—Every ideology requires fools as its vanguard.
“Ah, the vigor of youth!”
Yuliga’s head emerged from the roadside van, a nameless snack clutched between her teeth. She gazed with keen interest at the side of the Worldly Affairs City police station.
She had already shed her daytime uniform, now clad in shorts and a short-sleeved top, a white hat perched on her head. This casual attire was precisely why she could indulge heartily in her snacks—she was forbidden from eating them while in uniform, as it wasn’t part of her duties, and she had no desire to give anyone cause for criticism.
“Are those two a couple?”
Yuliga grabbed a cola and gulped down a mouthful, her eyes crinkling happily.
“Ah~ Southern Dipper Star’s cola is truly the best! Northern Dipper Star’s cola is far too salty; it leaves my throat raw!”
“Miss, with all due respect, you were quite reckless earlier today.”
Selena, her hand resting on her sword hilt, leaned against the van’s interior, her gaze sweeping vigilantly out the window.
As a bodyguard, she perpetually scrutinized everyone with a watchful eye, even members of the observation team. Too many sought to assassinate Yuliga, a threat that lingered even within Uranus-Neptune itself.
“Hmm? Reckless?”
“Yes, you should not have rushed forward to apprehend the assassin yourself. Should there have been accomplices or an ambush, you would have been in grave danger.”
“Because I was truly incensed at the time.”
Yuliga’s gaze dimmed, as if recalling distant memories.
“That girl finally gained her freedom, only to die so inexplicably at such a moment. How could one not be enraged?”
“Miss, no offense intended, but I must emphasize that your safety is paramount, incomparable to that of a single Vega citizen.”
“I know, I know. I already said it was a momentary fit of pique; I simply lost control.”
Yuliga picked up an apple and took a bite, sitting cross-legged on the seat, crunching loudly on the apple. Her demeanor was utterly casual, making it impossible to reconcile her with her role as a soldier of the Special Operations and Intelligence Security Committee.
“Selena.”
“Yes, Miss.”
“What do you think of Xuanji Star?”
“Miss, I am uncertain what aspect you are referring to.”
“All aspects.”
“Miss, I am not familiar with Xuanji Star’s social system. I can only speak to its military aspects, based on what I have observed.”
Selena evinced little interest in matters outside her guard duties. Before her conscription by Uranus-Neptune, she had merely been a shepherdess on Wakanda Island. While an unusual choice of livelihood for a player, it was at least stable and legitimate.
“Excellent! Tell me!”
“The soldiers are of high caliber, they prioritize the application of technological equipment, and their discipline is strict…”
“Shh! The rest is fine, but strict discipline… that’s just for show! It’s all a facade.”
“Miss, war crimes and strict discipline are not mutually exclusive.”
“True, true. After all, our military discipline wasn’t exactly stellar during the World War either.”
“Miss, please refrain from discussing content unfavorable to Uranus-Neptune while on the territory of other academies.”
“That girl’s tragedy was precisely caused by Xuanji Star.”
Yuliga’s gaze fixed on the end of the street, the very spot where the girl had fallen.
“Have you seen any of Qiming Star’s ‘Red Scar Films’?”
“I’ve watched them during ‘overcoming fear’ training.”
Selena didn’t understand why Yuliga had suddenly brought this up. ‘Red Scar Films’ were a type of visual media circulated underground, tending towards grotesque horror and sado-eroticism. The Qiming Star ‘Red Scar Films’ specifically referred to the various inhumane tortures suffered by the countless refugees who fled overseas after Qiming Star’s disintegration. These atrocities were filmed and disseminated among the populace via reels and optical discs. Later, with the advent of the World War, even more ‘Red Scar Films’ emerged.
In reality, such images had existed since the birth of cinema, but their circulation was extremely limited. It was only during the chaotic period following Qiming Star’s collapse that their numbers surged, causing their notoriety to spread. However, the major academies, under pretexts of maintaining face or stability, typically declared these works to be exaggerated dramatizations, claiming no real casualties occurred. Aside from combat records, criminal cases, and medical dissections, all works involving such content were banned. Whether the reason for the ban was ‘the content actually happened’ or ‘the content did not actually happen’ remained unknown.
In this regard, there was only one exception in the entire world: Polaris. After all, it was a faction that publicly live-streamed massacres, so it was only natural for them to be out of step with the mainstream.
“This is no different from that, only it didn’t reach the point of death, nor was it filmed…”
Yuliga screwed the cap back on the bottle, shaking it despondently.
“It’s precisely because of this that I feel such anguish. How many similar incidents occur in places we cannot see?”
She watched the liquid slosh and the carbon dioxide bubbles fizz in the bottle, forcing a bitter smile.
“Doesn’t it look like a mixture of blood and brain matter?”
“It does not.”
“Hmm? How is it not?”
“The composition, fluid ratio, and viscosity.”
“You’re becoming more and more like a robot soldier.”
Yuliga playfully patted Selena’s shoulder, while Selena regarded her with an impassive expression.
She understood Yuliga’s thoughts well enough. Her superior wasn’t against war, but she was vehemently opposed to discrimination and atrocities against civilians. In some ways, she was directly clashing with certain individuals who had ascended to high positions within Uranus-Neptune on the strength of their military achievements. Were it not for Yuliga’s own distinguished service and profound background, she would likely have been demoted from the Special Operations and Intelligence Security Committee.
