“Alright, alright. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. As for you… I think you might get into a bit of trouble. But since you were worried about me just now, I’ll try to help if I can.” Zhang Wen gave Xiao Xi a mischievous grin and patted her head again. The red-haired girl’s hair was soft and smooth, exactly the type Zhang Wen liked the most.
“Wah!” An enraged Xiao Xi tried to bite Zhang Wen’s fingers again, but missed once more. Then, like a little wildcat with claws and fangs bared, she was half-dragged by two helpless female soldiers into the ship’s detention room for prisoners.
Meanwhile, Zhang Wen was taken alone into Governor Temiso’s office by two other soldiers.
“Zhang Wen, or should I say Andrei Stein, how should I address you?” Governor Temiso’s expression was unpredictable as he sized up Zhang Wen for a moment before speaking in a calm tone after the cabin door was closed.
“Hehe, you can call me however you like,” Zhang Wen replied easily with a smile.
“Hmph!” Governor Temiso slammed his desk furiously, “Zhang Wen! Do you think saving Garret from the hands of the Jishe once means I will overlook your self-staged assassination farce?”
“Uh?” Zhang Wen was momentarily stunned, then burst into laughter again. “Governor, I don’t know whether you will let bygones be bygones. However, you don’t need to scare me with these words, right? I can believe others might mistake me for Andrei Stein, but if even you, Governor Temiso, think I am Andrei Stein, that would be simply incredible!”
After silently staring at Zhang Wen for a while, Governor Temiso’s feigned anger gradually faded. He shook his head and smiled darkly.
“Oh? What makes you think I would believe you are not Andrei Stein?”
“Got it, got it. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. As for you… I reckon you might have a rough time. But since you were concerned about me earlier, I’ll see if I can lend you a hand.” Zhang Wen gave Xiao Xi a mischievous smile and took the opportunity to pat her head again. The red-haired girl’s hair was smooth and soft, just the type Zhang Wen found most pleasant to touch.
“Argh!” Xiao Xi, boiling with anger, tried to bite Zhang Wen’s finger again but missed. Then, like a feisty little wildcat, she was half-dragged by two exasperated female soldiers into the ship’s detention cell for prisoners.
Meanwhile, Zhang Wen was escorted by two other soldiers into Governor Termiso’s office.
“Zhang Wen, or should I call you Andre Stein? How should I address you?” The cabin door closed, and Governor Termiso, with an inscrutable expression, studied Zhang Wen for a moment before speaking unhurriedly.
“Haha, call me whatever you like,” Zhang Wen replied with a relaxed smile.
“Hmph!” Governor Termiso slammed his desk in apparent fury. “Zhang Wen! Do you think saving Jalit once from the Collective’s hands will make me overlook that self-staged assassination farce of yours?”
“Eh?” Zhang Wen was momentarily stunned, then burst into laughter. “Governor, whether you overlook it or not, I don’t know. But you don’t need to scare me with that, do you? If others mistake me for Andre Stein, I can believe that. But if even Governor Termiso thinks I’m Andre Stein, that’s just too absurd!”
After a quiet stare-off with Zhang Wen, Governor Termiso’s feigned anger gradually faded. He shook his head and smiled darkly.
“Oh? Why do you think I’d believe you’re not Andre Stein?”
“Governor, are you testing me? This question doesn’t even need an answer. A mere fourth or fifth-tier nobody managing to save the governor’s life from the Southern Overlord—even the most careless person would find that suspicious. If you hadn’t thoroughly investigated my background, how could you have trusted me to teach at Almysis Academy, where your daughter is?”
“Hmph! You’re clever. I do know you couldn’t possibly be Andre Stein. I’ve seen Andre Stein’s corpse with my own eyes. But…” Governor Termiso paused here.
“But Andre Stein’s identity is quite valuable. And now, apart from you and me, no one else suspects I’m Andre Stein. So, you want me to tacitly accept this identity, right?” Zhang Wen finished Governor Termiso’s sentence with a smile.
“Exactly. Talking to a smart person is always a pleasure.” The gloom on Termiso’s face completely dissipated, replaced by what could be described as a “cunning” smile. “I really don’t get it. With a mind like yours, how did you end up on the streets before?”
“Even the sharpest awl needs to be put in a bag to reveal its point,” Zhang Wen shamelessly borrowed a famous quote from the Warring States period.
“Even the sharpest awl needs to be put in a bag to reveal its point… Well said.” Governor Termiso savored the borrowed quote and smiled contentedly. “Mr. Andre Stein, I hope we can cooperate happily in the future.”
“Of course, Governor,” Zhang Wen replied with a smile and a slight bow, then casually asked, “By the way, Governor, what do you plan to do with that girl, Xiao Xi?”
“Her?” Governor Termiso blinked in surprise. Clearly, he hadn’t considered what to do with Xiao Xi before Zhang Wen brought it up.
“Isn’t it obvious? That girl is the sister of the Collective’s executor, Agat. So, she’s one of the Collective’s important figures! Remu and his team will definitely take her back to the capital.” After a pause, Governor Termiso stated matter-of-factly.
“Is that so? If Captain Remu is willing to take her, that’s fine,” Zhang Wen shrugged casually.
“Oh? Do you have any brilliant ideas?” Governor Termiso was taken aback again.
“Not exactly brilliant. But I feel that girl probably has nothing to do with the Collective. From what I saw in the Sandra Forest, Agat cares for his sister as much as you care for Jalit. Governor, think about it—if it were you, would you let Jalit join such a dangerous organization as the Collective?”
“Of course not,” Governor Termiso replied firmly.
“Exactly. I guess Captain Remu and his team probably think the same way. That’s why they didn’t take her with them in the Sandra Forest earlier,” Zhang Wen explained casually to Governor Termiso.
In fact, Zhang Wen’s claim that Remu had no intention of taking Xiao Xi wasn’t entirely a lie. However, he didn’t fully explain his analysis to Governor Termiso. In Zhang Wen’s view, the reason Remu and Mura didn’t take Xiao Xi wasn’t so much that they were uninterested in non-Collective members, but rather that they were simply slacking off.
