Chapter 41#

The Request#

News of the cockpit’s recovery quickly spread throughout the base.

Yin Beichen told everyone that Ning Feng was seriously injured and required special treatment, refusing visits. This blocked people like Ou Jingshan, who had been clamoring to visit the sick.

Now that the body was recovered, aside from clearing the insect venom, there was another very important matter to handle.

“No chip?”

Yin Beichen sat in his office, veins bulging on the hand gripping his optical brain. “Are you certain?”

“I’ve searched everywhere, sir.” The bearded man’s voice came through the optical brain. “I personally checked the little black box you gave me four times. There’s no chip inside. But when I inspected the exhaust system, I found signs that it had been opened.”

Eyes half-closed, Yin Beichen kneaded his hands together.

The exhaust system connected to the back of the driver’s seat, which happened to be the location of the memory stream device in the video. This type of chip required extremely delicate storage; any carelessness could cause data loss. If an accident occurred during the process…

Many terrifying speculations flashed through his mind, and he clenched his jaw tightly.

“Sir, are you still there?”

Pressing his fingertips together, Yin Beichen let out a light breath. “Is there a way to find the chip?”

“This…” The bearded man sounded troubled.

This chip was custom-made. If someone capable took it for research, there was no telling where it might end up, especially in the notoriously chaotic Scrap City. However, reverse engineering it wouldn’t be easy. Whoever had the skill to make such a chip was no ordinary person. He had some connections in Scrap City that might be able to help.

“I’ll try my best to find it.”

“Do it quickly.”

After ending the communication, Yin Beichen sat quietly for half a minute.

The blueprints were provided by Qu Yan. Although the latter had refused to mention the cockpit’s whereabouts last time, combining all the clues, the person who took the chip was highly likely to know Qu Yan.

Pressing his fingertips hard, Yin Beichen quickly stood up.

There were some things he needed to get to the bottom of.

**

In the following matches, the Explosive Sheep team won several consecutive games. Despite some intense phases, the results were always victorious, making them the biggest dark horse in the competition area.

That day, during a break, the group gathered in the Explosive Sheep’s small living room to hold a brief summary meeting.

“Ahem, everyone quiet down.” Wen Qianyong tapped the small blackboard with a pointer. “Now, let’s discuss the points to note.”

“Pfft, what’s there to discuss?” Crazy Rat slumped on the sofa, spraying styling gel on his afro.

The team’s winning streak had greatly boosted the mercenary group’s reputation. The团长 was so pleased that she raised the team’s mission priority significantly.

But Crazy Rat couldn’t be happy at all.

Although a few E-rank missions had trickled in over the past few days, their track record was too good. The odds on their team had dropped massively. Compared to the tenfold odds before, the few thousand or hundred credits of commission now seemed pitiful.

“Isn’t that good?” Ning Feng scrolled through the StarNet without looking up. “A higher team rank means higher mission commissions.”

As for the odds, he didn’t care.

Every time they won, his personal account gained points. Plus, with the team ranking subsidies, his share of points increased. With these points, he could exchange them at the underground marketplace for parts. His original battery had poor endurance, but after buying a high-energy battery earlier, he could at least last half a day of combat.

“Exactly, exactly!” Wen Qianyong nodded eagerly. “Marsha said that if we win two more matches, we can at least take D-”

“We’re not taking D-rank missions for now.”

Suddenly, Samuel, who had been silent all along, interrupted him.

“Why?”

“Too dangerous.” Samuel’s expression was very serious.

Recently, a lower-ranked team had taken a D-rank mission. It was supposed to be a simple collection task, but they encountered bugs and suffered heavy casualties. Those people were still lying in medical pods.

“Why are these bugs never-ending? Didn’t the Empire just bomb them?” Wen Qianyong pouted.

“Bugs can replicate genes. Now that the leader is dead, there’s no controlling queen bug, so ordinary people become easy targets.” Ning Feng spoke slowly, the focus of his lens gradually elongating. “Moreover, they can parasitize living organisms, making them very difficult to eradicate.”

It had been less than a month since the bug nest mission, yet the bugs were already making a comeback. It seemed they had underestimated these vermin.

Ning Feng was deep in thought when he noticed everyone staring at him.

“What’s wrong?”

“Radish, how do you know so much?” Wen Qianyong asked.

Ning Feng turned his lens and smirked. “Looked it up on the StarNet.”

Wen Qianyong: ???

“Can the StarNet find stuff like that?”

“You’re too dumb to find it,” Crazy Rat sneered.

“You—”

Wen Qianyong was furious, stammering as he tried to retort. Samuel patted his flat head. “It’s okay. After the meeting, I’ll update your cannon blueprints.”

Crazy Rat’s eyes widened. “Hey, Samuel, isn’t that a bit biased? I asked you to add a mine system, and you made excuses left and right. But you’re giving him a new cannon without a second thought?”

