Chapter 18: Departure

Chapter 18: Departure

Despite still being angry, Huo Lanjing didn't drive away even after leaving Luo Le far behind.

After waiting for over ten minutes, there was still no sign of Luo Le.

Awhile later, Huo Lanjing's expression turned sour.

Where had that young master gone off to now? Forget it, let him be.

With a stern look, Huo Lanjing issued a command, and the hovercar sped away rapidly.

Not long after Luo Le left, he received a video call from Wind City.

"Brother Le, what did you leave in my car this morning?"

It was the medicine from earlier.

Luo Le pressed his lips together before saying,

He said, "It's nothing important. You can give it to me tomorrow."

"Hmm, I happen to be going shopping. I can drop it off for you on the way. Where are you, Brother Le?"

Luo Le pondered and decided that it would do.

After giving him his location, he found a bench to sit on while waiting for him.

About twenty minutes later, the flashy red hovercar glided gracefully in front of him.

"Brother Le, get in. I'll send you back home."

Luo Le shifted his gaze from the hovercar to Huo Lanjing's face. "Aren't you supposed to be shopping?"

Waving it off, Feng Cheng said, "That store seems to be near the Omega dormitory. It's on the way, so let me give you a lift, Brother Le."

Half of Luo Le's body was already in the car when he suddenly remembered that he was still staying at Huo Lanjing's place. He retreated.

He didn't want Feng Cheng to know just yet. After all, his reputation in the Empire wasn't exactly stellar.

"I just remembered I have something else to attend to. You go ahead."

"What's up? Brother Le, I'll come with you. More hands make light work."

Luo Le shook his head. "No need."

Understanding Luo Le's disposition, Wind City didn't insist.

"Alright then, Brother Le. Here's your stuff. If you need anything, just call me. I'll be at your service anytime!"

Accepting the medicine, Luo Le nodded. "Mm-hmm."

As Wind City closed the car door, he suddenly asked, "Brother Le, have you ever visited the First Rank Army's forum?"

"The forum?"

Luo Le shook his head. "No, I haven't."

"Brother Le, you should check it out. There are many mecha experts there. It might be helpful if you encounter any issues."

"Thank you, Brother Le, for being willing to sell me the mech. Even though I'm not well-versed in mech construction, I'm quite capable when it comes to gathering information."

Luo Le became intrigued upon hearing this.

The military district was filled with hidden talents and saw plenty of practical combat. Perhaps he could indeed find an answer there.

"What are the requirements to enter the forum?"

Military districts usually imposed numerous restrictions.

"Not much, just a verification of your identity is needed. Oh, and a Military Star Card."

"A Military Star Card?"

He had a Star Need Card, but a Military Star Card...

He knew next to nothing about the military district.

Not long after their marriage, Huo Lanjing had left, disappearing for months. He wouldn't answer video calls and didn't reply to messages.

One day, feeling particularly down, Luo Le uncorked a few bottles of wine and got drunk.

As the saying goes, alcohol fuels the courage of the timid.

In that moment of intoxication, he rashly breached the exclusive star network of the First Military District.

However, in his inebriated state, he didn't conceal his tracks, and was promptly ejected within less than a minute.

Of course, he hadn't seen anything significant.

The following morning, Huo Lanjing made the first initiative to call him via video chat.

But before he could say a word, he was scolded relentlessly.

Huo Lanjing also forbade him from inquiring about military affairs.

From that day on, Luo Le refrained from seeking information about the military district.

"Indeed, anyone can apply, and there's no limit on the number of applications. But the process is quite cumbersome, requiring family information and approvals with multiple steps. I happened to have an extra one here, would you like to use this, Brother Le?"

Luo Le regarded the purple card in Huo Lanjing's hand without taking it.

It was only their first day in Wind City; there wouldn't have been enough time to apply for such a card.

Thus, this card must have been acquired through alternative means by Wind City.

He knew that Wind City intended to repay a favor; if he refused, Wind City would persist in finding another way.

As this thought crossed his mind, Luo Le caught sight of Wind City's hopeful expression. In the end, he reached out and accepted the card.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome, but... Brother Le, is your hand injured? Why is it hanging limply like that, and your lips look very pale. Are you alright?"

Luo Le smiled. Wind City had noticed his condition after just a few words.

Yet, despite witnessing everything, Huo Lanjing hadn't offered a single word of concern.

He had even gotten into an argument with him.

Luo Le displayed the item in his hand and said casually, "Just a minor injury. This is the medicine I bought."

His words were half-truths, and Wind City didn't sense anything amiss.

After bidding farewell to Wind City, Luo Le returned home.

Upon arriving, the sky was already dark, but the house was pitch black inside.

He recalled that every time he came back, the place would be brightly lit.

Even if Huo Lanjing wasn't home, Little Yuan would turn on the lights.

Could it be an insectoid invasion? He had heard rumors of the insectoids wreaking havoc starting from the Fifth Planet, but this was a military zone, after all.

Luo Le withdrew a short knife from his spatial pocket and held it to his chest as he stepped cautiously inward.

However, the scenario he had imagined did not unfold. After surveying the area thoroughly, everything seemed normal.

Having completed his inspection, Luo Le slumped onto the sofa, exhausted.

A few garments were missing from the wardrobe, and Little Yuan was nowhere to be found – there was only one possible explanation.

Huo Lanjing had left, taking Little Yuan with him.

Luo Le sighed. What a mess this was.

Why did it feel like he was the one who forced Huo Lanjing to leave?

After some thought, he attempted to initiate a video call to Huo Lanjing.

[Call failed. Please try again.]

Luo Le paused. When he tried sending a text message, it was also rejected.

It seemed that Huo Lanjing had blocked him...

His emotions were a jumbled mix.

How come he never realized how petty Huo Lanjing could be? Was it really necessary to react so strongly after just one argument?

In a fleeting moment, his gaze caught sight of a package of medicine on the coffee table.

Luo Le shook his head and got up to head upstairs. He filled the bathtub with water and then poured the medicine into it.

He opened the refrigerator and took out a purple nutrient solution from the neatly arranged rows of boxes beside it.

Forcing himself to look away from the unprepared fresh ingredients, he knew they must have come all the way from the Empire. These ancient Earth delicacies were now extremely scarce.

Only the research institutes within the Empire could cultivate them.

He was aware that his skills would only spoil them.

After downing the nutrient solution, his stomach finally settled.

Finished with the medicine and his grooming, Luo Le mixed the medicine in hot water according to the proper ratio.

The fragrance of the medicine filled the bathroom as the water turned blue.

Luo Le tested the water temperature and laid back in it.

Initially, there was no sensation, but as the potion submerged him, a subtle ache emerged, sapping his strength bit by bit.

By the time he finished soaking, he barely had the energy to stand up.

In the evening, within his bedroom.

Luo Le linked his military supply card and logged into the forum.

The forum interface was straightforward, consisting only of questions, answers, and a search bar.

/Acquiring Materials for C-Class Mecha Construction/

He clicked on search, and a top-rated reply appeared.

//

On Acquiring Materials for D-Rank and Above Mecha Construction

D-Rank materials can be obtained by any mecha class student at the Instruction Tower, with no quantity restrictions;

C-class materials, one must declare their purpose to the officers and file a report to acquire them, with a limit of two units (for the construction of a single mecha, for instance);

B-class materials...

....

//