They seemed to have never taken the Emperor’s orders seriously from the start. Smiling Tiger Remu was naturally like that, and even Mura, who appeared somewhat decent on the surface, seemed to have only captured Agat to avoid the Chief’s nagging.
“Ah, is that so?” Governor Termiso frowned again.
“If Remu and his team don’t want to take that girl, it’s quite a headache. Keeping such a big trouble in Casares means living in constant fear of the Collective coming to rescue her. But her identity is special; if we let her go too easily, I wouldn’t have a good explanation if the Emperor asks about it in the future. Tricky… very tricky!” Soon, Governor Termiso was tapping his desk in frustration, occasionally scratching his head.
“Here’s an idea. If Remu and his team really don’t want to take her, hand her over to me. When I fought with Linoya, she was hit by a strange toxin. I’m a bit interested…”
“Fine. If Remu and his gang don’t want her, she’s even more useless to me. I don’t want to deal with the Collective!” Before Zhang Wen could finish, Governor Termiso waved his hand impatiently in agreement. “Keeping her with you is fine. Give her a student identity and confine her at Almysis Academy. At least it’ll keep things under wraps for a while. If the Collective ever comes to rescue her, just put on a show and let them take her.”
“Alright. I’ll take my leave then.” Seeing Governor Termiso’s headache-inducing expression, Zhang Wen finally stopped provoking him and nodded, walking out of the temporary office.
As soon as Zhang Wen left, the steel wall behind Governor Termiso, which had appeared to be part of the ship, opened. His personal secretary, Mishia, emerged from the hidden compartment, looking worried.
“Mishia, what do you think? Any objections to our decision?” Seeing his beautiful secretary, Governor Termiso perked up immediately.
“Nothing else. But letting Zhang Wen take on Andre Stein’s identity… I’m still a bit concerned. The benefits to you are undeniable and will be immense. However, you should also be aware that letting Zhang Wen inherit this identity is like releasing a monster. The troubles involved will be just as immense. Aren’t you afraid things might spiral out of control? If it ever comes to that, even if we want to deny Zhang Wen’s identity, no one will believe us.”
“Haha! Mishia, you’re really cautious. Where’s the courage you had when we fought side by side?” Governor Termiso laughed jokingly, but his eyes gleamed with the cunning of an old fox.
“No… Governor, I’m not worried about external enemies like the Collective or Mithril,” Mishia shook her head and continued, “I’m worried about whether Zhang Wen might…”
“Oh! So that’s what you’re worried about! Mishia, you’re overthinking it. We don’t need to worry about the future right now.” Governor Termiso laughed heartily, but his gaze on Mishia suddenly turned serious. “Besides, what if things do spiral out of control?” Governor Termiso waved his right hand lightly, his confident smile suddenly exuding the charm of a mature man.
Even someone as composed as Mishia couldn’t help but breathe a little faster in the face of Governor Termiso’s sudden charm.
“I never intended to keep Zhang Wen under control forever by having him take on Andre Stein’s identity. He’s a Casaresian. As long as he acknowledges that, he and I are still on the same boat. Hypothetically, just hypothetically, if one day he no longer acknowledges it, then a stray dog without roots—what’s there to fear? Mishia, remember this. Our roots as Casaresians will always be in Casares.” Governor Termiso continued to smile charmingly.
“I’ll remember your teachings, Governor,” Mishia bowed gracefully. “But next time you’re giving a grand speech, could you please not have your hand on my thigh?” With that, Mishia swiftly and mercilessly pinched the hand Governor Termiso had placed on her leg.
“Ow!” Governor Termiso’s howl of pain echoed throughout the entire frigate.
Amid Governor Termiso’s cries of agony, Zhang Wen, who had just left the office, let out a long sigh of relief.
Zhang Wen had gone to great lengths to secure Xiao Xi from Governor Termiso, not just to repay her earlier concern and spare her from imprisonment. His main goal was to reduce the risk of his own identity being exposed.
After all, if Xiao Xi fell into Termiso’s hands, her strange “weakness syndrome” might catch the attention of the governor, who liked to play the fool.
While the chances of Termiso taking an interest in a sick prisoner were slim, if he ever decided to have a psychic conduct a full-body check on Xiao Xi, her peculiar condition would be hard to hide. Once Xiao Xi’s condition was exposed, Zhang Wen would likely be discovered to have the Zero—an ancient serum—in his body.
A martial artist with the Zero serum in his body, still alive and kicking. Zhang Wen could already imagine the number of green-eyed scholars in the Empire, looking at him like a lab rat, once this was discovered.
Absolutely not!
Of course, Zhang Wen had taken a considerable risk by forcefully taking Xiao Xi from Termiso.
No one in the world is a fool. This was a motto Zhang Wen always reminded himself of. He never underestimated anyone’s intelligence, which was one of the key reasons he had managed to escape danger many times. And Governor Termiso, without exaggeration, was one of the most enigmatic people Zhang Wen had ever encountered.
The governor gave everyone the impression of being iron-fisted, reckless, and muddle-headed. But Zhang Wen knew that Termiso often played the fool while being fully aware. A man of humble origins who had risen to the position of planetary governor in just forty years—those who thought Termiso was a fool were the real fools.
Fortunately, Zhang Wen managed to navigate through the mess of Andre Stein’s identity and Xiao Xi’s situation with the governor who liked to play the fool.
For a long time to come, Zhang Wen could confidently appear as Andre Stein in front of all those in the know. He also didn’t have to worry about Governor Termiso suddenly deciding to conduct a thorough medical examination on Xiao Xi.
Most importantly, with the secret agreement with Governor Termiso, Zhang Wen could continue to hide his true identity. Over the past six months, Zhang Wen had grown accustomed to and had always dreamed of a peaceful and stable life, which could now happily continue.
Hmm… maybe. Zhang Wen looked up at the clear sky and sighed softly.
