Chapter 60

Chapter 60

He had known very early on that Lin Fu was receiving a lot of attention from the council.

To prevent Lin Fu from being targeted by the council during his absence, he specifically sought out the Cheng family.

Lin Fu was too exceptional, too dazzling; as a guide, his actions encroached upon many people's interests, and it was normal for the council to suppress him.

Cheng Jiu hadn't given it much thought before.

But now, the council's interest in Lin Fu was alarmingly excessive.

Deploying a warship, trailing and opening fire, could easily lead to an internal conflict between two legions.

The council was exerting such great effort and taking high risks. Such a heavy price had never been paid, even when dealing with Cheng Jiu.

He had underestimated Lin Fu's significance in the eyes of the council.

Or perhaps, in the eyes of the royal family.

Standing by the desk, Qi's maternal grandfather looked out the window: "This matter might involve your aunt to some extent..."

He sighed deeply: "It's our Qi family that has wronged your aunt."

Mentioning Cheng Su, Qi's maternal grandfather showed a reminiscent expression.

What a lovable young girl she was, wasn't she?

Yet she lost her life at such a young age.

Cheng Jiu's fingers tightened.

His memories of his aunt were scarce, mostly gleaned from those around him.

She was an exceptional person.

Qi's maternal grandfather asked him, "That boy, he's seen the things you left on the barren planet, hasn't he?"

Cheng Jiu nodded: "He fell into an underground cavern with the people from Hui Lion Academy, and while taking refuge, he entered a shielded area and discovered the anomaly with the storage vessel."

Recounting this incident, Cheng Jiu still felt fortunate.

It was originally just an experiment, and the barren planet he had chosen proved to be fortuitous since Lin Fu's competition was on that planet, enabling him to survive using the shielding device.

Otherwise, with a bug tide of that magnitude, he feared he would have been wiped out along with the people from Hui Lion Academy.

Qi's maternal grandfather: "That kid is clever. Realizing something was amiss, it wouldn't be hard for him to figure out it had to do with your aunt."

Now, the news about Cheng Su on the Star Network is completely censored, and few people know what kind of figure she was. At most, there are vague rumors of a guide who once attempted to pilot a combat mech onto the battlefield, only to die within it.

This story is used to admonish many young guides, warning them against aspiring to enter the battlefield.

Only those at the level of top-tier noble families would know some of the details of what happened back then.

Cheng Jiu's voice was slightly cold: "If the Cheng family isn't foolish, they should realize the immense benefits a Cheng Su could bring to the family. Instead of luring her to the battlefield under the pretense of my mother's peril, they squandered a genius and ruined the good relationship with the Qi family."

Cheng Su died because of him and his mother.

In life, she was a quite amiable person, getting along very well with Qi's mother who had married into the Cheng family, like best friends.

At that time, Qi's mother, along with a barely speaking Cheng Jiu, was kidnapped. The kidnappers demanded Cheng Su go alone. Without hesitation, she boarded the mech, and then died within it.

In fact, there were no kidnappers.

Cheng Su's death was orchestrated by the Cheng family.

His mother also couldn't let go of this incident, and ultimately died of grief.

Qi's maternal grandfather was right; the Qi family owed Cheng Su.

Because of Cheng Su's nonconformity, they couldn't tolerate her.

Now, another Lin Fu has emerged, and they can't tolerate him either.

However, the difference is, Cheng Su's talent indeed posed a threat to the council and even the entire empire, so whatever means they used against her were within reasonable bounds.

Cheng Su's intellect had surpassed the era by far, and having been born into the Cheng family, she had enough capital to realize every concept in her mind.

Even as a guide, such a person's intrinsic value couldn't be altered in the slightest.

In the interstellar era, the power of technology can shake everything.

Lin Fu is nothing like Cheng Su.

His exceptionality lies in his thoughts, in his drive, in his consciousness to struggle.

He had the power to infect countless guides with a spirit of resistance, causing a severe jolt to society.

