The top student of Central Defense University this year actually went to some propaganda department; the various departments of the military probably feel it’s a great pity.
However, Yu Lian felt it was quite good. He knew that the military's propaganda department mostly did the work of war correspondents, and often served as “legal spies.” But no matter what, it was much safer than leading troops on the front lines.
Moreover, Feifei, with her looks that could overshadow ninety-nine percent of female celebrities, and being a high-achieving Moon People, was an incredibly rare resource. Coupled with the Navy Day incident, she had truly gained a large number of fans. For the high-ranking officials of the Commonwealth military, such a rare resource going to the front lines to endure sun and rain was simply too wasteful. Wouldn't it be better to keep her as a mascot?
This was probably the reason for their personnel arrangement.
Of course, perhaps Feifei had also made a relevant application.
When Yu Lian asked, Feifei indeed nodded, indicating he hadn't guessed wrong.
“So you’re really going to pursue such a promising career as a journalist! But why stay in the military propaganda department? I remember that famous Ms. Lola or something was quite appreciative of you and said she wanted to recommend you to a TV station.”
“It's Ms. Lola Sheryl! The Commonwealth's number one golden host!” Feifei retorted, “Yu'er, you should at least remember her name. She even wanted to treat you to dinner last time, saying she absolutely had to report on your life-saving grace... and, of course, interview you incidentally.”
Was that true? Yu Lian pondered for a moment and vaguely felt it might have been. But I even turned down an invitation from the esteemed Defense Committee Chairman.
“For some sensitive places and sensitive events, having a military identity makes it easier to get involved. I’m looking forward to winning the Galaxy’s highest journalism award before I’m thirty. Of course, by then, I can retire with peace of mind.”
…Alright, the esteemed top student of this year, the kind Ms. Fina Li, is only using the military as a stepping stone! This broken pot of the Commonwealth is truly becoming more and more precarious!
“The Luna Star System is still very dangerous, so…”
“If Yu'er is telling me to be careful, not to go to too remote places, and to stay in bases and big cities as much as possible, then I can only refuse. After all, I’m still this year’s top student! Yu'er has really become arrogant lately! Just because you’re a spiritual energy user, you treat me like a weak woman with no strength? Since we were little, when have you ever beaten me?” Feifei still smiled, but her attitude was very firm.
My dear, just say what you need to say, can you please not bring up old embarrassing stories?
“Don’t worry. I just want to express my attitude to Yu'er. Interviews are interviews, investigations are investigations. I’m not some female protagonist from those third-rate Alliance horror movies who deliberately runs into dangerous areas to court death. I’ll be careful.”
Well, at least from an ordinary person's perspective, Feifei should already be considered one of the strongest. Moreover, with her Lieutenant rank and being a Moon People, she could always dispatch the local guard to be her bodyguard. As long as she wasn't truly possessed by a third-rate horror movie's death-seeking female protagonist, she should still be very stable.
Besides, traveling with Feifei was always much more pleasant than going alone.
Thus, the next day, Yu Lian and Feifei bid farewell to their families and once again embarked on a familiar journey—this was the process every time they left home for university, so they were naturally very familiar with it.
Then, in Moon City, they boarded the same military transport ship and were assigned officer rooms with private bathrooms and living quarters.
Don't get the wrong idea, it was one room each, although they were adjacent. If they were on a civilian passenger ship, it would be fine, but this was a military transport ship after all. Yu Lian and Feifei were already active-duty officers, so they had to consider their status and, even more so, their influence.
Of course, since they were two adjacent rooms, with some thought, they could still be combined into one. But matters behind closed doors would not pose any issues of negative influence.
The journey for the next period was very smooth. Aside from some necessary social interactions with the officers on board, all time could be arranged by themselves.
Yu Lian could organize the information, refine his subsequent actions, and then complete some “private matters.”
For example, on August 7th, he connected to the Alliance News Channel via his personal terminal and saw the news he wanted to see.
“Large-scale Pesa Tribe rebellion breaks out in the Alliance’s Lottark Star Cluster! Descendants of the last Losar king have reoccupied their former royal city, declared re-independence, and sought assistance from various nations, hoping they would uphold justice!”
“The new King of Losar, calling himself Losarlun XI, declared to the Empire that he has always been an admirer of the Emperor. If he could receive the Empire’s support, he would be willing to become a vassal state.”
“The Alliance Agricultural Association officially refutes rumors, stating that the rebellion in the Lottark Star Cluster will not affect normal agricultural production.”
“The Star River Stock Market opened yesterday! The agricultural sector experienced fluctuations!”
