FT DR Chapter 68: The Pursuit of the Duo

Chapter 68: The Pursuit of the Duo

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

Jin Xuan raced back to the Information Tower from the nearby Military Harbor. He sent the brief he had prepared halfway through the journey to the leader of the “Black Pearl Case” task force via encrypted channels, then immediately packed his things to head back to Aston University.

Just as he finished organizing his toolbox, his right palm trembled—it was Jin Zhe. Jin Xuan frowned, thinking that this old rascal was quite well-informed. He answered the call, “Brother?”

“The NTU Commander said you’re going to the Voyager Army’s jurisdiction with intelligence personnel?”

“Yeah.”

“You belong to the information group. What are you doing there?”

“The official answer is for work.” Jin Xuan was always straightforward with his dear brother. “The private answer is for Wu Chenghe. You should already know, right? Hannibal is here and wants to take him back to Gabriel.”

Jin Zhe fell silent for a moment. Hannibal was a military commander dispatched from elsewhere, so he needed to report back to him when returning to Planet Dunkirk. Not only did he know Hannibal had come, but he also knew he had brought the “Quadrant.”

Not long after the Black Pearl incident, Jin Zhe keenly sensed potential unexpected events. So when the police were grading Wu Chenghe’s injuries, he intentionally downgraded them by one level to “E.” In reality, considering Wu Chenghe’s physical condition and the extent of his injuries, they could have been graded as “D.” It wasn’t that he wanted to save money for the medical insurance unit; rather, he knew that according to the “Voyager Army Descendants’ Ideological Education Act,” the Federation had to protect the personal safety of the Voyager Army’s commissioned trainees. If an accident of level E or above occurred, their guardians would have the right to apply to the Federation to bring the child back.

Jin Zhe was well aware of how much his younger brother valued this little boyfriend. So even though Hannibal might not necessarily exploit this, he made some preparations just in case. Of course, he wanted to grade it as “F” directly, which would be foolproof, but he was still the President after all. He couldn’t blatantly bend the law for personal reasons, so he could only downgrade it by one level quietly.

Grade “E” was on the verge. If Hannibal were to apply, the Education Office still had room to maneuver, at least delaying matters for a while. But he never expected Hannibal to act so quickly, bringing the person back to the “Quadrant” overnight.

Oh, my poor little brother, this seems like a scene from a drama about searching for a husband from afar! For some reason, there was a hint of excitement in his heart… Jin Zhe touched his chest, feeling that under Jin Xuan’s influence, he seemed to be getting more and more perverse and twisted.

“So you’re going to Gabriel?” Jin Zhe asked. “But from what I know, the destination for intelligence personnel is the Second Army, under General Lancer’s jurisdiction.”

“We’re splitting up. One of the agents and I are going to Gabriel.” Jin Xuan walked towards the parking lot with his toolbox and military uniform coat. “Data analysis suggests that both places may have contacts with mercenaries.”

“Data analysis? What data? Natural data or data you fabricated?” Jin Zhe snorted. “You’ve been chasing that hacker for so long, and all evidence suggests he should be lurking in the Second Army. Why suddenly consider another possibility overnight? Do you know how far apart these two possibilities are?”

“No matter how small the possibility, it needs to be thoroughly investigated. Prudence is a tradition of NTU.” Jin Xuan half-jokingly replied to his brother’s coldness. “The brief I sent to the task force leader should be in your hands now, right? I’ve listed all the evidence on it, and my immediate superiors have agreed for me to go. You don’t need to intervene anymore.” Opening the hatch of his little flying saucer, he added, “Mr. President, intervening in command at a critical moment violates military principles.”

Jin Zhe was annoyed. He could control thousands of senior military officers in the Federation, but he couldn’t control this lawless younger brother. After a pause, he said, “Regardless, be careful on the road.”

