Testing the Waters

Testing the Waters

"...You did very well this time, Yuri," Tang Xiao said blandly.

"It was only business, Governor." Yuri Orlov took a puff of his cigar in the hologram. "Anakin wanted weapons, and he got what he wanted. Obi-Wan wanted mercenaries, and he got them too. The Jedi Knights wanted to attack Tull Planet, and they succeeded as well. I wanted to make money, and I got paid. As for what you did in the middle of it all, that falls outside the scope of business."

"I know. In matters like this, you can always be trusted," Tang Xiao said.

"Of course, I also broke my own principles. To be honest, quite a few mercenaries wanted to take the Tull Planet job, but I still recommended Titan Security as you requested. So, can we discuss my compensation now?" Yuri asked.

"What do you want? Name it." Tang Xiao smiled faintly.

"I... want Vitaly." Yuri considered for a moment before naming his condition.

"Vitaly? Your brother?" Tang Xiao frowned. "Indeed, he vanished after the Cerean civil war broke out."

"He joined an anti-war organization and has been traveling around, persuading planets to withdraw from the war and remain neutral. As far as I know, it's very dangerous. I hope you can bring him back," Yuri said.

"Where is he?"

"I don't know."

"I can't promise you that, Yuri. I'll have the Intelligence Department look for him, but whether he is willing to return will depend on him—unless you intend to kidnap him."

Yuri Orlov took a fierce drag on his cigar and said in a low voice, "He's my brother."

Tang Xiao stared deeply at him. "All right. Then it's settled."

The next day, Tang Xiao had already arrived on Raxus Secundus, at the other end of the Milky