“Sorry, I just happen to have cannon blueprints on hand.” Samuel looked a bit innocent.

Wen Qianyong was very smug and made a face at Crazy Rat. The latter was so angry that his mechanical arm frantically switched between dagger and pistol modes.

Watching the chaotic scene, Ning Feng’s lens focus gradually lengthened.

Back in the military academy league, he had also teamed up with others. They would argue fiercely over wins and losses, but after the arguments, everyone would calm down and review the match together, joking and roughhousing.

In the blink of an eye, so many years had passed.

He remembered that the captain back then was—

“Radish, what’s wrong?” Wen Qianyong tilted his head. “Why aren’t you talking?”

Ning Feng pulled himself back and curled his lips. “Nothing. Let’s continue.”

**

“Sir, please make it quick. I have a lot to do.” Qu Yan stood in front of the desk, looking displeased.

Since the incident with the surveillance footage, the two had hardly met. Even updates on the antidote were only sent via text. Now that Qiao Xi was on leave and the other team members had different projects, his workload was piling up. Being suddenly called from the lab interrupted his progress again.

Facing the man’s aggressive attitude, Yin Beichen remained expressionless, only giving him a cold glance.

“Come with me.”

Qu Yan was puzzled but followed.

After a series of password-protected doors, they entered a rest room. Around the room were professional life-support systems and various instruments to control temperature and humidity. Not far away was a professional massage device to prevent muscle atrophy.

Then he saw Ning Feng.

Even though Qu Yan had mentally prepared himself, seeing the usually cheerful and unrestrained man lying quietly, unresponsive, still made it hard to breathe. Pain spread through his limbs and bones.

Qu Yan stared fixedly at the man, his eyes blazing with intense longing, but he had to suppress it given the setting. After a long while, he slowly let out a breath and forced a smile.

“Ah, isn’t this Vice-Adjutant Ning?” He coldly spat out a few words through gritted teeth. “Sir, you finally found him.”

Yin Beichen also gazed at the man, a gentle shimmer flickering in his cold eyes.

“The chip is gone.”

“Gone?” Qu Yan said sarcastically. “Sir, why are you telling me?”

“You had a good relationship with him. I thought you should know.”

“A good relationship?” Qu Yan sneered. “I thought you wanted to ask me about the chip’s whereabouts.”

“That’s one of the purposes.” Yin Beichen didn’t hide it.

“I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed.” Qu Yan crossed his arms. “Yes, I admit I developed the chip as a substitute. But I really don’t know about its disappearance.”

Yin Beichen narrowed his eyes, saying nothing.

“My original intention was to treat the insect venom. Now that Ning Feng’s chip is gone, clearing the venom doesn’t mean much.” He sighed deeply again, his gaze becoming distant. “Sir, why don’t you give me Ning Feng’s body for research? It could help with the antidote—”

“No.” Yin Beichen interrupted without hesitation.

Qu Yan’s eyes flickered, and he tried to persuade again. “Sir, I know it’s hard for you to accept, but the dead can’t be revived—”

“I said no.” Yin Beichen’s eyes were piercingly cold.

Qu Yan was stunned.

He had planned to deceive Yin Beichen into thinking Ning Feng was dead so he could get the body. But he didn’t expect the man to be so persistent in finding him. He often checked Ning Feng’s progress with Samuel and knew that Ning Feng was adapting very well. If he really wanted to come back, he would have contacted Yin Beichen by now.

If Ning Feng came back, he would respect his decision. But if Ning Feng didn’t want to return, he would do everything to prevent it.

Clenching his fists slightly, Qu Yan chuckled coldly. “Sir, if you’re looking for the chip, you’ve asked the wrong person.”

But Yin Beichen didn’t answer or look at him. He carefully tucked in the corner of the blanket. The air was silent for several seconds until Qu Yan grew impatient. Then he continued.

“I called you here mainly to show you this.”

He gently pressed on the honey-colored arm. The skin undulated slightly with the movement, as if something was squirming in the blood vessels.

Qu Yan’s face changed drastically. “This is…”

“The leader’s insect venom.” Yin Beichen’s voice was devoid of emotion. “I discovered it during my recent cleaning for him.”

Although Ning Feng’s consciousness had transferred to the chip, the insect venom kept his body active, turning it into a breeding ground for the venom. For now, the surface showed no signs, but without intervention, the body would be completely infected, like those infected corpses that had been killed.

If the venom wasn’t cleared, Ning Feng’s body would remain on the verge of corrosion.

“Ning Feng’s venom can’t wait. It must be cleared as soon as possible.” Yin Beichen gently stroked the honey-colored arm until the movement under his hand subsided. Then he withdrew his hand and covered it with the blanket. “But no one else must know about this, otherwise…”

He pursed his lips without finishing and turned to Qu Yan. “Now, only you can help him.”

