Shi report three communication requests from Old Zheng within ten minutes, he was gently drying the ends of his hair with a towel.

Lu Yinghuai deleted the training room's parameters and video backup, then looked up at Xia You's retreating figure. The little furball arched slightly, its tail taut, and gracefully leaped, landing softly on Xia You's shoulder.

As if anticipating it, Xia You sturdily bore the weight of the little black furball, tilting his head to nuzzle the furry leopard's head with his cheek.

Lu Yinghuai also looked at Sen Shi, his round panther-like eyes exuding an inexplicable oppressive aura.

Xia You's eyes were also somewhat round, and when she smiled, they appeared sunny and well-behaved. Yet, at some unknown point, those sea-blue gem-like eyes acquired an authority that even members of the First Legion found unsettling.

As both pairs of eyes gazed upon him, Sen Shi's voice dwindled.

Xia You glanced at Sen Shi: "What's wrong?"

Sen Shi pursed his lips, swallowed, and whispered, "Nothing, it's just... for a moment there, I felt as if I was facing the Marshal."

Xia You paused, turned to exchange a look with the little coal-black creature on her shoulder, and inquired with interest, "Have you met the Prince alone?"

With a peculiar expression, Sen Shi nodded, the emotion in his eyes complicated, "The Marshal once summoned me. Afterwards... I sat outside the Marshal's mansion by the steps, taking a long time to recover."

Hurriedly, Sen Shi raised his head to look at Xia You and added, "It's not just me! Many who have met the Marshal felt the same!"

The young man seemed a bit frustrated. Young people always have a tendency to admire the strong, and Lu Yinghuai was notably the youngest Marshal ever.

"The Marshal's psychic level is too high. That feeling of being stared down at one's weak point... it's unsettling for our psychic seas."

"That's why the Marshal, when meeting us, is always concise and doesn't say much."

Sen Shi sighed, muttering, "I really admire the Marshal. I wish I could get... an autograph or something."

He has so many Marshal-related items!

When he went to see the Marshal, he had stored those items in his spatial knot. But the mere act of answering questions and walking in and out of the study drained all his energy.

Xia You chuckled lightly, casting a teasing glance at the little coal-black creature on her shoulder.

—Look at you, acting all fierce and scaring away your little admirer.

Lu Yinghuai's tail swished behind Xia You, clearly unconcerned.

After his psychic disorder worsened, even wearing a suppressor, his psychic energy would occasionally leak out and was rather aggressive.

Many feared him, something Lu Yinghuai was well aware of and indifferent towards.

Naturally, this was one of the reasons Lu Yinghuai initially took notice of Xia You. On their first meeting, Xia You seemed unaffected by his psychic pressure, behaving completely naturally.

Xia You wasn't as out of touch with the younger generation as Lu Yinghuai. Smiling, she asked Sen Shi, "Do you have a photo of the Prince?"

Sen Shi sheepishly scratched his head, his voice barely audible: "I do..."

Xia You smiled lightly, "The Prince's autograph is rather sensitive. Would you mind if I signed it instead?"

Sen Shi's eyes widened in surprise: "Really?!"

As the Imperial Marshal, Lu Yinghuai couldn't possibly sign anything rashly. Initially, Sen Shi had hoped even for a mere initial or two.

However, Xia You was already a prominent figure, the legally recognized spouse of the Marshal, and was poised to become a healer influencing an entire generation. His autograph, paired with a photo of the Marshal, would be—

Sen Shi dared not imagine the envy of his peers back at the base.

Xia You winked and whispered, "Just don't tell the Prince. It'll be our little secret."

The little coal-black creature on Xia You's shoulder listened to their not-so-discreet scheming with a look of resignation.

Holding his breath, Sen Shi swiftly pulled out a stack of photographs from his spatial knot. He hesitated for a moment before handing one over to Xia You with eager eyes.

Xia You took a look. It was a picture of Lu Yinghuai, clad in elaborate Marshal attire, standing at a medal ceremony.

He appeared a bit younger, more vibrant, exuding a sharp intensity, his gaze unwavering, possessing an intangible allure.

Xia You felt a twinge of regret.

