At the Drunken Spare Ribs Restaurant, inside a private room.
The two elders had a mountain of questions, but Rubick couldn't answer them. He brushed them all off as classified. And now that he was back, they didn't want to press him too hard.
So they turned their attention to Robin. She knew just how to charm them, and soon had them both smiling.
After the meal, Rubick reached into his pocket and felt his heart sink. He had no money.
"Dad," Rubick said hesitantly, "I don't have any money on me..."
"It's fine. I do."
"Um, could you give me a little more? I need to buy some clothes. Nothing I have at home fits anymore."
Rubick was mortified. He had just told them he was working for the military, yet he didn't even have money to pay for a meal.
Old Hu suspected nothing. He got up and paid the bill.
"Come on, then. I'm taking the day off. Let's go shopping together."
Robin quietly took out a few pieces of gold, but Rubick hurriedly shook his head.
The four of them spent over an hour at the mall, and Rubick and Robin bought several outfits each.
By the time they got home, it was already dark.
Old Hu sat in the living room watching the news, while Old Zhang chatted with Robin about family matters. Rubick made an excuse about meeting a few friends, quietly went up to the roof, and left the residential complex through a portal.
In the Dragon Kingdom on Blue Star, the nation's military forces were divided among five major theaters. Min Province, where Rubick's family lived, fell under the Azure Dragon Theater. Its headquarters were in the Southern Capital, and it commanded fleets, an air force, rocket forces, and other military branches.