Picking Up An Alpha On Garbage Star - Chapter 72
Three years later, in the space battlefield.
Xie Yu jumped down from the Star-02 fighter jet, drew his pistol from his waist, and shot a rebel general who was glaring at him while being pinned down by two soldiers. The bullet ended his life amidst the general’s furious eyes.
“Check for casualties among the civilians,” Xie Yu ordered.
In these three years, the Independent Army and the rebels had fought countless battles, with both victories and defeats. However, most of the time, the Independent Army held the upper hand. Gradually, the Independent Army had recaptured one by one the top ten star systems originally occupied by the rebels.
Facing the reality of shrinking territory, the rebels’ resource supply couldn’t keep up. With insufficient material replenishment, every battle led to significant losses. Over these three years, although on the surface it appeared that the Independent Army had only recaptured five star systems, in reality, the balance of power between the Independent Army and the rebels had shifted dramatically.
“These inhuman scum are indeed cornered and desperate, willing to do anything,” Zhuge Yue wiped the sweat from her forehead. The recent battle had been intense, leaving her soaked. Besides someone like Xie Yu, who was almost inhuman, everyone else was drenched as if they had been pulled out of water.
“The rebels’ activities in the occupied star regions are becoming increasingly outrageous. Naturally, the oppressed civilians will rise up in resistance. Where there is oppression, there will be resistance—this has been true since ancient times,” Xie Yu said, slowly reholstering his gun.
This time, it was an urgent operation. As the rebels continuously suffered defeats on the front lines and were scattered by the Independent Army, the madman leader Shelly Joyce made an extremely inhumane decision for retaliation against the Independent Army.
He ordered the rebels to capture a spaceship full of ordinary people, take it into space, and then blow up the spaceship, ensuring that the people died in the explosion. Moreover, the spaceship’s outer layer was coated with flammable materials. As soon as the explosion started, the entire spaceship would be consumed until it was completely destroyed. Shelly Joyce even had the entire scene recorded and released it.
People would be outraged by the rebels’ actions, which would lead to increasing calls for the Independent Army to accelerate the recapture of the remaining star systems. The long-oppressed civilians in the occupied areas would either fight the rebels to the death or completely submit to them, ceasing to resist and languishing in desperation.
“The rebels have given up on direct confrontations with us. Their current plan is simply to find ways to inflict greater damage,” Xie Yu said.
Such behavior was truly disgusting. Knowing they were no match for the Independent Army and that defeat was inevitable, the rebels still resorted to every possible means to create trouble.
Zhuge Yue said, “That’s the difference between normal humans and the rebels.”
“Commander, the civilians on the spaceship were only frightened and did not suffer casualties. We’ve transferred them to military ships and are escorting them to the surface,” a subordinate reported after inspecting the situation.
Xie Yu nodded. “Calm the civilians.”
“By the way, Commander, there is someone who wants to see you. She said she was the one who sent us the distress signal,” the subordinate said solemnly.
Xie Yu raised an eyebrow. “I wondered why we couldn’t reach her afterward. It turns out she blended in with the spaceship.”
Zhuge Yue was taken aback. “Is she overly confident in our ability to destroy the rebels in time, or is she so fearless that she dares to board a doomed spaceship?”
Xie Yu wanted to see her too. “Zhuge, let’s meet her.”
Under the guidance of the subordinate, they met the person who had sent the distress signal to the Independent Army. She was a beta woman, and surprisingly, she was pregnant.
“Hello, I’m Xie Yu, and this is Zhuge Yue,” Xie Yu introduced himself.
“Hello, hello,” the woman stood up, protecting her belly, her face showing excitement. “I’m Geng Ting, an underground worker from Aishi Star.”
Geng Ting appeared lively despite her pregnancy, which didn’t seem to affect her movements at all. She was so swift that she startled those around her.
“Commander Xie, I’m very grateful you arrived in time. Otherwise, everyone on the spaceship would have been doomed,” Geng Ting said earnestly.
Xie Yu couldn’t help but ask, “You dared to board the spaceship despite the danger? Aren’t you afraid of dying?” Especially with a child soon to be born.
