Chapter 58

After class, Yuan Hanshuang left the tiered lecture hall carrying two thick volumes of *A Brief History of the Starry Sky*.

Lou Jia lending her his books was reasonable yet unexpected. After all, he was a certified good person radiating a holy aura; anything kind he did would not surprise anyone. However, Feng Yuanming purposefully stopping her after class to hand her a book felt suspicious, especially when linked to his son Feng Bai’s surveillance of her at the memorial museum and various other signs during military training.

Taking advantage of the lunch break, Yuan Hanshuang went to the cafeteria to buy her daily quota of nutritional fluid, then headed to the study hall.

She had originally planned to visit the Imperial Military Academy library this afternoon to carry out her plan, but upon second thought, she decided Feng Yuanming’s move warranted attention to see what he was really up to.

The Silver Star Academy study hall was vast and quiet.

Yuan Hanshuang was now somewhat of a minor campus celebrity. As she walked in, many people in the study hall noticed her. Freshmen excitedly waved at her, and upperclassmen replying to posts on the forum gave her thumbs-up gestures.

After greeting them, Yuan Hanshuang found a window seat and sat down.

She first opened the book Lou Jia had given her.

The military academy student council president's book was very clean, just like the new book Feng Yuanming had given her. Aside from a crease on the spine, there were virtually no signs of use.

Clearly, Lou Jia took his classes very seriously. Unlike many students who habitually used recordings to take notes, he used the most traditional method, jotting down the core knowledge points taught by the teacher in the margins around the text.

His handwriting was also exceptionally neat—delicate yet upright, slender yet forceful, showing at least a decade of practice. In the interstellar era, even college entrance examinations were answered using electronic cards, leaving extremely limited opportunities to use paper and pen. It was rare to see a young person who would actually spend time practicing calligraphy.

"Truly, the handwriting reflects the person," Yuan Hanshuang muttered, flipping through a couple of pages with a soft chuckle.

She set this book aside, picked up the brand-new textbook Feng Yuanming had given her, and carefully leafed through it.

Just as Yuan Hanshuang had guessed, the honorary president indeed intended to use this book to convey some cryptic information to her. On page three hundred and twenty-one, the chapter recording the history of the doomsday insect swarm, there was not only an obvious crease distinguishing it from other pages, but several pages were also stuck together.

Yuan Hanshuang frowned, retrieved a small knife from her spatial storage button, and cut along the center of the pages.

Once sliced open, she picked up the item hidden inside, and her expression changed abruptly.

It was a blank Imperial Military Academy student ID and a library borrowing card.

"So you just gave it to her like that?"

In the Imperial Military Academy president's office, Feng Bai asked incredulously.

"Mhm." Feng Yuanming unhurriedly dropped a few red wolfberries into his cup. "I told you, your methods are still too covert, Feng Bai. Unless it is an absolute last resort, you never leave behind clues or handles. But if she truly is the young master, hiding her identity for all these years, how could she possibly expose herself so casually?"

"Just as you said last time, even though she went to the central teaching building to scout it out, she gave up at the very last second. That proves she is a sufficiently cautious person. In times like this, we should all the more display our sincerity and take the initiative to step back, otherwise we risk ruining things by trying to be too clever."

He raised his teacup. "Besides, the Third Princess knew when we assisted Commander Hai in escaping. As long as we project goodwill, the princess can easily deduce the existence of the Third Legion's remnants."

"Commander Hai is missing, and we are not the only ones worrying. If the princess and the young master are still alive, they undoubtedly lack support. This is evident from the fact that she even wanted to sneak into the military academy archives to search for information."

"Fine, you're right."

After a few rounds of debate, Feng Bai conceded. "Even if you gave her the student ID and borrowing card, to take a step back and assume our guess was completely wrong from the start, as an oblivious college student, she wouldn't be able to connect any of this to the remnants."

"Mhm, that's how it is." Feng Yuanming sat in the office's presidential chair, wearing a knowing smile. "Rest assured, if she is the one, she will definitely come. Because we hold far too many things she currently needs."

Little did he know that in Feng Bai's eyes, this smile looked thoroughly old and cunning.

"Next, we just wait for her to proactively contact us."

On the other side, Yuan Hanshuang decisively canceled her original plan for this afternoon.

