Chapter 48 – Explosion

Chapter 48 - Explosion

Amidst the deafening music that refused to cease, the newly unfurled butterfly wings were instantly engulfed in deep purple flames within seconds.

Before anyone could react, the falling purple sparks landed on the ground wires of the sound system.

With a series of crackling sounds, the wires caught fire, and the speakers went silent abruptly.

The purple flames rapidly spread across the stage, circumventing the performers but crashing into the arrays of lighting and holographic projection systems on both sides.

Suddenly, the lights flickered out, and the illusionary, colorful butterflies in the garden vanished.

It was then that the lead singer on stage let out a terrified cry.

"What's happening?!" he shouted. "The stage is on fire... The stage is on fire!"

In the darkness, the fire on stage, following the pathways of the wires, formed a massive cross that overlapped with the band's emblem etched on the floor.

The members of the Deep Space Echoes found themselves trapped in the center of the cross. They leaped up, unsure of where to seek refuge. In their panic, they nearly stumbled into the flames.

A collective gasp of terror rippled through the audience, but before the crowd could erupt, the purple flames flickered and died.

Emergency lighting flickered on in the garden, casting an ordinary, stark white glow across every face, revealing expressions of terror, confusion, and blank bewilderment.

It was as if they had awoken from a profound dream, momentarily unable to distinguish between reality and illusion.

"Just now... what happened just now... Was there a fire?"

"I'm not sure... I don't know... I think I was still listening to music! Then suddenly... there was a burst of purple flame..."

"Yes, the color of that flame was dazzling!"

Their expressions were somewhat dazed, feeling that both the purple flames and the song they had just heard had become ethereal.

Rong Mi stood beside the assembly of emergency equipment, retracting his finger from the activation button.

Leaning against the wall, he turned to look at the stage.

A musician from the band was hurriedly trying to right the electronic keyboard they had toppled. The guitarist, drenched in sweat, pulled the startled lead singer up from the ground where they had fallen.

In the front rows, Chen Shu stood on a chair, cupping his hands around his mouth. Amplifying his voice with his mental energy, he shouted, "Everyone, don't panic! —It's just a regular power outage—Please stay in your seats for now—"

"Beep... Beep... Beep..."

Alarm sirens echoed above the Sky Garden. Security drones descended to the edge of the garden.

Police robots slid out from the vehicles, immediately taking control of the situation and verifying the identities of the spectators.

A police officer promptly began scanning for residual mental energy waves in the vicinity, while other officers climbed onto the stage to inquire about the situation with Deep Space Echo.

"What's going on... Did the power outage trigger an alarm?"

"It can't be. The outage hasn't even lasted a full minute. How could the police arrive so quickly?"

"What's happening... That officer has a mental energy amplitude detector... Hey! He's taking the lead singer away?"

"The residue indicates a significant amount of hypnotic mental energy," reported the inspecting officer to the team leader promptly.

"Officer, we were, uh, just having too much fun during the performance and lost control," the lead singer of Deep Space Echo immediately explained. Drenched in sweat, his voice still trembled from the recent scare.

The venue was the one closest to those purple flames.

He could sense that those flames... originated from an incredibly powerful concentration of psychic energy.

The surging energy brushed past his back, leaving scorching traces on his skin. He couldn't help but reach back to check if his spine and the organs beneath were unscathed.

"Officer, we just came under attack," he said quickly. "Someone used psychic energy to assault our performance site... Look at these speaker wires on the ground... They're completely fried!"

The officer glanced at the equipment, then crouched down to examine the wires.

"Indeed, they're damaged. The control of the psychic energy was precise, targeting only the performance gear." He looked around. "No one got hurt, right?"

"No injuries... No injuries! But there's still property damage! And we all suffered mental trauma..."

"Well, others might have been affected by your hypnotic suggestions too. With your level, this would be considered mass hypnotism. You'll have to come with me for now." Although he didn't approve of Deep Space Echo's actions, the sudden appearance of psychic flames needed investigating.

"Was the caller responsible? Ask him to come to the police station for a statement," the officer suspected reasonably, opening the complaint record to view the caller's real identity information. "... Rong Mi?"

He read out the name.

Rong Mi, in the midst of registering information with the police robot, turned his head and waved. "Just a moment," he said, his voice clear and utterly natural. "I'll be right there."

The officer's gaze lingered on Rong Mi for a moment, accompanied by a low hiss.

Indeed, it was Rong Mi.

In barely over a month, his name had become a household title among the Capital Star's security forces.

