Chapter 96 Inspection
Zhou Jiu arrived at the starship terminal alone, and immediately met Elsa, the person in charge who had come to the terminal area to find her.
“I will definitely be back by the time you set, Major Elsa,” Zhou Jiu said, pulling on the suitcase that Wen Xiaoxiao had filled with snacks and fan mail.
"I need to check your luggage before I can allow you to board the starship." Elsa led Zhou Jiu to the dedicated inspection facility at the dock of a small starship.
"A private jet? Wow, that's great!" Zhou Jiu put down his suitcase and let them check it with peace of mind.
"Where are your copper coins?" Elsa asked Zhou Jiu a moment later after listening through her earphones.
"Huh? A copper coin? The copper coin I played with on the live broadcast? I gave it away." Zhou Jiu spread her hands. Anyway, she had checked the machine herself and couldn't find out that it was their business.
“I know you have a way to evade inspection, but your copper coins are considered weapons, and we are going to confiscate them now. We will return them to you when you are on a cleanup mission on this desolate planet,” Elsa said seriously after hearing Zhou Jiu’s words.
Zhou Jiu raised an eyebrow, his expression quite subtle, and said, "I really gave it away. Anything that comes into my hands can become a weapon, so I don't care about this thing."
"I know it's your divination tool, but you don't want me to arrange for a full medical checkup of your body, do you?"
"Major, no means no. If you insist on a manual inspection, there's nothing I can do, but I reserve the right to file a complaint after my detention sentence is served. I will not sign the agreement."
The federal government now prohibits the use of artificial means of examination on a person that are not of the same nature as the human body; criminals also have this right.
"Zhou Jiu, your recent performance has been very poor. It was already unprecedented to agree to let you record a public program. Although your disciplinary regulations allow you to act freely after reporting, some things can't be done casually, and now you're refusing to comply with our requests. Zhou Jiu, do you even want to continue studying at the First Military Academy?"
She's not out of her mind, why would she want to go back to the First Military Academy? Besides, other military academies have offered her positions. The Federal Army isn't really all-powerful just because it's the First Military Region.
The more important reason is that she doesn't plan to join any more federal military academies. If she has no heart for the Federation, what's the point of her joining the Federation military?
“My military service has been revoked, and I plan to study literature, history, or astronomy properly from now on. Major, do you have any other hobbies or aspirations besides being a soldier?” Zhou Jiu’s voice gradually weakened as he tried to change the subject.
"008, go take Zhou Jiu to check if she's hidden anything the machine hasn't detected." Elsa ignored Zhou Jiu's topic and directly called someone to check on her.
Zhou Jiu shrugged, and as he was led away by the female soldier with the number 008 that Elsa mentioned, he waved behind his back and said, "Dear Major, I will remember to write down my experience in the report, and you must pass the review."
“Major Elsa is very stubborn; your threats won’t work,” 008 said expressionlessly.
Zhou Jiu didn't actually feel that being examined meant a loss of dignity, but at least she really disliked being examined; it was nothing but trouble.
Of course, the copper coins are real, but they're not in her possession right now.
“Actually, you can use a lie detector; it’s much more convenient than this,” Zhou Jiu suggested.
"A lie detector isn't very effective for someone as psychologically stable as you, especially considering your past experiences, including building the mental palace of Liu Ci, the master of mental strength in the StarNet. Your mental fortitude is excellent, and the assessment doesn't recommend using this type of equipment," 008 continued.
"You tell me everything, won't that violate the rules?" Zhou Jiu asked, looking at 008 who was expressionless yet talking fluently.
"These are nothing to hide, it's okay." 008 expressionlessly checked Zhou Jiu's hair for any hidden items.
"Zhou Jiu, have you performed your three divinations today?"
"Hmm? Not yet..." Zhou Jiu's lips curled up slightly.
"May I have my fortune told?"
“Of course, but I don’t have any copper coins. If you’re not in a hurry, could you wait until I get to the desolate star? I’ll have my friend buy three more copper coins on the StarNet, and then we’ll settle the bill.” Zhou Jiu said very seriously, without revealing his true intentions at all.
008 quickly finished the inspection, reported to Elsa via the communication device, and then said to Zhou Jiu, "My mission ends here. However, what I want to divine is a long-term process. There's no rush. After the procedures are completed in a year, I will contact you at the prison gate if I am not carrying out my mission."
“…”
Many people's fates are fleeting. Zhou Jiu carefully examined 008's face, his eyes flickered, and he lowered his gaze. After changing his clothes, he turned and walked forward, saying, "I've looked at your face. Your wish will come true. Cherish every minute."
"I haven't said what I want to ask for yet."
"I can read your face; everything will go smoothly for you." May you be safe and sound year after year.
Zhou Jiu expected that this time she would be as mediocre as she had been in previous years. She had misjudged her. Even though she had experienced many deaths, she still hated death extremely.
Elsa's attitude remained unchanged. After the group boarded the starship, she sat down in the seat opposite Zhou Jiu.
"Major, I'm not used to you staring at me like that." Zhou Jiu looked at Elsa, who was standing ramrod straight, with a hint of helplessness in his eyes.
“You participated in an entertainment program this time, and you didn’t even maintain your usual military bearing. This will be very detrimental to your future return.” Elsa was very dissatisfied with Zhou Jiu’s current posture.
"Major, do you know what my profession is right now?" Zhou Jiu sat relaxed, her back still straight but not quite in a proper posture. She emphasized again, "I, Zhou Jiu, am an unemployed person in the Federation and am currently serving my sentence."
"This is only temporary. The higher-ups mean that if you perform well, you can retain your student status and return to the military."
"This decision was made by some of the higher-ups based on your good performance during recruit training and your current combat experience with the alien beasts," Elsa continued. The First Military Region currently needs "celebrities" in the public eye, not necessarily people with real power, but people who can be active outside the military and inspire more young people to join the First Military Region.
"Thank you," Zhou Jiu thought to himself.
"I believe I've been following the rules all along, but the reality is I've been banished to a desolate planet and am being universally condemned..."
“Zhou Jiu, let’s not beat around the bush. You and we probably both know whether you’ve been acting within the rules. You also know that the reason you were able to stay on this desolate planet for only two years and move freely is because of the change in position of General Grah in the Federation. He has someone protecting you.”
Zhou Jiu raised an eyebrow. "General Graham? Baird's father? Why would he protect me?"
Elsa remained silent in the face of Zhou Jiu's feigned deafness and continued working on her reports on the starship.
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