After concluding his talk with the redhead, Old Dog tried calling Ziye’s Silver Signal, but to his surprise, it wouldn't connect.
It was the first time Ziye had ever turned off her Silver Signal.
He didn't dwell on it, switching to his Ultra Signal next.
The Ultra Signal was dead too.
A sudden, ominous premonition gripped him. He demanded in the Wolf Den, “Who has contacted Dog Sister recently?”
Silence met his query.
Old Dog pressed on, exasperated, “Has anyone practiced with Ziye three days ago? Five days ago? Ten days ago???”
This time, murmurs broke out, but every reply confirmed they hadn't been in contact.
Finally, Iron Hand stepped forward timidly. “About half a month ago, she sent me a metal sheet, telling me to refine and fabricate the alloy to the specified dimensions and quantities required for a half-month supply, and deliver it to the Air Force Assembly Hangar. She mentioned three Dreadnoughts were nearing completion.”
Old Dog’s heart lurched. “Contact the Air Force Assembly Hangar immediately. A’Can, check her current Silver Signal location and dispatch intelligence personnel to find her.”
Iron Hand hadn't thought much of it; Ziye often hid away to research ship armor. Seeing Old Dog’s grave demeanor and the call for intelligence made him chuckle. “It’s fine. She’ll come out to forage for food in a few days when she gets hungry.”
Old Dog admitted there was some logic to that. Though worry gnawed at him, he decided the situation couldn't be that critical and dropped the matter of her signal being off.
Just then, A’Can dropped a bombshell. “Found her. Little Stinky’s Silver Signal is at Interstellar Federation Headquarters Space Station No. 3, and her Ultra Signal is on Bicycle Planet!”
The rest of them: …Given Ziye’s personality, she would never abandon one of them!
Especially now, when the school year was starting, why would Ziye be at the Interstellar Federation Headquarters instead of heading to Kaga?
The head of the intelligence department spoke up. “A’Can, send me the signal locations. I’ll go to the Interstellar Federation. Yuan Yuan and Fang Fang, you go to Bicycle Planet. Chang Chang and Duan Duan, you head to the Air Force Assembly Hangar. Those staying at headquarters, check the numbers of her recent contacts and give them a call.”
Before they could mobilize, An Junlie sent Old Dog a private email. “I am searching for Ziye at the Federation Headquarters. Can I ask A’Can to pinpoint her exact location? The Angels’ people can’t get an exact fix on the Silver Signal.”
Old Dog’s expression shifted dramatically. “You knew Ziye was missing?”
An Junlie replied, “Trust me, she is alive. Please ask A’Can to send me the signal coordinates.”
Old Dog nodded, closed the group comms, and privately obtained the signal coordinates from A’Can to send to An Junlie.
Upon receiving them, An Junlie followed up: “Given the situation, it’s possible someone might move against the Wolf Den soon. You stay put for now. Leave Ziye’s matter to me.”
Old Dog couldn't utter a single word.
Sometimes, he felt space was small—always the same few legions shouting, the same politicians roaring.
But now, he felt space was vast, so immense that when someone disappeared right beside him, he wouldn't know where to begin looking… He decided not to tell the redhead about Ziye’s disappearance yet, fearing she would erupt, while he himself mustered more personnel to search for Ziye.
To find someone, besides the Silver and Ultra Signals, two other items were needed: a pilot’s license and a passport.
He had someone check, and both were last used half a month ago, on Bicycle Planet.
While the Wolf Den searched for Ziye, war had already spread across most border star systems.
The legions victorious in the Tamogan Star System pressed their advantage, expanding widely into neighboring systems, sweeping through space with their strongest battleships paired with the most potent missiles.
The defeated legions, desperate to save face and recoup losses, blockaded the economies of hostile legions and stopped supplying strategic weaponry to others…
The stars descended into chaos.
Iliya watched the situation unfold beside Karu for ten days. Facing the increasingly chaotic state of affairs, she felt delighted.
The turbulent age had finally arrived!
But it wasn't yet time for the hero to take the stage.
The most opportune moment for a hero was when everyone was exhausted, their weapons depleted, their fleets decimated, yet they still refused to admit defeat.
Iliya smiled faintly, activated her Ultra Signal to reach her most hated cousin, Yi Fan, and informed him that the missing persons from the Tuba Star System included Ziye.
Yi Fan was a bastard, she firmly believed.
But precisely because of that, he would never pass up any chance that might allow him to make a comeback.
Yi Fan had zero standing within the Fia family.
To regain his rights, to climb to the heights he desired, he needed outside help. Whether it was the Wolf Den, the Angel Legion, or the Tang Clan, he wouldn't let any of them slip by.
Which legion would cooperate with Yi Fan when the time came?
Iliya smiled, tapped her finger lightly, and instructed her subordinate, “Help me find the number for the Angel Legion Commander. I want to personally deliver the news about Ziye to him.”
Her scheme was unfolding perfectly.
But Yi Fan wasn't foolish.
What kind of person was Iliya?
Did he dare accept what she threw his way?
He dared to accept, yet he didn't want to.
