After Rebirth, Married to a Deadly Enemy - Chapter 44

On the 10th of every month, which is the payday for the Xinshi Group, Bai Xiangxing just received the repayment from Xiang Yan and Dong Ziyu, each receiving one million star coins.

 

This was the agreed upon reward for rescuing them from prison. Last month, the A-level psychic soothing agent  and the military signed a long-term cooperation agreement, with a large sum of money prepaid by the military. Bai Xiangxing instructed the finance department to settle dividends for Xiang Yan. As for Dong Ziyu’s portion, it should also have been repaid by Xiang Yan.

 

【Received.】

 

Bai Xiangxing sent a message to the two of them, informing them that he had received the money, and then began to ponder whether he should start giving money to Shi Zhen monthly. This guy, Shi Zhen, had too much pride. Even though he was so poor that he didn’t even have battle armor, he still didn’t dare to use his money to buy it. Among the Shi family members, Shi Zhen’s father was a marshal, so they certainly wouldn’t lack money or resources. As for Shi Zhen’s mother, being a marshal’s wife, she wouldn’t live too poorly either. Even Shi Ning, he received a monthly pocket money of five hundred thousand star coins.

 

Tsk, it’s really pitiful. Shi Ning’s monthly pocket money almost exceeded his brother’s annual salary. It’s really pathetic.

 

Should he also give him a monthly pocket money of five hundred thousand?

 

Bai Xiangxing immediately made a phone call to the finance department manager: “From now on, transfer five hundred thousand star coins to Shi Zhen’s account every month.”

 

“For what purpose?” Zhang Hongming asked.

 

“Pocket money,” Bai Xiangxing said casually.

 

There was silence on the other end of the phone for a few seconds before Zhang Hongming said, “Mr. Bai, it’s not easy to handle pocket money in the accounts. How about I raise your salary by five hundred thousand, and I’ll pay you monthly, and then you can transfer it to the young master?”

 

Although Shi Zhen was a shareholder of the company, he never participated in the management of the company. The old people in the company called him “young master” according to their childhood nicknames.

 

Bai Xiangxing was speechless for a moment. He just realized that what he had just said to Zhang Hongming was pocket money. He thought about changing it to dividends, but then he felt like he was making excuses.

 

“No need to raise my salary. Forget what I said.” Bai Xiangxing hung up the phone, sighed, and felt that it was better to transfer money from his own account to give to him, just like Shi Ning. When it comes to year-end bonuses, he’ll ask Shi Zhen to return the money.

 

Decision was made, Bai Xiangxing immediately opened his bank account and transferred five hundred thousand star coins to both Shi Ning and Shi Zhen.

 

Just as he finished the transfer, Wan Tong knocked on the door and entered: “Mr. Bai, there is a company called Mailun that wants to discuss a business with us.”

 

“What business?”

 

“Ore.”

 

Bai Xiangxing frowned. Xinshi currently didn’t have any business related to ores, but he also knew that if it wasn’t important, Wan Tong wouldn’t come specially to inform him: “Is there anything special about it?”

 

“They want to sell us an asteroid rich in ores. This asteroid is the same one Mr. Shi used to trade with the Bai family.” In front of Bai Xiangxing, Wan Tong didn’t dare to mention the term “dowry.”

 

So that’s the one.

 

“The Bai family sold it?” Bai Xiangxing frowned.

 

“Yes, the situation at the Bai family has been very bad recently. Their pharmaceutical customers were all taken by us, and the inventory they accumulated had to be sold at low prices to remote star systems, with more than half lost along the way. It’s been even worse in the past month. Almost nine out of ten of the Bai family’s cargo ships leaving the capital’s port would be targeted by star pirates. The losses of the Bai family are currently estimated to have reached ten billion, and the banks have stopped lending to the Bai family.”

 

Bai Xiangxing had long anticipated that the banks would not lend to the Bai family. He had intentionally spread the word in the industry through Director Yang, and coupled with the poor performance of the Bai family recently, which he openly targeted, it was normal for the banks to hesitate when lending to the Bai family. Once the banks stopped lending to the Bai family, the Bai family was not far from bankruptcy.