Geng Ting smiled. “Of course, I’m afraid, but there’s no choice. If I hadn’t boarded the spaceship, everyone on board would have been ordinary people, powerless against the ruthless rebels.”
Xie Yu and Zhuge Yue exchanged glances. Geng Ting was truly brave.
If the rebels had captured young and strong people, they couldn’t guarantee that these individuals wouldn’t disrupt their explosion plan. Therefore, the rebels captured only the elderly, weak, sick, and pregnant, knowing they were easier to control.
Before detonating the spaceship, there were a few rebels onboard, just enough to guard the victims they had forcibly taken. Geng Ting was an exception. She, despite being pregnant, fought the rebels, seized their guns, killed them, and then forced the spaceship to stop before it reached the designated area. She cut off communication with the rebels and waited for rescue.
She last contacted the Independent Army from Aishi Star, sent a message about the spaceship’s imminent departure, and then blended in with the spaceship. The rebels didn’t suspect Geng Ting because she was pregnant. After boarding the spaceship, all personal communication devices were confiscated by the rebels, including Geng Ting’s, so she couldn’t contact the Independent Army.
When the distress signal sender lost contact, Xie Yu and his team rushed over as quickly as possible and engaged in a battle with the rebels who were preparing to detonate the spaceship.
The rebels were truly inhumane. They not only recorded the explosion of the spaceship but also brought their troops into space to witness the consequences of opposing them, intending to boost the morale of the rebels.
The only way to ensure the spaceship didn’t explode was to completely eliminate the rebels. Therefore, Xie Yu led the fight fiercely, focusing on exterminating the rebels rather than the number of shells fired.
This was why Xie Yu personally piloted the Star-02 fighter jet and commanded the battle simultaneously. He efficiently won the fight and rescued the civilians from the spaceship.
“The rebels have suffered heavy losses this time. Aishi Star will definitely be under martial law. Don’t return to Aishi Star for now. Go with the military,” Xie Yu said, looking at Geng Ting’s belly with concern, unwilling to let her continue her undercover work.
Geng Ting patted her belly with a gentle expression. “That’s what I was thinking too.”
She said, “And I also wanted to ask Commander Xie for help in finding a doctor for the delivery.”
Geng Ting boarded the spaceship not only to save the civilians on board but also to seek help from the military in finding a doctor. Recently, the rebels on Aishi Star had been abducting children, whether newly born or still young, as long as they had no memory. Geng Ting feared that if she stayed on Aishi Star, her child might also be taken by the rebels.
So far, no one had discovered where the rebels were taking these children. However, it was clear that being taken away by the rebels could not lead to anything good. As a mother, Geng Ting could not tolerate her child being taken away by the rebels.
“The Independent Army has many skilled doctors, so don’t worry. We’ll ensure that you have a smooth delivery,” Zhuge Yue said with a smile. “Our pain-free delivery technology is very advanced.”
Speaking of pain-free delivery technology, one must mention Manzhu. In the past, everyone thought Pei An was a master of time management, handling all the affairs of the Independent Army, overseeing the technical team, rebuilding each recaptured star system, and pushing forward local reforms. It seemed miraculous that Pei An hadn’t succumbed to overwork.
However, only the miracle itself and a few close associates knew that Pei An had Xie Yu by his side, who helped with everything except scientific and technical work. Xie Yu also provided catering and other services.
In a way, Pei An’s situation was like a couple working together.
Manzhu, on the other hand, didn’t have to manage as many fields as Pei An. She specialized in one area but had many sub-projects within it. For example, she analyzed the fundamental elements of suppressants based on market circulation and developed a new type of suppressant. Not only was it more effective than those available on the market, but it was also priced lower. To distribute this new suppressant widely, she had Pei An help her set up a company called Independent Army Suppressants—clearly indicating it was produced by the Independent Army.
The Independent Army frequently received good news from the battlefield, naturally boosting its reputation among the public. As a result, the suppressant developed by the Independent Army quickly gained public recognition. The key was its superior effectiveness and affordability—only 688 units compared to the thousands charged by others, making it a significant discount.
