Chapter Forty-Seven: Returning to School

On the ship, Xilin, Pride, and Hard were arranged in the same infirmary room. Saqi and Knight were also in the room. Although Knight wasn't injured, Huoding had arranged for him to return first. Knight didn't object and felt more at ease personally guarding the infirmary, lest another assassination attempt occur.

Since the matter had come to an end, Xilin "recovered" quickly. Now, the five of them were chatting in the room, three lying down and two sitting. Saqi was peeling fruit, and Knight was excitedly sharing the news he had just heard.

"I heard that after that Big Black Rat mutated, its chromosomes doubled, and it reproduced a batch of little black rats asexually. Uh... the form is like the queen bee and drones in bees, but the specifics aren't clear. People from other research bases have gone to collaborate on the research. You know, if this research yields results, it can be published in at least a seventy-plus contribution-level academic electronic publication in the Star Alliance, and then they'll be famous."

"Don't those people at the research bases have any psychological trauma?" Saqi asked. To this day, whenever he talked about rats, he remembered the scene of brushing past that group of black rats, and he couldn't help but shiver.

"Those people are just into that. For example, if you were shot during an operation and barely managed to keep your life, would you be afraid of guns? Would you pick up a gun and participate in an operation again next time?"

"Of course, I'd participate in the operation! What's there to be afraid of with guns? Getting shot is a common occurrence, isn't it?"

"It's the same for them. Is it common to research strange things? Hey, don't interrupt, I'll continue," Knight cleared his throat and said, "I heard that because of the mutation, those black rats produced some kind of enzyme in their bodies that allows them to perform anaerobic respiration for a period of time. This also explains why they can stay in the deep underground caves for such a long time."

Knight, when facing others, always had a look of "I'm impatient," but towards people he approved of, his attitude changed, and he talked a lot more.

Seeing Knight acting like an expert, Pride rolled his eyes and sneered, "Show off!"

"Oh ho, little master has an opinion of me? Look at your pathetic state. Xilin and Hard being injured is understandable, but you? A useless burden?" Seeing Pride glare defiantly, Knight flicked a grape at him. "Don't tell me you didn't realize that the people in your group were special operatives."

"It's precisely because I realized they were special operatives that I didn't want to be near them!"

"That's why you deserved to be scratched by the black rats. In that situation, could you handle it alone? Do you think you're a Star Hunter or a Heavenly Decree Warrior? Use your brain more, or you'll never catch up to your brother Ji Feihang!"

"If I can't be a Heavenly Decree Warrior, can you, Knight?"

"At least I became one before you," Knight said disdainfully. If Ji Feihang hadn't asked him to help look after Pride, would he bother with this idiot?

Seeing that Pride was about to rush over and fight, Saqi quickly stepped in to mediate.

Xilin watched from the side and chuckled. If Saqi hadn't intervened, Pride would probably have been beaten by Knight again. Similar incidents had happened several times.

However, the Heavenly Decree Warrior and Star Hunter that Knight mentioned did catch Xilin's attention.

In the Star Alliance, there were countless hunters. Those at the pinnacle were granted the title of "Star," which was what Knight called a Star Hunter. In the current Star Alliance hunter world, there were six recognized individuals with the "Star" title. The leaders of the Four Great Hunter Groups were all Star Hunters, and there were two reclusive lone wolves. These six were collectively known as the Six Stars of the Hunt.

And the Heavenly Decree Warriors in the military were the highest honor among warriors, bestowed with the title "Heavenly Decree." However, they were too mysterious, and many matters were classified as top secret by the military. To the public, they only existed in legends. Even people like Knight and Pride, who were descendants of generals, were unclear about them, only knowing that there were four of them.

The Four Heavenly Decree Generals and the Six Stars of the Hunt were the lifelong pursuits of warriors and hunters in this era.

"After this mission, I realized the gap between cadets and regular soldiers. We still need to work hard," Hard sighed from his hospital bed.

Hearing Hard's words, Knight and Pride simultaneously looked at Xilin and remained silent.

"Hey, do you think the school will give us any rewards when we go back this time?" Saqi said expectantly.

"Rewards?" Knight stroked his chin. "Either credits or money. However, it will be recorded as military merit in our files. Although it's not significant, it's at least an honor. It will be quite useful if we join the army in the future."...

"That's good enough. Having military merit is enough," Hard said with a grin.

Upon arriving at Seven Luminaries Star, the vessel docked at the space station. Passengers were transferred to aircraft and landed at a special hangar of the Training Department. Xilin and Hard were pushed out in wheelchairs. Pride would have been pushed too, but he refused to save face.

The Training Department's hangar was already crowded with people. Some high-ranking officials from Seven Luminaries were present, as the mission was related to the accident at their research base. All the trainees from the Training Department were there, including Long and Ci Jincheng. Long winked at Xilin and nodded towards a familiar stretched flying car parked nearby.

As Xilin was being pushed off the aircraft, a person emerged from the flying car. Upon seeing this person, Knight, with questionable loyalty, abandoned Xilin and retreated, clearly trying to keep his distance.

Seeing the newcomer, Xilin tugged at the corner of his mouth and said, "Why are you here..."

Mo Heng, with a stern face, scrutinized Xilin from head to toe, ensuring he had recovered well. Then, he reached out and grabbed.

At the Training Department's hangar, trainees and school officials gathered to welcome and comfort the injured. Combined with those disembarking from the aircraft, the crowd numbered in the thousands. Under the gaze of these thousands, Xilin was reprimanded by Mo Heng, who was pinching his cheek. The vast hangar echoed with Mo Heng's powerful voice.

Many of the trainees present were seniors who had only ever seen Mo Heng's kind and amiable demeanor. They had never witnessed Vice Principal Mo acting like this. They all fell silent, watching Xilin's face being pinched by Mo Heng, feeling vicarious pain just by looking.

However, several school officials were surprised. Those who knew Mo Heng understood that he only pinched the cheeks of people he cared about deeply. Although Mo Heng appeared to be scolding Xilin, he was actually signaling to others that this kid was under his protection, and anyone who wanted to touch him would have to get past this old man first.

In the Trade Ten Star Zone, on a planet in the D Star Zone, not far from the bustling city, stood a manor.

Aifulan leisurely watered plants with a spray bottle. Behind him, Steward Suofu was reporting.

"...Those few companies have been significantly impacted. Military supplies were seized, the government launched sudden investigations, commercial partnerships were severed, and even several renowned scholars invited as guests have changed their tune..."

Aifulan listened without any reaction. After finishing watering, he put down the spray bottle and took a towel from Suofu to wipe his hands. Then, he said, "Triple the bounty for him this time."

"Yes. Then... the person in charge of contact on Seven Luminaries' side..."

"Proceed as originally planned."

"Understood. I'll go do it right away."

Damn it, my clicks were deducted!! Crap, I finally reached this point, climbing up bit by bit, was it easy for me tot! I didn't buy tickets or boost scores, and yet they deducted points and tickets, why don't they deduct those who clearly boosted them?! Tears are flowing, picking on honest people, a winter of injustice~~~~