Picking Up An Alpha On Garbage Star - Chapter 28 Xie Yu's Power Display

“Boss, the 286th Legion has reached the outskirts of the Moran Star System and is entering the system. According to estimates, it will take about five star hours to reach the expected coordinates.”

 

Pei An nodded knowingly. He turned to Xie Yu and extended an invitation, “Boss, want to take a spin in our custom-designed small fighter?”

 

Having marked it just yesterday, even with his high compatibility with Xie Yu’s information elements, Pei An’s abilities were unlikely to pose any problems. However, considering the current serious situation, Pei An decided to entrust the piloting to Xie Yu for safety.

 

Xie Yu smirked, “My pleasure.”

 

Pei An led Xie Yu into the base. Although everyone was surprised that Pei An had brought an outsider into the base, out of obedience and trust in Pei An, no one raised any questions.

 

As a senior officer, Xie Yu was sensitive to the organization density of a base. From entering the base to reaching the underground hangar, he sensed the immense power contained within this small facility.

 

Pei An truly commanded respect and loyalty.

 

Pei An input the key to open the door of the small fighter, leaving the main pilot seat to Xie Yu while taking the co-pilot seat himself.

 

For combat-ready aircraft like this one, both the main and co-pilot positions could operate the fighter, ensuring the aircraft could continue in battle if one pilot became incapacitated.

 

As an excellent commander, Xie Yu was familiar with various weapons. Given the similar principles, he quickly grasped the controls. After securing their seatbelts, he pulled the control lever, initiating takeoff.

 

While Xie Yu piloted the fighter, Pei An began explaining the basic information about this model.

 

“This small fighter is an optimized version based on the L-87. The L-87, as the most widely deployed small fighter in the military, has outstanding features. Its sleek design and high agility allow it to traverse intense firepower. However, it has a notable drawback – a payload of only sixteen missiles. Our Star-02 has comparable speed advantages but with ample payload.”

 

Pei An spoke proudly of the Star-02, a hint of pride in his expression.

 

Xie Yu checked the weapon inventory, confirming the generous payload. The main bay held ten missiles, while each side bay carried five.

 

“L-87 has been in production for eight years,” Xie Yu commented.

 

While the L-87’s sixteen-missile payload was impressive, standing out didn’t mean there was no room for improvement. Advancing beyond the L-87 required significant investment in manpower, resources, and finances. The Empire, hesitant to increase military spending, faced opposition to higher expenditures, as some believed it would only concentrate power in the hands of the eight major corps commanders.

 

The public saw the high military spending but didn’t witness the origins of these funds.

 

The Lyte was highly privatized, from medical resources to education. Except for military personnel and academies, all military equipment was procured from private hands. It was unnecessary to mention who these private individuals were.

 

Entering the interstellar era, the Empire aggressively expanded, establishing a vast empire. Without a massive and powerful military, maintaining control of this empire would be impossible. Thus, downsizing the military was not an option, and military preparations couldn’t be reduced.

 

Military acquisitions also came from arms dealers, all of whom were nobles in top positions. The Empire offered unlimited privileges to these nobles. Consequently, the military couldn’t negotiate prices down. Exorbitant prices for arms were a significant portion of military spending.

 

In addition to the costs of purchasing arms, providing salaries and benefits for the large military force strained the budget. The Finance Department delayed approvals, leaving ordinary soldiers with only nutrient supplements.

 

Xie Yu’s father, as the Supreme Commander of the Third Legion, held a noble title and possessed considerable wealth. However, even with his business contributions, the funds he injected into the military were not insignificant. If it weren’t for his business, the Third Legion would lag behind in military preparations.

 

“I’ve seen the relevant information about L-87, and its performance justifies its production cost,” Pei An remarked.

 

Xie Yu added, “But it could be lower, right?”

 

Pei An nodded, projecting the model diagram of L-87 onto the screen.

 

“About one-third of L-87’s components are purchased from large monopolies. Except for these companies, other manufacturers’ components don’t meet military standards. The remaining two-thirds are from private companies.”

 

Pei An circled several positions with his finger, “The prices of these components are even higher than the rest combined. They’re irreplaceable in the market. If substitutes emerge, the production cost of L-87 will significantly decrease.”

 

Clearly, the Empire wouldn’t negotiate prices down with these monopolies. They also sought funds from these companies, benefiting themselves.

