88: Which mink hat taught you to apply it like this?

(Added for the reward from 2S38 Pianliu on 9.18)

(Currently owe 10 chapters)

(How did I pay it back, only for it to come back again?)

..."Gunnar, that Emperor you just mentioned,"

"Is it true?"

Inside the small, soundproof room next to the Bridge, Xi Hai stared into Gunnar's eyes and asked with extreme tension.

If he had really heard the Yellow Skin Demon calling for troops, then Xi Hai couldn't continue to develop like this.

It is well known that in that toilet-like world, psychic power is the most important thing..."No, didn't you want to claim yourself an Emperor and ask me to cooperate with your act?"

"I was so nervous jumping between Warships,"

"Don't talk about suggestive whispers, even if someone shouted loudly in my headphones, I wouldn't hear it."

Gunnar scratched his head honestly and explained.

Xi Hai: ...So it was just made up?

He couldn't tell if he should be relieved about this.

He admitted, this guy really scared him.

"Are you sure?"

"You really didn't hear the Emperor whispering for your loyalty? You really didn't see the phantom of the Golden Throne?"

To be safe, he asked again.

Gunnar, however, casually replied:

"Commander, these things are for outsiders to hear,"

"You yourself didn't believe it, did you?"

Alright, looking at his open and candid demeanor,

Xi Hai confirmed that this was just him scaring himself.

"Then what's with this outfit you're wearing?"

"Who thought of it for you?"

Gunnar looked down and said:

"Oh, this?"

"It was decorated by a guy named 8225 on the Shuttle!"

"He said he wanted to make a deep impression on you!"

"How is it? Doesn't it look particularly WAAAAGH?"

What the heck?

8225?

The guy he sent to rendezvous?

Good, good, what a deep impression, this impression is truly deep!

It's practically unforgettable for all eternity!

Damn it! He almost really thought the Yellow Skin Demon had arrived!

Though angry, Xi Hai's heart finally settled down—

Thinking calmly, the probability of encountering 40K here was indeed small.

After all, if there really were a Warp, then the lower cities he had stayed in, the crevices of those Space Cities, and other such places wouldn't have been so clean.

Thinking this, Xi Hai completely relaxed.

Then his thoughts began to race in another direction—

This universe really had boarding tactics.

So, even with a massive amount of anti-air firepower, just in case,

a capable Marine Corps was very necessary.

Moreover, future surface operations and space station internal operations also required ground units.

This guy in front of him was excellent!

Purely physical (though a body with genes modified during the golden age of the second era) clad in powered armor, he dared to lead a group of people to board!

It was too much of a waste to have such a fierce person operate close-in weapons systems.

His gaze towards Gunnar grew hotter and hotter, making Gunnar feel hot too—

Why is Commander looking at me like this?

He wouldn't also have a philosophical little hobby like me and my companions, would he?

Just as Gunnar was thinking wildly,

Xi Hai, as if having made a decision, said:

"You have proven your valor with your actions,"

"Do you have any thoughts on independently leading a Marine Corps unit?"

Gunnar's thoughts were suddenly interrupted, and then, ecstasy surged through his heart:

He! And that group of men who jumped around with him, boarding and fighting the Swarm,

were recognized by the boss!

Then Commander must also think he did a good job fighting the Swarm!

He immediately stood at attention again, fiercely pounded his chest plate with his right hand, and shouted:

"YES!!!!"

"LOYALTY!!!!"

...Thirty minutes later, Xi Hai returned to the Bridge.

Regarding the name for Gunnar and his Marine Corps,

Xi Hai stated that both of them were terrible at naming things,

so he simply plagiarized the name "Ultramarines" from Guilliman's descendants.

As for copyright fees? That big blue guy hasn't even compensated him for the mental distress he caused!

Gunnar also agreed with the name. He was currently gathering the comrades who had just boarded with him.

Meanwhile, Xi Hai walked to the observation window on the Bridge.

Through the transparent observation window, he focused his gaze on the ancient relic-like creation before him—

The asteroid shell on its exterior had been mostly cleared, revealing a metallic structure composed of multiple interconnected cubes.

That mass was currently being towed by several Shuttles, flying towards the storm.

There are quite a few ancient artifacts in this Ursa Major V12.22, aren't there?

Watching the structure being towed into the cargo hold of the storm, Xi Hai glanced at the radar.

Good, the surroundings were still clear.

Well, they had searched, and they had fought.

Now it was time to withdraw.

"Retreat!"

"Return to the Node Space Station!"

"Plan canceled."

"Activating Warp Drive Module."

As a flash of white light passed, the huge fleet instantly vanished in mid-air.

Only half an asteroid belt and a patch of dust remained at the original location...Meanwhile, in another corner of Ursa Major V12.22.

After continuous testing, the Galaxy Defense Force here finally found an effective way to damage the Swarm with neutron beams—

Break open their shells.

The research team arranged by the Defense Force wanted to laugh, thinking that such a simple, idiotic problem had stumped them for so long.

In the joint command room,

Galaxy Defense Commander Erot felt like a giant spinning top, whipped by the bugs that life had thrown at him—

He read battle reports, his eyes bloodshot,

filled with "insufficient supplies," "insufficient fuel," "insufficient ammunition," not a single piece of good news.

Even after the utility of neutron beams was discovered and a large number of neutron bombs were sent to the front line,

it only barely stabilized the front line at the second defense line.

He calculated that it had been almost 24 hours since these bugs erupted—

This meant that the chance of external rescue was minimal.

If they didn't want to die here, they had to break through.

However, there was no opportunity; the bugs had them too tightly surrounded.

"Report!"

At this moment, a staff officer suddenly burst in, waving an electronic screen in his hand.

He shouted:

"The Swarm is retreating!"

"For the first time since the engagement began!"

"The Swarm is retreating!"

Erot suddenly sprang from his seat, his voice trembling slightly with excitement:

"Really... really retreating?"

"Quick! Let me see!"

Erot directly took the screen and read it quickly,

It was true!

Not only had the numbers decreased, but the quality had also dropped!

Without time to consider if this was a trap to lure them in deeper,

Erot knew that this opportunity could not be missed.

Almost immediately, he shouted the order—

"Attention all!"

"Assemble the fleet!"

"Abandon all supplies and heavy equipment, prepare to break through according to Plan No. 3!"