An Unexpected Arrival from Sky City

Augu’s tone was even more serious than before.

Receiving the instruction, Angoroo quickly responded in his mind. He then forced his gaze away from the woman in the wheelchair, his eyes lowering once more.

“Esteemed ladies, I am Angoroo, dispatched to welcome you as guests to the Alpha capital. I humbly request the honor of your presence.”

“Of course, your departure will be entirely at your discretion. We will remain stationed nearby, protecting your safety with our lives and honor.”

He rarely expressed himself with such humble words. However, these two individuals were those Augu had repeatedly cautioned him about, especially the blonde-haired, blue-eyed Little Nightingale.

Angoroo found it difficult to imagine how such a small girl, who hid behind others, could one day grow to become the supreme leader of human civilization. Yet, since Augu had such confidence, he naturally dared not voice any dissent.

Upon hearing this, Ming Yu pondered for a moment, then nodded.

“Then please wait a moment. We will depart tonight.”

****

It was night.

Upon receiving the news, Qing Shui Ling Yin quickly packed her belongings and rushed to meet Ming Yu. With Little Nightingale and Qing Shui Ling Yin in tow, Ming Yu followed the armored soldiers who led the way, boarding the Marine transport vessel under the cover of night.

She had countless times before ridden ships across the vast ocean. This time, however, the steel vessel beneath her did not descend into the sea, but instead hovered mid-air above the land.

Once Angoroo reached the designated location, he immediately issued commands to his subordinates awaiting inside the transport vessel. A massive, capsule-shaped metal cabin was then dropped from the sky. Upon a smooth landing, the hatch opened, revealing a cushioned interior.

After all was done, the leading steel giant knelt before Ming Yu, blue lights flickering from the eyes of its metallic head.

“Esteemed lady, how should I address you?” Angoroo asked in a low voice.

Hearing this, Ming Yu wasted no words, directly stating her name. She cared little for Sky City; her only hope was that the medical technology there could heal Qing Shui Ling Yin and Little Nightingale.

Upon receiving her reply, the steel giant slowly rose, pointing to the wide-open hatch of the metal cabin. It was a spacious entrance, large enough for a three-meter-tall Marine in power armor to enter. The internal space of the cabin was sufficient to accommodate the colossal armor, so naturally, it could easily carry three petite human women.

“Esteemed Lady Ming Yu, this is the boarding transport cabin. Please lead the other two ladies inside. We are preparing to return.”

As he spoke, dozens more transport cabins were dropped to the surface, their hatches opening with a chorus of grinding metal.

Ming Yu nodded slightly. Behind her, Qing Shui Ling Yin pushed the wheelchair into the cabin, with Little Nightingale following closely. Watching the three women enter the cabin, Angoroo waved his hand, commanding his subordinates via the communication channel to enter their respective transport cabins. He then maneuvered his own armor, ducking into a nearby hatch.

“System confirming.”
“Confirmation complete. Initiating return procedure.”

Accompanied by a faint vibration, the transport cabin’s hatch slowly sealed shut. The thrusters at the bottom erupted with a blast of scorching air, pushing away with a muffled roar. One after another, the capsule-shaped transport cabins ascended, trailing brilliant plumes of exhaust across the night sky.

The transport cabins were several times larger than typical interstellar frigates and missile destroyers. Their internal space was ample enough for five to eight army companies, totaling approximately 1,500 people, to utilize fully. Furthermore, the transport cabins were equipped with various support stations, such as mechanics and gene physicians, to meet the Marines’ needs for physical recovery, equipment maintenance, and daily training.

Angoroo had originally arranged three rooms for Ming Yu and her companions. However, he was surprised to find two of the rooms empty, as the two women who should have been resting were gathered in Ming Yu’s room. Yet, this was their private affair, and he had neither the qualification, the right, nor the interest to inquire.

Inside the room, Ming Yu pulled out a deck of playing cards she carried with her, engaging in an ancient card game with Little Nightingale and Qing Shui Ling Yin.

Ming Yu: “Call the Landlord.”
Qing Shui Ling Yin: “Pass.”
Little Nightingale: “Hmm… pass.”

Back in the infirmary, due to excessive idleness and sheer boredom, Ming Yu had asked Qing Shui Ling Yin to fetch a deck of cards. She would then pull the two women into a game to pass the time.

Ming Yu vaguely sensed that the initial awkwardness between Qing Shui Ling Yin and Little Nightingale seemed to have eased during the game, and they had grown more familiar with each other. Where they once rarely exchanged more than a few words, they now conversed freely, entirely without their past reservations.

Qing Shui Ling Yin: “Seventeen cards, and you can finish me off?”
Little Nightingale: “Joker bomb.”
Ming Yu: “Can’t beat that.”
Qing Shui Ling Yin: “…Pass.”
Little Nightingale: “Plane.”
Ming Yu: “Ah, I lost.”
Qing Shui Ling Yin: “…”

The two looked at each other, then at the thick stack of cards in their hands, before their gaze finally settled on Little Nightingale’s empty hands and the scattered pile of cards on the table.

‘Is this even logical?’ Ming Yu shook her head helplessly, tossing her cards into the pile.

Qing Shui Ling Yin, however, was dumbfounded, deeply shocked that Little Nightingale had “finished her off with seventeen cards.”

“I won!”

Little Nightingale triumphantly left her seat, walking over to Ming Yu. She then wrapped her arms around Ming Yu’s neck from behind, her eyes curving into joyful arcs.

Upon hearing this, Qing Shui Ling Yin pouted, gathering the scattered playing cards on the table. Reluctant to accept defeat, she thought: ‘Again.’

Unbeknownst to them, hundreds more rounds had passed. Little Nightingale’s joy deepened, while the frustration in Qing Shui Ling Yin’s eyes grew profound.

‘Why do I always lose, and Little Nightingale always wins… It’s not fair!’

Having lost to Little Nightingale once more, Qing Shui Ling Yin threw down her cards and rose from her seat, going to the porthole to sulk alone. As some of the vexation in her chest dissipated, the magnificent and beautiful star-city architecture outside the porthole immediately captured her attention.

Above the orbital track, silver-gray rings encircled the mother planet, rotating majestically. This must be the Sky City Ming Yu had mentioned—Star Ring Base Alpha.

“Beep-beep—”

Just then, an electronic synthetic sound came from outside the door. Angoroo’s deep voice followed closely.

“Esteemed Lady Ming Yu, we are heading to the docks near the United Nations capital and will soon arrive at Star Ring Base Alpha.”

“Although we are in the void, there is no need to worry. Star Ring Base can simulate the climate and environment of Sea Blue Star’s land through its regulation system. Furthermore, the Star Ring Base rotates at high speed around the equator, creating a traction field similar to surface gravity.”

“In short, this place is perfectly suitable for human habitation.”

From behind the door, Angoroo paused, then said with pleasure, “Welcome to the new world.”