Or, it wasn't just the Capital Star's Guard.

Anyone who paid attention to human domain security and had an interest in Ice Butterfly would be aware of this high-ranking Ice Butterfly who had made a name for himself in the Icefire Tournament, assisting his legion in controlling the event. Furthermore, he had also faced off against Yada in a mecha battle within Spatial City.

Within the law enforcement system, he knew much more than the average citizen about the safety of the star domains.

This young man, whose reputation was on the rise, appeared somewhat different in real life compared to his portrayal in those combat videos.

More graceful and vibrant.

It was autumn on the Capital Star, with temperatures at night not particularly high. Rong Mi, like many of today's fearless young people, wore light clothing, donning only a plain sweatshirt adorned with a wolf's head print, causing the officer to feel chilly on his behalf.

The young man didn't exude the same intense pressure as when he was piloting a mecha against Yadi.

He carried himself with an air of casual ease, slipping his hands back into the pockets of his hoodie naturally after completing the registration process, seeking warmth within its folds.

The oversized hoodie swayed with his movement, and soon, a fluffy wolf head emerged from the gap in the fabric.

Perhaps due to the cramped space in the hoodie pocket, the wolf's fur was tousled from the rubbing. It nudged Rong Mi's wrist with a paw, accusing the young man of carelessly ruffling its fur when he had stuffed his hands in his pockets earlier.

Rong Mi reached out to smooth the raised fur on the wolf's head. Satisfied that the registration was complete, he turned to the officer who had been watching him intently.

Officer: "Ahem."

He tore his gaze away from the wolf, his fingers twitching with the urge to stroke it, but he refrained.

The officer was well aware that such battle pets couldn't be casually touched by others.

"I set the fire," Rong Mi admitted readily, following the officer to the nearby security station not far from the concert garden. "It was the fastest way to disrupt the hypnosis induced by the Ice Butterfly's image."

The sight of the Ice Butterfly's wings appearing on stage while the audience below was in a feverish, mesmerized frenzy was truly disturbing.

The safety of this star region had been secured at the cost of countless lives and blood of federal soldiers.

Yet, the residents within were praising their enemy.

Rong Mi declared, "I couldn't stand idly by."

The young man's gaze was bright, with a hint of sharpness hidden within.

The officer scratched his head.

"Well, your actions... Deep Space Echo definitely violated regulations severely. I understand your feelings, but what you did was a bit extreme."

"However, the intensity of your psychic power didn't exceed legal limits, and no consequences ensued... You didn't willfully damage public property..." The officer treated Rong Mi amicably, "Just pay a fine. Don't do this again, let our security team handle it next time."

He paused before adding, "Actually, our security team arrived quite promptly."

Rong Mi smiled.

The Capital Star's security force treated the matter with utmost seriousness, lifting his spirits somewhat.

"I'll see you next time." Rong Mi held the ticket and logged onto the interstellar network to pay the fine.

He wasn't surprised by this punishment.

In the first few days after his rebirth, Rong Mi had spent considerable time reading through the Federation's legal code. Thus, he was well aware that his recent actions, though unconventional, hadn't violated any significant legal provisions.

Rong Mi asked, "You've never noticed Deep Space Echo using mental hypnosis before?"

The officer scratched his head again.

"We've received complaints before, but they were dismissed as ordinary emotional outbursts causing fluctuations in mental energy." He glanced at the recording camera above and lowered his voice. "However, if you report it this time and provide evidence linking it to Ice Butterfly, I can forward the case to the military department. I'll need your signature for that."

"Of course," Rong Mi agreed promptly.

Although the police station was efficient, it still took a few hours to complete all the procedures.

Rong Mi completed all the formalities and stepped out of the police station to find Chen Shu still waiting for him at the entrance.

However, his posture was rather peculiar, akin to standing at attention in military stance.

The detective stood with impeccable posture, hands clasped together along his pant seam, his gaze unwavering, standing straight as an arrow.

Beside Chen Shu stood Lu Yi.

The Admiral's demeanor was far less rigid than Chen Shu's.

He must have rushed out, as his hair still held traces of moisture. He casually draped a coat over his shirt, the collar slightly askew, yet he carried himself with an upright posture.

As their eyes met under the vibrant lights of the bustling capital planet, Lu Yi's gaze pierced straight into Rong Mi's heart.

Unconsciously, Rong Mi's mind wandered, then he smiled.

"Why are you here?" He hurried to Lu Yi's side, casting a glance at Chen Shu first. Seeing Chen Shu shaking his head repeatedly, he then looked down at the wolf in his arms.