 

“Probably because they couldn’t raise enough funds. A week ago, the Bai family sold the 119th asteroid to this company that specializes in ore development.” Wan Tong explained.

 

“How did they suddenly come to us?” Bai Xiangxing asked.

 

“He has investigated and knows that the 119th asteroid used to belong to Xinshi, so he wants to sell it to us.”

 

“Without any conditions?” If they specifically approached them, they must have some requests.

 

“He wants to sell it to us at a 10% premium, and also give us ten doses of A-level spiritual soothing agent,” Wan Tong said.

 

“A net profit of 10% just by flipping it. He’s making money more easily than I am.” But Xinshi currently had money, and if the price was right, he did want to buy it back. It was left to Shi Zhen by his grandfather, and he had planned to reclaim the asteroid after ruining the Bai family.

 

“Alright, let’s arrange a meeting.” Bai Xiangxing said.

 

“He is currently on the administrative star of the Sagittarius system. If we want to talk, we may have to go there,” Wan Tong explained. “The owner of Mailun Corporation is named Mailun. This Mr. Mailun seems to also have some mental health issues and has been troubled for years. Currently, he is undergoing treatment on the administrative star of the Sagittarius system and doesn’t like long-distance flights. It’s said that our potion has cured many patients, so he brought up the matter of ten doses of A-level Psychic Soothing Agent.”

 

So that’s it. It seems he not only wants to make money but also wants to cure himself.

 

A-level Psychic Soothing Agents are currently only supplied to the military. Bai Xiangxing hadn’t given any to Changsheng, so the potion was not seen in the market.

 

Bai Xiangxing checked his schedule: “There’s nothing important this week. I’ll go.”

 

“I could arrange for you to go.” Wan Tong said.

 

“No, I’ll go myself.” Because he had just sent something out himself, he wanted to personally retrieve it for Shi Zhen. “If you leave, with all the matters in Xinshi, who will help me oversee them?”

 

As the CEO of the group, Bai Xiangxing only focused on the overall direction, while the specific tasks were all executed by Wan Tong. Seriously speaking, Wan Tong was much busier than him.

 

“Alright, I’ll book your ticket.”

 

The next day, Bai Xiangxing dealt with some matters in the company, and it wasn’t until the afternoon that he and Wang Ping set off for the Sagittarius system.

 

The Sagittarius system was two days away from the Scorpio system where Bai Xiangxing was. Bai Xiangxing bought a first-class cabin for himself. When the journey was halfway through, Bai Xiangxing was resting in his room when the spacecraft suddenly shook violently. Bai Xiangxing was sleeping quite deeply. If it weren’t for the guardrail on the bed in the first-class cabin, he would have almost been thrown out of the bed and slammed into the metal wall.

 

What’s going on?

 

Bai Xiangxing had just sat up from the bed when there was a loud knock on the door from outside: “Mr. Bai, Mr. Bai, are you alright?”

 

Bai Xiangxing stabilized himself and went to open the door for Wang Ping: “Wang Ping, what’s happening outside?”

 

“We’ve encountered star pirates,” Wang Ping said solemnly.

 

“Star pirates?!” Bai Xiangxing couldn’t believe it. The spacecraft they were on was a passenger ship carrying people. If star pirates hijacked cargo ships, the response from the Interstellar Guard wouldn’t be too big, but if they hijacked passenger ships and took hostages, the Interstellar Guard would immediately swarm in to stop and eliminate the pirate group.

 

So in the starry sky, star pirates usually only rob goods, not people.

 

This large spacecraft carried three thousand people. Were the star pirates crazy?

 

“Star pirates won’t massacre on a large scale. Taking a passenger ship hostage might be to negotiate with the Alliance. It shouldn’t be too serious,” Wang Ping analyzed calmly.

 

“What should we do now? Just wait?” At this point, it seemed that waiting was the only thing they could do.

