Chapter 25 Snatching People

Chapter 25: Claiming a Protégé

Ji Anzhi found the situation novel and coaxed Xiaoxue, then took the fruit away.

Seeing the fruit taken by Ji Anzhi, Xiaoxue immediately climbed up his arm onto his shoulder.

Perhaps because she had been holding it for several hours and couldn't gnaw through the shell herself, Xiaoxue didn't growl or hiss when Ji Anzhi took it. She also retracted her claws while climbing onto his shoulder.

"Mew~"

Xiaoxue let out a soft, high-pitched meow, rubbing against Ji Anzhi's cheek in a coquettish manner.

Ji Anzhi guessed that Xiaoxue had realized she couldn't open the fruit and wanted his help.

He tapped the fruit's shell—it was very hard, like stone.

Walking to the workbench, he took out a laser cutter and carefully made a small incision. Xiaoxue immediately meowed more excitedly but didn't rush to snatch the fruit.

Seeing Ji Anzhi pause, she impatiently jumped onto the workbench, pushed the fruit toward him, and patted the shell with her pink paw—her intention couldn't be clearer.

Ji Anzhi watched with amusement for a while, observing Xiaoxue's frustrated yet helpless antics, before contentedly continuing to cut open the shell with the laser cutter.

Over ten minutes later, the one-centimeter-thick shell finally opened, revealing translucent, plump jade-like flesh inside, segmented into lobes. A thin membrane encased a liquid within, emitting a faint fragrance.

Once the shell was peeled, Xiaoxue eagerly daintily picked up one lobe of the flesh in her mouth, biting into it and lapping up the liquid inside.

Seeing the liquid spill onto the table, Ji Anzhi fetched Xiaoxue's small bowl and placed the remaining five lobes inside.

At the center of the flesh was a slender, transparent crystal resembling an Energy Crystal. Ji Anzhi guessed this was likely the seed.

But why did it look like a crystal? A unique species from the border star systems?

Ji Anzhi hadn't studied biology in detail, so he didn't understand, and set it aside instead.

After eating one lobe, Xiaoxue seemed full, ignoring the other five lobes in the bowl. Instead, she picked up the seed pit with her mouth, placed it in the bowl, and circled around it.

Ji Anzhi tried taking the seed pit out of the bowl and placing it on the table, but Xiaoxue promptly carried it back into the bowl.

When Ji Anzhi removed the flesh, leaving only the seed pit in the bowl, Xiaoxue placed the seed pit amidst the flesh.

Witnessing this, Ji Anzhi made a rough guess.

Xiaoxue was most likely a creature from a planet in the border star systems, probably originating from the same planet as this fruit. He should have asked more about which planet the fruit came from.

Based on Xiaoxue's behavior, this fruit seemed to be innately edible for her species, with some instincts regarding the fruit ingrained in its genetics.

Ji Anzhi experimentally turned on a small refrigeration unit. Xiaoxue immediately carried both the fruit and the seed pit over to it.

It needed refrigeration.

Reaching this conclusion, Ji Anzhi decided to buy a small refrigerator from an official store later, specifically for storing this fruit. In the future, he could also use it to preserve other fruits.

Previously, he hadn't thought it necessary, but now Xiaoxue would likely need it for a while. He couldn't just put it in the kitchen refrigerator—if someone accidentally ate it, there would be trouble.

Considering similar situations might arise in the future, Ji Anzhi decided to simply buy two.

The items given by the omegas and betas from the Medical Department also needed storage space; the refrigerator in the second-floor kitchen was almost full.

One for his own food, another for Xiaoxue's fruits and fresh meat.

After securing the refrigeration unit, Ji Anzhi logged into the virtual world and went to the trading hub, hoping to find the alpha girl from that morning. Unfortunately, he didn't see her.

Ji Anzhi then went to an official store and selected two small refrigerators. They even offered stands for stacking them to save space, so he bought the stands as well.

After paying and filling in the delivery address, Ji Anzhi logged off without hesitation.

After logging off, he played with Xiaoxue for over ten minutes before the items arrived.

Ji Anzhi went downstairs, where specialized installation robots helped carry the items upstairs and set them up.

After installation and confirming receipt, Ji Anzhi turned off the refrigeration unit, placed the fruit flesh and seed pit in a bowl, and put it in the lower refrigerator for freshness.

Seeing the fruit flesh and seed pit disappear, Xiaoxue anxiously scratched at the refrigerator. Ji Anzhi had to open the door so Xiaoxue could see them.

Once Xiaoxue finally settled down, Ji Anzhi opened the star chart creation equipment distributed during the second Astrocartography class, following the manual step by step to learn how to use it.

...

