Ziye traveled to Tama, declining Red Hair’s welcoming reception and various other visitors. Cutting straight to the chase, she followed Red Hair to block the door, then made a quick tour of the technical department, conveniently poaching two designers she found promising.

Those two weren't exactly designers in the truest sense.

The Pirates had limited resources; they couldn't handle the complete design and construction of warships independently. However, they were adept at modifying warships purchased on the market to suit pirate operations.

Among the group Red Hair led, there were about a dozen such modification designers, and Ziye decisively moved to snag two of them.

Red Hair’s face turned green. She grabbed Ziye’s cheek, saying, "You little brat, you dare steal my people."

Ziye forced a smile. "Isn't it that I'm short of staff?"

Red Hair glared, expressing frustration, "Do you have any idea that the legion is buzzing about you poaching people?"

Ziye looked surprised. "Is that so?"

Red Hair squinted at her. "Still pretending?"

Ziye loudly wailed, "This is absolutely slander. If I were someone who poached people, would the Strategic Department still be this small?"

Red Hair gave a cool laugh. "A few days ago, Iron Hand told me he kindly sent two people over to help you with metal analysis—gone like a stone tossed into a deep well. Is that true?"

Ziye choked. "It's true."

Red Hair continued, "A few days before that, you borrowed two technicians from Black Beard to maintain equipment in the Xilian star system, and they just... what's that phrase? Ah, borrowing Jingzhou from Liu Bei? No, no, it should be Tang Wen occupying the Philip system, hehe, making it his own."

Ziye: "...... Are they that petty? It’s just a few people. I'll return them once the Xilian system develops."

Red Hair smiled. "Fine. Given how you put it, I’ll temporarily overlook the matter of you guys taking away the entire first team of test pilots after going to the border to test the new energy panels."

Ziye spread her hands. "They should have been under the command of the Strategic Weapons Department anyway."

Red Hair waved her hand dismissively, turning away. "Alright, you can take these two as well. Out of sight, out of mind."

Ziye cheered. "That’s more like it. Since you’re being so good to me, I’ll conveniently take two kids off your hands too, how about that?"

Red Hair spun around sharply. "You won't even spare the children?"

Ziye pointed to two small children playing in the modification workshop. "None of you have time to pay attention to them. I'll take them away, and I guarantee I'll teach them better than they are here."

Red Hair fell silent for a moment. "Nine Hand, them?"

Nine Hand replied, "They are the children of Fatty Brother and Old Bi."

Red Hair fell silent again.

Ziye noticed the strange expressions on both their faces and quickly kept quiet.

A moment later, Red Hair said, "If they are willing, you can take them. It’s fine." Then, she broke into a smile again. "Go pack up. We'll head back to Wolf’s Lair together later."

Ziye nodded and turned to leave.

Red Hair watched her retreating figure vanish at the doorway, then turned to Nine Hand. "Perhaps this is for the best. The primary school at Wolf’s Lair has reopened. See which of the children here would like to go to school in Wolf’s Lair, make a list, and send them over then. We made a lot of money this time; the construction funds for Wolf’s Lair are almost covered. You keep the rest and focus on building up Tama. Let me know if you need anything."

Nine Hand’s eyes grew hot, and he lowered his head. "Yes, Sister Red."

Five minutes later, Red Hair, Ziye, the two designers, the little trainees from Tama—Xiao Lan, Xiao Zi, Xiao Huang—plus the two children, two robots, and one shuttle craft were all transported back to the Wolf’s Lair headquarters.

Ziye exchanged a quick greeting with Old Dog at the headquarters before immediately flying back to the Xilian star system.

Old Dog had intended to ask her about her feelings regarding An Junlie, but he didn't get the chance. After a moment’s thought, he decided against asking, instead secretly slipping her a pack of Jihu jerky.

Red Hair, standing nearby, pretended not to see anything. Once Ziye was gone, she grumbled, "Hmph hmph, presenting borrowed flowers to the Buddha. My soldiers hunted those."

After Reinar led the group of desperate outlaws into space, Silver Talisman Star completely became the training base for the Wolf’s Lair and the Angel Domain. She knew several people in the legion coveted that particular taste, so she ordered the soldiers stationed there to send one Jihu carcass back to the legion every month—which explained the scene of Old Dog giving meat to Ziye.

Old Dog teased, "Luckily you don't like eating it, or I would have had to give her my share."

