Chapter 19
The threat from the federal warships was temporarily lifted, and Huangquan Rust Port entered a tense but orderly repair phase.
The energy core was destroyed and the remaining nodes were cleared. Although the port was in ruins, the disturbing energy in the air had subsided, replaced by the sound of welding, the shouting of the porters, and the fatigue and relief on people's faces after surviving the disaster.
Wen Ling did not stay in the command room, he walked to almost every corner of the port.
He would stop at the medical station to visit injured soldiers and miners, and use the basic medical knowledge he had learned to assist the medical staff with simple bandaging and comfort; he would appear at the material distribution point to ensure that food and clean water were distributed fairly to everyone, especially those families who had lost loved ones; he even stayed in Susie's temporary studio for a long time, and with his understanding of ancient symbols and energy structures, he provided Susie with key ideas for parsing the strange data extracted from the killer weapons and abnormal signals.
"Your Highness, you actually know this?" Susie looked at the energy resonance formulas written by Wen Ling on the data tablet, her amber eyes filled with surprise. "This is not knowledge in the field of classical medicine or art!"
Wen Ling smiled and didn't explain too much, just said: "It never hurts to learn more."
His green eyes seemed to have endless healing power and affinity, bringing peace and comfort to all who came into contact with him.
General Han Zhong observed all of this, feeling a surge of emotion. While accompanying Wen Ling on an inspection tour of the fortifications, he couldn't help but whisper, "Your Highness, you've done a great job, even better than I imagined. If only the late Emperor could see..." He didn't finish his words, only sighing heavily, his eyes filled with nostalgia for the past and worry about the future.
"General Han, the future of Sailiang needs to rely on loyal people like you." Wen Ling looked at the old general's weather-beaten face and said sincerely.
He noticed that there was a lingering solemnity between Han Zhong's brows, which was not just due to the ruins in front of him.
On the other side, Miao Weizhen seemed even more silent.
He continued to handle the port's affairs with precision, but Wen Ling keenly sensed something different. Miao Weizhen spent longer periods of time in front of the data screen. Occasionally, Wen Ling would see him unconsciously press his fingertips between his eyebrows. Although the movement was extremely light and quick, the fatigue that momentarily revealed was incompatible with his usual cold and restrained demeanor.
During a discussion about whether to proactively eliminate the remaining "Star Flame" signals in the periphery, Susie was eager to try: "Minister, give me a team, and I guarantee that we can catch those guys who are hiding their heads and showing their tails!"
To Wen Ling's surprise, Miao Weizhen directly rejected this seemingly reasonable proposal, simply because "the port's defense force is insufficient and should not be dispersed."
This reason seemed sufficient, but Wen Ling caught a glimpse of Miao Weizhen's eyes as he spoke, barely perceptible, sweeping towards a nondescript communications antenna at the harbor. A hint of forcibly suppressed coldness seemed to linger in his gaze. What was he worried about? Was it just defensive strength?
Potential hidden dangers surged like an undercurrent beneath the harbor. The repair work was costly, and stocks of synthetic food and medical supplies were beginning to run low. Although Wen Ling did her best to maintain distribution, the prolonged tension and scarcity still led to some discontent.
Some people complained about the slow rescue efforts, while others secretly speculated that it was Miao Weizhen's ambiguous relationship with the Federation that had caused the continuous troubles.
At the same time, Wen Ling's courage and friendliness in the midst of the crisis quietly increased his reputation within the ruins. This change was not only observed by Han Zhong and the others, but had probably already been reported back to Sailiang and the federal capital planet through certain channels.
At a meeting on material rationing, Miao Weizhen, faced with demands from various parties, insisted on allocating supplies based on efficiency and existing reserves, his tone cold and unsympathetic. Wen Ling, after carefully listening to the difficulties expressed by all parties, proposed a supplementary plan of tiered allocation and encouragement of self-help production, placing greater emphasis on maintaining peace of mind.
"Your Highness, your plan is full of ideals, but it will slow down overall efficiency." Miao Weizhen rejected it, his voice filled with unquestionable determination, even colder and harder than usual.
"Minister, if people's hearts are divided, no matter how efficient we are, it will be of no use." Wen Ling insisted.
The meeting ended in a somewhat tense atmosphere.
After the meeting, Wen Ling noticed that Miao Weizhen had privately adjusted the patrol routes of the reconnaissance team and increased security in key areas like the supply warehouse, as if guarding against internal threats. Miao Weizhen himself had also continued his actions. Through Han Zhong, he contacted several respected veteran craftsmen in the mining area and began planning to utilize the port's existing waste materials to repair some small-scale production equipment.
They seemed to be operating on two parallel tracks, one bright, the other dark. Wen Ling could sense the growing pressure on Miao Weizhen, like a constantly tightening string. This pressure wasn't solely due to the external "star flame" or the shortage of supplies; it seemed to stem from a more hidden source. He didn't know what it was, but this unknown, along with Miao Weizhen's unexplained suicide mission and the unresolved mysteries at the airport, cast a darker shadow over the starry sky. They repelled each other, yet were forced to rely on each other in crisis, step by step towards an unpredictable future.
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