Picking Up An Alpha On Garbage Star - Chapter 66

There was no scene of tearful reunions with relatives as imagined. The scenes the Pei couple had envisioned on the spaceship did not materialize.

Mrs. Pei cried incessantly, not understanding why her grandson would not acknowledge them.

“An An, I’m your grandma. Don’t you remember? When you were little, you loved drawing with me, and I even brought some of your childhood drawings.”

Pei An did not remember. The person who should have cherished those warm and beautiful memories had died over a decade ago, leaving no fragment of memory behind.

Pei An sincerely treated Pei Ruyu as his father because, during their brief time together, Pei Ruyu indeed treated him as his own child, not as the original “Pei An,” but as an independent individual, even though he was in his son’s body.

Pei Ruyu would inquire about his preferences and prepare meals accordingly, and he had said that Pei An was completely different from “Pei An.”

He grew up in a large compound with grandparents who were scientists. Influenced from a young age, he smoothly followed a scientific path, skipping grades, attending a national defense university, and joining the research institute. In contrast, “Pei An” did not inherit much of his father’s intelligence, and due to health issues, did not attend school regularly but had private tutors. “Pei An” struggled academically but had a talent for art. If fate had been kinder, “Pei An” might have become an artist or pursued manga and animation.

In any case, Pei An and “Pei An” were different, even though Pei An used “Pei An’s” body.

Thus, Pei An could not empathize with Mrs. Pei’s memories. Looking at her pulling out old drawings from a leather bag, he could not feel any closeness.

More importantly, he could not acknowledge the Pei couple as relatives in “Pei An’s” name, nor could he tell them that their grandson had died before their son.

“Mrs. Pei, you don’t need to take out anything else,” Pei An stood straight, unlike the frail boy who couldn’t stand so upright.

“Pei An has no relatives and cannot have any. Please understand,” Pei An said slowly, bowing to the couple.

Mr. and Mrs. Pei were stunned. Mrs. Pei still held a small, yellowed drawing paper that had been preserved for over a decade, without any damage.

The couple seemed to age significantly in an instant.

Mr. Pei half-embraced his wife and wiped his eyes. Indeed, Pei An was the Secretary-General of the Independent Army. Anyone associated with Pei An would be in danger, and this position was too special. Not only could Pei An not be involved with them, but more importantly, he could not be involved with the Mondrei family.

“We are glad to meet Secretary-General. Our family is willing to donate all our assets to support the Independent Army in fighting the enemy,” Mr. Pei said earnestly.

“Mr. and Mrs. Pei, thank you for your support in the fight against the enemy. However, we don’t need such a large donation. Many people donate money and supplies to the Independent Army. Rest assured, we will win the war,” Pei An did not accept the Pei couple’s offer.

The Pei couple’s donation was meant for “Pei An,” but he, as the Secretary-General, would treat every supporter of the Independent Army fairly and justly.

Mr. Pei sighed. Perhaps from the moment Pei An refused to acknowledge them, it was clear that Pei An would be fair and impartial.

“Then Secretary-General, can we stay in the Galley star system?” Mrs. Pei pleaded. “We would like to stay here.”

Even if they couldn’t be acknowledged, being close by would be the greatest comfort.

Pei An responded, “Naturally, as long as it’s not in enemy-occupied areas, our citizens have the freedom to travel and can stay wherever they wish.”

The Pei couple had long handed over their company to professional managers. They had no greater ambitions as long as the company could operate stably, shareholders received dividends, and employees’ salaries and benefits were paid on time. Other than each other, they were alone and indifferent to where they lived.

Xie Yu watched as Pei An struggled to maintain his composure. After sending the Pei couple away and closing the office door, he pulled Pei An into his embrace.

“An An, if you’re upset, you can cry on me or vent your frustration,” Xie Yu released some pheromones to soothe him.

Pei An’s eyes were a bit sore. He had held back tears for a long time, feeling a painful ache, and simply closed his eyes.

“Xie Yu, I just feel like I owe Dad and ‘Pei An’ so much. Dad gave me the first love in this unfamiliar world, taught me about this world, helped me hide my true identity, and protected me when the Bright Goddess was in trouble. And ‘Pei An’ gave me his body, which gave me a chance to be reborn. But I… I can’t even acknowledge them as relatives.”

He knew better than anyone that not acknowledging them was the best choice, for both the Pei couple and the overall situation. But Pei An couldn’t help but wonder if Pei Ruyu and “Pei An” would blame him.

