Ritter had his own plans for following Chaoge, and as for Siber, he had his own selfish motives. Among those present, Yaochen knew her best, so he was the only one who frowned, looking rather disapproving, as if he was blaming Chaoge for revealing her trump card too early.
"It's alright." Chaoge gave them eight hours of free time. At this moment, she was standing in the corridor in front of her room on the spaceship, looking at the scenery outside the window, and replied calmly.
“Showing some cards appropriately not only makes things easier, but also serves as a deterrent, doesn’t it?” Before the black-haired boy next to her could say anything, the girl standing by the window turned her head, a hint of wickedness in her smile.
Yao Chen: ...Could you please let us know before releasing the dual personality next time?
The split personality came too fast, like a tornado!
☆ Chapter 66: Second Evaluation of Subordinates
Just as Yao Chen was speechless and choked with emotion, Chao Ge suddenly frowned and spoke with a hint of anger: "You still insist on getting involved in this mess, don't you?" Staring at his reflection in the window mirror, a dark fire smoldered in his eyes.
Upon hearing this, Yao Chen's delicate eyebrows furrowed, his deep purple cat-like eyes fixed on the person in front of him, and he said in an unfriendly tone, "Get back here and let her out."
Chaoge's sharp gaze pierced Yaochen in the next instant. In a flash, she raised her hand and grabbed his neck. The corners of her lips curled up, and the evil in her eyes was even more intense than before. "You are indeed protective of your master, but don't you know—are she and I the same person?"
With each word she uttered, she tightened her grip, but Yao Chen's expression remained unchanged, as if he wasn't the one being choked.
Yao Chen raised his right hand, and without changing his expression, placed it on her right wrist amidst her smile. Looking directly into her eyes, he coldly repeated his words: "This is the last time, get back to your place."
Chaoge's expression finally changed, a hint of fear flashing in his deep brown eyes. He closed his eyes as if to confirm something, then opened them again in an instant, saying incredulously, "You actually recognized a personality?! That's impossible, how did you do that?"
Yao Chen's face seemed to show some disdain, "The AI won't make such basic mistakes."
Now that I know of your existence, it's impossible for me to simply acknowledge you as my soul.
She had no choice but to put the issue aside for the time being and instead brought up another matter that was more important to them at the moment: "You should know that with me around, the success rate of getting things done will be much higher, at least many times better than when you recklessly exposed yourselves on the battlefield."
“There’s no need for that. Although I don’t want to admit it, someone gave her enough protection… You know enough.” Yao Chen clearly didn’t want to talk too much with Chao Ge’s two personalities and ended the conversation somewhat impatiently.
She withdrew her hand from his neck, gave him a deep look, and said, "One day you will regret the decision you made today."
I regret that you didn't choose a more powerful master who was already established.
A few seconds later.
"Ahhh, what just happened?!" Chaoge looked around in disbelief, completely unable to recall how she had walked out of the room. Did she develop a sleepwalking habit without her knowledge?
Moreover—she looked down at the five-finger mark on Little Red Riding Hood's neck, or rather, Yao Chen's neck, and after thinking that Ying and the others probably wouldn't dare to touch this kid, she looked at her own claws and then at his neck, estimating that the mark was very similar to her own.
"Little Red Riding Hood, tell me honestly, do I have a very serious case of sleepwalking?" Chaoge's expression seemed to suggest that she was already considering whether she should tie herself up to sleep in the future.
God knows she just went back to her room to take a nap to kill time... Oh my god.
Yao Chen felt that he didn't want to talk to her.
Why did he end up with such a schizophrenic owner who doesn't even realize it?
"It's nothing, it's just an occasional thing, and it should get much better in the future." Having received his warning and the suppression of the main body's power, that personality should know better and behave itself for a long time.
After comforting Chaoge and trying to distract her from the matter, Yaochen changed the subject: "I just received news that Yan Xi is the chief officer escorting the energy and food supplies for the Crystalless Empire this time. What are your plans?"
As expected, Chaoge immediately shifted her attention, exclaimed "Ah!" in surprise, and then quickly remembered what had happened before, smiling meaningfully: "Isn't that great? I've wanted to slap her in the face for a long time. Just thinking about her surprised and resentful expression, and how she couldn't beat us, makes me feel like I can eat two more bowls of rice later."
