A commoner's weapon? Yu Lian took half a second to react, then burst into laughter.
He had lived two lives in this world and still didn't understand where these guys' superiority and obsession came from, nor did he ever intend to.
Idealistic fools! And idealistic fools filled with reactionary class thinking! They should be educated by the iron fist of the laborers!
So, Yu Lian, who had always considered himself a laborer, sneered and mocked, "The Empire loves to use this kind of junk that they no longer use to harvest you leeks. Besides, this is a mech specifically designed for those Dirello spiritual energy user nobles. Can a mere fat-headed, big-eared bipedal cat wear it comfortably?"
The Kaitai spiritual energy user flew into a rage and was about to charge with his sword, but Yu Lian raised the grenade launcher in his left hand and pulled the trigger, aiming for the vital spot on the opponent's chest.
The Kaitai beneath the mask seemed surprised, but he also held his greatsword across his chest, and thick, colorful light patterns were forming and condensing.
"Oh, Heavy Infantry... Then why are you using a grappling hook? Is it a Kaitai tradition?"
Though Yu Lian was still utterly bewildered, he was satisfied to see the shell explode in front of his opponent, forming a large cloud of smoke.
He hadn't fired a high-explosive shell, but a smoke grenade.
The Kaitai Knight was genuinely stunned, but the next second, Yu Lian was already right in front of him. The opponent had already put away his pulse weapon and grenade launcher, replacing them with two daggers, which he crossed and slashed towards Yu Lian's vital points.
The Kaitai spiritual energy user no longer had time to change his move. He could only lift his greatsword, just managing to wedge it between the opponent's crossed daggers.
A heavy sword clashing with daggers—the outcome was self-evident. But that was under normal circumstances. In reality, Yu Lian twisted his daggers, striking the sturdy spine of the blades against the opponent's weapon first, and the thrusters of his external gliders spewed out azure tail flames.
This was why he always carried external attachments.
At this moment, he had turned himself into a rocket, directly slamming into his opponent!
The Kaitai spiritual energy user was caught off guard, pushed back repeatedly, and eventually lost his Balance completely. Then, man and armor, he flew backward, crashing into a large number of his comrades behind him, and even smashing open the bridge door behind him, tumbling inside.
Yu Lian stabilized himself, then discarded the external attachments, which had completely lost their usefulness, and switched his weapons back to the blaster and grenade launcher, continuing to advance after his opponent.
Behind him, the Kaitai security personnel had also collapsed. More and more Earth soldiers rushed over, following Yu Lian and pouring into the bridge.
“Click, click, click!” Yu Lian heard the sound of weapons being cocked but paid no attention; he didn't even bother with the Kaitai spiritual energy user he had knocked flying. Instead, he quickly locked onto a figure next to the command platform in the center of the bridge.
On the command platform, a Kaitai dignitary was fumbling to put on his armor with the help of a Guardian, but he had only put on half of it. It was Prince Charlen Lionmane.
However, Yu Lian ignored him. He just roared, "We are the Blue Star Commonwealth Outer Rim Fleet! You are surrounded! Surrender immediately!" While saying this, he "accidentally" slipped and pulled the trigger, sending a rifle grenade towards the figure next to the platform.
"Don't blame me, Osen Blackfin, the nightmare of Gibraltar! The only truly world-class general in the future Kaitai Kingdom! I'm not the kind of lunatic who waits for you to grow or become famous before defeating you honorably face-to-face!" Yu Lian thought to himself.
Osen Blackfin was not a spiritual energy user; in fact, among ordinary Kaitai, he was considered "frail." If he were hit by a high-explosive rifle grenade, he would certainly be dead. However, with a flash, Prince Charlen had already darted in front of Blackfin, swinging his warhammer and striking the shell.
His movements were swift, and his force was cleverly applied, but not quite clever enough. The shell was deflected a few meters away but still exploded.
The high-explosive flames and shockwave caused Charlen Lionmane to scream in agony, but he still didn't dodge, remaining steadfastly in front of his subordinate.
He was only a sensitive person who hadn't fully awakened, but besides the half-worn mech, he also carried a spiritual energy treasure that provided protection, so he managed to endure the close-range explosion of the high-explosive shell.
Even so, this handsome Kaitai Prince was burned over half his body, and even his blood-red Crimson Mane was ignited.
One can imagine what would have happened to Blackfin without the Prince.
Yu Lian felt a bit regretful and wanted to fire another shell, but many Guardian soldiers had already surged forward, protecting the Prince and Blackfin as they retreated.
More and more Earth assault troopers poured in through the door behind them, but similarly, more and more security personnel ran in from another door, confronting each other in the bridge of this Dreadnought.
Of course, perhaps everyone felt the situation was a bit delicate at the moment, so no one immediately opened fire. The standoff at least didn't immediately escalate into a free-for-all.
"Put down your weapons! Surrender! Surrender immediately!" Lieutenant Colonel McMillan shouted, "Your bridge has been captured by us!"
"You should be the one to put down your weapons! You are surrounded!" The other side immediately retorted.
"Surrender your weapons and live! Otherwise, we'll keep fighting!"
"I'm going to bite off your necks!"
"Come on! See if I don't skin you alive to make a rug!"