“An An, you’re right. And it’s not like there’s no recognition at all. At least the Pei couple knows their grandson is not dead. If they had known directly that the original host had died in the drug experiment, wouldn’t that have been even more painful for them?” Xie Yu said gently, “So, don’t blame yourself, okay?”

Although Pei An did not acknowledge the Pei couple, he still found them a residence within his capacity.

Many senior officers had family accompanying them, and they could not stay in military areas. Thus, the administrative officer of the Galley star system arranged a residential community for these relatives, which was transformed into a military-grade security area. The houses were small villas, with three floors and divided into left and right units. For senior officers, these houses were not expensive, as their salaries and allowances were high, and most came from military academies, which required substantial education expenses, indicating a well-off background.

The officers did not take advantage; they purchased the houses for their families. During their time off, they could return to see their families.

Since the residents were the families of officers, the community’s security level was upgraded to military-grade. It had various surveillance and security devices, with armed soldiers patrolling day and night, ensuring the community’s safety. Besides the military, no place in the Galley star system was safer than this rebranded Independent Homeland community.

Moreover, the security system of this community was designed by Pei An himself, with help from Li Chengrui and Xiao Xue. Finding and exploiting vulnerabilities in their system was extremely difficult.

However, Pei An couldn’t help but frown when the developers renamed the Wenhe and Jiayuan community to Independent Homeland. It was really unnecessary.

To protect the Pei couple, Pei An arranged for them to have property in Independent Homeland and sent his trusted aides to escort them there. Regardless, he wanted to do more for the Pei couple, making some efforts within his capabilities.

It was also a way to ease the guilt he felt in his heart.

After sending the Pei couple to Independent Homeland, Pei An set aside his distractions and focused on his tasks. There were still many policies in the Komo system that needed his approval before they could be implemented. He held meetings with different people from morning until night. Now, the military, which was once the most occupied, had become the most idle.

To help with the workload, Pei An had brought Xie Yu in to assist. Xie Yu acted as both an external commander and an internal secretary. Since Xie Yu was his partner, Pei An felt it was acceptable to push him a bit, as long as it didn’t violate labor laws.

After another long day of meetings, Pei An’s shoulders were sore, so he asked Secretary Xie for a massage.

Secretary Xie’s technique was excellent. Pei An felt his body relax and sink into the chair, completely softened and unwilling to move.

“Just a bit to the left, yes, right there, a little more pressure,” Pei An said, closing his eyes in enjoyment and murmuring, “So comfortable…”

Xie Yu teased, “Is the guest satisfied with Technician Xie’s service? If satisfied, please leave a five-star review.”

Pei An responded, “Very satisfied, extremely satisfied. Can Technician Xie’s service have a membership card?”

Xie Yu played along, “The membership card for Technician Xie is only issued to one person and is lifelong. Once issued, it cannot be canceled. The guest will have to seek Technician Xie’s massage exclusively in the future. Would you like to confirm the membership?”

Pei An agreed, “Yes, please!”

The two of them laughed softly. Xie Yu was fine, but Pei An was shaking with laughter, not even knowing why he found it so amusing.

Pei An tilted his head back, pulling on Xie’s collar and leaning in for a brief kiss.

“Xie Yu, I want to have braised pork for dinner tonight,” Pei An said, switching Xie Yu’s role from Technician Xie to Chef Xie.

“Let’s also stir-fry a couple of vegetable dishes. What do you want?” Xie Yu started recalling what was in the fridge, “How about spicy-sour shredded potatoes and vinegar cabbage?”

“Of course!” Pei An got up from the chair, tidied his already neat desk, and pulled Xie Yu home.

When Pei An opened the office door, he almost bumped into a bearded man who looked like he was about to knock.

This bearded man was none other than Mr. Arik, the administrative officer of the Galley star system who had been a strong supporter of the Independent Army.

Pei An had a bad premonition.

His perfect dinner might be ruined.

“Mr. Arik, what brings you here? You could have contacted me directly through the smart brain; there was no need to come all this way,” Pei An invited Mr. Arik into the office.

Xie Yu, now in his Secretary Xie role, went to make tea for Mr. Arik.

Mr. Arik looked troubled. “Secretary-General Pei, it’s not that I wanted to disturb you, but this matter… is not something I can discuss through the smart brain.”

Pei An’s expression grew serious. “Please, go ahead.”

Mr. Arik continued, “The Central Star has sent a delegation to visit the Galley star system, as well as a battlefield observation team.”

The Central Star had no direct contact with the Independent Army. Regardless, Pei An was currently responsible for non-military affairs in the Independent Army. The Central Star found that they couldn’t contact anyone working under Pei An, and attempts to reach Xie Yu and Gu Fan through the military had been ignored. The royal family and council could only command troops with strained relations with Xie Yu and others. Xie Rao and Gu Yuanyang were like enhanced diamonds—extremely tough.

