Part 2
Yu Shi let out a slow breath, his palms damp with sweat.
This Secretary Chen was named Chen Junliang. Four years ago, he had been an exchange student at Kowa University. At the time, Yu Shi had been preparing a paper for a Desai journal, and they had met through Chen Junliang’s advisor. They had exchanged contact information and were considered former classmates.
The moment he saw the look in Chen Junliang’s eyes, Yu Shi knew the accident had been intentional.
He didn’t know how Chen Junliang had gotten the news, or if he intended to help, but the collision was a signal.
It meant he wasn’t alone.
There was still hope.
Sure enough, by that evening, things took a turn.
Inside the room, Zheng Miaoran was growing increasingly agitated. She took countless phone calls throughout the night. The next day, the planned boarding was canceled; apparently, they were being held up at customs.
Qin Yin and the diplomat were nowhere to be seen; they were likely tied up in negotiations.
Yu Shi sat at the table, using his left hand to tighten a screw. He accidentally dropped it, and it hit the table with a sharp clink.
Zheng Miaoran was at her wits’ end. “Why are you constantly fixing that piece of junk? Just focus on recovering. Once we’re back in the Seventh Zone, the Major will find someone to fix it for you.”
Yu Shi said nothing, leaning down to pick up the screw.
Zheng Miaoran beat him to it, placing it by his hand. “You’ve always loved these things, haven’t you? You were a strange kid.”
Yu Shi asked, “Where did you first meet me?”
Zheng Miaoran looked at him for a long time before reluctantly giving a name: “Azure Orphanage.”
Yu Shi wasn’t surprised. It matched his theory.
“It seems you’ve been by Qin Yin’s side for a long time,” he said. “No wonder your loyalty is so absolute.”
Zheng Miaoran pursed her lips. “The Major saved my life and my brother’s. We wouldn’t be here without him.”
“I see,” Yu Shi said dismissively.
She thought for a moment before adding, “I know you hate the Major because of the business with the orphanage, but he never did anything to hurt you. In fact…”
“You’re wrong,” Yu Shi interrupted. “I hate him because I’m psychologically normal and don’t suffer from Stockholm Syndrome.”
A flash of mockery appeared in his eyes. “To be threatened, kidnapped, and treated with violence… if I could still feel gratitude and a desire to serve him, I’d be the one who was truly sick. Even if that chip makes me despair, I will never defect. Don’t waste your breath.”
“You…” Zheng Miaoran was speechless.
“Zheng Miaoran, you aren’t Olo. You shouldn’t be caught up in this dangerous struggle.” Yu Shi slowly tightened the screw. “I thought you were someone with your own mind. It seems I was mistaken. You and your brother are the definition of blind loyalty.”
Zheng Miaoran’s expression was strange as she stared at him uncomfortably.
Yu Shi didn’t sleep. He worked on the repairs until the middle of the night, finally managing to reconnect the voice system. 9527’s circuitry was a charred mess; all that remained was a core the size of a fist. He could carry it in his pocket.
He flipped the switch to test it. “9527?”
Static hissed for a long moment before a sobbing voice emerged from the core. “Teacher Yu! Thank goodness! I can hear your voice again! I thought I was dead!”
Yu Shi patted it gently. “Don’t be afraid. An AI can’t die.”
“Waaaah! I was so scared! My brain went pop and everything burned. There were sparks and lightning everywhere! It was scarier than the night the Ninth Zone commander released the test subjects two hundred years ago! There was thunder and lightning everywhere! I thought I was going to be blown to bits! Waaaah!”
The AI’s programming was a mess. It was talkative and completely erratic.
Yu Shi ignored the rambling. “What did you see that day?”
“Ahhh! Speaking of that! You won’t believe it! I saw a ghost! I saw a ghost! I… I actually saw…”
The door burst open. Zheng Miaoran strode in and grabbed him urgently. “Get moving. Now.”
Her grip was much tighter than before. Yu Shi stumbled as he was dragged along. He had no time to react; he grabbed 9527 and was pulled out.
