Lingyin was preoccupied, lacking any spirit for play, which made Ziye’s skin crawl. Aiyo, where was the girl with the crisp voice and bright personality from back then? She couldn't handle this resentful expression.

Lingyin ignored her, sitting by the viewport, watching a line of bronze-skinned youths playing—no, they were young men now. They had been sickly and thin on the Garbage Planet, their frames slow to develop, but after getting good food and intense training off-planet, they had shot up like bamboo stalks. Now, they almost looked like a whole ship full of handsome men.

“Yo, Ziye, are you running a harem now?” Ziye’s face darkened. “No way. These are all the boys from my department, just out of the training base.”

Hearing that, Lingyin regained some interest and appraised the ten silly guys from top to bottom. “Not bad. Suitable for a harem… you could have your alien be the Harem Master or something…”

“What’s a harem?” Xiaobai asked shamelessly. “Who’s the alien? Why can he be the Master?” Xiaohong stood up, clearly displeased. “We don’t need a Master; we’ll be our own Masters!” Xiaolü declared righteously. Ziye: “……”

Just as Lingyin was about to fan the flames, Ziye quickly interjected to change the subject. “We’ll switch battleships on Kelaer later. For now, let’s think about what we want to do.”

Ziye was truly stuck this time. She only had these ten oafs, and even the captain of the battleship was a robot.

Lingyin instantly felt the difficulty too. Having the intention to kidnap was useless without any actual kidnapping experience. The two looked at each other for a long moment. The battleship broadcast announced their arrival at the Kelaer Space Station.

Ziye considered for a moment. “Let’s take a walk around the space station.”

The battleship docked, and all twelve people disembarked. Ziye and Lingyin walked in front, the ten youths automatically falling into two columns behind them, giving the impression of a rather imposing procession. It had to be said, the base's military training was effective; they had managed to turn a group who loved to joke and play into disciplined individuals. However, Ziye was used to their playful antics, so this formality felt strangely unsettling. Strolling down the busy main street of the space station like this, anyone unfamiliar might think they were showing off.

Ziye glanced back at them, suddenly pointing towards a shop ahead. “Wow, that robot is so pretty!” “Where, where?” “Let’s go look!” “Goddess, please wait here!” “……”

The ten spoke in unison, and then, with a swish, they dashed toward the shop ahead.

Lingyin: “……”

Ziye turned sideways and made a face at her. “If you plan to develop in the Wolf’s Den, you’ll see them often.”

Lingyin pouted. “I’d rather not see them. But the Wolf’s Den is quite interesting. I’ll consider it.”

Ziye nodded, not pressing the issue. Lingyin belonged to the Star Federation, but that was about it. Her parents held no high military ranks, and she had little connection to the corps. Leaving the corps would only require filling out some paperwork; they wouldn't make trouble for her. Conversely, that identity meant she could transfer to any corps without issue, living the same life. Even if she stayed within the Federation, she could still attend school and do business at the Wolf's Den.

Ziye’s gaze swept across the shops lining the street when her eyes suddenly lit up—there, unmistakably, was the Teuton Mercenary Group’s office. If she couldn't do it herself, finding someone else to do it was certainly an option. The Teuton Mercenary Group had the necessary power. Although she was short on cash, ** had plenty of money. Kidnapping ** using the Teuton Mercenary Group, and then extorting money—wouldn't that solve everything? Hahaha, they found exactly what they needed without even looking for it.

Lingyin unintentionally turned her head and froze when she saw the chilling smile spreading across Ziye’s face. “What terrible idea are you plotting?”

Ziye grinned conspiratorially. “Come with me.” Without another word, she pulled Lingyin toward the Teuton Mercenary Group’s Kelaer office.

A robot from the office stepped out and ushered them in. The seated staff member inside stood up; he was over 1.9 meters tall, broad and stout, wearing a sleeveless top, a crude python-skin belt cinched at his waist, and both arms covered in ferocious tattoos. Seeing two young girls, he softened his imposing demeanor and flashed a smile. “Welcome. Are you here for revenge or a crime of passion?”

He was less intimidating when silent, but his smile while saying that made him seem even more savage. Lingyin instinctively stepped back two paces in fright.

Ziye glanced around. The surrounding walls were hung with firearms, and the tables and chairs were all disassembled, polished scrap parts from battleships or mechs, exuding a chilling metallic aura that felt quite threatening.

Ziye smiled sweetly. “You don't need to scare me; I grew up being scared.”

The staff member raised an eyebrow in surprise. He had assumed they were just curious passersby, but they seemed serious about conducting business. “We offer everything, provided you can afford it. Do you have an appointment?”

Ziye shook her head. “No.”

