Chapter 77 The Vanished Snake Man, A Rabbit Seeks Comfort After Being Wounded...
"Marshal... is he really alright now?"
The scarred soldier looked at the snake-man writhing in agony inside the fully transparent, enclosed laboratory and couldn't help but ask a question.
"This is the latest healing potion developed by the Central Research Institute. It has excellent therapeutic effects not only on physical injuries but also on mental ones. It is especially effective against damage caused by ISET energy," Feng Lin replied calmly.
After saying that, she instructed the laboratory staff around her, "For the next three days, you must maintain the injection frequency of twice a day, and you must not stop the medication no matter what symptoms appear."
"Yes, Marshal."
Feng Lin closed the door, got up, returned to his office, and placed the documents face down on the table.
“Pei Qing…”
"Pei Qing! Come and try this! This sorbet is absolutely delicious. I'll go back and research how to make it just like it for you!"
After enjoying the thrilling rides at the amusement park, Pei and her companion were both incredibly hot. As afternoon approached, the weather grew even hotter, and they began urgently searching for a place to eat and escape the heat.
Last night, Healyvan secretly searched for travel guides and learned that there was a very famous restaurant near this amusement park where the various fruit sorbets were extremely delicious.
"Okay, okay, I'm coming right away!" Pei Qing was putting the rewards they had earned from playing games into the locker at the restaurant entrance when she heard Hilliwen's call and hurriedly responded.
"It's really delicious! It's incredibly smooth and has a rich fruity aroma! Shall we order a few more flavors later?!" Pei Qing sat down, took a bite of the sorbet that Heliwen fed her, and praised it highly, her eyes shining.
“Okay, let’s order first. I saw yesterday that this restaurant has a lot of famous signature dishes. We can try them all today…” Hilliwen opened the menu with great interest.
Pei Qing picked up another menu. "Didn't you say you didn't have any places you wanted to go? How long has it been, and you've already made a plan?" she teased.
"...I didn't do any research, I just checked out the restaurants nearby..." Hilliwen lowered his head silently, his ears turning red without him even noticing.
"When I saw you yesterday, I thought you didn't want to come out at all. I was so worried all day." Pei Qing put down the menu, crossed her arms, and pretended to be angry.
"No, no!" Hillivan panicked as soon as he saw Pei Qing was angry and quickly explained, "I didn't mean that. I just thought you might not want to come out with me, because I'm a pretty boring person..."
He was halfway through his sentence when he cautiously observed Pei Qing's expression. When he saw the smiling look in Female A's eyes, he realized that he had been tricked. Pei Qing wasn't angry at all; she was just teasing him.
The restaurant's food was indeed delicious, and Pei Qing was very satisfied with her meal. After a satisfying meal, the two went to a holographic cinema they had booked in advance. After enjoying a comfortable massage, they watched two movies while lying down.
Everything is wonderful.
However, when Pei Qing returned to the shop and saw the mess and collapsed walls, her good mood for the day vanished instantly.
"What exactly happened?" Pei Qing asked, suppressing her anger and enunciating each word clearly.
"Xiao Hei! Shen Rong'an! Xiao Hei!" Pei Qing called out for a long time but no one answered. Damn it, where did they go?
She walked back and forth on the broken ground with her hands on her hips, and almost tripped over a half-brick when she turned around.
"I'm speechless. I was only gone for less than a day, and what happened? Is this still my shop? When I walked in, I thought it was some kind of demolition site!"
Pei Qing was speechless. She started searching everywhere and finally found Shen Rong'an's figure in a corner on the second floor.
Shen Rong'an lay in a pile of rubble, his body tattered and barely breathing.
This sight startled Pei Qing. She had only gone out for a trip, so why was she gone when she came back?
"Oh my god, is he dead?" Pei Qian crouched down to check his breathing. Thankfully, he was still alive.
After Pei Qian injected him with a dose of treatment medicine, Shen Rong'an slowly woke up, and Pei Qian helped him sit up.
"What on earth happened? Where's Xiao Hei? I can't see it. Did someone rob us? But it shouldn't be ransacked like this. Everything's broken. What's the point of robbing it? It can only be sold as scrap metal..."
"No, no, Ah-Qian, listen to me, cough cough!" Shen Rong'an coughed a few times, trying to keep his body upright.
"Yes, it was that snake-man. He suddenly went berserk for some reason. He not only injured me, but also made a mess of the shop... I tried to stop him, but the difference in strength was too great. He whipped me with his tail, leaving me like this, and then escaped in the chaos..."
"Impossible, how could Xiao Hei do such a thing?" Pei Qing frowned, subconsciously unwilling to believe what Shen Rong'an said. After all, even when Xiao Hei was almost irrational, he didn't randomly hurt people without reason.
"Ah-Qian, do you not want to believe me?" Shen Rong'an looked hurt.