Red Hair shot him a sidelong glance. After a pause, she said, "There are a few children on Tama who lost their relatives in the crossfire. I want them to come to Wolf’s Lair for schooling; what do you think?"

Old Dog nodded. "It’s only right. The Hope Legion also had many such children before. Letting them study together, they will become the pillars of our Wolf’s Lair in the future."

Red Hair felt relieved and waved her hand. "Alright, I'm leaving now. See you."

Old Dog looked surprised. "Where are you going?"

Red Hair turned back with a smile. "To Silver Talisman Star. It’s been a while since I saw my soldiers; I’m getting restless."

Old Dog watched her leave, touched the hunting knife he habitually carried, and sighed. "In the blink of an eye, I’m left alone again."

In just half a year, the Xilian star system transformed from a barren post-war ruin into a luxurious system boasting three five-star space stations, six four-star stations, and ten three-star stations.

The Strategic Weapons Department was fully constructed, featuring massive metal architecture intertwined with garden roses—a perfect fusion of ruggedness and delicacy, even more beautiful than the most affluent space stations in the Karcher system.

The space station administrators were in place, and staff had been assigned. Robot police patrolled the stations with benign smiles, maintaining perfect order.

After half a year of grueling work, Hale spoke even less than before, and his demeanor grew colder; his face was perpetually set, and he executed tasks with meticulous precision.

Ziye understood the immense difficulty he faced.

She had dropped him into the school system as a newcomer—unfamiliar with this and that, having to establish authority was never easy. Finally, he had lived up to her expectations.

Ziye was very pleased.

Red Hair’s judgment in choosing people was indeed quite sharp.

Ling Yin arrived even earlier than her, pushing the investment promotion for the Xilian system to its zenith. Not only major merchants and investors from various star systems gathered, but mercenary groups and associations were all present.

Even Ziye’s best friends from Lings arrived.

Shaxini opened a branch of her beauty salon. April started a clothing factory in partnership with the Sprout Group, specializing in supplying robot uniforms; the Sprout Group opened its branch in the Xilian system, and she followed suit. Aina was there for a tour... If Ziye hadn't suddenly spotted An Junlie amidst the bustling crowd, everything would have remained perfect.

Despite wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses that obscured his face and eyes, she recognized him instantly.

What kind of intuition was this?

An Junlie wove through the crowd, approached her, gently took her hand, and led her away from the throng into a quiet area among the rose bushes. Without preamble, he gave her a massive hug.

Ziye was suddenly moved and nestled her head against his chest, rubbing against him slightly.

Yes, this felt good.

Just then, something latched onto her thigh. She paused slightly, hearing a soft, milky voice from below her, "Sister, I want a hug too."

Ziye looked down. The Nineteenth Sister released her leg and reached up to her.

Ziye felt a surge of pleasant surprise—the Ditar family had come too? She decisively broke free from An Junlie’s embrace and reached out to hug the Nineteenth Sister—only to find with dismay that the Nineteenth Sister had gained significant weight, and she could barely lift her.

An Junlie decisively took over and held the child.

The Nineteenth Sister was exceptionally well-behaved, extending her chubby little hands to grasp Ziye’s. Ziye immediately wanted to give her a gift. Reaching into her pocket, she found only the small bag of Jihu jerky Old Dog had given her.

If she ate this, wouldn't her tiny teeth chip instantly?

Ziye retracted her hand.

Reaching in again, she pulled out a card and slipped it into the Nineteenth Sister’s hand. "Take this."

An Junlie glanced at it—it was a Wolf’s Lair Legion Request Card.

With this card, upon encountering any trouble, they could seek assistance from any station in Wolf’s Lair, and the station police would help.

This card wasn't bad.

The Nineteenth Sister didn't grasp its significance, turning it over and over before complaining, "It's not pretty."

Xiao Dou Ya, who had been sleeping tucked into Ziye’s waistband, sprang up upon hearing this, baring its teeth. "What's not pretty about it?"

The Nineteenth Sister pointed at the abstract wolf head in the center. "It looks too fierce."

"You're the fierce one," Xiao Dou Ya retorted indignantly, flapping its wings. "How dare you say something designed by this great master isn't pretty."

The Nineteenth Sister blinked, watched Xiao Dou Ya fly in circles above her head, and involuntarily burst into laughter, chasing after it with her little short legs.

Xiao Dou Ya deliberately teased her, flying high and low.

An Junlie watched them running around, then turned to Ziye. "Ziye, did you miss me?"