Zheng Miaoran was in a rush. She practically shoved him into the transport van. A vehicle full of soldiers accompanied them, and every one of them looked grim.
Yu Shi’s heart sank. He realized that Chen Junliang had likely failed to stop them. His only hope had vanished.
Half an hour later, they reached the docks.
In the darkness of the night, the massive starship was lit up, its engines already powering up.
Yu Shi saw Qin Yin. He was standing at the base of the boarding ramp, speaking with the diplomat. Standing behind the diplomat was Chen Junliang. The moment he saw Yu Shi, he took a step forward.
Two soldiers marched Yu Shi toward the ramp. As they grew closer, the conversation became clear.
Chen Junliang spoke firmly. “Major, you may take the cargo, but the person must stay. He is a high-level classified individual. Tiangui has issued a galaxy-wide alert. We cannot risk going to war with Tiangui by letting you take him!”
He spoke in Interstellar Common, so everyone understood. The diplomat’s brow was furrowed, and he shook his head repeatedly. “Lu, this situation is very difficult for us…”
Qin Yin let out a casual laugh, as if he didn’t care at all. Without looking back, he made a beckoning gesture.
Zheng Miaoran understood immediately and forced Yu Shi toward the ramp.
“Stop! You can’t!” Chen Junliang cried out, pointing at them. “Major, you’re being far too lawless! If you continue, I will notify the military! If it weren’t for the Counselor vouching for you, I would have already…”
Qin Yin narrowed his eyes. “What did you call me?”
Chen Junliang stared at him in fury. “I said you are lawless and have no respect for the law! Since you won’t listen to reason, I’ll have the military enforce it!”
The diplomat tried to intervene, but Chen Junliang ignored him and reached for his comms device to contact the military.
Qin Yin watched him with a cold, predatory gaze. He made a hand signal.
Yu Shi’s eyes snapped wide. He instinctively tried to lung forward, but the two soldiers behind him held him fast.
Zheng Xiao pulled his pistol and fired a single shot into the center of Chen Junliang’s forehead.
The sound of the silenced pistol was a dull thud. As the sound echoed, the entire dock went silent.
Chen Junliang swayed for a moment, a look of disbelief on his face. Blood flowed from the center of his brow, drenching his face. He didn’t even make a sound before he collapsed to the ground.
Qin Yin said coldly, “No one has ever dared to speak to me like that. I have no use for advice from a dead man.”
The diplomat clutched his head in despair, crying out in Desai, “Why… why did you kill him? My god, how am I going to explain this to the representative…”
Yu Shi stared blankly at Chen Junliang. He lay there in the dark, and it was impossible to see the blood on his body.
Yu Shi’s only memory of the man was his innocent smile during a group project and the righteous bravery he had shown by the van the day before.
Yu Shi was shaking all over. His face was as white as paper, and his breathing was rapid and shallow.
Zheng Miaoran noticed something was wrong. She signaled the two soldiers, and they forced him up the ramp and into the ship.
Qin Yin snapped impatiently, “He was just a minor secretary. Figure out how to handle it yourself. I’ve already been delayed for days. If there are any more mistakes, you can consider your own life forfeit.”
The diplomat let out a helpless sigh, bowing submissively. “The remaining checkpoints have been arranged. There will be no further interceptions. I wish you a safe journey, Major Lu.”
Qin Yin didn’t spare a single glance for the corpse. It was as if he had killed an ant. He turned and strode up the boarding ramp.
In the starless night, the starship was the only source of light. It ascended, becoming a tiny speck of brightness as it flew toward the border of the Fourth Zone.
Translator’s Note:
Terms in this chapter:
- Desai (德賽): The neighboring republic (Romanized as requested).
- Olo (奧洛): The ethnic group/nationality Yu Shi belongs to.
- Tiangui (天晷): The central government organization.
- Major (少校): Qin Yin’s rank.
- Secretary (秘書/陳秘): Chen Junliang’s title.
- Duck (鴨子): Pheromone provider (though not used in these specific chapters, relevant to the story’s terminology).
See you in the next chapter, stay safe and warm~
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