Despite the low unit price of the Independent Army suppressant, its quality and price soon dominated the market, overshadowing other companies’ products. Companies that had previously made a fortune from producing suppressants now struggled to profit as they once did. Some even approached the council or the emperor, but it was futile.
The Lyte Empire had never controlled the Independent Army, and it would remain so in the future.
Unable to use national power to sanction the Independent Army’s suppressants and knowing that the revenue was reinvested into the battlefield, the public willingly bought them. The sales were not as strictly controlled as those of the Lyte Empire’s suppressants. As long as one had proof of being an omega or alpha, or proof that their family or partner was an omega or alpha, they could purchase the suppressant.
The people of the Lyte Empire even used their purchases to fund a main battleship for the Independent Army.
Pei An issued a statement saying that the main battleship would be named “Suppressant” once it was officially commissioned.
The public at the time was puzzled: “???”
It seemed a bit hasty.
But it made sense.
In addition to earning the Independent Army a main battleship, Manzhu worked on many other projects.
One of them was a medication for calming alpha mental outbursts, which was very useful within the military.
Almost all alphas experience mental outbursts to some extent, which is a disadvantage that evolution hasn’t eliminated. The main causes of alpha mental outbursts are overuse of mental power without timely adjustment (most common in the military), susceptibility during sensitive periods, and separation from their partners, which can also trigger outbursts.
Manzhu wasn’t particularly patient with alphas, possibly due to her alpha father’s abandonment of her beta mother and his infidelity with omegas. Subconsciously, she had a resistance to alphas.
After her parents’ divorce, she chose to live with her mother without hesitation, who later remarried a beta. Seeing the loving relationship between her mother and her beta stepfather, she grew to dislike her biological father even more.
However, while treating wounded soldiers from the battlefield, Manzhu saw an alpha mourning his omega’s belongings, crying out in anguish, and even experiencing a premature sensitive period and mental outburst. Despite immense pain, he continued to miss his loved one.
At that moment, Manzhu felt deep compassion and recognized her own bias. She realized that the relationship between AOs wasn’t solely determined by pheromones, a conclusion others had previously demonstrated to her.
Thus, Manzhu embarked on a new research project to develop a medication to soothe alpha mental outbursts.
In addition to suppressants and mental outburst calming agents, Manzhu also worked on pain-free delivery.
The Lyte Empire had regulations against using cesarean sections except for male omegas without birth canals or women who couldn’t deliver naturally. They believed that children born without anesthesia would be healthier.
Manzhu scorned such claims and, with her team, contacted many doctors to promote pain-free delivery technology, liberating mothers from the agony of childbirth.
Initially, Manzhu faced much criticism for this technology. However, since those criticizing her were not giving birth themselves, the backlash was quickly countered by netizens.
With the support of the Independent Army, Manzhu’s pain-free delivery technology was a success, and she personally assisted many deliveries.
“Doctor Manzhu is one of the best doctors in our Independent Army. We’ll ensure you have a smooth delivery,” Xie Yu assured Geng Ting.
Geng Ting followed Xie Yu back to the temporary base.
Due to the ongoing advancement of the front lines, the operations center in the Galier Star System was too far from the front, so it had been moved repeatedly over the past three years. This time, it might stay in place for a few more months.
Pei An, along with a group of administrative staff from the Independent Army, was also at the temporary base.
After returning with the troops, Xie Yu first asked Zhuge Yue to take Geng Ting to see Manzhu. He then swaggered into Pei An’s temporary office under everyone’s gaze.
The Independent Army had been established for over three years, and throughout this time, Pei An and Xie Yu had never concealed their relationship. As a result, almost everyone knew they were lovers, and even on StarNet, fans shipped their relationship, writing fanfiction and even creating fanworks.
During one press conference, a reporter asked Pei An about his thoughts on the fanfiction written about him and Xie Yu.
Pei An pondered for a long time before silently asking the reporter, “They… shouldn’t be writing H, right?”
Having once inadvertently stumbled upon a literary website during his student days, Pei An was shocked by the novels written by the authors, most of whom were female.