But he could not shake the foundation of the Empire.

In terms of influence and threat, he was not on par with Cheng Su.

To make such a fuss over him was oddly excessive.

Qi’s maternal grandfather countered: “What if there is no difference between these two individuals?”

He said: “The Cheng family certainly isn't foolish, neither is the council, and the royal family, having not been deposed for so many years, is far from stupid. Would they miscalculate the cost against the gains, engaging in a losing deal?”

Of course not.

Cheng Jiu had a vague idea in his mind, but he wanted to avoid it.

He brought up another possibility: “I wonder if grandfather noticed that after the Wild Star tournament, Albert Harvey's physique level was changed to S-rank?”

Qi’s maternal grandfather shook his head: “Don't underestimate the Harvey family too much. That young fellow is not as simple as he appears. Previously backed by his father and brothers, it’s not surprising that he's now fending for himself and exposing what he’s capable of.”

Cheng Jiu: “Does grandfather think the Harvey family concealed his level before, and now he's revealing it on his own initiative?”

Qi’s maternal grandfather: “What else?”

Cheng Jiu said: “I think, his physique was upgraded on the Wild Star.”

……

The room fell into silence.

The claim was too absurd and laughable coming from the Cheng family.

Qi’s maternal grandfather furrowed his brows, pacing the room anxiously, tapping his cane on the floor: “Everyone’s physique is determined at birth, it can only degrade due to a collapse of mental strength; there's no such thing as an upgrade, no precedent for it.”

Cheng Jiu did not change his stance, his voice steady: “There is now.”

Apart from the participants in the Wild Star tournament, he was probably the one who understood best what happened there.

Lin Fu would not lie to him.

He certainly wouldn't make a mistake in such matters; he has the capability.

Albert Harvey was indeed at Level A before participating in the Wasteland Race. In the months during Lin Fu's descent underground, he made the leap from A to S level.

No one knows what he went through, except for himself.

This level of advancement, while its potential side effects remain unclear, still offers a glimmer of hope.

Imagine if everyone's level could be raised—if those at Level D could be brought up to C, how many more soldiers would be able to join the battlefield?

Level D constitutes the largest stratum among the sentinels, and it's not as simple as adding one plus one.

If this idea were realized, the number of combatants on the battlefield could almost double, significantly reducing the impact of the insectoids' numbers.

And consider this—what if those at Level A could be mass upgraded to S?

If such a scenario were to occur, the higher-ranking insectoids would hardly pose a threat on the battlefield.

And what drives people crazy is wondering whether there's room for advancement beyond Level S+.

Just the thought of such a scenario, even for seasoned veterans like Cheng Jiu and Qi Wai Zu, sends a warm thrill through their hearts.

Should that day come, the insectoids will no longer be a threat to humanity.

*

Planet CT62.

The insects have been exterminated; the only task left is to dig into their underground nests.

Albert, content, has been promoted to Major, while Zhong Si and Tang Qian have both reached the rank of Captain.

As they stepped down from the awarding ceremony stage, the soldiers below erupted in thunderous applause.

In less than three years, they had risen to ranks that take many others over a decade to achieve.

Their rapid advancement is enough to make anyone envious.

But then, when one reflects on the way these three fight and slay the insectoids in battle, a chill creeps into their heart.

Their promotions are well-deserved.

Completing high-intensity clearance missions in such a short time is something even the stationed commander of Planet CT62 would struggle with.

The trio returned to their seats, their expressions cold.

A coldness that was puzzling.

Promotion is usually a joyous occasion, yet they seem anything but happy.

Their minds were clearly elsewhere.

Albert held the medal of honor in his hand, his head bowed, his demeanor chilly.

The commander had once again rejected their request that morning, asking them to stay on Planet CT62 a while longer.

In truth, there was no need for them to continue staying; their level of combat power was simply being wasted here.

A rational commander would never make such a foolish decision.

A year was about to pass since Lin Fu left CT62, and they were still trapped here, unable to leave.