He truly hadn't expected that, even at this point, Pei Qing would still so readily believe that foolish snake. It made him feel that all his efforts had been a joke. Overwhelmed with anger and frustration, he coughed up a mouthful of blood.
"Ah-Qian, you actually don't believe me, but believe that snake?! Pfft!" Shen Rong'an's chest trembled, and he spat out a mouthful of blood, mixed with fragments of broken internal organs.
"Hey! Are you alright? Hang in there, or should I take you to the hospital right now? I believe in you, I believe in you! I believe in you, okay? I didn't say I didn't believe you!"
Pei Qian grabbed the person and rushed outside, but Shen Rong'an grabbed her arm.
"No need, I'm much better now, and the injury shouldn't be that serious..."
Shen Rong'an looked so weak that Pei Qing couldn't believe he was really any better. This wasn't just better; he was practically dying!
"How about we go to the hospital?"
"No, we can't go to the hospital. Our identities are too sensitive at this time. Listen to me, Ah Qing, someone, someone..." Before she could finish speaking, Shen Rong'an could no longer support herself and collapsed backward, her eyes closing as she lost consciousness.
Pei Qian held the unconscious person alone, looking at the dilapidated house, feeling utterly heartbroken.
"You should find a place to rest first, I'll take a look at the basics," Hillivan said, giving Pei Qing a comforting hug.
At this critical moment, he knew that nothing he said would make a difference; all he could do was deal with the shop as quickly as possible.
Helivin went out to make a communication, and soon a few burly orcs arrived and began tidying up the shop without saying a word.
Orcs are generally short-tempered and easily angered, so it was probably caused by some dissatisfied customer who smashed up the shop. The orcs didn't ask any questions, picked up their cleaning tools, and began to clean diligently.
It took a full five hours to clean the shop, but three of the four walls had large holes, making it impossible to live there.
Pei Qing had no choice but to use her personal savings to rent a hotel room. How did things turn out this way? What exactly happened? Pei Qing didn't want to think about it; she simply couldn't believe that Xiao Hei would suddenly become so violent.
Pei Qing had a vague suspicion that Shen Rong'an might have done something behind the scenes, but for the sake of harmony at this moment, she decided it was best not to voice her suspicions.
Shen Rong'an and Xiao Hei have never gotten along. Although they seem to get along well on the surface, she still noticed some clues in their daily interactions.
Besides, Shen Rong'an is a very cunning person; if he really did something, it's understandable that Pei Qing wouldn't be able to see through it. Between the two, Pei Qing trusts Xiao Hei more, after all, Shen Rong'an has lied to her more than once.
Pei Qing stroked Shen Rong'an's neck, which was wrapped in bandages, and thought to herself.
During this time, Pei Qing tidied up the shop while accompanying Shen Rong'an to recuperate.
As time passed, Shen Rong'an's health fully recovered, and the shop was repaired and ready to reopen. Pei Qing gradually forgot about what had happened a few days ago; thinking about it was pointless.
The person has already escaped, so any thought about punishment is just wishful thinking. She should just focus on living her own life first.
Federal District 3, Governor's Office.
How is he doing?
"Reporting to the Marshal, Admiral Nolan's condition has gradually stabilized. He is now able to remain conscious for longer periods of the day. This is a good thing, indicating that the medication is working effectively in his body."
"Although the person isn't fully conscious yet, the drug still needs improvement. There may be some difficulties, but the current situation is already very good," the researcher replied.
"Okay, I know you've all worked very hard. I understand the general situation. I'll go to the lab to talk to him today. Let me know as soon as he's awake today."
"yes."
An hour later, the researchers knocked on the office door.
"Marshal, you may proceed."
Feng Lin put down his pen, straightened his clothes, and stood up.
It had been almost ten years since Feng Lin had last seen Nolan, and his heart was filled with complex emotions.
Should she use this gun or not? If she does, how should she use it? And how can she ensure that the gun isn't old and is still usable for her?
In a flash, various thoughts raced through Feng Lin's mind, and she already had a general direction in mind. She didn't linger at the laboratory door for long, put on her protective suit, and stepped inside.
"You're awake? Is there anything else bothering you? If you feel unwell during our conversation, we can call the doctor in anytime," Feng Lin said with concern, sitting in a chair by the bed.
"Cough cough, thank you for your concern, Marshal..." The man on the sickbed was pale, with a pair of deep, clear brown eyes, like exquisite gemstones.
The man's limbs were firmly bound to the hospital bed with straps, severely restricting all his movements. He wanted to get up and bow, but he couldn't.
“We don’t need these formalities between us. You’ve really worked hard these past years. The infighting among the old faction is becoming more and more frequent, and there’s constant turmoil in the major star sectors. I should have sent someone to keep a close eye on the research institute earlier; it was my oversight.”
Feng Lin raised his hand and pressed Nolan down on the hospital bed. He was very weak and a gust of wind could blow him over.