Yao Chen: ...Could you carry your boss baggage for a little longer?
January 1, 2018, midnight.
In six hours, the Crystalless Empire's energy escort fleet will pass through the asteroid belt where Chaoge's spaceship is located.
After the flight path and battle plan were finalized, Mo Nian checked the weapons inventory, Ning Tao monitored the latest developments on the star map to prepare for any contingencies, and Ying, while familiarizing herself with the battle plan, absentmindedly wiped her weapons. Chao Ge then turned to look at Yao Chen, who was watching the screen to monitor the Empire's movements, while Ritter and Spall were whispering to each other on the other side. Only Spall's little female cat hopped over and circled around her.
"Why do I suddenly feel like I'm the only idle person here?" Chaoge bent down, picked up the kitten, placed it on her lap, and looked at them with a sigh.
"So, boss, are you planning to serve us tea and water as a treat?" Hearing Chaoge's words, Ying leaned against the wall, sheathed her dagger, and looked up at Chaoge with a grin.
Chaoge replied in a serious tone, "You're overthinking it."
"The fleet escorting energy encountered a patrol ship of the Imperial Third Fleet, and the patrol ship joined the escort." Just when Chaoge was feeling bored, Ningtao indeed encountered a situation.
The Third Fleet... Ling Tianji's fleet? Chaoge's expression changed as soon as he thought of that guy who was more beautiful than a woman. He immediately opened the screen of his light brain, Wei Lan, and with a swipe of his hand, the screen showed the energy fleet moving forward, surrounded by five newly joined cruisers.
This type of warship does not possess very powerful weapons, but its communication technology with headquarters is absolutely guaranteed. In the event of an attack, the message will be transmitted back to the headquarters of the Third Fleet immediately.
"Modify the spaceship's location for the space jump, otherwise we'll directly encounter the Third Fleet's cruisers. Yao Chen should refrain from any action for now; alerting them will only cause more trouble." After a moment's thought, Chao Ge decisively issued the order.
Ningtao was capturing new nodes in four-dimensional space as options for modifying spatial jumps, while Yaochen simply nodded in agreement.
"Why don't the seven fleets of the Empire get a holiday during the Lunar New Year? The Crystalless Empire is really exploiting its workforce too much." Chaoge complained in a serious tone, taking over Jiang Ningtao's work and keeping a close eye on the latest movements of the target.
Hearing her complaints, the crowd thought: ...Boss, have you forgotten that the characteristic of these two star systems is that they like to have sex during the Chinese New Year?
"Hmm? The accompanying cruisers have dispersed..." On the star map, the cruisers that had been surrounding the energy fleet gradually dispersed, forming a V-shape like geese in flight, but they obviously couldn't have retreated after escorting it for only such a short distance.
Sure enough, right after Chaoge murmured those words, Jiang Ningtao gave the answer: "All the jumpable nodes in the four-dimensional space have just been calculated and are on the retreat route of the escort fleet. The only one that was missed is in the center of the energy fleet, which happens to be the time when the escort fleet stops escorting. The timing is very subtle."
This means that either when Chaoge appears, it will directly encounter the Third Fleet's cruisers, or Chaoge will appear directly next to the Energy Fleet's flagship, and almost the moment it appears, the cannons carried by the mechs around the Energy Fleet will be aimed at them.
Once the cruisers guarding other space jump nodes on the edge of the area receive the news, the deployment of the Third Fleet will be just a matter of a blink of an eye. In fact, the space jump nodes that are being guarded can even teleport the Third Fleet's troops over in a short time.
“Mo Nian will definitely like this kind of game, since we might be the ones getting blown up like fireworks this time.” Chao Ge leaned back in her chair, showing no sign of anxiety, and even smiled as she looked towards Mo Nian’s cabin.
At this moment, Ritter turned his gaze toward Chaoge. He had felt something was amiss when he first heard about the situation, and now he felt that the operation might really have to be canceled.
Chaoge looked in Yaochen's direction, and their gazes met in mid-air.
"Little Red Riding Hood, what do you think is the likelihood that the moment we appear, we will contact all targets in the energy fleet, cut off their distress signals, and receive their communications?" Chaoge raised an eyebrow, her gaze questioning.
