– To free others from the shackles of oppression is a cause worth living and dying for.
Even with five minutes remaining until the official handover, Xuanji Star’s soldiers were already forming ranks, meticulously withdrawing from the area.
The White Horse Banner Corps was a renowned mechanized unit within Xuanji Star’s Blood-Soaked Army, having served as the vanguard during the invasion of Vega during the World War. Xuanji Star seemed keen to showcase the achievements of its mechanized forces; for every area they vacated, a substantial number of armored vehicles were deployed to transport soldiers, perhaps intending to flaunt the sheer quantity of their armored personnel carriers.
Yuliga, utterly fascinated by Xuanji Star’s military vehicles, circled them with keen interest, her curiosity palpable.
Given that the Uranus-Neptune territories were predominantly islands, the development of their marine corps was paramount. Consequently, they paid close attention to the military equipment of academies like Xuanji Star, which prioritized traditional land army construction. The design philosophy and even the intended purpose of Xuanji Star’s armored vehicles diverged sharply from their own.
Should the Uranus-Neptune territories ever seek to venture inland, they would need to make thorough preparations in this regard…
The Xuanji Star soldiers, however, paid no mind to her curiosity. They continued their assembly and boarding, departing without once casting a glance in her direction.
“Selena, look at that! It’s much bigger than ours!”
In contrast to Yuliga’s boundless curiosity, Selena remained impassive, her hand resting on her sword hilt as she shadowed Yuliga, prepared for any unforeseen event.
****
As the last military vehicle departed, Cui Wei glanced at his ‘Dumb Turtle’ wristwatch. The appointed time was drawing near…
He cast a sidelong glance at the Xuanji Star observation team, noting their hushed whispers amongst themselves, likely discussing the readiness of their personnel.
Vega’s takeover personnel had yet to arrive. While Xuanji Star was permitted to withdraw minutes before the deadline, Vega could only commence its takeover once the withdrawal period had elapsed. This protocol was primarily established to prevent any contact between armed personnel from both sides, thus avoiding unnecessary complications.
Fifth Column stood in the center of the street, observing both sides: on one, Cui Wei and the Xuanji Star observers; on the other, the Vega observers.
According to their prior discussions, Polaris was to release the individual punctually, and Xuanji Star would then directly hand them over to Vega.
Meanwhile, the child’s parents had slunk into the crowd, seemingly oblivious to the fact that their daughter was about to be exchanged to Vega. This came as no surprise; Fifth Column, at least, found it utterly unremarkable.
Beyond the absence of a blood relation, these parents, even as Vega prepared to take their daughter, spouted only official Xuanji Star rhetoric to everyone present. It was clear that Xuanji Star had coached them on what to say beforehand…
They displayed no parental affection in this matter, serving merely as Xuanji Star’s mouthpieces. The girl’s standing within their family was thus painfully evident, and any claims of ‘treating the girl well’ in their statements became utterly implausible.
Fifth Column was neither the host nor a witness to this exchange ceremony. His sole purpose in standing there was to show solidarity—for Southern Dipper Star, and by extension, for Vega.
As an ally of Vega, the mere presence of Southern Dipper Star personnel here would signify Southern Dipper Star’s stance towards Vega. However, with Fifth Column present, that significance carried even greater weight.
He surveyed Cui Wei’s side, noting the triumphant expression on his face, clearly unconcerned by the impending personnel exchange.
Fifth Column had known Cui Wei for more than just a day or two; they had worked together back during the era of the Taiyin Star Military Communications Bureau.
Cui Wei had originally been a Polaris intelligence operative. After the Polaris ‘Square Agreement’ and the August Ninth Revolutionary Alliance’s ascent to power, Cui Wei lost the protection of the all-powerful Ministry of Internal Affairs. He was forced to flee to Taiyin Star, where his extensive intelligence experience and Polaris background quickly led to his recruitment as an intelligence officer, filling Taiyin Star’s void in Polaris intelligence analysis. He himself was eager to oppose the August Ninth Revolutionary Alliance.
Fifth Column’s relationship with him at the time wasn’t close, but they saw each other daily. Back then, Cui Wei was as talkative as he was now, though without the current undertone of sarcasm.
When the Polaris Dean regained power for a second time, Cui Wei escaped back to Polaris to serve that ‘Daranguyilagch’ once more. Though Fifth Column had attempted to eliminate him then, he had failed, and Cui Wei ultimately slipped away.
As the Deputy Captain of the Polaris Underground Security Bureau’s Action Squad, this major, who always laughed with a ‘hahaha,’ was not as careless as his outward appearance suggested. He was, in fact, an exceedingly meticulous individual—a fact Fifth Column had keenly observed during their past collaboration.
Furthermore, with minimal checks on power within Polaris, even as a Deputy Captain, he wielded immense authority, capable of unilaterally deciding matters like personnel exchanges. Though Fifth Column suspected he had likely consulted with the Action Squad Captain, Sheng Yulan, before making such a decision.
It wasn’t that he doubted the capacity for mercy among Polaris people, but rather that he disbelieved Polaris would harbor any such sentiment in a situation like this.
Millions of women had been subjected to humiliation and slaughter by Polaris during the World War. Not only a girl abused by her parents, but even countless others would be met with cold indifference by Polaris.
Cui Wei’s compassion was nothing more than crocodile tears, perhaps capable of deceiving others, but never him.
It was precisely for this reason that Fifth Column harbored suspicions about Polaris’s true motive for the exchange…
****
At some point, the various observers had returned, gathering sporadically around the area, eager to witness how the unexpected turn of events in this territorial exchange would conclude.
Long Ye studied Cui Wei, then checked the time. It was already Vega’s designated takeover hour, and one side of the street was soon to become Vega’s territory. Yet, Cui Wei remained motionless. ‘What exactly was he waiting for…?’
