Upon docking, Yang Ying dispatched Randall with the processed combat footage to the subsidiary office of the Kussen Mercenary Alliance to register the feat of destroying a Triceratops battleship. Following standard procedure, the Mercenary Alliance would soon dispatch personnel in conjunction with government agencies to investigate the battlefield, verify the submitted evidence, and, upon confirmation, transfer the one-billion bounty to the Tran Mercenary Group's account.

Due to the martial law in effect, the procedures for entering and exiting the port were exceedingly complex, so Yang Ying decided to bypass Kussen entirely, planning to depart as soon as Randall returned from the office.

Qingniao and his freighter had already been safely delivered to Kussen, formally terminating the contract between him and the Tran Mercenary Group.

Qingniao sent a communication, proposing to host a banquet at the best restaurant in the port and inviting Yang Ying, where he could also directly transfer the commission fee to the Tran Company’s account. Given the recent attack by the Triceratops battleship, Yang Ying, who hadn't eaten yet, readily agreed. After a moment’s thought, he decided to bring Katerina and Lilia along to the restaurant.

Kussen, being a tourist metropolis, boasted a highly developed culinary scene. The restaurant in question was a Chinese establishment, though its exterior was shaped like a pyramid, rising five stories, with each ascending floor becoming smaller in area but more opulent in decoration. Qingniao had reserved the entire fifth floor; Yang Ying learned from a server that this reservation alone cost over half a million credits, not counting the food and drink.

Yang Ying took the elevator to the fifth floor. As the doors opened, he stepped into a warmly lit room where crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting a clear yet soft glow. The floor beneath his feet was inlaid with polished hardwood; though Yang Ying couldn't identify the wood, it felt exquisitely comfortable to tread upon. Furthermore, several pieces of calligraphy and painting adorned the surrounding walls, appearing to be the work of masters. Although Yang Ying possessed no connoisseur’s knowledge of art, his awakened senses as an Awakened being allowed him to perceive the inherent character of the artists and the dedication poured into their work.

At the center of the room sat a large table already laden with several cold dishes. Qingniao and his bodyguard were seated, awaiting him. Both were dressed identically to when they met at Gray Harbor. Qingniao remained completely bundled up, and the bodyguard still wore tactical goggles, sitting beside Qingniao with a cool demeanor, looking as if someone owed him money.

Seeing Yang Ying and his party enter, Qingniao rose and greeted them separately: “Commander Yang Ying, Miss Katerina, Captain Lilia, it is a pleasure to see you.”

“Qingniao, Mr. Bodyguard, I trust our mercenary group did not disappoint you this time,” Yang Ying smiled faintly at them and extended a hand to Qingniao.

“Of course not. Your group’s performance truly astonished me. You mentioned going after another Triceratops previously—what was the outcome?” Qingniao shook Yang Ying’s hand before sitting down. He was still using the voice modulator, which emitted a low, distorted sound that was distinctly uncomfortable.

“The result was a success; we eliminated that other Triceratops,” Yang Ying said with a smile, pulling out a chair to sit. Katerina and Lilia took seats beside him.

“Is that true?” Qingniao exclaimed, his surprise so evident even the modulator couldn't hide it. The bodyguard, while maintaining a stoic expression, exhibited a minute twitch near his eye—a detail not lost on Yang Ying’s perception.

“Mr. Randall, whom you met last time, is currently en route to the Kussen Mercenary Alliance office with the evidence to claim the bounty.”

Yang Ying fully understood Qingniao’s astonishment. A fleet led by a large battleship, such as that deployed by the Kussen Corps, could only barely contend with a single Triceratops, yet Yang Ying had managed to destroy another with only three small battleships under his command. It was difficult to comprehend.

This was the main vulnerability of the secrecy plan: although the Valkyrie showed no outward abnormality in front of others, the act of destroying a Triceratops with just three small battleships was inherently anomalous.

Of course, unexpected variables always arose on the battlefield. Intelligence suggested that even the combined tactical efforts of three of Earth Federation’s newest small battleships offered only a one-in-ten chance of success against one Triceratops.

Qingniao, perhaps providing himself with justifications, inquired in an ambiguous tone, “Could it be that someone was assisting you? Or perhaps several small to medium mercenary groups pooled their forces to take on that Triceratops?”

“This…” Yang Ying gently shook his head.

Having spent two days interacting with Yang Ying and his crew, Qingniao had become accustomed to their cautious method of communication. He immediately interjected, “My apologies, I will refrain from pressing that matter.”

He raised his glass: “A toast to you for eliminating the second Triceratops and saving Kussen City.”

“Cheers!”

The group clinked glasses and took a sip, even the perpetually stern bodyguard complied.

Then, Qingniao raised his glass once more: “A toast to the Kussen Corps for destroying the first Triceratops and saving Kussen City.”

“Cheers!”

Another round of drinks was consumed.

Finally, Yang Ying also raised his glass: “A toast to the complete success of this mission!”

The term ‘mission’ inherently included the Ape Hunting Plan, information unknown to Qingniao’s side, but Katerina and Lilia both allowed faint smiles to grace their lips.

After three toasts, their glasses were empty. Katerina and Lilia both requested orange juice instead, citing the same reason in unison: alcohol was detrimental to brain cells. Lilia needed to command starships, and Katerina was dedicated to physical maintenance; both held a deep aversion to alcohol.

After the meal concluded.

Yang Ying walked to the glass wall on one side of the room. This wall faced inward towards Kussen City. Although not situated at an extreme height, it offered an unobstructed view of the surrounding kilometer radius of the port.

The streets were densely packed with people surging toward the port area. Yang Ying had witnessed this spectacle before, upon leaving Titan’s Light—the port there had been exactly the same. People swarmed, desperate to flee the city via the port, which in their eyes had become an unsafe place, rife with mortal danger.

The crowds clashed physically with the Kussen Corps personnel guarding the port entrance; the city was still under lockdown, and passage was not easily granted.

Observing the turbulent flow of people below, Yang Ying shook his head: “This tourist metropolis appears to have suffered a profound blow, not just material damage, but reputational as well. I suspect their business will take a considerable time to recover.”

“I should now pay the commission fee,” Qingniao announced, activating the personal computer on his wrist, connecting to his bank account, and initiating a transfer of six million credits to the Tran Mercenary Group’s account.

Yang Ying also wore a personal computer on his wrist. After confirming the influx of funds from his bank account, he laughed: “Then we are settled. A pleasant cooperation!”

“Pleasant cooperation,” Qingniao nodded to Yang Ying and the others. “I had intended to invite you all to tour Kussen, but after everything that has happened, I have no good reason to press you to stay.”

He moved to where Yang Ying had been standing, resting a hand against the glass wall, his back to the group: “Kussen is my home, the place where I grew up. If you have time in the future, Commander, feel free to visit often. It will be my treat.”

“If you are treating, perhaps you could start by removing that scarf from your face?” Yang Ying asked with a smile.