In any case, the survival competition was over. The grand drama in the Sandra Forest had come to a close. With Agat’s capture and the disappearance of Linoya and Robert, the Collective, Mithril, and the Federation had all lost the interest and ability to continue searching for the “test subject.” Thus, the wave of terrorist attacks in Casares City, tacitly orchestrated by various factions, came to an abrupt halt.
On the afternoon the survival competition was announced to be “postponed indefinitely,” all participating teachers and students were escorted back to their respective schools by the Casares Mining District Guard. Meanwhile, Governor Karayan, who had triumphed in the battle for Princess Sophia, proudly boarded a ship back to Fira Planet with the entire Thamys Academy delegation.
Almost simultaneously, Remu and Mura, the two Eagle Guard captains, along with the unfortunate Agat, left Casares. As Zhang Wen had predicted, when Governor Termiso brought up Xiao Xi, Remu and Mura showed no interest in taking an extra burden with them. Although Isaya was quite insistent on taking Xiao Xi, the serious deputy ultimately yielded to the authority of Smiling Tiger Remu.
Unlike Governor Karayan’s group, who left on a civilian ship, the Emperor had dispatched one of the Empire’s most advanced Sovereign-class battlecruisers to ensure Agat’s safe return to the capital.
This was the first time Zhang Wen had seen a real starship since arriving in this world. As the massive ship, capable of holding 24,000 people, slowly ascended with the immense psychic power provided by 3,800 elite eighth-tier psychics and then accelerated away from Casares, Zhang Wen couldn’t help but be deeply moved by the grandeur of the scene.
“Well… now it’s time to head to the arena and see what Iron Mask wants with me.” Watching the massive ship gradually shrink into a black dot and disappear into the horizon, Zhang Wen stretched contentedly and got into a psychic car with a yawning Xiao Xi, inputting the address for the Kemal Arena.
“Hmph! You’re very clever. I indeed know for sure that you absolutely cannot be Andrei Stein. Because I have personally seen Andrei Stein’s corpse. However…” Governor Temiso hesitated for a moment.
“However, the identity of Andrei Stein is quite valuable. And now, besides you, Governor, and myself, no one else suspects that I am Andrei Stein. So, Governor, you want me to accept this identity by default, right?” Zhang Wen continued for Governor Temiso with a smile.
“Exactly. Talking with a smart person is indeed pleasant and effortless.” Governor Temiso’s gloom completely disappeared, replaced by a possibly “crafty” smile. “I really don’t understand. With such intelligence, how did you end up on the streets before?”
“Even the sharpest awl needs to be placed in a bag to reveal its tip,” Zhang Wen borrowed the famous saying from the Warring States period without any shame.
“Even the sharpest awl needs to be placed in a bag to reveal its tip… very meaningful words.” Governor Temiso savored Zhang Wen’s borrowed saying and smiled in satisfaction. “Mr. Andrei Stein, I hope we can cooperate well in the future.”
“Of course, Governor.” Zhang Wen similarly smiled and bowed slightly to Governor Temiso, then casually asked, “Additionally, Governor, what do you plan to do with that girl, Xiao Xi?”
“Huh?” Governor Temiso blinked in surprise. Obviously, before Zhang Wen raised the question, he had never considered what to do with Xiao Xi.
“What’s there to ask? That girl is the sister of Jishe executor Agate, right? In other words, she is one of the important figures in Jishe! Lieutenant Raimu and others will definitely take her back to the imperial capital.” Governor Temiso said naturally after a brief pause.
“Is that so? If Captain Raimu is willing to take her away, that would be great.” Zhang Wen shrugged casually.
“Oh? Do you have any insights?” Governor Temiso was taken aback again.
“It’s not really anything insightful. I just feel that the girl probably has nothing to do with Jishe. From what I saw in Sandra Forest, Agate’s affection for his sister is no less than your affection for Garret. Governor, just think, if it were you, would you let Garret join such a dangerous organization as Jishe?”
“Of course not.” Governor Temiso answered decisively.
“Therefore. I guess Captain Raimu and others probably think the same way. That’s why they didn’t intend to take her with them back in Sandra Forest.” Zhang Wen casually explained to Governor Temiso.
In fact, it wasn’t really a lie for Zhang Wen to say that Raimu had no intention of taking Xiao Xi. However, he didn’t fully explain his analysis to Governor Temiso. In Zhang Wen’s opinion, the reason Raimu and Mula didn’t take Xiao Xi was less about their disinterest in non-Jishe members and more about their own negligence and lack of motivation.
They seemed to have never taken the Emperor’s orders seriously from start to finish. The smiling tiger, Raimu, was naturally no exception. Even Mula, who seemed relatively upright on the surface, probably only captured Agate to deal with the situation out of fear of the commander’s nagging.
“Oh? Is that so?” Governor Temiso furrowed his brows again.
“If Raimu and his people really don’t want to take the girl, it’s going to be a bit of a problem. Leaving such a big troublemaker in Casares would make the days of constant anxiety about Jishe coming to rescue her unbearable. But her identity is special; if I just let her go easily, it would be hard to explain to the Emperor in the future. Troublesome… very troublesome!” Soon, Governor Temiso began tapping the table in frustration, occasionally scratching his head.
“How about this? If Raimu and his people really don’t want to take the girl, just hand her over to me. During my fight with Linoia, she was poisoned by a strange toxin. I’m a bit interested…”
“Fine. If Raimu and his bunch don’t want her, I have even less use for her. I don’t want to deal with Jishe either!” Governor Temiso impatiently waved his hand before Zhang Wen could finish, agreeing readily. “It’s better to leave her with you. Give her the identity of a student and keep her confined in Almeythsis Academy for a while to avoid drawing attention. If Jishe ever comes to rescue her, you can just pretend to resist and let them take her away.”
“Alright. Then I’ll take my leave now.” Seeing Governor Temiso looking like he had a splitting headache, Zhang Wen finally stopped provoking him further, nodded, and walked out of his temporary office.
