Chapter 42#
StarNet#
After the commission was posted, a large number of mercenaries sent inquiries. Yin Beichen was busy with military affairs during the day, so he delegated the task. However, the final selection still had to be personally approved by him.
“Sir, this is a message from the governor of a nearby planet,” a subordinate reported, holding a tablet.
“What does it say?” Yin Beichen stood before the star chart without looking up.
“All reports of insectoid attacks and requests for military reinforcements.”
Yin Beichen stared at the holographic display before him.
Recently, there had been multiple incidents of insectoids attacking people, scattered across several low-traffic shipping routes. Fortunately, they mostly targeted cargo ships, causing no large-scale casualties. However, the merchants suffered heavy losses, which in turn affected local fiscal revenue.
Still, Yin Beichen noticed something unusual.
If the hive lord was already dead, how were the insectoids still able to accurately locate the cargo routes?
Or had another high-level aberrant insect emerged?
Tapping his fingertip on the star chart, Yin Beichen checked the coordinates of the recent attacks and narrowed his eyes slightly. “Ning Feng, notify the commanders of the Second and Third Fleets. We’ll have a meeting this afternoon to discuss—”
The unfinished words were pressed between his lips, and for a moment, the air fell silent.
His lashes lowered, hiding his expression. Yin Beichen didn’t look at his subordinate’s awkward demeanor as he turned off the star chart. “Go deliver the notice.”
“Yes, sir!” The subordinate quickly acknowledged, then tapped on his opto-computer. “Also, some of our contracts with suppliers have expired. Some projects need to be re-tendered. The procurement officer just sent the sample specs from StarNet.”
Yin Beichen’s lashes trembled slightly.
StarNet…
【Xiao Chenchen, are you free tomorrow night? Come shopping with me. I want to buy a massage chair.】
His fingertips slowly curled into his palm as he lowered his head, his eyes churning with complex and subtle emotions. He remained silent for a long time.
After waiting for a response and receiving none, the subordinate spoke softly. “Sir?”
Quickly composing himself, Yin Beichen set down the list.
“Tell me about the mercenary commission.”
“The list of mercenaries for this quarter hasn’t been updated yet, but many eligible teams have already submitted applications.”
Yin Beichen wasn’t surprised by this. He was confident that a D-level commission offering 50,000 credits would be attractive enough to most mercenary groups.
He nodded slightly. “Make sure to screen them carefully.”
“Understood.” The subordinate was about to salute when something came to mind.
“Oh, by the way, you received an unencrypted message from an unknown sender today.” His expression was hesitant. “The sender claimed to be the leader of a mercenary group named Marcia. She seems very… enthusiastic about your commission.”
“Marcia?” Yin Beichen frowned slightly. He didn’t recall anyone by that name. “What’s their group ranking?”
“Quite low. Second to last.”
“Reject them.” Yin Beichen’s tone was firm.
Such a mercenary group was either lacking in overall strength or had poor mission completion ratings. Either way, they wouldn’t meet his standards.
After a moment of thought, he added, “Screen out suitable candidates as soon as possible.”
“Yes, sir!”
Yin Beichen paused, then straightened slightly. “Do you use StarNet often?”
The subordinate was confused but nodded. The base was remote with almost no entertainment facilities, so they often used StarNet to relax and chat. But… why was the commander asking?
“Do you buy things often?”
“Occasionally…”
Yin Beichen nodded. “Which section would be best to buy a massage chair?”
“A massage chair?” The subordinate blinked, scratching his head. “Sir, I usually just buy snacks and daily necessities. I’ve never bought a massage chair. Maybe you could check the equipment section.”
Then it dawned on him. “Oh! Usually, when I buy stuff like that, I look at the sales rankings.”
“Sales rankings?”
“Here, let me show you how it works…”
**
Recently, Marcia had been aggressively pursuing a high-paying commission.
Though it was only rated D-level, the reward was B-level. Truly a case of a wealthy but naive employer.