"Come on!" Earthlings and Kaitai, armored and unarmored, hundreds of them crammed into the bridge, pointing their weapons at each other, eyes bloodshot, shouting, roaring, threatening, trying to overwhelm the opponent with sheer momentum.
"Despicable hairless monkey, come and fight me for another hundred rounds!" A Kaitai voice, suppressing fury, provoked. It took Yu Lian a moment to realize he was being addressed. He looked closely and, sure enough, it was the "Heavy Infantry" he had previously sent tumbling. He immediately sneered, extended his middle finger, then formed his hand into a claw shape, placed it by his cheek, and wiggled it.
To humans, this was malicious cuteness, but to Kaitai, it was the worst possible provocation. This Kaitai Knight went mad, trying to charge over, but was stopped by a slightly high-pitched Kaitai voice.
"Stop it! You're making a fool of yourself!"
Immediately, another Kaitai spiritual energy user wearing an Emblem Machine appeared before everyone. It was still the Empire's obsolete Glorious Knight Armor Model 1, but the emblem on the breastplate had been replaced with a beast's paw wearing a white Baiwan. Its taste was slightly better than that "Heavy Infantry," but not by much.
"Your bravery is commendable! However, Earthlings, you are just a desperate, isolated force! You have no chance of winning, surrender immediately! I can guarantee, in the name of Shalun Baiwan, that you will receive humanitarian treatment as stipulated by the 'Galactic War Humanitarian Convention' until the end of the war."
This should be the main person in charge! Yu Lian thought. Shalun Baiwan, a spiritual energy user of the Three Rings, Prince Charlen Lionmane's Guardian captain, and the top Kaitai master on this warship. Of course, she was also a relatively rare female cat-person among the Kaitai—well, female cats aren't actually rare, it's just that not many join the space fleet.
"Are we at war? Legally, we still have friendly diplomatic relations at the Ambassador level. Your country's Minister of Foreign Affairs is still visiting Earth," Yu Lian said with a smile.
Shalun Baiwan was momentarily speechless.
"Furthermore, you are the ones who should surrender! The main force of your United Fleet has been severely damaged and is currently at a complete disadvantage, on the verge of total annihilation. Your bridge has been captured, the proud Steel Crown Prince is now our property, and all your command personnel are in danger. You have lost! Therefore, let your Prince Charlen come out, and we can discuss. Or, we can continue fighting, and we all die here! But I can guarantee that not a single person on this bridge will survive. And not a single ship from your main United Fleet will escape either!" Yu Lian shook the grenade launcher in his hand, loaded another drum, and the missile bay on his shoulder popped open, revealing sixteen glowing red warheads.
Every word Yu Lian spoke was like a heavy punch to the hearts of the Kaitai officers and soldiers Present, while the Earth soldiers all felt like legendary heroes who had captured an enemy Dreadnought. The morale of the two sides visibly shifted, one rising as the other fell.
"Did you hear that, His Highness Charlen Lionmane! Haven't you always wanted to overthrow human tyranny? Then show some responsibility!" Yu Lian shouted.
The Kaitai stirred, and even Shalun Baiwan showed a hint of bewilderment. A few minutes later, Prince Charlen, half-wrapped in bandages, emerged from the crowd, supported by Guardians—he had been pushed into a corner, and if he didn't come out now, his standing as a monarch would be completely lost.
The Kaitai Prince, with his one remaining eye, stared intently at Yu Lian, as if he intended to kill the opponent with his gaze, even through the sturdy Emblem Machine.
Your injuries look severe but they're all external, you'll be fully recovered in a cultivation pod in less than half a day. Why are you looking at me like I'm a class enemy?
"Are you the Commander?" he growled in a chilling tone.
"No, I'm just a student, I haven't even graduated yet," Yu Lian said with a smile.
The Kaitai Prince, Baiwan, and the unlucky "Heavy Infantry" were all stunned. His Highness then gritted his teeth and said, "You, you not only insult our courage, but you also insult my intelligence!"
Yu Lian shrugged indifferently, "Sorry for insulting you, but I really just came to collect material for my graduation thesis."
He stepped back, yielding the center position to Colonel Chaimen.
"Well done!" the Colonel said in a low voice.
"As long as you don't mind me hogging the spotlight."
"No, no, not at all. I'm not very good at speaking, and my Imperial language isn't great either. With a smart person like you going ahead to scout, I'll save a lot of trouble later!" the Colonel said.
He strode forward with imposing steps, and after standing firm, he gave a neither humble nor arrogant military salute to everyone. Then, in a solemn voice, he said, "I am Colonel Chaimen Daisuke of the Blue Star Commonwealth Internal Guard, bringing a proposal from our Outer Rim Fleet Commander, General Paris. You are about to..."
He paused. Just when everyone thought he was about to deliver some grand and inspiring speech, Colonel Chaimen raised his armguard, operated it, and a light window popped up. Then, he began to read from the Dirello text on it, with stiff pronunciation.
Today's second update, it will be available tomorrow, please support it!
Also, please try to discuss real-world politics less. I hear there have already been reports. I have deleted the three highlighted posts, sorry!
In short, everything in the book takes place in a parallel universe and is completely unrelated to reality!