 

Actually, in his previous life, Bai Xiangxing had also experienced being hijacked by star pirates. However, at that time, he was on his own cargo ship. When he saw that he couldn’t fight back, he obediently handed over the goods to the star pirates. Just as he was wondering if the star pirates would spare him, Shi Zhen, leading his army, happened to pass by on a mission and conveniently wiped out the star pirates who had robbed him.

 

At that time, they hadn’t seen each other for five or six years. Shi Zhen didn’t speak to him, as if he didn’t recognize him. Bai Xiangxing didn’t rush to acknowledge him either. He just safely returned to the capital star and transferred ten million star coins to the Storm Legion’s account.

 

“Follow me.” Ordinary people would naturally wait for the captain to negotiate with the other party, but Wang Ping wasn’t an ordinary person. He was a soldier, and when faced with a crisis, he would instinctively think of ways to rescue.

 

Bai Xiangxing followed Wang Ping all the way down. Perhaps because of the encounter with star pirates, the defense personnel inside the spacecraft had all gone out to maintain order. The two of them easily made their way from the passenger cabin to the lower hold.

 

“Where are we going?” Bai Xiangxing couldn’t help but ask.

 

“Every passenger ship is equipped with escape pods and combat ships or mechas. We’re going there, prepared on both hands. In case the star pirates attack, I can take you out first.” Wang Ping said.

 

Wang Ping had thought about the other passengers on the spacecraft. If he could defeat them, he would definitely step forward. But in the current situation, ensuring Bai Xiangxing’s safety was his top priority.

 

When Captain Du led the other brothers of the Security Team to establish the transportation company, with the opportunity to wear armor again and pilot battleships, he was deeply envious. He didn’t like being a driver, even if it was for Bai Xiangxing. He was a soldier who longed for the vast universe and piloted battleships and mechas.

 

But Captain Du told him, “Wang Ping, stick with Mr. Bai and protect him well. He is our leader.”

 

Yes, Mr. Bai was their leader. Without him, where would there be an interstellar transportation company? Where would there be a chance to pilot battleships and roam the space again?

 

After understanding this, Wang Ping no longer felt that being a driver was a bad position, because he was the bodyguard of the leader.

 

“Hey hey, can the people on the ship hear me?” Suddenly, all the playback devices inside the spacecraft were activated, as if they had been invaded, and a person’s image appeared on them.

 

The two of them involuntarily turned their heads to look, and they both froze, because the image was Bai Xiangxing.

 

Wang Ping’s face immediately sank.

 

“This person, named Bai Xiangxing, is one of the passengers on your ship, and I only want him. Hand him over, and I’ll let the others leave. If you don’t, I’ll just blow up the spaceship directly. Oh, and you only have ten minutes.”

 

As the words fell, a huge countdown clock suddenly appeared in the center of the image.

 

There was an uproar in the cabin, and even though the two were in the hold at the moment, they could still hear the huge commotion from above.

 

“Sacrificing one person can save more than three thousand lives, very cost-effective.” The pirate used huge numbers to stimulate the nerves of all the passengers on the spaceship.

 

The uproar grew louder, and Bai Xiangxing even heard the footsteps of people searching for him. 

 

“Let’s go!” Wang Ping pulled Bai Xiangxing, who was still in a daze, and hurriedly left.

 

The so-called preparation on both hands was the only way at this moment.

 

The place where mechas and weapons are stored cannot be accessed casually. They found the location but didn’t have the password to enter.

 

“You wait here.” Wang Ping didn’t hesitate and turned around.

 

Bai Xiangxing was left standing there, still a bit bewildered, not knowing why the star pirates specifically targeted him for kidnapping.

 

Ten minutes? Bai Xiangxing glanced at the projection on the wall, and there were still eight minutes left.

 

Just as the clock was about to jump to seven minutes, Wang Ping came back with an Alpha wearing a security uniform. The Alpha looked terrified, holding his hands up as he walked in, while Wang Ping pointed a gun at him.

 

“Open the door,” Wang Ping commanded.

 

As soon as the Alpha saw Bai Xiangxing, he understood, hesitating to open the door. If he opened it and Bai Xiangxing escaped, the people on this spaceship would be in danger.

