Zi Ye felt anxious but had nowhere to vent her frustration, stewing inwardly, "Just speak plainly."

Tang Wen reached out to take her paw, walking slowly ahead. "What was the reason you once trusted him?"

His hand was ice-cold, lacking any warmth. Zi Ye tried to pull away, but the more she struggled, the tighter his grip became. If she didn't resist, he simply held her loosely. Accepting the situation, Zi Ye intentionally let her attention drift from his hand. "We survived tribulations together."

Tang Wen gazed up at the planet's sky, a faint smile touching his lips, yet his eyes were utterly cold. "Have you ever considered that among the prisoners on Silver Rune Star, there might be moles?"

Zi Ye’s heart lurched with a dull thud. "Are you saying he was an undercover agent all along?"

Tang Wen let out a soft "Mm," one hand tucked in his pocket, the other holding hers as he walked. "I stumbled upon it a few days ago when I was looking into Bai Lanxue's background. People like that aren't uncommon on Silver Rune Star."

In short, the Interstellar Federation, worried about them causing trouble, tossed a few fake prisoners down there to manage the rest.

But who among Silver Rune Star's red-haired old dogs were easy targets? They were so formidable that the group sent down could only meekly obey.

On the other hand, being assigned to Silver Rune Star meant being stuck there for life. Naturally, those unwilling to accept their fate would gladly join forces with the genuine prisoners to break out into space.

During that period, everyone on Silver Rune Star shared a single goal and were busy finding the passage out, making it impossible to spot any hidden disloyalty. It was only after reaching space that the true nature of various individuals was revealed.

Zi Ye believed Tang Wen about seventy percent, but she still wouldn't yield verbally: "No proof, how am I supposed to believe you?"

Tang Wen wasn't bothered. "I wasn't here to earn your trust in the first place."

Zi Ye was momentarily speechless, flushing with anger. "Then are you here just to deliver a unilateral announcement?"

Tang Wen chuckled. "No, I’m just inviting you to watch the show."

Zi Ye puffed out her cheeks, huffed, and turned away, simultaneously wrenching her hand free from his grasp. "I won't believe you're being this kind for no reason."

Tang Wen was, in fact, quite innocent.

If he hadn't told Stas that there was something fishy behind the scenes, and if Stas hadn't been his friend, Zi Ye would have been hounded by trouble even if she avoided imprisonment.

Who was Tang Wen? He could endure a broken heart; this little matter was nothing by comparison. Moreover, he wasn't the petty type who demanded Zi Ye like him just because he liked her. He simply smiled. "The real question is, do you want to see?"

Zi Ye straightened her back. "I absolutely must see."

Tang Wen shrugged, extended his long legs, and started walking forward. "Let's go."

Zi Ye immediately followed.

In the mature phase of space development, humanity actually grew tired of the overly technological space stations, rediscovering their love for the land. On the planet controlled by the Unification Department, while not conventionally beautiful, the scenery was a natural landscape formed over millennia, possessing both day and night, teeming with life.

Once Tang Wen fell silent, Zi Ye didn't know what to say to him either. She quietly observed the scenery, lost in thought.

If Xiao Xiao was a spy sent by the Interstellar Federation to Silver Rune Star, and after reaching space, reported the escape of the Silver Rune people to the Federation, would the Federation ignore it?

They would likely have already issued an interstellar warrant for the Silver Rune group and dispatched troops to suppress the prisoners.

However, as of now, the Interstellar Federation hadn't made any moves, which didn't make sense.

Unless...

Unless Xiao Xiao hadn't told the Interstellar Federation about what happened on Silver Rune Star.

And what reason would Xiao Xiao have for withholding that information from the Federation?

Zi Ye still couldn't figure it out.

She also couldn't understand why Tang Wen was getting involved in this matter.

She might not get a chance to ask Xiao Xiao, but Tang Wen was right there, available for questioning at any moment. She looked up and called out to him. "Teacher, why are you helping us?"

Tang Wen paused his steps, turned around, and replied blandly, "To preserve my grandfather's inheritance on Silver Rune."

Zi Ye blurted out, "Does that include me too?"

As soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted them.

That question was utterly ridiculous.

Tang Wen suddenly smiled. "It does. You are one part of the inheritance."

Zi Ye: ...

Heavens, strike her down with lightning!

However, she didn't have the mood to joke with Tang Wen. Suppressing her feeling of 'resentment,' she composed her expression and said seriously, "Teacher, if Xiao Xiao is a spy sent by the Interstellar Federation to Silver Rune Star or Wolf's Den, logically he should be targeting Wolf's Den, not the Unification Department."

Tang Wen nodded.

Zi Ye became even more confused. "Then why was he caught by the Unification Department? Did he uncover something truly momentous about them?"

Tang Wen drawled, "Who knows."

Zi Ye asked again, "Is he really an Interstellar Federation spy? Could someone have stolen his silver communication records and fabricated this false online information?"

Tang Wen countered, "If so, what kind of person do you think would do that?"

Zi Ye thought for a long time. "Perhaps someone is trying to sow discord?"

Tang Wen shook his head and smiled. "Wolf's Den's development momentum is indeed impressive right now, but it doesn't yet threaten the Interstellar Federation. If the Federation wanted to send spies, they would have stationed themselves here during your current talent recruitment drive, and only activated later. Xiao Xiao worked hard to gain your trust on Silver Rune Star; what benefit is there in betraying you now?"

Right, what benefit was there in betraying them now?

Zi Ye racked her brain trying to figure it out, but her mind felt completely muddled.

Lately, she constantly felt like her brain wasn't sharp enough.

Back on Silver Rune Star, she felt her mind worked well; she could anticipate many things in advance. After entering space, the situations she faced became increasingly complex, and after thinking hard, she couldn't grasp the full picture, leading her to doubt her own intellect.

Little Sprout piped up in her consciousness: Silly girl, if betrayal yields no benefit, is it still called betrayal? It's called coercion.

Zi Ye was startled and mentally communicated with Little Sprout: "Are you saying Xiao Xiao is being coerced by someone?"

Little Sprout flapped its wings, flying around but refusing to answer.

Zi Ye was so frustrated she wanted to strangle it.

After walking for about five minutes, they arrived before a magnificent gate. A sign on the right clearly read, "Unification Training Base No. 1." There was a traditional road leading to the entrance, but it looked like no one had walked on it in ages; layers of dust covered it.

In the air, various airships, shuttles, and vessels were descending directly into the base—quick and convenient.

Zi Ye turned her head and punched Tang Wen. "I told you to walk."

She struck him without holding back. Tang Wen bent over in pain, his face contorted. "Ouch, that hurts, that hurts!"

Zi Ye froze in shock.

She only hit him once, how could he be so severely injured?

Seeing Tang Wen clutching his side, about to collapse to the ground, she didn't have time to think further and hurried to support him. "Are you alright?"