Chapter 144

Chapter 144

"...According to the transfer order, Her Highness was temporarily reassigned from the 9th Legion to the 18th Legion as acting Legion Commander, commanding 150,000 combat starships and 400,000 transport vessels. Her primary objective was to eliminate the Royal Zerg, with secondary responsibilities including the reconstruction of five nearby inhabited planets, including the one garrisoned by the 18th Legion."

A three-dimensional hologram shimmered in mid-air, colorful light particles scattering. Sophia held a light screen, reporting gravely to Eve: "Military intelligence concerning the Royal Zerg is classified as top-level and is immediately forwarded to the palace and the cabinet. However, the 9th Legion, being in the same star system as the 18th Legion, maintains relatively open communication. Legion Commander Selena is also keeping an eye on Her Highness to some extent."

According to Selena Windsor's report, before her disappearance, the Fourth Princess was still executing the primary objective of this transfer order at the 18th Legion's garrison. The Royal Zerg that appeared near the 18th Legion's garrison possessed a rather unique ability, seemingly related to dimensions. After its last sighting on a resource planet in the Lyra secondary belt last week, it had not reappeared.

Closely following this was the news of Qin Mengde's disappearance. By the time the princess's estate received confirmation, Qin Mengde had been out of contact for three days.

Eve sat in the armchair of her dormitory study, slender fingers gently pressing her temples, experiencing a rare headache: "So, what is the current situation at the 18th Legion's garrison?"

"The three temporary Deputy Corps Commanders have assumed Her Highness's duties. They began searching for Her Highness and the Royal Zerg eight hours after she lost contact, but..."

"But what?" Eve asked.

"Some say Her Highness might have perished alongside the Royal Zerg, sacrificing herself for the country. Otherwise, why would both disappear simultaneously?"

Sophia's voice was hesitant, as if she also considered this conclusion plausible.

As a former military member, she understood the volatile nature of battlefields; no one could guarantee returning safely in the evening after heading to the frontlines in the morning.

Thanks to the Medici family's protection, Sophia herself hadn't experienced particularly dangerous missions—mostly just following artillery units in mechs, bombarding poorly-equipped minor space pirates to accumulate superficial commendations. Yet, she had witnessed the adjacent Zerg Special Forces Unit's camp replace three batches of new recruits in a single month—people came and went, fortunes shifting in an instant.

Moreover, what Qin Mengde encountered this time was a Royal Zerg, making the danger level unprecedented. Eve remained silent, pondering the high-ranking officer reserve training program recently announced by the academy, issued directly by the palace. The first batch would select only five individuals. As it was still a trial period, there was no large-scale election; instead, the academy would make direct recommendations.

Among the five, four were already confirmed, all seniors: Isabella, Luo Wenqing, a deputy of similar age to Isabella, and the former Chief of the Command Department. Rumors in the academy suggested the fifth spot would likely be chosen from among the current Department Chiefs.

The Crown Prince, given his noble status as the heir apparent, should not hold a military commission concurrently to avoid overlapping functions. Among the other Chiefs, some had sufficient strength but lower status, like Vice Chief Mu Huanzhu; others had sufficient status but lacked the capability to command authority, like Department Chief Tachibana Maki.

The Weapons Department had bent the rules and was the first eliminated in the military training competition. Tachibana Maki, as the Department Chief, had been regularly ridiculed on campus forums.

Others had their own circumstances. For instance, the Oliver Family hesitated to permit Lorca to join the military. Another example was Lu Qing, who, as Eve couldn't split herself in two, unfortunately withdrew from the competition.

After careful consideration, the legendary fifth spot would likely come down to a choice between the current Command Chief, Alice Rhine, and the Mecha Department Chief, Eve Medici.

Eve had originally intended to compete for this position, but with Qin Mengde's accident, though willing, she now lacked the capacity.

She sighed and changed the subject: "The three current Deputy Corps Commanders of the 18th Legion are from the 17th, 22nd, and 5th Legions respectively. The 17th and 5th Legions are under direct Cavendish family control. They probably won't exert much effort in the search, so the princess's estate must send someone else."

Sophia immediately said, "I still hold a position in the military. I can return to duty and lead a team to search for Her Highness."

"No," Eve raised a finger, rejecting her suggestion. "Don't use military personnel. I will lead a team myself."

The 18th Legion was already searching. Sending people from another legion now would clearly signal distrust towards the 18th Legion.

Eve continued, "Moreover, with Qin Mengde absent, the 9th Legion's position will inevitably become awkward. You do need to return to the military, but not to lead a search for the Princess. Instead, remind Lady Selena that until Her Highness returns, the entire 9th Legion should maintain a low profile."

Sophia was slower to react, but after a moment's thought, she paled and responded solemnly, "Understood."

The holographic call ended quickly. Sophia sent a complete document separately. Eve glanced at it and stood up to change clothes. Although she said she would bring others, she hadn't actually decided whom to bring yet.

Since this was a clandestine operation, she couldn't openly bring personnel from the princess's estate.

