Combat mode?
Wasn't this just a new virtual skin?
Kolev was about to make a few snarky remarks.
But the beret-wearing virtual beauty had already started rattling off a report:
"The Military Intelligence Bureau's internal network is inaccessible. The palace intranet has been breached, as has the Emperor's private network. The military's standing defense network has been infiltrated, and the military vessel signal identification system has been accessed. The Feinan has been registered as a new experimental vessel belonging to this country. I'm screening their routine communications."
"Talisha, the big-bottomed beauty you wanted to find, is a registered Royal Maid with the title of Third-Class Maid Captain. She has no assigned master. Her death has been confirmed, and I'm investigating why the military killed her."
"They've repeatedly mentioned a certain chip in connection with this maid. I'm searching for related information."
"Don't slander me," Yang Ming said with a laugh. "I told you, I didn't help her because she had a nice ass. We got dragged into this. I prefer a more athletic figure."
"Like Milili," Lü muttered.
"Get back to work!"
Yang Ming glanced guiltily at Kolev, only to find the old man was also busy with his head bowed, helping gather information.
A red warning symbol suddenly appeared on the hovercar's central console projection.
The three-dimensional map changed to a nighttime view of the city. Seven black armored hovercars raced along an elevated expressway three hundred meters above the ground, heading straight for the district where Yang Ming and Kolev were.
Lü's voice remained calm and brisk:
"The other side has changed course. They'll intercept us in seven minutes.
"I've confirmed the vehicles belong to the Capital Star Guard Legion. The highest-ranking officer among them is a Major, but I can't yet identify his unit. This information came from a search of public records.
"I'm attempting to breach the military's core information network. It'll take some time."
Yang Ming listened to Lü's report as he watched the traffic ahead.
He considered the situation briefly but didn't floor the hovercar.
Things were complicated.
"What do we do?" Kolev asked quietly. "Negotiate with the military? Or take these people out and find a way to escape?"
"How does the security here compare to Kor Port?"
"Ten times worse. I mean, our chances of escaping," Kolev said. "Don't compare the Peacekeeping Force, a bunch of mercenaries in Kor Port, with the regular army of a mid-sized country."
Yang Ming rubbed his brow.
Kolev glanced at the rearview mirror. The convoy still wasn't visible.
"We need to make up our minds soon," the old man said with concern.
"I know. Don't worry; there'll be a way," Yang Ming said, irritation rising inside him.
Part of him wanted to flip those seven cars right over.
If he'd done something wrong and they were coming after him, he'd accept it. But he hadn't even had time to do anything! He'd just been dragged into this mess through no fault of his own!
Yang Ming suddenly raised an eyebrow and asked softly, "Lü, search nearby for any high-society receptions or trade conferences currently underway. Find the nearest New Industrial Federation gathering."
"Searching. I've found two matching locations: an upcoming gala and a business forum."
"A gala? Where?"
"Marked on the map. I've provided the guest list," Lü added, unable to resist. "That's a very good idea, clever boss."
A luxurious hotel appeared on the projected map. Yang Ming considered it for a moment.
"Uncle, looks like we'll have to meet the big shots in Prime Star's industrial circles ahead of schedule."
Kolev laughed. "I can hardly wait. But would the military really dare arrest people at a gathering of capitalists?"
"Not necessarily. We can only take a gamble."
Yang Ming wrenched the steering wheel, sending the hovercar into a sharp turn and onto a new route.
A string of red dots appeared on the navigation map.
The distance between them was steadily shrinking.
Yang Ming couldn't just speed through the city. If he attracted patrol robots or drones, he'd be handing himself straight to the military.
He had to keep his speed under control and still reach the grand hotel before those bastards cut him off.
"Boss, we won't make it in time," Lü reminded him softly.
"Cause them a little trouble when they leave the expressway."
"Understood, boss. But any unnecessary actions will leave traces."
"We can't worry about that now. Do it."
Lü nodded at once.
Five or six minutes later, at a junction more than ten kilometers away, several hovercars suddenly went out of control and scraped against each other, setting off a piercing alarm.
The seven armored hovercars, driving in a line, all came to a halt.
Several drones hurried to the scene. They could clear the accident and reopen the traffic junction within minutes.
Those few minutes were all they needed.
The rented luxury hovercar arrived safely at a palatial building gleaming with gold. Yang Ming dropped Kolev off at the hotel entrance.
A pretty attendant in a bunny outfit hurried over and opened the passenger door.
"Go to the conference, Uncle. I'll wait here," Yang Ming said with a smile. "You can handle things on your own, right?"
"Won't you come with me?" Kolev's eyes flickered.
Behind the old man, the hotel lobby glowed with warm yellow light. Behind Yang Ming, the parking lot outside was rather dim.
Kolev smiled. "You should learn how to handle business functions."
"Let me enjoy a few more years of freedom," Yang Ming said with a wink.
Kolev didn't press him. He hid his worry, then ducked into the bunny girl's arms.
—She was considerate enough to bend down and support him.
Yang Ming shut the car door and drove into the hotel parking lot. Even here, the luxury car looked a little shabby.
Lü asked worriedly, "Boss, what if they throw him out?"
"If we've chosen to work with him, we have to trust him. This is nothing to him."
Yang Ming's smile quickly faded.
"Lü, I'm going to deal with them my way from here on. You decide when to use Particle Transmission.
"Remember, don't leave my old friend behind unless I'm about to be killed."
"Boss," Lü asked, puzzled, "are you after his money, or his daughter?"
