Chapter 148 Miscalculation

Chapter 148: Miscalculation

Ji Anzhi pursed his lips and was silent for a moment before asking hoarsely, "Your parents... they really don't mind me?"

Qi Yanshen found this strange. Mind what?

Someone like Anzhi was so outstanding. His parents were mainly concerned about his own rut issues; they were absolutely satisfied with Ji Anzhi.

His father was so pleased that he had even said to his face, why wasn't Ji Anzhi his own child—such a fine young man born into that wretched family.

It was simply a waste of a treasure!

In his father's own words, if Ji Anzhi were to die prematurely, it would be a tremendous loss in human history.

Yet they all knew such losses were happening all the time.

"They don't mind."

Qi Yanshen replied honestly, feeling his answer might seem a bit perfunctory, so he added, "Actually, my parents really like you. It's just that they... were afraid of scaring you."

Especially my mother. Before knowing Ji Anzhi's identity, she had considered taking some necessary measures against him, so she felt somewhat ashamed.

Before Qi Yanshen's reply, Ji Anzhi had thought of many reasons, but this one hadn't crossed his mind.

Did he look easily frightened?

Still, Ji Anzhi felt a warmth in his heart.

It was absurd, really. The first time he experienced parental love was from someone else's parents.

"...Thank you."

"No need to thank me. This is how my parents feel."

Ji Anzhi nodded, picking up the brooch to admire it against the light. It truly was as described in legends—like a galaxy, ever-changing.

It was very beautiful. Qi Yanshen sat beside him, quietly watching Ji Anzhi as if observing a child at play.

"They're here."

Ji Anjue stood up. At the same time, Xiaoxue from the ecological room was brought over by Ji Anjue's psychic energy and held in his arms.

Qi Yanshen instinctively moved closer to Ji Anzhi while awakening Thor, ready at any moment.

The massive viewport displayed the external situation: pitch-black darkness devoid of light suddenly twisted, occasionally flashing with visible white light, flickering on and off, appearing eerie.

At the stimulus, Ji Anzhi closed his eyes. When he opened them a few seconds later, they were in a starry expanse, with many unmarked lightweight warships visible ahead.

These were the smallest type, highly suitable for escape.

Ji Anjue projected his psychic energy and said, "We're inside the encirclement."

Ji Anzhi hummed in acknowledgment; he could see that.

It was unclear what the other party's true intentions were—to recruit or to eliminate the threat?

"Unknown connection request. Accept?"

Ji Anzhi glanced and signaled Ji Anjue to accept.

Upon connection, the viewport's image abruptly changed, revealing a handsome alpha who looked like the epitome of a cultured scoundrel—which, in reality, he was.

"Your Excellency, greetings. My name is Viksto. I wish to befriend you."

Ji Anzhi and Qi Yanshen sat at the rear, observing quietly.

Under Ji Anzhi's instruction, Ji Anjue offered a perfunctory smile and said, "I dare not accept such an honorific. Judging by your method of 'invitation,' those in the know might think it's friendship; those unaware would assume it's a silencing."

Viksto's smile remained unchanged because Ji Anjue had hit the nail on the head.

They had sacrificed all their undercover agents in the Bug Swarm ruins area just to eliminate these two significant threats.

They were well aware of this individual's prowess and had made plans from the start.

They had their agents place artificial black hole devices in the area of the starship where their targets were located to prevent escape, even expanding the range. If they fell into the black hole and died inside, all the better. If they survived and emerged from the white hole, they would attempt recruitment; if recruitment failed, they would simply eliminate them.

This place had been a slaughterhouse from the beginning.

"Then, may I ask Your Excellency's choice?"

"I need to consider it carefully."

"Take your time. We await your favorable reply."

As he spoke, Ji Anjue secretly transmitted a message to Ji Anzhi and Qi Yanshen: *'We're in trouble. There are devices here that suppress psychic energy, and it's indiscriminate suppression. Their starships also have many psychic isolation materials.'*

But they knew the Federation wouldn't use such methods. The Star Eagle would either approach the Mothership or the front lines. Large-scale psychic suppression would be a disaster for those piloting mechs with psychic energy or experiencing psychic outbursts.

*'Is there any chance?'*

*'It's a bit tough.'* Ji Anjue communicated privately with Ji Anzhi: *'I can do it, but my psychic energy will definitely be completely depleted. This body might fall unconscious and revert to a child, and my consciousness will return to my main body to recuperate. During that time, I won't be able to protect you.'*

*'Isn't Qi Yanshen here?'*

*'...With his frail physique? Tsk, never mind.'*

Ji Anjue looked down on Qi Yanshen. In terms of combat prowess, he looked down on everyone.

But he also understood that demanding humans reach his level was unrealistic.

Ji Anjue turned to Qi Yanshen and said: *'I'll wipe them all out in a moment. Remember to protect my Ji-dad. If he gets hurt, be prepared to be impotent for life.'*

Qi Yanshen: "......Right."