It was hard not to wonder if something had happened to Lin Fu.

Tang Qian, sitting beside them, turned off his light-computer and whispered, "Still no connection."

Zhong Si tapped on his light-computer, sending a message to Tang Qian and Albert: "It's ready. Take a look for yourselves, especially at the parts highlighted in red."

They were not only unable to leave but couldn't even get through to Lin Fu's video calls, and even the stellar network information on this planet was filtered, allowing them only partial access.

Their technical skills were admittedly sophisticated, but with close observation, it wasn't hard to notice the anomalies.

Albert's fingers clenched tightly, his knuckles cracking faintly.

The meeting concluded.

The three of them did not hurry to leave, staying in their places.

Once most of the people had left, they rose and headed to the commander's residence.

Almost immediately after they arrived, the commander sensed trouble upon seeing them. Before he could utter a word, his mouth and nose were covered by Albert, and a fluffy golden lion crouched in front of him, poised to launch a mental attack should he show any sign of mental disturbance.

Tang Qian swiftly closed the door and kicked out all the alarm systems and artificial intelligence in the room.

Zhong Si tied up the man, extracted a vial of serum, and forced it down the commander's throat by tilting his chin upward.

Tang Qian frowned, "Will this work?"

Zhong Si confidently gave a thumbs up, "Enhanced truth serum, harmless and residue-free, guarantees nothing but the truth."

Tang Qian pulled a wry smile, half-doubtful.

The commander continued to struggle, and an irritated Albert reached out, hoisting him by the neck, ensuring the serum was swallowed.

After about half a minute, the commander's pupils began to dilate.

Albert looked towards Zhong Si, "Is it time?"

Zhong Si counted down, "5, 4, 3, 2, 1, go! Ask away! Remember, the questions must be clear and direct, one at a time, and nothing he couldn't possibly know."

He added, "It's effective for five minutes, so make it quick."

The short duration ensured that the serum wouldn't linger in the body.

Albert patted the commander's face, asking, "Why aren't you letting us leave this planet?"

The commander replied blankly, "Because the higher-ups ordered that you three must stay here."

Albert pressed, "Who are the higher-ups?"

Zhong Si quickly intervened, telling the commander, "Don't answer that. Next question. Do you know Lin Fu?"

Turning to Albert, he gestured, "He didn't explicitly say who gave the orders, which means he doesn't know. Asking such questions will snap him out of it."

Annoyed, Albert grumbled, "What a lousy truth serum."

Zhong Si retorted, "What do you expect under these conditions?"

Tang Qian interrupted, "Enough bickering, we're on the clock!"

They refocused on the task at hand.

The commander, further confused by the sudden interruption, took several seconds before slowly stating, "Lin Fu... Colonel Lin."

The trio fell silent in unison.

How did his military rank become "Colonel"?

When Lin Fu left this place, he had just been promoted to Major.

The higher the military rank, the more military merits required.

To rise from Major to Colonel in just a year would necessitate participation in no fewer than fifty medium to large-scale battles.

Fifty battles!

A single large-scale battle can last quite a while, a minimum of two to three weeks, or as long as two to three months.

One year is utterly insufficient!

Now they were utterly certain, Lin Fu wasn't unaware of their entrapment here; it was deliberate.

Given his ascension to the rank of Colonel, it was very likely that the lockdown order was issued by Lin Fu himself.

His only possible motive for doing so would be to protect them from getting entangled in dangerous affairs.

Albert's face darkened considerably.

He pressed further, "Is there a time limit to our lockdown order?"

The commander stuttered, "Three, three months from now..."

In three months, they would no longer be under lockdown.

Whatever Lin Fu intended to do, he would likely achieve it within these three months.

As the serum's effect was nearing its end, Tang Qian raised his hand and tapped the commander's head, and before leaving, Zhong Si dripped a few drops of highly volatile sedative on his face, ensuring he'd sleep a bit longer.