 

“Hurry up!” Wang Ping’s voice carried a hint of threat, while he forcefully kicked the Alpha’s leg, forcing him to kneel down.

 

The male Alpha knelt down in pain but still hesitated.

 

“The star pirates want to capture me. If you open the door and we escape, the star pirates will naturally shift their focus to chase after me,” Bai Xiangxing understood what he was hesitating about and persuaded him.

 

The male Alpha pondered for a moment, seeming to weigh his options.

 

“We don’t have much time left, only six minutes,” Bai Xiangxing said.

 

The male Alpha glanced at the time and gritted his teeth. “I’ll open it.”

 

The male Alpha walked to the door, entered the password, and opened the hatch.

 

Wang Ping escorted the person inside, then searched him and found a pair of handcuffs, locking the male Alpha inside. “Once we leave, your companions will naturally come to rescue you.”

 

“Mr. Bai, go to the XY-1 type battleship waiting for me,” Wang Ping instinctively said.

 

Bai Xiangxing turned his head and saw two battleships, one blue and one black. Which one was the XY-1 type battleship?

 

“The blue one,” Wang Ping quickly realized, indicating with color.

 

Bai Xiangxing ran over, while Wang Ping quickly went to the place where the mechas were stored and picked out a set of Level 6 mecha armor.

 

This was already the highest level of mecha armor on the battleship.

 

Then he turned and ran towards the battleship, boarded it with Bai Xiangxing, and then started it up, flying out from the bottom of the spacecraft.

 

Almost as soon as the warship flew out, the three medium-sized warships surrounding the spacecraft noticed them. They adjusted their cannons and fired at the blue warship.

 

Under a fierce bombardment, the blue warship seemed like a fragile canoe in a storm.

 

=

 

On the distant Marginal Star, the Flame Team had just completed their mission and was on their way back.

 

“This mission was easier than I thought.”

 

“That’s because of the A-grade psychic soothing agents provided by Xing Shao. We didn’t have to worry about excessive mental power usage during battles.”

 

“The allowance for this mission was high. Let’s celebrate when we get back. Let’s have some good food.”

 

As the members of the Flame Team were thinking about celebrating upon their return, the cockpit suddenly sounded an emergency contact alarm.

 

Everyone quieted down instantly, and Shizhen, who was sitting in the corner, stood up and walked towards the cockpit.

 

“I’m Shizhen.” Shizhen answered the communication.

 

The screen flickered, and the face of a middle-aged Alpha with some resemblance to Shizhen appeared on the screen.

 

A general? Was there an urgent mission?

 

Just as everyone was thinking this, General Shi on the video spoke, “Bai Xiangxing is in trouble.”

 

One sentence exploded the entire warship. All members of the Flame Team stood up, their expressions tense. But since it was a general, they didn’t dare to ask questions.

 

“What happened!” Shizhen clenched his fists.

 

“Ten minutes ago, the Interstellar Patrol received an alert. The spaceship flying from the Capital Star to the administrative star of the Sagittarius Star System was hijacked. The other party is threatening to trade Bai Xiangxing for the lives of everyone on board.” General Shi said calmly.

 

“How is he?” 

 

Shizhen looked at his father with bloodshot eyes, asking.

 

General Shi looked at his son and comforted him, “Wang Ping took him and fled with the defensive warship equipped in the spacecraft, but at the same time, there are three medium-sized warships chasing after them.”

 

“Coordinates!”

 

“Sent to you.” After speaking, a string of coordinates appeared on the light brain in the cockpit.

 

Without Shizhen’s order, Liu Qing, who was responsible for piloting the warship, began inputting the coordinates as soon as she received them.

 

“Space jump initiated. Please prepare for the jump.” The mechanical electronic voice sounded in the cockpit. “Nineteen, eighteen, seventeen…”

 

In fact, when Shizhen asked for the coordinates, all members of the Flame Team automatically sat in their designated seats and fastened their seat belts.

 

“Two, one.”

 

With a swoosh, the fiery-red warship plunged into the black hole and disappeared.