Chapter 39: Live Streaming (Combined)

Chapter 39: Live Streaming (Combined)

"Following the emergence of high-level Ice Butterflies on Planet A8, the adjacent H9 Space City was startled by an even more advanced species, the Sub-Butterflies!"

"During the Spatial City battle, nearly a hundred residents failed to reach the shelters in time. Military rescue operations are currently underway on a large scale…"

"Below, you'll find footage captured by a Spatial City resident during stargazing, which incidentally recorded the initial appearance of Adette in combat..."

In the shot, the illumination of the Spatial City had been completely extinguished.

High above, Yade, in the distance, resembled an irregular mass of red light, fluttering her butterfly wings with grace.

Not far from the vantage point of the photographer, a black military starship hovered motionlessly.

The ship's hatch opened, and a handsome youth, with an earnest and composed expression, knelt behind a heavy machine gun, aiming at the distant adversary.

The wind at this altitude tousled his raven-black hair, imbuing him with a sharp and rakish charisma.

In the instant the trigger was pulled, a vibrant purple beam roared forth.

In the footage, the young man lowered his gun slightly and fixed his gaze on the distant glowing mass with intense concentration. After a moment, his eyebrows lifted slightly.

The attack hadn't been fatal to Ice Butterfly, but instead of disappointment, a subtle curve formed at the corner of his lips.

It was as if he had found an equal opponent, igniting his fighting spirit.

The hatch closed, but only seconds later, he piloted a black mech away from the starship.

In the video, the black mech, amidst countless stunned question marks, dashed alone towards the terrifyingly powerful adversary, radiating a dazzling glow.

The views of this clip skyrocketed rapidly, reaching astronomical numbers that surpassed the recordings of the Ice and Fire Tournament.

"Love it!" The top-rated comment read, "Such a dashing mech pilot! Can we have contact details, please?!"

"Seems like he's not from the military, no military uniform," someone replied below, "but that's not the point... The point is, he's incredibly handsome!"

"....Wow... So, is this real or fake...? Not an animated composite, right? He's going one-on-one with Subtle Butterfly?!"

"Definitely real. The official report on the situation in H9 Space City has been released!"

"Does anyone find that first face somewhat familiar... Isn't that the very one! The mecha competitor who shot to fame in the Mecha Ice and Fire Tournament! What was his name again!"

"Rong Mi! Rong Mi! Gosh, I'm actually a fan... A music fan, to be precise. Is he completely transitioning from being a Star Network singer to a mecha pilot?!"

"…What Star Network singer? Upper floor, what are you talking about?!"

"Rong Mi is a Star Network singer. He got criticized when he first joined the mecha competition."

"Folks! Is there more footage after this scene? What happened to that mecha pilot and the military starship later on?!"

"There's no more footage. Everyone just evacuated to shelters! Who would dare stay on the ground to film? You'd need to be alive to post it even if you managed to shoot it..."

"I know someone working at the H9 Space Station! They said a spatial wormhole opened up there later!"

"Well, I heard... Admiral Lu Yi's mental energy fluctuations were detected on site? Did you all see the emblem of that black starship in the video? That's a First Legion ship, isn't it?!"

"Don't say it! It could be true! When the Ice Butterflies were discovered on that desolate planet, people already mentioned Admiral Lu Yi's mental energy. But I think, hmm, even if it really is Admiral Lu Yi... After those two battles, the situation must be even grimmer."

"It's obvious the situation isn't optimistic. If Admiral Lu Yi were doing well, he'd be in the warzone, not on a desolate planet. I believe it's because Lu Yi sustained serious injuries and needed to return to a safe zone for recuperation that he retreated from the frontlines, coincidentally passing by that desolate planet."

"So, what's the deal with that wormhole! Is Yadie dead?! Oh my god! These past couple of days have been surreal!"

"Check the official reports! Yadie is confirmed dead! The military has sealed off the wormhole. They mentioned another one near the space station, possibly where both Wild Star Ice Butterfly and Yadie came from – that's been sealed too! But they didn't elaborate on further details. No mention of Lu Yi at all."

"What about Rong Mi? Any news on him? Was it really him in the video?"

