Chapter 82: Prison (Part Two)

Chapter 82: Prison (Part Two)

"All military personnel are undergoing a second mental energy sweep, and the entire galaxy is searching for Chengdie's mental energy fragments."

"Though there hasn't been any unusual activity on the frontlines as of now, I believe... the Ice Butterfly species will soon respond to our actions."

"You mentioned that Chengdie didn't fully perish. Despite some fragments scattered in the secure sectors, the strongest energy field among them belongs to a part called 'Heart.'"

"It has the authority to command the Ice Butterfly species. Its inaction could be due to its weakened state after you and Rong Mi shattered its mental energy fragments in the capital star, rendering it temporarily unable to issue commands through the ice butterflies' psychic link."

"However, once it begins to recover... the pressure on the warzone will likely surpass previous levels."

"To prevent the Federation from locating and destroying its other mental energy fragments, it may order the Ice Butterflies into a full-scale offensive."

"We're reinforcing our supplies and will be prepared for the upcoming situation."

In the hospital room of the First Hospital on the Capital Star, Lu Yi leaned against the bed, watching the person on the screen delivering a military report.

"Not bad." The admiral's tone was cold, his words concise, but Lieutenant General Robert, who was giving the report, secretly sighed in relief.

These two words signified Lu Yi's satisfaction with his own analysis report.

Robert, who was usually relaxed even during military assembly meetings, sat up straight now, his face adorned with an expression of utmost seriousness.

Robert had graduated from the military academy's command department and began his career in the First Legion as a mecha squad commander. He then progressed to become a main ship commander and eventually a fleet commander...

Within the legion, Lu Yi was both his direct evaluator and mentor.

In every aspect, Robert had been taught by Lu Yi, and also "tormented" by him.

Robert was initially mediocre at piloting mechas and completely inexperienced with starships.

However, Lu Yi demanded that the commanders of the First Legion possess adequate combat capabilities, ensuring they wouldn't hinder their subordinates in battle.

Thus, Robert had no choice but to hone his skills in mecha and starship piloting, enduring countless beatings under Lu Yi's watchful eye within the training grounds...

His command abilities weren't impressive either.

In simulated battles on the commander training simulator, he often found himself utterly defeated by Lu Yi, reduced to a lone commander before being ultimately terminated by the admiral's shot.

Years of relentless work and exhaustion, yet immense fulfillment, passed by. Robert climbed the ranks within the First Legion, eventually meeting Lu Yi's high standards for an exceptional commander. His responsibilities began to encompass managing the legion itself.

Thus, history seemed to repeat itself.

Now, when Robert recalled those days, he nostalgia-filledly missed being under General Lu's pressure.

At least back then, Lu Yi's mental domain was still stable. The general piloted his mecha with a towering presence, his aura sharp and commanding. The immense pressure he exerted during simulated battles translated into an unparalleled sense of security for Robert and the entire legion in the real Ice Butterfly battles.

It had been a long time since Robert last saw Lu Yi in his mecha. He had grown into a competent deputy legion commander, no longer needing to consult Lu Yi for every matter.

But for significant decisions, reporting to Lu Yi was still a must.

"Is there anything else you would like to add?" Robert asked, seeing Lu Yi flip through the additional report on recent legion activities and future plans. He discreetly observed the general's expression.

Robert had noticed the faint black markings on Lu Yi's cheeks, indicative of the Ice Butterfly venom, and his heart lurched with concern. However, from Lu Yi's current demeanor, Robert felt that the general was doing better than before their departure for the capital planet.

Back then, Lu Yi often coughed up blood and lapsed into unconsciousness. Robert had genuinely feared that the general wouldn't make it to the capital.

Robert had heard from Ellen that they encountered an exceptional therapist and mecha pilot during the Ice and Fire Tournament. This person was none other than the recently renowned Rong Mi across the Star Network.

Robert was desperately eager to meet Rong Mi.

On one hand, he had watched Rong Mi's combat videos and live streams. Robert knew this mecha pilot was genuinely skilled... more so than himself, who had been repeatedly defeated by Lu Yi. In the army, admiration and respect for the powerful came naturally.

On the other hand, his impression of Rong Mi was eerily similar to Squad One's pilot, Sun Tong's feelings towards her.

A therapist capable of healing Lu Yi's mental domain... it was almost miraculous.

Moreover... he sensed a distinct difference in Lu Yi's attitude towards Rong Mi.

It was a restrained yet strikingly evident difference, as if meticulously organized by the forest at night.

"The progress on the mecha bay transport," the admiral asked after finishing the report, lifting his gaze.