The staff member was about to say something when he spotted Little Sprout dangling near Ziye’s waist. He frowned slightly, tapped on a display screen, and said, “Please come inside.”

A robot immediately approached to lead them deeper in. Lingyin grabbed Ziye’s arm and whispered near her ear, “Are you really going to hire them?”

Ziye patted Lingyin’s shoulder, teasingly. “Aren’t you quite brave?”

Lingyin wrinkled her nose in displeasure. “I’m ignoring you.”

Ziye made a face at her and followed the robot straight ahead, eyes fixed forward. —Compared to before, Lingyin’s personality had truly changed drastically. The old Lingyin was fearlessly ignorant, daring to trespass anywhere and provoke anyone. It was that detestable ** that dragged Lingyin into the vortex, making her thoroughly understand the terrors of humanity, leading to her current timidity. If she kept hiding in her shell, her courage would never recover. The one who tied the knot must untie it; dragging her into the vortex and putting her through the wringer was what she needed to truly understand.

The office storefront looked small, but the interior revealed a different world. Before them lay a staircase made of cold, sharp metal. Above the steps, only robots stood in the frigid atmosphere. Footsteps on the metal floor cast half-shadows, creating an eerie, chilly sensation.

The robot said, “Please feel free to look around.”

Ziye was momentarily stunned. “Look around?”

Lingyin was somewhat unnerved by the environment, and her quick mind quickly grasped the issue. “Did you notice? They aren't acting like a business, and they don't seem inclined to serve us. Let’s go.”

Ziye couldn't figure it out. The Teuton Mercenary Group was quite famous, weren't they? Why wouldn't they take business? It was strange. Were they looking down on them for being young girls who couldn’t pay?

After touring the interior and returning to the lobby, Lingyin laughed dismissively. “Your mercenary group seems rather lame; there isn't a single person here.”

The staff member smiled faintly. “We only open the door to receive clients; we are not here for tours. Sorry to disappoint you. Farewell.”

At that moment, a flicker of programmed light crossed Little Sprout’s eyes. It remained motionless, hanging on Ziye, pretending to be an ordinary doll.

Just as Ziye was stepping out, the ten youths came running over, muttering, “Ziye, you actually left us behind.”

Ziye sighed in resignation. “I just heard the Teuton Mercenary Group was famous, so I came to check it out.”

Xiaohei poked his head into the office interior to peek. “There are lots of guns in there.”

Xiaoqing unceremoniously smacked him on the head. “You bumpkin, don’t let them laugh at us.” Though he said that, he was the first one to step into the mercenary office. The other youths eagerly rushed in after him, and in a short time, they had inspected every corner of the office, loudly criticizing as they went. “Teuton Mercenary Group? Not that great.” “Right, right, even their name isn’t as cool as our Scarlet, Orange, Yellow, Green, Cyan, Blue, Purple, Black, White, Red.” “The tattoo on that guy’s arm looks fake.” “……”

The group mercilessly tore the Teuton Mercenary Group to shreds.

Ziye’s face turned cold. “All of you get back to the corps and start mining! You’re not allowed out until you’ve mined for a full month!”

The youths hung their heads, completely subdued.

Ziye left the mercenary office in a huff. As dusk approached, she said to Lingyin, “Should we get a hotel room?”

Lingyin looked at her for a moment, then giggled. “It seems you figured out what was going on long ago.”

Ziye didn’t deny it. She chose a highly secure hotel, and they each took a room.

Once inside her room and the lock engaged, Little Sprout stretched lazily, finally free from having to pose as a doll. It happily bounced up, tapped Ziye on the head, and rolled over to the center of the large bed, comfortably curling up its little sprout on top.

Ziye grabbed it and demanded, “What was going on out there?” She hadn’t deciphered the mercenary group’s true intent. It was only as they were leaving that Little Sprout suddenly informed her telepathically that someone was tailing them nearby, which was why she had faked anger and sent the ten youths away as punishment. Next time they went out, they needed to be extremely cautious.

Little Sprout rolled over on the bed. “The guy with the tattoo sent me a message, telling us to enter the Virtual Master Training Base.”

Ziye blinked, suddenly understanding. She sent Lingyin a message, telling her to enter the Virtual Master Training Base. After washing her face, Ziye entered too.

Once inside, she first went to the agreed meeting spot to wait for Lingyin, then, following Little Sprout’s instructions, she entered Resting Room XX30291. Only one robot was waiting for them inside.

The robot’s expression was blank. “Report the code number.”

Ziye remembered the number Little Sprout had given her: “0556.”

The robot broke into a smile and simultaneously activated a display screen. “Which service would you like the mercenary group to provide? Please select.”

Ziye inwardly marveled: So powerful. To think of setting up the transaction within the Virtual Master Training Base—how ruthless and formidable.