"It was indeed Rong Mi in the footage. The military plans to award him a commendation medal. But they haven't disclosed much about his whereabouts. Is he seriously considering joining the military?"

Amidst the heated discussions about Rong Mi's future plans, the protagonist himself had just finished a session of mental strength training on the starship.

According to Lu Yi and Chen Shu, the timing of the second awakening was unpredictable, with vague triggering conditions. However, Rong Mi wasn't one to wait.

Regardless of whether there would be a second awakening or not, he was determined to keep growing stronger.

Rong Mi utilized the First Legion's online virtual training grounds.

Similar to the immersive login mode of the Star Network, upon donning the helmet to enter the virtual training area, the digital world became "real." It was visually, auditorily, and tactilely indistinguishable from reality.

Rong Mi discovered that the training programs of the First Legion were far more extensive than those on the "Divine Maiden" flagship he had been on before, with some exercises completely unfamiliar to him. The intensity and complexity were high, simulating realistic combat scenarios to the fullest extent.

He had heard from the main AI of the "Divine Maiden" that humanity lost much crucial technology and information when they broke through the Zerg encirclement to escape. In the First Legion's training system, he truly felt the weight of that loss.

At this point in time, referred to later as the Glorious Old Era, humanity possessed more resources... but also faced more terrifying dangers.

Like Cheng Die.

Rong Mi had been pondering over the past two days why he had never heard of Cheng Die during the era of interstellar nomads.

Could it be because... humans had actually found a way to halt the evolution of Sub-Demons?

Before the Zerg's sudden assault, before that great exodus... or perhaps even within the midst of that horrifying attack, humanity had discovered a method to ensure that Sub-Demons wouldn't evolve for at least a few hundred years?

This was information never mentioned in the records of the interstellar nomad era, leaving Rong Mi with no leads.

Deciding to set aside his puzzlement for the time being, he threw himself into the rigorous training regime, pushing his limits day after day, replenishing his mental energy without respite.

He checked his mental strength periodically, and despite no change in rank, the intensity was steadily increasing through this extreme training.

Rong Mi was content with the progress.

Only by doing this could he secure a chance of survival for himself... and for those who fought alongside him, the ones he wished to protect, in times of crisis.

Within the virtual training grounds, the First Legion ranked all participants' training records in real-time based on their login names. As Rong Mi devoted himself to intense practice, the rankings transformed dramatically within a few days. An individual with the login name "MI" suddenly appeared at the top of various leaderboards and continued to climb rapidly.

MI ranked prominently in both mecha training and mental strength training categories.

As a non-legion member, the young man had accessed the training grounds using Lu Yi's special authorization. Consequently, all details about MI's department, squad number, and so on, were concealed. Apart from the first squad's captain and vice-captain who likely had an inkling of the identity, nobody else knew where this influential figure had come from. It was widely assumed that MI was a new recruit, as veterans in the legion had their aliases under their login names largely exposed.

Many on the leaderboard kept a watchful eye on MI. While striving to maintain their own rankings by updating their training records, they also monitored the real-time combat system.

Observing MI's aggressive push for higher ranks, it was evident that he was not satisfied with mere training modules and would eventually enter the First Legion's virtual combat system. Everyone wanted to be the first to confront this enigmatic newcomer who had shown exceptional promise. The captains exchanged messages, eagerly trying to uncover the person's identity, their curiosity reaching fever pitch.

After all, gossip exists everywhere.

This was no different for the First Legion.

Their internal network was filled with daily discussions about Rong Mi's rising rankings, with many eager to get to know this fellow soldier and engage in friendly sparring.

Some would shake their heads at the sight of Rong Mi's training hours, acknowledging that they could hardly compete with such an intense practitioner.

However, Rong Mi's special privileges did not extend to the internal communication forums, leaving him oblivious to all this.

Having completed his training for the day, drenched in sweat, he removed his virtual training helmet and took a shower before returning to his quarters.

As the door opened, the first thing Rong Mi saw was a fluffy silver bundle at the foot of his bed.

Ayin was sound asleep on the mattress.

Rong Mi: Seems like the wolf has finished his territorial patrol for the day.

