FT DR Chapter 66: I Have Special Appraisal Skills

Chapter 66: I Have Special Appraisal Skills

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

Silence fell between father and son as they stared at each other expectantly, both hoping to see a compromise in the other’s eyes.

Yet they both failed.

After a while, Hannibal spoke again, his tone now carrying a hint of paternal severity. “Do you realize you almost lost your life? If that shot had been just ten centimeters higher, where would you be now, standing in front of me talking?”

Wu Chenghe felt his heart sink under the weight of his father’s powerful aura. Hannibal had always been gentle and loving towards him, the last time he used this tone with him was to stop him from attending Jin Xuan’s farewell performance. However, it had been a long time since he had used this half-commanding tone to question him after he had made it clear that he did not want interference in his personal matters.

For some reason, Wu Chenghe felt that this was the real Hannibal – strong, decisive, in control of everything, unquestionable. But as the Commander of the Voyager Army, he was adept at hiding his emotions, adept at using “affectionate” appearances to disguise his autocracy.

“It’s all in the past, it was just an accident. I’m still standing here fine, aren’t I?” Wu Chenghe felt a slight throbbing in his temples, a symptom of the drowsiness that often accompanies adulthood. His body demanded sleep immediately, but dropping out of school was too big of a matter, completely touching his bottom line. He had to snuff out any possibility of it happening immediately. So he tried to remain calm and said, “I’m a medical student, incidents like this probably only happen once every few decades. There won’t be a next time.”

“Next time? No, I can’t bear that risk.” Hannibal said sternly. “Charlie, I consider myself an enlightened father. Whatever you want to study, whoever you want to be friends with, I can respect your opinion. But I won’t allow you to joke with your own life. Anyway, I don’t want to hear your opinion on this matter. Sending you here in the first place was a huge mistake, and now it’s time to end it. I’m taking you home.”

Home? What home was there left? The Gabriel apartment? Wu Chenghe felt his body temperature rising, his consciousness clouding anxiously, his head spinning. Hannibal’s black-and-chestnut eagle had been hovering over his head, flapping its wings like it had been injected with chicken blood, the airflow it generated entering his collar, making his hair stand on end.

Admittedly, life at Aston was very difficult. There was a lot of academic pressure, fierce competition among classmates, and occasional troubles from idiots like the Balon brothers and Miss Lancer. But he liked life here, it was fulfilling and real, unlike at Gabriel, where everyone assumed he was the “Commander’s son,” and no one cared that he was actually Wu Chenghe, just an ordinary person from the lower class.

And here were Jin Xuan and Mu, who, compared to Hannibal, Marlow, and Lilith, were more like his family, his mentors, and his friends.

“I’m not going back. Coming here to study was my dream, and I don’t think my dream was a mistake.” Wu Chenghe tried to suppress his physical discomfort and said solemnly to Hannibal, “As for your concerns, I think you’re overreacting a bit. Even if the Black Pearl Spaceport disaster happened, I still came out unscathed. If I encounter similar dangers in the future, I believe I have the ability to handle them.”

“Unscathed? You call that unscathed?” Anger flashed in Hannibal’s eyes, he pointed to Wu Chenghe’s thigh, “You almost got crippled, do you know? It’s simply childish! I can see that your Dean hasn’t been telling the truth, you’ve been yawning several times since you came in, you have a fever, and I can feel from this far away that your body temperature is not within the normal range! Charlie, what are you hiding from me? Do you have other injuries on your body?”

Wu Chenghe’s brow furrowed. Hannibal was a strong sentinel, with highly developed senses. It was easy to perceive that he was feverish in this face-to-face situation, and there was also the black-and-chestnut eagle – it was now trying to land on his shoulder, as if it sensed something on his ear, making him completely afraid to turn his head, his neck even stiffening.

“It’s nothing, I’ve just caught a cold recently, so I have a fever and feel sleepy.” Wu Chenghe said calmly, getting up to fetch a drink from the fridge, taking the opportunity to avoid the harassment of the black-and-chestnut eagle, “Would you like some tea? Or juice?”

