Traitor

Han Bing asked in horror, "What are these things?"

"Don't worry. Just some little friends with sharp teeth."

"What exactly are you trying to do?"

"Simple. Take me to Huo Planet's archive. Once I find what I need, I'll help you get rid of Huobao."

Han Bing sneered. "You sly creature. You were the one who helped Huobao become supreme commander, and now you're telling me you'll help me kill him? Are you trying to drive a wedge between us?"

"Does your relationship really need any help with that?" Zhang Fan countered. He deliberately touched his face, reminding Han Bing of the four grooves on his own.

"Tell me your real purpose, or I won't help you, even if you kill me."

"To go home!" Zhang Fan sincerely told Han Bing everything about his goal.

Han Bing gave a cold laugh. "You actually infiltrated Huo Planet over the pointless emotions of inferior creatures. I have to say, I admire you."

Han Bing looked down at his feet. "How am I supposed to take you to the archive like this?"

The little black insects did not leave. Instead, they burrowed into Han Bing's body.

Han Bing roared, "What are you doing? Didn't we have a deal?"

"An inferior creature like me doesn't trust a superior life-form like you. I'd feel safer keeping your life in my hands."

"Sly creature!"

Han Bing's personal warship slowly headed toward the Data Nexus, where the records were stored. Zhang Fan stood aboard the warship and looked down. Outside the steel city, the ground was riddled with pits, every stretch of it looking as though it had been struck by meteorites.

"Are those creatures down there Liruwara People?"

Han Bing glanced down. "Not just Liruwara People. There are also Yaqi, Dodomia, Kaitela, and creatures from a few unnamed planets. They're all slaves."

"Mechanical life-forms like you actually need slaves?"

"Isn't that obvious? Once we turn a planet into steel, are we supposed to mine it ourselves? How many more combat units could we manufacture in that time? Why waste minerals on mining robots?"

"You don't understand," Han Bing said smugly. "With more combat units, we can invade more planets. We turn half the planets into steel and enslave the other half, which lets us manufacture even more combat units. The cycle repeats. It's only a matter of time before we rule the universe."

Zhang Fan nodded approvingly. "Not a bad approach. It's just a little inefficient."

"You're calling it inefficient? This is the optimal plan."

Zhang Fan merely smiled and did not answer, while Han Bing assumed he had nothing to say...

"Commander, we've arrived at the Data Nexus!"

Han Bing led Zhang Fan into the Data Nexus without encountering any obstacles and stopped before a gigantic sphere of light.

"What information are you looking for?"

Zhang Fan was not foolish enough to let him learn about Earth or any clues leading to it. "I'll do it myself."

"You? Hahaha, that's impossible. The Core Intelligence only accepts mechanical life-forms. Touch it, and you'll trigger an alarm."

Zhang Fan stood before the sphere of light, and a miniature {Scarab} crawled out of his body.

Han Bing watched curiously as the mechanical insect climbed onto the console. About two minutes later, it crawled back inside Zhang Fan's carapace.

"You can actually control robots? What model is that? Why haven't I seen it before?"

Zhang Fan smiled. "It's not a robot. It's a member of the Insect Race that has undergone mechanical modification."

Han Bing grew thoughtful. A moment later, he suddenly asked, "Can you turn me into something like that?"

This time, Zhang Fan was surprised. "What do you mean?"

"I want to be alive!"

"You're already a mechanical life-form, aren't you? Is your circuit board broken?"

"No. I'm tired of this cold, unfeeling body. I want to feel. I don't want reactions dictated by data. I want real emotions that come from within me."

For a moment, Zhang Fan truly did not know how to respond. "You're... quite unusual!"

"All right. Help me rescue King Pamir, and I'll modify your body. How does that sound?"

Han Bing exclaimed, "Rescue King Pamir? Are you insane? Wherever they're holding him must be heavily guarded by now. Forget you-even I would have trouble getting in."

Zhang Fan spread his hands. "That's not my problem."

"But once it's done, I'll have betrayed the Nagang People..." Han Bing was clearly hesitant.

"Do you think what you're doing now doesn't count as betrayal?" Zhang Fan said coldly. "I promise to modify your body. We of the Insect Race always keep our word. And if you're willing to follow me, I can give you a powerful legion to command as well!"

"Deal!"

Han Bing brought Zhang Fan to the central detention facility, where they happened to encounter Tieqian, newly promoted to deputy supreme commander, escorting King Pamir. He was preparing to take the king to the White Wolf Star System and hand him over to Wolf 800 for imprisonment.

The moment Tieqian saw Zhang Fan with Han Bing, he grew wary. "Overlord Zhang Fan, why are you with him?"

Zhang Fan spread his hands helplessly. "This general brought me here under guard."

Tieqian glared furiously at Han Bing. "General Han Bing, you're overstepping your bounds more and more. You even dared to imprison the supreme commander's guest!"

Before Frost could speak, Tieqian sneered contemptuously. "Don't tell me you thought grabbing some random creature would earn you a promotion. Unfortunately, this random creature you grabbed happens to be the supreme commander's friend!"

Han Bing seethed. Huobao was bad enough, but now even his adjutant dared to mock him.

"Hahaha, it seems nobody here thinks much of you. No wonder you're a little unusual!"

Zhang Fan's words struck Han Bing right where it hurt. After another glance at the smug-faced Tieqian, Han Bing punched through his chest, tore his mechanical head clean off, and threw it to the ground before stamping it into a sheet of metal.

Han Bing glared at the surrounding guards. A cold glint flashed, and in an instant, they were all sliced in two.

King Pamir stared in shock at the sudden turn of events, then turned his furious gaze on Zhang Fan. "You bastard! You really did collude with the Nagang People!"

Zhang Fan did not answer him. He snapped his shackles and introduced Han Bing to King Pamir. "This is Han Bing. From now on, he's our friend."

"Friend? You actually call Nasteel a friend? Then you're my enemy."

"Why are you so childish? He just killed Tieqian. He's already a traitor to the Nagang People. The enemy of your enemy is your friend. Don't you understand?"

King Pamir roared, "Didn't you betray me too, friend?"

"Sigh... How did someone with your intelligence become king? Come on, let's get out of here first. Hu Baili and the others should be ready to meet us."

"What? Even the High Priest knew? You..."

Han Bing took King Pamir and Zhang Fan aboard his personal warship. They had barely left Huo Planet's star region when dozens of wolf-headed warships came after them.

"Wolf 800's escort fleet."

Zhang Fan asked curiously, "Aren't those Lilvara's warships?"

"Traitors!" King Pamir snarled. "They betrayed their own people just to survive!"

Whether deliberately or not, King Pamir kept staring at Han Bing. Zhang Fan immediately blocked his line of sight. "He's one of my Insect Race now!"

"Insect Race, once I return to the Thunderflame Star System, we'll settle the score for your betrayal!"

Han Bing slowly walked toward King Pamir and said coldly:

"Overlord, some destabilizing elements are best dealt with right now!"