Chapter 1 Huttle's Refusal

The Huttle higher-ups were unwilling to hand over the person, so there was no need to stay in the prison. Han Xiao expressed his intention to leave immediately. Walman made a few perfunctory attempts to persuade him to stay, then stopped. The group boarded the hovercar and returned the way they came, heading to the port.

The atmosphere in the car was silent; no one spoke. Han Xiao closed his eyes to rest, while Reynold hesitated beside him.

Walman secretly sized up Han Xiao's expression. He figured Black Star must be displeased at being rejected, but he didn't care about Han Xiao's thoughts. He was just relaying the higher-ups' decision anyway. Whatever dissatisfaction Black Star had was none of his business.

Besides, Walman didn't think it was a big deal to displease Black Star. Civilizations were always the mainstream in this universe, and no matter how strong Black Star was, he wasn't an official.

As a diplomat, he felt that he had conveyed the attitude of the higher-ups—the Huttle Civilization had no intention of trying to win Black Star over. As it stood, the Purple Crystal had already taken the lead, and they couldn't compete with a Star Cluster Civilization.

So many Galaxy Civilizations were currying favor with Black Star; they were just one of them. Godora was the Galaxy Civilization with the closest relationship to Black Star, and they were Godora's competitors. No matter how he looked at it, Black Star couldn't possibly establish too close a connection with the Huttle Civilization.

Therefore, Walman believed that the higher-ups knew they had no chance, so they couldn't be bothered to win him over. Handing over Lothaire wouldn't get them anything in return, so why should they lower themselves to meet Black Star's demands? It was enough to have a shallow relationship, just like other Galaxy Civilizations, with the Black Star Army's branch base as a link to save face.

In Walman's eyes, Black Star's behavior of demanding someone with just a few words was a sign of arrogance and a lack of self-awareness.

*These Galaxy Civilizations of ours will indeed give you some face, but we won't give you everything you want.*

Just as Walman was pondering the higher-ups' intentions and lost in his own thoughts, the hovercar finally returned to the port.

Han Xiao and Reynold got out of the car and boarded the spaceship, with Walman accompanying them all the way to see them off.

Stepping onto the gangway, just as he was about to enter the cabin door, Han Xiao turned back and glanced at Walman on the dock, suddenly smiling.

"We'll be seeing each other again soon."

"You're welcome to visit again," Walman said with a sincere fake smile.

The spaceship trembled, quickly starting up, following the port channel, turning into a high-speed stream of light, and disappearing into the horizon.

Watching the spaceship leave, Walman put away his smile, massaged his stiff facial muscles, and turned to wave to the team members accompanying him.

"That's all for today."

…

Five days passed peacefully.

On this day, the refined Walman was still biding his time at the Black Star Army branch in the Skywalker Star System when an urgent notice arrived in his inbox. A team from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was about to arrive at the Black Star Army branch, and he was to prepare for their arrival.

"Strange, why wasn't there any prior notice? Suddenly sending people to the Black Star Army branch, what's this about?"

The notice wasn't according to procedure, and it didn't explain the purpose of these Foreign Affairs colleagues' visit, so Walman was a little puzzled, but since it was a task assigned by his superiors, he could only complete it.

Bringing his team members with him, he arranged the welcoming preparations, and then Walman led the team to the port of the branch base to await the arrival of these colleagues.

This Black Star Army satellite branch base was built in the outer orbit of a resource planet, orbiting it and supervising the mining teams on the planet. The port was a suspended interstellar spaceport, built next to the satellite branch base, an independent small space station.

Walman waited for over half an hour, and then an official spaceship bearing the Huttle Civilization's insignia approached from afar and docked at the spaceport wharf.

The spaceship came to a stop, the cabin door slowly opened, and a group of diplomats, accompanied by several Purple Crystal people, walked down the gangway with laughter and chatter.

Walman hurried forward to greet them and introduce himself.

"This is Walman, the Foreign Affairs officer in charge of the Black Star Army branch. These are the envoys from the Purple Crystal Civilization. We just completed a handover and are preparing to stop here to rest," a diplomat said elegantly.

Envoys from the Purple Crystal Civilization! Walman was shocked. The Purple Crystal was the ruling civilization of Colton, and Huttle was just one of the Galaxy Civilizations under it. To specially send envoys to visit was an important diplomatic mission.

Walman couldn't help but envy these Foreign Affairs colleagues who were receiving the Purple Crystal envoys and talking and laughing so merrily. They were usually active on the political stage between civilizations, and their work was more elegant and dignified, while he had been sent here to manage an armed force.

*I'll be transferred back sooner or later…* Walman comforted himself. The higher-ups had sent him to manage the Black Star Army branch because they believed in his professional ability and that he wouldn't make mistakes. An elite diplomat like himself would definitely return to the Foreign Affairs headquarters.