“No need,” Hannibal frowned, clearly not believing his words. He said, “When we return to Gabriel, I’ll have someone give you a thorough check-up. You’ve only been in the capital for less than a year, and you’ve become so thin. You clearly don’t know how to take care of yourself.”

“I said I wouldn’t go back!” Wu Chenghe felt inexplicably irritated. Hannibal’s self-centered attitude made him increasingly annoyed. Even though he inhabited the body of “Charlie Simpson,” it didn’t mean he had to fulfill all of this body’s obligations. “Dad, what do I have to say for you to seriously consider my opinion?”

“I don’t need to seriously consider opinions that disregard one’s own health,” Hannibal’s expression darkened completely. “I’m your father, would I harm you?”

“Marlow is also your son. He’s studying military science, facing dangers far greater than mine. Why don’t you consider bringing him back to Gabriel too?” Wu Chenghe blurted out. He was too tired and frustrated, his mind clouded with anger as if there were flames burning within. He completely lost his usual calm and gentleness. “Marlow is the son you should be more concerned about, isn’t he?”

“You’re not him. He’s a sentinel, he can ensure his own safety!” Hannibal was surprised by his backtalk, a hint of hostility in his expression. “What do you mean by ‘Marlow is the son I should be more concerned about’? Charlie, are you accusing me? I didn’t even know of your existence before. The reason I want you to drop out now is to keep you close and protect you better!”

“Is staying close to you safe?” Wu Chenghe’s temples throbbed painfully, his thoughts chaotic. For a moment, he completely forgot he was an eighteen-year-old teenager, speaking sharply, “If I remember correctly, I’ve been kidnapped twice in the territory of the Voyager Army. Commander, do you want to tie me to your belt and use me as a living target?”

His words struck deep. Hannibal was stunned, paused for a few seconds, then erupted in anger, “What did you say? Who are you talking to?!”

His voice was icy, yet filled with immense rage, like magma beneath a glacier’s cold surface. Wu Chenghe shivered, suddenly realizing his emotions were slipping out of control. He had been like this lately, hormonal imbalances of adolescence making him quick to anger, like a woman going through menopause.

His palms were sweaty, his back damp with sweat. Wu Chenghe struggled to restrain his emotions, opened the fridge door, the chill of the ice hitting his face, helping him calm down a bit. He took out a bottle of milk, pressed it against his forehead, warning himself not to act impulsively, not to say anything that would anger Hannibal. His intuition told him that clashing head-on with this domineering father would bring no benefits — after all, Hannibal held his guardianship.

“I’m sorry, I’m feeling a bit… unwell,” Wu Chenghe took a deep breath, saying, “I take back what I said just now, Dad. I know you mean well, but I can’t comply with your arrangements. Please, withdraw the transfer application immediately.”

“I never knew you could be so stubborn, Charlie,” Hannibal’s chest heaved violently, clearly still riled up by his sharp words. After a while, he calmed down a bit and said solemnly, “It’s okay if you don’t understand me, but your mother entrusted you to me, and I must fulfill my duties as your guardian.”

“I know my mother entrusted my guardianship to you, but I belong to myself first,” Wu Chenghe held the cold milk against himself to cool down. Since the conversation was already opened, retreating wouldn’t help. It was better to solve the problem once and for all. So he persisted, “I’m already eighteen, I have the right to decide my own future. If you don’t withdraw the application, I’ll go to the administration office tomorrow myself.”

Father and son fell silent again, Wu Chenghe didn’t yield an inch, while Hannibal’s gaze seemed to waver. Initially dark and aggressive, gradually it took on a cold determination. He took a deep breath, stood up, and said, “Alright, since you’re not feeling well, let’s not discuss this for now. You look tired too. Since you have a cold, you should go to bed early.”

Wu Chenghe had a gut feeling that Hannibal wasn’t convinced by what he had said, but at this point, pressing further might only lead to a stalemate. After hesitating for a moment, he nodded and said, “Okay, let’s talk about it again tomorrow.” 