"The space buttons have arrived at the outer military harbor of the capital star," Robert replied, simultaneously sending logistics information to Lu Yi while silently grumbling in his heart.

Indeed, like this kind of distinction.

A month ago, the Admiral had supplied the First Legion's mecha production department with Rong Mi's physical and mental domain data, requesting that these serve as the baseline, with allowances made for upward compatibility in terms of mental strength, matching the Admiral's own mecha class. The objective was to manufacture an entirely new combat mecha.

Bear in mind... Lu Yi's mecha class was at the pinnacle across the entire Federation. No other mecha could match its speed or strength. Re-creating such a machine would be no easy task, not even in sourcing the materials.

But if Lu Yi had made this request, there must have been a solution.

He demanded that the mecha production department dismantle a nearly completed, updated mecha initially intended for him, so that the rare materials could be repurposed for Rong Mi's mecha.

On that day, the name Rong Mi caused quite a stir within the First Legion's mecha manufacturing division.

The reason for updating Lu Yi's mecha was due to the Admiral's mental domain injuries.

Operating his original mecha would impose a tremendous burden on Lu Yi's mental domain. But everyone in the First Legion knew that should the battlefield situation become critical, Lu Yi would insist on piloting his mecha and rushing to the front lines, as long as he could physically manage it.

One couldn't control fate, but a mecha could certainly be crafted.

Thus, the mecha production department hastily began researching and designing, striving to create a new model that would alleviate the strain on the mental domain while still maintaining exceptional performance.

Halfway through the construction, Lu Yi, who had previously been silent about it, suddenly ordered to dismantle the mecha.

The head of the Mecha Manufacturing Department was on the verge of tears when he received the command. He frantically researched Rong Mi's background, wondering who this person was that made Lu Yi willing to scrap his own mecha to build a new one for them. At the same time, he feared that Lu Yi's mental domain was deteriorating, and he might be on his last legs, having found a promising mecha pilot just in time.

Relief washed over him when Ellen conveyed the news of Lu Yi's improving mental state.

"It must be that Rong Mi truly lacks a good mecha!" The department head watched Rong Mi's combat videos repeatedly, noticing that the pilot always used standard issue mechas. This helped him comprehend Lu Yi's order.

With Rong Mi's piloting skills, using standard mechas was a sheer waste!

Robert concurred with the department head's assessment.

However... Over the past few years, many young mecha pilots who joined the First Legion initially operated mechas that didn't match their talents. They signed up on the manufacturing department's waiting list upon joining the legion and patiently awaited their turn for an upgrade...

This was the first time Robert had seen Lu Yi issue such a direct order.

Indeed, Rong Mi was far more skilled than those young pilots.

Moreover, there was also the matter of the wolf's performance.

Lu Yi's battle pet, the Silver General, whom every member of the First Legion would salute upon sight... No one dared to even touch it, let alone hug it!

But Robert had heard from Ellen!

Rong Mi was fondling, stroking, and hugging the Silver General, and Lu Yi wasn't saying a single word about it!

And Rong Mi hadn't even officially joined the legion yet!

Robert: "..."

"Admiral," he held back his frustration before finally asking, "In this public military assessment, each legion is required to form a 'Legion Squad' that will function both as examiners and rescue personnel during the tests."

"To facilitate the selection process for the legions, each squad will consist of three evaluators, one of whom must be an officer at the rank of a squad leader or higher. Since the assessment will take place in our First Legion's territory, I was thinking, perhaps I could..."

Lu Yi: "I'll do it."

He closed the light screen.

Robert: "..."

The vice legion commander had countless points to raise.

Robert: "…What position do you wish to take on?"

"Commander," Lu Yi spoke calmly.

He knew that his body was not suited for piloting mechas; if not for the battle against the Ice Butterflies, he should ideally stay away from spaceship cockpits as well.

Moreover, if there were chaotic fluctuations in his mental domain, it would be Rong Mi who would face the trouble.

It might even cause worry for the young man.

Robert also felt relieved, but then, he found the situation somewhat perplexing. He couldn't fathom why Lu Yi would want to be an examiner.

This wasn't something that required Lu Yi's involvement.

"It is a bit grand… but not impossible," he said. "However, have you found a solution to your Ice Butterfly venom?"

"…Admiral?"

Robert's voice rose in pitch as he saw Lu Yi abruptly sit up on the other side of the light screen, his expression darkening, and a frosty glint appearing in his ice-blue eyes.

"There's an issue," Lu Yi tersely informed before disconnecting from Robert's communication and then dialing the Chief Commander Zhang Lingyu's.