“I know.” Jin Xuan ignited and ascended into the air. After a moment of thought, he explained, “The evidence shows that the mastermind behind the Black Pearl case is very likely within the Second Army, but General Lancer is Commander Hannibal’s father-in-law, and the First and Second Corps have always been closely related. I suspect this matter may be related to both sides. So, this time, I’m not entirely on personal business.” At least five percent of it was for official matters, hmm.

Jin Zhe fell silent for a moment. Just as Jin Xuan thought he had nothing more to say, he suddenly heard him say, “It’s okay, it can also be related.”

Jin Xuan’s heart stirred. “What?”

“We suspect Hannibal, and he will definitely try to clear his name. To do so, he will likely have some conflict with General Lancer ,” Jin Zhe said in a low voice. “The Voyager Army has been too cohesive for too long. It’s time to shake them up a bit.”

Jin Xuan paused briefly, understanding Jin Zhe’s meaning. Over the centuries, the Voyager Army had evolved into a behemoth that the Federation found difficult to control. Previous presidents had divided it into three corps, each under the command of a general, to distribute power and maintain balance. However, Hannibal’s appearance as the “Commander” upset this balance. He had glued together the First and Second Army through marriage, and General Popova of the Third Army was groomed by him. Moreover, the Lancer family and Popova’s husband’s family, the Chen’s, had extensive ties by marriage.

Under Hannibal’s influence, the three armies of the Voyager Army were gradually forming a special interest group. This was not a good sign for the future. The weakness and concessions of the past two presidents had fueled Hannibal’s ambition. Today, the highly unified coalition of the Voyager Army threatened the authority of the federal government. As a strong president, Jin Zhe had to break this dangerous situation during his term. Otherwise, the nearly thousand years of human peace would once again fracture, just as it had on Earth, with flames of war and perpetual conflict.

“I understand,” Jin Xuan said solemnly. Jin Zhe’s thoughts aligned with his own; they both thought about how to exploit the conflict between Hannibal and the Lancer family to divide their power. The difference was that Jin Zhe aimed for federal unity, while Jin Xuan aimed to deal with his father-in-law… no, his romantic rival.

Regardless, the brothers’ thoughts converged eerily after navigating through different twists and turns in their minds, as they jointly charged towards a common enemy.

Several hours later, the little flying saucer landed on the top floor of Aston Medical College. Jin Xuan walked briskly into the Dean’s office, where Mu was frowning while mixing a nutrient solution.

“What’s wrong with you?” Jin Xuan noticed his extremely poor complexion—pale, haggard, heavy dark circles under his eyes, and even his lips lacked color.

Mu dropped the spoon, seeming to have lost his appetite completely. “Hannibal has submitted a transfer application to the school, and the Education Office sent it to me this morning.” He projected an electronic application in front of Jin Xuan. “I can delay signing it, but not for long. Due to Wu Chenghe’s injuries from the Black Pearl incident, according to the agreement, Hannibal has the right to terminate the commissioning plan and take him away.”

Jin Xuan quickly scanned the application. “Grade E injury just fits the criteria.”

“Yeah,” Mu frowned, “I neglected it. I should have downgraded it further at the time. I’m not familiar with the legal regulations. But I’ve seen the assessment results, and they’ve been rated very lightly. It wouldn’t be appropriate to lower them further. I went to his dorm this morning, and his roommate said his father took him away, even his luggage was packed overnight. I don’t think Hannibal intends to bring him back.”

After a moment of silence, he muttered to himself, “No, he can’t leave, it’s too dangerous. He’s in his adolescence, it might only be one or two weeks.” He now regretted not letting Wu Chenghe sleep with Jin Xuan earlier. No matter how bad Jin Xuan was, he couldn’t possibly be worse than Hannibal.

Jin Xuan said, “I went to the ‘Four-Quadrant’ last night, Hannibal’s fleet.”

“Oh?” Mu asked eagerly, “Did you see him? How is he?”

