However, Mingmei did not accept the idea that she and the other Zerg had been reduced to the same status. After all, these Zerg were still fighting hard, so how could she just surrender?

As she thought about it, Mingmei felt the insect core inside her mecha surge violently once again.

"Tsk! Day after day!"

Mingmei muttered a curse under her breath, then suppressed the surging energy of the insect core. In a flash, through the mecha's field of vision, Mingmei looked at the distant insectoids and muttered, "Wouldn't the explosion of this insect queen's crystal core wipe out the entire insectoid race...?"

However, given their current distance, Mingmei felt she needed to carefully calculate whether she should use the Queen Insect Mother to detonate the other Insect Mother Crystal Cores…

The border between the Empire and the Federation.

Thank you.

Chen An hadn't expected that after the Federation sent troops to detour through the outer seas to help Hu Mingli and his group deal with the Zerg in the Canglan Starfield, Hu Mingli would personally escort them back.

"You're welcome."

Hu Mingli probably didn't know what Chen An was thinking. He had already arrived at the place he had agreed to meet with Mei Qiu. All he needed to do later was arrange the manpower.

"If the Empire is unhappy, the Federation welcomes you."

Chen An boldly extended an olive branch in front of everyone, which Julian did not expect. He even thought that Chen An was digging a pit for Hu Mingli.

We've just been through that battle together, so it doesn't feel right to set a trap for the other side now.

Hu Mingli smiled but didn't say anything. Only after the federal troops left did he purse his lips and say, "Why would someone abandon their home and run away when things aren't going well at home?"

"That--"

Those nearby looked at Hu Mingli curiously upon hearing his words.

“Of course, we have to throw out anything that doesn’t fit the house!” Hu Mingli grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth, his eyes full of hostility.

Once this matter is over, he will definitely return to Central Star and settle this score!

"Huh? Why do I feel like this starship isn't on the way back?"

Lu Xiaoyao and Lu Gui, who had sneaked onto the starship, were hiding in a small cabin when they felt something was a little off.

Lu Gui rolled his eyes at Lu Xiaoyao. To be honest, if Lu Xiaoyao hadn't said she wanted to personally confirm Julian's safe return, he wouldn't have come at all, just to prevent Lu Xiaoyao from having any more accidents on her own.

Moreover, it seems that all of my health problems have already been thoroughly investigated on the StarNet...

Thinking about this, Lu Gui didn't know what he was really thinking.

Was it a sigh of relief, a feeling of liberation, or... a sense of resentment?

Looking at the message her grandfather had sent her not long ago, Lu Gui felt a pang of sadness. She had to admit that one of the reasons she chose the non-human male body provided by the research institute was to take revenge on her mother, who didn't care about her and Lu Xiaoyao's lives because of their father.

"The major general went to Qilan Star from the base, and then sent Julian away from Qilan Star. He is probably going back to the base now."

Lu Gui didn't take Lu Xiaoyao's doubts to heart. At most, they would be criticized and warned when they returned to the base and were discovered.

"But this isn't the way back to base either..."

"What do you know, you're hopelessly directionally challenged?"

"I may have no sense of direction, but I'm not stupid. Look at the star map navigation!"

After being rebuked by Lu Gui twice, Lu Xiaoyao's temper flared up. She pointed at the 3D star map and said, "Look for yourself."

Upon seeing this, Lu Gui was dumbfounded: "Isn't this the border where the humans, beastmen, and insectoids meet? It seems to be the location guarded by the Fifth Legion. What is the Major General trying to do?"

How would I know?

Hearing Lu Gui's words, Lu Xiaoyao was also dumbfounded. "Does the Major General intend to go straight back to the Central Star to settle accounts with His Majesty?"

"The central star is over there..."

Sure enough, people can't resist praise, especially someone like Lu Xiaoyao.

Lu Gui was quite relieved a second ago; at least Lu Xiaoyao had the self-awareness to know how to use a star chart.

However, the next second after she said those words, it was as if she was not only directionally challenged but also geographically illiterate.

"You're a military academy student, don't you even bother to find out what's around the empire's territory?"

Is it difficult to deduce Hu Mingli's destination based on the route he takes, the surrounding environment, and his route?

Lu Gui asked Lu Xiaoyao this question.

"Do you think the Major General is using a starship with so many people to charge straight into the Fifth Legion and start a battle?"

"Well, I didn't know that. We've never traveled this route before."

Lu Xiaoyao also felt wronged, as she had never experienced anything like this before.

"That's right. We don't usually travel this route, so it seems very strange. Our relationship with the Fifth Legion can't possibly be that we're going to fight against the Fifth Legion, can it?"

And this route, which sneaks around the Fourth Legion, is clearly out of the Central Star's sights. What could possibly require hiding from the Central Star's intelligence?

Lu Gui coaxed her gently, and Lu Xiaoyao followed up with, "Hmm...we're not going to launch a surprise attack on the Zerg, are we?"

“The probability is not small.” Lu Gui stroked his chin. He had been wondering why Hu Mingli had personally seen Julian off this time.

Even though Julian's identity is not simple, after the Federation sent a large number of troops to help them, Julian and the others could have left with the main Federation force.

Even if Hu Mingli was worried, he could simply send a group of troops to accompany her. There were still many places in the Canglan Star Region that required his oversight. His decision to leave at this time to see Julian off was itself quite intriguing.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!