The First Legion's first squad's starship had been fully repaired. Like the other members of the First Legion, Rong Mi returned to the restored vessel.

The layout of the flagship remained the same as before, with the uppermost level exclusively belonging to Lu Yi's private quarters.

Upon returning here, Ayin visibly relaxed.

After a few days, the wounds on Ayin's paws had healed. Its head rested between its front paws, legs stretched out, completely sprawled out. Upon hearing the hatch open, its pricked-up wolf ears swiveled slightly towards the sound. A few seconds later, it recognized Rong Mi's footsteps.

The wolf didn't bother opening its eyes, instead sinking deeper into slumber.

In these past two days, Ayin had refused to follow Lu Yi, preferring to curl up in Rong Mi's resting cabin, as if it had switched owners altogether.

Of course Rong Mi was delighted to have Furry tagging along. But from observing the wolf's behavior, he sensed that Ayin's attachment to him went beyond mere fascination.

It was also because the situation with the Admiral was... just too chaotic.

Amidst the desolate star incident, the accident at the space station Yada, and the emergence of Chengdie's psychic abilities... a series of unforeseen events led the military to sense an unusual undercurrent.

Lu Yi found himself in back-to-back meetings, confirming the movements of the arachnid forces in the war zones, assessing danger levels around secure star systems, conducting internal investigations within the military department... and delving into the reasons behind Chéng Dié's reappearance once more.

In addition, there were matters concerning the border defense of the First Legion's theater of operations, as well as decisions pertaining to the legion's operational logistics...

Conferences big and small were constant, with screens constantly surrounding him, creating such a ruckus that even wolves wouldn't want to return home.

Rong Mi: "Wolves are still more obedient."

Wolves knew the value of rest, but humans didn't.

Rong Mi sighed, wondering how it was possible for Lu Yi to have so many matters to attend to.

A Legion Commander might not even be as busy as he was!

So busy that Rong Mi suspected Lu Yi's only respite each day was during the scheduled treatments in his mental domain.

In the past two days, Lu Yi's condition in his mental domain had been steadily improving, and the routine treatments were extended from daily to every third day.

Rong Mi also refrained from disturbing Lu Yi. He believed that, given the General's current state, sleep was more crucial than treatment.

The young man crouched at the foot of the bed, amusedly criticizing Lu Yi for a while, looking at Ayin's utterly adorable sleeping posture.

The Silver Wolf's ears twitched twice.

Unaware of the dream, the wolf flicked its tail, rolling slightly to one side, exposing a tender patch of belly.

Rong Mi reached out and gently stroked the tip of the wolf's ear.

The wolf's ear twitched, and it shifted its head slightly in discontent without opening its eyes.

Rong Mi moved his hand, gesturing in front of the wolf's belly.

He wanted to touch it.

But he also thought that doing so might wake the wolf up.

Rong Mi knew that although Ayin was relaxed around him, the wolf would never completely let its guard down.

With a sigh of regret, Rong Mi decided not to disturb the wolf's sleep, diverting his gaze from Ayin.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, he logged onto the Star Network to check the schedule for the military's unified recruitment assessment.

The military's assessment consisted of simulated combat scenarios, scheduled precisely one month after his arrival on the capital planet, lasting for a week.

Upon conclusion of the assessments, all participants' achievements would be ranked, and based on their preferences, rankings, and the recruitment quotas of each legion, they would enter the respective legions.

At the recruitment event, high-ranking officials from various legions, the military command, and even the Federation's Chief Councillor would be in attendance.

Rong Mi had already submitted his application for the assessment, with his first choice being the First Legion, and his desired position as a mecha pilot. This was something he had previously discussed with Lu Yi.

Confirming that his application had been approved, Rong Mi exited the military bulletin board and casually entered the leisure and entertainment section.

There, he found himself at the center of a heated discussion.

Several days had passed since Chen Shu had shown him the trending thread about himself, but the buzz still showed no signs of subsiding.

Flipping through the posts, Rong Mi noticed that many were speculating about his future plans.

Looking at the discussion thread prominently featuring his name, Rong Mi pondered carefully.