Regardless, he wouldn’t drop out of school. If Hannibal insisted on not withdrawing the application, he would go to the administration office at Aston University tomorrow to retract it himself. He was eighteen years old, completely entitled to do so.

“Don’t overthink it, get some rest,” Hannibal’s face lost all its gloom, returning to a paternal demeanor. He came over and ruffled Wu Chenghe’s soft hair as he used to, planting a kiss on the top of his head. “I didn’t consider this matter carefully and didn’t discuss it with you beforehand. I scared you by blurting it out suddenly. I thought you wouldn’t object, especially after the Black Pearl incident left you injured.”

“I’m fine,” Wu Chenghe forced a smile and escorted him out. “I’m sorry for being so moody lately. I guess it’s because I’m sick. Goodbye, Dad.”

“Goodbye, Charlie,” Hannibal squeezed his shoulder, pulling him into a brief hug. “Dad loves you.”

Wu Chenghe found Hannibal’s words somewhat strange, lacking warmth and giving him an eerie feeling. He was about to pull away from his embrace when suddenly he felt a tingling sensation at the back of his neck and lost consciousness.

Hannibal held his son’s limp body, scooped him up with one arm under his knees, and carried him horizontally.

Wu Chenghe was very thin, 173 centimeters tall, weighing only about 53 or 54 kilograms, and felt weightless in his arms. Hannibal gently laid him on the bed, murmuring to himself, “I really didn’t want it to be like this… I shouldn’t have brought him to the capital. He’s much harder to deal with now, is it because of that kid Jin Xuan? It’s unforgivable!”

The black-and-chestnut eagle let out a sharp cry, landing on the bookshelf at the head of the bed, its golden ringed eyes greedily watching Wu Chenghe’s unconscious face. Hannibal smirked, saying, “Luckily, this accident gives me a good reason to openly take him back to Gabriel. But… damn it, they hurt him!”

Hannibal covered his son’s thigh with his large hand, lightly stroking the scar on his leg through his pants. A hint of resentment gradually appeared in his eyes. “Someday I’ll make them all pay!”

“Kuo—” The black-and-chestnut eagle screeched in response, its wings fluttering, stirring up a cold breeze. Hannibal glanced disdainfully at it, saying, “Don’t worry, he’s about to come of age, and soon you’ll find his quantum beast. The descendants of the Wu family are special, they are the most powerful type among invisible guides.”

He lowered his head, his enamored gaze scanning over his son’s forehead, nose, and finally landing on his slightly parted lips, gently kissing them and caressing them. ¹

“He’s mine, my blood flows in his veins, his flesh and bone are all given by me, no one can take him away,” Hannibal murmured, closing his eyes and inhaling deeply, savoring the clean and sweet breath between his son’s lips and teeth, the clean scent unique to an eighteen-year-old, the scent of a soon-to-be-adult guide…

“Yuna!” After a while, Hannibal sat up straight again, returning to his solemn demeanor, and called out.

His omnipresent first secretary promptly appeared, “Commander.”

“I’m taking Charlie back to the ‘Quadrant’ flagship,” Hannibal said, opening the wardrobe and draping a short coat over his son’s body, then lifting him up horizontally. “You pack his luggage, clothes, books, and all his little trinkets. Don’t miss anything. Have it all sent over by midnight.”

“Yes,” Yuna replied respectfully, glancing at the unconscious Wu Chenghe in Hannibal’s arms, hesitating, “Is Mr. Charlie sick? Should we have a doctor on standby?”

Hannibal gave Yuna a cold glance, then turned Wu Chenghe’s face towards himself, directly ignoring her question. “Have Ivanov arrange level-one defense, protect the flagship, and be prepared to return to Gabriel at any time.”

“Yes,” Yuna went silent, bowing her head, not daring to look up again.

Military and political center, top floor of the Information Building. The clock ticked to half past ten. Jin Xuan stretched lazily, closed the fan-shaped holographic screen in front of him, and turned on his personal terminal on his right hand. No missed calls, no messages, and no emails.

