It was nearly dinnertime. Yu Lian was famished, and knowing he couldn't eat just yet naturally left him in a foul mood. But Teacher Yang was, after all, a bona fide commander, and Yu Lian couldn't slight him. He nodded, agreed to go, gave Feifei and the first officer a few instructions, then dismounted from his heraldry mech and headed straight back to the captain's cabin.
He had barely settled in at his desk when he saw Yang Xiyi, appearing in a holographic projection, pull out a bottle of champagne.
"...You know how unlucky that is, right?"
"Why would it be unlucky?" Yang Xiyi glanced at Yu Lian, puzzled. "I'm just celebrating your taking down that giant bug. The stories of you extraordinary folk are part of history too, and they're within my field of study. I know how magnificent your record is. If I could, I'd gladly celebrate your victory with you in person. But circumstances don't allow it, so this will have to do."
Yu Lian was still looking at him with an overly expressive face. Yang Xiyi chuckled. "You're not worried I'll get carried away and the marauders will double back to kill me, are you? Relax. The departments responsible for keeping watch are still on combat alert. There's no chance of that."
As he spoke, he poured himself a full glass. "Come on, let's raise a glass!"
"...No, I mean, if we're celebrating, why are you the only one drinking?"
"It's common sense to keep drinks for every occasion in the captain's cabin. Don't blame me because you didn't prepare ahead of time."
Yu Lian snorted, fished a large bottle of iced cola out from under the desk, and gulped down half of it. Yang Xiyi immediately made a face like he'd witnessed something unsightly and