"With your authority, it's definitely possible, but it will be very rushed, and the chances of something going wrong are too high. Also, don't call that embarrassing name! Otherwise, I'll make a scene in your mind!" Yao Chen looked at her, his face darkening.
"I think what you said makes a lot of sense, but after this period, the energy fleet will directly encounter the escort team from the Crystalless Empire's front line. At that time, the possibility of us being exposed will be too high. Moreover, it's hard to say whether Qin Muge will betray me. After all, I still don't understand what her purpose is in giving this thing to me." Chaoge frowned slightly, reaching out to stroke the spherical object around her neck. The originally light blue sphere was now covered with layers of chains, as if it had been sealed.
After much deliberation, this was the only path left to take. Chaoge and Yaochen discussed it for a while and then nodded slightly.
When she turned around again, she noticed that everyone around her had strange expressions. Finally, Ying couldn't help but ask what everyone was thinking: "Boss, how did you and Yaochen develop such a good understanding? Are you communicating with your brainwaves?! Making eye contact is one thing, but you even change your expressions?"
His subordinates said the world was changing too fast for them to keep up.
Nobody would believe you and Yaochen have no romantic relationship!
Chaoge: ...Do people with a knack for making sarcastic remarks all have a built-in truth-telling buff?
Clearing his throat to elevate his composure, Chaoge, already bearing the burden of being the boss, smiled and skipped over the topic, stating his conclusion: "In short, this operation boils down to one sentence—don't be a coward, just do it."
At 5:55 a.m., in the vast distance between the Red Cloud Galaxy and the P4 Nebula, a small warship disguised as an ordinary merchant ship floated silently in space, as if it had merged with the surrounding meteorites.
A few seconds later, a burst of white light suddenly erupted around the small merchant ship, but the light quickly dissipated, and the warship could no longer be found in its original location. The surrounding area remained silent, as if nothing had happened.
The main control room of the energy ship.
Yan Xi looked down at her fingernails. In front of her was the smart screen, where Li Wanfang was saying some worried words. Yan Xi responded intermittently, and finally smiled and looked up, saying, "It's okay, Mom. We'll meet the frontline support troops a little further ahead. I've finally managed to get out here, and we're still within the Empire's territory. Besides, the Ling family's cruisers are all around. If anything happens, Ling Tianji won't dare to be a moment late. Don't worry."
The console next to it was occupied by diligent operators, and occasionally an adjutant would open the door to the main control room to report on the itinerary.
Li Wanfang smiled upon hearing this in front of the screen. She naturally knew the current situation of the three major families. Her own daughter was not stupid. With the Yan family as her powerful backer, she would eventually rise to the position of general.
It's just that I'm worried; it's a habit I've had for so many years.
While the two of them were chatting, the control panel on the other side seemed to malfunction: "There's a problem with the quantity. There's an extra friendly warship. Requesting communication!"
Yan Xi, who was just about to hang up the AI communication, rolled her eyes. She had just said there was no problem, and her subordinate was already trying to slap her in the face. What did he mean by that?
Her tone immediately turned impolite: "How come there's one extra? Can't you do math or read the control panel? The Third Fleet's escort ships just left, where did this 'our own' come from?!"
Before Yan Xi could even react to what she had just said, the faces of everyone in the control room turned grim.
The navigation chart in the center suddenly changed its view. Before the image of the person appeared, the voice came first: "It's been so long and you still don't know how to behave, Yan Xi." Almost the instant her voice fell, everyone's smart devices were forced to shut down with a blue light, and the screen in front of Yan Xi was also turned off.
"Yan Chaoge!" Yan Xi stood up from her seat, gritting her teeth as she looked at the large screen in the center, where Chaoge's smiling upper body was displayed.
"You've got some nerve, daring to attack the Empire's energy fleet. Since you're so eager to die by my hand, I'll grant your wish." Yan Xi still believed that the Empire's strength was not something that some down-on-their-luck bandit could easily defeat, so she still had the leisure to mock Chao Ge.
However, the panicked voice of her adjutant beside her shattered her expectations: "It's bad, Captain! We've lost contact with the surrounding combat mechs! Communication channels have been cut off! We can't send out distress signals!"
Chaoge still had a smiling expression, and took a moment to greet the terrified officers around him: "Happy New Year, everyone. On behalf of all the members of Yin Yang Group, I would like to express my sincere sympathy to the Empire for this operation. I advise you all to give up any thoughts of resistance, otherwise, the scenario of having your brain paralyzed and unable to go home, only able to drift in the vast universe, is really too harmful to your health."
