"Boss, can I come in now?"
Wang Tianhai knocked on the door tentatively, politely, making his presence known while reminding the people inside that they had an accomplice and should not act rashly.
"Yes, you can come in."
The voice was faint, carrying a chilling aura that reached Lu Mingming's ears, sharp as thousand-year-old ice, devoid of warmth.
This voice.
Lu Mingming would probably never forget it in this lifetime.
The person who had left a vivid mark on her life in the interstellar era.
Was it Ollanar?
Lu Mingming suddenly raised her head, her mind blank, staring as Wang Tianhai's hand got closer to the doorknob.
She wasn't ready to face two familiar acquaintances.
Unaware of Lu Mingming's thoughts, Wang Tianhai pushed the door open, revealing the two men confronting each other, standing on opposite sides. The large rosewood desk in the center served as a dividing line.
Lu Yan's side stood on the left, his rogue demeanor now completely unconcealed.
Even though he was wearing a luxurious and thick white fox fur coat, it couldn't hide the deep and inscrutable look in his eyes.
Beside Lu Yan were several crew members familiar to Lu Mingming, including the bald man.
Compared to his usual jovial demeanor, the bald man now resembled a fierce dog ready to pounce on a beast for its master, his scars adding to his ferocity.
On the other side was Ollanar, whom she hadn't seen in a long time.
His blond hair seemed to have grown longer, tied into a small braid at the back of his head. The excessively long hair around his neck didn't look odd; instead, it softened Ollanar's inherent sharp presence, adding a touch of royal nobility and elegance.
However, this gentleness still couldn't suppress the deep-seated violence in his nature, the anger directed at a perceived enemy.
This killing intent was like a materialized greatsword, forged through battles, ready to be swung with a fierce wind in the next second.
Their gazes met in the frozen air, neither giving way.
As Wang Tianhai and Lu Mingming entered, they were met with a heavily hostile confrontation.
Wang Tianhai froze for a second before walking directly towards Ollanar.
Lu Mingming dared not hesitate, following closely behind Wang Tianhai, unwilling to look up and reveal her identity.
Leaning against the cold bookcase, Lu Mingming secretly glanced at Ollanar's exquisite profile. Her long-dormant heart seemed to regain a flicker of vitality.
She suddenly felt her face grow a little hot, and quickly pulled her cloak tighter, lowering her head to stand unobtrusively.
Lu Yan's side paid no attention to these two temporary visitors, assuming they were subordinates of Ollanar coming to deliver a message.
At this moment, Lu Yan's eyes were filled with rare impatience, his voice chilling as he said word by word, "How many times have I told you, Lu Mingming is not in my hands. I really think you've got the wrong person."
The bald man immediately chimed in, "That's right. We came here to attend a trade fair and exchange the goods we purchased."
Ollanar didn't believe it.
On his desk were rows of printed evidence, clearly listing all DNA comparisons related to Lu Mingming and explanations for the warp point accident.
Ollanar raised an eyebrow and said nothing more, pointing a finger at the documents on the desk.
Lu Yan said, exasperated, "Believe it or not, it's up to you. Please don't waste my time. We've been stuck here for too long, and I need to collect my auction items."
Upon hearing this, Wang Tianhai raised his hand to block Lu Yan's path, immediately earning a sharp glare from the bald man.
Wang Tianhai, undeterred, stated, "Streamer Mingming has made significant contributions to the Alliance. If you were to kidnap her and treat her as a slave, the Alliance would not let you get away with it."
"Absurd."
Lu Yan let out a cold sneer and mockingly reiterated, "I will state it one last time: we did encounter Lu Mingming, and she escaped half a month ago when we were warping."
Escaped?
Lu Mingming looked at Lu Yan in surprise. Even a glimpse of a fraction of a second was enough for the alert Lu Yan to notice something was amiss.
The two met eyes abruptly, and Lu Mingming, feigning ignorance, lowered her head again like an ostrich.
I lost consciousness on the spacecraft, and I should have been thrown out by it. How could I have escaped?