I wonder how that young lady from Zixin Hui Group is doing. It’s really hard to imagine her flustered and exasperated!
“Earl Valpolicella, the Imperial Chancellor, issued a statement, hoping that both sides can remain calm and resolve differences peacefully, while also advising the Alliance government to respect the will of the Losar people.”
“The Alliance Congress passed a new quarterly shipbuilding plan!”
Yu Lian pondered for a moment. Before taking action, he first sent a message to Zhi Xia and Liuli: “It’s time to sell!”
“Ah, but the Alliance’s shipbuilding plan is practically going to build another Commonwealth navy within a year! All military industry stocks are soaring!”
“That’s why we need to sell!”
Zhi Xia and Liuli were not greedy people, and Yu Lian did not spend too much effort to persuade them. Anyway, selling now would still yield a huge profit, so it was considered quitting while ahead.
And so, after all operations were completed, the more than 300 million obtained from the Shared Foundation, deposited in Libra Bank, had become 500 million. As for Zhi Xia’s side, she should have also made a “small” profit of tens of millions.
It should be noted that the money Zhi Xia invested was pooled by all the girls in the student union. This way, each of them received a large sum of money. If they were to live peacefully in a third or fourth-tier star sector from then on, they would probably be considered financially free.
This is good. Regardless of whether the future positioning is as a collaborator, or a comrade-in-arms… well, or something else, one must first show tangible results before discussing the next step.
Even Teacher Li, when training that battle-hardened army back then, would fully pay their wages and provide full rations when conditions allowed, and even offer free books. Just this point alone put him dozens of streets ahead of the bald-headed opposition.
Additionally, I can still squeeze out some spare money to buy Feifei a set of Avana Starry jewelry. She’s already worn out that magazine advertisement page.
Perhaps sensing Yu Lian’s gaze, Feifei, who was also busy with her own affairs, looked up and smiled sweetly.
“It feels like we’re traveling with Feifei.”
“Yeah, this is the first time since we started university!”
Yu Lian truly enjoyed this short journey, at least until they reached Gibraltar Starport, he genuinely enjoyed it.
Yes, their transit point for this journey was still the famous Gibraltar Starport. According to the original plan, the cargo ship Governor Dandolo, on which the two were traveling, would stop at Gibraltar for one day for a brief resupply, and then pass through the Star Gate to the New World to transport spices and various other specialty products.
As for the two of them, they would transfer here to another cargo ship, the Nicias 14, and reroute to the Luna Star System. Of course, this ship also departs tomorrow, so they would have to stay overnight at the military guesthouse.
“How about we go to Gibraltar for some specialty Jian’er hotpot?” Yu Lian suggested to Feifei as they disembarked.
The latter also nodded enthusiastically, but then said, “Just the two of us? Didn’t Yu'er say he made many friends in the Outer Rim Fleet? Aren’t you calling them? And Teacher Yang.”
Yu Lian had, of course, considered this question, but still refused: “Teacher Yang is highly valued by General Bonaparte and is extremely busy! It’s not a holiday now, so I won’t disturb him. I’ll deal with the matters in Luna quickly and then come back to meet him later.”
More importantly, the friends I made in the Outer Rim Fleet, and Teacher Yang, are all men! If Feifei and I, such a beautiful woman, have dinner together and get all heated up, wouldn’t it be natural to proceed to the next activity, like playing mahjong or something?
Feifei was looking forward to dinner tonight, while Yu Lian was looking forward to dinner tonight and the activities afterward. The two happily held hands and disembarked. However, before they even left the Starport, they were stopped dead in their tracks by a group of people.
Because they were all acquaintances, Yu Lian could only shiver and clench his teeth, his gaze sweeping across Feifei’s half-smiling face, then lingering for half a second on Eleanor’s face, whose sweet smile was beginning to freeze, and then looking at Ina, who seemed expressionless but kept staring at Feifei.
The current situation was clear: Feifei and I didn't know Eleanor and Ina were here, and Eleanor and Ina didn't know Feifei would come. As for the culprit, it must be…
Thinking of this, Yu Lian broke into an ecstatic smile, stepping forward with light, or rather, slightly exaggeratedly light steps, and saluted Marshal Paris, who stood in the center of the crowd.
“Your Excellency, Marshal, your subordinate Yu Lian reports to you!”
Before the other party returned the salute, he slightly turned his body and similarly saluted Brigadier General Yang Xiyi, who stood to the Marshal’s left.
“General Yang… It’s been a long time, I’ve missed you dearly!”
