Catching Up Between Old Classmates

Fales and his trusted subordinates were arranged to board their respective spacecraft and head to their designated locations.

The surrendered subordinates were placed on several modified spacecraft, preparing to be sent to nearby countries for investigation and trial.

These arrangements greatly displeased the rescued civilians, who protested, believing the Skywing Mercenary Group was letting the bigger fish get away and should bring the leaders in for judgment as well.

In response to the public's protest, the Skywing Mercenary Group stated that they were mercenaries, simply doing a job for money. They said it wasn't impossible to bring back those individuals, as long as the price was right.

This immediately silenced the protesting crowd. The civilians who had been held hostage by the pirates were all ordinary people. Those with money had already paid ransoms for their release. Those without money could only ask their families for help to raise funds. Asking them to pay the Skywing Mercenary Group to capture the pirate leaders was impossible; where would they find the money?

The rescued civilians would be arranged to go to nearby countries. After being sent to a colony, they would be instructed to seek help from their respective embassies.

Meanwhile, Yue Yangchun protested to Long Fei in his office, questioning why he hadn't killed the leader and key members of the Evil Fang Pirate Group and accusing Long Fei of breaking his promise.

"I promised you I would eliminate the Evil Fang Pirate Group that killed your parents, but I never promised to kill all the pirates."

"But you can't just let the leaders go!" Yue Yangchun said, his voice filled with emotion.

"They used their vast wealth to buy their lives back."

"Even so, Boss, you could have taken their money and then killed them."

"I promised someone else that I wouldn't betray them after the job was done. Such actions go against my principles, and I cannot do them."

"Then aren't you afraid of letting the tiger return to the mountain, only for it to wait for an opportunity to seek revenge on you?"

"Do you think they can stir up any more trouble? Even if they manage to rise again, our Skywing Mercenary Group's strength will be even greater than it is now. At that time, they will be like a flock of sheep we've let roam free; we'll fatten them up before we slaughter them."

After speaking, Long Fei pushed two bank cards across the desk to Yue Yangchun.

"Take these two bank cards. One is for you, and one is for your sister. With this money, you and your sister can buy property and live a peaceful life in the future."

Yue Yangchun took the two bank cards and put them in his pocket.

Long Fei spun his executive chair, looking out the window, and said as if to himself, "The Skywing Mercenary Group is still a mercenary group. Mercenary groups are always armed organizations that accept commissions and work for money. Unlike national armies, which are supported by the country and its people, without money, how can they support others? Without money, how can a mercenary group operate?"

Yue Yangchun understood his boss's meaning. The Skywing Mercenary Group was currently taking on countless commissioned jobs and earning a significant amount of money. However, once combat occurred, the Skywing Mercenary Group had to bear all losses themselves. Casualties among personnel required compensation for injuries and condolences. Any damage to mechs, warships, or other equipment required money for repairs.

Furthermore, the development of the mercenary group and the salaries of its members all required money.

On the surface, Fales and the others used money to save their lives, but in reality, the boss was taking this money for the future operations and development of the mercenary group.

"The Gundams that are currently on hold for development also require funds. This money can be used to continue the development and manufacturing of the shelved Gundams."

Yue Yangchun's eyes lit up. Those were excellent MS. He could experience piloting and developing new Gundams. If his boss was using this money for the shelved Gundams, then he wouldn't dwell on the matter of Long Fei letting Fales go.

Long Fei waved his hand at Yue Yangchun, and Yue Yangchun left the office.

Most of what Long Fei had just said was true, but the part about the shelved Gundam development had a false element.

While the shelved Gundam development did involve money, it wasn't a matter of lacking funds. Money could still be invested, but it would affect other operations of the company.

The shelved Gundam development wasn't halted; it had just slowed down. After each month's financial settlement, Long Fei would invest money to continue the Gundam development and speed up the progress.

The money handed over by Fales and the others allowed the slowed-down progress to return to normal for the ongoing Gundam development.

"If it weren't for manufacturing more Gundams, my current net worth and the money I possess would definitely be at least ten times more than it is now. The cost of manufacturing each Gundam is extremely high; they are simply vacuum cleaners, sucking in vast amounts of cash."

Next, Long Fei finished reading all the documents and reports and walked out of the office to get some fresh air.

Long Fei looked at the scenery outside the window. The dark universe was dotted with faint starlight. Long Fei sometimes wondered if there were more advanced life forms and civilizations in the boundless universe, and if Gundams could contend with the weapons of more advanced civilizations.

"Long Fei, why are you standing here spacing out by yourself?" Shi Tingfen asked, coming up to Long Fei.

"Nothing, just getting some fresh air."

Shi Tingfen looked at Long Fei, appraising him. She hadn't expected her excellent and military-enthusiast old classmate to become the boss of a mercenary group after a few years.

"Old classmate, I think among our graduating classmates, you're one of the most successful."

Long Fei smiled and said, "It's alright."

Shi Tingfen felt a bit speechless and said with a wry smile, "If this is 'alright' for you, then what does that make me? I might as well be thrown in the trash."

"How are the others?"

"I've lost contact with most of them."

"Oh, I see."

Shi Tingfen suddenly remembered something and said to Long Fei, "Right, Zhao Xinlin has been looking for you."

"What does she want with me?"

"Well, it's because you disappeared, and she's been searching everywhere for you."

Long Fei fell silent.

"Speaking of which, Zhao Xinlin has always considered you her man and doesn't allow any other woman near you. She even warned our classmate, the Third Princess, not to get close to you, making everyone think Zhao Xinlin is your girlfriend."

"She isn't my girlfriend. I was busy with research back then and didn't want to date anyone. Even if I wanted a girlfriend, I wouldn't want someone like Zhao Xinlin."

"Indeed, anyone with eyes can see it's just Zhao Xinlin's one-sided belief that you're her man. How could a normal man find a yandere like her? Besides, back then, although you were a research fanatic, you were a campus celebrity, academically excellent, physically superior, and accomplished in both literary and martial arts. If you wanted a girlfriend then, there were plenty of girls lining up for you to choose from."

"Never mind me, is that guy Luo Tianyou still pursuing you?"

"Sigh, don't even mention him. I was almost driven crazy by his pursuit for years. Wherever I worked, he would acquire the company and say he wanted to give it to me. This led many colleagues to believe I was being kept. Even worse, if I spoke to any men, he would send people to teach them a lesson, making those guys see me as if I were a ghost. His actions treated me as his exclusive property."

"You went on this trip to avoid him for a while, didn't you? You just didn't expect a trip like this to involve being kidnapped by pirates."

"Although I was scared and worried during the kidnapping, I was also free from that man's harassment, which gave me some peace."

"So now that you've been rescued, you'll have to endure Luo Tianyou's harassment again."

Shi Tingfen's forehead broke out in goosebumps. She asked Long Fei, "Old classmate, do you have any way to help me avoid him finding my whereabouts?"

"Join my mercenary group. Your physical fitness isn't good, and it's burying your talents. I remember in school, you seemed to have earned a degree in software engineering, a master's degree, right? I happen to have another company that should be suitable for you. After we return to the main base, you can consider it."