As soon as Zhang Wen left Governor Temiso’s temporary office, a steel plate behind Temiso that had looked like a ship’s wall suddenly opened. Miya, Governor Temiso’s worried personal secretary, stepped out from the hidden compartment behind the iron wall.
“Miya, how is it? Do you have any objections to our decision?” Seeing the beautiful personal secretary, Governor Temiso immediately perked up.
“Nothing else really matters. It’s just letting Zhang Wen take on Andrei Stein’s identity… I’m still a bit worried. Of course, there’s no problem with the benefits this will bring you, which will be enormous. But you should know very well. Letting Zhang Wen inherit this identity is like releasing a monster. The troubles involved will be just as enormous as the benefits. Aren’t you afraid the situation might get out of control? If that day really comes, even if we try to deny Zhang Wen’s identity again, no one will believe us anymore.”
“Haha! Miya, you’re really cautious. Where’s the courage you had when you fought side by side with me back then?” Governor Temiso joked with a hearty laugh, but his eyes revealed the slyness of an old fox.
“No… Governor, I’m not worried about external enemies like Jishe or Mithril.” Miya shook her head and continued, “I’m worried about what Zhang Wen might do in the future…”
“Oh! So that’s what you’re worried about! Miya, you’re overthinking. We don’t need to consider future matters too much now.” Governor Temiso laughed heartily, but his gaze suddenly turned serious as it fell on Miya. “Besides, even if the situation really gets out of control?” Governor Temiso lightly waved his right hand, and the confident smile on his lips suddenly made him exude the charm of a mature man.
Even Miya, as dignified as she was, couldn’t help but quicken her breathing slightly in the face of Governor Temiso’s sudden charm.
“I let Zhang Wen take over Andrei Stein’s identity without ever intending to control him forever. He is a Casares native. As long as he still acknowledges this, we are still on the same boat. Hypothetically, just hypothetically. If one day he no longer acknowledges this, what threat could a rootless stray dog pose? Miya, remember. Our Casares people’s roots will always be in Casares.” Governor Temiso continued to smile charmingly.
“Understood, Governor.” Miya gracefully lowered her head. “However, next time you’re about to lecture me, could you please not put your hand on my thigh?” As she spoke, Miya swiftly pinched the governor’s wandering hand that had landed on her beautiful thigh.
“Ow!” Governor Temiso’s earth-shattering cry of pain immediately echoed throughout the entire frigate.
As Governor Temiso’s screams filled the air, Zhang Wen, who had just stepped out of the governor’s office, let out a long sigh.
Zhang Wen’s reason for going to great lengths to persuade Governor Temiso to hand Xiao Xi over to him wasn’t merely to repay the girl for her earlier concern and spare her from imprisonment. His main purpose was to reduce the risk of his identity being exposed.
After all, if Xiao Xi fell into Temiso’s hands, her strange “weakness syndrome” might draw the attention of that middle-aged man who liked to feign ignorance.
Although the chances of Temiso taking the time to care about a sick prisoner were not very high, if one day Temiso got the whim to have a psychic healer give Xiao Xi a full check-up, the mystery surrounding her body might not be able to stay hidden. Once Xiao Xi’s condition was exposed, Zhang Wen himself might also be discovered to have the ancient Zero Serum in his body.
A martial artist with the ancient Zero Serum in his body who was still alive and kicking. Zhang Wen could already vividly imagine how many pairs of green, greedy eyes would turn to him, filled with the same look one might give to a lab rat, once the Empire’s scholars discovered this fact.
That was absolutely unacceptable!
Of course, Zhang Wen also took considerable risks by forcefully demanding Xiao Xi from Temiso.
There’s no such thing as a fool in this world. This was a motto Zhang Wen always reminded himself of. He never underestimated anyone’s intelligence, which was one of the important reasons why he had been able to survive many dangerous situations. And Governor Temiso, without exaggeration, was one of the most inscrutable people Zhang Wen had encountered so far.
“Got it, got it. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. As for you… I reckon you might have a bit of a rough time. But since you were concerned about me earlier, I’ll see if I can lend you a hand.” Zhang Wen gave Xiao Xi a mischievous smile and took the opportunity to ruffle her hair again. The red-haired girl’s hair was smooth and soft, just the type Zhang Wen found most pleasant to touch.
“Argh!” Furious, Xiao Xi tried to bite Zhang Wen’s finger again but missed. Then, like a feisty little wildcat, she was half-dragged by two exasperated female soldiers into the ship’s detention cell for prisoners.
Meanwhile, Zhang Wen was escorted by two other soldiers into Governor Termiso’s office.
“Zhang Wen, or should I call you Andre Stein? How should I address you?” The cabin door closed, and Governor Termiso, with an inscrutable expression, sized up Zhang Wen for a moment before speaking unhurriedly.
“Haha, call me whatever you like,” Zhang Wen replied with a relaxed smile.
“Hmph!” Governor Termiso slammed his desk in apparent fury. “Zhang Wen! Do you think saving Jalit once from the Society’s hands will make me overlook that self-orchestrated assassination farce of yours?”
“Eh?” Zhang Wen was momentarily stunned but then burst into laughter. “Governor, whether you overlook it or not, I don’t know. But you don’t need to scare me with that, do you? If others mistake me for Andre Stein, I can believe it. But if even Governor Termiso thinks I’m Andre Stein, that’s just too absurd!”
After a quiet stare-off with Zhang Wen, Governor Termiso’s feigned anger gradually faded. He shook his head and smiled darkly.
“Oh? Why do you think I’d believe you’re not Andre Stein?”
“Governor, are you testing me? This question doesn’t even need an answer. A mere fourth or fifth-tier nobody managed to save the governor’s life from the hands of the Southern Overlord. Even the most careless person would find that suspicious. If you hadn’t thoroughly investigated my background, how could you have trusted me to teach at Almisius Academy, where your daughter is?”