However, competition was fierce, and she had already been rejected several times. Still, she shamelessly persisted. To improve her chances, she even came up with the terrible idea of crafting a public image for her team. The first target of her “reforms” was Ning Feng, whose appearance dragged down the group’s average looks.
Ning Feng was eventually cornered into agreeing. Since he needed to replace his outer shell anyway, he decided to browse StarNet for suitable parts during a break in the matches.
StarNet had two modes: opto-computer browsing and holographic immersion.
When entering the holographic StarNet for the first time, users had to set up an avatar. Ning Feng selected the holographic mode, and a glowing blue interface appeared before him.
Though he was technically a robot, he could still set up a human appearance in StarNet. He carefully chose a tall, muscular build but hesitated over the facial features. After some thought, he opted for a plain, unremarkable face and covered it with a square paper bag.
The default outfit was a tank top, shorts, and flip-flops. He could pay extra to unlock a premium membership with various colors, but Ning Feng skipped that and went straight to the hardest part: picking a name.
After pondering for a long time, he typed in a series of numbers.
“Handsome Guy with Eight-Pack Abs”
【Sorry, this username is already taken.】
“Handsome Guy with Eight-Pack Abs 222”
【Sorry, this username is already taken.】
“Naming Things Is So Annoying”
【Sorry, this username is already taken.】
Ning Feng couldn’t help but sigh.
Soulmates!
“What a Garbage StarNet”
【Sorry, this name contains inappropriate characters.】
“Idiot”
【Virtual avatar successfully created. Entering StarNet…】
A flash of white light, and a tall, muscular man in a paper bag, tank top, shorts, and flip-flops appeared out of nowhere in the bustling street. Above his head floated the low-key yet flashy name 【Idiot】.
Ning Feng: …
Well, some names really don’t need to be fought over.
After so long, he had finally returned to a human body. At first, he felt a bit unsteady, swaying for a moment before regaining his balance. He looked down at his large hands and sighed inwardly before quickly rallying.
No problem. Just swap out the parts and it’ll be fine.
Clicking his flip-flops as he wandered, he hadn’t taken two steps before a small ball suddenly popped up.
【Congratulations! You’ve received a lucky gift pack worth 100 Star Coins!】
【Invite a friend to help, and the gift pack will be doubled!】
…
Ning Feng swatted away the bouncing ball and continued walking.
The StarNet at night was lively. In the distance were towering skyscrapers, with massive floating billboards flickering in changing colors. Neon lights and storefronts lined the streets, with holographic avatars of various designs trying to attract customers. Pedestrians in all sorts of costumes passed by.
Of course, those outfits cost money. People willing to spend on flashy virtual avatars were generally not poor in real life.
Thus, appearance became the most direct way to distinguish the rich from the poor here.
Ning Feng didn’t care about such flashy things, mainly because he had no spare money to care. His entire body was cobbled together from mismatched parts. Though Samu’s assembly skills were decent, prolonged use had caused significant wear and tear. He didn’t mind the other parts, but the engine—the heart of a robot—couldn’t be neglected.
This time, his destination was the most famous mechanical mall in the mecha district.
It was peak traffic hours. Ning Feng waited for several shuttles before boarding a fiber-optic rail to the mecha district. In just one second, he arrived at the store’s entrance.
The mall was hosting a new product exhibition, so the store was packed with customers. Every section had long queues, and AI assistants were constantly darting back and forth, making the entire space noisy and chaotic.
Ning Feng stood before a display case, sizing up a well-muscled robotic arm. He was considering whether to test it when he caught sight of two familiar names out of the corner of his eye.
Their outfits were ordinary, blending into the crowd. But the names—Ning Feng recognized them. They were procurement officers from the base’s heavy weapons factory.
Ning Feng froze, instinctively turning to leave. But then he thought, there’s no way they’d recognize me now. After a moment of hesitation, he casually walked closer.
This was the first time Ning Feng had seen someone he knew since becoming a robot. Feeling a bit nervous, he picked up a mechanical eye and pretended to examine it while eavesdropping.
