An era that champions morality is often an era where morality itself has collapsed. The Southern Dipper Star delegation had yet to arrive…
As one of the three great powers of the Eastern Continent, and Vega’s most crucial neighbor, Southern Dipper Star’s prolonged absence stirred a growing unease among those gathered. Ever since the ‘Donato Air Disaster,’ the failure of even a single delegation to arrive had been enough to plunge the entire Independent Observation Group into anxiety. Even though the deadline hadn’t officially passed, this drawn-out suspense was enough to rob them of peace, both waking and sleeping.
“Given Southern Dipper Star’s usual antics, it wouldn’t be surprising if their plane performed aerial acrobatics on its way here!”
From the open space in front of the hotel, Polaris’s mocking laughter at Southern Dipper Star carried clearly, an obvious jab at the ‘Trapped Horse Air Disaster.’ Ke Yiyi frowned slightly. She had no fondness for the gallows humor of the Polaris people; the Trapped Horse Air Disaster was a tragedy in aviation history and should not be viewed through such a narrow, derisive lens.
Moreover, even setting aside their brazen remarks, the Polaris people displayed a profound lack of etiquette. As dusk settled, they had already gathered before the hotel entrance, kindling a fire and roasting meat. They paid no heed to the thick plumes of smoke billowing from their bonfire, which undoubtedly bothered other members of the Independent Observation Group, caring only for their own hearty feast. What puzzled Ke Yiyi even more was why they felt the need for a separate meal, given the excellent provisions offered by the hotel.
The only small comfort for Ke Yiyi was that despite their boisterous clamor and the suffocating smoke they produced, they refrained from drinking. This, at least, averted the possibility of even greater trouble. She had heard that many Polaris people adhered to the Dejialeli religion, making their abstinence from alcohol quite normal.
Chewing vigorously on his roasted meat, Cui Wei subtly turned his head to observe. His gaze landed on Ke Yiyi, scanning her from foot to head before he let out a chuckle and raised a hand to call out.
“Why don’t you join us for some food and drink? There’s plenty of roasted meat to go around!”
Ke Yiyi froze, a sudden chill seizing her as she recalled the actions of Polaris during the Great War. A particular wartime video flashed through her mind, depicting the horrific treatment a Xuliang Star girl endured at the hands of Polaris soldiers… The heart-wrenching screams still haunted her, leaving her utterly terrified.
‘Were they calling her over with ill intent? If she refused, would it spark some kind of diplomatic incident?’ She was, after all, no diplomat, and utterly inexperienced in such matters. For a moment, she was at a loss for how to respond.
“There’s no need to pay them any mind.”
Fletcher reached out, stopping Ke Yiyi and shielding her behind him. Then, he called out to the Polaris group.
“No, thank you. Since there’s so much roasted meat, perhaps everyone should just have a few extra pieces themselves!”
Seeing that his invitation was not accepted, Cui Wei simply chuckled. As his gaze retreated, he cast a fleeting glance at the government building opposite before resuming his meal with the other Polaris observers.
****
Across from the hotel, the Worldly Affairs City government building was almost entirely lit up. With the troop withdrawal imminent, a myriad of tasks required attention, ensuring that the local government staff remained ceaselessly busy.
Conversely, the westernmost room on the fifth floor remained shrouded in darkness, its curtains drawn tightly shut, as if fearing any glimpse into its interior.
“These Polaris barbarians… they’re no different from uncivilized savages…”
A woman in military uniform, her hair pulled back in a sharp ponytail, lifted a corner of the curtain to survey the scene outside. She shook her head repeatedly at everything she witnessed.
“More than that! They also believe in the Dejialeli religion! Barbarians who follow such beliefs are just like this—ill-mannered and devoid of any sense of propriety or shame.”
The man on the sofa exhaled a light smoke ring. He wore a military overcoat draped over his shoulders and held a jade-crafted pipe between his lips—judging by its intricate workmanship, the pipe was clearly quite ancient.
“But there’s no help for it. They are one of the Eastern Continent’s three powers, and the Independent Observation Group’s messy affairs would never be complete without them…”
“Regarding the troop withdrawal, we’ll need to check on it again around midnight. Be wary of anyone trying to stir up trouble.”
The woman by the window swept a sharp gaze across the room, her eyes gleaming with undeniable resolve.
“We received intelligence from ‘Zhongtong’ earlier, indicating that some restless individuals might be preparing to act…”
“The hardliners opposing Long Wu?”
The man exhaled smoke rings, deliberately lowering his voice as he spoke. He subconsciously glanced at the surveillance equipment in the corner of the room, then gently tapped his pipe against the ashtray on the coffee table.
‘Was it those three, or the Grand Emperor’s will?’
“I don’t know, and I don’t want to know. Just follow orders.”
The woman continued to observe the scene outside, moving her hand behind her back in a few subtle gestures, signaling the man to speak no further. The Blood-Soaked Army existed solely to obey the commands of the Black Sun Command Hall, not to voice its own thoughts or opinions—a principle to which every single member of the Blood-Soaked Army adhered without exception.
“Does the Commander know about this?”
“They likely knew even before I did.”
Shi Shijing tapped his pipe, gazing thoughtfully at Hong Lingxue.