“Humph! You’re clever. I do know for a fact that you couldn’t possibly be Andre Stein. Because I’ve seen Andre Stein’s corpse with my own eyes. But…” Here, Governor Termiso paused.
“But Andre Stein’s identity has significant value. And now, apart from you and me, no one else suspects I’m Andre Stein. So, you want me to tacitly accept this identity, right?” Zhang Wen finished Governor Termiso’s sentence with a smile.
“Exactly. Talking to a smart person is always so refreshing.” The gloom on Governor Termiso’s face dissipated completely, replaced by what could only be described as a “cunning” smile. “I really don’t get it. With a mind like yours, how did you end up on the streets before?”
“Even the sharpest awl needs to be put in a bag to reveal its point,” Zhang Wen shamelessly borrowed a famous quote from the Warring States period.
“Even the sharpest awl needs to be put in a bag to reveal its point… Well said.” Governor Termiso savored the borrowed quote and smiled contentedly. “Mr. Andre Stein, I hope we can cooperate happily in the future.”
“Of course, Governor,” Zhang Wen replied with a smile, bowing slightly. Then, as if casually, he added, “By the way, Governor, what do you plan to do with that girl, Xiao Xi?”
“Her?” Governor Termiso blinked in surprise. Clearly, he hadn’t given any thought to Xiao Xi’s fate before Zhang Wen brought it up.
“Isn’t it obvious? That girl is the sister of the Society’s executor, Agate. In other words, she’s one of the Society’s key figures! Remu and his team will definitely take her back to the capital.” After a pause, Governor Termiso stated matter-of-factly.
“Is that so? If Captain Remu is willing to take her, that’s fine,” Zhang Wen shrugged nonchalantly.
“Oh? Do you have any insights?” Governor Termiso was taken aback again.
“Not exactly insights. But I suspect that girl has little to do with the Society. From what I saw in the Sandra Forest, Agate cares for his sister as much as you care for Jalit. Governor, think about it—if it were you, would you let Jalit join such a dangerous organization as the Society?”
“Of course not,” Governor Termiso replied firmly.
“Exactly. I reckon Captain Remu and his team probably think the same way. That’s why they didn’t take her with them in the Sandra Forest earlier,” Zhang Wen explained casually to Governor Termiso.
In truth, Zhang Wen wasn’t entirely lying when he said Remu had no intention of taking Xiao Xi. However, he didn’t share his full analysis with Governor Termiso. In Zhang Wen’s view, the reason Remu and Mura didn’t take Xiao Xi wasn’t so much their disinterest in non-Society members as it was their sheer laziness.
The two seemed to have little regard for the Emperor’s orders from the start. Remu, the smiling tiger, was naturally indifferent, and even Mura, who appeared somewhat upright, only captured Agate to avoid the chief’s nagging.
“Ah, is that so?” Governor Termiso frowned again.
“If Remu and his team don’t want to take that girl, it’s a bit of a problem. Leaving such a big trouble in Cassares means living in constant fear of the Society coming to rescue her. But her identity is special. If we let her go too easily, the Emperor might question it later. Tricky… very tricky!” Soon, Governor Termiso was tapping his desk in frustration, occasionally scratching his head.
“How about this? If Remu and his team really don’t want to take her, hand her over to me. When I fought Linoya, she was hit with a strange toxin. I’m a bit interested…”
“Fine. If Remu and his gang don’t want her, she’s even more useless to me. I have no interest in dealing with the Society!” Governor Termiso waved his hand impatiently before Zhang Wen could finish. “Keeping her with you is fine. Give her a student identity and confine her to Almisius Academy. At least it’ll keep things under wraps for a while. If the Society ever comes to rescue her, just put on a show and let them take her.”
“Alright. I’ll take my leave then.” Seeing Governor Termiso’s headache-inducing expression, Zhang Wen decided not to push further and nodded, leaving the temporary office.
As soon as Zhang Wen left, the steel wall behind Governor Termiso opened, revealing his concerned life secretary, Mishia.
“Mishia, what do you think of our decision?” Seeing his beautiful secretary, Governor Termiso perked up immediately.
“Everything else seems fine. But letting Zhang Wen take on Andre Stein’s identity… I’m still a bit worried. The benefits to you are undeniable and will be immense. But you must also realize that by letting Zhang Wen inherit this identity, you’re unleashing a monster. The troubles it could bring might be as staggering as the benefits. Aren’t you afraid things might spiral out of control? If it ever comes to that, even if we want to deny Zhang Wen’s identity, no one will believe us.”
“Haha! Mishia, you’re so cautious. Where’s the courage you showed when we fought side by side?” Governor Termiso laughed heartily, but his eyes gleamed with the cunning of an old fox.
“No… Governor, I’m not worried about external enemies like the Society or Mithril,” Mishia shook her head and continued, “I’m worried about Zhang Wen in the future…”
“Oh! So that’s what you’re worried about! Mishia, you’re overthinking it. We don’t need to worry about the future now.” Governor Termiso laughed, but his gaze on Mishia suddenly turned serious. “Besides, even if things do spiral out of control, so what?” With a confident smile, Governor Termiso waved his right hand, exuding the charm of a mature man.
Even the composed Mishia couldn’t help but breathe a little faster in the face of Governor Termiso’s sudden charisma.
“When I let Zhang Wen take on Andre Stein’s identity, I never intended to keep him under control forever. He’s a Cassaresian. As long as he acknowledges that, he and I are on the same boat. Hypothetically, just hypothetically, if one day he no longer acknowledges it, what’s there to fear from a rootless stray dog? Mishia, remember this: our roots as Cassaresians will always be in Cassares.” Governor Termiso continued to smile charmingly.
“I’ll remember your teachings, Governor,” Mishia bowed gracefully. “But next time you’re giving a grand lecture, could you please not place your hand on my thigh?” With lightning speed, Mishia pinched Governor Termiso’s wandering hand hard.
“Ow!” Governor Termiso’s howl of pain echoed throughout the entire frigate.
Amidst Governor Termiso’s cries, Zhang Wen, who had just left the office, let out a long sigh of relief.
