In short, due to various delays, Yu Lian had to spend the New Year of 830 at Gibraltar β Starport with a group of rough men from the Outer Rim Fleet. Of course, there was nothing wrong with that; originally, according to the plan, he might have spent New Year on the ship.
And perhaps because they had just achieved the most brilliant victory in decades, the Outer Rim Fleet Command HQ, which temporarily had no Commander, announced a long holiday for everyone, and the entire Starport immediately entered a scene of bustling crowds and prosperous noise.
This New Year was quite interesting overall. Every day, he ate and drank with new friends from the Outer Rim Fleet, watched the battle between New Divine Province and Andromeda Galaxy for laborers, observed the Outer Rim soldiers' "Heavenly Punishment for Traitors" rallies, and incidentally, could also visit the hospital to see how Major Nani's courtship was progressing.
During this period, Yu Lian also found an inconspicuous office of Astronomical International Bank in a small street in Gibraltar and opened an anonymous secret account.
On January 3rd, Yu Lian boarded a direct first-class passenger ship bound for Earth.
The so-called direct means that the ship would not stop at other planets or Starports along the way, speeding from Gibraltar all the way to the Solar System, shortening the voyage to within a week.
The so-called first-class means that without a certain family background and connections, one couldn't even buy a ticket.
Passengers had to be average high-achievers earning millions annually, and even third-class tickets were standard rooms with private bathrooms and entertainment facilities.
As for the second-class ticket Yu Lian currently held, it was a suite with a private bathroom, living room, study, and balcony, decorated to at least a five-star hotel standard.
Don't be surprised why there's a balcony on a spaceship; isn't it enough to install a dome or floor-to-ceiling windows? You should know that the experience of soaking in a bath while enjoying the magnificent sea of stars is quite wonderful, giving a sense of naked freedom in the sky, a blend of depravity and solemnity.
Even the box-outside observers from beyond the Great Universe probably don't have this feeling, do they?
In addition, Yu Lian's second-class ticket also included three meals a day on board and free use of most of the ship's entertainment and leisure facilities.
Of course, perhaps because he was handsome, the flight attendant Miss who led him to the room also filled the refrigerator with drinks, snacks, and pastries, stating that they were all free and would be replenished daily, and also left her private contact information, saying that he could contact her anytime~~~
After tidying up his luggage, Yu Lian decided to give himself a good rest in the coming days.
Thinking about it carefully, ever since his rebirth, he had been working non-stop, fighting one major battle after another, and had never truly enjoyed a peaceful period of leisure.
As a young person, as a student who hasn't yet graduated and been beaten by society, one should seize the last, youthful student days and fully enjoy everything in the Present.
As for Yang Xiyi's teaching, "You should finalize the outline and direction of your thesis on the ship," while it's true for ordinary people, for a protagonist, it would be too much of a waste of life, wouldn't it?
Considering how arrogant that red-haired girl was before, Yu Lian had already found a direction for his thesis research! It would definitely be a sensation.
Of course, as an old hand who had indeed been beaten by society (in his previous life), before starting to have fun, he habitually organized what he needed to do after returning to Earth.
After returning to the academy, he needed to understand the follow-up to that incident.
His original exile to New Yumen was somewhat influenced by that incident.
Fortunately, Feifei informed him in her last letter that the first hearing had a favorable outcome.
The people above must have intervened.
Feifei said that if she could find a way to deliver the evidence to them, she definitely could.
She was truly as reliable as ever!
Secondly, during the National Day holiday, he needed to take some time to find that reliable black (cat) intelligence organization and locate the Bug Swarm Queen who was still in hibernation.
According to later history, she should have already escaped at this time, hiding from an unknown force across the galaxy while gradually regaining her strength.
As for what that unknown force was, that was something even Yu Lian from later generations didn't know.
Yu Lian probed his Star Ring.
After eliminating Sharon, the first layer of his Star Ring was two-thirds filled, and the fourth Psychokinesis combat skill, "Psychokinesis," was unlocked, which were all the combat skills that could be unlocked in the first ring.
Theoretically, he could now directly break through to the second ring, but doing so would leave a gap in his spirit.
When he advanced to higher rings later and encountered powerful enemies, it could very likely give the opponent an opportunity.
Using a wuxia worldview analogy, it's called an unstable foundation; the deeper the cultivation, the easier it is to suffer qi deviation.
However, with this strength, dealing with the Present Queen would not be a problem.
Heh~~~ Sharley, I suddenly want to see you when you were young! Counting it, we (including my previous life) haven't seen each other for almost ten years! I really want to see you!
Your unknown creator only wants to use you! Your hatred, your obsession, even your will are being used by you!
Only I truly care about you!
So, I will give you true liberation before you make things irreparable!