"In the western sector of the military prison," the general removed the needle from his arm, got out of bed, and draped a military uniform over himself as he walked out. "There seems to be an Abyssal Butterfly. A distortion in spatial energy fields has been detected."

"Implement an external lockdown as soon as possible."

"General?" Lu Yi hurried toward the elevator, just as Ellen was stepping out from it, ready to visit the patient.

Seeing Lu Yi's expression, Ellen could tell that something was wrong. His face shifted slightly as he bravely stepped forward to inquire, "Where are you going?"

Lu Yi turned to look at him with a cold demeanor. Ellen took a step back and quickly said, "The ice butterfly venom in your body hasn't been fully neutralized yet. You can't leave the ward without permission. You need to follow the doctor's orders and receive long-term injections of the antidote..."

"Did Rong Mi send you?" Lu Yi interrupted him.

"Yes," Ellen nodded promptly.

Before Rong Mi went to meet with Lu Tianxing today, he had specifically called Ellen and asked him to keep an eye on Lu Yi.

"Head to the aircraft," Lu Yi instructed. "All members of Squad One, report immediately and head for the military prison on the Capital Star."

"Yes, sir!" Ellen responded instinctively but then added, "But you..."

"Beep—"

As a soft chime sounded, another elevator arrived on the same floor.

"Ah…" Chen Mo, the director of the Psionic Research Institute, emerged from the elevator, casting a glance at Lu Yi and the soon-to-be-disarmed Ellen, who was under his imposing presence.

"Rong Mi asked me to keep an eye on you. I thought nothing much could happen in such a short time," Chen Mo said, laying a hand on Lu Yi's shoulder. "Patient, please go back inside and continue your infusion... What's going on?"

Lu Yi's brows knitted together, but he remained still. However, his communicator buzzed again.

"I'll be there right away," Zhang Lingyu hopped onto a high-speed aircraft and pulled out the space button from her neck, flashing it before the camera. "The Capital Star isn't short of commanders."

"You'll probably arrive just as the battle concludes if you're rushing over from the First Hospital."

The Supreme Commander's face darkened with anger, clearly having lost his temper due to the unexpected series of Ice Butterfly attacks.

"All the procedures were done properly, and yet this still happened," she grumbled. "I guess the Safety Star Domain has been too secure for its own good!"

Lu Yi: "..."

In the end, Lu Yi halted his steps.

Not because he knew Zhang Lingyu would be there in person, nor due to Chen Mo and Ellen's persuasion.

It was because in his mental domain, the wolf was conveying Rong Mi's words.

"Tell your master to stay put in his infirmary."

"Otherwise, I might as well avoid visiting the First Legion altogether; out of sight, out of mind."

"With Ayin and me here, what's the rush? Do you doubt the wolf or me?"

In the military prison, Rong Mi was pushing open the door to the visiting room.

A chill greeted her as silver energy threads danced through the air.

A swift frosting of white ice formed on the ground. Crystal-clear ice crystals emerged in the air, refracting silvery light that bathed the world in an ethereal glow.

That silver weaved and upheld the existence of this world.

For beyond the silver, red energy threads stretched out at the other end of the corridor. At the center of these threads, space distorted, giving birth to an irregular black wormhole.

The tiny, human-sized black void appeared eerie and daunting.

A young man with brown chestnut hair stood before the wormhole.

Red threads emanated from his body, connecting to the pulsating blackness behind him.

He stepped forward.

With each step he took, the distorted space expanded outward, only to be replenished and sealed by the silvery psychic energy.

The clash and devouring of energies stirred up chaotic winds within the enclosed corridor.

In this tense atmosphere, Rong Mi's actions seemed oddly out of place.

As he spoke to Lu Yi through the wolf, Rong Mi pushed against the door of the reception room with both hands. He found it difficult to budge it after only pushing halfway.

Rong Mi: "…"

Pausing in silence for a moment, he stretched his hand out from the narrow crack in the door and then… forcefully nudged Ayin's furry wolf hindquarters blocking the entrance.

Wolf: "…!"

After standing for a moment outside the infirmary door, still worried, Lu Yi, who had just put on a disguise mask and was about to rush to the military prison, sighed inwardly: "…"

His strength was insignificant to a large wolf.

Unable to move it with one push, Rong Mi tried again, rubbing the wolf's fur until it bristled.

"Why are you being so stubborn, Ayin?" Rong Mi persisted, finally managing to widen the entrance a bit.

Squeezing through the gap, he brushed aside the wolf's large tail that hung down in front of him.

"Good boy," Rong Mi said with a chuckle. "I'm coming out to help you fight."