A brief funeral

"The Former Marshal's funeral?"

Xi Yan looked up from a mountain of electronic documents and reports, closed the holographic screen, and stared at Beta's virtual avatar on his computer in confusion.

Only after a moment did he remember that the Former Marshal, Xi Lie, was apparently his father in this life.

He had no memory of him and had assumed he had been buried long ago.

"But why so late? And why wasn't I told beforehand?"

Xi Yan frowned and asked.

Beta had anticipated this and explained, "The Former Marshal was the backbone of the entire Empire. Marshal Xi Lie died suddenly, and the Empire was in some turmoil at the time. To preserve political stability, the generals kept delaying the funeral. Later, they were either busy fighting for power or preparing for your accession, so it was postponed until today."

"Also, to keep you emotionally stable, all funeral arrangements were made in secret. The generals all helped move things along. Now that the time is near, you only need to make an appearance. It won't put too much strain on you."

"I see..."

Xi Yan looked a little dazed, but still managed a smile. "It's all right. I'm tougher than you think."

His memories began only on the day he transmigrated. He remembered nothing from before that and had no impression of the father he had never met.

"You did the right thing. I don't blame you." Xi Yan stood and switched off the computer. "Let's go. Do I need to change?"

"Before the Former Marshal passed away, he said you needn't wear mourning clothes. You should attend in your marshal's uniform. He left some things for you."

"All right."

Although puzzled, Xi Yan chose to accept it.

"Marshal."

The Little Secretary of State, Ailiveer, pushed open the door and entered, wearing a solemn black dress.

She approached and naturally rose onto her toes, straightening Xi Yan's marshal's uniform with her small, pale hands. Looking into her azure eyes, Xi Yan saw the grief his little assistant could not hide.

"Let's go."

Putting on his Smart Wristband, Xi Yan walked around the desk and headed out of the office.

Once the door was open, Ailiveer moved ahead to lead the way. After they took the elevator down, Yu Shuo, the captain of his personal guard whom he had not seen in some time, fell in behind Xi Yan. Together with an entire unit of personal guards, they boarded a spacecraft and flew toward the stellar base.

The Ion Thrusters spewed blue halos of light, their powerful thrust swiftly carrying the entire spacecraft out of the Ring World's simulated atmosphere.

Notably, Xi Yan's private craft had been the first to receive a fusion reactor. With its greater energy output, its speed had increased substantially, and it reached the Cybrex Starport in just a few minutes.

General Ning Zhiyuan, General Veronica, and General Prigozhin were already waiting at the Starport in flight suits.

"You're all here." Xi Yan nodded calmly to them.

"I'm sorry. We arranged everything privately and only told you now because we were afraid it would affect your mood, Marshal," Veronica said respectfully.

Xi Yan gave her shoulder a friendly pat. "That was thoughtful of you. I'm actually quite resilient. In the future, you can discuss things with me directly."

"Yes, sir." The imposing female general stood at attention.

"So what should I do now?" Xi Yan turned to ask Beta.

Beta replied, "The Secretary of State arranged most of the ceremony. You can ask her."

Ailiveer shook her head. "You don't need to do anything. Just watch."

"The Former Marshal asked for everything to be kept simple. Only we will attend this funeral. Come with me."

Although the little assistant looked very young, she was already an experienced administrator who handled every matter methodically. She also had the abundant energy unique to the young. Perhaps that was why Marshal Xi Lie had left her with Xi Yan.

Marshal Xi Lie had personally promoted her. Now that the Former Marshal had passed away, Ailiveer must have been deeply saddened as well.

Ailiveer walked ahead on her short little legs, followed by the Marshal, the three generals, and the captain of the personal guard.

A small spacecraft fitted with a Hyperdrive sat quietly in the spaceport, facing the star.

Under their arrangements, the area had already been cleared of everyone else. Only the Galactic Throne and the Left and Right Protector Ship remained in the distant shadow of the stellar base, indicator lights blinking on their hulls.