Ziye was silent for three seconds, then shook her head. "What are you here for?"

This heartless girl!

An Junlie fiercely pulled her into an embrace. "To see you."

Ziye managed an "Mm," but said nothing more.

An Junlie frustratingly let her go. He retrieved a card from his pocket, took her hand, and placed it in her palm. "This is an Angel Domain card. Take it; it will keep you safe wherever you go."

Ziye looked up at him. "I'm not a child anymore. Give it to the Nineteenth Sister; she might be happy with it."

An Junlie suddenly felt an intense urge to bite this heartless girl!

To avoid further entanglement on this issue, he changed the subject. "Remember that person you asked me to compensate last time? I brought them."

Ziye finally showed a flicker of pleasure. "Good thing you didn't forget."

An Junlie couldn't help asking, "What if I had forgotten?"

Ziye replied, "Three times the repayment."

An Junlie ruffled her hair. "Stop being so constantly tense; you'll snap eventually. The Xilian system is very well built, but you can't carry all the burdens on your own shoulders. It's like the Sprout Group—letting them take charge is the way to go."

Ziye countered, "When the Sprout Group first started, I built and maintained every single robot myself."

An Junlie was momentarily speechless. "Alright, but don't overwork yourself. Look, you have dark circles under your eyes."

Ziye swatted his hand away. "That was from Red Hair hitting me."

An Junlie: "......"

Ziye suddenly laughed. "You brought Chen Yin too, right? Let's go see Chen Yin. I wonder if she brought the Kenken Star with her. Ling Yin gave me Kenken Star; I want to show her."

An Junlie sighed quietly in his heart.

The only comfort was that she had said "we," not "I."

Actually, An Junlie had little to complain about.

The purpose of bringing Chen Yin had been achieved, and the goal of bringing the Nineteenth Sister would soon be met.

The only thing left unfulfilled was that Ziye still didn't look favorably upon him.

An Junlie vaguely understood the reason Ziye had chased him away that time.

It wasn't because he had done something overtly wrong at the moment, but rather, Ziye needed him less and less. If the day came when Ziye needed him absolutely not at all, then his presence beside her would become meaningless.

The only thing he could do now was maintain his utility to her.

Even if it was minimal.

Even if clumsy.

In the Xilian system, Ziye held the highest status.

Like Xiao Hei and Xiao Bai, like Ling Yin, Ziye was spared the endless socializing required of others. After all, few people reached her level, and even if they did, they wouldn't rashly appear in the Xilian system—except for An Junlie.

So, while others were socializing, Ziye was dealing with An Junlie.

The two children brought back from the Tama system, named Gao Feng and Mai Zi, were now responsible for looking after the Nineteenth Sister. The three of them skipped off to play in the Robot Research Institute.

During the one-month winter break, Ziye took two days off.

Starting on the third day, Ziye resumed her routine from the school days, designing warships.

The warship designs were largely complete; only minor adjustments based on the data obtained from Tama were needed. She quickly finalized all the required modifications and submitted them to An Junlie for review.

Ziye’s trust in him made him happy, but as he looked over the dense schematics, his head started to ache. He wasn't formally trained; discerning potential flaws in these designs was incredibly difficult for him.

So, he quietly handed the blueprints over to Xiao Dou Ya for inspection.

Xiao Dou Ya pointed out a few errors stemming from carelessness and then returned to its systems work.

The current Xiao Dou Ya was using one optical brain to manage the creation of at least three major armament systems for an elite team.

It took a small shortcut, slightly modifying the mecha management system intended for legion use to create a ship management system that looked impressively advanced to ordinary legions. It would also build a high-end, intricate quantum engine system, with the remaining task being what it considered its own most earth-shattering creation: the Core Management System.

The Core Management System?

That was the management system for its physical entity—the Renwei Mecha!

An Junlie leaned in to glimpse the stack of twelve glowing screens Xiao Dou Ya displayed and instantly felt his eyes sting. The dense stream of data, the lightning-fast exchange—it was beyond what the naked eye could handle.

He gave up trying to communicate with Xiao Dou Ya and presented the answers Xiao Dou Ya provided to Ziye.

Ziye gave him an exasperated look, then with a light tap of her finger, forwarded the design draft to Tang Wen.

Right in front of An Junlie.

An Junlie immediately felt a slight sting of hurt.

It turned out Ziye didn't trust him exclusively.

She trusted Tang Wen just as much.

An Junlie’s fragile heart shattered again.

-RS