After considering various factors, the Central Star had no choice but to contact Mr. Arik.

Mr. Arik was also perplexed upon receiving the message from Central Star and had no choice but to issue a notice. The delegation had already departed from the Central Star and would soon arrive in the Galley star system.

To be honest, since the rebellion began, Mr. Arik’s work had been closely tied to the Independent Army. Both Pei An and Xie Yu, as well as Gu Fan, who often tried to slack off, were all easy to interact with, especially regarding work. They were meticulous and serious. Mr. Arik had almost forgotten what dealing with incompetents felt like. However, now that incompetents were coming to the Galley star system, he felt desperate.

Why come now, when they were not actively resisting the enemy before? Were they trying to show off?

Mr. Arik was internally furious.

His mind was filled with the sound of screaming chickens, emitting countless meaningless wails.

Pei An’s premonition was correct—his perfect dinner with Xie Yu was likely ruined.

“Who is coming?” Xie Yu asked. Having grown up in the Central Star and knowing almost everyone through Xie Rao, he was familiar with all prominent figures.

Mr. Arik shrugged. “The person coming is Austin Davis, the Seventh Prince.”

“Who did you say?” Xie Yu’s volume suddenly increased.

Pei An was taken aback. He looked at Xie Yu with confusion, and Xie Yu shook his head, indicating they would discuss it in detail after Mr. Arik left.

“The Seventh Prince. Commander Xie, you’ve had dealings with him before. What is he like? Is he difficult to handle?” Mr. Arik asked.

What is he like?

Of course, he’s not impressive.

“How long until the delegation from Central Star arrives in the Galley star system?” Xie Yu didn’t answer Mr. Arik’s question but instead asked.

Mr. Arik estimated, “No more than three days.”

From the timing, it seemed that the Central Star had already begun preparations after receiving the two major news updates, and after various consultations, they hastily sent the delegation and a so-called battlefield observation team.

They had really played their cards well. Public dissatisfaction with the royal family and the council had reached unprecedented heights following the Independent Army’s victory. If they didn’t present some convincing gesture to placate the public, the discontent would only increase. Strikes by workers, which caused them daily losses, meant they had no choice but to act quickly, even if it was just for show.

The battlefield observation team was even more laughable. They weren’t present when needed in the fight, and now that the Independent Army was in a period of rest with no immediate large-scale battles, and with the Komo system’s post-war reconstruction ongoing and the military busy with rebuilding, there were no frontline troops available except to maintain a stable defense.

“Three days is enough,” Xie Yu said coldly. “Since they want to come, let them come. Once they arrive, please manage them and ensure they don’t enter the operations center without instructions from me or the Secretary-General.”

Mr. Arik understood; this was about preparing to deal with the presumptuous arrivals.

“Well, you and Secretary-General Pei can discuss the details. I’ll do as instructed.” Mr. Arik was diligent, but when it came to dealing with such manipulative situations, he was no match for Pei An and Xie Yu.

Mr. Arik had come all the way to the operations center. Xie Yu asked Rika to show Mr. Arik around while he and Pei An stayed in the office, figuring out how to handle the arrival of the delegation in three days.

Before that, Pei An wanted to understand what had happened between the Seventh Prince Austin Davis and Xie Yu.

“Do you remember I once mentioned that one of my female captains was killed due to a prince’s scheme?” Xie Yu’s eyes were filled with killing intent. “That prince is Austin Davis.”

A prince who would sacrifice Imperial soldiers to the guns of interstellar pirates for his own benefit…

Xie Yu sneered, “I was previously cautious and timid, lacking the courage to avenge my subordinates. This time, if Austin Davis falls into my hands, he shouldn’t blame me for being ruthless.”

If Austin Davis dared to come, Xie Yu had a way to deal with him—the man who should have already gone to hell to atone for the soldiers of the Empire.

Pei An hugged Xie Yu. “Whatever you decide to do, I will support you.”

Xie Yu closed his eyes. When he opened them again, his gaze had softened, though it still carried a hidden ferocity.

“They’ve organized a battlefield observation team? On the battlefield, bullets have no eyes; if they die, they have no one to blame but themselves.”

The Central Star’s battlefield observation team was meant to be a mere formality. With no active conflict, they just needed to visit, take some photos and videos, and perhaps give a speech. That would help in shifting public perception. No one really wanted to go to the battlefield; seeing the cruelty of war would only make them fearful.