Lu Yi acknowledged with a soft "Mm," confirming for Rong Mi, "Ayin called for a parent."

Rong Mi: ...A guardian.

Someone who takes responsibility for a child's actions when they're not yet capable of doing so themselves.

The young man raised an eyebrow, unusually at a loss for words.

Lu Yi had already taken the lead and started walking forward.

With Rong Mi's sharp eyesight, he could already see a private aircraft parked not too far ahead.

Unlike the standard aircraft they took at the aerodrome that morning, the one parked ahead had sharp, angular contours and a sleek, pure black body. At its tail was a minimalist silver pattern resembling the outline of a wolf's head.

It was evident that it belonged to Lu Yi.

"I can manage on my own," Rong Mi said as he followed him, eventually voicing his thought.

"Remember to dry your hair properly before leaving after a shower next time."

The young man paused in his speech, involuntarily lowering his tone with a hint of concern and reprimand. "You're still a patient."

Lu Yi remained noncommittal.

Of course, he was well aware of Rong Mi's capabilities.

But that didn't conflict with his desire to be the shield behind the young man.

The corner of Lu Yi's mouth quirked up as he replied, "Alright."

He echoed Rong Mi's last two words, "I'll keep that in mind."

Rong Mi: "..."

A cool breeze carried Lu Yi's characteristic aloofness, and suddenly, Rong Mi found herself inexplicably blushing in the ears.

Chen Shu nonchalantly sidestepped Lu Yi to walk alongside Rong Mi, whispering, "Impressive, Ami. You just lectured General Lu Yi there. If the whole military department finds out, they'll all be calling you big brother."

"Hmm, why do I feel like the general's vibe changes completely when he sees you? Before you arrived, he was so serious... I couldn't even strike up a conversation with him, and I almost got grilled about whether I'd been keeping up with training during the break..."

...His demeanor was even more intimidating than his direct instructor back in the Third Legion!

Rong Mi found the conversation amusing. "It's not that serious."

Lu Yi was generally an easygoing person, but when it came to matters involving training, the legion, or Ice Butterflies, he became more earnest.

Chen Shu shrugged, his gaze flickering between the two. He sensed that something was off, but decided not to push the matter.

The investigator changed the subject, giving Rong Mi a thumbs up and whispering, "Your mental energy flames are so awesome!"

After a moment of hesitation, he added, "Try to spend less time on the Star Network these days. There are some negative comments."

"I'm still going live tonight," Rong Mi said nonchalantly, curiosity piqued. "People are criticizing me for that? What are they saying?"

"Mindless trolls, claiming you only make music, and that as ordinary citizens, we have no right to interrupt a concert. They say we only called the police and vandalized the equipment out of jealousy..."

Rong Mi nodded along as he listened, taking it all in but not dwelling on it.

His eyes remained on Lu Yi, who stood by the aircraft, leaning against the door as he watched Rong Mi.

Rong Mi turned to Chen Shu and asked, "How are you getting home? Are we on the same route? Want to ride together...?"

His words were interrupted by a sudden burst of light.

The dark night sky illuminated as if someone had flipped a switch in a dark room, revealing an intense glow.

Immediately after, a thunderous roar echoed from above.

"Boom! ——Rumble!"

An unexpected explosion rocked buildings three streets away.

The sky seemed to transform into a canvas, depicting a war scene with energy blasts detonating in mid-air.

Scorching embers scattered everywhere, rising from the illuminated cityscape, forming a terrifying summer thunderhead of smoke.

Shattered metallic alloys rained down, eliciting frightened cries from pedestrians on the streets.

Lu Yi's expression turned serious; he turned his head to look back.

The scorching shockwave from the blast swept across his clothes, and Rong Mi's short hair danced wildly in the hot wind.

The young man brushed aside the strands of hair falling on his forehead and frowned as he watched the explosion occur.

Chen Shu was more familiar with the capital planet and had already identified the location before anyone else.

The investigator's pupils dilated slightly, and he instinctively grabbed Rong Mi's arm, disbelief etched on his face. "That's the Research Institute building! I just pointed it out to you! The Ice Butterfly Institute...!"

Rong Mi's expression shifted dramatically.

Alan's First Squad was delivering the Yadian corpse to the Science Institute that very day.

"Rong Mi," the general's voice was icy as he settled into the aircraft.

Rong Mi promptly followed, stepping into his seat and sliding open the side window of the aircraft. He addressed Chen Shu, "You should go back first."