Pei An then questioned life itself, wondering how girls who seemed clueless could create stories with such explicit content.
At the press conference, Pei An’s main concern was whether the fanfiction was explicit.
The reporter was stunned, not expecting the composed Secretary-General to be so concerned about this issue.
“No, everyone writes stories about Secretary-General Pei and Commander Xie leading the Independent Army against the rebels, or speculating about how the two of you met,” the reporter clarified.
Relieved that fans weren’t writing explicit content, Pei An breathed a sigh of relief.
At the current press conference, Pei An’s query became a favorite topic for fans of the “Suiyu An” ship.
Yes, they had shippers with a fanbase so vast it rivaled any entertainment star’s. The ship’s name was “Suiyu An,” and every day on StarNet, there were numerous posts dedicated to “Suiyu An.” Pei An was even surprised by the enthusiasm when he checked privately.
Who would have thought that the seemingly mature and composed Secretary-General had a secret hobby of browsing StarNet?
Moreover, these shippers were incredibly supportive. The fanfiction, fan songs, and other fan creations they produced all contributed to the Independent Army’s funds, adding extra donations themselves.
Who wouldn’t like a capable and approachable Secretary-General?
Xie Yu certainly did, so he often stuck close to Pei An, frequently taking over tasks in the Secretary’s department, allowing the secretaries to rest while working.
“Back already?” The office door was knocked three times in a regular pattern, and Pei An immediately knew it was Xie Yu.
After Xie Yu entered the office and closed the door, he said, “We’re back. We’ve eliminated a lot of rebels, rescued some civilians, and have already sent them for health checks. We also brought back an underground worker who’s about to give birth. She’s already been sent to Manzhu.”
Pei An looked up and smiled, “You’re really scoring full marks with Manzhu now.”
Xie Yu puffed out his chest proudly, “Of course. Manzhu is your friend, so I have to make a good impression. Otherwise, when we get married, she might block the door, and I’d have to think of ways to avoid her.”
Pei An poked Xie Yu’s face with the pen, “It’s not hard here, but why is it so thick?”
Xie Yu took Pei An’s hand in his own, “You can try other places to see if they’re hard.”
Pei An closed his eyes abruptly, realizing that Xie Yu was showing his true nature more and more. He hadn’t been so flirtatious before; now he was learning to tease him. Indeed, alphas were all big troublemakers.
“Make pig trotters for me tonight. I want to eat them,” Pei An said as he reopened his eyes and looked at Xie Yu.
“Sure, I’ll make braised pig trotters,” Xie Yu said, letting go of Pei An’s hand and moving behind him to give a massage. “But you usually don’t like pig trotters. What made you want them today?”
For what reason, really?
Simply to enjoy the big pig trotters and then be enjoyed by the big pig trotters.
Pei An was reviewing post-war reconstruction plans. With experience from several star systems, he was adept at handling the work and finished it ahead of schedule.
“We should check on the pregnant underground worker and also inquire about the situation on Aishi Star,” Pei An said, handing the approved documents to his secretary. He then went with Xie Yu to see Geng Ting.
Geng Ting was only a few days away from her due date, and it was quite daring of her to take such risks. However, her physical condition was excellent, and both she and her baby were safe and sound.
Over the years of conflict between the Independent Army and the rebels, not only have the space battles been intense, but the work underground has also been crucial. Many undercover operatives like Geng Ting have been lurking in the rebel-occupied star systems, providing critical intelligence to the Independent Army. For safety reasons, these operatives rarely leave their hiding spots.
“To be honest, during my time undercover on Aishi Star, I felt like everything was shrouded in gloom. The streets were full of heavily armed rebels, and I was always worried about being exposed, wondering if the rebels had noticed me,” Geng Ting said with a deep sigh. “If it weren’t for my husband being with me, I don’t know if I could have stuck to my work.”
Given the oppressive atmosphere of the occupied zone and Geng Ting’s task of gathering and transmitting intelligence right under the enemy’s nose, it was fortunate that her husband, not only her superior but also her spouse, could offer her emotional support and encouragement.
