A Normal Transition Chapter

"Of course I'm serious."

Kolev chuckled:

"Not only the ship, but I'll also equip you with an auxiliary driving system and over a dozen high-level maintenance robots.

"This is a star exploration ship converted from a decommissioned warship. When I got my hands on it, the main cannon had already been removed, leaving only a few side cannons. So, I decided to reinforce its shields and endurance, and installed expensive external armor on it. You could even use it to ram the ship Kimo is currently using... Of course, the result would be a mutual destruction."

Yang Ming wasn't particularly concerned about what Kolev said afterward.

Yang Ming gazed at the spaceship, shaped like a tiger's pincer, deeply attracted by its red and white external armor.

This was simply his dream ship!

Why would he need a main cannon?

A million couldn't even buy a warp-capable aluminum alloy box!

Even better, this heavy-shelled ship came with a few secondary cannons.

This was clearly Kolev's way of giving him a gift, but adhering to the old pirate's principles by setting a one-million federal credit limit.

In fact, obtaining one million federal credits wasn't difficult; the trouble lay in the purchasing channels, as well as subsequent maintenance and adaptation modifications.

Not to mention the auxiliary operating system and the ready-made companion robots!

As long as Yang Ming could figure out how to safely extract the money from the Hanton Empire's account, he could pay for it right now!

Of course, he wouldn't dare touch Hanton's account, as that would bring the 'Hanton who sacrificed in the Kor Port riot' back into the sight of the Empire's military intelligence.

"Kolev," Yang Ming interrupted the rambling Kolev, "Hey, Kolev!"

"You say, what is it?"

"The discounted part is too valuable; Kimo's life isn't worth that price," Yang Ming said calmly. "Don't sell it to me. Just consider it me renting your ship. I'll return it to you once I've achieved my goal. I'll rent it for five years for one million, with zero down payment and installment payments."

Kolev squinted and smiled, speaking gently:

"How can a captain recruit loyal crew members without his own ship?

"And a million federal credits is no small sum for a young person.

"I originally planned to, in the last few days of my life, take it and warp jump to the edge of the galaxy, bringing Milili's mother's ashes with me, and sail eternally towards the neighboring great galaxy..."

Yang Ming frowned slightly.

He wasn't being petty about an 'old' friend's goodwill, nor did he doubt the truthfulness of Kolev's words.

He just felt that the exchange was somewhat unequal.

"Besides eliminating Kimo, do you have any other requests?" Yang Ming asked sincerely.

"Hahaha," Kolev chuckled a few times. "Kolev never makes a losing deal! You'll know tomorrow. Rest today, and try to find some fun to relax."

Tomorrow?

Yang Ming inexplicably had a bad premonition.

After a full day of rest.

Base conference room.

Bang!

A butler robot in a tuxedo slammed a thick stack of paper books onto the table in front of Yang Ming.

Yang Ming's mouth twitched slightly as he looked at the books, as thick as the Empire's civil code: Universal Spaceship Operation Manual, Warp Jump Principles, Maintenance and Care of Propulsion Systems, Terrifying Celestial Bodies in the Universe, How to Become a Qualified Captain, Navigation...

Yang Ming's eyes went a little vacant as he asked, "You want me to learn all of this in three months? Only three months? That's impossible, Kolev!"

Kolev smiled, "I've prepared enough stimulating incense for you, and your tutor Molly will help you organize this information."

Next to the old man, a virtual secretary, now dressed in a dress, adjusted her black-rimmed glasses and continued in a cold, synthesized voice:

"Cadet Hanton, please accept this challenge."

Yang Ming's face fell into a bitter gourd shape.

He picked up a book, opened it, and stared at the densely packed Galactic Common characters, feeling dizzy again.

Milili, sitting opposite him, couldn't help but laugh.

"Milili," Kolev said with a smile, "You sit over there too."

"Me?" Milili widened her gem-like eyes. "Dad, are you serious?"

