Chapter 113 News
When the cockpit door popped open, a smell mixed with oil and coolant hit me in the face.
Lin Yao bent down and looked inside, and the light from the emergency light just happened to shine on the metal plate inside the driver's seat.
There was a twisted lion emblem engraved there, with two dark red gems embedded next to it. It was the exclusive emblem of the third prince.
Ye Heng stopped Lin Yao and asked him to go in and take a look first. Lin Yao stepped aside.
Ye Heng walked in and looked around, his eyes finally landing on the storage compartment in the passenger seat.
There was a black data box there, which was the mecha's recording box.
He walked over, took out the data box, and connected it to the terminal he was carrying.
Looking at the layers of code above, Ye Heng told Lin Yao that they would probably have to trouble Bian Miao again.
Then Ye Heng came out and closed the cockpit door.
When he turned around, his combat boots kicked a piece of detached mecha debris, and the sound of metal collision was particularly harsh in the empty warehouse.
"Let's go." His voice was low, but it was filled with unquestionable determination. "Go back to Chiying."
When the two walked out of the warehouse, Scar was leaning against the rusty door frame smoking.
Seeing them come out, he put out his cigarette and stood up straight: "Did you get the things?"
Lin Yao nodded without saying anything more.
Scar twitched his lips and glanced deep into the warehouse:
"The boss said that this thing should be stored here first. If you need it, tell me in advance."
"Thank you." Ye Heng's eyes swept across the afterimage of the patrol ship at the entrance of the star port.
Scar hummed, then asked, "Is the route really not necessary? The coordinates of the outer area of Black Crow Star have recently changed. I have the latest map here."
"No need." Ye Heng refused bluntly, "I can handle it."
Scar didn't insist any longer and just waved behind him.
Two men in work clothes walked out from the shadows, dragging a gray-black dust mask in their hands.
They deftly put the cover over the cylindrical storage device and zipped it up to the top.
The last trace of green light leaking out from the gap in the device was also completely blocked, as if the mecha hiding the secret had never existed.
"Let's go." Ye Heng patted Lin Yao's shoulder.
The two turned around and called Ye Mang and the others, and they walked towards the gangway.
Scar stood there without moving until their figures disappeared behind the hatch of the Shadow, then he stood up and left with his men.
The moment the hatch closed, all the indicator lights in the cockpit lit up.
The operator turned around and saluted Ye Heng: "Marshal, all systems have completed self-checks and are ready to set sail."
"Target Red Shadow Base, follow the planned covert route."
Ye Heng walked to the porthole and looked at the sky with the dark grey sky.
"Engines at 70% power, avoid all public jump points."
"Got it!" The operator's fingertips flew across the control panel. "Jump coordinates locked. Countdown 10 seconds—10, 9..."
Lin Yao stood beside Ye Heng, watching the starport outside the window gradually shrink.
Before the two of them could enjoy the scenery outside the window for long, Bian Miao quickly walked to the main control room.
There were bloodshot eyes, but he couldn't hide his excitement: "Marshal! Major General Lin! Did you get it? I was just bored and itching to do something..."
Ye Heng took out the data box from the storage ring, shook it in front of him, and then stuffed the data box into Bian Miao's hand:
"Extraordinary encryption, take your time."
"Don't worry!" Bian Miao sat down beside him with the data box in his arms, his hands still busy as he turned back:
"I'll send you a message after I finish decrypting it! I'm sure there will be results tonight!"
Ye Heng nodded, and then explained the matter to the others.
Lin Yao has been standing by, watching Ye Heng arrange things.
He rubbed his eyebrows. Even though he had rested for a while, he still felt tired.
"Go eat something." Ye Heng's voice sounded beside him. He reached out and straightened Lin Yao's wrinkled collar.
"Even though there's only fast food left, can you at least have a bite?"
Lin Yao nodded and followed him to the lounge.
There were several boxes of fast food meals in the constant temperature box in the lounge, which should have been sent by Ye Mang.
Ye Heng picked out two boxes labeled "Star Beast Minced Meat", tore open the heating port and stuffed them into the microwave compartment.
Amidst the low humming sound, the aroma of meat mixed with the scent of grains slowly spread.