------------------------------------------------------------------

On the other side of the Military Academy Star

Research Institute

Lin Dusheng was not only the principal of First Military Academy but also the director of the Research Institute. He had barely finished dealing with academy affairs before returning last week, and was now in the director's office handling various research reports from the institute. There had been quite a few new developments recently, but not many with significant impact on the Bug Swarm.

Having been away from the institute for too long, he had been processing these for a week and had only barely finished two-thirds. Looking at the remaining third gave him a headache.

"Ding!"

His personal terminal chimed. Usually, only relatively important matters were sent to his special inbox.

Lin Dusheng put down the half-processed report and opened the special inbox on his terminal. Inside was an application for an explosion-proof chamber from the Academic Affairs Office.

Seeing this application, the principal initially wondered why this was sent to his special inbox, but then he noticed the applicant was Jian Fuxu.

Lin Dusheng was somewhat speechless. He had just given it to him a week ago, and he was already eager to dismantle that Energy Tank?

Even the old-timers at the Research Institute didn't dare take it apart!

Young people these days... Impatience is a vice. Be careful not to get blown up...

Though he thought this, Lin Dusheng still assigned him the highest-level explosion-proof chamber. He also selected three protective shields from the academy warehouse—one for Jian Fuxu to use, the other two for the explosion-proof chamber.

If the explosion was too severe, all the wiring near the explosion-proof chamber would be destroyed, the surrounding forest would need replanting, and if the person who left the Energy Tank had set any traps, it might affect other explosion-proof chambers. He really didn't want to pay for reconstruction.

After approving the application, Lin Dusheng called the head of the Energy Department and briefly mentioned that Jian Fuxu planned to dismantle that 5000-unit capacity Mech Energy Tank next week. If anyone in their department was interested and unafraid of death, they could go assist.

After saying this, he hung up without waiting for a response and continued processing the institute's reports.

Shortly after finishing the report in hand, a disheveled middle-aged man with a stubbly beard and tattered, stained clothes rushed in. He knocked on the door and immediately ran toward Lin Dusheng.

Seeing the man's slovenly appearance, Lin Dusheng quickly spoke up: "Stop, stop, stop, stop, stop! Stop! Stand right there, don't come any closer!"

The man obediently halted. Before Lin Dusheng could say anything, he exclaimed: "Principal! I want to take on a disciple, a true apprentice! Can you help me?!"

Lin Dusheng didn't reply immediately. Instead, covering his nose, he carefully examined the man before him and asked somewhat uncertainly: "Mu Wen?"

The man in front of him nodded.

Lin Dusheng's expression turned complex and pained: "How did you end up like this? Is the Information Engineering Department overworking you?"

Mu Wen brushed it off: "No, I just don't have the time."

Lin Dusheng put a hand to his forehead, really wanting to throw Mu Wen out upon seeing the way he was acting, but the other was, after all, the Department Head of the Information Engineering Department at the military academy. He had to restrain himself.

Lin Dusheng asked as calmly as he could, "What does your desire to take on a disciple have to do with me?"

Mu Wen, filled with righteous indignation, said, "The person I want to take on is in the Star Chart Department, and those old fogies in the Star Chart Department refuse to let him transfer!"

Hearing this, Lin Dusheng seemed to remember something. He had heard that last month, the head of the Information Engineering Department had argued with the old-timers in the Star Chart Department, and it had even come to blows. Those present at the time had barely managed to hold them back.

Lin Dusheng was curious about who could have caught the interest of a blockhead like Mu Wen and inquired, "Who is the person you want to take on?"

Mu Wen: "A first-year student in the Star Chart Department, Ji Anzhi."

Lin Dusheng: "..."

The Star Chart Department really showed restraint by not beating you to death.

Lin Dusheng held his forehead and asked, his voice faint with disbelief, "Do you know that Ji Anzhi is the top-ranked first-year in the Star Chart Department?"

Mu Wen agreed: "Of course I know!"

Lin Dusheng stood up and slammed the table, questioning, "You know, and yet you still go to the Star Chart Department to poach him?! Old blockhead, do you think you've lived too long?!"

Mu Wen insisted righteously, "But he also has great talent in information engineering!"

A vein throbbed in Lin Dusheng's forehead. If it weren't for the fact that an omega's innate physical strength couldn't match an alpha's, he would definitely slap this old blockhead silly!

Lin Dusheng sneered, "Doesn't he also have talent in star charting? You know perfectly well that the Star Chart Department only gets a few promising seedlings each year. This year, they finally produced a rare genius, and you want to snatch him away? How is that any different from digging up the Star Chart Department's ancestral graves?!"

The last sentence was practically roared.

Mu Wen knew this was the case but still wasn't ready to give up: "But his talent in information engineering is truly exceptional! Even if he doesn't change departments, at least let me take him as my disciple, okay?!"

Before Lin Dusheng could retort, a woman from the Star Chart Department, an alpha, rushed in through the door, glaring angrily at Mu Wen and launching into a stream of curses.

