The rescue team from the regular army completed their landing three minutes after the battle had completely ended.
Regardless of their opinions, the greatest heroes of this rescue operation, which could almost make it into future textbooks, were a group of students participating in the exercise.
This was indeed a perfect operation: of the more than fifty rebellious military police special service members, over thirty were either killed or captured, and the mastermind, Brigadier General Francis Morey, was slain on the spot.
Additionally, a post-action count revealed that the Azure Princess was missing a small yacht, and the remaining fugitives likely escaped aboard it.
However, they are all on the wanted list and will certainly not get away with it.
Major Da Shi and his rebels on the Feixue 48 also turned into universe spirit dust along with the exploding warship; not a single one survived.
Two hundred unidentified combat robots also became spoils of war for the Commonwealth Government.
According to a scientist among the hostages, these items were very likely ancient relics.
In this universe, unearthing new things is equivalent to technological progress, so it's no wonder that Chairman, who had just escaped danger, began to look overjoyed.
It is said that Duke Fisu and Belmont's representative, who were Present, also showed considerable interest in the drones, but Chairman subtly rebuffed them.
There was nothing he could do; the President, who had publicly acknowledged his family connection, had completely let himself go and was in a rather joyful rampage.
Furthermore, media personnel had certainly gotten their fill of major scoops; aside from the one currently being beaten by President Nockham, the rest looked like they were preparing for a grand New Year's feast, their faces glistening as if ready to be thrown into a pot.
It's hard to imagine that just an hour ago, they were all mourning and miserable.
In comparison, the nearly 500 naval soldiers who died on the two destroyers, two unidentified hostages, Mr. Gander, the security consultant, and Brigadier General Robnan, the vice principal of the Moon Surface Military Academy... one can only say that these were truly unavoidable sacrifices!
May they find peace with the universe spirit.
However, no matter how successful the rescue operation was, a major terrorist incident occurred during the grand 50th-anniversary celebration of the army, an event broadcast All-Galaxy, where the head of state and a large number of important guests were taken hostage.
Even Yu Lian, whose "strategic vision" surpassed the world's by 50 years, couldn't say how many years the after-effects would reverberate.
Nevertheless, whether the upper echelons wanted to pursue accountability, engage in infighting, or reshuffle, it had nothing to do with Yu Lian and his companions.
At this moment, under the witness of at least hundreds of billions of people, they became the heroes of the entire Commonwealth.
This is something no one can deny.
Even certain hidden wills behind the scenes had to admit this point.
When Duke Fisu returned to Earth on the luxury cruise ship sent by the Imperial Embassy, he was in his private lounge.
"So, this is the whole process, Your Highness.
This old man personally believes that instead of continuing to investigate how Vincent was exposed, this young man named Yu Lian is more worthy of our attention!"
"Unpleasant, truly unpleasant..." The man's voice from the communicator was soft and pleasant, with a hint of laughter, easily conjuring the image of an elegant, refined young nobleman.
"I don't like exceptionally talented young geniuses.
The Empire cannot allow such excellent existences, don't you agree?"
"Heh~~ This old man is merely fulfilling his duty as the Honglu Temple's Staff Minister to report everything here to one of the Privy Council's Sword Ministers.
As for anything else, it's not something an old man like me, who is about to retire and go home, needs to worry about."
The person on the other end was silent for a moment, then chuckled wryly: "Old man, I remember my father once said you were actually an old eel at heart."
"Yes, just as the former His Highness Prince was actually a crow at heart."
Perhaps this description was quite striking, as there was a brief pause on the other end of the communicator.
"Your Highness, for the sake of the former Wei Lunte King, this old man is willing to speak frankly with you."
"...Please do," the voice on the other end still carried a gentle smile, though it sounded a bit forced.
"The universe is so vast, the world is so beautiful, why not be more positive?
You still need to learn history.
You should know that the Empire is an Empire under the Dawn Royal Family, and throughout the history of the dynasty, there has never been a Supreme Ruler who wasn't positive."
The communication spanning half the galaxy was cut off, the sense of exasperation seemingly having traversed the stars.
Duke Fisu, however, was not surprised at all.
The current Valente King was just like that.
Or rather, precisely because he had such a side, the Duke felt he was somewhat human and was willing to associate with him.
The elderly Duke stood up, looking directly at the Azure Princess outside the porthole, then at the two cruisers painted in red and blue in the distance.