As for giving up the military reserve training plan, she wasn't particularly regretful. Opportunities lost once could come again. If she could successfully bring Qin Mengde back safely, future advantages would far surpass a high-ranking officer position.

Having boarded Qin Mengde's ship, they were now a collective that would rise or fall together. Eve never regretted her decisions. Besides, Qin Mengde's treatment of her was indeed exceptional. She only regretted not being prepared enough, not having pushed Qin Mengde to a higher position yet, thus occasionally facing difficult choices.

—Regrets remain because we're not yet powerful enough.

It was at this moment that Eve's personal terminal on the desk vibrated softly.

She turned her face and, upon seeing the caller's name, lowered her long lashes, hiding the suspicion in her eyes.

Why was Frank calling at this time?

The moment she answered, a faint male voice came from the terminal. The very first sentence made Eve's eyelids twitch.

His voice was cold, like a cup of water forgotten in the deepest part of a refrigerator, carrying a penetrating chill with underlying resentment:

"If you're looking for the Fourth Princess, take me with you. Because I probably know where the Fourth Princess is now."

***

A clear weekend.

The capital's transit hub was still bustling. The maneuvering of upper echelons was unrelated to the lives of ordinary people. The common folk, like gears on an assembly line, automatically occupied themselves with their mundane affairs.

Eve had already informed the academy and taken a full month's leave. As a Department Chief, she had the privilege of skipping classes without grade penalty. Now, the young woman wore simple casual clothes, her silver hair dyed a more inconspicuous black, standing quietly in a corner of the main hall, waiting for the agreed-upon person.

Due to some information Frank revealed, to avoid raising suspicion, she brought only a few people this time: several from the Upside Down Wonderland, Frank, Eugene, and Qi Ying. Probably not wanting to disturb Alice, who was busy with the military plan campaign, they didn't notify her.

Even so, Eve could guess that Frank's initiative to contact her, besides intending to cooperate, was also because he heard about the First Empire Academy's officer reserve selection and wanted to clear a potential competitor for Alice in advance. Otherwise, Frank wouldn't have insisted from the start that Eve must accompany them—clearly trying to keep her away.

It was just a minor, harmless ploy, and Eve had no intention of confronting them.

Besides the Upside Down Wonderland members, she brought another unexpected person this time.

The black-haired, green-eyed young man located Eve's position the moment he entered. A smile on his lips, he quickly walked towards the corner. Faster than his movement, a shadow, as if alive, slithered over and, upon touching Eve, transformed into a slender, concealed black snake, affectionately winding around the girl's left arm.

Eve glanced at the Wall-Imprisoned Serpent: "You didn't put your Spiritual State away again?"

"Originally, I had," Lorca smiled, "but as soon as it saw you, it slipped out on its own. Compared to me, its master, the Wall-Imprisoned Serpent has always preferred you."

...What a flimsy excuse. What did that have to do with him letting the serpent out?

Since learning that the Wall-Imprisoned Serpent and Lorca could share senses to some extent, Eve found it strange. The once simple, silly triangular snake head now seemed scheming.

She mercilessly pinched the snake's seven-inch spot and tossed it back to Lorca: "Don't let your Spiritual State crawl on others randomly. Keep it properly contained."

Lorca raised an eyebrow slightly but ultimately smiled and put the snake away.

As for why she brought him along—strictly speaking, Eve didn't invite him; Lorca insisted on coming.

Eve had merely wanted to request the Oliver Family for more personnel, preferably sending a few well-trained family guards like before to assist. But somehow, the Oliver Family sent the guards, but also included the young master as well.

Under the pretext of "tagging along for training experience."

Eve: "..."

She suspected the Oliver Family might have misunderstood her, but then thought, the young master's skills weren't bad. Besides, this mission involved infiltration, and Lorca might have unexpected utility. After some thought, she tacitly acquiesced to his accompaniment.

"Let's go first, the ship is ready," Eve glanced at her terminal. "Frank and the others are already waiting for me."

Lorca, already aware of the complicated history between Eve and the Upside Down Wonderland, asked curiously, "Have you reconciled recently?"

Otherwise, why were they cooperating again?

"Reconciled isn't the right word. They just schemed against me again before leaving. It's only because a common enemy appeared that they're grudgingly coming to me to use me as a tool."

Eve snorted lightly, as if finding the Upside Down Wonderland's actions rather awkward. Since it was early morning and the path to the private docking bay was exclusive VIP access, there was no one around. After a moment's thought, she said, "Did I ever tell you about Frank's background before?"

"The Medici Patriarch's real child?" Lorca asked.

"He is, but that's not what I meant. Frank, he..." Eve tried to organize her words, but after running through it a few times in her head, felt only straightforward language could fully convey the shocking nature of the sensational family background, so she said directly: "His mother is the daughter of the leader of the major pirate group 'Flying Bird.' This time, he heard I was looking for the Fourth Princess and found out the Flying Bird might be involved in this business, so he specifically called me back to stab his own maternal grandfather in the back."

"......"

Lorca genuinely began to suspect the Medici family might have some inherited curse affecting family relations.