Within the command center of Fortress Three, Li Kaihao massaged his brows as he read the report sent by his second-in-command. “What’s this punk trying to do?” He was exasperated about this Xiang Ning. Although he didn’t know him well, based on Lei Zhongyuan’s attitude toward him, Xiang Ning wasn’t that kind of person.
To be honest, if this was under normal circumstances, he could keep the situation under control and get a hold of Xiang Ning to question him. However, everything had happened too suddenly and Li Kaihao couldn’t figure out what he was trying to do.
What were Xiang Ning and the researcher from Marsh City trying to do with the beast core? Make a bioweapon? But how could two people make a bioweapon? And what was it for? The lady named Alia was a scientist recommended by one of the Twelve Great Prodigies, too; she was even already the person in charge of conducting research on the beast core. His head started hurting as he thought about it. Even his second-in-command was puzzled.
“Commander, what should we do now? The reporters outside are eyeing this matter like hawks, do we need to disperse them?”
“Disperse them? How can we do that? What about the person who leaked the footage? Give him a demerit! Demote him down a rank! If investigations show that he was bribed, take him to military court!”
“Yes, sir!” The officer was drenched in cold sweat.
The commander was right. If the security footage hadn’t been leaked, they would have had much more wiggle room, but the footage of Xiang Ning knocking a soldier unconscious had fallen into the media’s hands. One could only imagine the ripples that would cause. Xiang Ning’s life could be ruined by it.
After some thought, Li Kaihao called Lei Zhongyuan. When the call connected, he wearily explained the situation. “Old Lei, what’ll we do about the problems your student caused?”
“I’ll find out more about the situation. As for the kid, find a way to cover for him. No matter what, keep him safe. Do you think you can give the media an explanation?”
“Explanation? What the hell am I supposed to say? If this goes wrong, they could accuse me of favoritism! This is Fortress Three, my brother! There’s clear proof of him assaulting a soldier! In other places, we can immediately arrest him, and if he resists, we’ll have to shoot him on the spot!” Li Kaihao was on the verge of a breakdown. It was stressful enough to lead the fortress, how could he not be irritated by drama like this.
“Tsk, calm down, calm down. Is there anyone with you? If there are, go somewhere so you can be alone,” chuckled Lei Zhongyuan.
“How can you laugh?” Li Kaihao pursed his lips and stood up. He walked out of the command center to the hallway and entered a room, locking the door behind him. “Alright, there’s no one here. You can talk now.”
“Should I give you two minutes to mentally prepare yourself?”
“Just tell me!” A green vein popped out of Li Kaihao’s forehead.
“Fine, fine, fine. You surely are short-tempered for such a young man. I’ll tell you. Xiang Ning is a kid that’s protected by the higher-ups. Let’s put it this way: they previously kept an eye on his potential, but now they’re keeping an eye on his ability,” Lei Zhongyuan mysteriously said.
“Ability? What ability? If you’re talking about potential, I think he does have great potential but ability… more like ability to cause problems.” Li Kaihao rolled his eyes.
“Hehe, listen closely. You should know of the project on dimensional storage objects, right?”
“I’ve heard of it, but what does that have to do with the kid?”
“Eh, nothing much. All he did was cut the research short by more than a decade, and we’ve already created the first batch. It has one cubic meter of storage space, I was just wondering if you’d want one.” Lei Zhongyuan’s tone was casual, as if it was nothing. Then he was forced to pull the phone away from his ear. In the next moment, he heard Li Kaihao’s voice from the speakers.
“What the hell? How smart is that kid? You aren’t joking, are you? Is that true?” Li Kaihao widened his eyes. Although he was part of the combat force, he had some knowledge of scientific technology. His rank gave him the clearance to know a little about the project on dimensional storage objects. He had been quite interested when he first heard of it, too. Although he felt like Lei Zhongyuan was exaggerating the time Xiang Ning had saved them, it was still shocking news. That was an invention of the next era; he couldn’t even begin to fathom its value. Although the current storage space was only one cubic meter, the invention was already working! He knew they could expand it in the future!
“Of course it’s true. So now you know the kid’s importance. Think of a way to suppress the incident.”