He didn't believe that he had an obligation to publicly disclose his plans for the future or his personal aspirations on the interstellar network.

Yet, he noticed many fans of the original owner chasing after various posts for answers.

Considering the original owner's occupation, Rong Mi used the owner's public account to issue a statement about quitting the circle and a letter expressing gratitude to his past fans.

After that, he straightforwardly created a new account named "Mech Pilot Rong Mi."

Closing the Star Network after posting the statement, Rong Mi headed for the training room without bothering to see how the public reacted.

However, upon finishing his training, he discovered a new message in his private communication account.

"Decided on joining the military department?"

The sender was identified as "Rong Yan."

"All the information you've concealed from the Rong family and the reasons behind your repeated changes of decision – we need to discuss these matters face-to-face," she wrote in a calm yet assertive tone. "Upon arriving at the Capital Star, come straight to the Rong Family Manor. Send me the flight number of the starship you'll be taking."

Rong Mi didn't need to search through the original owner's memories to know who she was.

She was the current head of the Rong family, and also the last one in its lineage.

When the Zerg launched their sudden assault on the Capital Planet, one of their primary attack points was right in the heart of the government district, and the other directly above the Rong family's estate.

The Rong family's healers had never received combat training. Although the estate had its security measures, the Capital Planet was heavily fortified, and no one had ever envisaged that the Zerg could breach its defenses. Thus, the Rong family's security was not designed to withstand a massive Zerg onslaught.

On the night of the attack, the Rong family's estate was hosting a New Year's banquet. All the high-ranking healers in attendance perished during the assault.

In most attacks on key planets, the Healer Association and families with a large number of healers were primary targets.

This resulted in a scarcity of healers who managed to escape with the starships, leading to the eventual extinction of true healers two hundred years into the Interstellar Nomadic Era. It was then that the Artificial Healer project officially commenced.

Rong Yan oversaw the entire Rong family, and she herself was a formidable healer.

Not only did she hold sway within the Rong family, but her influence extended to the upper echelons of the entire Federation. Her word was law.

When the original host, out of fear, reneged on her agreement to serve as the First Legion's healer after hearing rumors about its commander, Rong Yan mobilized the family's resources to track down the original host, intent on punishing her severely before forcibly sending her to the First Legion. If not for the First Legion Commander's refusal to have Rong Mi as his healer again, and his unwillingness to provoke a conflict that might tarnish the reputations of both the Rong and Lu families, the original host might have faced even harsher consequences.

The original host was afraid of Rong Yan, but Rong Mi didn't share the same fear.

Rong Yan was strict in her dealings but principled. As the head of the Rong family, her duties were numerous, yet she still managed to dedicate three months each year to the war zones, fulfilling her obligations as an advanced healer, treating more than three times the number of soldiers compared to her peers.

With this in mind, Rong Mi's impression of her wasn't too negative.

On Rong Yan, the original host couldn't see the familial affection she sought.

Yet, she and the Rong family under her control could become the allies Rong Mi sought to fend off the Ice Butterfly attacks.

"Alright," Rong Mi replied promptly, his tone light. "The flight number isn't convenient to disclose. We'll connect when we reach the Capital Star."

He was traveling on a First Legion warship, not a civilian starship, so there was no flight number to share, nor could he reveal his itinerary to outsiders.

Rong Mi could roughly guess what Rong Yan wanted to discuss.

Rong Yan was a pragmatist.

The original host couldn't bring any benefits to her or the Rong family, so she had let go.

But as an armor pilot, she now held obvious leverage for a potential exchange with Rong Yan.

Rong Mi also aimed to acquire what he desired from the Rong family.

As a family of therapists, the Rong clan was scattered across military academies, military departments, and even various war zones. It was indeed an excellent source for information.

On the screen, Rong Yan raised an eyebrow, sensing a subtle shift in meaning from Rong Mi's message.

This transformation was not easily grasped from a single brief communication, but she was patient, waiting for Rong Mi to return and discuss it with her.

Rong Yan rarely found anything perplexing. But regarding Rong Mi's recent change, she was clueless.