"Marshal, I'm not tired. I did all the experiments voluntarily, whether it was becoming a test subject or leading troops into battle, it was all what I wanted." Nolan couldn't straighten up, but his eyes were full of loyalty.
"There's no point in saying more; it was my oversight after all. It's already a great blessing that we can meet again; I thank the god of fate for this gift. I'm truly happy to see you again." After comforting Nolan, Feng Lin changed the subject and asked about her recent situation.
"By the way, has your memory recovered?"
“I can’t remember most of it. Especially those years when I was a test subject, my memory is always like a fog, very blurry,” Nolan said, rubbing his throbbing temples, looking pained. “Just thinking about those things makes my head ache, like it’s going to explode.”
“You probably need to rest properly. Logically speaking, I shouldn’t bother you at a time like this. But the situation is really urgent. If it’s delayed, I’m afraid the entire Federation will be affected…” Feng Lin’s expression was earnest, his brows furrowed.
"Is it about... energy?"
“Yes,” Feng Lin nodded, confirming Nolan’s guess. “A lot has happened over the years, and there are some things I can’t tell you in detail here. You’ll understand once you’re reinstated and you look at the documents. But right now, there’s one more thing we need to do: bring someone back to the Federation, at all costs.”
"Nolan, you should know who I'm talking about."
Nolan lowered his head, neither confirming nor denying, his amber eyes filled with complex emotions. For some reason, all his memories were hazy, except for those of that person, which remained crystal clear. Like a virus, they were deeply etched into his very being, indelible.
"You should rest and recuperate here for the next few days. Once this matter is resolved, you will be reinstated to your original position. Since some things have gone beyond our control, the Federation cannot allow them to continue developing like this, otherwise, who knows what kind of disaster will result."
"Marshal," Nolan said with difficulty after countless internal struggles.
"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?"
"No..." Nolan began, then closed his mouth again after a long while.
“Speak plainly. Nolan, you know my personality; you should know I don’t like indecisive people.”
"Marshal, could we please refrain from sending troops for now?"
Having come this far, Nolan knew that the Marshal should have already confirmed Pei Qing's location, but for various reasons had not acted rashly. However, he knew all too well that the Marshal was ruthless and merciless, and that once he struck, he would slaughter without regard for the cost.
Nolan knew that Pei Qing's strength was definitely more than what was apparent on the surface, and that her true abilities were unfathomable. But just thinking about the scene of that person being injured made his heart ache.
"Marshal, could you allow me to infiltrate her side and wait for an opportunity to act? After all, ISET energy is unpredictable, and it wouldn't be good if a tragedy like the one that happened in the laboratory occurred before." Nolan's words were reasonable and well-founded. Feng Lin pondered for a moment and nodded.
“Alright, we do not know enough about it. You have been by His side for a long time and should know it better than we do.”
"In this way, you return to His side as planned, and then you and I will report His condition at any time. If we find that something is wrong, we will send a message and the army will arrive in a moment."
"Thank you for your trust, Marshal." Nolan's usually taciturn and wooden face suddenly became lively and radiant, causing Feng Lin to glance at him a few more times. Why did she feel that her former general had become somewhat different?
After Feng Lin left, the laboratory returned to calm. The controllers that had been restraining Nolan were activated, allowing him to move freely for a moment.
Nolan rubbed his wrists, which were stiff from being bound for too long, and moved his body around a bit.
He is currently being held in this laboratory, supposedly for recuperation, but in reality, it's not much different from imprisonment.
Feng Lin is a cautious and suspicious person, so it's probably not possible to completely trust him yet. After all, even his long-time subordinates have been gone for so long, so it's understandable that he doesn't trust him.
Nolan was also puzzled as to why the Marshal would agree to his unreasonable request. Could it be that the Marshal was also unaware of the true situation?
Pei Qing didn't exude much of a sense of oppression, a stark contrast to the one he had before. It's unclear whether this is related to their different developmental stages. Given his previous position, he couldn't access core information, so everything can only be considered speculatively for now.
Or rather, the marshal was actually unwilling to let the army make a big fuss, after all, she was not sure what would happen after the army arrived.
The Marshal is surrounded by elite troops, experienced and sharp in combat. These past few years have seen unrest in various star sectors, all requiring suppression. The loss of even one of these units would likely be a devastating blow to the Marshal.
But this is a good thing for both him and Pei Qian. After all, it's hard to say how things will turn out if the army arrives.
Over the years, the Center Research Institute has also been dedicated to exploring and deciphering the abilities of that being.
Nolan didn't believe that countless elites had researched for years without any results.
Given Marshal Feng's cautious nature, he would probably hide himself well and then strike a fatal blow when the enemy is off guard. This has always been Marshal Feng's style.
We should try to persuade Pei Qing when the time comes; perhaps she will be willing to follow the Marshal to the Federation's capital planet.
"It's better than the marshal personally leading the army to demand my return," Nolan thought silently, gazing at the desolate scenery outside the window.
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