Xi Yan stopped beside the small spacecraft and silently gazed through its transparent viewport at the dark brown wooden coffin.

Inside lay the person dearest to him in this life.

A priest approached softly. Xi Yan glanced at him impassively, then continued staring at the silent spacecraft and the equally silent coffin.

With a sorrowful expression, the priest stepped forward, holding a traditional Bible and cross, and murmured prayers outside the viewport.

They stood solemnly, waiting for the priest to finish the rites. Ailiveer had already lowered her head and begun quietly sobbing. Even the three generals could not help looking mournful.

Xi Yan's spirits sank as well.

Had the Former Marshal not repaired this Ring World, he might have had nowhere to put his talents to use.

Whatever else he had been, Marshal Xi Lie was the founder of the Empire and deserved the utmost respect.

As though unwilling to disturb the Former Marshal's slumber, the priest withdrew quietly. Ailiveer wiped away her tears and stepped forward.

She took a deep breath, tugged at the hem of her dress, and began solemnly.

"Today, with heavy hearts, we mourn the founding marshal of the Interstellar Human Military Junta-the great pioneer, Lord Xi Lie."

"Twenty years ago, he led our parents out from under the decaying United Nations of Earth. He commanded a vast fleet across the Sea of Stars in search of a new colony. He found our Ring World and personally established the colony on which our survival depends."

"Marshal Xi Lie was a military strategist of great learning and talent. He once commanded over a hundred warships simultaneously against the fleet of the United Nations of Earth and won a resounding victory. He was also a resolute man of action. Ever since we arrived on the Ring World, he worked tirelessly to build it up, actively advancing the Empire's establishment and development."

"Without question, Marshal Xi Lie was a pioneer of our civilization. His contributions will be engraved upon the monuments of history and endure forever alongside the Empire's glory."

"Great Marshal Xi Lie, may your soul find peace in heaven. Your achievements are known to all, and your radiance will spread throughout the Sea of Stars with our civilization."

Ailiveer's eulogy was simple. She spoke with deep emotion, tears slowly spilling from the corners of her eyes.

Xi Yan stood impassively in place, his hands behind his back, saying nothing as his gaze flickered.

Everything about the funeral was kept simple, and Ailiveer had arranged it all. After her brief eulogy, she opened her Wristband, brought up the spacecraft's remote-control interface, and sent control over to Xi Yan.

Keeping the holographic screen open, Xi Yan looked at the spacecraft before him and nodded slightly.

He had nothing he wanted to say.

He pressed the button on the holographic screen.

The Ion Thrusters at the spacecraft's stern activated. Their thrust gradually increased, pushing the craft forward. Then it glided out of the spaceport and accelerated further.

With his hands behind his back, Xi Yan silently watched the spacecraft shrink to a black dot, rush toward the star, and vanish into its golden depths.

A simple burial in space came to an end.

There had been no grand display or elaborate ceremony. Only those closest to the Former Marshal during his life had been present.

"Let's... go back to the ship. There's still an audio recording the old Marshal left us," Ailiveer said between sobs.

The funeral had been brief. Xi Yan seemed still immersed in its atmosphere. Without a word, he simply turned and walked toward the spacecraft they had arrived in.

"Marshal Xi Lie left an audio recording too?" Ning Zhiyuan asked in confusion.

"He gave it to me alone and said we should all listen to it together at the end." Ailiveer forced herself to rally. "Let's go back."

"Mm." Veronica turned to leave, sorrow on her face.

Silence filled the spacecraft. Everyone sat around Ailiveer as the Little Secretary of State opened her Wristband. After numerous authentication checks, she unlocked a hidden file, opened it, and began playback.

A deep, powerful voice emerged, though it could not conceal its weakness.

"My dear son, my generals, and my most loyal Little Secretary of State, Ailiveer, how are you all..."

"That's the Former Marshal's voice..." Unable to contain her grief any longer, Ailiveer began to cry softly.

Xi Yan listened without expression.

His feelings were complicated.