Lin Yao sat on the sofa and watched Ye Heng take out two pairs of disposable chopsticks, the wrapping paper making a rustling sound as he twisted it with his fingertips.
Lin Yao's fingertips gently stroked the edge of the table, watching Ye Heng take out the heated meal from the microwave.
Ye Heng placed a set meal in front of Lin Yao, helped him open it, and handed the chopsticks to Lin Yao.
Lin Yao took the chopsticks, stirred the minced meat and rice together, then picked up a piece and put it in his mouth. The warm taste dispelled some of the coldness.
The clock in the lounge changed to the next time. The two of them didn't speak anymore, just lowered their heads and ate fast food.
Halfway through the meal, Ye Heng's terminal lit up. It was a message from Bian Miao:
[The first layer is unlocked!] A sly grinning emoticon was attached at the end.
Ye Heng glanced at the screen, a faint smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. He took a piece of paper and wiped the corner of Lin Yao's mouth: "It seems that Bian Miao really doesn't need to sleep tonight."
—
The two had just finished eating, and Lin Yao was reaching out to collect the trash when the door of the lounge was pushed open with a bang.
Ye Mang stood at the door, the epaulettes of his combat uniform askew, the strands of hair on his forehead wet with sweat, it was obvious that he had been running all the way here.
"Marshal, Major General Lin!" He gasped, clutching a hot data tablet in his hand.
"We just intercepted an emergency order from Central Star. The Third Prince, on behalf of the Emperor, ordered the Second Prince to lead the team to encircle and eliminate Chiying in three days!"
Lin Yao's hand that was collecting the garbage stopped in mid-air, his face full of disbelief, and he looked at Ye Mang.
Ye Heng frowned instantly and took the data tablet from Ye Mang. Lin Yao also walked to his side and started to look at it together.
The intercepted instructions on the screen were clearly visible. There was no specific charge mentioned, but the wording was ridiculously harsh.
It simply read, "The Red Shadow Legion has committed treason. The Second Prince is ordered to lead the Black Armor and Broken Star Legions to suppress them. Any resistance will be killed without mercy."
"Chiying is a traitor?" Lin Yao sneered, tapping the seal at the end of the order with his fingertips. "For a country like this, why keep it if you don't rebel?"
Ye Mang wiped the sweat from his forehead. He ran over in a hurry and his breathing was still not smooth.
"The strangest thing is letting the Second Prince lead the team. Everyone knows that the Second Prince and the Third Prince don't get along. This order is clearly putting someone on the fire."
Ye Heng placed the data tablet on the table and tapped the words "three days later" with his fingertips.
The third prince is trying to use the second prince's force to defeat them.
Anyway, the Second Prince and Chi Ying are not familiar with each other. If a quarrel really breaks out, either Chi Ying will be guilty of adding to the crime, or the Second Prince will be "incompetent", and the Third Prince will be right either way.
Lin Yao picked up the data board and the private seal at the end of the command.
The third prince's lion seal was stamped crookedly, as if he was in a hurry to issue the order and didn't even press the seal straight.
"This guy is really calculating," Lin Yao put the data tablet back on the table.
"If the Second Prince really brings his troops to Chiying, if he wins, he will help the Third Prince eliminate his enemies, but if he loses, it will be a loss of face for the Second Prince.
Given the Second Prince's temperament, he'll probably drag it out. He probably won't go along with the Third Prince's wishes, right?"
"It will definitely be delayed," Ye Heng called up the route map of the Shadow.
On the screen, the coordinates of the Red Shadow Base were flashing red, and they were still two jump points away.
"But the Second Prince will definitely come, it's just a matter of time."
Lin Yao walked up to him, looked at the defense layout of the Red Shadow Base on the screen, and suddenly laughed:
"Do you think the same as I do?"
Ye Heng turned his head to look at him, tapping his fingertips on the screen, and the coordinates of the Red Shadow Base were clearly visible:
"It's a matter of reciprocity, and he will also receive the big gift we give him."
-
Ye Mang had just received Ye Heng's order and left when the terminal on Lin Yao's desk suddenly lit up.
An encrypted communication request popped up on the screen, and the three words "Lin Ruheng" appeared in the dim blue light.