Ah, Sharley, I Miss you…
Yu Lian patted his head, thinking that there was indeed a reason why he had such good relationships in his previous life!
Finally, there was the last link in the "New Yumen Incident Chain," the "July 26th" incident, originally scheduled to occur more than two years later, in the summer of common era 832.
Of course, history has changed now.
The Commonwealth's rule in New Yumen remains as stable as Mount Tai, and the Xiwei Star Region campaign has gone from losing troops and Star Gates to a great victory, so this incident might not happen.
However, Li Instructor also taught us that the occurrence of all historical events has a fuse, but also certain necessary historical conditions.
Yu Lian had seriously analyzed this.
These "necessary historical conditions" would not disappear because of his tiny butterfly wings.
Therefore, something would happen sooner or later; even if it wasn't on July 26th two years from now, it would definitely happen at another time.
Fortunately, Yu Lian knew who the masterminds and main participants were.
They might not have returned to Earth yet, but he could ask that very reliable black (meow) organization to start investigating.
Oh, right, reporting to the authorities is definitely impossible.
Relying on them is like expecting a groundhog to bite a dragon to death.
You see, there are so many important things to do.
Compared to that, writing (copying) a thesis is nothing.
In the end, he wrote a title on his terminal: "The Future Direction of the Commonwealth," but after a long silence, he only left the title...
Okay, organized!
He opened the entertainment terminal in his room and found that it could connect to the Nebula Network; his favorite "Treasure Raiders Alliance" had even updated to its tenth season.
After a moment of thought, he logged into his gaia ol account and found that his carefully nurtured female mage had leveled up again, with many activity points added, and his warehouse had many more accessories, blueprints, and materials.
It seemed that Feifei and the others had been logging in for him, at least completing his daily activities.
Yu Lian wanted to call Feifei, but then he remembered that private calls should be directly blocked in the academy.
So he sent a message to everyone, as well as to the student council's email, stating his flight number and arrival time.
He also wanted to report his safety to his aunt and uncle, but then he remembered that it should still be restaurant business hours, and calling them would probably lead to a painful, happy, and warm nagging session, so he sent a deeply affectionate email that concealed key information, also informing them of his estimated time of arrival home.
Yu Lian began to fill the bathtub, and then opened the dome balcony's blackout curtain, preparing to catch up on shows while bathing, and after two or three episodes, go online to gather his companions to push a boss or something.
However, just as he finished filling the water, a communication from the ship's crew came in, saying that a VIP on board wanted to invite him to dinner.
Yu Lian checked the time and found it was not yet five o'clock. He really wanted to refuse, but the other party also showed a helpless expression, saying that it was an invitation from the most distinguished guest on the ship, and they couldn't stop it, so they could only bother Yu Lian.
The Miss flight attendant on the screen opposite had an expression that seemed to say, 'If you don't agree, I'll just cry.' Considering that she had been very enthusiastic when guiding him earlier, and had even introduced him to various entertainment facilities on the ship in detail, plus she had slipped him a small note, Yu Lian decided not to make things difficult for the Miss.
Oh, and it wasn't because this Miss flight attendant's looks were on par with two young nurses, really!
He washed his face and, following the other party's instructions, arrived at the 'open-air' restaurant on the upper deck of the passenger ship. At this hour, there were, of course, very few diners, only a few tables of young couples or spouses enjoying the view of the starry sky while eating desserts.
Yu Lian found a secluded spot in the restaurant, semi-separated by a screen, and soon saw the so-called 'most distinguished passenger on the ship' who had invited him to dinner, and he was immediately stunned.
If it wasn't General Paris, then who could it be?
It took Yu Lian nearly three more seconds to confirm the other party's identity. It wasn't because the former Commander was wearing casual clothes, but because he was holding a large bowl of ice cream, spooning it in large mouthfuls, and showing a blissful expression as he ate.
...“This, Your Excellency. Uh, your subordinate Yu Lian reporting.”
Only then did the Old General notice Yu Lian's arrival. He very calmly scooped another large spoonful of ice cream into his mouth and pointed to the empty seat with his chin.
Yu Lian wasn't surprised that General Paris knew he was on the ship; after all, the tickets were bought by the Outer Rim Fleet. What was strange was that he was sitting here, eating ice cream.
“The ice cream here is very delicious. I'll get you a serving too.” The Old General said.
...“Uh, Your Excellency is too kind.” Yu Lian felt that desserts really didn't suit his tough, manly style, but the old man didn't wait for him to politely decline before calling a waiter.
Not only did he order an identical serving for Yu Lian, but he also added another serving for himself.
“It's a truly nostalgic taste. This Blue Swan, I only rode it once when I was young, accompanying Marshal Li. I don't remember anything else, only that the ice cream on it was very delicious. We each ate three large plates, trying all the flavors, and ended up having to go to the infirmary to swallow a tube of nanomachines.”