“General Yin has been really busy lately,” one of them sighed as he browsed samples. “Either in his office or the lab. He hardly sleeps in his quarters anymore and doesn’t go to the mess hall. It’s been exhausting working under him.”
The other sighed too. “Yeah, I never noticed before, but ever since Brother Feng went on sick leave, it’s been nonstop work.”
“Huh, why doesn’t he get an adjutant?”
“Exactly. The squad hasn’t mentioned an adjutant either. Kind of strange.”
“Maybe he’s planning to transfer Josie closer?”
“Josie? He’s from the research department.”
“So what? Haven’t you noticed the commander’s been going to the lab a lot lately? Who knows, there might be a wedding to celebrate soon, hehe…”
“Eww, that laugh is disgusting.”
…
Ning Feng turned his back, staring at the mechanical eye in his hand. Fragments of scattered memories brushed lightly against his heart. He raised a hand to run through his hair, only to touch the rough paper bag. Just as he considered buying a membership to change his avatar, an AI sales assistant approached.
“Hello, how can I help you?”
The man instantly lost his desire to buy anything. He dropped the eye and left the exhibition area. Deciding it was too crowded tonight, he figured he’d rather go back early and recharge.
He squeezed out of the store and was about to cross the street when he heard a sharp, urgent horn in the distance.
Reacting instinctively, he sidestepped just as a cargo train loaded with goods sped past the spot where he had been standing.
The crates didn’t contain real products, only virtual goods and samples. But what caught Ning Feng’s attention were the Federation emblems on the boxes.
Federated goods?
Suddenly, he recalled the mercenaries he had encountered in the waiting area a while back and had an idea.
He was about to follow the train when he stopped.
Head bowed in thought for a moment, Ning Feng rubbed the back of his neck, snorted softly, and strolled away with his hands in his pockets.
**
Across the street, the rumbling train sped by, rattling the large glass storefront windows as if they might shatter at any moment. The shopkeeper steadied the trembling glass and flashed an ingratiating smile.
“Sir, this massage chair is our store’s bestseller!”
Wearing a tank top, shorts, and flip-flops, with a plain, unremarkable face, Yin Beichen stared at the product on display, his brow deeply furrowed.
“This is a massage chair?”
Before him was a low steel stool fitted with four fist-sized massage balls, held in place by crude mechanical arms and covered with a cheap leather casing.
“Of course! It’s the number-one bestseller across the entire StarNet!” The shopkeeper nodded eagerly. “It features a 4D-sensing mechanical hand that perfectly conforms to the body’s natural curves, adapts to all body types, and best of all, it’s portable!”
Yin Beichen glanced around the cramped store, then down at the store’s ornate promotional display. His eyes narrowed dangerously.
“Is that so?”
Feeling uneasy under the man’s gaze, the shopkeeper let out a dry laugh.
“Of course, it’s an ad. A little embellishment is normal.” He thumped his chest confidently. “But I swear, our massage chair offers the best value on all of StarNet! Buy in bulk, and I can even give you a 20% discount!”
…
In the end, Yin Beichen didn’t place an order. He visited several other massage chair specialty stores, browsing the dazzling array of models, but none seemed right.
Letting out a silent sigh, Yin Beichen logged out of StarNet and walked into the rest area.
After several days of effort, he had followed Qu Yan’s instructions and redecorated the rest area. It now featured a more professional medical bed, along with numerous treatment devices and diagnostic instruments, making it resemble a small laboratory.
Whenever Qu Yan had free time, he would head to the rest area, sometimes bringing many bottles and jars filled with colorful potions. And whenever Yin Beichen finished his military duties, he would come to check on the situation.
The man on the bed looked peaceful, covered in electrode wires, as if asleep. The strange medicinal smell lingered in the air, accompanied by the rhythmic beeping of instruments, each beat pressing against his heart.
Yin Beichen’s eyes flickered briefly before he masked his emotions.
“How is he?” he asked.