Ji Anzhi was puzzled. Right what?

Before he could ask, a voice came from the other side: "Your Excellency, have you considered?"

Hearing this, Ji Anjue broke into a smile.

"I've considered it. I'm not particularly fond of the Federation."

The corner of Viksto's mouth twitched upward, but he said nothing. Who knew if the other party might suddenly change tack?

Sure enough, Ji Anjue's next words came next: "However, even the Federation doesn't dare to control me. What do you stray dogs amount to?"

These words were utterly contemptuous.

They struck right at the opponent's sore point.

Ji Anzhi had taught him—speed is key.

Whatever reflections one might have, it’s best to save them until the threat is completely dead and gone.

Thus, before Viksto could even open his mouth to persuade them again, the consciousness of everyone aboard all enemy starships was erased. The signals were also disrupted and paralyzed by the overwhelming psychic energy.

On a normal day, erasing the consciousness of all enemies along with various threatening instruments and weapons would only require about twenty percent of his psychic power. But today, with the psychic suppression devices and isolation materials, Ji Anjue had to expend ninety percent of his energy.

Once the erasure was complete, the body forged from psychic energy immediately shrank, reverting to the form of a little dumpling around four or five years old.

The consumption was slightly less than expected, but it was still somewhat overdrawn, requiring him to return to his main body for proper rest.

“Alright…”

Ji Anjue had just begun to speak when he suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood.

The blood gushed out without warning, following gravity’s pull and dripping onto his white-gold robe, like an angel stained by the mortal world.

This made both Ji Anzhi and Qi Yanshen—who had just begun to believe that the tall, golden-haired man was indeed Ji Anjue—rush forward in panic.

“What’s wrong? An Jue! An Jue!”

Ji Anzhi asked urgently, questioning the little dumpling in his arms, while Qi Yanshen took out a coagulant and injected it into Ji Anjue’s body.

Ji Anjue didn’t know either; he had no strength left in his body.

‘This body is collapsing… My psychic energy also seems to be becoming sluggish and inert. I must have overlooked something—I’ve been tricked by them…’

Both Ji Anzhi and Qi Yanshen could hear Ji Anjue’s voice in their minds. Qi Yanshen asked, “Will he die?”

Ji Anjue really wanted to roll his eyes.

‘No, but…’

Ji Anjue’s words cut off abruptly, and his body went limp. If his body temperature had dropped, Ji Anzhi wouldn’t have known what to do.

Realizing what must have happened, Ji Anzhi quickly told Qi Yanshen to carry Ji Anjue to the ecological room—he wouldn’t be able to move fast enough carrying him himself.

‘Don’t worry, he’s just gone into hibernation.’

Both Ji Anzhi and Qi Yanshen paused, first glancing at Ji Anjue. Was he pretending to be unconscious?

A slightly youthful, calm and cool male voice sounded again in their minds: “I’m Xiaoxue.”

Immediately, their gazes shifted to the small, fluffy ball sitting upright on Ji Anjue’s pants, looking up at them.

Ji Anzhi: “…Am I hallucinating?”

Qi Yanshen: “Well… This is your cat.”

They exchanged glances, both bewildered.

Seeing the reactions of her caretaker and the other two-legged creature, Xiaoxue knew they didn’t believe her and began to explain.

‘When that bastard Ji Anjue was leveling up, I got a fruit that awakened my intelligence. My psychic energy is now SSS-level, which is why you can hear me speak.’

Ji Anzhi knew about this; Ji Anjue had mentioned before that Xiaoxue could gain intelligence and communicate.

“Then why didn’t you talk to me before?”

Mentioning this, Xiaoxue’s voice was filled with disdain: ‘That bastard used his psychic energy to silence me.’

Ji Anzhi and Qi Yanshen looked at the curled-up little dumpling and suddenly felt that Xiaoxue calling Ji Anjue a bastard wasn’t without reason.

Picking up Xiaoxue, they headed toward the ecological room, with Qi Yanshen carrying Ji Anjue right behind him.

On the way, Ji Anzhi asked, “What exactly is Anjue’s condition?”

‘There’s a bit of a problem. As you know, his psychic energy needs constant stimulation. But just now, for some reason, his energy suddenly became inactive, returning to the calm of its seed stage. That’s why this body developed issues.’

The moment they stepped into the trap,

they had already lost.

Ji Anzhi’s expression turned grave: “Can Psychic Stimulants wake him up?”

‘Yes, but that would take about a day. Unless Ji Anjue’s mother tree is here—then he could wake up in a few hours.’

Mother tree?

He didn’t even know the location of Ji Anjue’s birth planet, let alone how to find his mother tree.

As Ji Anzhi was racking his brains, Qi Yanshen listened, utterly confused, taking some time to piece together the situation.