‘If even the esteemed Inspector of the ‘White Horse Banner Corps’ knew about this later than he did, then Shang Rui must have had insider information regarding this matter… Was the Bu family involved, or someone else entirely? The Bu family was precisely the ‘hardliner’ faction—could they be orchestrating this themselves? Or perhaps it wasn’t the hardliners at all, but those on the other side… If it were just those three from the Long family, that would be one thing, but hopefully, it isn’t the Grand Emperor’s intention…’ Shi Shijing shook his head. ‘Attempting to divine the will of superiors’ had never ended well throughout history, and he decided it was best not to dwell on it too much. ‘But this was Hong Lingxue, after all… asking a little more wouldn’t hurt…’
“I’m going to ask something I shouldn’t.”
“Then don’t ask what you shouldn’t.”
Hong Lingxue, her brow furrowed, watched the crowd outside.
“My mind feels a bit muddled; I need to calm down.”
“An esteemed Inspector’s mind cannot afford to be muddled! If it were, it would easily spell disaster for a Commander like me!”
Hong Lingxue’s lips pressed together, clearly suppressing a smile.
Shi Shijing found that expression captivating—the way she wanted to laugh but managed to perfectly restrain herself. He was not one of those hidebound, conventional fools who would deem Hong Lingxue flawed simply because she had slept with someone else… It was a pity, however, that Hong Lingxue harbored no feelings for him. Ultimately, Shang Rui was simply superior; if he possessed Shang Rui’s temperament, things might have long since progressed between them, and it wouldn’t have been them sleeping together.
“Ultimately, the reason your mind is muddled, is it because Commander Bu gave the Commander another dressing down?”
“…”
Hong Lingxue remained silent. Shi Shijing felt that he sometimes had a loose tongue; it would have been better not to ask. But that was his nature, and there was no changing it. Her heart was entirely devoted to Shang Rui, and Bu Chenggang possessed such a difficult temperament…
“That is merely the appropriate attitude of a superior towards a subordinate.”
Hearing Hong Lingxue’s resolute reply, Shi Shijing was not surprised. No matter how unwilling one felt internally, ultimately, obedience was paramount. Even if their hearts ached, they had to maintain an outward demeanor as calm as still water—for they were soldiers! Following orders was their primary duty, even when those orders, like Bu Chenggang’s, carried personal undertones.
Shi Shijing drew a few circles on the map with a pen, then stood and handed it to Hong Lingxue.
“Pay close attention to weapon inventories. Regardless of their purpose, the other side will need weapons. As long as they aren’t using ‘White Horse’ weaponry, everything should be manageable.”
Hong Lingxue observed the circles he had marked on the map, all of them strategic high ground within Worldly Affairs City that offered commanding views of the hotel and the government building—prime locations for snipers.
“Oh? The person the Observation Group has been so eager for has arrived.”
Shi Shijing pointed outside, then smiled and opened the door, exiting the room.
Ke Yiyi watched as several ‘Pebble’ vans, bearing the Independent Observation Group’s livery, drove into the plaza. All three vehicles were identical, making them indistinguishable from one another.
As the doors opened, the other Academy of Sciences observers disembarked. Following them was a man whose face was devoid of expression, yet could not be described as cold.
Ke Yiyi knew him, or rather, given his renown, it would have been truly unusual for an official from the Academy of Sciences not to. This was Fifth Column, the Director of Southern Dipper Star’s Strategic Intelligence Bureau. Due to events during the Great War, he and Yan Ling were household names even on Vega. A popular song even celebrated the two of them.
– Thank you, Southern Dipper Star, you are my dearest friend.
Ke Yiyi glanced sideways, finding no one singing. She turned her head upward, realizing the sound emanated from an open window, seemingly from a recorder.
– You are the guardian of freedom, you are a legend.
Fifth Column paused, hearing the voice from above, but his halt was momentary. He quickly resumed his walk toward the hotel, his expression as calm as ever. He knew the song, but he didn’t believe himself to be as remarkable as the lyrics proclaimed; he had simply done what he ought to do, and Yan Ling was the same.
– Thank you, Southern Dipper Star, for opposing genocide.
Cui Wei took a bite of roasted meat, his gaze fixed on the unfolding scene.
‘He and Fifth Column were old acquaintances… Back then, Fifth Column wasn’t yet the Director of the War Intelligence Bureau; he was merely a triple agent.’
– Help our Vega, eradicate the devils beneath the Red Flag.
The Xuanji Star guards heard the unsettling words, yet they stood silently around the plaza, protecting everyone present.
– In the New Calendar year 213, you brought us steel, coal, and food.
Yuliga pushed open the window, watching everything below with keen interest, while Selena stood beside her, gripping a longsword, her vacant eyes scanning the surroundings with vigilance.
– Two remarkable heroes, Yan Ling and Fifth Column.
Hong Lingxue watched Fifth Column and his entourage. Their arrival was something she had anticipated, as his name was on the list. However, Southern Dipper Star had never before dispatched an official of his caliber to the Independent Observation Group, making this a surprising exception… While noteworthy, upon closer reflection, it made sense, given the involvement of Xuanji Star and Vega…
– This is what we’ve done, and this is how we thank you.
Lan Xifang gently pushed open her room door, spotting Kincaid by the window, his recorder turned to maximum volume. Kincaid glanced at her but received no criticism. He had merely played a widely known song and had not provoked any conflict with anyone from the Independent Observation Group, or so he believed, and so did she.
– We sing this song, and memories live forever.
As the brief song drew to a close, Yan Ling and his group entered the hotel, vanishing from the plaza.
– You are the savior of lives, you are the antidote to pain.