So, he paid Ba Yi Pa a favor, redrafted a “List of Missing Persons from the Tuba Star System,” and placed Ziye among the key figures before presenting it to Ba Yi Pa.
That day, Ba Yi Pa ignited a frenzy across the galaxy regarding the cause of the war, then unveiled the missing persons list, highlighting Ziye’s name in large, red font at the top, and sharply pointed out: “Some say the Tuba Star System’s disappearance originated from a duel between the Star Federation and some turtle legion that dares not show its true colors; others say the Federation’s rescue team encountered a Void Storm; yet others claim Admiral Molin was attacked by UFOs. But can anyone tell Sister Ba why the Wolf Den’s Strategic Weapons Director disappeared alongside Admiral Molin?”
The moment the people of the Wolf Den saw the news, their faces turned green with anger.
Their own person was in trouble, and they had to learn about it from Ba Yi Pa?
Redhead was busy salvaging wreckage trailing the fleet. Upon seeing the news, she nearly crashed her ship into the fleet’s carrier. She slammed her hand onto the control panel. “Damn it!”
She hit the command key precisely, causing the salvage vessel to shake violently.
The second-in-command jumped back in alarm, fearful of becoming collateral damage from a stray shot.
Redhead shot him a glare, dialed An Junlie’s number, and began with an accusation: “Is this how you look after Little Stinky?”
An Junlie had just entered Bobo’s residence, the Interstellar Federation Command Headquarters, and had no time to explain much to Redhead. “She will return, I guarantee it. Just give me some time now.” With that, he terminated the Ultra Signal.
Redhead was fuming, her head feeling like it was smoking. She cut the Ultra Signal and tried the Silver Signal.
This time, An Junlie didn't even listen; he simply hung up.
Redhead stamped her foot hard. “If anything happens to Little Stinky, I will blow up your entire legion!” Seeing the second-in-command watching her with an awestruck gaze, she snapped, “What are you looking at?”
The second-in-command, eyes starry, breathed, “Sister Hong, you are so cool!”
Redhead coldly ordered, “Get lost.”
The second-in-command’s face fell.
Redhead lost all appetite for anything. “Return to base. To the nearest space station. You handle disposing of the wreckage and pay Jiu Shou first for the fees. I’m going out for a trip.”
The second-in-command asked, “Where are you going?”
Redhead didn't look back. “To kill someone!”
An Junlie was a man of direct action.
Even when trespassing, he did it openly.
He left all his bodyguards outside the Command Headquarters and walked in without a weapon, his sole assistant carrying Douzai. The entire display was as if he were walking into his own home—utterly dominant.
The Command Headquarters’ butler stepped out to intercept. “Greetings, do you have an appointment?”
An Junlie replied, “If you don’t want your Commander to die again or your young master to perish, please convey my arrival: An Junlie is here.”
The majordomo dared not block him. Since the Commander was absent, he had no choice but to notify Bobo.
A moment later, Bobo descended the stairs, his face cold. “How could you let someone without an appointment inside?” His gaze swept over An Junlie, finding the situation illogical—a legion commander arriving at the Command Headquarters door without even sending a courtesy call, just barging in?
It was terribly rude.
But when his eyes landed on An Junlie’s assistant, his expression instantly changed.
—Douzai. That was Ziye’s pet!
The moment Douzai saw Bobo, all its fur bristled, and it opened its mouth to reveal sharp teeth.
Bobo pretended not to notice and slowly approached An Junlie.
An Junlie simply stood still, waiting until Bobo was right in front of him, then suddenly stepped forward, his left hand gripping Bobo’s elbow, executing a swift move.
Bang—
Bobo was hurled onto the ground with a heavy over-the-shoulder throw!
An Junlie controlled his grip perfectly, applying just enough force to avoid serious injury but ensuring Bobo couldn't get up immediately.
Bobo cried out in pain, flustered and furious. “What are you trying to do?”
An Junlie crouched down, seizing Bobo by the collar and pulling him up, his voice chilling. “Where is Ziye right now?”
This question was Bobo’s greatest fear.
Although no one had asked him about his time on the destroyer since leaving the hospital, he couldn't overcome his internal conflict.
—Because he had caused the deaths of his former friend and teammate!
In recent days, while trying to console himself that An Junlie had killed his father, Karu, so killing Ziye was justified revenge, he was simultaneously tormented by the thought that Ziye might truly be dead, possibly without even a clone, and that he was the one who killed her…
These two conflicting ideas tortured him, compounded by the constant presence of Iliya, his potential stepmother, who made sure to remind him of herself. He couldn’t eat or sleep properly; he was nearing a breakdown.
To make matters worse, Ling Yin badgered him every few days, “Tell me, did you send Ziye somewhere! Say something!”
Bobo didn't know what to say.
What he wanted to say was that he liked Ling Yin very much.
People find it hard to hide their true feelings when facing someone they care about.
Yet, it was precisely because of Ling Yin that he was so agitated.
This morning, Bai Lanxue finally relayed the transfer order for the Seventh Fleet. Before he could pack, An Junlie was at his door.
A single thought echoed in his mind: What goes around, comes around.
-RS