The trio swiftly fled the room, escaping before the patrolling guards could arrive.

*

Planet S206.

This was the eleventh Class-S planet Lin Fu had reached.

Situated 212 light-years from the prescribed defensive perimeter, it necessitated two wormhole jumps to arrive.

Viewed from above, the planet was a beautiful icy blue, akin to flowing sapphire, aglow with wondrous luminescence.

It was perpetually daylit here, with the entire globe encased in a frozen state, its surface a tapestry of pristine snow and layers of ice.

Even the insects here bore an unusual beauty, unlike the repulsiveness characteristic of their kin elsewhere.

Save for their thick, green, foul-smelling blood.

The virgin snow was tainted, soaked through with the dense green corruption.

Pale insects writhed on the ground, struggling, endeavoring to rise for another assault, only to be thoroughly impaled by a blade.

The pest-clearance mission on this planet was more than halfway complete, with the Fourth Army's base being established in the rear.

They needed to delineate a boundary; within the circle would be the encampment, and outside, the clearance zone.

Within the bounds of the encampment, not a single insect was permitted.

The planet's environment was somewhat peculiar, necessitating additional time for base construction.

The remnants of a former base, buried underground for nearly a century, were no longer viable for use, necessitating the construction of an entirely new one.

Kicking aside a carcass, Lin Fu flicked the blood from his blade and wiped it clean against the fresh snow.

The comm channel within the mech frame activated, with the deputy commander who had accompanied him in battle inquiring about their next move.

The insect race in this vicinity had been eradicated, their nests unearthed and destroyed.

Seventeen high-ranking insects, six of which were of the eighth tier.

It was a battle of moderate scale.

From inception to conclusion, it had taken just over a day.

Recollecting Lin Fu's state during combat, it was hard to associate him with the term "guide."

Lin Fu's face bore the flush of post-battle, his breath slightly labored.

Pushing back the sweat-drenched bangs to reveal a forehead glistening with perspiration, he pondered for a moment before murmuring softly, "Stay put and replenish energy."

This signaled an intent to press on, to proceed with the next pest-clearance mission without delay.

Soldiers within the channel uniformly acknowledged, remaining in their mech suits for standby rest.

The howling blizzard brushed against the mech's exterior, inducing a faint sensation of pain.

The cold also seeped through the psychic link to the mech, subtly influencing the pilot's perceptions.

Such sensations were lost on Lin Fu.

Twisting his wrist idly, he retrieved a tube of unflavored nutrient solution from the storage device, tilted his head back to gulp it down, and then carelessly tossed the tube back.

Resting his fingers over his eyes and leaning against the support of the seat, he closed his eyes for a feigned slumber.

The system reminded him, "Host, your mental state has been unstable these past few days, unsuitable for high-intensity combat. You still have three months; that's sufficient to conclude this campaign."

Recapturing eleven Class-S planets, coupled with General Dumps' maneuvers, Lin Fu's promotion to a military rank of command was all but guaranteed.

Squinting his eyes, it took Lin Fu a long while to respond mentally, "Having made such a grand move, the council and the royal house have already taken notice of me. One year is the limit General Dumps has given. If it comes to that, who knows what troubles and uncertainties might arise."

Having come this far, he naturally wouldn't allow for any mishaps.

His psychic energy spread out silently.

No insect race approached during their rest.

The soldiers' psychic forms remained external, vigilant against any surprise insectoid assault.

At this moment, animals of various forms sprawled on the ground in a relaxed manner, some stretching out with contented hums emanating from their throats.

The vast expanse of psychic energy, at a frequency subtle and hard to detect, healed the hidden injuries on their bodies, preventing a mental breakdown in their masters.

Such application of psychic energy was already quite familiar to Lin Fu.

Seeing its advice unheeded, the system could only close its mouth and tally the energy harvested.

Ever since stepping onto the front lines, the energy collected had increased significantly.

Whether directly involved in rescues or not, the citizens of the Empire behind the defensive lines were always under his indirect protection.