Had he been more attuned to current events back then, would he have seen more of the Prince's moments?

He fished a pen from his spatial knot. After some thought, he signed his name at the bottom left corner of the photo. Instead of returning the picture, he pulled the paw of the little leopard on his shoulder, dabbed it slightly with an ink pen, and stamped a cute paw print on the bottom right.

Lu Yinghuai, whose paw was coerced into stamping his own portrait: "..."

Sen Shi's expression was slightly dazed as he received the photo.

But, how to put it...

Sen Shi glanced at the paw print beside Xia You's signature and then at the fierce and leader-like Marshal in the photo.

It seemed... rather harmonious?

"Beep beep—"

A sharp alert sounded from Sen Shi's holocomputer.

Sen Shi's expression shifted instantly. Swiftly tucking away the photo, he activated his holocomputer to trace the alert's origin, and said gravely, "Sir, the signal is emanating from the planet's core."

The other party clearly had their own intelligence network, quickly determining the "origin" of this warship and realizing that Sen Shi was on board.

Xia You's eyebrows raised slightly, "Route the communication to the warship's channel."

Saying this, he walked towards a small reception room nearby.

*

Based on the name and reputation of "Old Zheng," one would expect an elderly, withered figure, experienced and calculated. However, when the communication video flickered to life and Xia You saw "Old Zheng" for the first time, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

"Old Zheng" was neither elderly nor frail. On the contrary, he was a robust, middle-aged man with average features.

He gave Xia You his first lesson before stepping onto the trading planet.

Never trust the rigid impression someone creates without meeting them in person.

The man's demeanor was cordial, and Xia You, not one to shun amicability, greeted him warmly in return.

"You must've received the notification. The trading arena is currently... inhospitable to guests." Old Zheng paused, his words loaded with implication, "Did your warship earlier disable certain alerts?"

"Navigating recklessly in the Wanderer Galaxy can lead to serious complications."

"Thank you for the concern." Xia You, seated behind a table, smiled and lightly tapped the armrest, "However, I have complete faith in this ship of mine."

Old Zheng: "..."

Such confidence was warranted.

Old Zheng wondered just how pampered this young lord was. The warship was unmistakably a newly decommissioned military vessel, equipped with every imaginable asset. Who knew what further modifications bolstered its capabilities, giving this young lord such audacious confidence.

Old Zheng wasn't keen on confronting this young master head-on, especially now. A warship and a few mercenaries wouldn't usually cause much trouble, at most a minor inconvenience.

But at this crucial juncture, should he divert his attention to this young lord and be ambushed by Sen Qiu and Yin Wei, it would jeopardize everything.

He'd pacify this young lord for now. Once he consolidated his power, it wouldn't be too late to hire some mercenaries to teach this arrogant youth a lesson...

Xia You, with a smile, relished the sight of Old Zheng's ashen face.

His warship was not just any newly decommissioned military vessel; it was an exclusive model designated for the First Legion stationed at the frontier. A state-of-the-art battleship, it was equipped with every large-scale lethal weapon the lab had to offer.

While it couldn’t obliterate the trading planet outright, it was more than capable of carving a clear path through any resistance.

The night before their departure, Uncle Zhou had painstakingly ensured Xia You committed the entire warship's operational data to memory.

Old Zheng took a deep breath, and against all odds, managed to muster a faint smile, asking cautiously, "Pardon my intrusion, but are you here at the trading arena as a buyer or a seller?"

Mimicking the brash tone of the mercenaries from the previous day, Xia You replied nonchalantly, "What if I'm buying? What if I'm selling?"

"If you're selling, no matter the item, I assure you, I, Old Zheng, am prepared to acquire it."

The smile on Old Zheng's face became increasingly cordial, but his eyes held a glacial chill.

"If you're buying, I presume you wouldn’t mind where the goods come from, right?"

"Straightforward," Xia You's smile broadened, and he clapped lightly, "I do enjoy conversing with astute and forthright individuals."

Old Zheng's expression softened slightly.

As long as they could negotiate, it was good.

In any case, in the future, he was determined to make this young master pay back double for any advantage he took!

