LSDWTWHA chapter 85

Chapter 84

Once on the shuttle, Qi Yue finally had the time to scrutinize Su Su, who was covered in clothes.

“I can’t turn back for now,” Su Su nonchalantly flicked his fish tail.

The mechanical wheelchair was very convenient; it could move in any direction by controlling the two wheels, and it could ascend and descend stairs without issue. When energy was sufficient, it could even levitate briefly. Once mastering the controls, it didn’t affect daily activities at all.

What worried Su Su at this moment was Qi Hanyi: “I’ve already told you all the details through the communication, so when can you arrange for me to board the starship?”

“This matter cannot be rushed…” Qi Yue sighed.

“How can it not be urgent? Qi Hanyi is running out of time,” Su Su’s voice rose by eight degrees. If he had legs at this moment, he would probably bounce out of the wheelchair.

“You’re not the only one anxious; all of us hope to save Qi Hanyi.” Tang Xiruo, who had been resting with her eyes closed, opened them: “But being anxious doesn’t help. Let’s not mention the distant issues. The matters related to the Dark Tide that you reported earlier involve significant complications. Whether it’s Yan San’s true identity or the operations Dark Tide has carried out over the years, we need to verify the authenticity of all the details you provided.”

“Moreover, even if you are approved to board the starship to find Qi Hanyi, we still have to arrange the landing time, find a pilot who can accompany and monitor you, conduct necessary medical examinations, and go through adaptation training. All of this takes time.”

Su Su anxiously asked, “So how long do I have to wait?”

Tang Xiruo spoke in a calm tone: “The earliest decision will be made at tomorrow’s morning meeting. While both the head of the Qi family and I will do our utmost to advocate for you, it’s not something that I or the Qi family can unilaterally decide. We need to gather opinions from all sides, and then it will go to my father and the noble council for a joint decision. Whether you can set off and when you can set off are still unknowns.”

Seeing Su Su in a fidgety state, as if staying there for another hour would cost him his life, Qi Yue couldn’t help but comfort him: “Don’t worry too much. From the battle report we received the day before yesterday, it seems they will stay on the defensive line for the first seven days to wait for resource movements and intelligence collection, so there shouldn’t be a chance to mobilize the Bai Ze.”

“Additionally, before departing, Xiang Chen also conducted a medical examination on my brother. As long as he doesn’t use his mental force, he should be able to hold out for another half month.”

“But…” Su Su’s heart was filled with unease. Although he had never been on an actual battlefield, he understood that battlefields, much like their hunting, were places of constant change. One could never predict what would happen in the next second. Moreover, the pile of messages Qi Hanyi had written, which looked like a farewell letter, made Su Su feel even more strongly that Qi Hanyi had gone into this battle with a mindset that disregarded his life. If he didn’t go to find him, Qi Hanyi might never return.

However, as Tang Xiruo said, everyone present wanted Qi Hanyi to return safely, not just him feeling anxious. The human world had many complex rules, and simply charging ahead would not solve the problem.

He needed to stay calm, control himself, and endure…

Su Su bit down hard on the base of his palm, the pain and the taste of blood soothing the restlessness in his heart: “Tomorrow, I must have a result; otherwise, I will find my own way to look for Qi Hanyi.”

“Hey, why are you biting yourself? You’re bleeding!” Qi Yue was startled by Su Su’s action and quickly took out a hemostatic spray from the shuttle’s medical box, spraying it onto Su Su’s wound: “I understand you’re anxious for my brother, but you can’t hurt yourself! That’s so painful.”

The spray had some numbing effect, and the cold sensation replaced the pain, while the torn skin quickly began to clot.

“Qi Yue, help me with something.” Su Su did not care about the wound on his hand: “I know that real starships are a bit different from the game, and I want to undergo formal starship training, preferably starting today.”

“Well, the starship pilots currently on service are mostly at the space station. I can try to contact those who have retired from the starship training program, but your identity is somewhat special. Even logging into the training system requires approval from grandpa,” Qi Yue put away the spray and said earnestly.

Tang Xiruo coldly splashed a bucket of cold water on him: “Undoubtedly, your piloting talent is high, but in reality, you have absolutely no hands-on experience in piloting a starship, nor have you received even one day of operational training at the Empire’s military school. Real starship piloting is still a bit different from the game, and formal starship training takes three years. Even if you learn very quickly, it’s impossible to complete all the courses in one day. During an actual battle, a tiny error can lead to huge losses.”

“You have no chance to pilot a starship. Just being authorized to board the starship tomorrow would already be a rather optimistic outcome.”

Su Su gripped the armrests of the wheelchair: “Just as a precaution. I don’t need to learn everything, just some basic operations. What if I can help?”