Yu Lian was truly grateful to these two great saviors, one old and one middle-aged. If they weren’t here, he wouldn’t know how to handle the scene. Although they clearly looked like they were enjoying the show, with their mischievousness and mockery almost solidifying into ominous, unknown matter, it was really nothing. Yu Lian decided to forgive them.
“Seeing my superiors so spirited, it truly makes your subordinate… hmm, deeply admire you! So, how about we start with a pot of specialty Jian’er hotpot?”
We all know that Jian’er hotpot, cooked with various meats, is a specialty of the Outer Rim Fleet and even the entire Gibraltar Starport, a must-try… Moreover, at this point, Yu Lian really didn’t know what else to do to ease the atmosphere besides inviting them to eat.
Marshal Paris and Yang Xiyi agreed. Although they enjoyed watching drama, after they were done, they didn’t want to continue being tormented by the awkward atmosphere. In this day and age, the only thing that could alleviate an awkward atmosphere was indeed a hotpot meal.
If one didn’t work, then two would have to do.
And so, led by the Old Marshal, the group grandly went to the officer’s restaurant at Gibraltar Starport, ascended to the third floor, and found a quiet private room.
Of course, changing from the original one male and one female to three males and three females was actually something to be very thankful for. If not for Marshal Paris and Yang Xiyi, Yu Lian truly couldn’t imagine what would have happened next.
With the Old Marshal of the Outer Rim Fleet and His Excellency the Marshal visiting again and planning to dine within the fleet’s jurisdiction, according to proper etiquette, the fleet’s high-ranking officials should naturally appear to accompany them.
However, according to Yang Xiyi, His Excellency the Marshal had actually arrived in Gibraltar yesterday, and all the necessary ceremonial and business activities had already concluded yesterday. Except for him, all the personnel sent by the fleet to accompany the Marshal had been dismissed by him.
Eleanor’s half-brother, twenty years her senior, the current Commander of the Outer Rim Fleet, Admiral Ferdinand Bonaparte, was not in Gibraltar. Also according to Yang Xiyi, the new Commander spent most of his time inspecting the various sub-fleets and the fortresses and strongholds belonging to the military district, so he was not in Gibraltar most of the time.
Additionally, Marshal Paris was merely passing through this time, so he naturally didn't want to cause a stir throughout Gibraltar.
Even so, high-ranking officers would still appear like potato sprouts after a heavy rain. Even just a greeting would be considered showing their face to His Excellency the Marshal!
After half a year, Marshal Paris’s composure seemed much better than last time. He didn’t show any impatience from beginning to end, until Yang Xiyi went out and instructed something, and then these potato sprouts stopped appearing.
However, after all this commotion, by the time everyone sat down to eat, it was already more than an hour later.
And at this time, Feifei was already happily giggling non-stop with Eleanor and Ina, whispering things only girls would share.
“I only finished my inspection of the New World yesterday and returned to Gibraltar. Then I heard about your itinerary from Marshal Alwyn, so I stayed an extra day,” Marshal Paris said.
For a dignified Marshal to specially stay and wait for a mere Captain, anyone else would probably be moved to tears of gratitude.
However, Yu Lian knew that although he had established a good private relationship with Marshal Paris, this old man was an impartial person. How could he do private matters during official duty? There must be a reason for his actions.
Could it be, the secret is out?
Yu Lian couldn't help but look at Eleanor, but she subtly rolled her eyes, then turned her head away and continued whispering with Feifei. At first glance, these two really looked like good friends who hadn't seen each other for a long time.
“Don’t look at your senior, young man. You and this girl have done something big!”
Yu Lian’s little heart suddenly skipped a beat, not because the Old Marshal’s gaze was gradually sharpening, but because Feifei had already looked at him, showing a thoughtful expression, and her eyes seemed a bit subtle.
“Tell me, kid, what are you planning to do in the New World?” the Marshal asked in a deep voice.
“Also, why did you voluntarily come to Luna this time? Is it related to the arrangements in the New World?”
Yu Lian couldn’t help but glance at Eleanor again, but then he heard the Marshal say, “Don’t worry, she didn’t betray you. Even when I saw through her, she said it was her own initiative. Heh… you lucky kid.”
I never suspected Eleanor would betray me! And I know I’m very lucky! But can you please not say it in this setting? Haven’t you seen Feifei’s gaze getting sharper?
At this moment, the Marshal stroked his grizzled and resolute beard, his expression softened slightly, and he added, “Tell me your thoughts in detail. Only then can I help you mediate!”