“Speaking of which, my husband and Secretary-General Pei are actually distant relatives,” Geng Ting said with a smile. “My husband is from Baiyang Star. Could Secretary-General Pei be from Baiyang Star too?”
Pei An shook his head, “It’s not that coincidental, but I’m curious. I heard from Xie Yu that you single-handedly subdued several rebels. What did you do before?”
Geng Ting, who appeared to be a housewife, was far from being just that. She was someone who could fight rebels while eight months pregnant.
Geng Ting smiled with embarrassment, “I used to attend a police academy, but I offended someone before graduating and couldn’t finish my studies. Since my family didn’t have much money, I dropped out and started working as a bodyguard. My husband was my employer.”
Not just an employer, Geng Ting’s husband was the one who recognized her talents and, after the rebels occupied various star systems, led her into the world of undercover work.
The Independent Army provided good treatment for every undercover operative, on par with their agents. They could even earn military ranks. Geng Ting’s husband was an outstanding operative, managing a tight intelligence network on Aishi Star. His current rank was Lieutenant, while Geng Ting, who frequently assisted him and performed excellently, could be promoted to Second Lieutenant.
Both of them were exceptional.
“Ms. Geng is an outstanding police academy student and is truly admirable,” Pei An praised sincerely.
After visiting Geng Ting, Pei An and Xie Yu returned to their temporary residence. Pei An changed into home clothes and then lay on the sofa, browsing StarNet. The Independent Army’s recent actions against the rebels were reported online, and Pei An often checked StarNet to monitor public opinion and any negative comments.
When he had no serious work to do, Pei An would quietly browse for information about himself and Xie Yu. He even saved a fan art of them standing together in a military review to use as his smart terminal wallpaper.
Back home, Xie Yu switched to his chef persona, donned an apron, and began preparing braised pig trotters.
The apron Xie Yu used was old and worn, but he couldn’t bring himself to throw it away, even though Pei An had given him a new one. Xie Yu insisted on using the old apron.
“I’ll keep this apron and store it carefully once I’ve used it for four years,” Xie Yu said, even buying a special box for it.
Pei An replied, “…As long as you’re happy.”
Four years was approaching soon, just a few months away.
Although Xie Yu hadn’t made pig trotters often, his skill ensured that it was always delicious. The braised pig trotters were thick with sauce and tender, and Pei An ate two bowls of rice with it.
After eating, Pei An continued lounging on the sofa, deciding to enjoy a lazy day. With his physique, not moving after a meal wouldn’t make him gain weight, so he planned to rest well today.
He remembered how Shu Mingya had once tirelessly taught him to cook to help him overcome his psychological barriers. Pei An had said he could wash the dishes and that cooking should be left to more professional individuals like Xie Yu. However, with Xie Yu cooking and washing dishes, he didn’t have to do any of the labor.
“Xie Yu, you cook every day, but I don’t even wash a single dish. Won’t that lead to problems in our domestic life?” Pei An asked as he walked to the kitchen and leaned against the door frame.
Xie Yu glanced at him and replied, “Why would you think washing dishes would affect our domestic harmony?”
Pei An crossed his arms and explained, “StarNet says that both partners should share responsibilities and not let one person do all the work; otherwise, it could cause issues.”
Xie Yu didn’t answer immediately. He washed the dishes, put them away, wiped his hands, hung up the apron, and then picked up Pei An.
Pei An wrapped his legs around Xie Yu’s waist and hugged his neck, “I’m asking you a question.”
Xie Yu held Pei An and pressed him against the windowsill, “I handle the household chores, and you handle me.”
Pei An: “……”
“Just as expected of you, big pig trotter.”
The big pig trotter didn’t rush Pei An into taking on his share of the responsibilities. After finishing dinner, with his belly still full, Pei An was just kissed by Xie Yu.
“Xie Yu, come clean. Where did you learn all this? How come you’re so different from before?” Pei An murmured, “You’re really not being honest.”
Xie Yu chuckled softly, holding Pei An and guiding him back to the sofa, letting Pei An lean against him while he gently rubbed Pei An’s belly.
