The bone at the fracture point of that leg was alloy. —It was a robot that was blown apart!

Ziye recognized it; it was a J-series combat robot she had manufactured. Those two were ruthless enough, but as long as the person was safe, nothing else mattered.

Stas noticed her strange smile and walked over, patting her shoulder. “Girl, are you losing it?” Ziye turned around, her face still pale, but her expression significantly lighter.

Her eyes curved into crescents as she smiled: “It’s nothing, just a bit too stimulating for my heart to handle.” Stas stared at her thoughtfully. “Is there someone you know involved in this fight?” What sharp insight.

Ziye’s heart skipped a beat, and she maintained a blank expression while lying through her teeth, “No. I thought there might be, and it nearly scared me to death, but thankfully there wasn’t.” Stas gave her a scrutinizing look but didn't press the topic.

Instead, he asked with interest, “Girl, after watching this, what is your biggest takeaway?” Ziye reflected for a moment, then stated firmly, “The existence of the Stargates is neither inherently good nor bad. If utilized, they can become an exceptionally powerful weapon, especially near Galen.” The original purpose of the Stargates was to declare territorial ownership while also correcting navigation routes to prevent ships and mechs from losing their way in the vast expanse of stars.

A Stargate is also a gate. A gate has a frame and can only accommodate a certain volume of material.

A ship passing through a Stargate is like a person entering a room; they need to slow down, aim carefully, and then proceed. For ships to pass through the gates, they not only need to decelerate but also require waiting for tractor beams to correct their course, making the process more troublesome than for humans.

Humans have never lacked people who lie in wait before or after a gate to take advantage of the situation. Space is no different.

Red Hair and Old Dog successfully caused chaos for Fia by utilizing the Stargates belonging to Fia and the Interstellar Federation, managing to hijack its transport ships and cargo. A single transport ship is worth over a billion.

This time, Red Hair definitely hit the jackpot. Stas smiled wryly.

“Little girl, you have a talent for piracy.” Ziye scratched her head and laughed, sinking onto the sofa. Having watched the space battle rage for over an hour, now that she was relaxed, her whole body felt weak; if she didn't sit, she wouldn't be able to stand.

Stas asked Colingal, “What is your assessment?” Colingal habitually snapped to attention, saluted, and reported, “Sir, this action will incite displeasure from Fia toward the Interstellar Federation, providing an opportunity to ignite a border war. Immediate countermeasures should be taken.” Stas nodded, stood up, his expression turning serious, and issued an order: “Recall one thousand personnel from base training to standby at headquarters.” Ziye’s heart started racing again.

Is this the prelude to helping capture them? Please no!

She clutched Stas’s arm nervously. “There won't be a war, right?” Stas remained calm.

“The Integration Department cannot engage in war. However, if the two sides start fighting, they will escalate quickly into border unrest, and we must guard against it.” As long as it wasn't about capturing Red Hair, Ziye was indifferent to how much Fia and the Interstellar Federation fought; it had nothing to do with her.

She wrestled internally with whether she should inform everyone at Wolf’s Den about this. If Blackbeard or Big Head found out, they would likely take advantage to profit from the war, and Old Dog and the others would seize the chaos to snatch territory...

Interstellar space never lacked regional conflicts. If the people of Wolf’s Den got involved, the Integration Department might start paying attention to them.

This meant Wolf’s Den would also have to divide its efforts. One group would be responsible for the Budding Group, and another for Wolf’s Den Military.

They needed to maintain minimal overt contact, otherwise, before any military action even began, the Budding Group might be exposed. Alternatively, if the Budding Group grew too powerful, and someone dug up the secrets of Wolf’s Den, it would be a net loss.

With the thought settled, Ziye excused herself from Stas and returned to the hotel. Back at the hotel, she sent the idea to the internal Silverlink group chat, then washed up and went to bed.

Red Hair and Old Dog had just committed a serious crime, so they couldn't return to the Wolf’s Den villa immediately. She guessed that even if an all-hands meeting or a “separation” was necessary, it would be at least a week away.

Since tomorrow was Sunday, she could sleep in soundly. However, sometimes wishes are the opposite of reality.

At five in the morning—yes, five in the morning—she was jolted awake by Little Sprout. Drowsily, she saw Little Sprout rolling around on her.

If it weren't for Little Sprout’s pitiful eyes and its dusty, matted fur, she would have thought she was hallucinating! Their eyes met.

Little Sprout let out a soft whimper and threw itself into her arms, whining, “Mama Ziye, you actually abandoned me.” Ziye closed her eyes, trying to clear the hallucination before reopening them, but she was overwhelmingly tired. After three attempts, she couldn't manage it, so she burrowed back under the covers, muttering, “It’s nothing, go to sleep, it’s still early.” Little Sprout tumbled onto her face and vigorously rubbed against her before efficiently wriggling under the covers next to her.

As for its dirty fur, that was not its immediate concern. Disturbed by Little Sprout, Ziye found it impossible to sleep well afterward.

She lounged in bed until eight, then got up, packed her things, and prepared to give Little Sprout a bath before heading back to school by noon. Who knew?