"Captain!" The surrounding officers all looked at Yan Xi, waiting for her to give instructions.
Unfortunately, this was the first time Yan Xi had encountered such a situation, and the robber was someone she disliked the most. Although her mind went blank, she still turned around and roared at them, "What are you all looking at me for! Does the Empire intend to surrender to such a bandit?!"
Chaoge thought to herself: According to the normal script, shouldn't she surrender? It would be so awkward for her if she didn't surrender.
Thankfully, the communication system was cut off long ago...
At the same moment, all the mechs escorting the energy fleet were paralyzed in space, the control rooms of the auxiliary warships were forcibly ejected, and the energy and food fleets were undergoing space jumps.
Chaoge had long since completed her mission and now had plenty of time to chat with Yanxi, that little bitch. However, Yanxi's attitude was extremely hostile: "Yan Chaoge, if you dare to touch me today, you'll be making an enemy of the military, the Yan family, and the Yan family! Do you think General Qin can still protect you? She must have been blind to have taken a liking to someone like you! Colluding with the enemy and those jackals in P4, did you also take action against the surrounding cruisers? Your death is not far off, I'm telling you!"
Chaoge suddenly felt a surge of admiration for this guy. When did he even have time to warn her? But could she interpret the main point of this conversation as Yan Xi threatening her at length just to prevent her from killing him?
"I don't know what Qin Muge is thinking, you can ask her for me. But I won't kill you today. Keeping you as an opponent is not a bad option when we have no food to eat in the future. I look forward to your next energy escort team. Until we meet again~" Chao Ge put her index and middle fingers together on her forehead and waved at them, pretending to give a military salute, and then turned off the video with a smile.
As soon as she turned off the video, she clenched the faint blue orb of light that was hidden under her collar around her neck. When she released it, the chains were wrapped around it again, and not a single ray of light could be seen.
There were four or five other people's screens floating around her at the same time. Spall looked at the little female cat she was holding in her arms with some frustration. They looked at each other and then at Ritter, who had already gone to the control room and was walking back in the distance. Speechless, she turned to the screen and asked Chaoge, "Boss, can you find me a more useful place to show off next time?"
I finally got a chance to shine, but all I got to do was watch Rhett show off! I'm not just sitting around doing nothing, you know?! I'm a combatant too, okay?!
Ying pressed the communicator on her ear, removed her transparent goggles, and said with a smile, "Mission accomplished~ Boss, I heard what you just said, you were so cool!" She also gave the screen a thumbs up.
Chaoge was somewhat amused and exasperated. "You really think I'm using her as a backup?" Yan Xi will definitely be punished for this failed energy escort mission, and she won't be allowed to do it again. Besides, I really don't dare to kill her, okay? The Yan family, the Yan family, and Ling Tianji, who was provoked right under their noses, will never let her go.
Although they're still just as arrogant as ever, the nature of their actions isn't as egregious now, right?
Chaoge thought uncertainly.
The main ship of the patrol fleet.
"Reporting, Major General, Yan Xi's energy fleet is performing a space jump. The combat mechs are stationary and unable to communicate. Please give instructions!" A soldier ran over, his heels clapping together, and reported in one sentence.
The major general who was being reported to was completely bewildered: What's going on? They're not even following the planned route and they're being so willful. Isn't Yan Xi being a bit too arrogant?
"Are you sure you're going to perform a space jump autonomously? And without escort mechs?" The bewildered major general decided to ask more questions to be on the safe side.
"Yes!" The soldier's answer stunned him even more.
Could we have encountered space pirates? But we haven't found any suspicious warships. "Show me the navigation data that the main power ship transmitted earlier."
A minute later, he noticed a sudden change in the numbers of the energy fleet's formation.
And that's where the change ends.
"Reporting to General Ling Tianji!" He waved his hand, but his heart was trembling... What was going on? He had just been on patrol here when he encountered the Yan family escorting energy supplies. If they weren't protected properly, things would get very difficult! Which interstellar pirate group was so arrogant that they dared to hack the Empire's AI system with just one warship and even hijack energy and food supplies?!
He felt as if the hat on his head was waving goodbye to him.