Just as he was about to invite the Purple Crystal envoys to rest, several armed personnel escorted a woman off the spaceship. Walman turned to look and was instantly stunned.

The woman being escorted was none other than Lothaire, whom he and Black Star had met a few days ago!

A look of shock flashed in Walman's eyes, and he tugged at a Foreign Affairs colleague who was accompanying the Purple Crystal envoys, whispering, "Why is she on your ship? Why are you bringing her here?"

The colleague was taken aback. "You know her? She's an important prisoner whom the Purple Crystal envoy specifically sent people to receive, named Lothaire."

Walman was shaken and immediately thought of Black Star.

*Could it be…*

Just then, another spaceship landed. Walman recognized this warship as Black Star's personal vessel.

The cabin door opened, and Han Xiao walked out with Reynold. The Purple Crystal envoys, who had been unsmiling just moments before, immediately smiled and went up to greet him.

After exchanging a few words with a smile, the Purple Crystal envoy waved his hand, and several armed personnel escorted Lothaire to Han Xiao, removing all kinds of restraints in public and releasing her on the spot.

Lothaire rubbed her wrists, glanced sideways at Reynold, then looked at Han Xiao deeply, saying nothing, as Reynold led her aboard the Blacklight Lurker.

Han Xiao turned and noticed Walman, who was standing on the edge of the crowd, looking dazed. He smiled and walked over.

"I told you, we'd be seeing each other again soon."

"You…" Walman suddenly didn't know how to respond to the situation.

"It's not a big deal, really. Since your Huttle Civilization doesn't allow bail, I had to find a civilization that allows it," Han Xiao said, raising an eyebrow.

Walman's lips trembled, and he forced a stiff smile, with ten thousand "what the fuck" echoing in his heart, yet he dared not say a word.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw his colleagues smiling like a spring breeze, as if they had known this would happen all along. It seemed he was the only one kept in the dark.

In that instant, he felt that his most precious sense of superiority had been shattered to pieces, and it was shattered by the Huttle Civilization government that had bestowed it upon him.

Han Xiao didn't look at him again. He turned to shake hands with the Purple Crystal envoy, exchanged a few pleasantries, boarded his spaceship, and left with Lothaire.

Walman clenched his fists, forced another smile, and continued to deal with the Purple Crystal envoys. Work was still the priority.

After finally settling these envoys, Walman returned to his office, where he was temporarily alone.

Sitting in his seat, Walman let out a long breath, trying to suppress his thoughts. He picked up a book and tried to read, but he couldn't focus at all.

Whenever he thought of Black Star, Walman felt uncomfortable. He secretly comforted himself, saying that this matter was just a game between the higher-ups and had nothing to do with him.

He had no conflict with Black Star, and fortunately, he had always maintained diplomatic etiquette. No one knew how he had mocked others in his heart. As long as he didn't dwell on it, no one would know that he felt he had lost face.

*Didi—*

Just then, Walman's communicator rang. He opened it and saw that it was a message from his direct superior.

"His Excellency Black Star specifically notified us that he was very satisfied with your reception, that it made him feel very comfortable, and that he hopes to see you again next time. Your transfer application will be temporarily postponed, and you will continue to be responsible for the Black Star Army branch's diplomatic duties…"

*Bang!*

Just as several team members were about to push the door open, they suddenly heard the sound of something smashing in the office.

The team members hurriedly pushed the door open and saw that their leader Walman's usually calm face was now ashen. The floor near his desk was covered in messy debris, his usual crystal cup had been shattered into pieces, and a cyan drink had soaked the physical books that he usually took such care to protect.

…

Blacklight Lurker, the main hall of the cabin.

The three sat on the corners of the circular sofa, forming a tripartite situation. Lothaire's gaze constantly shifted between Han Xiao and Reynold. Reynold sat upright, his eyes fixed straight ahead, while Han Xiao leaned back on the sofa, one hand resting on the back of the chair, the other holding a glass of wine, studying Lothaire with interest.

"You saved me, what do you want me to do for you? Don't be shy, tell me."

Lothaire took the lead in breaking the silence, her tone cynical.

Reynold frowned. "I simply wanted to rescue you…"

"Spare me. Save those words to fool yourself."

Lothaire interrupted Reynold, crossed her legs, and said with a playful expression, "I don't know this 'His Excellency Black Star'. In order to get me out, you even got the Purple Crystal involved. That must have cost a lot, right? I don't believe that you paid such a high price just to satisfy the wishes of a foolish subordinate. Heh, you must have told this Black-whatever about my abilities… Sorry, your nickname is too silly; I can't be bothered to say it."