Zhang Wen had gone to great lengths to secure Xiao Xi from Governor Termiso, not just to repay her earlier concern and spare her from imprisonment. His primary goal was to reduce the risk of his own identity being exposed.
After all, if Xiao Xi fell into Termiso’s hands, her strange “weakness syndrome” might catch the attention of the governor, who liked to play the fool.
While the chances of Termiso caring about a sick prisoner were slim, if he ever decided to have a psionicist examine Xiao Xi thoroughly, her peculiar condition would be exposed. And once Xiao Xi’s condition was revealed, Zhang Wen might also be discovered to have the Zero—an ancient reagent—in his body.
A martial artist with the Zero—an ancient reagent—still alive and kicking? Zhang Wen could already imagine the number of green-eyed scholars in the Empire who would look at him like a lab rat.
That was absolutely unacceptable!
Of course, Zhang Wen had taken a significant risk by demanding Xiao Xi from Termiso.
No one in the world is a fool. This was Zhang Wen’s constant reminder to himself. He never underestimated anyone’s intelligence, which was one of the key reasons he had managed to escape danger so many times. And Governor Termiso, without exaggeration, was one of the most enigmatic people Zhang Wen had ever encountered.
The governor gave everyone the impression of being tough, reckless, and clueless. But Zhang Wen knew that Termiso often played the fool while being fully aware. A man from a minor noble family who rose to the position of planetary governor in just forty years—those who thought Termiso was a fool were the real fools.
Fortunately, Zhang Wen had managed to navigate the mess of Andre Stein’s identity and Xiao Xi’s situation with the governor who liked to play dumb.
For a long time to come, Zhang Wen could confidently appear as Andre Stein in front of all those in the know. He also didn’t have to worry about Governor Termiso suddenly deciding to give Xiao Xi a thorough medical examination.
Most importantly, with the secret agreement with Governor Termiso, Zhang Wen could continue to hide his true identity. Over the past six months, Zhang Wen had grown accustomed to—and had always dreamed of—a peaceful and stable life, which could now happily continue.
Well… maybe. Zhang Wen looked up at the clear sky and sighed softly.
In any case, the survival competition was over. The grand drama in the Sandra Forest had come to a close. With Agate’s capture and Linoya and Robert’s disappearance, the Society, Mithril, and the Federation had all lost interest and the ability to continue searching for the “test subject.” As a result, the wave of terrorist attacks in Cassares, orchestrated by various forces, came to an abrupt halt.
On the afternoon the survival competition was announced to be “postponed indefinitely,” all participating teachers and students were escorted back to their respective schools by the Cassares Mining Guard. Meanwhile, Governor Karayan, who had triumphed in the battle for Princess Sophia, proudly boarded a ship back to Fira with the entire Thamis Academy delegation.
Almost simultaneously, Remu and Mura, the two Eagle Guard captains, along with the unfortunate Agate, left Cassares. As Zhang Wen had predicted, when Governor Termiso brought up Xiao Xi, Remu and Mura showed no interest in taking an extra burden. Although Isaya was adamant about taking Xiao Xi along, the serious deputy eventually yielded to the smiling tiger captain’s authority.
Unlike Governor Karayan’s group, who left on a civilian ship, the Emperor had sent the Empire’s most advanced Sovereign-class cruiser to ensure Agate’s safe return to the capital.
This was the first time Zhang Wen had seen a real starship since arriving in this world. As the massive vessel, capable of carrying 24,000 people, slowly ascended with the immense psionic power of 3,800 elite psionicists and then accelerated away from Cassares, Zhang Wen couldn’t help but be deeply moved by the grandeur of the scene.
“Well… now it’s time to head to the arena and see what Iron Mask wants with me.” Watching the massive ship shrink into a black dot and disappear into the horizon, Zhang Wen stretched contentedly and got into a psionic car with a yawning Xiao Xi, inputting the address for the Kemel Arena.
Fortunately, in the end, Zhang Wen managed to deal with both the mess of Andrei Stein and the issue of Xiao Xi with the governor who liked to feign ignorance.
For a long time to come, Zhang Wen should be able to openly appear as Andrei Stein in front of all those who knew the truth. He also wouldn’t have to worry about Governor Temiso suddenly deciding one day to give Xiao Xi a thorough physical examination.
The most important thing was that, with the secret agreement with Governor Temiso, Zhang Wen could continue to hide his true identity. He had already gotten used to it over the past six months, and it was the peaceful and secure life he had always dreamed of.
Hmm… maybe. Zhang Wen looked up at the clear sky and sighed lightly again.
In any case, the survival competition was over. The grand drama in Sandra Forest had also gradually come to an end. With Agate’s arrest and Linoia and Robert’s escape, organizations like Jishe, Mithril, and the Federation all lost their interest and ability to continue searching for the “test subject.” As a result, the terrorist attacks that had been continuously happening in Casares City, orchestrated by various factions in tacit cooperation, suddenly ceased.
“Got it, got it. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. As for you… I reckon you might have a bit of a rough time. But since you were concerned about me earlier, I’ll see if I can help you out.” Zhang Wen gave Xiao Xi a mischievous smile and took the opportunity to pat her head again. The red-haired girl’s hair was smooth and soft, just the type Zhang Wen found most pleasant to touch.
“Argh!” Furious, Xiao Xi tried to bite Zhang Wen’s finger again but missed. Then, like a feisty little wildcat, she was half-dragged by two exasperated female soldiers into the ship’s detention room for prisoners.
Meanwhile, Zhang Wen was escorted by two other soldiers into Governor Termiso’s office.
“Zhang Wen, or should I call you Andre Stein? How should I address you?” The cabin door closed, and Governor Termiso, with an inscrutable expression, sized up Zhang Wen before speaking unhurriedly.
“Ha, call me whatever you like,” Zhang Wen replied with a relaxed smile.