“No, Hannibal didn’t allow me to see him.” Jin Xuan hesitated for a moment and then said, “Dean, there’s something… I know it may sound absurd, but I’m sure my judgment is correct.”

Mu’s eyes flashed with intensity, his voice icy, with a hint of trembling, as if suppressing immense hatred. “Speak.”

“I think Hannibal knows he’s a guide,” Jin Xuan said in a low voice. “I think Hannibal is not like a normal father at all. He has… those kinds of feelings towards Wu Chenghe, do you understand? Sentinel towards guide, or rather… man towards man.”

Mu’s jaw clenched, his eyelids drooping slightly, and there was no hint of surprise on his face, just a tightening grip on his hand, with faint blue veins appearing on the back.

Jin Xuan was very surprised. When he had realized this yesterday, he had been drenched in cold sweat and almost couldn’t suppress the impulsive lion. Later, it was the acting skills honed through years of artistic performance that saved him. The reason he revealed this astonishing secret to Mu today was because Mu had always been very protective of Wu Chenghe, almost like a mother hen guarding her chicks.

He never expected Mu to be so calm. Did he already know something?

“How did you figure it out?” Mu finally spoke after a long silence, his voice as cold as ice, with a tremor, as if suppressing immense hatred.

“Quantum beast,” Jin Xuan replied. “His black-and-chestnut eagle revealed his thoughts. He doesn’t dislike me, but rather feels jealous and resentful. A normal father wouldn’t be like this.”

“He is his father, that’s true.” Mu gradually calmed down, but his complexion became even worse. “I checked the DNA, and their genetic sequence is 99.9%.”

Just as Jin Xuan was about to say something, Mu raised his hand to interrupt him and continued, “But he is also a sentinel. Sentinels are completely unscrupulous creatures—don’t stare at me like that, you’re the same—they don’t care about blood ties; siblings can still trigger bonding heat. This precedent exists, but it’s extremely rare to have both a sentinel and a guide in one family. I accidentally came across a few cases while researching.”

So there was such a precedent. No wonder he wasn’t surprised at all… Jin Xuan attributed Mu’s calmness to the broad knowledge of a middle-aged scientist.

Mu continued, “Hannibal is almost fifty years old. If he doesn’t want to die, he has to find himself a guide. There’s no one more suitable than his biological son. It’s clean, safe, and he never has to worry about being discovered. Even his bed partner can be kept secret.”

“How did he know that Wu Chenghe is a guide?” Jin Xuan asked puzzledly. “They only acknowledged each other two years ago; they didn’t know each other before that.”

“Being a guide isn’t hereditary, but the inheritance of lineage always leaves traces. Some families are prone to producing guides, and even geneticists can’t explain why,” Mu said. “Wu Chenghe’s maternal family has a slight genetic defect, producing both sentinel children and guides. Someone once wrote a paper using their family as a case study, and I happened to come across it.”

Jin Xuan was stunned. “His maternal family? The Wu family?”

“Yes,” Mu said, his gaze somewhat profound as he looked down at an unknown spot, saying softly, “Since I could find that paper, others could find it too.”

Jin Xuan turned over Mu’s words in his mind several times, slowly piecing together some clues. “So, you’re saying Hannibal inferred Wu Chenghe’s guide identity through the Wu family’s lineage? Did he know then, nineteen years ago, when he met Wu Chenghe’s mother, that she might give birth to a guide? Or did he only realize that his son was a guide seventeen years later?”

There was a long silence, and Mu said heavily, “Some people are just born gamblers.”

Jin Xuan was speechless, his mind churning with shock. With only twenty-five years of life experience, he couldn’t imagine someone using his sperm to set up such a long-term scheme. Hannibal, if Mu’s speculation was true, was truly a dirty genius, a devil without scruples!

This speculation was too bold, with too many inexplicable loopholes. How did Hannibal determine the identity of Wu Chenghe? How did he force her to conceive his child on the eve of her wedding without resorting to abortion? How did he gain custody of his son after her death? Even more puzzling, why did the Wu family suddenly decline from prosperity to ruin?