“I—”
“Wait, before you say anything, I’ll talk to Old Dong and see if we can get you a dimensional ring. You’re the one that’s taking care of the kid, so you deserve it,” chuckled Lei Zhongyuan.
“Ah, that’s generous of you! It’s my duty—the duty of the entire Federation is to train new blood, and taking care of him is part of it.” Li Kaihao held his chin up, a tear rolling down his cheek. That’s right, I’m doing all of this to help train new blood for the Federation. He’s an incredible talent and it’s just a mistake, we’ll wave it off after a small punishment. It won’t be difficult. As for the dimensional ring… with my current rank, it’s only a matter of time before I receive one anyway. I’m just getting one in advance, it’s no big deal.
“Mm, alright, then I won’t be holding you up any longer. I know you’re busy, so I’m hanging up.”
Li Kaihao looked at his phone screen in deep thought after the call ended. After a while, he pushed open the door and returned to the command center, telling his second-in-command, “Stop the drills.”
The officer was puzzled, but Li Kaihao narrowed his eyes and he instantly understood. He cautiously whispered, “Will the media believe it?”
“Hmph, we’re the military and we’re just doing our job! Does anything we do require convincing? They should know that this is an important place—how could it be so easy for a kid to break in?” Li Kaihao explained solemnly.
“Yes, sir! I understand!” The vice-commander bowed, then left to make arrangements.
......
At the entrance of the research facility, a huge group of reporters swarmed around the two guards, trying to interview them.
“Based on the video, it’s your oversight that allowed them to slip in, right?”
“Could you please tell us how you feel right now.…”
The two soldiers were panicking. This was rubbing salt in their wounds!
Suddenly, a military vehicle stopped by the side and a man exited. It was Li Kaihao’s vice-commander.
The reporters were good at sniffing out people like that, and this person looked like he had the intel. They reached their cameras and microphones toward him but he ignored them all and loudly announced, “Simulation training complete! Victory to the offense, the defense team failed to secure the premises!”
The two guards and the reporters were confounded.
Within the command center of Fortress Three, Li Kaihao massaged his brows as he read the report sent by his second-in-command. “What’s this punk trying to do?” He was exasperated about this Xiang Ning. Although he didn’t know him well, based on Lei Zhongyuan’s attitude toward him, Xiang Ning wasn’t that kind of person.
To be honest, if this was under normal circumstances, he could keep the situation under control and get a hold of Xiang Ning to question him. However, everything had happened too suddenly and Li Kaihao couldn’t figure out what he was trying to do.
What were Xiang Ning and the researcher from Marsh City trying to do with the beast core? Make a bioweapon? But how could two people make a bioweapon? And what was it for? The lady named Alia was a scientist recommended by one of the Twelve Great Prodigies, too; she was even already the person in charge of conducting research on the beast core. His head started hurting as he thought about it. Even his second-in-command was puzzled.
“Commander, what should we do now? The reporters outside are eyeing this matter like hawks, do we need to disperse them?”
“Disperse them? How can we do that? What about the person who leaked the footage? Give him a demerit! Demote him down a rank! If investigations show that he was bribed, take him to military court!”
“Yes, sir!” The officer was drenched in cold sweat.
The commander was right. If the security footage hadn’t been leaked, they would have had much more wiggle room, but the footage of Xiang Ning knocking a soldier unconscious had fallen into the media’s hands. One could only imagine the ripples that would cause. Xiang Ning’s life could be ruined by it.
After some thought, Li Kaihao called Lei Zhongyuan. When the call connected, he wearily explained the situation. “Old Lei, what’ll we do about the problems your student caused?”
“I’ll find out more about the situation. As for the kid, find a way to cover for him. No matter what, keep him safe. Do you think you can give the media an explanation?”
“Explanation? What the hell am I supposed to say? If this goes wrong, they could accuse me of favoritism! This is Fortress Three, my brother! There’s clear proof of him assaulting a soldier! In other places, we can immediately arrest him, and if he resists, we’ll have to shoot him on the spot!” Li Kaihao was on the verge of a breakdown. It was stressful enough to lead the fortress, how could he not be irritated by drama like this.