Accompanied by the blare of car horns, Vega’s takeover personnel arrived as scheduled. To prevent any mishaps, they had rushed to the next handover boundary with utmost speed immediately after the takeover time.
Seeing the swarms of Vega personnel swiftly reaching the other side of the street, and with the surrounding high ground already secured by Vega, a full three minutes had passed since the official takeover time…
‘What on earth was Cui Wei thinking?’
“Be careful, it might be a trick. Should we cancel the exchange?”
Xia Yubing whispered into Long Ye’s ear, cautioning her.
“They haven’t made a move. Have their people not arrived yet?”
“No, we just received word from Bridge of No Return. Polaris’s people are already there; they just haven’t made a move.”
Long Ye stared intently at Cui Wei. It was clear that the Polaris personnel at Bridge of No Return were awaiting Cui Wei’s command…
“He’s trying to keep us on tenterhooks. Let’s wait a bit longer. If anything goes wrong, Polaris will have breached the agreement first.”
The surrounding observers murmured amongst themselves, wondering what Polaris was truly scheming.
Ke Yiyi furrowed her brow. Noticing a hint of apprehension in the girl’s eyes, she instinctively took the girl’s hand, seeking to reassure her.
Lan Xifang glanced sidelong at Cui Wei, wondering if he had some ulterior motive. Had Polaris’s exchanged person not arrived, or had something else changed?
Just as she pondered whether Vega should provide someone to exchange on Polaris’s behalf, Cui Wei finally stirred and stood up.
“Finally, it’s time.”
Crooked Li, sensing the gazes of those around them, reminded him.
“Old Cui, it’s been time for a while.”
“Oh? Is that so? My watch is slow?”
Cui Wei let out a hearty laugh, extending his wrist to show his watch to those nearby. Though it was but a fleeting glimpse, Long Ye still noticed that Cui Wei’s watch was indeed five minutes behind—he must have deliberately set it slow…
‘But what could be the purpose of delaying the time…?’
Cui Wei smiled and nodded at Long Ye, then shouted into his phone.
“Release them!”
He turned his phone’s volume to maximum, deliberately ensuring everyone nearby could hear the voice on the other end.
“Understood!”
The voice on the other end of the phone was amusing, yet the thought that it belonged to someone as blood-soaked as Cui Wei instantly quelled any urge to laugh.
On the other side, a man’s voice rapidly relayed information about the exchange at Bridge of No Return into Long Ye’s earpiece.
[Polaris has begun the release. Hong Bitao has crossed Bridge of No Return, and he is alone.]
Long Ye took a deep breath. Although it was later than scheduled, the anxiety in her heart had finally dissipated. She wondered what clandestine deal he had struck with Shi Qingjie to be so invested in Hong Bitao’s fate…
She signaled to the Royal Guard, and Xuanji Star’s Royal Guard promptly parted, clearing a path before the girl.
Ke Yiyi had intended to lead the girl over, but the girl gently pushed her hand away, whispering.
“I can walk by myself.”
Ke Yiyi understood that the girl wasn’t being stubborn or trying to save face. Rather, she didn’t want to give the impression that ‘Vega was dragging her, forcing her to come over’…
Though she recognized no one around her, she sensed that these were not ordinary individuals. Vega had saved her, and she felt she ought to help Vega… She couldn’t allow them to leave a bad impression on others…
The girl walked to the middle of the street, surveying her surroundings.
The street was like a dividing line.
– In the past, her mother, holding her, stood on this side, while her father, facing imminent execution, was escorted on that side.
Lan Xifang handed her a document: the immigration papers detailing her willingness to join Vega.
Without a moment’s hesitation, the girl took the pen and signed her name. Clutching the document tightly, her voice already trembling with a nascent sob, she paused her forward movement. Instead, she turned back towards the Xuanji Star side, where she saw her ‘parents’ preparing to depart with her ‘younger brother.’ Though not her biological sibling, that child was one of the few who had ever shown her kindness…
She suddenly took a few quick steps, as if to chase after the young boy on the Xuanji Star side to say something. But seeing his retreating figure already fading into the distance, she halted once more, ultimately suppressing her sorrow, clutching the immigration document, and sprinting towards the Vega side.
– Later, she stood on this side, while her mother, taken by Xuanji Star, was on that side.
Ke Yiyi sighed softly, feeling her heart was still too fragile. Such emotional responses to familiar scenes were always unavoidable.
She watched the girl’s figure, bathed in the clear sunlight, running towards Vega’s territory—the most beautiful sight she had witnessed that day.
– Now, Xuanji Star’s territory lay on this side, and Vega’s on that.
Fifth Column observed the pensive Long Ye, and within his own mind, he too pondered Cui Wei’s reason for delaying the handover by five minutes. Initially perplexed, a sudden thought of Bridge of No Return’s geographical layout made the purpose of Cui Wei’s five-minute delay strikingly clear…
With the matter largely settled, he saw no need to linger further. He took a step, preparing to move towards the Xuanji Star side.
Just as his left foot lifted, a sharp, deafening blast echoed through the street. Immediately, a streak of blood-red light pierced the thoroughfare, accompanied by a flash of silver that intercepted his path. Following this, a bullet arced through the air before finally plummeting to the ground nearby.
The beautiful scene before Ke Yiyi’s eyes was instantly drenched in crimson, as if a cherished photograph had been overlaid with a red filter… then utterly torn to shreds…
The girl collapsed into a pool of blood. Her shattered upper body lay twisted on the street, while her lower half remained rooted in place. The immigration document, bearing her signature, fragmented into countless pieces, scattering like confetti in the air…
Her life was forever frozen in that moment, fallen on the very path to Vega’s territory.
– Finally, the dead lay on this side, and the living stood on that.