Lin Fu's psychic power had nearly fully recovered. Based on the projected calculations, it would take at most one more year for him to fully regain his strength, returning to the peak state he had before the psychic poisoning.

The only worrisome issue was his still unrecovered perception.

This was indeed a significant problem.

Despite countless scans and checks, driven by an unwavering determination, the cause remained elusive.

Initially, Lin Fu would inquire about it, but after some time, even he ceased to be concerned.

The issue with his perception didn't affect him greatly; on the contrary, it reduced his troubles during the year's battles.

Others might feel pain and fatigue; he did not, thus he could fight endlessly.

With the system's diagnostic capabilities, nobody could detect this problem in him.

After completing the psychic soothing, Lin Fu withdrew the excess psychic energy.

As the rest time neared its end, he also retracted the protective barrier.

The dark mech picked up the Tang sword embedded in the snow, holding it in hand, and a voice transmitted through the channel, "Send the combat data to headquarters, prepare to move out."

Mechs around him rose to their feet, the clank of steel upon steel echoing in the silent world, carried away by the wind.

……

Just as Lin Fu had anticipated, the council and the royal house had long since taken notice of the Fourth Army's movements.

At first, they were indifferent, regarding it merely as the Fourth Army's death throes.

What use was there in releasing more videos?

They could only deceive the eyes momentarily; soon enough, the cadets would awaken to the reality of the Fourth Army's standards and its worthiness for their allegiance.

Trying to change the recruitment pool through public opinion was pure fantasy.

And the methods were rather naïve.

But that was hardly surprising, considering the Fourth Army was without a commander. That such orders were carried out was already a testament to overcoming numerous hardships.

It's possible that an internal struggle has already taken place, leaving them just waiting for the internal energy to be drained, ready to be dissected and dispersed, marking the end of the "Fourth Legion."

Yet, this battle for public opinion has lasted nearly a year.

With the involvement of the guide, Qi Mingxi, the Fourth Army's name has been mentioned too many times among the populace, garnering it more recognition, even among those who were initially unaware.

This is hardly a positive development.

More crucially, they discovered that the Fourth Legion was actually reclaiming S-class planets!

The Fourth Army's defensive region was beyond their control, and they couldn't infiltrate many of their own people.

But even the minor pieces tucked in the corners were aware that the Fourth Army was launching attacks on S-class planets and succeeding in their recapture.

These were S-class planets!

Beyond the territorial limits of the Empire!

Defending territory is certainly commendable, but expanding territory always stirs more excitement!

They anticipated, without surprise, the uproar that would follow the announcement of the successful recapture of an S-class planet.

The Fourth Legion would be exalted once more!

This was a situation many on the capital planet, Imperial Star, were reluctant to see.

The Ninth Army was bothersome enough; having just dismantled the Fifth Legion, how could they tolerate the resurgence of the Fourth?

They were deeply concerned about this, yet found no effective way to stop it.

The only consolation was that the Fourth Legion still lacked a commander, and those stubborn veterans would never accept a new leader to command this legion, a unit long hereditary within their families.

They didn't believe that, under these circumstances, someone would suddenly emerge to be unanimously elected as the commander.

Besides, command of the legion required a rank of general, and there was no suitable candidate within the Fourth Legion who met this criterion.

Even if there was, the council could obstruct it.

Ascension to a general's rank required the council's approval, after all.

The royal family shared the same sentiment.

However, they were also concerned about Lin Fu, the guide who appeared several times in the video released by the Fourth Army.

His current status among the public is quite exceptional.

As a guide, he is undoubtedly extraordinary.

Yet as a soldier, he is exceedingly competent. As a guide, he has achieved what countless sentinels could not, and he is also one of the top ten winners of the last two Huangxing competitions.

His unorthodox nature, wild and free, is reminiscent of the military academy he hails from - "Artemis," named after the goddess of the moon and the hunt, embodying freedom and wilderness, untamable by anyone.