This isn’t normal… Jin Xuan frowned. They agreed to talk every night before bed. It was already this late; Wu Chenghe couldn’t still be awake. Why was there no message at all?

Jin Xuan tried to connect to Wu Chenghe’s line, but the communication request kept flashing in his palm, with no response.

Is he asleep? Did he forget? Jin Xuan tried again, but still no response.

Something wasn’t right; even if he was asleep, he should have woken up after such a long call. Jin Xuan had a bad feeling and immediately accessed the personal terminal tracking system through his administrator privileges, entering Wu Chenghe’s DNA sequence.

He wasn’t at school, nor in Twin City, not even on the Dunkirk continent… Jin Xuan’s expression changed drastically as he expanded the search to Star Cluster City. Finally, he detected Wu Chenghe’s signal in the Military Harbor of Planet Dunkirk.

Why would he be in the Military Harbor? What was he doing there? Why wasn’t he answering the phone? Jin Xuan swiftly switched to the internal map of the Military Harbor, checking Wu Chenghe’s location. He found that there was a medium-sized foreign fleet docked there, with one flagship and six auxiliary ships, along with two logistics supply ships.

The Military Harbor’s takeoff and landing system was top secret, and he didn’t have clearance, but Jin Xuan didn’t hesitate for a second. He directly activated his homemade hacking software and infiltrated it. After a few minutes of data conversion, he downloaded all the registered IDs of the ships in the Military Harbor and began checking them one by one, immediately spotting the problem.

The “Quadrant” fleet, belonging to the First Army of the Voyager Army, under the direct command of Commander Hannibal.

So it was him.

Jin Xuan’s eyes gradually turned cold. He shut down the system, grabbed his military uniform jacket, and walked briskly to the rooftop landing pad. A few minutes later, a small shuttle belonging to the NTU shot up into the sky, quickly breaking the sound barrier and flying towards the Military Harbor.

The “Quadrant” fleet was docked in a first-level defensive formation in the Military Harbor. Jin Xuan’s shuttle had just entered its defensive range when he received a warning, “Warning, this is the ‘Quadrant’ fleet of the First Army of the Voyager Army. You have entered our defensive range. Please, retreat immediately, or you will be shot down!”

Jin Xuan piloted the shuttle to hover in place and opened communication with the other side. “This is the NTU Information Division. I am Major Jin Xuan, requesting immediate docking.” He then transmitted the presidentially approved pass.

A few minutes later, a message came from the “Quadrant”: “Docking granted.”

Guided by the navigation system, the shuttle slowly entered the main flagship of the “Quadrant,” the dock closed, and the air pressure normalized. Jin Xuan popped open the shuttle cockpit and stepped out.

“Hello, Major Jin,” a middle-aged woman in the Voyager Army uniform stood at the entrance of the dock, saluting him. “I’m Yuna, Commander Hannibal’s first secretary. I’ve been instructed to escort you to see the Commander.”

“Hello.” Jin Xuan, although a civilian, outranked Yuna in military rank, so he didn’t return the salute, just nodded coldly. “Was Wu Chenghe taken by the Commander?”

“Yes,” Yuna replied. “Mr. Charlie isn’t feeling well, and the Commander is very worried, so he brought him here for recuperation.”

Jin Xuan didn’t say anything more, just made a simple gesture, indicating for her to lead the way. Yuna respectfully extended her hand. “Please, follow me.”

The “Quadrant” was one of the most elite space fleets of the Voyager Army, with a full formation of nearly two thousand ships, including over a hundred interstellar-class flagships. This time, Hannibal only brought nine ships, but they were all the cream of the crop.

The flagship was magnificent. Jin Xuan and Yuna rode an air float car along the main corridor for nearly fifteen minutes before reaching the central hall. This was the core of the entire ship, where the crew were busy at their stations. Hannibal’s tall figure stood in front of the main control console, holding a cup of tea, studying a holographic star map.