Qi Yanshen shot a subtle but penetrating glance at the little figure in his arms. It seemed there were even more things he didn’t know.

Though aware that Ji Anzhi had kept things from him before, Qi Yanshen was still happy.

Were they really speaking openly in front of him? Did that mean they truly accepted him?

Yes, but not entirely.

If Ji Anzhi didn’t trust Qi Yanshen, even with Ji Anjue absent, Xiaoxue could erase Qi Yanshen’s memories—though it might wipe out a large, imprecise chunk.

They soon reached the ecological room. Ji Anzhi led the way straight to the main body, which looked like an ordinary succulent shrub, and took out a portable treatment pod.

Without needing further instruction, Qi Yanshen immediately placed Ji Anjue, now undressed, into the treatment pod and began the treatment.

Meanwhile, Ji Anzhi input a command on the nearby panel. Centered around the main body, sixteen square meters’ worth of soil suddenly rose. Upon closer inspection, the main body was actually inside a massive flowerpot.

Taking out the Psychic Stimulant, Ji Anzhi didn’t pour it all out, saving some just in case.

After Ji Anzhi finished his tasks, Qi Yanshen said grimly, “Anzhi, there’s no signal. We can’t call the Federation for help.”

Ji Anzhi wasn’t surprised. Since the enemy dared to target Ji Anjue, they wouldn’t let them send out a distress signal.

“Be prepared to be captured.”

Qi Yanshen didn’t ask why, simply nodding to show he understood.

Ji Anzhi stored Ji Anjue’s main body into a bio-space bracelet. He had modified this bracelet himself—without special detection equipment, its spatial fluctuations couldn’t be detected.

To outsiders, it would look like an unremarkable bracelet.

“The Star Eagle was designed specifically for Anjue. We can’t pilot it. We’ll have to wait for Ji Anjue to wake up or just see how things unfold.”

“Mm.”

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

The Wandering Star Domain

Viksto, far away at headquarters, sighed, regretting his failure to secure this ally.

Then again, this "ally" was pretty disobedient. Maybe it's better this way.

Viksto looked at the person before him—his most prized research subordinate—and said, "You can go now. Let the others go in first to test the waters. If it works, bring them all back, especially that genius. He must be brought back in one piece, understood?"

The alpha with gold-rimmed glasses standing before him—Blaikalo—felt a flush of excitement color his face.

"I will."

That was a precious sample he had once failed to salvage in time.

Viksto smiled as he watched his subordinate leave, hoping the mission wouldn't fail.

The Federation was now on a killing spree, leaving only one survivor for interrogation at several outposts, while handing the rest over to the Rose Legion for disposal.

He had no use for those omegas.

Meanwhile, Blaikalo, having received the mission, rendezvoused with his regular asset.

The black-haired alpha smirked mischievously. "The boss says we set off now, huh?"

"Let's go."

Ignoring the teasing from his usual tool, Blaikalo went inside to prepare.

They couldn't let prey that was almost in their grasp get away.

The location they had chosen for Ji Anjue was at the edge of human star sector, an ungoverned zone devoid of insectoids.

From headquarters, it required two spatial jumps, followed by a journey of several hundred light-years.

The crew on the ship had been screened and could withstand two FTL jumps in a short period.

An hour and a half later, Blaikalo's small fleet stopped at a safe distance, and he ordered an alpha he somewhat recognized to lead a team of betas to investigate.

The alpha and his team approached, first attempting to contact their own starship personnel to see if there were any survivors.

As expected, they were all wiped out.

Confirming there were no survivors, the team turned their attention to the conspicuously out-of-place starship at the center.

They had initially planned to force their way in, but before they could act, the starship's docking bay opened, revealing a clear entrance.

Any sane person's first thought would be 'trap'.

So, the alpha captain sent a beta in to scout it out, instructing him to return within five minutes; if he didn't, it meant there was danger.

Watching the beta enter, a few minutes later, the beta reported back via his mech.

"The people inside aren't putting up a fight, and... they want to meet the commanding officer."

Half an hour later, a mech approached—the black-haired alpha's mech—heading straight for the Star Eagle.

Ji Anzhi, sitting upright and composed in the center of the docking bay, glanced up at the black-red mech and took another sip of his tea.

The mech's hatch opened, and Blaikalo jumped out first, walking over to the two men and a cat.

Ji Anzhi remained unmoved, smelling the alpha's alcoholic pheromones as he continued drinking his tea. Xiaoxue sat in Ji Anzhi's lap, calmly grooming her fur, while Qi Yanshen stood tall behind Ji Anzhi, his eyes fixed on the approaching alpha.

Seeing them like this, Blaikalo let out a sudden laugh.

"Hand him over."

Silence. Only after Ji Anzhi finished his tea did he speak. "Oh? Hand over what?"

"That person—Your Excellency's adopted son, Ji Anjue."