Some people are indifferent to others’ lives but become extremely cautious when it comes to their own, as if only their lives matter while others’ lives are worthless.

“The closest to the rebel forces is the Cang Hai star system. I’ll take them there to see what war really looks like.” On the battlefield, Xie Yu was a king who could control the situation, and he would easily handle those high and mighty nobles on the battlefield.

Pei An said, “I guess the delegation will want to convene a meeting with the officers to promote themselves. Let’s not refuse them. They want a meeting, they can have one, but we’ll decide who attends.”

At that time, he would invite a bunch of media to cover the entire event. There were plenty of media stationed in the Galley star system now. Then, he’d have the officers demand money, weapons, and supplies.

Pei An believed that, for the sake of appearances, they would have to provide what the officers demanded. If they couldn’t, well, they’d have to face the consequences online.

In Pei An’s belief, there was never any concept of repaying kindness with kindness.

When dealing with enemies, one should strike as hard as possible.

Pei An asked his secretary to bring dinner for himself and Xie Yu as they continued discussing how to deal with the upcoming delegation.

Currently, they only knew that the delegation’s leader was Austin Davis. The other members were unknown, so Xie Yu sent a help request to Xie Rao.

Coincidentally, Xie Rao was also looking to contact Xie Yu about the delegation.

Due to the poor signal for smooth video calls, Xie Yu and Xie Rao communicated via text.

According to Xie Rao, the delegation was secretly organized by the royal family and the council without the military or other departments knowing. The proposal was made by Austin Davis, supported by the Mondrei family. The Mondrei family would also be sending representatives, and Xie Rao warned Pei An to be cautious.

Xie Rao hadn’t expected them to be so thorough. The entire delegation boarded the spaceship in secrecy, without any farewell ceremony, and had already left. They only received news about it from the former Minister of Finance after several days.

Oh, the former Minister of Finance.

The former Minister of Finance’s fundraising for the Independent Army had angered the royal family and the council, leading to his dismissal and replacement with someone absolutely loyal.

The former Minister of Finance didn’t care about his dismissal; he continued to work for the Independent Army. Even though the royal family and council loathed him, they wouldn’t openly kill him at this juncture. If they did, everyone would know it was to block donations to the Independent Army, since the royal family and council had a tarnished reputation and were supposedly retiring, not in a struggle for personal gain.

After receiving the news from the former Minister of Finance, Xie Rao immediately contacted Xie Yu, who was also informed.

“I curse their spaceship to explode in space,” Xie Rao said fiercely.

You Xingzhou took Xie Rao’s coffee and handed it to the aide. “Throw it away, and don’t make him any more coffee.”

The aide silently took the cup and left.

Xie Rao shouted, “Don’t throw away my coffee!”

You Xingzhou threw a cushion at Xie Rao. “Look at your dark circles. Do you want to become a panda?”

Xie Rao instinctively touched his under-eye area. “Is it really that dark?”

You Xingzhou said irritably, “What, do you think I’m lying to you?”

Xie Rao quickly apologized, “No, no, no. I know you’re concerned about me. I’m wrong.”

You Xingzhou sighed, “I understand your feelings, but you need to trust that the younger generation can handle things. Stop trying to solve everything yourself. You haven’t had a good night’s sleep in ages. Just listen to me and get some rest tonight.”

Xie Rao took You Xingzhou’s hand and sighed. “I’m just angry thinking about how we’ve only built this country for decades, and it’s already been ruined. Old Davis must be reincarnated by now. Otherwise, his ghost should come back and punish his unfilial son!”

Having invested so much blood and sweat into this country, Xie Rao always worried about its future.

You Xingzhou said, “Old Xie, do you think that after the rebels are defeated, the Independent Army will return to the Empire?”

Xie Rao became serious. “No, the rift between the Independent Army and the royal family, and the council, is too deep to repair.”

“Since it can’t be repaired, then it should be broken and reorganized,” You Xingzhou said. He was more open-minded than Xie Yu. “Given time, our son will achieve even greater things than we did. His path will be different from before. Old Xie, let go.”

Xie Rao had resolved many troubles for the Independent Army and had worked tirelessly, but the army couldn’t always rely on people like him and Gu Yuanyang. It needed to become a powerful and unbreakable force. Therefore, some matters had to be left to the younger generation.

“Slowly letting go is a way to train the future leaders of this country,” You Xingzhou quoted a poem, “The sharpness of a sword comes from the grinding, and the fragrance of plum blossoms comes from the bitter cold.”

Xie Rao’s mind was in turmoil, but he ultimately admitted that he had to let go gradually.

“Achoo!” Far away in the Galley star system, Xie Yu sneezed.