“Hmph!” Governor Termiso slammed his desk in apparent fury. “Zhang Wen! Do you think saving Jalit from the Collective once will make me overlook that self-staged assassination farce of yours?”
“Eh?” Zhang Wen was momentarily stunned, then burst into laughter. “Governor, whether you overlook it or not, I don’t know. But you don’t need to scare me with that, do you? If others mistake me for Andre Stein, I can believe it. But if even you, Governor Termiso, think I’m Andre Stein, that’s just absurd!”
After a quiet stare-off, the feigned anger on Termiso’s face gradually faded. He shook his head and smiled darkly.
“Oh? Why do you think I’d believe you’re not Andre Stein?”
“Governor, are you testing me? This question doesn’t even need an answer. A mere fourth or fifth-tier weakling saving the governor’s life from the Southern Dominator? Even the most careless person would find that suspicious. If you hadn’t thoroughly investigated my background, would you have let me teach at Almisius Academy, where your daughter is?”
“Smart. I do know you’re definitely not Andre Stein. I’ve seen his corpse with my own eyes. But…” Here, Governor Termiso paused.
“But Andre Stein’s identity has significant value. And now, besides you and me, no one else suspects I’m Andre Stein. So, you want me to tacitly accept this identity, right?” Zhang Wen finished Termiso’s sentence with a smile.
“Exactly. Talking to a smart person is always a pleasure.” The gloom on Termiso’s face dissipated, replaced by what could be called a “cunning” smile. “I really don’t understand. With a mind like yours, how did you end up on the streets?”
“Even the sharpest awl needs to be put in a bag to reveal its point,” Zhang Wen shamelessly borrowed a famous quote from the Warring States period.
“Even the sharpest awl needs to be put in a bag to reveal its point… Well said.” Governor Termiso savored the quote and smiled contentedly. “Mr. Andre Stein, I hope we can cooperate happily in the future.”
“Of course, Governor,” Zhang Wen replied with a smile, then casually asked, “By the way, Governor, what do you plan to do with that girl, Xiao Xi?”
“Her?” Governor Termiso blinked in surprise. Clearly, he hadn’t considered Xiao Xi’s fate until Zhang Wen brought it up.
“Isn’t it obvious? That girl is the sister of the Collective’s executor, Agate. So, she’s one of their important figures! Remu and his team will surely take her back to the capital.” After a pause, Termiso stated matter-of-factly.
“Is that so? If Captain Remu is willing to take her, that’s fine,” Zhang Wen shrugged indifferently.
“Oh? Do you have any insights?” Governor Termiso was taken aback again.
“Not exactly insights. I just feel that girl probably has nothing to do with the Collective. From what I saw in the Sandra Forest, Agate’s affection for his sister is no less than your love for Jalit. Governor, think about it, would you let Jalit join such a dangerous organization?”
“Of course not,” Governor Termiso answered firmly.
“Exactly. I reckon Captain Remu and his team probably think the same way. That’s why they didn’t take her with them in the Sandra Forest,” Zhang Wen explained casually.
In truth, Zhang Wen wasn’t entirely lying about Remu’s disinterest in taking Xiao Xi. However, he didn’t share his full analysis with Governor Termiso. In Zhang Wen’s view, Remu and Mura’s reluctance to take Xiao Xi wasn’t due to disinterest in non-Collective members but rather their sheer laziness.
The two seemed to have disregarded the Emperor’s orders from the start. Remu, the smiling tiger, was naturally indifferent, and even Mura, who appeared somewhat upright, only captured Agate to avoid the chief’s nagging.
“Ah, is that so?” Governor Termiso frowned again.
“If Remu and his team don’t want to take that girl, it’s quite a dilemma. Leaving such a big trouble in Cassares means living in constant fear of the Collective coming to rescue her. But her identity is special; if we let her go easily, how would I explain it to the Emperor if he asks? Tricky… very tricky!” Soon, Governor Termiso was tapping his desk in frustration, occasionally scratching his head.
“Here’s an idea. If Remu and his team really don’t want to take her, hand her over to me. When I fought Linoya, she was poisoned with a strange toxin. I’m somewhat interested…”
“Fine. If Remu and his team don’t want her, she’s useless to me. I have no interest in dealing with the Collective!” Governor Termiso waved his hand impatiently before Zhang Wen could finish. “Keeping her with you is fine. Give her a student identity and confine her to Almisius Academy. At least it’ll keep things under wraps for a while. If the Collective ever comes to rescue her, just play along and let them take her.”
“Alright. Then I’ll take my leave.” Seeing Governor Termiso’s headache-inducing expression, Zhang Wen decided not to provoke him further and nodded before leaving the temporary office.
As soon as Zhang Wen left, a steel wall behind Termiso opened, revealing his concerned personal secretary, Mishia.
“Mishia, what do you think of our decision?” Seeing his beautiful secretary, Governor Termiso perked up immediately.
“Everything else seems fine. But letting Zhang Wen take on Andre Stein’s identity… I’m still a bit worried. The benefits to you are undeniable and will be immense. However, you must also realize that by letting Zhang Wen inherit this identity, you’re unleashing a monster. The troubles involved will be just as staggering. Aren’t you afraid of losing control? If it ever comes to that, even if we want to deny Zhang Wen’s identity, no one will believe us.”
“Ha! Mishia, you’re so cautious. Where’s the courage you had when we fought side by side?” Governor Termiso laughed jokingly, but his eyes gleamed with the cunning of an old fox.
“No… Governor, I’m not worried about external enemies like the Collective or Mithril,” Mishia shook her head and continued, “I’m worried that in the future, Zhang Wen might…”
“Oh! So that’s what you’re worried about! Mishia, you’re overthinking it. We don’t need to worry about the future now.” Governor Termiso laughed, but his gaze on Mishia suddenly turned serious. “Besides, what if things do spiral out of control?” With a confident wave of his right hand, Termiso’s smile exuded the charm of a mature man.
Even the composed Mishia couldn’t help but breathe a little faster in the face of Termiso’s sudden charisma.