Lin Yao paused his fingertips and turned his head to look at Ye Heng.
Ye Heng was just picking up the garbage that Lin Yao had not yet picked up. He looked up when he heard the voice and motioned for him to take it.
The moment the communication was connected, Lin Ruheng's voice came through the electric current: "Do you know that the Third Prince is going to attack Chi Ying?"
"I just received the news." Lin Yao leaned on the edge of the table, his eyes fixed on the star belts moving outside the porthole. "Mr. Lin is well-informed."
"The walls of the Central Star can never hide anything." Lin Ruheng chuckled.
"But you guys reacted quickly. I thought you wouldn't smell anything until the Second Prince and the Legion left the port."
"Chiying has quite a few spies on the Central Star." Lin Yao deliberately blurred the source of the information and circled the edge of the terminal with his fingertips.
"Mr. Lin specifically mentioned this, I'm afraid it's more than just a simple report."
"Major General Lin is still so insightful." Lin Ruheng's voice paused, and suddenly became a little sarcastic.
"Since you already know, do you want to hear something else? For example, the Third Prince has been acting as the Emperor for the past half month, and he has caused quite a stir on Central Star."
Lin Yao and Ye Heng exchanged glances.
After Ye Heng finished packing, he walked to the table and tapped the terminal with his fingertips to activate the recording function.
"I'd like to hear the details." Lin Yao said.
"On the fifth day after he took office, he raised the tax on the mines under the Ye family's management by 30%." Lin Ruheng's voice was emotionless.
"The reason was 'to replenish military supplies,' but in reality, all the money went into his mother's clan's private vault.
When Old Master Ye went to cause trouble, he was confined to his house for 'interfering with military affairs' and is still imprisoned in the old house."
The light from the terminal reflected in Lin Yao's eyes, and he thought of the Ye family's complicated industries.
I thought the Third Prince would be wary, but I didn't expect him to be so eager.
"There are even more ridiculous things." Lin Ruheng's tone finally turned a little cold.
“He wanted to investigate the family, and the first one he would target was the Yun family.
The Yun family's business was blocked, and I secretly helped them. It wasn't for the Yun family, but because I felt that the Third Prince's greed was too ugly."
Lin Yao was about to respond when he suddenly heard him chuckle, his laughter tinged with ice:
"And the Lin family, my good father thought he had a sure win.
What a pity! Even if the Third Prince is stupid, he is still a member of the royal family. How could he be so easily manipulated by him? "
Lin Yao and Ye Heng looked at him quietly and said a lot.
"Is this the reason why we are cooperating?" Lin Yao asked.
"Yes," Lin Ruheng's eyes flashed with crazy hatred on the other side of the screen.
"Cooperate with you," Lin Ruheng's voice became softer.
"See how that old bastard ruins a good hand, see how the Lin family collapses, and see if you... can thoroughly stir up this muddy water."
He paused and added,
"Of course, it's also for my own sake. Once these people are defeated, I can truly leave the Central Star and live the life I want."
There was a soft metallic clanging sound coming from the communicator, as if he was playing with something.
"Oh, right," he suddenly said, "The Third Prince and Lin Zhixiong have replaced all the old emperor's doctors. The current doctors are distant relatives of his mother's family.
The old emperor has been in a coma for half a month. Whether he wakes up or not depends entirely on his will.
If you have something that can cure him, use it as soon as possible.
It’s too late, he might actually dare to declare himself emperor.”
Lin Yao thought of what they had in their hands: "Thanks for the reminder."
"No need." Lin Ruheng's voice faded. "After all, we are cooperating."
After the call was disconnected, the terminal screen went dark.
In the lounge, Ye Heng encrypted the recording file and archived it, tapping the edge of the table intentionally or unintentionally: "He is a ruthless person."
The light in Lin Yao's eyes was as cold as ice: "He said it was cooperation, but in fact, he just regarded us as another knife."
"It's okay." Ye Heng walked over to him, his palm covering the back of his neck. "A knife can kill, but it can also protect yourself. As long as our goals are the same, there's nothing wrong with lending him a little strength."
Bian Miao's shouting came closer, this time with a hint of panic: "Marshal! Come and see! There's this in the data box——"
The two looked at each other and walked out the door at the same time.
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