Ziye sat on the sofa, lost in thought for a very long time, contemplating her relationship with Tang Wen, and also the issue of Xiaoxiao.

Perhaps it was the sheer volume of recent exams; her mind was dull, completely unable to function.

Maybe once the Legion Assembly concluded, she would tell Hongfa and let her handle it.

She looked at Xiaoxiao’s face, which was achingly familiar, the familiar expression of helplessness, yet it filled her with sorrow.

But one thing became clear: regardless of her situation with Xiaoxiao, she could no longer hurt Tang Wen.

Whatever his intentions were for bringing her here today, he had helped her.

She could not take advantage of his affection for her to wound his feelings.

This was the conclusion she reached after an hour of contemplation, following his departure from the room.

If she did otherwise, even Douya would betray her.

Ziye closed her eyes and took a deep breath, activating the voice system on the coffee table screen, keeping her tone as flat as possible: “Hello.” Then, she heard the strange echo from the voice system—more rigid than her own voice, and as Tang Wen had said, it was an electronically synthesized sound.

Xiaoxiao jumped up as if startled by a bird, exclaiming in shock, “Who are you? What are you doing here again?” Ziye’s heart clenched, and she fought to control her voice to prevent any emotion from leaking out: “You don’t need to know who I am; you just need to tell me, why did you do it?” Why give the internal data of the Wolf’s Den to the Star Federation Secret Intelligence Bureau but withhold information about the Silver Talisman? Why betray the Wolf’s Den? Why become a spy? All those questions jammed in her throat.

Shan Gen ultimately just wanted to ask why.

Xiaoxiao’s eyes were fixed on the wall as if staring at some monstrous apparition, his voice hysterical: “Come out! Get out here!” Ziye looked at his furious, bulging eyes and suddenly couldn’t bear to look anymore.

Trusting someone required a long time and immense courage.

The trust cultivated over so long in the Silver Talisman had utterly collapsed in that single moment.

Ziye silently deactivated the voice system.

Better leave it to Hongfa.

She turned and walked out the door, spotting Tang Wen standing outside.

She looked up at him, intending to say something, but ultimately lowered her head and managed only three words: “I’m sorry.” Tang Wen stood before her, silent for a long moment, merely reaching out to gently stroke her head.

The Legion Assembly at the Galen Space Station was in full swing.

Old Dog and Hongfa appeared together, visiting the legions that had sent flower baskets when the Wolf’s Den Legion was founded, including the Star Federation.

However, they failed to establish contact with the Tang Clan.

A half-hour before the Assembly began, the pair had largely finished their rounds.

Old Dog entered the venue, and Hongfa turned to leave.

Just as she turned, Hongfa’s sharp eyes caught sight of Tang Wen.

The member of the Tang Clan, whom they had sought everywhere without success, was right before her eyes—no effort required.

She couldn't worry about formalities and immediately approached him.

Before she could even speak, Tang Wen spoke first: “The Tang Clan will attend.” Hongfa instantly felt reassured, saying, “Thank you very much.” Tang Wen replied mildly, “It’s nothing; you are Ziye’s older sister.” Hongfa understood instantly, sighing inwardly.

How lucky Ziye was to have such a handsome older brother who cared for her so much! If she were Ziye, she would immediately have him in her inner circle.

Why didn’t Ziye see it? Actually, Hongfa could understand why Ziye chose An Junlie over Tang Wen.

Because An Junlie was fundamentally a man who could provide a sense of security.

Tang Wen, in Hongfa’s eyes, was far from mature enough.

The two brushed past each other.

Hongfa casually dialed Xiaoxiao’s number.

Since she couldn't enter the Legion Assembly hall anyway, she might as well find Xiaoxiao to learn more about the Unified Command.

If the Wolf’s Den became a sovereign legion, within three months it could deploy its own forces into the Unified Command as one of the peacekeeping units of the galaxy.

She used to be a pirate, never giving the Unified Command a second thought—burning, killing, looting without restraint.

Now, her perspective hadn't changed drastically; she would still rob and take what she wanted, but she had become smarter, realizing she must use the role of the Unified Command as a cover to secure maximum benefits for the legion.

To use the Unified Command as a shield, she first needed to understand it.

Currently, the only person from the Wolf’s Den capable of operating within the Unified Command was Xiaoxiao.

Xiaoxiao wasn't a fool; he must have gathered information.

So, she directly dialed his silver-link frequency.

Beep… The system responded with a soft female voice: “The number cannot be connected at this time.” Hongfa paid it no mind and dialed again, receiving the same reply.

She couldn't help but frown and dialed a third time.

Three failed attempts.

Hongfa irritably pulled a cigarette from her pocket, lit it, took a gentle puff, and slowly blew out a perfect smoke ring.

Where the hell was that little bastard Xiaoxiao messing around? Did she have to find Ah Can to dig him out from under a rock? After two more drags, she dialed the numbers of two other people, Feidi and Nisheng.

Surprisingly, both reports were consistent: “Hasn’t Xiaoxiao left the Unified Command?” Hongfa felt something was wrong and dialed Ziye’s ultra-signal: “Didn’t you send Xiaoxiao to the Unified Command as a technical maintenance operative? Where is he?” Ziye, still feeling gloomy after her encounter with Tang Wen, answered Hongfa’s call in a muffled voice: “He betrayed us.” Hongfa’s gaze instantly sharpened like blades: “Little brat, are you serious?” Ziye was in a terrible mood, hugging Douya and Douzai, hiding in a more secluded hotel on the Galen Space Station.

“Are you near the Unified Command? If so, get over here.” Hongfa followed the coordinates Ziye provided and showed up at the door.

Upon seeing her, Hongfa couldn't contain herself: “How could Xiaoxiao betray us?” Ziye, hiding in the covers like a snail, refused to lift her head: “I don’t know.” Hongfa was not one for maudlin sentimentality.

She yanked Ziye out of the bedding and said coldly, “You must tell me now.

If this is true, we must eliminate him as quickly as possible.

If it’s not true, he is extremely useful to us.” Ziye looked up at her with sad eyes: “He betrayed us.

Aren’t you sad?” Hongfa’s red lips curved into a cold smile: “Sad? What good is sadness! Ziye, whether you’re a pirate or in a legion, there’s one thing you must remember: there are no permanent enemies, and no permanent friends.

Alliance or separation is only for protecting those you wish to protect and living the life you want to live.

As long as he is not an enemy, he is still a friend.

But if he becomes an enemy, the first person to point a gun at him will be me.” Ziye was startled by her coldness.

Hongfa felt her tone had become too harsh, but she was that kind of cold and hard woman and disdained offering explanations.

The path she had walked was different from Ziye’s.

She hoped Ziye wouldn't tread the bloody path she once took, hoping to shield her from the influence of this bloodshed.

But if someone tried to drag them back into that blood-soaked chaos, she would fight back ferociously! The former Blood Demon, the former pirate leader, and today’s Combat Director—she had never changed.

Might makes right!