“Commander, Major Jin is here,” Yuna brought Jin Xuan to him. Hannibal didn’t look at him, manipulating the star map in his hand for a while before finally gesturing to Yuna to leave.

“I met the President here for the first time,” Hannibal began, enlarging a dim asteroid and pushing it towards Jin Xuan. “Back then, he was still in the Voyager Army, a famous war hero. We new recruits all admired him.”

Jin Xuan remained expressionless, glancing at the planet briefly before shifting his gaze to Hannibal’s eyes. “I want to see Wu Chenghe.” 

He had no mood to listen to these old fogies reminiscing. What was this, some kind of alternative soul soup?

A faint hint of hostility rose in Hannibal’s eyes. The faint light from the holographic star map reflected on his face, giving his stern features an almost sinister edge. He stared at Jin Xuan intently, then with a sweep of his right hand, he deactivated the star map. “He’s sleeping.”

“I want to see him.”

“I won’t allow it.”

A tense silence filled the grand central control hall as the two strong-willed men faced each other. Despite the bustling activity around them, they seemed enveloped by an invisible wall of ice, emanating a chilling aura.

“You have no right to stop me.”

“But I have the ability.” Hannibal’s lips curled into a cold smile. “Jin Xuan, my patience has its limits. Stay away from my son. I don’t want to have to apologize to His Excellency the President one day because of you.”

“I doubt you’ll ever get that chance,” Jin Xuan replied calmly. “This is illegal confinement, and I have every reason to request the Harbor Patrol to search your fleet. You have no right to detain Wu Chenghe. He’s your son, not your slave.”

“I am his guardian. He’s sick and injured, and I have a duty to protect him and take him home.” Hannibal’s cold smile persisted. “And you, who are you? What gives you the right to request a search of my fleet? Because your brother is the President?”

“Because I’m his fiancé.” Jin Xuan raised his left hand, displaying the simple sperm whale ring on his middle finger. “Didn’t he tell you? We got engaged half a month ago.”

A flicker of surprise crossed Hannibal’s face, and his sharp gaze honed in on Jin Xuan’s left hand, as if he wanted to incinerate the bothersome ring into thin air.

The black-and-chestnut eagle on his shoulder couldn’t contain itself and took flight, emitting a sharp angry screech, its wings flapping fiercely, revealing its claws gleaming with a metallic sheen.

“Roar—” Jin Xuan’s Barbary lion immediately stepped forward, its eyes fixed on the black-and-chestnut eagle, shoulders raised, front paws lowered, emitting a low growl from its throat, its sharp fangs gleaming menacingly.

Quantum beasts were the most direct manifestation of a sentinel’s emotions. Once a sentinel was strongly stimulated mentally, even if he could conceal his true emotions well, it was difficult for him to suppress his quantum beast immediately, because they were primal, much more impulsive than humans.

Jin Xuan drew in a breath, unflinching. He didn’t reveal Wu Chenghe’s engagement ring and concoct the “engagement” news out of thin air in hopes of using it to search the “Quadrant” fleet. Being a fiancé didn’t grant legal protection, and he wasn’t that naive. He just wanted to figure out whether he was dealing with a father-in-law or a rival.

Back at the Gabriel Military Harbor, he had vaguely sensed that Hannibal’s attitude towards Wu Chenghe was somewhat unusual. But at that time, he had only speculated, as the idea was too dark and dirty, and he didn’t want to associate it with Wu Chenghe at all.

But now, at this moment, seeing Hannibal’s furious and jealous gaze, witnessing the black-and-chestnut eagle’s almost insane hatred, he understood completely. Most fathers would have some resistance to the man about to take away their son, but Hannibal’s resistance was almost violent, to the point of losing control. He didn’t want to believe it, but he had no choice but to believe it. He wasn’t facing an angry father; he was facing a rival so jealous it bordered on madness.

The worst part was that this rival held a deadly ace—guardianship.

But things weren’t entirely dire yet. After all, this rival had a fatal weakness—marriage.

 

 

 

 

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