Despite this, Jin Xuan had a vague feeling that he had hit upon the truth, all because it was Hannibal. Born into a low-ranking officer’s family, he had risen from a junior officer to the Commander of the Voyager Army in just thirty years. His methods, his mind, and even his values could not be guessed by normal standards.

He was the most terrifying ambitionist in the Federation!

“We must rescue him,” Mu said in a deep voice. “He’s nearing adolescence, and his body is very unstable. If something happens… the consequences are unimaginable.”

Jin Xuan shook his head. “Hannibal is determined to take him away. He brought the Four-Quadrant this time, and without powerful firepower, we won’t be able to breach his defenses. Direct confrontation won’t work.”

Mu frowned. “His application procedures are complete, and his reasons are sufficient. I can’t reject them.”

“Is there any way to avoid transferring?” Jin Xuan suddenly said. “He has an E-grade injury, just skirting the edge. Can the school convince Hannibal to not transfer but instead take a leave of absence, or even grant an extended vacation until he recovers?”

“That’s feasible. I can negotiate with the Education Office in the name of the College, and if the government can intervene, I don’t think he’ll refuse,” Mu said. “I guess he’s in a hurry to take Wu Chenghe back to Gabriel, so transferring or taking a leave of absence doesn’t matter to him. Getting away first is the most important. But, what’s the use of this? Once he takes him away, it’ll be difficult to bring him back.”

“I’ll go with him to Gabriel,” Jin Xuan said. “I’ve already submitted an application to the NTU task force, and I’ll depart with the intelligence agents to Gabriel today—this is military confidential, please don’t disclose it to anyone—within a month at most, I’ll safely bring him back.”

Mu looked puzzled. “You? What can you do?”

“I’ll resolve this matter thoroughly,” Jin Xuan said, his eyes gleaming fiercely. “I’ll make him regret taking him away and bring him back to me exactly as he took him!”

Mu was stunned; he had never seen this side of Jin Xuan before. In his impression, this guy either pretended to be cool and handsome in class or acted submissive in front of Wu Chenghe. The only time he showed his strength was probably when he killed those mercenaries in the wreckage of the Evolution, but unfortunately, he arrived late and didn’t see him in action.

At this moment, he realized that Jin Xuan, the top student of the Strategy Academy, the president’s brother, seemed to have a ferocious side.

“It will take some time for them to return to Gabriel. The main ship of the Four-Quadrant has over a thousand officers and soldiers. Hannibal won’t be able to lay a hand on him on the way,” Jin Xuan said. He also felt that Hannibal’s feelings toward Wu Chenghe weren’t simply possessive, but rather a desire to conquer from the depths of his heart. Like any powerful man, they all yearned to make their prey submit both physically and mentally, rather than just surrendering to force.

His performance last night was to ensure a safe retreat for himself and to give Hannibal more hope, to buy more time and space for Wu Chenghe.

“Once back in Gabriel, Hannibal won’t have a say,” Jin Xuan said heavily. “Although it’s his territory, his behavior will be more restricted than in Dunkirk’s capital. Many people are watching him, Jin Zhe’s people, Lancer’s people… and Lilith. Any wife facing a family crisis won’t sit idly by; she will be our natural ally.”

Mu fell into thought. He was just a doctor and not good at political intrigue and combat, but he couldn’t watch Wu Chenghe take risks. “I’ll go with you.”

Jin Xuan was taken aback. “You?”

“Yes,” Mu said faintly, and a flash of orange light shimmered on his shoulder. A butterfly as brilliant as the morning dawn spread its wings, flew over Jin Xuan’s head, paused briefly above the Barbary lion, then flew back to rest on Mu’s shoulder, disappearing from sight.

The scene of him wreaking havoc in the wreckage of the Evolution was still vivid in Jin Xuan’s mind. After a moment of contemplation, he nodded. “Alright, I’ll figure something out.” 