"You dead blockhead, don't you dare dream! Even if that child wants to take a master, it should be one of us teachers or professors from the Star Chart Department! What are you doing here butting in? Do you want a fight? I'll take you on right now!"

Already unwilling to back down, Mu Wen turned to the woman behind him and provoked, "Fight then! Who's afraid of who! If I win, no one is allowed to stop Ji Anzhi from transferring departments!"

The woman refused to be outdone: "Bring it on! Damn it, let's go to the arena. If I don't beat you to death, it's only because I'm showing mercy!"

Mu Wen roared back: "Who gave you the nerve! Just because you're an old hag, I'll only put you in the treatment pod for a month!"

The ignored headmaster felt a vein throb at his temple, his mouth twitched as the office grew noisier, and his fists clenched tighter and tighter.

Are you bullying me because I'm an omega and my voice isn't loud enough?

"Bang! Bang!"

Two gunshots rang out, and the scene instantly fell silent.

Mu Wen and the alpha woman stiffly turned to look at the headmaster.

The headmaster's delicate face wore a gentle, faint smile, but the bulging veins on his fair hands, the energy gun he held, and the energy bullets that had just grazed past the two of them all spoke of his barely contained fury.

Lin Dusheng narrowed his slender eyes slightly, parted his cherry lips, and spoke slowly with a soft, trailing tone. But to the two of them, it sounded like the whisper of a demon.

"Gentlemen, this is the dean's office~. Please consider the departmental budget for the second half of the year~"

The two instantly stood properly and replied loudly, "Sorry, Dean! We know we were wrong!"

Lin Dusheng's smile remained as he calmly sat down, crossed his hands, rested his chin on them, and tilted his head slightly.

"Oh~ So you two can understand what I'm saying? And you know I'm the dean?"

The two across from him didn't dare move a muscle. The Star Chart Department staff who had followed their head to the dean's office also didn't dare make a sound, obediently shrinking against the wall without uttering a peep.

A few seconds later, the smile on Lin Dusheng's lips widened, bright and sunny: "Have you two calmed down now? Still yelling?"

The two shook their heads obediently, creating a bizarre scene for a moment.

Lin Dusheng, who looked young, only in his twenties, was scolding the two centenarians before him like children, and the two centenarians were obediently listening to the lecture.

After half a minute of cold silence, Lin Dusheng finally spoke again: "Regarding the matter of student Ji Anzhi, our military academy respects his personal wishes. If he wants to go to the Information Engineering Department, let him. If he doesn't want to, don't force him."

"As for taking a master, you can fight over that however you like. As long as the methods are proper, then everyone can rely on their own abilities."

"And taking a master doesn't mean taking only one. That's up to you to figure out."

"Alright, right now, please leave my office. Otherwise, I won't mind cutting next year's budget for the Military Academy Star Chart Department and the Military Academy Information Engineering Department~"

"Understood!"

The two saluted and swiftly left the dean's office, considerately closing the door gently behind them.

Once they reached a place where they were sure the headmaster couldn't hear them, they glared at each other again.

The woman: "You dead blockhead! Don't you dare dream! He's our department's top student this year! If you dare try to lure him away, I'll fight you to the death!"

Mu Wen: "You old hag! You think I'm afraid?! The dean said it depends on the kid's wishes. If he wants to come to me, I'll be in the right even if you complain to the headmaster!"

The woman: "Damn it! You dead blockhead! Let's see if I can beat you to death today! If I kill you, let's see how you'll poach anyone!"

Mu Wen: "Bring it on! Who's afraid of who?! If I don't beat you until you can't take care of yourself, I won't be surnamed Mu!"

The woman: "＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊!"

Mu Wen: "＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊!"

The two cursed more and more vulgarly, and the atmosphere grew increasingly heated. The staff from the Military Academy Star Chart Department and the Military Academy Information Engineering Department who came to break up the fight almost couldn't hold them back, barely managing to separate the two.

Finally, the vice-principal, hearing the commotion, came over and separated them. Using the same method as Headmaster Lin Dusheng, he mentioned budget cuts. Though the two were visibly unconvinced, they stopped shouting and fighting.

After having the staff from both departments take their heads away, Vice-Principal Kang Yunan finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Walking to the dean's office, it was clear Lin Dusheng's mood hadn't recovered yet. He only glanced faintly at Vice-Principal Kang Yunan.

Kang Yunan had a headache, resigned to cleaning up the mess and coaxing him: "Don't be angry. You know how Mu Wen is. It's the first time he's actively wanted to take on a disciple. But causing a scene in front of you was indeed too much. Just don't be angry. Besides, I've found news of Levin Feng."

Hearing the last sentence, Lin Dusheng finally deigned to look up, his eyes lighting up.

"Where is he?"