 

“And what about Star-02? Can you tell me about it?” Xie Yu realized that Pei An’s understanding of military equipment was unusually high, beyond what someone raised in a distant star could attain.

 

Moreover, why does Pei An have a detailed 3D model of L-87, with each component clearly dissected, in his possession?

 

What secrets does Pei An harbor?

 

Pei An is quite open with Xie Yu, who is already on the same side. He promptly switches to the model projection of Star-02.

 

“Many components of Star-02 are produced by private companies, avoiding monopolies. After comparing several companies, we chose the most cost-effective one. The critical components that cannot be replaced are produced in-house. Even if both pilots of Star-02 were lost, the enemy couldn’t replicate it. That’s what sets Star-02 apart as a leading small fighter.”

 

One advantage is that even if Star-02 falls into enemy hands after both pilots are lost, they won’t be able to reproduce it. Breaking the code of Star-02 is impossible, maintaining its superiority among small fighters.

 

“Pei An, I really want to recruit you into the Third Legion.” Hasn’t Xie Yu encountered many talents? Of course, he has. However, someone capable of creating Star-02 is only Pei An.

 

Yet, Xie Yu has one lingering question – where does Pei An get the funds to organize such a large force?

 

Pei An taps his fingers on the console, “General Xie Yu, when our alliance grows stronger, you won’t need to recruit me.” By then, the entire Third Legion will naturally align with him.

 

Xie Yu slows down the spacecraft and turns to Pei An, “I’ll work hard to bring you back to the Third Legion as soon as possible.”

 

Pei An blinks his eyes lightly, offering no response. Instead, he turns his head to gaze at the cosmic scenery outside.

 

After a while, the spacecraft reaches its destination. Pei An finds a suitable location and activates the stealth mode.

 

“Why did you bring us here? You haven’t told me yet,” Xie Yu asks. Throughout the journey, he kept an eye on the surroundings, ensuring there was nothing unusual.

 

Pei An taps his index finger on his lips, “Xie Yu, our guest has arrived from afar. Today, I invite you, this guest, to witness a performance.”

 

A performance of drones.

 

Pei An aims to maintain an air of mystery, and Xie Yu refrains from further questioning. Instead, he talks about his own military force.

 

“The 286th Legion brought only one main ship. My deputy brought three. Today, we will make sure the 286th Legion is expelled from the Moran Star System.” He won’t allow the firepower of the 286th Legion to hit Pei An.

 

Pei An raises his eyebrows, “That sounds good!” Once the 286th Legion is dealt with, he might as well visit Xie Yu’s flagship. As for how much he’ll learn after the visit, that remains to be seen.

 

The excellent tradition of the flower-growing race, surpassing the teacher.

 

“Boss, satellites have detected the movements of the 286th Legion. One main ship and four escort ships are heading towards the designated area.”

 

The communication channel lights up, and Li Chengrui’s voice comes through.

 

“Good. Get everyone ready to enjoy our drone performance.”

 

Pei An turns to Xie Yu, “The show is about to begin.”

 

Xie Yu looks at Pei An’s bright eyes and says, “I’m looking forward to it.”

 

The main ship and four escort ships of the 286th Legion move confidently towards DS009, oblivious to any ambush in this remote area. However, in the absence of defenses, thousands of drones start moving towards the massive main ship.

 

The drones are so small, like dust particles in space. Yet, when over a thousand drones gather, it’s akin to a handful of sand. Who would pay attention to an inconspicuous handful of sand?

 

However, these seemingly inconspicuous grains of sand fly into the massive main ship, adhere to the turbines, retract their wings, and some even enter the pipelines, ceasing their flight.

 

“Countdown begins.”

 

Li Chengrui’s voice reaches Pei An and everyone else, building anticipation.

 

“Ten, nine, eight, seven… three, two, one!”

 

A thunderous explosion shakes the cosmos.

 

One thousand self-destructive drones, each carrying a C1 bomb, explode inside the main ship. The explosion is so intense that it blows away the turbine blades, rendering them irreparable. Drones hidden in the pipelines trigger a chain reaction, causing problems in many areas.

 

Inside the main ship of the 286th Legion, alarms blare incessantly, piercing the ears, and red warning lights flash, causing panic among the crew.