Yang Ming's mouth twitched. "Abandoning your comrades on the battlefield is the most despicable thing you can do."
He glanced at the navigation display. The enemy convoy was rapidly approaching the hotel.
"Go silent."
"Understood. Going silent," Lü replied, her voice now devoid of emotion.
The vehicle's projection interface returned to normal, and all data traces were erased.
Yang Ming found a parking space, waited in the car for two minutes, then calmly switched off the engine.
He stretched, took out a spare device from his pocket that looked like an electronic cigarette from Earth, pushed open the car door, and stepped out. Standing in the empty parking space, he admired the bustling city at dusk.
He slowly blew a smoke ring, trying to find a trace of a dissolute air.
Footsteps.
Light, numerous footsteps sounded from both sides.
Yang Ming hummed a tune, fiddling with his phone as he browsed the latest private photos posted by hundreds of beautiful influencers, suppressing his urge to attack.
The odds that the other side would kill him outright were very low. The weapons in their hands were simple blunt instruments meant to stun or beat him. Even the Laser Gun mounted in a car farther away was a low-powered portable model.
Suddenly.
A black stun baton appeared behind Yang Ming's head and swung hard at his neck.
Yang Ming shut his eyes and pretended to faint ahead of time.
Thud!
Yang Ming hit the ground hard.
Two strong men in suits picked him up. An armored hovercar had already pulled up from the side.
Yang Ming was tossed onto the back seat.
He controlled his breathing and suppressed the growing urge to fight inside him.
Damn this Ancient God Gene!
His instincts told him to find a safe place. If there was no safe place, then he had to create one.
It was a terrible habit.
It made it hard to catch people off guard.
Like now, Yang Ming could easily eavesdrop on their conversation.
"Captain, we caught the nephew without any trouble. Should we go in and arrest the uncle?"
"Don't do anything rash. A few difficult old men are holding a gathering in there. Take the nephew to the Major first. Second squad, keep an eye on the uncle and monitor him at all times. We'll arrest him when he comes out."
"Yes, sir!"
Still supposedly unconscious, Yang Ming calmly shifted his hips to get more comfortable.
These Luofeng soldiers were terrible at dirty work.
They hadn't even searched him.
"Sorry, sir, but I don't think you're on the guest list..."
"You don't recognize this?"
Kolev pointed to the nameplate on his tailcoat, then suddenly lit up.
"Oh, my old friend! What are you doing here?"
The security guard looked as if he wanted to say something, but the little old man before him had already walked through the security scanner without any trouble.
"Sir!" The guard hurried after Kolev and stopped him. "You really aren't on the guest list."
Kolev narrowed his eyes and smiled. "Young man, take another look. My name is Hatton, and I'm from the Kashi Federation."
"Well..."
To be safe, the guard aimed his handheld scanner at Kolev again.
The screen displayed Kolev's information and portrait, with the word "VIP" prominently marked beneath them.
"Oh, my God! Was this thing malfunctioning before?" The guard flustered. "I-I'm sorry, Mr. Haddon. I'm so sorry."
Kolev smiled and patted the young man on the shoulder.
"Work mistakes can be forgiven, but you nearly made a gentleman lose his dignity."
The guard bowed repeatedly. Kolev smiled and shook his head. As he turned away, he couldn't help letting out a breath of relief. His palms were slick with sweat.
Thank you, little Lü.
Though she wasn't as cute as Molly.
Five armored vehicles drove into a secluded indoor parking lot.
Two armored vehicles blocked the exits. Seven or eight men in suits, tactical sunglasses, and wireless earpieces got out first and spread out to patrol the area.
Someone opened the back door of one of the armored vehicles, revealing Yang Ming asleep on the rear seat, sprawled facedown.
The Major in charge walked up to the door with his hands clasped behind his back, then made an elegant gesture.
Two men in suits stepped forward, yanked Yang Ming out, and held him up. Someone brought over a spray can and gave Yang Ming's face a couple of squirts.
"Cough, cough!"
Yang Ming coughed and opened his eyes. His gaze was blank for two seconds before he began to struggle "fiercely," held fast by the two burly men beside him.
"Sir, here are his immigration papers. He's from the Kashi Federation. We checked; it's a small country that doesn't attract much attention."
The Major chuckled. "Which means we won't face much diplomatic pressure."
"Yes, sir. But spies from many powerful countries use similar identities as cover... Just to be safe..."
Yang Ming looked a little frightened, but inside, he was cursing them out.
These bastards were the real deal.
They could kill ordinary citizens from small countries with impunity, yet turn a blind eye to spies and agents from powerful nations?
"To be safe," the Major said, clasping his hands in front of him and narrowing his eyes at Yang Ming. "You're a good man, aren't you?"
Yang Ming nearly nodded.
He knew that if he did, the other side would surely kill an innocent man and claim the credit. He'd have to fight back, and the situation would escalate into an armed conflict. In the end, he'd have no choice but to take Kolev and flee the planet.
And that would risk exposing the Feinan's advanced technology.
He was at too much of a disadvantage now. He needed to find a way to take the initiative.
Yang Ming kept silent as he thought.
The smile at the corner of the Major's mouth grew more playful. He raised a hand in a signal, and a man in a suit behind him had already reached inside his jacket.
Yang Ming suddenly spoke. "Talisha is dead, isn't she?"
The Major froze. "What did you say?"
"The chip isn't with me. My situation is complicated, Major."
Yang Ming stared straight at him.
"If you can't take responsibility, have your superior talk to me."
The Major's long, flat face went utterly blank.
Before you continue