The aircraft ignited immediately, lifting upward.

But Chen Shu didn't retreat. Swiftly, he picked up Damon the rabbit and stuffed him through the car window.

Rong Mi: "..."

Damon: "..."

Damon: "!!?"

The rabbit looked out the window in confusion, its paws gripping the car window as it stood on its hind legs to see its owner.

Chen Shu waved at the rabbit and emphasized, "Don't be afraid, Damon! Just follow your brother Ami and keep an eye out for any rogue ice butterflies during overtime. After you're done, take a nap, and I'll come pick you up."

He then turned to Rong Mi, emphasizing, "Damon must eat apples too, not just carrots!"

Behind Chen Shu, the security bureau sounded the emergency alarm as several aircraft prepared for takeoff.

Lu Yi's aircraft had already ascended, so Rong Mi hugged Damon the rabbit, giving Chen Shu a reassuring gesture. Together with Lu Yi, they hurried towards the scientific research institute where the explosion had occurred.

Their aircraft arrived swiftly near the research institute. Rong Mi stroked the rabbit's head and tucked the slightly anxious bunny into his left pocket.

Ayin jumped down from Rong Mi's lap. The wolf glanced at the rabbit but didn't react to the bunny taking its usual seat beside him.

The wolf knew how to prioritize; it wouldn't vie for attention at such a crucial moment.

Rong Mi released the restraints, stood up, and turned to look at Lu Yi before pushing open the door.

"I'll go check it out. Will you wait here for me?"

Given Lu Yi's portrayal as a frail character, the Admiral should at least not be seen immediately when something happened to the First Legion.

Not to mention, the Admiral's fever hadn't subsided yet.

Lu Yi glanced out the window, his brows knitted together but he nodded in agreement.

Rong Mi still felt uneasy and reached out to touch Lu Yi's waist. "You have your gun, right?"

Someone had directly attacked the research personnel on Capital Star, and the situation there seemed more severe than he had imagined.

For a moment, Rong Mi even considered the possibility of a diversionary tactic.

It couldn't be that they were the ones being lured into a trap; people often fell for such schemes.

Lost in thought, his actions remained swift. His fingers traced the outline of the laser pistol beneath Lu Yi's shirt.

Rong Mi's concern eased slightly as he withdrew his hand. "Be careful."

Lu Yi's response was concise. "Stay vigilant."

Rong Mi signaled to the wolves with a gesture as he turned to exit the cabin, intending for them to remain on the aircraft to look after Lu Yi.

The aircraft was still descending, about three meters above the ground and not yet fully stable.

Unfazed by the height, Rong Mi leaped down, rolling forward upon landing before rising to his feet.

Behind him, the wolf, having caught Rong Mi's subtle cue, pretended not to understand and promptly followed, jumping off the aircraft with precision, landing on Rong Mi's shoulder.

Rong Mi: "..."

He helped the wolf up, muttering exasperatedly, "Disobedient."

After the explosion, chaos reigned on the streets.

Rong Mi didn't waste any more time. With one hand on the silver wolf, he pushed against the flow of the chaos, dashing forward.

Outside the western gates of the capital's Institute of Science, a deep emerald laser grid had activated, indicating a war-grade security protocol.

The access control device at the entrance glowed red, warning that unauthorized entry would trigger a direct laser projectile attack.

Rong Mi promptly displayed the special pass given to him by Lu Yi, and the gate's validator flashed green, allowing them entry.

Upon entering the institute, the cacophony of voices from the outside street vanished instantly.

Rong Mi turned back for a moment, witnessing the external street scene dissolve, replaced by an endless expanse of shimmering sea.

Outside the academy, an invisible protective membrane draped over the area, while within, spatial folding techniques were employed. The once compact courtyard, consisting of only six or seven buildings, had unfolded to encompass a dozen zones and scores of structures.

A cluster of pristine white structures stood on the island amidst the sea, forming isolated scientific research laboratories that were connected by bridges.

The explosion occurred within a connected space that lay on the same plane as the exterior, at an altitude that tore a massive gash in the upper protective membrane. Dense smoke and scorching currents burst through the breach, colliding amidst the city's skyscrapers with a deafening rumble.

Amidst the chaos in the research complex, alarms reverberated above every sector. Towering defense robots and security forces swarmed out, rushing towards the site of the explosion. The researchers, who were working overtime, were hastily evacuated towards the exits.

The epicenter of the explosion seemed proximate, yet it was actually a considerable distance away from the entrance.