 

On the bridge, the ship’s captain with a major’s rank curses loudly while commanding the crew to clean up the aftermath. A communication request comes in, and without looking, he curses again.

 

“Who the hell are you?”

 

Pei An fell silent for a moment. In the military, how would insubordination from subordinates towards superiors be handled?

 

Xie Yu, in front of Pei An, was almost like a devoted son, but in the presence of others, he resembled a fierce beast, ferocious and brutal.

 

In a less than pleasant tone, Xie Yu said, “I’m Xie Yu.”

 

Silence ensued on the other end of the communication. Accusing a superior officer, especially an adversary, directly and using such language could lead to serious consequences.

 

“What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue? You had plenty of energy when you called me a bastard earlier,” Xie Yu said casually, even adjusting himself to a more comfortable sitting position.

 

Unable to hang up, the other party had no choice but to continue, “Sorry, General, I was just agitated.”

 

“Oh? Agitated?” Xie Yu mocked, “Well, the soldiers of the Fifth Legion do seem to have a love affair with fire. It’s like you’ve all become enchanted with the flames. I’m not even surprised anymore.”

 

Pei An never expected to witness this side of Xie Yu. Having spent some time with him, Xie Yu had never spoken in such a manner. This was indeed unexpected.

 

“General Xie Yu!” The other party spoke through gritted teeth.

 

“My ears aren’t deaf; you don’t need to shout so loud,” Xie Yu replied, rubbing his ears as if they had suffered a great deal.

 

The rank on the other end was lower than Xie Yu’s, so they dared not confront him directly. Changing the subject, the officer said, “General Xie Yu, why did you set up an ambush for our 286th Legion here? Are you trying to provoke a war between the Third and Fifth Legions?”

 

“Eat your meals randomly, but don’t speak recklessly. My 258th Legion has just arrived in the Moran Star System. If you don’t believe it, you can report me to the military. I can provide the navigation records as evidence.”

 

Wasn’t the explosion the work of the 258th Legion?

 

The captain of the 286th Legion found himself deeply perplexed.

 

He ruled out suspicion on Xie Yu, but that didn’t mean Xie Yu would let him off.

 

Xie Yu continued, “Unlike your 286th Legion, the Moran Star System is not your designated patrol area. Why did your legion travel all this way to the Moran Star System? Do you have official orders from the Fifth Legion Command? Without orders, it’s considered dereliction of duty.”

 

In Pei An’s mind, he silently applauded Xie Yu. Xie Yu handled the situation with such ease, swiftly taking control with just a few words.

 

“No official orders, unauthorized actions. I will report this to the military,” Xie Yu added calmly.

 

Once the military investigated, even if the Fifth Legion wanted to protect him, it would be impossible. It would involve the power play among the eight major legions, and the Fifth Legion wouldn’t risk conflict with the other seven legions for the sake of one individual.

 

The face of the white captain turned even paler. They had heard that Xie Yu was not one to be trifled with, but experiencing it firsthand was different.

 

Yet, he wasn’t going to concede easily in front of Xie Yu.

 

“So, General Xie Yu, what about your presence in the Moran Star System? Do you have official orders? How did you persuade him?” The captain’s tone was filled with frustration.

 

“He volunteered to do so. Why don’t you believe it?” Xie Yu innocently remarked. “I thought the news of my ship exploding had already spread throughout the military. Turns out, you were unaware?”

 

“Hmm, this is strange. I am my father’s legitimate son. There’s no reason my disappearance wouldn’t alarm him. You must have known.”

 

The white captain, infuriated, clenched his fists and slammed the control panel.

 

Of course, he knew, but with the main ship exploding mysteriously and Xie Yu being so assertive, he had momentarily forgotten about Xie Yu’s disappearance.

 

“Alright! I’m in the Moran Star System, and your 286th Legion came all the way here with military vessels. Could it be that the explosion of the ship I was on was your doing? I’ll have to inquire with the military whether the 286th Legion wants my life, or if the Fifth Legion wants my life!” After saying this, Xie Yu, with a pretend burst of anger, hung up the communication.

 

Xie Yu sighed in relief, feeling at ease. The white captain, however, nearly vomited blood from the anger he caused.