She had no idea how Rong Mi had suddenly become such a skilled mecha pilot, no longer afraid of Lu Yi, and now entangled with the First Legion.

Old Man Lu had contacted her earlier that morning.

He was just as baffled by the situation between Rong Mi and Lu Yi.

Initially displeased with Rong Mi, his opinion did a complete U-turn after watching her in combat footage.

The old man had built his life in the military, and his judgment of people was impeccable; he valued talent dearly.

Not being much of a frequenter of the Star Network, he had become even less involved in affairs after retiring from the Military. It was only by chance, when his niece returned home with an admiring expression and chattered nonstop about Rong Mi during dinner, that the elder caught sight of Rong Mi's combat footage.

After watching the video, Elder Lu promptly called Rong Yan, his tone laced with frustration and urgency as he virtually questioned the accuracy of Rong Mi's background information. Upon receiving Rong Yan's explanation of its authenticity, he indirectly hinted at her lack of concern for their younger generation, almost causing a talented individual to slip through their fingers.

Towards the end of their conversation, Elder Lu expressed his understanding of Rong Mi's previous cancellations, speculating that the therapist contract proposed earlier might have stifled Rong Mi's potential as a mech pilot, thus provoking his strong opposition.

"I see that Rong Mi and Lu Yi seem to be getting along well," the elder's voice sounded casual but held a hidden worry. "That boy, Lu Yi, has a mind of his own and never consults me on anything. I can't control him. As for Rong Mi's therapist situation, could you try talking to him again? Just to see if it might work. We can adjust the contract terms, shorten the treatment schedule if necessary. Given the previous misunderstandings, the Lus can apologize and compensate."

"Even if he doesn't become Lu Yi's therapist... would he still consider joining the First Legion?"

"Please convey my apology to Rong Mi and inquire if he would be willing to share his communication number with me so we can have a proper conversation."

The Rong and Lu families have long-standing ties, with a relationship that is deeply affectionate. Rong Yan was perplexed by the origins and sincerity of Rong Mi's sudden change. To alleviate the anxiety of Elder Lu, who was distraught over Lu Yi's injury, she decided to have a thorough face-to-face conversation with Rong Mi first, in case his intentions shifted again, leading to further complications.

The Barren Star lay on the outskirts of the Human Secure Sector.

The First Fleet utilized the military's high-speed route, bypassing inhabited planets and major transit spaceports. Hence, the journey from the desolate planet to the capital star would approximately take around half a month.

While the starship was still en route, Lord Lu heard rumors that caused him even greater concern.

Lu Yi fainted during the military conference.

The rumor originated from the secretarial department of the Military Command, which was subsequently punished for spreading false information. Nevertheless, Elder Lu took the news at face value.

Videos related to the Spatial City battle were abundant across the entire Star Net. A mere glance was enough for him to recognize the abundance of purple and silver on screen, indicating that Lu Yi had expended a tremendous amount of mental energy.

Given Lu Yi's injuries, such an act could be considered suicidal.

From the videos, Elder Lu knew that Rong Mi was a formidable warrior, but he was unaware that Rong Mi had treated Lu Yi's mental domain. Logically, he deduced that fainting was the least of Lu Yi's worries; the young man could have breathed his last breath at any second.

Both Lu Yi's condition and the First Legion's team's itinerary were classified information. Even in retirement, Elder Lu was bound by confidentiality protocols and couldn't obtain any details. Unable to reach Lu Yi, he was left anxiously in the dark.

On the First Legion's starship, several medical robots rushed to the uppermost deck.

In the rest chamber, Lu Yi lay on his side on the bed. As he opened his eyes, he vaguely saw a figure beside the bed.

It was Rong Mi.

"The general is awake." The young man was seated beside Lu Yi's bed, sensing his stirring and reaching out to touch the commander's forehead.

It's still scorching hot.

He clicked his tongue softly, his lips curving into a half-smirk as he said, "You're taking this pretense quite seriously, General."

Lu Yi: "..."

Lu Yi's thoughts were muddled, his ears ringing intensely, preventing him from discerning the dissatisfaction in the young man's tone. He asked hoarsely, "How long have I been asleep?"

Rong Mi: "A day."

