726: A textbook-worthy mistake...

At one end of the passage, Arthur stumbled through the quarter-opened hatch, speaking as he ran:

"Grandpa Aola, unrecorded spacetime fluctuations have appeared around the spaceship, suspected to be an unknown entity performing a spatial jump."

As he spoke, the hovering sphere behind him projected a scene.

In the dark Universe, a spaceship with all its power engines shut down glided silently.

In this eerie silence, 72 silver discs, each over a hundred kilometers in diameter, suddenly appeared around the spaceship.

A moment later, ripples appeared in the center of the silver discs, and a pitch-black spaceship, as if capable of devouring all light, flew out from the center of the silver discs, slowly yet quickly, protecting the Niu Ru Ren Planet's spaceship like a mother hen guarding her chicks.

No, not just one.

Looking at the 72 gigantic warships, each nearly a hundred kilometers long, emerging from the 72 silver discs, and the countless escort ships following them out of the silver discs, Aola unconsciously swallowed.

"This... this..."

Before he finished speaking, another silver disc, a hundred kilometers in diameter, appeared in deep space.

Amidst a terrifying roar that seemed to emanate from the Soul, a gigantic mecha, riding a Dragon-shaped mecha, transformed into an Incarnation of a Steel Dragon Knight and flew out of the disc.

Then... because its speed couldn't keep up, it instantly turned into a small black dot and disappeared into the Universe.

On the Dragon's back, Chen Xiang, the commander of the Expeditionary Force's Seventh Legion, piloting the gigantic mecha, looked at the fleet of warships that instantly became a tiny speck of light and vanished from sight against the backdrop of deep space.

He then glanced at the scattered Steel Dragon Knights distributed throughout the Universe.

He fell into deep thought.

"Wasn't I here to show off?"

"Why is the scene different from what I imagined?"

"I didn't get on board, aren't you going to wait for me?"

Just as he mumbled, Deputy Army Commander Yang Tieshan's slightly teasing voice came through the quantum communicator into his ear.

"Um, Commander."

"When you proposed 'riding a giant Dragon through a space gate into battle,' is it possible that the other Army Commanders' gazes weren't admiration, but rather looking at an idiot?"

"You should know that the Niu Ru Ren Planet's spaceship travels at about 3600 times the speed of sound. Even in deep space, with the help of mechas, it's not something we can achieve in a short time to reach that speed."

"Which means, barring any accidents, we will arrive at the Niu Ru Ren Planet six months after the star destroyer fleet arrives at the Niu Ru Ren Planet."

Chen Xiang blinked:

"Damn it, why didn't I think of that? Why didn't you remind me earlier?"

"I wanted to remind you, but the Army Commander wouldn't let me," Yang Tieshan said righteously:

"The Army Commander said people shouldn't be arrogant and conceited, and shouldn't forget who they are just because they've achieved something."

"Everyone must be responsible for their own decisions. You are our Expeditionary Force Legion Commander, and you can't act without thinking. This is a lesson for you, and it will also curb the arrogance of others."

"Oh, and he said he's going to issue a public criticism of you to the entire army, displaying your mistake on the Expeditionary Force Official Website, hoping everyone can learn from it."

Chen Xiang plopped down onto the Dragon's back, causing the fairy Dragon, who didn't pride herself on physical strength, to roll her eyes and drop a thousand meters.

"What the hell."

"You mean I'm going to be laughed at by all the Citizens, and be made into a negative example, laughed at for an entire civilization's history?"

"What's the point of me living, then?"

"Might as well die!"

Yang Tieshan continued to twist the knife:

"Then you might even end up in elementary school textbooks."

"The textbook might even write something like this:

【The first Legion Commander of the Expeditionary Force's Seventh Legion, unable to withstand psychological pressure, committed suicide on a certain day of a certain month in a certain place. We must deeply learn from his lesson...】

And so on."

"Are you still rubbing salt in my wounds?!" Chen Xiang raised his hand and punched the fairy Dragon beneath him, saying irritably:

"The Army Commander told you not to remind me, and you really didn't remind me?"

"You should know you're the Deputy Legion Commander of the Seventh Legion!"

"It's your responsibility to check for omissions and fill in gaps!"

"If I really end up in a textbook this way, do you think those elementary school students will search for who the Deputy Army Commander of the Seventh Legion is?"

Yang Tieshan was stunned:

"The Army Commander wouldn't be that cruel, would he?"

"What do you think?"

...The Legion Commander and Deputy Legion Commander of the Seventh Legion looked at each other in silence in the desolate depths of the Universe.

In the main star destroyer bridge docking bay, which had already completed its bridge connection with the Niu Ru Ren Planet's spaceship, Lei Ming looked at the deep space outside the bay, then looked at Yang Dian with some concern:

"Is it really okay to leave the Seventh Legion in the Universe?"

Yang Dian smiled:

"What's the problem?"

"Chen Xiang is quite capable, but a few wartime victories have made him a bit impetuous, to the point of saying things like riding a Dragon into battle."

"Not dealing with enemy cosmic units and directly riding a Dragon into a planet—isn't that just becoming a target for the enemy?"

"The Universe is cold enough; it'll help him cool his head."

"The same goes for Yang Tieshan."

"He believes whatever I say."

"What if, during a solo mission, an illusionary creature transforms into me, or mimics my voice, and gives them a command that sends them to their deaths?"

"Would they just go to their deaths without confirming?"

Lei Ming was silent for a moment before sighing:

"They would consider it a strategic necessity and truly go to their deaths."

Yang Dian paused.

"Then they should also think, what is my strength, and what is their strength?"

"A foe capable of being my opponent could blow them away with a single breath. What strategic sacrifice would they need to make?"

"Uncle Lei, after we return, ensure the Legion's training is well-done."

"It is imperative that they understand that when performing missions outside, ensuring their own safety is the primary element."

As he spoke, the docking bay door opened, and Aola and Arthur, whom he hadn't seen in a long time, excitedly jogged up to Yang Dian:

"I knew that civilizations like the Starflare Civilization, which love war and plunder, must be a minority."

"Most civilizations possess a peaceful and friendly heart."

"Envoys from distant Huaxia, the Niu Ru Ren people will always remember the help you've given us."

"If you ever face a crisis, we will also give our all to help you, even if it means the demise of our civilization."

Looking at Aola, who was speaking without thinking, Yang Dian twitched his mouth.

This old fellow.

They had traveled thousands of miles to help them, and he actually cursed them to encounter a crisis.

Although his true intention wasn't this, he merely wanted to express his sincerity.

But who talks like that?

While lamenting the Niu Ru Ren's excessive simplicity, to the point of speaking without thinking, Yang Dian put on a smile and said:

"Extending a helping hand to friendly civilizations in crisis is something our Huaxia has always done, Mr. Aola, there's no need for such words."

As he spoke, he glanced at his diplomatic team, nodded to the three of them, and continued:

"The Niu Ru Ren Planet is in crisis. How about we go down and discuss how to save your civilization?"

"Good, good." Aola excitedly took Yang Dian's hand:

"Please come with me..."