“I’ve always been a typical alpha, just like all the others. I’d love nothing more than to declare to the world that you’re my omega, to have you go out with my pheromones and be filled with endless possessiveness.”
Pei An reached out to scratch Xie Yu’s chin, “But you didn’t do that.” In fact, at the beginning, Pei An thought he had found an exception among alphas—one who was excessively gentlemanly.
Even Yan Yue, who rarely spoke, showed a strong sense of possession over Xiao Xue, firmly preventing anyone from stealing his wife.
“Because my love surpasses my flaws.”
Xie Yu said, “An An, you are the brightest morning star, destined to rise in the spotlight and shine brightly.”
At the boundary where dawn meets the dark, this morning star undoubtedly attracts countless gazes. Its presence represents the dawn, and after the dawn, the sky will be fully illuminated.
“Indeed, we alphas have failed in our evolution, but I agree with my father’s view that if our group restrains its undesirable desires, and persists, these flaws will gradually disappear.”
Xie Yu couldn’t guarantee others would achieve this, but he would definitely strive to live up to his father’s example.
After dinner, an hour later, Pei An dragged Xie Yu into the bathroom with him.
Their temporary residence was quite nice. The bathroom wasn’t large and didn’t have a separate dry and wet area, but the sink was quite spacious, and there was enough room for Pei An to sit on it.
To be precise, Pei An wasn’t just sitting on it; his legs were wrapped around Xie Yu, making him effectively hang from Xie Yu’s body.
“Xie Yu, can’t you wait to turn on the shower until we’re undressed?” Pei An complained, trying to twist Xie Yu’s unmovable muscles, “It’s uncomfortable being all wet.”
“It’s uncomfortable, so let’s take off our clothes now,” Xie Yu said as he began to move.
Pei An: “…” Why couldn’t they undress first before turning on the shower?
“An An, don’t be distracted. Hold on,” Xie Yu’s voice was husky, as if drenched in the steam of the bathroom.
With Xie Yu’s relentless efforts, his cleaning duties extended from the bathroom to the living room and into the bedroom. Fortunately, Xie Yu’s stamina was excellent, making cleaning an easy task for him.
The dim light of dawn quietly brightened after nightfall, without disturbing anyone. This was the Independent Army’s temporary base, filled with the solemnity of main ships, escort ships, and fighter jets. Every soldier carried the gravitas of the battlefield.
Among them, one soldier, shedding the bloodshed of the battlefield in the warmth of his home, kissed his lover’s heart with a breath of icy snow.
In the misty eyes, this star seemed within easy reach, yet too precious to touch.
…
Today, both Pei An and Xie Yu had the day off, but early in the morning, their smart terminals rang in turn, disturbing Pei An’s sleep. He kicked Xie Yu’s calf, “Xie Yu, go check who it is.”
Xie Yu, suppressing his frustration, went to get the smart terminal, hoping it wasn’t more trouble from the rebels. It would be best if it wasn’t from some socially clueless person.
But his hopes were dashed; both he and Pei An had received communication requests from Lika.
Xie Yu returned the call using his terminal, his first words were: “If you can’t give me a reason why you’re disturbing our private time that would make me refrain from shaving your head myself, then prepare for a personal head shaving!”
“Shaving heads? What are you talking about?” Lika didn’t catch anything except the mention of shaving heads. She excitedly shouted to Xie Yu, “Commander! Good news! Huge news!”
Zhuge Yue, unable to tolerate this, snatched Lika’s smart terminal and explained the situation to Xie Yu: “Commander, Pang Li and his team have seized a star system from the rebels and are now attacking the next one. This means there are only three star systems currently controlled by the rebels.”
Pang Li, who had followed Xie Yu’s orders and stationed at the Lock Star System, had not only expanded the Haiyan Base but also set up a large-scale arms factory there. He had brought several neighboring star systems under control, implementing reforms similar to those Pei An had introduced in the Komo System. The results were significant; he had firmly defended the area, preventing the rebels from making any further advances.
Not only had Pang Li achieved defense and development, but he had also recruited and organized offensive forces, recapturing a star system.