*Is this woman a hedgehog? She's hostile to everyone…*

Han Xiao thought to himself. He remembered that Lothaire during the Silver Revolutionary Army period in his previous life didn't seem to have this personality.

Reynold said in a deep voice, "I used myself as a trade to ask His Excellency Black Star to save you! Don't be ungrateful!"

"Oh." Lothaire curled her lips, her tone sarcastic. "So, you think I'll definitely be grateful to you?"

"You!" Reynold was annoyed.

"I'm curious, what is it about you that makes this Black-whatever agree to such a request? What do you have that would make him value you?" Lothaire looked Reynold up and down.

"I'm a Calamity Grade!"

"Oh, ho, you've become promising," Lothaire said, exaggeratedly opening her mouth wide and clapping her hands twice as a symbolic gesture, without any sincerity. She shrugged and said, "So, you mean he values you a lot?"

Reynold was speechless. Han Xiao was right next to him, and he couldn't brag about how valued he was. He felt like he would be making himself out to be something he wasn't.

"Cough," Han Xiao interrupted the conversation and said, "Getting the Purple Crystal Civilization involved isn't a difficult matter for me. You've been imprisoned for too long, you haven't heard of my name."

Using force was out of the question. Even if he had status now, attacking a civilization would still attract various sanctions. The army was on the rise, so he naturally couldn't cut off his foundation.

As for withdrawing the branch base to show his attitude, it would have a negative impact. It would make the other cooperating interstellar civilizations feel that he was trying to hijack the will of an interstellar power. He wasn't a Super-A yet; being too overbearing wasn't good and was not conducive to maintaining stable cooperative relations.

Solving this matter was actually very simple. The Huttle Civilization could take over Lothaire from the Sessiris Star, and the Purple Crystal could also take over the prisoner from them. Just a simple handover was all it took.

The Purple Crystal valued him far more than the Huttle did, because he and the Purple Crystal were equal partners, while Huttle knew they couldn't compete. Black Star was amazing, but he wasn't their staunch ally, so they couldn't be bothered to curry favor and naturally dared to refuse him, being very nonchalant.

However, showing loyalty to the Purple Crystal had far more benefits, so when the Purple Crystal intervened, the Huttle Civilization, who had been so righteous, immediately changed their tune.

The impact was small, and the efficiency was high. This was Han Xiao's preferred solution. If a player were to do this mission, they could basically only use violence to break into the prison.

"Is that so? You have quite the big mouth; it seems you're a big shot," Lothaire raised an eyebrow. "It seems I need to brush up on the history of the last ten years or so."

As she spoke, Lothaire gracefully stood up, walked to Han Xiao, reached out and took his glass of wine, tilted her head back and drank it all in one gulp, threw the empty glass away casually, sat back down, and burped, waving her hand casually. "I was thirsty, so I borrowed it for a drink. A big shot like you definitely won't hold it against me, right?"

Han Xiao turned to look at Reynold. "Your sister has quite the personality; she's like a rascal."

"She's always been so self-willed and sarcastic, never considering other people's feelings!" Reynold couldn't help but complain. "So, I wasn't surprised when she later became an ambitious schemer who manipulated an entire civilization!"

"Yeah, I'm an ambitious schemer, a sarcastic rascal. Releasing me will cause countless people to suffer. Do you regret saving me, dear little brother?" Lothaire made a face.

"No," Reynold snorted, not bothering to argue.

"Tsk, I'm a little touched, what should I do? As expected, no matter how much you hurt your family, your family is always willing to be a sucker."

Lothaire stretched lazily and said languidly, "Since you don't plan to use me, am I free to leave as I please? If you refuse, I'll assume that you still plan to use me. Of course, you don't need to feel ashamed of your hypocrisy; I've seen plenty of it."

Hearing this, Reynold turned to look at Han Xiao. He had only wanted to rescue Lothaire and fulfill his obligation. As for where Lothaire went in the future, he didn't want to care at all. The only one who could decide to let her go was Han Xiao.

Han Xiao rubbed his chin and suddenly asked, "You created a new religion in your hometown, brainwashing countless people and making them believe in you. Everyone thinks you're an ambitious schemer."

"Hmm, you have the same keen eye as every ordinary person in the world, and you also like to repeat nonsense," Lothaire said with a mocking expression. "What, does this big shot of yours want to criticize my behavior from on high? Go ahead, I'll try to repent for a minute, any longer would be too much."

"But I don't think you're an ambitious schemer; I think you're a reformer," Han Xiao leaned forward, gazing into Lothaire's eyes, his tone neither too heavy nor too light, as he began to apply fertilizer (start praising her).

As soon as he finished speaking, Lothaire's expression froze, and a look of panic flashed in her eyes. She was stunned on the spot.