Then he heard the young lord on the other side of the video demand, "I want ten high-tier energy stones."

Old Zheng's expression froze instantly.

What in the world?

How many?!

Old Zheng stared at the young lord as if he were gazing at a madman demanding a lion's share.

A dark shadow leapt onto the desk in front of Xia You, pacing twice before gracefully jumping into his embrace. It nestled its chin between Xia You's arm and its glossy tail wrapped around his wrist.

Old Zheng had no time to take note of the young master's pet. Suppressing his anger, he retorted with a mocking laugh, "Do you think high-tier energy stones are as common as mere pebbles?"

Xia You feigned astonishment, "If they were as common as pebbles, I would've asked for an entire spatial node worth of them. Why would I only request ten?"

Mr. Zheng nearly crushed the holographic device in his grasp.

Just by observing Mr. Zheng's expression, Xia You could guess how intricate his thoughts were. She compared it to the previous video chat with Yinwei and gave a soft tsk.

Not to mention anything else, just in terms of composure and mental fortitude, this man falls short of that female leader by miles.

A small man in power... seems like he won't last long.

Mr. Zheng's voice was curt: "Four."

High-grade energy stones can power mechas. Mr. Zheng certainly had some in reserve, but through years of trading at the Chenfu Exchange, he had managed to accumulate only five.

Xia You slightly raised her eyebrows, lifted her hand, and gave a gentle wave to the video feed.

Under Mr. Zheng's intimidating gaze, Xia You remarked with a nonchalant smile, "Negotiations have fallen apart. Such a shame."

"Until next time, Mr. Second-in-command Zheng."

Having been called 'second-in-command' his entire life, hearing it after tasting a bit of power made Mr. Zheng's expression extremely unflattering.

However, Xia You didn’t give him another chance to speak and promptly cut off the communication.

Seated in the most hidden corner of the reception room, Sen Shi dared not even breathe. His eyes, filled with newfound admiration, remained fixed on Xia You.

He occasionally glanced towards another screen.

— Indeed, throughout the conversation between Xia You and Mr. Zheng, there was always a third party present.

Xia You tilted her head and, shifting her gaze, clicked her tongue softly.

The person on the other end clearly understood Xia You's thoughts. A hint of bitterness emerged on her face, a blend of charm and efficiency: "Mr. Zheng started from scratch with us. In our line of work, although our reputation isn't the best, loyalty and trustworthiness are paramount."

Xia You didn't fully grasp the sentiment, but it didn't matter. He smiled, "So, Leader Yinwei, have you decided to continue our transaction?"

"Considering you managed to contact me even with a completely severed signal, you must have your unique means. I trust your capabilities entirely."

A gleam flashed in Xia You's eyes.

As expected, Yinwei's tone shifted: "I'd like to amend the terms of our deal."

"If you could intervene on behalf of the 'Ran Spider' this time, not only will I honor our previous agreement of the upgraded stasis pod and six high-grade energy stones, but I will also throw in all the high-grade energy stones in Mr. Zheng's possession."

"I trust you'll understand that this is the most sincere offer the trading floor can present."

Xia You nodded in agreement, "It is indeed a very tempting gesture."

However, the young master, exuding an aura of noble upbringing, leaned back in his chair with relaxed ease. He reached down to stroke the spine of the little black panther in his lap, pinched its ear, and grinned mischievously.

"Yet, I decline."

Yinwei's expression stiffened.

Sen Shi, who was listening intently, held his breath.

"I won't get involved in any power struggles concerning the Drifter Galaxy. There's no benefit in it for me."

"However, I must admit, the offer from Leader Yinwei is very enticing."

Xia You smiled brightly.

"By the way, I heard that the companion beast of Leader Sen Qiu is a fully grown giant forest serpent?"

Yinwei frowned, puzzled by the enigmatic young master's intent.

Still, she paused momentarily before nodding in confirmation.

Xia You: "Does it have fur?"

Yinwei: "...?"

Sen Shi: "!!!"

Lu Yinghuai: "."

Author's note:

Xia You (frustrated): It seems the forest serpent not only lacks fur but is also slippery... Alas, treats are so hard to earn.