Few people in the base knew that Ning Feng was infected with insect venom.

This was the leader’s venom, at level fifteen. If it leaked out, setting aside clearing the venom, Ning Feng’s body would definitely be taken for scientific research.

That absolutely could not happen.

Yin Beichen knew that the only person in the entire base, even the entire empire, capable of handling the venom and willing to keep it secret was Qu Yan.

Qu Yan’s brow furrowed deeper. “Have you considered that the chip might have been destroyed? Even if you clear the venom, he’s just a corpse.”

“Ning Feng is not dead. He’s just missing.” Yin Beichen’s gaze was firm.

“Whether you know or not, I will investigate this myself and find him.”

He clenched his jaw, his voice steady and powerful. “I will definitely find him.”

Qu Yan couldn’t help but sneer. “Sir, is this a threat?”

His Adam’s apple moved slightly. Yin Beichen lowered his eyelids, a hint of stubbornness flashing in his eyes.

“Consider it a request.”

He paused, his voice dropping. “I just want him back.”

Hearing this, Qu Yan raised an eyebrow.

Earlier, he had come to interrogate him. Now, a few days later, he was actually hearing these words from such a proud man.

“Sir, you’re quite eloquent after all. No wonder you can make people willingly die for you. It seems you’re not just a pretty face.” Qu Yan snorted lightly, walked to the bedside, and let his gaze fall on Ning Feng’s calm face. A faint bitterness rose in him.

He did want to help Ning Feng detoxify.

But developing a high-level antidote required many special materials, which would be difficult for him to gather alone. However, if Yin Beichen, as a Major, handled it, it would be much more convenient.

“Alright, I can help.” Qu Yan ran his hand through his bangs. “But let me warn you, the leader’s insect venom isn’t so easy to clear, especially after being left untreated for so many days.”

Seeing the complicated emotion flash across Yin Beichen’s face, he raised his chin in satisfaction. “First, I need special medicines to suppress the venom. This will require your cooperation.”

“Tell me.” Yin Beichen agreed without hesitation.

Qu Yan glanced at him, finding his eagerness somewhat ironic.

If he was really so concerned, why hadn’t he done something sooner?

“I’ll send you a list of medicines later. But many of those agents are hard to purchase within the Empire.”

Hard to purchase within the Empire meant they needed to cross regions and star zones.

Among the known star zones, the Empire was absolutely unrivaled in mechanical technology. But when it came to biological technology, the Federation was far ahead. Most research literature on insect venom was published by the Federation. If they needed to buy insect venom-related agents, the Federation was undoubtedly the best choice.

However, conflicts between the Empire and the Federation on the border were frequent. Although tensions had eased in recent years, it was far from the point where an Empire Major could enter the Federation.

Yin Beichen closed his eyes, ran a finger along his chin, and pondered for a moment.

“I understand.”

“From now on, I’ll try to come here as often as possible. The room’s equipment also needs to be rearranged. I hope you can actively cooperate.” Qu Yan looked around with extreme disdain. “Stop putting these inferior gadgets here. They’re an eyesore.”

“Mm.” Yin Beichen had no objections. In biological research, Qu Yan was a top expert, and he had absolute trust in him.

“Let’s leave it at that for today. I’ll come again when I have time tomorrow.” For the first time, ordering around this arrogant man made Qu Yan feel some of his pent-up frustration dissipate. He took a deep look at Ning Feng, then coldly glanced at Yin Beichen before turning to leave.

Once the room fell silent, Yin Beichen half-closed his eyes and looked down at the man.

Ning Feng lay in bed, covered with a blanket that hid his tall, sturdy figure. His handsome face was serene, as if he were just asleep.

A gentle tenderness flickered in his eyes. Yin Beichen reached out to caress the strong facial lines, but paused at the moment of contact. Slowly, he withdrew his hand. He stared for a long while, then turned and left the room.

Sinking into the command chair, Yin Beichen tiredly massaged his temples and began to ponder Qu Yan’s words.

In truth, it wasn’t that he had never been to the Federation.

When carrying out certain covert missions or gathering information by meeting contacts, he and Ning Feng would conceal their identities and enter the Federation. But now…

His expression shifted several times before gradually calming, leaving only a deep contemplation.

The fewer people who knew about going to the Federation to buy medicines, the better. But it was still the Federation, and his identity was sensitive. Basic security measures were necessary. Apart from trusted subordinates, it would be best to bring along third-party mercenaries who had no idea of his true identity. In case of an accident, they could quickly evade.

With that in mind, he drafted a mercenary commission.

When setting the rank requirements for the mercenary team, he hesitated for a moment. In the end, he chose the less conspicuous D-rank.