Yu Ling outwardly appeared to be deep in thought, but inwardly she was grumbling. She hadn't paid attention when writing the script; she should have just had her underlings call her "boss." The title "Chief" made her feel like some remote, insignificant "chieftain."
There was no time to make changes now, so Yu Ling had no choice but to continue acting according to the script.
...This finished product was eventually sent to Imperial General Bennett through Lyme's internal military communication network.
Thanks to the stubborn persistence of a certain system bug, Bennett, who was chasing the Zerg, was now in a bit of a mess. The combined combat power of the system bug and that group of newly reborn bugs was not very good, but they were really good at running away. Leading a group of mindless bugs, they hid here and there, deliberately choosing places that were difficult for warships to pass through.
With only twenty or thirty insects left scrambling to escape, Bennett gradually distanced himself from the other warships. However, the system insects, accustomed to fleeing, had maxed out their survival skills. They managed to run the general around three times in the chaotic star cluster far from the insect planet before shaking him off and circling back to the insect planet to await orders.
Bennett lost track of the Zerg and failed to locate the Zerg's lair, so the war against the Zerg was not a complete success. Already in a bad mood, he received an encrypted video message from Lyme at that moment.
"How come he's still not dead?" Bennett's dark blue eyes flashed with disdain.
Just as Bennett was about to open the video file with his own privileges, he suddenly remembered that Lyme Wolff's father, the current Empire Councilor Wolff, had called him multiple times through the Empire's internal communication system with the main ship after Lyme was exiled, and he had never answered them.
Since we're heading back now, why not let this father, who's worried about his son, also enjoy Lyme's video?
"bite--!"
Just as Bennett brought up the main ship's communication interface, the military connection, which he had set to ring only once, suddenly popped up.
Sure enough, it was Congresswoman Woolf calling again.
Bennett clicked to connect and said:
"You are really persistent. In less than half a month, you have called me more than a hundred times."
When Woolf heard Bennett's voice, she initially thought she was hallucinating, but then she saw that the other party had actually answered!
"Hmph, Bennett, I should have weeded you out when you joined the army. Tell me, is my son still alive? Get him out here and talk to me!"
“Lyme isn’t here. After he started the internal strife, I sent him to wander in space with a warship that had run out of fuel.” Bennett shrugged, speaking casually. “I originally thought he was dead, but… I think you should take a look at this.”
A small screen popped up on the video call monitor, showing the video file Bennett had just received. Judging from the cover, it was still unplayed.
"Obviously, Lyme is still alive... Well, don't look at me like that. If he shows remorse, I promise I'll take him back on the way back."
Bennett thought this was an apology video sent by someone who was always arrogant and obsessed with his position, finally realizing the seriousness of the situation and trying to save his life.
Under the angry gaze of Congressman Woolf, he casually clicked play.
The beginning of the video is skipped. Amidst the frenzied acting of everyone and the extras' repeated shouts of "Yes, Chief (crossed out)!", Yu Ling arrogantly holds Lyme hostage and faces the camera.
"Alright, since none of you want to fight against the Imperial Army."
Yu Ling gave him a meaningful wink.
"So, dear Imperial General Bennett, you don't want the councilor to know that your former vice president has been kidnapped by our garbage planet, do you?"
Caught off guard, she found herself directly confronted with the scene of her son being kidnapped by a rather unbelievable 'trash planet commander,' bearing unknown marks on his body. Senator Woolf's eyes widened in disbelief.
Bennett watched the video, breaking out in a cold sweat. He secretly glanced at an elderly father on the communication screen and thought to himself, "This is bad."
...That unknown kidnapper, the congressman you mentioned already knows about this.
Yu Ling was completely unaware of this bizarre move, and she never imagined that the video would be seen by Lyme's parents, so she acted quite brazenly.
The video continued playing, showing the two guys on the phone. The "wow" ball-headed guy was slapping poor Lyme all over him, a truly gruesome sight.
Among the group of prominent interstellar wanted criminals and villains, Yu Ling was incredibly imposing. Lym cooperated and let her do as she pleased. After all, it was all just a charade, not for his father's benefit. He could make as much money as he could.
"As you can see, General Bennett, he is completely in my hands and I can do whatever I want with him!"
At the end of the video, Yu Ling pinched Lyme's chin, quickly moved close to the camera, and delivered a stunningly beautiful shot. He concluded,
"If you don't want news of Mr. Lem's miserable state to reach the Imperial Star, then send some resources to our garbage planet, hehehe!"
The video has ended.
On the communication screen, Woolf's complexion was visibly terrible.
Benite opened his mouth as if to speak, then stopped, then wanted to speak again, and finally forgot what he was going to say.
Finally, he managed to gather his thoughts and break the awkward silence: "Um, I'll go to the garbage planet and rescue Lyme."
Internal power struggles within the military are their internal affairs, but for a dignified deputy general of the empire to be captured by people from a garbage planet and to do such... cough cough cough... disgraceful things is a disgrace to the entire empire!
Upon hearing this, Woolf contorted her face into a kaleidoscope of expressions, as rich and varied as a palette of colors, and replied sullenly:
"No need. Go pack some resources and send them to the garbage planet. I'll reimburse you when you return to the Imperial Star. As for Lyme... you don't need to worry about him."
Is this a compromise?
Bennett asked incredulously, "Are you sure?"
"Um."
Woolf gave a soft "hmm" and then hung up the phone.
Inside the main ship, only Bennett remained to process the information-packed video content.
Has Senator Woolf been living a life of ease for too long and lost her mind? Giving in to the demands of such a group of scumbags will almost certainly get her killed.
However, with their beloved only son still in their hands, they might do something foolish.
Bennett began to ponder whether he should go to rescue them or let Lyme suffer on the junk planet.
Hmph, I'll just listen to Woolf and do what she says. I'm not some saint, and I'm not going to hold back anyone who's going to fight me for power. If they die, they die.
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