Xiao Xun pressed close to Anna, kneeling beside her.
Several parts of her armor had melted, clinging tightly to her body. A few carbonized bones were visible beneath.
"Did we complete the mission?" she whispered, her breath thin as thread.
"Yes, we did it."
"That's good then."
She clutched his wrist and uttered her final words, "We won." Then, she closed her eyes.
Xiao Xun tightened his grip on her wrist before numbly releasing it.
"That's right."
Xiao Xun said with bitterness, "This time, we won."
The fighter jet returned to Base One. Since it was an unidentified flying object, John had contacted Base One in advance to prepare for its arrival.
Upon landing, Paul and George, before the aircraft had even fully settled, rushed out and placed Anna's body into a pre-prepared cryogenic pod, immediately freezing her at low temperatures. Clinical judgment indicated she was dead, and current medical technology was incapable of reviving her.
Xiao Xun descended the fighter jet slowly. A doctor intended to examine his physical condition, but Xiao Xun refused outright and immediately took the elevator to report to Rong.
The elevator door opened, and Xiao Xun entered the lizardman's office.
He quickly saluted the lizardman. "I'm back."
Rong turned around, his expression one of surprise. "You've completed it so quickly?"
"I wouldn't leave without completing the mission."
"Of course, Xiao Xun. Very good."
At that moment, a blonde beauty in a white uniform walked in. "Excuse me, there are six Tulo frigates appearing above the base."
Xiao Xun quickly understood. "They might have followed their fighter."
Rong continued to watch the Tulo fleet approach. He didn't issue a counter-attack order but instead asked Xiao Xun, "Tell me, what is it about our planet that makes the Tulo launch a full-scale offensive?"
Xiao Xun recalled what Chu Ningxiang had told him. "Perhaps their masters like this living environment!"
"Just because he likes it, should he be allowed to invade? I'm not that generous."
Saying this, he picked up the communication device. "Transmit my order: orbital cannons ready. Shoot them all down."
"Yes!"
Xiao Xun looked at Rong. "Do your words still count? If not, it's fine. Send me back to Sector Eight! I'll be a grunt, contribute in any way I can."
Rong clasped Xiao Xun's forearm. "How could they not count? However, I am not the overall head of Sector One, so I cannot appoint officers senior to myself. But don't worry, I have already submitted your application. Until then, please bear with us and await orders in Sector One!"
"What if I refuse?"
Xiao Xun hadn't really wanted to be the overall head of Sector One; he had just asked casually.
Rong was clearly displeased. "This is the Gatekeeper Guild, not your home. It's not a place you can just come and go as you please."
"If I insist on leaving, would you perhaps accuse me of being an interstellar spy?"
Rong snorted. "Do you know where Kensett is?"
"What does that have to do with me?"
"He's been arrested as an interstellar spy. If you don't want to end up like him, you'd better behave."
Xiao Xun was shocked. "Isn't Kensett one of your lizardmen too? You don't even spare your own people."
Rong's face suddenly contorted with rage. He grabbed Xiao Xun by the collar. "Firstly, I strongly dislike the term 'lizardman'. Secondly, I am a Blue Star person, just like you, only our living environments are different. You have so many interstellar spies, why shouldn't we?"
Afterward, he released his grip, as if changing masks, and smiled, straightening Xiao Xun's rumpled clothes. "I apologize. I got a bit emotional just now. You can go and rest. I will send someone to find you if needed."
As Xiao Xun exited Rong's office, the sound of artillery fire filled the air. It was not difficult to imagine the ferocity of the war.
The blonde woman in white walked up to Xiao Xun. "Xiao Xun."
Xiao Xun nodded at her. "Yes, it's me."
"Please follow me."
Xiao Xun was confused but followed her to a room.
The room was small, containing only a cabinet and two bunk beds, nothing else.
"You can rest here for now. If you need anything, you can contact the staff outside."
Xiao Xun said, "Thank you."
He was relieved that he hadn't been roughly searched or taken to some confinement room.
Before Xiao Xun could sit down, the blonde woman re-entered, holding a uniform. "For your convenience in moving around the base, please change into our uniform."
Xiao Xun nodded, saying nothing.
Because Pei Jingnan was piloting Rookie, the Tulo forces were quickly defeated, but they paid a heavy price.
The broadcast announced, "Please, Xiao Xun, report to the Research Department. Please, Xiao Xun, report to the Research Department."
Xiao Xun was lying on the bed, lost in thought. Hearing the broadcast, he assumed there was someone else in the base with the same name.
Before he could get up, the door was pushed open, and a man rushed in, waving. "Xiao Xun, can't you hear the broadcast calling you?"
Xiao Xun's temper flared at such an arrogant person. "Be polite. I am the overall commander of Sector Eight."
The man scoffed and said in a mocking tone, "When was that? You are now just a staff member of Base One."
Xiao Xun was furious. He stood up from the bed and lunged, grabbing the man by his collar. "Even so, it's not your place to shout at me."
Just then, the blonde woman from before walked in from outside. "Stop the fuss, both of you. Something major has happened. Xiao Xun, come with me quickly."
Xiao Xun followed the blonde woman towards the Research Department. "What happened? Why the rush?"
"The Primal Man swallowed the cockpit."
Xiao Xun was stunned. "Isn't the cockpit in the Primal Man's spine? How could he swallow it?"
"I don't know. You should go quickly!"
Xiao Xun pushed open the door to the Research Department. Many people had already gathered there.
Rookie's armor was in tatters, with many parts exposed.
Rong saw Xiao Xun and his expression turned grim. "You're finally here. What's going on? Explain it to me."
Xiao Xun looked at the instrument that specialized in detecting the Primal Man's physical characteristics. "What exactly is the situation?"
"You're asking me? I should be asking you! You are the overall head of the Cradle Project."
At that moment, an expert stepped forward and said to Xiao Xun, "The Primal Man refuses to open the hatch. Unless we use force to dismantle it, we cannot retrieve the cockpit."
Xiao Xun thought for a moment. This had never happened before. "Perhaps you opened it the wrong way?"
"Impossible. We tested it once before combat, and there were no problems at all. Moreover, the current data feedback indicates there are no longer any pilot life signs inside the cockpit."
"Dead..."
"No, to be precise, vanished. If you don't resolve this issue, I will send you to the Prosecutor's Committee."
Xiao Xun was dismissive of Rong's threat, but since the person was brought by him, he couldn't stand idly by. However, given the other party's overbearing attitude, he was unwilling to yield. "Prosecutor's Committee, you say? Let's go then. I can use this opportunity to ask these important figures what they're busy with now."
No one moved. Rong stomped his foot and said, "This is the person you brought. Are you just going to abandon them like this?"
"Did you give me the authority to manage this? The Cradle Project is over. I am now just a staff member of Sector One. As a staff member, if I can't do it, then I can't, right?"
Rong slammed the table. "Fine. Since you're not cooperating."
"Guards!"