Few can resist being drawn to him, enchanted by his allure.

Despite his scarce public appearances nowadays, his fanbase among the common folk might rival that of the imperial superstar, Qi Mingxi.

The royal family could not ignore this situation.

They haven't forgotten that their eldest prince was publicly rejected by him.

With their deliberate orchestration, the public believes that the eldest prince and Lin Fu are a match made in heaven; only a guide as outstanding as Lin Fu is worthy of the royal family, and only someone of the prince's noble stature deserves such a unique guide.

Should Lin Fu one day take notice of the trends on the Star Network, it's uncertain whether he would act in a way that could utterly disgrace the royal family.

The royal family cannot allow such an event to transpire.

If possible, they would very much like to send someone to infiltrate the Fourth Army and eliminate the guide completely.

However, their eldest prince seems to have entirely forgotten this matter, spending most of the year with the First Legion without issuing any orders.

……

Simon Constantine's mech was silver-white, adorned with golden patterns, exquisitely luxurious, mirroring the style of the royal military academy's uniform.

His weapon was a long mace, a silver-gray metal rod with quadrangular sides but no blades. In combat, it could be separated into two short maces. Despite its refined appearance, it was exceedingly heavy.

The metal used for this mace was chosen specifically by Simon Constantine for its high density, complementing the weapon's characteristics.

The destructive power of the mace depended on its weight.

As he swung the mace in the training field, the air cracked with sharp, explosive noises; the deafening impact echoed as the training opponents struck by the mace were sent flying dozens of meters, crashing against the protective boards to produce even louder noises, then collapsing to the ground.

The attendants waiting at the entrance hurried forward, lifting the person who had barely managed to crawl out of the mech before losing consciousness. They quickly left the training ground for emergency treatment.

Some fresh blood, spat out by the opponent, stained the ground.

Simon Constantine retracted his mace into the weapon storage and logged out of his mech.

His aide approached, respectfully offering a handkerchief with both hands, which he accepted in a leisurely manner.

His eyes roving, he surveyed his mech and inquired softly to his aide, "What do you think, who is more formidable? Me, or Lin Fu?"

The aide hastily responded, "Certainly, you. Lin Fu is just a guide at best, how could he compare to you?"

Simon Constantine snorted, "Just a guide? He is a victor of the Huangxing competition. When Karlo participated, the planets were far less perilous than during Lin Fu's term, and yet he nearly lost his life."

Karlo Constantine, the empire's third prince, is currently serving in the Second Legion.

Due to his performance in the Huangxing competition, this prince has never been much favored by the Emperor.

Simon Constantine had not participated in the Huangxing competition.

Even he couldn't tell if he felt relief or regret about that.

Hearing the rebuke, the aide stammered, "That's because he had the young master of the Harvey family protecting him, along with two sentinels who were very close to him. Naturally, they would shield him more and help him obtain the energy core."

Stealing glances at Simon’s expression, the aide couldn't tell if he was satisfied with the answer, but had to continue, "Those were two S-rank sentinels and an A-rank sentinel. The entire Artemis Military Academy also meant to protect him. Getting the energy core and becoming a captain—what for? To leave the front lines, command from the rear, and be much safer."

After saying this, his face turned pale.

He forgot that Simon Constantine was also a commander. Such words not only insulted Lin Fu but also implicated the crown prince.

Simon seemed indifferent to this.

He cleaned his fingertips, tossed the handkerchief onto the ground, and chuckled, "Is that so?"

The aide was sweating profusely, racking his brains for an explanation.

But he heard the crown prince say lightly, "He is a guide, after all, destined to marry a sentinel. Looking around the empire, who could be a better match for him than I?"

"Marrying me, he would become the prince consort of the empire."

"If he were mine, then his prowess would be mine as well. Why worry?"

The aide could only nod in agreement, "Yes, yes, you're absolutely right!"

Simon glanced at him and said with a smile, "Perhaps, it's time for me to go to the battlefield as well."