Disliking the slow pace of running, Rong Mi utilized his privilege card to halt a defense robot rushing towards the explosion site. He leaped onto the robot's shoulder with agility.

The quadrupedal robot moved swiftly, carrying Rong Mi around the front courtyard.

As the building where the explosion occurred came into view, Rong Mi also heard a fierce roar.

"ROAR! ——"

The young man's heart sank.

The Roaring Thunder Lion's bellow confirmed his previous suspicion: the explosion was somehow connected to Ellen and his companions.

He lifted his gaze forward.

A majestic golden-furred lion stood at the edge of a skyscraper's gaping hole, left by the blast. Its earth-shaking roar echoed, and static electricity shimmered amidst its bristling fur.

High above the building, thick black smoke from the explosion curled and swirled, coalescing into a gloomy rain cloud.

Within that cloud, brilliant lightning bolts as thick as pythons darted swiftly, accompanied by sharp crackling sounds. It seemed as if they would descend from the heavens at any moment, turning the ground below into a scorched wasteland.

A surge of electricity overflowed from the thundering lion's feet, cascading like a waterfall of current that enveloped the entire building, isolating it from the outside world.

In the lobby on the first floor, the terrified researchers, who had been unable to escape in time, watched anxiously from a distance as chaos unfolded beyond the building.

Before them, hundreds of defensive robots stood alongside a full complement of security personnel, encircling the structure entirely.

The security team was uniformly clad in pristine white armor, their laser guns glowing with readiness, fully charged and primed for action.

At the forefront, the squad leader crouched low, his elbow supporting a heavy long-range particle cannon, its barrel aimed directly at the thundering lion towering above.

A cacophony of energy blasts echoed, casting a grim and oppressive atmosphere.

The rear defense robot, sensing the addition of a fellow defender, instinctively scanned its comrade's identification number. In the next moment, it noticed the figure seated on its counterpart's shoulder.

"Beep—"

The scanner robot sounded an alarm.

The captain of the Academy's guards felt a chill down his spine and promptly turned around.

Half of the guards around him instantly redirected their weapons toward Rong Mi.

In the tense atmosphere, any unusual movement could spark panic.

The guards' mental waves surged toward Rong Mi in unison.

A dozen towering mechas, each as tall as a man, moved in synchronization, aiming their barrel-thick guns directly at Rong Mi.

Before the young man could react, the Silver Wolves had become unbearable.

It leapt gracefully from Rong Mi's shoulder, its silver spirit energy flaring instantly to form an impenetrable barrier in front of the youth, deflecting all the wandering spirit energy.

The wolf's ice-blue eyes fixated on the barrel ahead, its expression aloof, as a silvery glow shimmered around its body.

It was small in stature and didn't attack, but its frigid spiritual energy brushed across the ground, exuding an imposing aura.

"......Whom."

The captain of the guards instantly recognized that this was no ordinary opponent.

The mental energy emanating from the Silver Wolves, coupled with the young man's casual and composed demeanor despite not wearing any protective gear, set off alarm bells in his intuition.

Tension ran high within the security detail, ready to pull triggers at the slightest provocation, recognizing the formidable enemy before them.

Energy surged within the particle rifle barrels, yet Rong Mi's gaze remained tranquil.

He raised both hands, indicating he was unarmed.

Then, with deliberate slowness, he pushed the floating military authorization card toward the head of the guard team.

Guard Team Leader: "…"

Maintaining a cautious eye on Rong Mi, he glanced at the card's contents from the corner of his eye.

"…First Legion… special approval." The leader's tension eased slightly upon noticing Lu Yi's signature at the bottom of the card.

If even Lu Yi held dissenting sentiments towards the Human Federation, then the military's dissolution would be imminent.

However, his brows furrowed once more shortly after.

"The attackers from above were also from your First Legion," the captain of the guards warned, "and that lion."

Guard Captain: "General Lu should have come personally."

Rong Mi: "He couldn't make it."

With no further explanation, he leaped down from the back of the defense robot, looking up and noticing the large patches of singed fur on the lion's side. Half of its body was hidden in the shadows of the ruined building, with visible burns and an injured hind leg from which blood continuously dripped.

It seemed to be severely injured.

"Sander summoned the thunderclouds out of self-defense," he said calmly. "Without clear information, we shouldn't jump to conclusions so quickly."

"Loan me a flying vehicle. I'll go take a look."

The young man's dark eyes met the captain's gaze, and he nodded gently. "Trust me."

His determined look inspired an unconscious belief in him.

"…Alright," the guard captain agreed. "I'll go with you."