Across Deep Space: Four Men and a Play

A male reporter from the media stepped forward and asked directly:

"Commander, it's been a week since the Liuyun explosion. Why is the fleet still in blockade?"

"So far, the team has neither announced the progress of the investigation nor disclosed any details. We, the public, now need an explanation!"

Seeing this, another female reporter immediately followed up with a question, "Why doesn't the fleet allow hunters to interfere in the investigation of the explosion? Is the new captain representing the fleet trying to break off relations with the Hunter Association?"

This question is very sharp. If it is not answered well, it may even lead to an open conflict between the fleet and the Hunter Association.

So the captain, facing these sensitive questions, pointed at someone and said, "You, go deal with those annoying reporters."

"Yes." The person who was named sighed inwardly at his bad luck, but he could only smile politely and take the initiative to step forward and pull the two reporters to the other side for an interview.

The captain turned around and looked at the ruined garden in annoyance, muttering, "This place has been blown through, what else can be left..."

"They're asking questions and investigating. I really don't know what they're mobilizing so many people for..."

"Newcomer, you should go over and take a look too."

Xia Jiumeng was called and immediately replied, "Yes, sir."

He adjusted his ill-fitting fleet uniform, cleared the gravel that blocked his way, and entered the garden.

She closed her eyes and felt it. There was indeed a very weak energy fluctuation, which was very similar to the energy of the ether core given to her by the association.

The source of power seems to be... this direction.

Before Xia Jiumeng could follow the detected energy fluctuations, the captain spoke again, "It will rain tomorrow evening, and there will be no trace left. You must complete the search before then, understand!"

"Yes."

The people who followed the search answered.

Xia Jiumeng also responded in a low voice, and then casually walked to the place where she had sensed the fluctuation before, which was a bush.

Vines that had been burned into black and gray were crisscrossed and hung on the surviving bushes. The surrounding environment suddenly became eerily quiet, as if even the sound had been sucked into the invisible space.

Looking closely, a small hand seemed to flash by hidden under the petals and leaves.

When he reached out to touch it, he only touched a wall that was also charred, and with this slight movement, the energy that seemed to be there and not there disappeared.

Xia Jiumeng narrowed her eyes slightly. There was something fishy, ​​but now was not the time to figure it out.

When he stood up, the metal necklace on his body made a slight noise.

Her fingers touched her neck and felt a cool touch. It was Xia Yizhuo's necklace, and it was also the only 'relic' that allowed her to miss her family.

It was the necklace she had given him 'before', and he had put it on before leaving to investigate the bombing.

"Hey. Did you find anything?"

The captain walked up to Xia Jiumeng with a stern face at some point.

"No." Xia Jiumeng shook her head after coming back to her senses.

"There are only traces of explosions here, nothing suspicious."

The captain glanced up and down at the inattentive newcomer and warned him, "You'd better be alert and investigate thoroughly. If you accidentally miss any clues, you won't be able to handle this by yourself when the new captain returns."

When the punishment comes, everyone will be in trouble.

I heard that this new captain is not a good person. Not only is he cruel and ruthless, but he is also very capable. In just one year, he was promoted directly from the newest reserve member to the new commander of the fleet.

"I understand." Xia Jiumeng nodded.

It seems that this new ship's officer has a bad relationship with the association. They started to confront each other before they even came out.

The strength of that force just now was indeed very similar to that of the ether core. The fleet must have sensed it and that’s why they are so nervous here.

Xia Jiumeng thought for a moment and asked tentatively, "Captain, an explosion of this magnitude would either kill or injure anyone, so how could someone be missing?"

"Also, I heard we're not here to investigate a missing person, but to detect traces..."

The captain's face turned cold and he scolded, "Don't ask questions that you shouldn't ask. Just do your own thing."

After saying this, he turned and left.

Xia Jiumeng: Why are the people in this fleet so secretive about the explosion? It seems that it is impossible to get useful information by asking around. I have to think of other ways.

I don't know if it's easy to sneak into the fleet headquarters.

While thinking, he lowered his head and pretended to be honest and started to check.

At this moment, a figure ran over hurriedly.

"Captain! The suspect in the bombing has appeared. He's even broken into the headquarters!"

The captain was shocked. "What!?"

The man took a breath and continued, "In ten minutes, the long-distance fleet will land on the helipad at headquarters."

"The command center has issued an emergency order requiring us to return immediately and control the person before landing!"

"I understand." The captain shouted to the others with a grim expression, "Team up! Everyone get in the car!"

.....

At this time, a spaceship was slowly moving out of the deep space tunnel.

In the command room, a man in uniform sat in front of the huge command desk, looking at the projection of the tunnel in front of him with a gloomy look in his eyes, wondering what he was thinking.

"Captain, the external environment has been confirmed and we can land in Tianxing City." The adjutant walked in from outside and stood under the command desk and said respectfully.

The man calmly swiped the floating screen in front of him and said, "Have you found any clues about the traitor who nearly destroyed the fleet in the tunnel three days ago?"

The adjutant said, "No, maybe the suspicion is wrong. The turbulence may just be an accident."

The man couldn't help but sneer at this answer. He stood up and authorized the landing on the hover screen, saying, "This voyage is a test for the new ship's officers. Many people hope I won't come back, especially those old conservatives."

The adjutant's expression instantly darkened as he watched the man passing by him and heading towards the command room door. He pulled out a dagger from his waist and stabbed the man in the vest without hesitation.

The man seemed not to notice and said, "Unfortunately, their plan failed. I died once before..."

The adjutant looked at himself in disbelief as he was trapped in place by an unknown force, unable to move an inch.

How could this be! It was just a little bit...

He used all his strength to break free but it was in vain. Two big words suddenly flashed through his mind: It's over...exposed.

The man facing the adjutant disdainfully noticed his action and curled the corners of his lips in disdain, as if mocking the adjutant's arrogance. He just moved his fingertips slightly and the adjutant's dagger was bounced away by a force.

"I won't die again..."

Suddenly, a huge pressure came and made the adjutant kneel heavily on the ground. His knees even made a clear sound of bones cracking when they hit the ground. However, the adjutant seemed to have his mouth blocked and could not make a scream. He could only whimper a few times.

As he turned around, he pulled out his service pistol and put it against the adjutant's forehead, looking down at the adjutant's terrified and distorted face and spoke calmly.

"Since you're a traitor, you should understand that whether the mission succeeds or not, you'll have only one outcome."

"You don't have to go back."

There was a "bang" sound, and some dark red liquid splashed onto the man's cold cheek and was wiped away by his hand.

He walked out of the command room with an expressionless face as if the execution of the adjutant had never happened.