With such a formidable guide by his side, he didn’t need to worry even if he faced Hannibal head-on.

“I’ll go to the Aston Main School’s Education Office now to negotiate about Wu Chenghe’s leave of absence,” Mu said, pushing aside his barely touched lunch and standing up.

Jin Xuan also prepared to leave. “I’ll go back to NTU headquarters to get the equipment and permits. I checked the itinerary of the Four-Quadrant this morning; they plan to depart for Gabriel tonight. I’ll come to the medical school to pick you up before 5 p.m.”

“Alright,” Mu said, picking up his windbreaker. Suddenly, his expression changed, and he bent over, clutching the edge of the table.

“What’s wrong?” Jin Xuan had sensed that something was off with him and reached out to help. 

Mu waved his hand, saying, “It’s nothing, just a minor surgery.”

“Surgery? Are you sick? Or did you get injured?” Jin Xuan was concerned.

Mu’s face looked slightly embarrassed. After a pause, he whispered, “It’s nothing, you go ahead. I just need a little rest.”

Jin Xuan still had some doubts, but considering that Mu was a medical doctor himself, he didn’t say much and turned to leave.

Mu sat back in his chair, his brow furrowed as he took a deep breath. It hurt too much; how could this be? It was just artificial insemination… Yesterday afternoon, he received a call from the manager of the sperm bank, saying that the donor had agreed, and asked him to undergo surgery. He realized he had no classes today, so he went.

Male pregnancy was much more difficult than for women and required specialized medical procedures. He was a bit older, had undergone transplantation surgery before, and his body wasn’t very suitable for pregnancy. Fortunately, he had maintained good health over the years, and being a virgin, his reproductive organs were still pristine, barely passing the examination. But even after the surgery, he still bled a little and had a stomach ache all night.

It had eased a bit this morning, so he persisted in coming to work. Perhaps he had just overexerted himself earlier, and now the pain was returning. Normally, he shouldn’t embark on interstellar travel during such times; it was best to rest in bed. But Hannibal’s timing was just too inconvenient; he couldn’t let his only relative fall into his hands.

Jin Xuan was too young; he couldn’t be trusted.

After a hectic afternoon, things finally progressed in the direction of their plan: Hannibal agreed to temporarily arrange for Wu Chenghe to take a leave of absence, and NTU approved Jin Xuan’s application, allowing Mu to accompany them as a special envoy of the Saint Martin Research Center—the Black Pearl case was targeting the batch of potions going to the Saint Martin Research Center, and Mu was one of the main officials there, so his request was completely reasonable.

At 5 p.m., Jin Xuan came to the medical school to pick up Mu. Dean had taken a nap in his office and looked much better; his complexion wasn’t as pale as in the morning, but his legs still trembled a bit when he walked.

“Are you really okay?” Jin Xuan asked worriedly.

“I’m fine now,” Mu said expressionlessly, but he curled his lips slightly, a gesture of reassurance. “Deep-sea hibernation is good for the body. I’ll be completely recovered by the time we reach Gabriel.”

“Alright.” Jin Xuan helped him pick up the small suitcase.

Mu refused his assistance. “I can manage on my own.”

A stubborn old man… Jin Xuan watched his retreating figure, feeling somehow that he and Wu Chenghe were alike in their stubbornness.

They arrived at the Spaceport by shuttle, and NTU’s starship was already on standby, accompanied by a spy agent, two pilots, and two logistical staff. Jin Xuan introduced Mu to his colleagues and arranged for him to enter the hibernation pod. Mu wasn’t feeling well, so he exchanged brief greetings with everyone and then entered hibernation.

At 7:30 p.m., a message came from the Military Harbor: the Four-Quadrant fleet had set sail. Jin Xuan notified the pilots to take off, and they followed the parallel course, heading for Gabriel.