She wasn't stupid. Since Feng Yuanming had delivered the student ID and borrowing card right to her doorstep, how could she fail to realize that her previously self-perceived covert plan had been completely seen through?

*They even knew I picked up Bian Yu's student ID in the tiered lecture hall. It seems they've been watching me much closer than I imagined.*

Had she known earlier, Yuan Hanshuang would not have rushed so hastily to scout the location.

Fortunately, this wasn't entirely bad news. At least based on the clues obtained so far, Feng Yuanming and Feng Bai could safely be determined as allies. But as for whether to pursue further contact... honestly, Yuan Hanshuang hadn't decided yet.

For a full five years, her father's news had been like a stone sinking into the sea. If she could gain assistance, perhaps—

"SpongeBob? SpongeBob?"

The Dark Street registration assistant called out several times. Seeing no reaction from her, the assistant hurriedly reached out and gave her a gentle push.

"Ah?" Thanks to a lack of sleep over the past few days, Yuan Hanshuang frequently zoned out.

Recovering her senses, she asked, "Is it my turn?"

Ever since she signed the star fighter contract with the Dark Street that day, the Black Prince's casual remark about fighting ten 2v2 matches a day to look at win rates and ranking accordingly had literally worked this group of contracted fighters to exhaustion for three whole days.

The Dark Street was also extremely shrewd, putting a probationary period clause in the contract. If she failed this probationary period, all promised resources would be completely voided. Under the deterrence of the Dark Street's strongest interstellar legal team, ordinary people were left with no choice but to be exploited by the capitalists.

If not for the free meals provided, Yuan Hanshuang would have quit long ago.

"Yeah, it's your turn."

"Oh, alright." Yuan Hanshuang sluggishly stepped onto the stage.

Since the only people present were other resting star fighters, her posture was quite relaxed, intending to finish the fight quickly—unaware that all of this was being witnessed by another group of observers in the VIP lounge.

The outer curtain of the VIP lounge was bright silver, and people outside assumed it was just an ordinary wall.

In reality, if someone pressed a hidden button, the mercury-like curtain would flow away and vanish, revealing the people behind it.

The familiar cubic holographic projection and the black-haired youth familiarly seated in the high-backed chair.

"Your Excellency Jiayou—"

The Central Star System supervisor stood guard nearby with trembling trepidation, inwardly cursing SpongeBob's lazy posture over and over again, terrified that this exalted figure would be displeased upon seeing it.

"Shut up."

Jiayou said indifferently, "I gave you a week, and this is the group of good-for-nothings you recruited?"

Expressionless, he propped his head with one hand as he sat in the chair. Beneath the ferocious iron mask, ice-blue eyes stared coldly at the twin-tailed black-haired girl displaying her skills down in the combat arena.

"Among those selected, how have their win rates been over the past three days?"

"Reporting to Your Excellency, the win rates fluctuate very little." The supervisor hesitated for a moment. "Only the one teamed up with SpongeBob stands out remarkably, roughly 10% higher than the other groups."

Following three days of random matching, an extra 10% win rate was undoubtedly a staggering number.

Even though the supervisor held grievances regarding SpongeBob's usual perfunctory attitude, he had to admit that among this group of star fighters, purely in terms of individual strength, she was definitely the most prominent one.

Jiayou remained silent.

Since he didn't speak, the supervisor dared not say anything more.

The Black Prince had always possessed an inscrutable mind and tolerated no disobedience. His requirement for subordinates was simply to answer whatever was asked and avoid clever, self-righteous speculation, or they would die all the faster.

"Bring me the roster."

After obtaining the roster, Jiayou casually tapped the light screen repeatedly: "This one, this one, and this SpongeBob stay. Throw all the rest into the ordinary group."

"Understood."

After the Central Star System supervisor departed, Jiayou slowly rose from the crimson high-backed chair.

The military academy student council president's office, decorated in a dark deep-red European style, was dimly lit. The bright daylight was blocked by heavy cashmere curtains hanging from the floor-to-ceiling windows, leaving only the flickering, dancing candlelight on the desk.

Unlike the cold and stern Imperial Military Academy, the Federal Military Academy exuded luxury and hierarchy at every turn. The sternness of power and rank was vividly displayed here, granting only the strong the authority to enjoy superior privileges.