“I’ve examined Ning Feng’s body. The insect venom has invaded most of his organs,” Qu Yan said, holding a tablet and constantly refreshing the data. “Luckily, his foundation is strong, and the antidote I gave him earlier had some effect. For now, the venom is just parasitic, but it will need time to fully replicate and spread.”
Yin Beichen let out a small sigh of relief.
“Satisfied with that, Commander? You’re surprisingly easy to please.” Qu Yan’s lips curled into a sarcastic smile.
“In the process of fighting the antidote, the infected cells in his body generate far more heat than can be absorbed in a container. Over time, this will exceed the organs’ tolerance limits.” He tapped the diagnostic device with his pen. “If left unchecked, by the time the venom is cleansed, Ning Feng won’t have many days left.”
“What’s the plan?” Yin Beichen’s brow tightened.
“High-concentration inhibitors can slow the growth of insect venom cells, but the downside is that the body will dehydrate and eventually wither.” He scribbled on the tablet. “So, in addition to the materials on the list, I’ll also need a special nutrient solution. As for the materials…”
“I’ll handle it.” Yin Beichen’s tone was calm. “Tell me about the antidote first.”
“There’s nothing to tell.”
“What do you mean?”
Qu Yan snorted. “The research department is short-staffed to begin with, and with the recent increase in projects, I’d have to have as much sleep time as you to make progress on everything simultaneously.”
“What about Josie?”
“Josie hasn’t been in good shape lately, so I sent him home to rest.”
Qu Yan put it mildly, but Josie’s condition was far worse than he let on.
Since returning to work, Josie had been unfocused, often staring off into space or suddenly trembling as if he had seen something terrifying. Though no physical issues had been found, his mental state made him unfit for research work. It was better to let him rest a few more days.
Hearing this, Yin Beichen suddenly remembered the time Josie had come to him late at night to ask about Ning Feng, revealing the existence of the high-grade insect venom.
“Josie has seen Ning Feng’s blood report,” Yin Beichen said.
“The report?” Qu Yan froze.
Though he might be careless about some things in daily life, he was very strict about the confidentiality of research materials—especially Ning Feng’s blood report. He was certain he had never disclosed it through any channel. So how had Josie obtained it?
Come to think of it, that kid had always harbored strange thoughts about Ning Feng. After learning about the insect venom, he hadn’t said anything either.
What exactly is he planning?
Qu Yan frowned, a strange unease settling in his chest.
Studying the other’s expression, Yin Beichen’s tone was measured. “It seems Professor Qu needs to learn how to judge people better.”
“When it comes to judging people, Commander, I’m far from your level.” Qu Yan immediately shot back. “Oh, and Commander, these potions aren’t off-the-shelf products. They’ll take time to find. Please take the initiative more often instead of just standing around playing the devoted lover. He can’t see you even if you put on a full performance while he’s lying in bed.”
Yin Beichen’s jaw tightened. “Professor Qu, your task is to cleanse the venom. Don’t meddle in other matters.”
With that, he turned and left the rest area.
“Arrogant bastard.” Qu Yan huffed, instinctively reaching for a cigarette before stopping himself. He looked down at the man on the bed and muttered, “You idiot.”
The man didn’t respond. The room was left with only the irritating hum of the machines. After a long moment, Qu Yan let out a quiet laugh, bitterness flickering in his eyes.
“We’re all idiots.”
Back in his office, Yin Beichen opened his tablet to review the commission applications.
With such a high reward, many teams had applied. However, their quality varied. Simply looking at team rankings wasn’t enough. He needed to see what kind of personnel they would send.
As Yin Beichen carefully scrolled through the files, a sudden ding sounded. A notification popped up—an envelope. He accidentally tapped it, and a well-illustrated letter unfolded.
It was a self-recommendation letter, a full three thousand words long. The entire message was a plea for the opportunity to work together. Attached to it were a long list of team members and an introduction for each.
Yin Beichen glanced at the sender and saw it was that mercenary group leader, Marcia. He was about to close it when, just before tapping, his gaze caught a very familiar name.
“Radish… Blade?”
Yin Beichen froze for a moment, a glint of something unusual flashing in his blue eyes.