Before entering warp flight, Jin Xuan made the usual call to his brother to report that he had set sail. “I’ve set sail; I’m expected to return to Planet Dunkirk in forty standard days.”

“Be careful,” Jin Zhe was busy at the Iron Wing. “They said you brought a consultant with you? Where did the consultant come from? Who is it?” 

He had been too busy in the afternoon to check the message sent by NTU.

“It’s Wu Chenghe’s Dean,” Jin Xuan said, “the one you met at the Saint Martin Research Center, very pale and thin, kind of resembling Wu Chenghe.”

“…” There was a strange silence, then Jin Zhe seemed to be choked up, coughing loudly for a while before catching his breath and shouting, “Who did you say? Who?” 

“Mu,” Jin Xuan said, “Are you getting senile? Is there a problem with your hearing?”

“…” Jin Zhe fell silent again, then suddenly erupted in a torrent of curses. “You bastard, Jin Xuan!”

“What the hell is wrong with you?!” Jin Xuan was baffled by his outburst.

“You’re damned!” Jin Zhe thundered furiously. “You ungrateful brat! One of these days, I’ll kill you!”

Jin Xuan was utterly dumbfounded. He closed the communication line and entered the hibernation pod, silently cursing the old man’s increasingly inscrutable behavior. He was acting like a rabid dog!

At the Iron Wing Military Center, Jin Zhe let loose a string of curses at the disconnected communication line, cursing Jin Xuan’s ancestors up and down, then turned to the intelligence agent. “Get Hobart here!”

The harried Secretary of State rushed up the stairs. “What’s going on? They said you smashed all the cups; are you going through menopause?”

“You’re the one going through menopause!” Jin Zhe was livid, slamming folders on the table. “I’m going to Gabriel. Consult with my chief of staff and have my itinerary arranged within half an hour.”

“…” Hobart was speechless. “Are you serious? Going to Gabriel at a time like this? Hasn’t Jin Xuan already gone?”

“Don’t mention that little brat to me!” Jin Zhe was on the verge of exploding. “He’s trying to end my family line!”

“But haven’t you already ended your family line without him?” Hobart was puzzled by his sudden outburst. “I know your schedule very well; there’s no way you can free up time within a week. If you must go, it’ll have to be next week.”

After panting for breath for a while, Jin Zhe waved his hand. “Then it’ll be next week. Have half… no, two-thirds of my sentinel team immediately start tracking NTU’s starship and protect them discreetly.”

“Are you kidding me? Jin Xuan has traveled before; do we really need such a large-scale operation to protect him?” Hobart was astonished. “If you’re so worried about him, why not just stop him from going?”

“Who’s worried about him? If he lives, he lives; if he dies, he dies; he’s a curse on the family for a thousand years!” Jin Zhe raged. “Just make sure they protect that consultant!”

Hobart’s mind took a while to process. “Consultant? What consultant?”

“The Dean from Aston Medical School, Mu,” Jin Zhe said solemnly. “He’s the greatest medical scientist in the Federation, a precious asset. My Ministry of Education spent eighty million credits to insure his hands, so make sure they protect him. Not a hair on his head must be harmed!”

“…” Hobart wanted to ask if he had taken the wrong medication, but seeing the President’s furious expression, he refrained from poking the hornet’s nest. “Alright, I’ll make arrangements immediately… Just take it easy; you’re getting on in years, and the fewer times you have a mania episode, the better.”

“Get lost!” Jin Zhe roared. “I’m not afraid of mania anymore! You all just wait and see; don’t think you’ll be free of me once I’m gone!”

As he spoke, he seemed to remember something and suddenly switched from anger to delight, laughing to himself.

Damn! A sentinel going through menopause is terrifying… Hobart shivered and hurriedly left, feeling thoroughly unsettled.

 

 

 

 

This Title is available for faster chapter releases through paid Patreon membership. Any proceeds go to keeping the website running. Check it out HERE.