Man proposes, the universe disposes. Just as she finished packing, a message arrived from Stas: “Coffin Face will arrive at the Galen Space Station in one hour.” Ziye frowned irritably.

Her mood, already half-ruined by Little Sprout, completely shattered. She decisively deleted the message, closed her communicator, and told Little Sprout, “Let’s go back to school.” Little Sprout slumped its face, reluctantly clinging to her, completely unwilling to move!

It had only managed to find her at five in the morning after going out at two in the middle of the night. It hadn't rested enough and now had to leave.

Whine, it repeatedly bumped its head against Ziye. Despite thousands of objections, it had no choice.

In short, being a pet was hard work. Checking out, heading out the door.

Colingal, waiting outside, turned around upon hearing the sound, snapped to attention, and saluted: “M-Ma…” Ziye covered her face, interrupting him with a pained expression. “Stop talking.

I’ll come with you.” Escape attempt failed. Ziye miserably climbed into the Integration Department’s dedicated vehicle to meet Tang Wen.

She felt like she could kill Tang Wen right then! Little Sprout eyed Colingal with beady curiosity and released a small burst of micro-electricity with a whoosh.

The faint current was incredibly fast. Colingal suddenly raised his hand, and the micro-electricity grazed just beneath his wrist, missing.

Little Sprout’s eyes widened as it watched him. Feeling playful, the electricity shot out again—whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—toward his arm.

Perhaps sensing the ‘malice’ in Little Sprout’s gaze, he rapidly dodged up, down, left, and right, successfully evading sixty percent of the micro-shocks. Little Sprout shot Ziye a sidelong glance and communicated in her mind, Look at his speed compared to yours.

Ziye scoffed, grabbed one of its little sprouts, and aimed it at Colingal’s head. Whoosh— Colingal ducked sharply, and his military cap fell off.

Little Sprout followed up with another surge, and with a hiss, it singed his hair! Colingal picked up his hat and turned his head slightly.

Seeing his movement, Little Sprout immediately leaped into Ziye’s arms, acting like a dutiful doll. Ziye covered her face in anguish.

Why was she being so silly again? She should have stopped Little Sprout from messing around; why did she join in?

Now she didn't even need to look to know that Colingal would consider her the main culprit! If Colingal was as petty as Tang Wen… Her future safety was in jeopardy!

While covering her face, Ziye couldn't resist peeking through her fingers to steal a glance at Colingal’s expression. It was better not to look.

When she did, she gasped! Colingal’s hair was already short, but after being singed, it curled up right on his forehead, creating an extremely peculiar look.

Furthermore, there was a faint, residual mark from the micro-electricity right in the center of his forehead. OMG, he was disfigured!

Ziye gripped Little Sprout tightly, offering a forced, dry apology, “I’m sorry, I just wanted to test your speed. I truly didn’t mean it.

But you are really amazing!” “It’s fine.” Colingal readjusted his cap, perfectly obscuring the singed hair and the mark on his forehead. The highest requirement in the military is obedience to orders.

Stas was his superior, and he was following Stas’s order to escort Ziye, meaning he was prepared to take responsibility for all consequences stemming from accepting this command! Seeing Colingal so composed, Ziye didn't dare say more or move recklessly.

Clutching Little Sprout, she sat quietly in the car, watching the god-like architecture swiftly recede. When they passed the Integration Department Headquarters office building, the driver stopped.

Colingal alighted to escort Stas out of his office. Stas greeted Ziye, boarded the vehicle, and sat beside her.

Colingal and the other escorts followed in a magnetic levitation car behind them. Ziye asked blankly, “Where are we going?” Stas smiled wryly.

“To meet Coffin Face, of course. Don’t you want to see him?” Ziye turned her face away.

It wasn't that she didn't want to; she desperately did not want to! Stas gazed at the ships passing overhead, saying languidly, “Coffin Face came specifically to see you, you know.

He had a huge fight with Bai Lanxue over it. You cruel woman!” Ziye pretended not to hear and changed the subject.

“How far is he?” Stas activated his communicator screen, located Tang Wen’s coordinates, and laughed, “He’s at—” His expression suddenly changed, and he immediately dialed his number: “Coffin Face, you need to retreat back inside the Federation Stargate immediately, right now!” On the communicator screen, Tang Wen’s expression was calm: “Why?” Stas grew agitated. “That route is dangerous.

Either retreat into the Federation Stargate and take the detour, or wait for me to pick you up. Do not act recklessly!” Tang Wen tried to object, but Stas grew more insistent, “Coffin Face, trust me this once!” Just then, a burst of intense electromagnetic waves interfered with the screen, which immediately filled with static.

Tang Wen’s reply became unintelligible. Ziye leaned over and recognized the distress signal.

She gasped in shock. “That’s electromagnetic interference.

Someone is jamming his cruiser.” As soon as she finished speaking, the screen flickered back to normal. A rough voice crackled through the communicator: “People on the shuttle, listen up!

You are surrounded. If you don't want to become space debris, don't make any sudden moves!” Stas and Ziye exchanged a glance.

Disaster! Tang Wen had been hijacked!!!

-RS