Cutting off the projection, the black-haired youth removed his demonic iron mask.

His handsome features were concealed within the projected firelight, deep and unfathomable.

If anyone were to witness this scene here, they would undoubtedly be immensely surprised, because this was a face exceedingly familiar to the entire interstellar society—one that frequently appeared in major headline reports and the Holy See's New Year's address speeches.

Yet, on one person, this face conveyed holiness and compassion, while on another, it manifested profound indifference and disdain.

If Lou Jia represented divinity, then Jiayou represented pure demonic nature.

It was hard to imagine how the exact same face could interpret two completely opposing temperaments.

Jiayou casually cast off his long black trench coat and pressed the light screen.

"Your Excellency." Someone immediately bowed on the opposite side of the light screen, awaiting instructions.

"Import my holographic projection into the Central Star System VIP combat arena for 2v2 team matching. I want to personally test the skill level of each and every one of them."

Although located several star clusters away, interstellar technology endowed holographic projections with greater significance. For instance, one could team up with anyone in the Dark Street without being physically present, offering a considerable degree of convenience.

"Right," Jiayou instructed repeatedly, "Set it to ordinary combatant status; do not expose my identity."

"As you command, Your Excellency."

On the other side, after Yuan Hanshuang finished her final combat match, the roster of those who successfully passed the probation was freshly released.

Only three people passed, and she was prominently among them.

"Ten people, minus the trickster who sneaked in on the first day, and only three actually passed in the end?"

One of the selected fighters clicked his tongue in amazement. "That bigwig's standards are ridiculously harsh."

"Watch your tongue. That Excellency is not someone you can discuss casually."

A personal assistant cast him a warning glance. "The six fighters who failed the probation can still enjoy partial resource benefits by signing another supplementary agreement and entering the ordinary star group."

"Now, please follow the expert group to sign your contracts."

The six eliminated fighters departed with regret, leaving only three people in the VIP lounge.

Yuan Hanshuang keenly noticed that, including herself, the three individuals who passed the probation were without exception close-combat and defense-type fighters who frequently participated in 1v1 and 2v2 matches on their individual fighter panels.

The value of this star fighter program went without saying; from recruitment onward, it was escorted all the way by professional personnel and internal staff of the Black Tower. While the fighters engaged in 2v2 matches upstairs over the past few days, a professional team downstairs even operated mechanical avatars to calculate various data.

Even Yuan Hanshuang's physical data had been calculated quite accurately by them, though fortunately, she had not truly exposed her full strength.

For a mere talent recruitment program, even a top-tier one, this display was somewhat exaggerated.

Based on Yuan Hanshuang's understanding of the Dark Street's style, she suspected the Black Prince's true purpose in designing this program was definitely not what was written in the contract—such as creating some top-tier Dark Street spokesperson—and undoubtedly harbored other motives.

Being provided with room and board was great, but getting entangled in the Black Tower's conspiracies was not.

Yuan Hanshuang pondered that she could deliberately perform a bit worse. After all, there were three people selected in total; having one more freeloader wouldn't cause the wealthy Dark Street to go bankrupt.

"Very well, next you will need to be randomly matched into teams to face opponents of a higher tier."

Action followed thought. Yuan Hanshuang chose random matching.

Oddly enough, despite it being random matching, this time the matching process completed in less than a second.

When Yuan Hanshuang stepped onto the stage, her randomly matched teammate was already standing there.

The teammate was over 1.9 meters tall, with a slender, tall, and thin physique. Due to the molecular sunglasses shielding system, his specific face could not be seen, but he wore a black shirt with the collar slightly open, revealing pale collarbones and a thin pectoral muscle beneath.

Yuan Hanshuang couldn't help but take a few extra glances at this teammate whose ID was "King".

Though it was a holographic battle and wouldn't cause genuine injury, it was quite rare to see someone fighting while dressed in a runway-standard male model outfit that was fitted yet revealing.

"What is your combat type?" Taking advantage of the waiting time, she turned her head and asked, intending to slack off.

"Ranged," King replied indifferently.

Yuan Hanshuang: Understood.

So he was a delicate and fragile ranged fighter from the backline trio.