Indeed, it was enormous good news.
“Xie Yu, who called? What did they say?” Pei An, having gotten out of bed, was changing his clothes.
Xie Yu briefly updated Pei An on the situation.
Pei An, who had focused on the Independent Army in recent years, had not neglected his former domain. He was surprised to see that Pang Li had managed to create such a significant shift without making any noise.
“The rebel forces are continually shrinking, their control over the star systems weakening. Coupled with the depletion of their resources over the years, if things go smoothly, we might end this protracted war this year.”
Pei An changed into his clothes and handed Xie Yu his military uniform: “My dear general, we are about to witness history.”
This time, the rebels would have no chance of staging a comeback. The Independent Army would completely eradicate this enormous threat.
After years of struggle, it was surprising that nearly half of the Lyte Empire’s star systems were now under the control of the Independent Army.
“After dealing with the rebels, we should address those seemingly glamorous enemies next.” Xie Yu, undressing from his pajamas in front of Pei An, hid his handsome muscles under his shirt and trousers, “I think handling them won’t be any harder than dealing with the rebels.”
Pei An couldn’t hide his smile; even the corners of his eyes were smiling. The ideal he had fought for since coming to this world seemed about to be realized.
Despite their day off, the couple was focused on work. Pei An was once again surrounded by numerous media outlets. Over the past few years, he had met with the media almost every month, and the flashing lights had become routine. Xie Yu convened all the general officers and announced that they would advance the previously formulated battle plan, taking advantage of Pang Li’s offensive to catch the rebels off guard and force them to fight on multiple fronts.
The end of the battlefield was getting closer, drawing nearer every day.
After a month of intense fighting, the rebel forces had significantly diminished, with only two star systems under their control. They were no longer as arrogant as they had been at the start of the war and were now hiding like turtles in their shells.
Xie Yu didn’t rush to recapture the remaining two star systems. To avoid the rebels making a last-ditch effort that could harm innocent civilians, Xie Yu used a more subtle yet effective approach to defeat the rebels.
He ordered his troops to intercept all routes and recover the resource star systems controlled by the rebels. Without these resource stars, the rebels couldn’t produce new military equipment. Even the arms dealers who had dared to sell arms to the rebels at the start of the war had vanished, unwilling to risk their business.
Arms dealers had keen senses. Once they realized that the Independent Army no longer needed to purchase arms from them, they understood that the Independent Army had its own arms production capabilities and countless factories and designers.
Moreover, considering the Independent Army’s usual disregard for central star management and their defiance of the royal family and parliament, it was uncertain whether they would accept the leadership of the Lyte Empire after eliminating the rebels.
The real leaders of the Independent Army were Xie Yu and Pei An. As long as they remained united, the Independent Army would not fall apart.
Attempting to divide them in such an open manner across the country was a mere fantasy.
Politically astute individuals had already started preparing their escape routes. If the Independent Army defeated the rebels and then turned its attention to the central star, those in opposing positions would undoubtedly face dire consequences.
The most anxious person among them was Clovis Mondrei.
Clovis had used the rebels to orchestrate the deaths of thousands on the Bright Goddess, and during the war, the rebels had blackmailed him for large sums of money. They threatened to expose evidence of Clovis’s involvement in the Bright Goddess incident if he didn’t comply.
He feared that the rebels might stab him in the back by revealing the truth before their demise.
Once the truth was out, he would be finished.
Clovis often woke up in a panic from nightmares, hoping the Independent Army would move faster to silence the rebels once and for all.
The rebels were silenced, but the evidence from Clovis’s payments to them over the past three years ended up in Pei An’s hands.
“Every wrong step leads to further mistakes. From the moment Clovis colluded with the rebels, he ceased to be a citizen of this country and became a full-fledged war criminal.”
Pei An judged Clovis’s actions without any personal feelings: “In the future, among the war criminals to be executed, there will be Clovis Mondrei.”
A clear-cut traitor, he was to be tried in court and executed to uphold national dignity.
Author’s Note:
The end of the main text is near. Feel free to share what kind of extras you would like to see.