(Thanks to .2026.3.12*. for the reward-sponsored extra chapter.)
T'au from different clans looked more or less the same. At least, humans could not tell which clan they belonged to just by looking at them.
But this one was different. Just look at what he was wearing—the patterns and decorations piled onto his clothes were enough to scare someone to death!
After the two sides exchanged a round of hostile stares, Li Qinwu stepped forward and asked:
"Oi, what unit do you work for?"
The Ethereal immediately played dumb, waving a hand beside his ear as he spoke in T'au:
"What you said, I don't understand?"
Li Qinwu waved his hand.
"Drag him out and beat him!"
Two Skitarii soldiers stepped forward, dragged the panicked Ethereal outside, and gave him a thorough beating.
Li Qinwu, meanwhile, opened a portal and stuffed everything useful and useless around him into his safe.
Then he sent men to completely occupy the Ethereal's palace and seize the automated Chemical Plant.
He ordered Busi to use drones to hunt down the other T'au, making sure none of them escaped!
After all that was done, the bruised and battered Ethereal was dragged back inside.
The Skitarii soldiers reported:
"My lord, his mouth is very tough. No matter how we beat him, he refused to submit.
And his heart rate is very fast. If we keep beating him, we might kill him, so we stopped."
Li Qinwu shouted. Damn, this was a real tough nut.
"Call the Shuttle down. I'll take him back to my warship. There are some wonderful tools there—I'm sure those wonderful tools will make him talk!"
When the Shuttle arrived, Li Qinwu had the Skitarii soldiers hold the two occupied strongholds. Then, taking Shan Shui and the captured Ethereal with him, he shot upward