“Miss, a message has arrived.”
Selena pressed her earpiece and handed her tablet to Yuliga.
With keen interest, Yuliga read the screen, then smiled knowingly, her previous bitter expression vanishing completely.
“See? I told you! The Fifth Column wouldn’t come for no reason. If it were just to lend support to Vega, they could have sent anyone else, dressed them in Southern Dipper Star attire, and had them stand there. Clearly, his ambitions lie elsewhere. That ‘eighteen-year-old’ wouldn’t come looking for him without cause.”
“How shall I respond?”
“Tell our surveillance team to continue observing. It’s that simple.”
The Worldly Affairs City government building and the hotel across the street had completed their handover, now under Vega’s control. For the Fifth Column, who had narrowly escaped assassination by Vega earlier that day, it would have been logical to distance himself from anything related to Vega that night. Yet, he did not. Vega was an ally of Southern Dipper Star; if he acted otherwise, it would only suggest that Southern Dipper Star took the assassination seriously and believed Vega was implicated. He had come to this territory exchange to foster closer ties with Vega, not to alienate them. Therefore, he would only consider this assassination the act of an individual within Vega, not Vega itself.
Even so, Shang Bixi had intensified security for the Fifth Column, recalling all observers to the hotel to ensure no similar incidents would recur. Vega, too, had bolstered its vigilance around the hotel, with numerous armed department members tightly encircling the area. Ironically, those who had attempted to assassinate the Fifth Column earlier that day were from Vega’s armed department.
For safety, Yun Feiyang was placed in the Fifth Column’s room, ostensibly to provide close-range protection. In truth, he served as a decoy. His height was similar to the Fifth Column’s, making him indistinguishable through the curtains, effectively serving as a stand-in to draw fire. Yun Feiyang, however, was likely oblivious to this, for if he knew, he would not have been so calm.
The Fifth Column was not in the room. He disliked being watched while he slept, having long passed the age for kindergarten naps. As for Yun Feiyang… one of his defining traits was his eyes constantly darting around, which would undoubtedly disturb anyone’s sleep.
In the pitch-black bathroom, the Fifth Column lay calmly in the bathtub. It was one of the few places where he felt comfortable, as it evoked the sensation of sleeping in a coffin. This proximity to death made him appreciate life more profoundly, rekindling the long-quelled beat of his heart and summoning the courage to continue living in this lusterless world.
Ordinarily, after such an incident, the Fifth Column should have swiftly departed Worldly Affairs City and all locations related to the territory exchange. However, he insisted on staying. Shang Bixi, left with no choice, could only reinforce defenses and make a series of arrangements.
The Fifth Column harbored no fear of assassination. He had retreated to the bathroom to evade these pointless arrangements—all futile wastes of manpower and energy. Guarding against Vega was unnecessary; the assassin had been dispatched by someone other than Vega, bearing no relation to them.
He had known something of the assassination before arriving at Cloud Mountain Peninsula, which was why he had sought out an old friend for assistance. He knew who intended to assassinate him and could guess their motives, but that was a separate matter, unrelated to the current territory exchange.
Qu Xishuang sat beside him. Though a closed toilet lid was not the most comfortable seat, it sufficed as a chair. Her eyes stared straight ahead, lost in thought. In the darkness, her breathing was almost imperceptible—a key characteristic of the ‘Ice Heart Art.’ The Fifth Column only knew the bare essentials, not understanding its principles. If he were a martial arts master, he might not need bodyguards, but then he wouldn’t be the Director of the Strategic Intelligence Bureau.
“Director, someone wishes to see you. It’s the cen—”
“Let them in.”
The Fifth Column sat up from the bathtub. He had anticipated their arrival but hadn’t expected them so soon. It seemed the other party was more amenable than expected.
The bathroom door, unlocked, was skillfully pushed open.
“You see, the moment I walked in, I knew you were hiding here.”
In the darkness, the newcomer’s features were indistinguishable. The Fifth Column climbed out of the bathtub and sat on its rim.
“Shuang’er, please step out.”
Qu Xishuang complied, and the newcomer swiftly moved aside to let her pass, then settled onto the toilet with a look of amusement.
“Perfect! This still-warm toilet seat belongs to… wait, it’s cold? Your little lover can’t keep practicing such martial arts! She’ll get womb chill.”
“She is not my lover.”
“You only say that. You’re already calling her ‘Shuang’er.’ How many times have you two been to bed?”
“Chi Sanzaii insisted I call her that.”
The Fifth Column clearly remembered the call from Chi Sanzaii after he left: five minutes of cursing, followed by a warning not to call Qu Xishuang by her real name, only ‘Shuang’er,’ or he’d skin him alive, the traitorous dog.
“You spoil him too much! No wonder some people want to ship you two. Your Zhaoyao Star backer would love nothing more than to see him dead!”
“I doubt you came here to discuss my relationships.”
“No, I didn’t.”
Shi Yiguang giggled, crossing her legs as she sat on the toilet. Her white socks, lifted with her foot, were almost level with the Fifth Column’s chest. They adorned tiny feet, despite their owner’s blood-stained hands.
“I intend to meddle in Southern Dipper Star’s internal affairs.”