 

He couldn’t let Xie Yu report to the military; otherwise, not only him but even the current commander of the 286th Legion would suffer. Xie Yu’s father was protective, and if he went berserk, he wouldn’t hesitate to dismantle the offices of the Fifth Legion.

 

“Immediately dispatch a frigate. I want to meet Xie Yu!” The white captain commanded.

 

Xie Yu, who moments ago appeared invincible, now resumed his usual demeanor after cutting off the communication. He smiled warmly at Pei An, “I didn’t scare you, did I?”

 

“You didn’t go too far,” Pei An complimented sincerely. “But I’ve gained a bit more insight into your character.”

 

It made sense. Xie Yu, being the heir of a powerful family, had a different upbringing. Dealing with such individuals required a different approach – one that involved not giving them the attention they craved, and handling them without worrying about their background.

 

Xie Yu explained, “In the Empire’s military, many officers come from influential backgrounds, each entangled in countless connections. To make them obey, you can’t use the democratic approach. They hold themselves in high regard, so you have to treat them as if they’re not worth your attention. Call them out on their faults directly, and when dealing with them, don’t think about their backgrounds.”

 

He shrugged, “There aren’t many people with backgrounds more significant than mine.”

 

Most importantly, others might still care about their image and manners, but his father wouldn’t. Father and son, the father even dared to storm an office building with an energy cannon. The son, though not as extreme, still had a commanding presence.

 

Pei An’s eyes flashed with a hint of amusement, shallow but present.

 

He was thinking, Xie Yu was so mild-mannered on DS009. Firstly, it might be to keep a low profile; after all, he wasn’t on his own turf. Staying discreet was a wise move. Secondly, he had been carrying the weight of thousands of lives, seeking justice for them. Today, when the 286th Legion collided with him, after venting his frustration on them, some of the built-up tension in him had dissipated, revealing another side of his character.

 

“If you let me pilot Star-02 today, I’ll take you to visit the Lord of the Underworld.” Xie Yu steered the fighter, changing direction towards the 258th Legion.

 

Pei An was slightly surprised. He had been thinking about how to bring up the topic of visiting their flagship with Xie Yu, but he hadn’t expected Xie Yu to suggest it himself.

 

[Leader, how should we deal with the 286th Legion next? Also, another military force has entered the Moran Star System.]

 

Li Chengrui sent a message to Pei An, knowing he was with Xie Yu and choosing not to make a direct call.

 

[The other military force is the 258th Legion, Xie Yu’s group. Don’t worry, let Xie Yu handle the 286th Legion. Keep the Flame Torch hidden.]

 

[Alright, understood.]

 

[When will you come back?]

 

Li Chengrui was aware of Pei An’s heat period, and being with an alpha in such sensitive times was not safe. He was also unaware that Pei An had marked Xie Yu without the knowledge of the group.

 

[Not coming back for now. I’m going to meet the Lord of the Underworld on the Lord of the Underworld’s ship.]

 

Li Chengrui was astonished; his fingers fumbled over the keyboard.

 

[The Lord of the Underworld? Xie Yu is taking you up there? How did you convince him?]

 

Li Chengrui was genuinely worried. Had Pei An used some charm? With Pei An’s looks, using charm could be irresistible to many alphas.

 

[He suggested it himself. I can’t miss this opportunity.]

 

Li Chengrui: “???”

 

Wasn’t Xie Yu supposed to be impervious to the charms of beauty?

 

Li Chengrui didn’t dare ask more questions or make assumptions.

 

The communication had been prearranged between Xie Yu and his adjutant. The flagship smoothly received a small fighter, and Xie Yu’s trusted subordinates, eager to see their commander alive, rushed to the docking area. They hoped to be the first to welcome him back.

 

The small fighter’s model was unfamiliar, and they wondered where their commander had obtained it. However, that wasn’t their primary concern. They anticipated the moment Xie Yu would step out of the fighter, ready to be the first to express their joy.

 

To their surprise, after the fighter landed, Xie Yu didn’t utter a word to the excited crowd. Instead, he gracefully bypassed them, taking a gentlemanly posture, and headed in the opposite direction. He performed a courteous invitation gesture.

 

Then, to their astonishment, they watched as a hand placed gently on Xie Yu’s. Someone emerged from the fighter, jumping down with elegance.

 

The crowd gasped collectively.

 

Could they witness such a scene?