Lu Mingming felt a surge of annoyance.
Did Lu Yan always think of her as a conniving woman with a lot of schemes?
Lu Yan withdrew his gaze, his brow furrowed. He felt that the gaze of the dark-skinned girl opposite him was a bit strange.
He paused, then continued, "...In any case, we still don't know Lu Mingming's whereabouts. Speaking of which, when she left, she had the cub with her."
His calm and steady tone inexplicably made Ollanar hear a hint of mockery and pity.
"It shows she's very kind, doesn't it?"
Ollanar maintained his aggressive posture, but in his heart, he was half-believing Lu Yan's words.
"Besides the matter of Lu Mingming, I want to warn you not to make any significant moves within the Alliance's jurisdiction. The reason we haven't apprehended you before is that you were obedient. It doesn't mean you have the right to disrupt the entire galaxy. You haven't experienced the army's artillery, have you?"
The two men were skilled in veiled threats and barbs, their words like bullets attacking each other.
Lu Mingming realized for the first time how potent men's passive-aggression could be.
As the two were exchanging blows, another knock sounded on the door.
Lu Yan sat back in his seat, his movements still composed. "Are you that afraid? Having to call for help one by one?"
Ollanar meticulously adjusted his clothes and retorted, "I think it's your subordinates who are afraid you'll die and are rushing to save you."
The door opened.
"Did I interrupt your pleasantries?"
The unpleasant voice made everyone present frown. The young boss poked his head out from the doorway, holding the jade bone fan in his hand.
It was the young boss.
Lu Mingming suddenly thought of the scales on the young boss's hand, her mood becoming quite complicated.
The young boss was fearless, and under the fierce gazes of the two magnates, he became a delicate balancing point between the two factions.
He put on a smiling face. "I'm here to tell Mr. Lu Yan about the mermaid treasure."
"Just say it directly."
Ollanar suppressed all emotion, sitting back in the massage chair and sipping warm water to calm his breath.
Lu Yan waved his hand, no longer concerned.
"The news about the mermaid treasure is genuine. It was told to me by a mermaid, so I can assure everyone that it's absolutely honest and trustworthy."
The young boss swore repeatedly, but it didn't garner attention.
"The message he left me is: I must deliver it personally because I am his savior."
The young boss didn't seem to realize the danger of knowing a mermaid, nor did he hide his desire for a share of the bounty.
"If Xing Luo Qi Bu agrees, I'll go back and pack first. Call me when you're leaving, and you can ask me for that free piece of information anytime."
"You've talked so much, but you haven't said anything concrete yet."
The bald man grumbled indignantly.
The young boss, unfazed by the patron, maintained his smiling demeanor.
"Alright. As long as you're not afraid of death."
Lu Yan uttered his decision indifferently.
"Great, I'll await your news anytime."
The young boss, just like his appearance, was energetic and childlike.
He happily turned to leave but suddenly stopped, his gaze fixed on Lu Mingming, staring intently at her.
As their eyes met, Lu Mingming stiffly waved her hand.
"It's you, I didn't expect you to be one of the Highnesses of the Alliance's official staff..."
The young boss paused deliberately.
Lu Mingming instinctively touched her earlobe.
Aunt Shi said he was omniscient and capable of anything. Could he possibly know her original identity?
Ollanar, standing beside them, inadvertently saw Lu Mingming's habitual gesture, and his pupils contracted sharply.
In his memory, someone had this small habit when they were nervous.
Ollanar leaned closer expectantly, but the dark face, with its indiscernible features, rendered him momentarily speechless.
"...A staff member!"
The young boss, having played his prank, covered his mouth and chuckled.
"If you're looking for the cub, hurry up and bring the money. Otherwise, I'll leave with 'Xing Luo Qi Bu'."
The young boss left a lingering suspense before completely exiting the room.
Only Lu Mingming was left with cold sweat beading on her forehead, facing the probing gazes of the four men.
"Looking for a cub? What cub?!"
This was the most synchronized moment between Lu Yan and Ollanar.