The general frowned deeply, recalling the original work schedule for that day.

"The final investigation report on the Abyssal Butterfly spirit imprint within the Thunderclap Lion, Sandel," he propped himself up to sit, "has it come out?"

Rong Mi was the therapist who discovered the spirit imprint in Sandel, the Thunderclap Lion. He had been involved in the investigation concerning Sandel and Ellen. Hence, a copy of the report was also sent to Rong Mi.

Rong Mi: "..."

He fell silent for a moment, pressing down on Lu Yi's shoulder to make him lie back down.

"Even in a feverish daze, you can't stay still," Rong Mi said with annoyance. "Lie down. The report is ready, I'll read it to you."

"I participated in the identification of Ice Butterflies' mental energy ripples," Rong Mi continued. "The imprint of the Sub-Divine Butterfly within Sandel's mental domain does not match any of the Sub-Divine Butterflies that the First Legion has come into contact with."

"The time when a Sub-Divine Butterfly imprints its mental energy can be estimated by the depth and intensity of the imprint within the mental domain."

"I cross-referenced the intensity-time cards in the legion's database. This particular imprint entered Sandel's mental domain roughly two years ago."

"No suspicious individuals were found within the First Legion," Rong Mi read from the report. "Comparing it with Ellen's itinerary, two years ago was when he last left the combat zone for a vacation on the capital planet."

"The Investigation Department speculates that the Blazing Thunderlion might have been branded during Ellen's time off."

"Entry into the combat zone from a safe zone doesn't require a Psyche Screening. The deeper the brand, the less likely it is to be detected. Ellen's first screening after his vacation was nine months later, when he fought against Yadi outside the combat zone. That was already too late to detect Yadi's brand."

"Just as we had suspected."

"Furthermore, the investigation on Ellen shows that there was no risk of him personally communicating with the Ice Butterfly Clan."

The general's brow was deeply furrowed.

Only the last sentence brought any solace.

The final investigation report's conclusion validated their previous suspicions: there was still an Abyssal Butterfly lurking within the human secure zone.

Like a concealed bomb in the midst of a bustling metropolis.

The leakage of military-controlled items during the Ice and Fire Tournament, coupled with the successive attacks on Lu Yi after his injury, indicated that there were more than just the Abyssal Butterfly ticking within the safe zone.

Perhaps it was the Ice Butterfly Symbiosis Association, or perhaps some other entity...

There were still deeply concealed rebels at large.

To lure out these ticking time bombs, Lu Yi and the military devised a trap: they would spread word of Lu Yi's worsening condition.

Even though Lu Yi had returned to the heart of the secure star region, the Ice Butterfly insectoid race would seize this opportunity to strike him down.

They wouldn't let the chance slip by; they would reveal their trump cards for it.

The military would not allow these potential threats to survive.

They planned to seize this opportunity, using Lu Yi's injury as bait. They would spread more news about his deteriorating condition, hoping to trace the source and corner their opponent.

Rong Mi had long realized that the Admiral was planning a staged illness, one so severe that he would have to leave the military headquarters and relinquish control of the First Legion.

Considering that Squad One was in the crucial process of delivering a vital part of Ya Die's remains, the original plan was to initiate it after Lu Yi's arrival at the capital planet.

Thus, when Rong Mi emerged from the training room and saw medical robots rushing towards the study, he knew something was amiss.

It was not yet time for the main act.

As he rushed into the study with the medical robots, they were just about to carry Lu Yi to a resting pod. The Admiral slumped on the sofa, unconscious, his hand loosely clutching an open bottle of fever medication. As the medical robots lifted him, his arm hung limply, and the pill bottle slipped from his fingertips, landing on the floor.

Rong Mi picked up the bottle and examined it.

It was relatively new, seemingly recently opened, but only a few pills remained inside.

"I was almost scared to death by you," Rong Mi said irritably. "After getting hurt, you didn't rest properly, then you caught a fever and treated it like candy. It's just a temporary solution, not fixing the root of the problem. You're suffering so much, yet you don't even call for help."

The Silver Wolf, nestled in Rong Mi's embrace, nodded along with a soft growl in agreement as Rong Mi spoke.