“I never intended to keep Zhang Wen under control forever by giving him Andre Stein’s identity. He’s a Cassaresian. As long as he acknowledges that, he and I are on the same boat. Hypothetically, just hypothetically, if one day he denies it, what’s there to fear from a rootless stray dog? Mishia, remember, our roots as Cassaresians will always be in Cassares.” Governor Termiso continued to smile charmingly.
“I heed your wisdom, Governor,” Mishia bowed gracefully. “But next time you’re giving a grand speech, could you please keep your hands off my thighs?” With that, Mishia swiftly and firmly pinched Termiso’s wandering hand.
“Ow!” Governor Termiso’s howl of pain echoed throughout the entire frigate.
Amidst Termiso’s cries, Zhang Wen, who had just left the governor’s office, let out a long sigh of relief.
Zhang Wen had gone to great lengths to secure Xiao Xi from Governor Termiso, not just to repay her earlier concern and spare her from imprisonment. His main goal was to reduce the risk of his own identity being exposed.
After all, if Xiao Xi fell into Termiso’s hands, her strange “weakness syndrome” might catch the attention of the governor, who liked to play the fool.
While the chances of Termiso caring about a sick prisoner were slim, if he ever decided to have a mage conduct a full-body examination on Xiao Xi, her peculiar condition would be hard to hide. Once Xiao Xi’s condition was exposed, Zhang Wen might also be discovered to have the Zero—ancient reagent in his body.
A martial artist with the Zero—ancient reagent, still alive and kicking? Zhang Wen could already imagine the green-eyed gazes of the Empire’s scholars, looking at him like a lab rat.
That was absolutely unacceptable!
Of course, Zhang Wen had taken a significant risk by forcefully taking Xiao Xi from Termiso.
No one in the world is a fool—a motto Zhang Wen always reminded himself of. He never underestimated anyone’s intelligence, which had helped him escape danger many times. And Governor Termiso, without exaggeration, was one of the most enigmatic people Zhang Wen had ever encountered.
The governor gave everyone the impression of being iron-fisted, reckless, and muddle-headed. But Zhang Wen knew that Termiso often played the fool while being fully aware. A minor noble who rose to the position of planetary governor in just forty years—those who thought Termiso was a fool were the real fools.
Fortunately, Zhang Wen managed to navigate the mess of Andre Stein’s identity and Xiao Xi’s situation with the governor, who liked to play the fool.
For a long time to come, Zhang Wen could confidently appear as Andre Stein in front of all those in the know. He no longer had to worry about Termiso suddenly deciding to conduct a thorough medical examination on Xiao Xi.
Most importantly, with the secret agreement with Governor Termiso, Zhang Wen could continue to hide his true identity. Over the past six months, Zhang Wen had grown accustomed to the peaceful, stable life he had always dreamed of, and it could now continue happily.
Well… maybe. Zhang Wen looked up at the clear sky and sighed softly.
In any case, the survival competition was over. The grand spectacle in the Sandra Forest had come to an end. With Agate’s capture and Linoya and Robert’s disappearance, the Collective, Mithril, and the Federation had lost the interest and ability to continue searching for the “test subject.” Thus, the wave of terrorist attacks in Cassares, orchestrated by various factions, abruptly ceased.
On the afternoon the survival competition was announced to be “postponed indefinitely,” all participating teachers and students were escorted back to their respective schools by the Cassares Mining District Guard. Meanwhile, Governor Karayan, who had triumphed in the battle for Princess Sophia, proudly boarded a ship back to Fila with the entire Thamis Academy delegation.
Almost simultaneously, Remu and Mura, the two Eagle Guard captains, along with the unfortunate Agate, left Cassares. As Zhang Wen had predicted, when Governor Termiso brought up Xiao Xi, Remu and Mura showed no interest in taking an extra burden. Although Isaya was adamant about taking Xiao Xi, the earnest deputy eventually yielded to the smiling tiger captain’s authority.
Unlike Governor Karayan, who left on a civilian ship, Remu and his team were assigned one of the Empire’s most advanced Sovereign-class battlecruisers to ensure Agate’s safe return to the capital.
This was the first time Zhang Wen had seen a real starship since arriving in this world. As the massive ship, capable of holding 24,000 people, slowly ascended with the immense psychic force provided by 3,800 elite eighth-tier mages and then accelerated away from Cassares, Zhang Wen couldn’t help but be deeply moved by the grandeur of the scene.
“Well… now it’s time to head to the arena and see what Ironface wants with me.” Watching the massive ship gradually shrink into a black dot and disappear into the horizon, Zhang Wen stretched contentedly and got into a psychic car with a yawning Xiao Xi, inputting the address for the Kemal Arena.
Departing from Casares almost simultaneously with Governor Karajan’s party were the two Eagle Guard captains, Raimu and Mula, and the pitiful Agate. As Zhang Wen had said, when Governor Temiso mentioned Xiao Xi’s issue, Raimu and Mula indeed showed no interest in taking an extra burden on their journey. Surprisingly, Isai was quite determined to take Xiao Xi along as well, but the serious female deputy eventually yielded to the smiling tiger captain’s oppressive authority.
Unlike Governor Karajan’s party, who left on a regular civilian spacecraft, to ensure the safe delivery of Agate back to the imperial capital, the Emperor had dispatched an advanced Sovereign-class cruiser for Raimu and his team.
This was also the first time Zhang Wen had seen a real space warship since arriving in this world. As the super warship, capable of carrying twenty-four thousand people, slowly ascended under the massive psychic propulsion provided by no less than three thousand eight hundred elite eighth-stage psychics and then accelerated away from Casares, Zhang Wen couldn’t help but be deeply moved by the grand and spectacular scene.
“Alright… Next, I should head to the arena to see what Iron Mask wants from me.” Watching the massive warship gradually shrink into a tiny black dot and disappear into the horizon, Zhang Wen stretched contentedly, turned around, and got into a psychic-powered flying car with the yawning Xiao Xi, inputting the address of the Kemal Arena.
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