“Really just as a precaution?” Tang Xiruo’s eyes were the royal-specific orange-red color of the sun. When she fixated her gaze on Su Su, he felt as if he was being blazed under the midday sunlight, with nowhere to hide.

Su Su forced himself to nod again.

“You better mean it,” Tang Xiruo crossed her arms and chuckled, but didn’t elaborate further. She had also experienced the feelings of wanting to do anything to keep someone she liked.

The shuttle arrived at the Qi residence, and as soon as Su Su got off, he shook the wheelchair and dashed towards the tea room where Qi Xingli often went. Qi Yue had to run quickly behind him to barely keep up.

“Slow down, slow down!” Qi Yue, who usually didn’t work out much, was already a bit out of breath after running for a while: “Grandpa isn’t in the tea room right now; he’s in the office. I’ll take you there.”

Under Qi Yue’s guidance, Su Su arrived at the place where Qi Xingli was working.

There was a huge holographic screen there, cut into dozens of smaller screens showcasing images and information transmitted from current space station posts and interstellar expedition forces. In front of the holographic screen was a hall that could accommodate hundreds of people working simultaneously, where busy personnel were occupied with their own tasks, occasionally communicating through messages about their intelligence.

Everything proceeded in an orderly manner, the atmosphere tense and solemn. When the door opened, people barely looked up to see who entered; they just continued to focus on their work. Su Su’s overly handsome face was the first time not receiving attention, and even his long silver fish tail didn’t make these people’s gazes linger a moment longer.

Su Su paused pushing his wheelchair, subconsciously stopping outside the door, and Qi Yue also gathered herself together. She briefly instructed Su Su: “Wait here, I’ll go call the family head.”

Su Su noticed that it was the first time Qi Yue had referred to Qi Xingli as the family head.

Qi Yue straightened her back and quickly walked to Qi Xingli’s side, leaning down to whisper a few words.

Qi Xingli glanced towards the door and gestured to his aide, then followed Qi Yue out of the hall.

Qi Xingli usually appeared cold and stern, and now he showed no particular change. This made his usual stern demeanor seem familiar in its own right.

“Regarding the Dark Tide matter, the Empire has already begun its investigation. The clues you provided are very valuable. If we confirm the accuracy of the information, I will advocate for you to receive appropriate rewards from His Majesty, including rewards for identifying and successfully killing the insectoid spies. Others from the Dark Tide, as long as it is confirmed they haven’t harmed the Empire’s interests, will also be able to atone for their sins based on their merits.”

Su Su didn’t listen to what Qi Xingli was saying, directly stating: “I’m not concerned about the Dark Tide. I want to go find Qi Hanyi. I’ve become a real mermaid; I can differentiate and heal him with my song.”

Qi Xingli swept his gaze over the fish tail before expressing his doubts: “The Empire doesn’t have battle suits that can accommodate a fish tail.”

Su Su was taken aback. Was Qi Xingli implying that he would refuse him? How was this different from what was agreed before?

Su Su couldn’t help but get anxious: “Qi Yue said you agreed to help me.”

Qi Xingli replied: “You didn’t mention before that you needed to differentiate again.”

“Can you guarantee that you’ll succeed in differentiating the moment you see him? Even if you can, once a mermaid differentiates, they will fall into a state of slumber for a period. It could last for hours or even days. Are you sure you can save him instead of holding him back or even risking your life?”

“We have to try, don’t we?” Su Su said: “That’s your grandson, your heir’s life!”

Qi Xingli remained unmoved: “As the most promising starship pilot for the future, I also value your life. Moreover, even if I agree, I cannot persuade His Majesty in this situation.”

Someone rushed out of the hall, seemingly needing Qi Xingli’s decision on some urgent matter.

Qi Xingli prepared to leave with that person.

Su Su hurriedly stepped forward to block him: “So you just give up on Qi Hanyi like this, just because of this fish tail?”

At this moment, Su Su’s expression seemed to want to take a knife and cut his fish tail in half.

“Before tomorrow morning,” Qi Xingli turned his back and walked back into the hall: “You need to come see me on foot, and I will help you.”

To come see Qi Xingli on foot meant he had to successfully differentiate tonight and wake up before the name was called. But he had never heard of anyone being able to differentiate without seeing their partner.

Well, but as a mermaid hybrid, turning into a mermaid was already unprecedented, wasn’t it? Trying again might not be impossible.

However, just in case it didn’t work, he also had to make plans in advance. Su Su pushed his wheelchair a few more steps: “Then can I at least get permission for simulated training?”

Qi Xingli stopped in his tracks and slightly turned his head, his sharp gaze as if penetrating into Su Su’s thoughts: “Don’t even think about it. Don’t think I’m unaware of your intentions. Real starships are certainly not as easy to pilot as in games; I will never allow an inexperienced person to privately fly to the battlefield.”