On one point, he agreed with Valente King.
The emergence of such a genius among Earthlings was indeed not good news for the Empire.
"That's why this universe is interesting!"
Anyway, it's better for the universe to be interesting, and only then can the Empire continue to maintain its proper vitality.
Duke Fisu firmly believed this.
The Duke, who came from a military background, was actually in a very good mood until the luxury liner from the Alliance Embassy swept past the window.
"Bah, those debauched Alliance profiteers must be spouting their stinking business talk again.
Ever since these Alliance profiteers appeared, the universe has truly become more and more defiled!"
The Duke's guess was correct; at this time, Krel Belmont, the Alliance representative who was less than a third of his age, had just boarded the ship and immediately went into his room, opening a private channel that only he could access.
"Yes, this is indeed a worthy investment!"
"Future?
Heh heh, a parvenu blinded by greed would be lucky to see ten years ahead.
If we didn't have the patience and courage to wait decades, even centuries, what right would we have to continue to this day?"
"Yes, yes, investments can certainly fail.
That's why they must be diversified.
At least, everyone's investment in Victoria Li was very successful, so now there's just one more."
"In comparison, the investment in Mr. Wanda and his Wanling Sect now needs to start considering damage control.
Yes, he is very proactive, but unfortunately, his vision is too narrow, and his actions are really lacking in planning."
"No, I'm talking about the Wanling Sect, not the Luminans.
Yes, investing in that Earth student leader does not conflict with continuing to invest in the Luminans.
It might even achieve a 1+1 > 2 effect."
"Hmm, thank you, uncles and aunts, for seriously considering my opinion.
Now, let's talk about something more relaxed.
Yes, a ten-year level business."
"I must sign Serena Mao!
Tell Universe to prepare at least 200 million in liquidated damages and signing fees!
Yes, that little girl is indeed worth that price!"
In a dark room deep in a distant galaxy, the live broadcast had stopped, finally freezing on the recently rescued Azure Princess.
"The experiment was successful, but it is indeed time to stop.
We cannot let the Empire, the Alliance, and the Virtual Spirit Temple detect anything."
"Then, let the 'Lawyer' talk to our 'Educator' brother.
I hope he truly understands the situation."
"Yes, after all, he's an old friend of many years; we really don't want him to go down a dead end!"
"Alright, back to business.
So... where is our Little Queen?
What are Net and Hunter doing?"
"..."
"Why aren't you speaking?"
"The pirates of the New World are in a big fight, saying they must choose a leader, and they've been drawn into it."
"..."
"Grandly speaking, this is just a test from the World!
Anyway, we've waited so long, so a little longer won't hurt.
So, smile!
You must smile!"
At this moment, more than two million light-years away in the Andromeda Galaxy, a "rag doll" still drifting in the void was gradually entering a state of recovery.
Countless unseen primordial worms wriggled within her body, constantly absorbing energy that even the most advanced instruments in the universe struggled to extract, stimulating cell growth and division.
Her torn wounds began to heal, lost limbs regrew, and even the half-remaining skull continued to grow.
What grew on her healed scalp was not beautiful hair, but slender tentacles like snakes.
The halo of a star flowed over her almost completely restored body, and then she suddenly opened her eyes.
Within her eye sockets were eyes that did not belong to humans, or even to living beings; it was as if a pool of molten mercury was rolling.
Between the gleaming silver embroidery, scarlet vertical pupils were filled with the bloodlust and coldness of a predator.
She saw artificial lights slowly gliding through the void not far away.
"So hungry!" she murmured.
That, I originally really thought it was fine to just write jin and kilogram casually.
If it's data that needs precise description, of course I'll use precise units.
If it's something like a girl's weight, I thought everyone would get it if I just wrote it casually.
Just like in real life, I often say to my child's mother, "When will you get to 50 jin?" and she'll ask, "When will I get down to 80 jin?" and so on.
Also, this must be because the owner of the hot pot restaurant that recently opened downstairs is from Yunnan.
The first time I went to buy something, I asked for one jin, and he actually weighed out one kilogram for me, and because it was delicious, I didn't fuss, so I somehow accepted this setting.
So, trust me, friends, this really isn't my fault!
It must be my child's mother's and the Yunnan hot pot restaurant owner's fault!
Of course, if this causes everyone trouble, then ultimately it's still my fault, so I won't omit it in the future.