Yu Lian knew that this Blue Swan was now the third generation, rebuilt five years ago and inheriting the name of its predecessor. The crew had naturally changed countless times, and so had the chef.
However, the old man's memories were sentimental, so there was no need to dwell on the details.
Yu Lian took two bites of the ice cream and felt that the taste was just so-so, at least an order of magnitude worse than what Feifei made, but it was still above average for mass-produced items.
“How is it? Is it delicious? Me, when I was in office, I had to maintain the position of a superior and couldn't act on whims. Now that I'm free of official duties, I can finally enjoy myself. Uh, but that's only on the ship... Once I return to Earth, my wife will be in charge again.”
Yu Lian put down his fork again and (on the surface) sincerely apologized: “Your Excellency, I am very sorry.”
“Why apologize? You wouldn't think that I decided to fight this war with the Kaitai people because of your nonsense, would you?” The old man laughed, “I'm not a magnanimous person. All my old superiors and comrades-in-arms were smarter and more benevolent than me, but no matter what, I wouldn't push the responsibility onto a twenty-year-old student!”
He paused and laughed heartily: “Of course, I have to thank you and that kid Yang Xiyi. You successfully calculated me, but I was very happy to be calculated by you. My curtain call is here, but with this last battle, even if I die, I can face Marshal Li with my head held high.”
His smile, at this moment, actually held a hint of benevolent kindness. It was a stark contrast to his previous image of being rigid, resolute, and like reinforced concrete.
“Have your plans after this been decided?” Yu Lian asked.
“Over at the Defense Committee, that kid Keith Nishita did ask for my opinion. One option is to serve as a permanent military advisor to the Supreme Council, and the other is to take up a deputy position at the Military Strategic Research Institute. Of course, if I wanted to take off my military uniform and enter politics, he's willing to fully support my campaign for senator; if I wanted to earn some retirement money, there are also several major companies offering consultant positions. That kid Nishita, though a bit too smooth, is indeed a man of principle.”
Yu Lian subtly curled his lip.
“I'd still prefer the Military Research Institute. The work is leisurely, the pay is good, and I can act like an annoying old man, continuing to dictate to all departments of the military! Aside from that kid Nishita, everyone on the Supreme Council is utterly useless. I truly can't imagine working with them and greeting each other every day. Even if it's just to live a few more years, there's no way I'd take a position there. Also, little fellow, if you want to get a tiger amulet when you graduate, your thesis grade is paramount. In that position, I could help you collect some data.”
“Well, with the results of this internship, graduating will definitely not be a problem! I never even thought about getting that tiger amulet...”
“Yes, what Tiger Amulet Group, what Moon People, what elite bureaucracy, they're all nonsense! For a soldier, integrity and capability are the most important! But, you're not an old veteran like me who has weathered all sorts of storms, so do you have the right to say such things? An average score of only 3.5, that's too mediocre! It doesn't match the actual achievements you've made.”
“Wait, why do you know my grades?”
“Didn't I tell you? Your principal, Minister of Defense Maxell, is an old friend of mine. Didn't you really want to know his evaluation of you?”
Actually, I really didn't want to know at all.
“A young person who is too sharp and outspoken, no matter how talented, will perish prematurely. You put most of your energy into some elective courses that aren't usually used, perhaps wanting to learn more, but it doesn't help much with your graduation grades. Also, having a sense of justice is certainly a good thing, but if you can't tolerate any injustice and force yourself to bear responsibilities that are too heavy, it's a bit reckless. Look, your esteemed Strategic Studies department, and your internship position is actually a small border guard station; this already explains many problems. I hope that after this experience, you can learn your lesson.”
Yu Lian pondered for a moment, then said in a somewhat stiff tone: “Sorry, Your Excellency... that responsibility wasn't actually heavy. Anyone with a little sense of justice and a little passion would do it. On the contrary, making it so heavy, so heavy that a student shouldn't have to bear it, is that the responsibility of an ordinary student like me?”
Yu Lian's words were certainly not polite, but General Paris showed no displeasure. He looked at Yu Lian carefully again, truly showing a look of deep regret: “If only you had been born in our era, the spirit of enterprise, courage, passion, compassion, and fearless sacrifice, all belonged to that era. Ha, that was truly a magnificent era! But why did it end after such a short few years?”
A more magnificent era is about to arrive! However, that grand scene is definitely not what you want to see!
“Anyway, on this journey, having a young fellow like you, who is very much like someone from our era, has certainly made it less boring.”
This is the third update today! Another big chapter of nearly 5k. Those in the summary are really bosses, not members of a harem! Believe me!
Also, it seems that chapter comments and book reviews are temporarily closed; I can only see them in the backend. It seems to be like this every year around this time.