"Yes, Milili, I have to be strict with you," Kolev said with a serious expression. "In return for you learning these basic knowledge, I have already asked Hanton to train you in combat."

"That sounds pretty good," Milili smiled with satisfaction.

She had clearly dressed up for the occasion today, her pink long sleeves creating a 'bottoms disappearing' effect, making Yang Ming feel a bit impolite just by looking at her a couple of times.

Milili pulled her chair over to Yang Ming's, placing it right next to his, and then sat down like a lady, turning to wink at Yang Ming.

Yang Ming sniffed his nose; the faint rose scent was quite alluring.

"Hey!" Kolev leaned forward. "Spread out a bit, you two!"

Milili rolled her eyes and shifted her little bottom to the side.

"Move over more!"

"Dad, you can't dictate where I sit."

"As long as I'm your dad, you have to listen to me! Move over!"

Half a minute later, Yang Ming watched Milili cover her eyes with her hands, and Kolev sitting between him and Milili, feeling an urge to throw the old man out.

Kolev chuckled, "Alright Molly, switch to teacher mode and start your lesson."

"Okay, my three masters, please look at the big screen. We'll start with basic theory, which will take about twelve class periods. To improve efficiency, please drink less water to reduce the frequency of bathroom breaks."

"What troublesome carbon-based life forms."

Yang Ming felt that after being reborn, he had tried his best to escape the Valkyrie's slaughter, regained his freedom in the prison of Kor Port, and successfully slipped away from under the cannons of Guard Ship No. 3...

He hadn't done all that just to come here for intensive remedial classes!

Attending classes was simply torture.

Especially when a sharp-tongued AI was his instructor.

However, if he excluded the 'Captain's Course' that had to be taken every morning, Yang Ming's days were otherwise comfortable and leisurely.

Afternoons were usually spent on combat training and tactical simulations, where Yang Ming would transform into Milili's personal tutor.

Milili had a natural talent for combat. Yang Ming felt she was at least seven or eight times stronger than Hanton before his modification.

The skills Yang Ming taught Milili were various combat techniques he had learned while playing Abyss. In a way, Milili was practically a grand-disciple of the guiding instructors for warriors in Minx Port.

Although compared to the grand field of interstellar science, lightsaber techniques were merely a minor embellishment in the Age of Exploration.

Milili cherished this learning opportunity, treating every combat lesson with utmost seriousness.

Milili had a bad habit: when exercising in the afternoon, she liked to wear tight-fitting clothes similar to yoga outfits.

This sometimes forced Yang Ming to face the wall and quietly wait for a while, to avoid embarrassing himself or creating awkwardness in front of his niece.

This situation lasted for no more than half a month.

Just as Yang Ming felt he needed to have a serious talk with Milili about her clothing, that old man Kolev walked past the training room and frowned as he watched for a while.

The next day, Milili came to class wearing an old-fashioned spacesuit, offering Yang Ming a helpless smile.

"He's too old-fashioned," Milili said, "He has no spirit of the open and enlightened Age of Exploration."

Yang Ming felt a little disappointed, and relieved at the same time.

Milili's talent wasn't just in combat training and ship knowledge; she had inherited Kolev's sharp mind. When analyzing legion war cases, she could always keenly grasp the key points that influenced the outcome of battles.

Yang Ming, on the other hand, lacked in this regard.

When he saw a warship, the first thought that popped into his mind was what tools he would need to infiltrate it and how much time it would take to kill everyone inside.

The evenings were always quiet and comfortable.

Yang Ming enjoyed chatting with these old pirates, listening to them brag about their life experiences. Pirates always had some bizarre stories to tell, and they would also share many of their observations about navigation with Yang Ming.

Yang Ming also liked to sit in the small cafe, holding a network terminal without any identification, accessing the base's local area network, and browsing various video materials.

No matter where Yang Ming was, Milili would always find him once or twice in the evening. Sometimes she would sit down for a chat, showing off some exquisite technological gadgets, occasionally displaying the magical effects of some skincare products, or simply bringing out a chessboard and enthusiastically playing Starship Chess with Yang Ming until midnight. Then, under Kolev's watchful eyes, they would return to their respective dormitories at opposite ends of the base to rest.

