135: Where is Kong Jiamu?

There was no follow-up on the Green Fox matter for the time being, but Tu Nan finally managed to push forward another matter over the past few days.

After quickly handling her family affairs, sending her mother for surgery, and hiring a caregiver, Amy completed her onboarding and officially became a member of "Spread."

However, her primary job for the moment was to accompany and care for the Children.

That's right, Spread was precisely the name Tu Nan had given to this newly established perfume company.

Lance thought it was wonderful.

"It's very good; the fragrance seeps into one's heart unknowingly. It's very fitting."

Tu Nan smelled several newly formulated perfumes. These were a few that Lance had recently created, all containing the same botanical bases as lve yan.

"How about this one? This scent is very unique; you can smell it from a distance." Lance seemed to have high hopes for this one.

Tu Nan remained silent. She smelled a few others before finally picking one.

"This one."

Lance was greatly disappointed.

"This one? This is the lightest one. I didn't even want to bring it... Why this? Any of the others have more character than this."

Tu Nan sighed inwardly. "Precisely because it is the lightest."

"We are choosing the base version now, which means the version we hope a larger population can accept, right?"

Tu Nan gave a mocking smile.

"Do you know? The lower the social stratum, the more Females are required to treat obedience and humility as virtues. A scent that is too aggressive won't be able to expand sales."

"But... aren't we just fueling the arrogance of the Male Beasts? I'm so annoyed!" Lance said indignantly.

"There's no other way; this isn't something that can be achieved in a moment. Don't forget our original intention," Tu Nan said. "We want this fragrance to Spread, to become a sea that hides those droplets of water."

Tu Nan looked at the perfume with satisfaction.

"I have a suitable name for it. As the flagship product of our Spread company, it... will be called Qinrun."

"Let's get everything ready first. That way, as soon as Kong Jiamu returns, we can start the promotion as we discussed."

And we can also put the matter of improving the Children's genes on the agenda.

But where exactly was Kong Jiamu, and how was his mission progressing?

Aside from the few words she had overheard that day, Tu Nan had no further news.

A week passed quickly, and she grew increasingly anxious.

She chose to go chat with the soldiers to fish for information.

"Wang Kai, don't you guys have to go out after all these days?" She chatted seemingly casually with one of the soldiers guarding the door.

"Reporting, Young Miss Pearl! We take shifts!"

"...No need to be so formal. I just wanted to ask, have you been following Colonel Kong for a long time? Is being here considered an official mission?"

"I suppose..." The soldier hadn't thought about this question. "Protecting the commander's safety is within the scope of our duties."

"But isn't Colonel Kong away right now? Doesn't he take you with him on missions?"

The soldier wasn't alert. "Normally no, the mission levels around Xiuyin aren't high."

Tu Nan keenly caught the keyword: "Aren't high?"

"Yeah, the Star Worms swarms near the Capital City are sparse; it's usually just patrolling or standing guard."

"So this time is different?"

"This time, his mission level is high, beyond our reach." Soldier Wang Kai sounded quite envious. "That day, a Special Action Group from the Capital Star came to pick him up. Those people were at least Captains; we don't measure up."

"Capital Star... Special Action Group."

"How impressive," Tu Nan exclaimed softly. "Are they directly under the Emperor?" Your Majesty had mentioned it that day.

"Wang Kai. Do you remember the Secrecy Regulations?" A gentle but serious voice interrupted Tu Nan's inquiry.

Hain stood at the top of the stairs, looking down at them gloomily.

The soldier was so frightened he immediately shut his mouth and looked straight ahead.

"Do you want to know where he went?"

Tu Nan paused; Hain's tone carried a hint of something inexplicable.

She nodded, her expression restrained.

"Come to the study. I'll let you listen in."

He turned and walked ahead. Tu Nan followed, her heart racing for some reason.

The lights in the study were dimmed to a warm yellow, and a data map of the interstellar border was projected onto the wall.

As soon as the two entered, the several people inside who were in heated discussion suddenly paused, cautiously observing their superior and... this lady of mysterious identity.

"Continue your discussion amongst yourselves first." Hain dismissed his subordinates and pointed to a red dot. "Kong Jiamu went to investigate a newly appeared Star Worm Point near the Capital Star."

"Near the Capital City... there are Star Worms too?"

Tu Nan blurted out.

"Very few," Hain replied. "The eruption of worm points usually requires high-frequency energy. The areas around large settlements can typically form energy barriers to prevent such jump points from forming."

"But this time, a worm point actually appeared near the Capital Star. The higher-ups suspect it was caused by a special fluctuation, but it hasn't been confirmed."

He wouldn't let the soldier speak, yet here Hain was, knowingly breaking the rules? Tu Nan grumbled inwardly, but this was rare information, and she couldn't bear to let it pass.

"So it can't be cleared directly with starship-grade weapons?"

"No," Hain explained patiently. "The appearance of Star Worms is hard to predict. Once they Spread, their destruction speed is faster than a starship's reaction. The only way is to establish a High-rank Male Beast Sensory Network."

"Are you the bait?"

"We are the barrier," Hain said noncommittally. "We are living barriers."

Tu Nan sat down gently. Kong Jiamu... had gone to such a place.

"You're very worried about him," Hain suddenly said.

Tu Nan had to keep her story consistent, and she truly was afraid that Kong Jiamu wouldn't return.

"Yes... Kong Jiamu has been away for over ten days. Didn't you tell Your Majesty that day that you were also very worried?"

The others in the room looked over.

What exactly was this Female Beast's identity? It sounded like Lord Hain had even taken her to see Your Majesty?

"Now we suspect he was transported elsewhere by a Star Worm hole." Hain endured the bitterness in his heart. "We are currently deducing his possible landing point based on residual energy. Follow-up troops have already rushed to meet him."

He pointed to the locations already marked with small flags.

"What if he can't be found?" Tu Nan looked at those points of light. "Will there be fighting in those places?"

"Perhaps," Hain said calmly. "He will handle it."

That was Kong Jiamu's duty as a soldier. Or rather, it was the duty of high-rank Male Beasts like them.

"High-rank... Do you also encounter those... Star Worms?" Tu Nan asked casually. After all, Hain was of a higher Rank, yet he seemed to hold only a desk job.

Hain turned around, his eyes hiding intense turmoil. "Are you concerned about me?"

Tu Nan's eyes widened, her eyelashes trembling slightly.

After a long silence, she finally said softly, "You don't need my concern."

The discussion behind them stopped instantly; everyone was shocked.

Was it just them, or did they just stumble upon some major gossip?

Hain also realized his slip of the tongue. He lowered his hand to his side.

He had lost.

He had asked such a question recklessly, yet Tu Nan still hadn't responded to him.

The study fell silent for a moment, with only the points of light on the star map flickering.

Like sparks.

Like Tu Nan's fate.

Uncertain and blurred.