Lu Yi: "..."

Lu Yi felt that since the wolf had followed Rong Mi, it had become more talkative than before.

He raised his hand, wanting to rub his temples.

Lu Yi had taken quite a few fever reducers these past two days, and their effects were gradually wearing off. Even with the intravenous drip now, his temperature wouldn't drop immediately.

His headache was severe, causing his thoughts to become sluggish. He wanted to say something to reassure the young man, but he couldn't think of the right words at the moment.

Noticing his movement, Rong Mi reached out and held his wrist, saying grumpily, "Don't move."

"There's a needle in your wrist," the young man observed, seeing Lu Yi's furrowed brows. "A headache?"

"Uh-huh," Lu Yi replied.

"Suffering from a mental injury to begin with, and now this high fever," Rong Mi scoffed. "It's no wonder you have a headache."

His words were blunt, but his actions were gentle.

"I'll help you massage it."

Rong Mi leaned closer to Lu Yi and extended his hand, the tip of his thumb touching Lu Yi's forehead.

With his fingers splayed, he gently massaged the general's hairline.

The youth's fingertips were soft.

Amidst his high fever, when Rong Mi's fingers brushed against Lu Yi's skin, it didn't bring warmth but a soothing coolness instead.

There was no one else in the room.

The mechanical sounds of the medical robot operating only accentuated the tranquility.

Rong Mi's movements, gentle as they were, seemed prolonged and tender.

As Rong Mi's fingers brushed against his forehead and gently pressed downward, Lu Yi's breath still involuntarily stumbled.

It was a subtle reaction, but Rong Mi noticed it.

"Does it hurt? Am I using too much force?" He paused slightly in his motion. "How about this?"

Lu Yi: "..."

Lu Yi closed his eyes.

"No," he said. "It doesn't hurt."

The pressure felt soothing.

And because it was Rong Mi, it was even more enjoyable.

To the point that he felt his discomfort lessen.

He relaxed his body, easing the tension in his brows, and his mind loosened slightly. Uncommonly, Lu Yi decided to follow the urge to slacken, momentarily pushing military affairs from his mind to quietly savor Rong Mi's touch.

Rong Mi remained silent.

The atmosphere in the rest chamber was serene and gentle, but it lasted for no more than a minute.

Lu Yi whispered, "My headache has already subsided."

He knew that Rong Mi underwent intense training daily, focusing on physical fitness, mental domain, and mecha operation.

Lu Yi didn't want Rong Mi to waste any more energy on him.

Rong Mi: "..."

Rong Mi didn't believe his nonsense.

It wasn't as if he had divine healing powers; a couple of presses couldn't genuinely cure a headache.

"Call Ellen and Sun Tong for the handover," the admiral said, opening his eyes. "Request additional military escort for the transportation of the Yade remains from the department."

It seemed that since they had already started playing along with the pretense, they intended to continue doing so.

The young man clicked his tongue and sent a message with one hand. Despite Ellen and Sun Tong's impending arrival, he didn't pause in his actions.

Lu Yi whispered softly, "Rong Mi."

Rong Mi turned to look at him.

Lu Yi was indeed an incredibly gentle person.

As Rong Mi nonchalantly repeated his assessment of the general, he spoke in a serious tone, "Don't rush to stop me. The massage service comes with a 'price,' General."

"I'm putting in effort here because I want to make a trade. I need your help with something."

Lu Yi: "..."

The general could tell that the last half of Rong Mi's statement was genuine, but the rest was mere nonsense.

After a moment of silence, he chose not to expose the bluff.

Lu Yi: "Speak."

"The First Legion's simulated battle training arena for the Zerg allows for private rooms to be accessed individually," Rong Mi said earnestly. "Can I stream publicly from within the room?"

"We won't broadcast anything else, nor will we divulge any information about the Legion; we merely wish to borrow your premises to conduct a live streaming tutorial."

"I believe that the issue of countering Ice Butterflies and protecting ourselves from them should be universally educated," Rong Mi suggested. "Knowing how to tactically engage with them under limited conditions and buy time for rescue is a crucial skill. Everyone should learn it!"