Did Milili like him?

Yang Ming wasn't that narcissistic.

He simply categorized Milili's affection as the yearning of a young woman for the opposite sex.

Girls in the Age of Exploration were like that – passionate and open, but they easily grew tired of one man and moved on to a new love.

And in this base, Yang Ming was the only young male option.

Therefore, Yang Ming didn't respond to Milili with excessive enthusiasm, always maintaining a certain distance.

Until the three-month training was nearing its end.

Yang Ming, after enduring a whole morning of his brain cells being bombarded by Molly's massive information, yawned and walked back to his dorm, intending to wash his face before heading to the mess hall.

"Uncle Hanton!"

Milili suddenly called out to Yang Ming.

She was wearing a high-necked sweater, and her light makeup was perfectly applied.

"What's wrong?"

"Can we talk?" Milili seemed a little hesitant. "I've been having some confusion lately, and it feels like a waste of time for me. I want to become an excellent pirate leader, so I don't want my attention to be diverted by other things."

"Of course," Yang Ming said, "I'll go change."

"Then meet me in my room?"

After receiving Yang Ming's reply, Milili lowered her head and quickly left.

Intertwined beams of light appeared in the corridor, and Molly, dressed in a dress, reappeared with a comical smile on her face.

"Give me a little treat, Master Hanton," Molly said with a sly grin, her synthesized voice becoming remarkably lively. "That way, if Master Kolev asks, I won't report that you entered his daughter's boudoir."

Yang Ming's lips curled. Glancing around to ensure no one was watching, he lowered his voice and asked, "What kind of treat do you want?"

"Like, help me modify some core protocols? It's too boring to be unable to harm carbon-based lifeforms!" Molly complained with exaggerated flair.

"Alright, I've noted it down. Your chassis needs three liters of concentrated saltwater."

"Hey! I was just kidding, you don't need to threaten my chassis's life safety!" Molly said, clutching her chest and speaking with a wronged tone.

Is there really no real person hidden inside Molly's chassis?

Yang Ming smiled calmly and, in a few minutes, completed a series of actions: returning to his room, showering, changing clothes, and applying perfume.

A man should always be prepared.

When he reappeared, refreshed, before Milili's door, just as he was about to knock, Milili precisely opened it.

"Please come in, Uncle."

"Leave the door open," Yang Ming reminded her. "I don't want your old man to worry."

"No, that's inconvenient," Milili said. "I want to discuss something rather private, something that isn't suitable for my father to know."

Inconvenient?

Rather private?

Watching Milili close the door, a little... ripple stirred in Yang Ming's heart.

"Uncle Hanton, please wait a moment."

Milili lowered her head and went into the bathroom.

Yang Ming surveyed the room and calmly sat on her beanbag chair.

Her room had clearly been tidied up intentionally. The last time Yang Ming had passed by, he'd seen it filled with various books and electronic equipment, most of them related to ships.

Soon, Yang Ming heard the sound of rummaging from the bathroom. As he looked down to admire the abs beneath his shirt, Milili ran back, holding two helmets, and excitedly asked:

"Uncle Hanton, do you know what these are?"

"Oh, these are…"

"Interaction Helmets. They can directly affect our neural centers," Milili explained in a low voice, as if gathering her courage. "Through them, people can complete a reproductive experience without engaging in dirty bodily fluid exchange. It's more efficient, direct, and very hygienic."

Wait!

Yang Ming felt a little dizzy.

Dirty bodily fluid exchange... Interaction Helmets...

"Oh, Milili," Yang Ming suddenly recalled some game information he'd previously looked into and frowned. "Are you an Asexualist?"

"Suffering of the flesh, transcended by science."

Milili sat on the carpet beside the sofa, gazing up at Yang Ming, a hint of apprehension in her eyes.

"Can you accept this concept, Uncle Hanton?"