“Tsk, calm down, calm down. Is there anyone with you? If there are, go somewhere so you can be alone,” chuckled Lei Zhongyuan.
“How can you laugh?” Li Kaihao pursed his lips and stood up. He walked out of the command center to the hallway and entered a room, locking the door behind him. “Alright, there’s no one here. You can talk now.”
“Should I give you two minutes to mentally prepare yourself?”
“Just tell me!” A green vein popped out of Li Kaihao’s forehead.
“Fine, fine, fine. You surely are short-tempered for such a young man. I’ll tell you. Xiang Ning is a kid that’s protected by the higher-ups. Let’s put it this way: they previously kept an eye on his potential, but now they’re keeping an eye on his ability,” Lei Zhongyuan mysteriously said.
“Ability? What ability? If you’re talking about potential, I think he does have great potential but ability… more like ability to cause problems.” Li Kaihao rolled his eyes.
“Hehe, listen closely. You should know of the project on dimensional storage objects, right?”
“I’ve heard of it, but what does that have to do with the kid?”
“Eh, nothing much. All he did was cut the research short by more than a decade, and we’ve already created the first batch. It has one cubic meter of storage space, I was just wondering if you’d want one.” Lei Zhongyuan’s tone was casual, as if it was nothing. Then he was forced to pull the phone away from his ear. In the next moment, he heard Li Kaihao’s voice from the speakers.
“What the hell? How smart is that kid? You aren’t joking, are you? Is that true?” Li Kaihao widened his eyes. Although he was part of the combat force, he had some knowledge of scientific technology. His rank gave him the clearance to know a little about the project on dimensional storage objects. He had been quite interested when he first heard of it, too. Although he felt like Lei Zhongyuan was exaggerating the time Xiang Ning had saved them, it was still shocking news. That was an invention of the next era; he couldn’t even begin to fathom its value. Although the current storage space was only one cubic meter, the invention was already working! He knew they could expand it in the future!
“Of course it’s true. So now you know the kid’s importance. Think of a way to suppress the incident.”
“I—”
“Wait, before you say anything, I’ll talk to Old Dong and see if we can get you a dimensional ring. You’re the one that’s taking care of the kid, so you deserve it,” chuckled Lei Zhongyuan.
“Ah, that’s generous of you! It’s my duty—the duty of the entire Federation is to train new blood, and taking care of him is part of it.” Li Kaihao held his chin up, a tear rolling down his cheek. That’s right, I’m doing all of this to help train new blood for the Federation. He’s an incredible talent and it’s just a mistake, we’ll wave it off after a small punishment. It won’t be difficult. As for the dimensional ring… with my current rank, it’s only a matter of time before I receive one anyway. I’m just getting one in advance, it’s no big deal.
“Mm, alright, then I won’t be holding you up any longer. I know you’re busy, so I’m hanging up.”
Li Kaihao looked at his phone screen in deep thought after the call ended. After a while, he pushed open the door and returned to the command center, telling his second-in-command, “Stop the drills.”
The officer was puzzled, but Li Kaihao narrowed his eyes and he instantly understood. He cautiously whispered, “Will the media believe it?”
“Hmph, we’re the military and we’re just doing our job! Does anything we do require convincing? They should know that this is an important place—how could it be so easy for a kid to break in?” Li Kaihao explained solemnly.
“Yes, sir! I understand!” The vice-commander bowed, then left to make arrangements.
......
At the entrance of the research facility, a huge group of reporters swarmed around the two guards, trying to interview them.
“Based on the video, it’s your oversight that allowed them to slip in, right?”
“Could you please tell us how you feel right now.…”
The two soldiers were panicking. This was rubbing salt in their wounds!
Suddenly, a military vehicle stopped by the side and a man exited. It was Li Kaihao’s vice-commander.
The reporters were good at sniffing out people like that, and this person looked like he had the intel. They reached their cameras and microphones toward him but he ignored them all and loudly announced, “Simulation training complete! Victory to the offense, the defense team failed to secure the premises!”
The two guards and the reporters were confounded.
