Chapter 176: Concealment
Hearing Nan Yu's words, Yu Lanfeng's heart skipped a beat, but he showed nothing on his face. Instead, he comforted him.
"Don't overthink it. You're probably just tired. Get some more rest, and you'll be fine."
Nan Yu didn't actually think he was particularly exhausted. Over the past few days, he had deliberately been giving himself more time to rest. Yet this strange feeling kept appearing out of nowhere, catching him completely off guard, only to disappear again as though nothing had happened once he relaxed.
Frowning slightly, he sighed.
"Forget it. Maybe I'm just imagining things. Let's not talk about that anymore. What's your plan after this? You still have a lot of things to take care of, don't you?"
Yu Lanfeng thought about it.
He still intended to visit every military base. Making a complete circuit would take at least half a year, and by then, the Ability Beast uprising along the border would also have passed.
As for Nan Yun and Nan Zhen...
That matter would certainly be resolved one way or another.
He had already dispatched people to the Capital Star to handle the case, and he had also contacted the forces stationed there from the Empire's other legions to conduct a joint investigation.
In truth, even if he hadn't asked, they would have cooperated anyway.
In the past, there might have been loopholes for the organization to exploit.
Now, however, that was impossible.
After recruiting Ye Xing, Yu Lanfeng had obtained many advanced technologies from him.
One of them was equipment capable of detecting "invisible" spacecraft, preventing them from quietly slipping away from the Capital Star.
Just moments ago, he had received another confidential report.
A spacecraft attempting to secretly leave the Capital Star had been detected by the new system and successfully intercepted.
The people aboard had been arrested.
Unfortunately, they had nothing to do with Nan Yun and Nan Zhen's disappearance.
Instead, it turned out to be an Ability User and a Mental Power User whom the investigators vaguely recognized.
After looking into their identities, they discovered that the pair had actually been eloping.
The reason was simple.
The Mental Power User's family intended to force him into a political marriage.
His intended spouse was ten times older than he was.
The Mental Power User was only thirty-six years old.
The person he was supposed to marry was three hundred sixty.
A full tenfold age difference.
After apprehending the pair, the legion didn't immediately notify their families.
Instead, they concealed the matter.
After all, although they appeared unrelated to Nan Yun and Nan Zhen's disappearance, appearances could be deceiving.
Furthermore, they were merely eloping.
Neither of them possessed enough wealth or influence to acquire a spacecraft capable of becoming "invisible."
Even if both of their families pooled their resources together, it would only barely have been possible.
So investigators immediately began tracing where the spacecraft had come from.
Yu Lanfeng sent back a message.
"No matter what, make them reveal where they obtained that spacecraft. Follow that lead.
"I suspect they deliberately leaked this spacecraft to test our response.
"If possible, let them continue piloting it away from the Capital Star.
"We may be able to lure them out directly."
That was his theory.
Still, he felt that if things could truly be solved so easily, then the people sent by that organization this time were far too incompetent.
More likely than not, they wouldn't fall for such an obvious trap.
They were certainly monitoring the spacecraft's route and speed closely.
By now, they had probably already realized it had been intercepted.
There was one piece of good news, however.
They were still on the Capital Star.
They hadn't escaped yet.
They simply had to wait a little longer.
Yu Lanfeng watched Nan Yu's retreating figure as he walked ahead.
This matter absolutely had to remain secret.
Nan Yu could not be allowed to learn the truth.
If he did...
He would definitely be angry.
The only thing Yu Lanfeng could do was resolve everything as quickly as possible, rescue Nan Yun and Nan Zhen, and then convince them to keep the entire incident hidden.
Ideally...
It would be as though nothing had ever happened.
To achieve that, the matter had to be settled in the shortest possible time.
—
This lockdown of the Capital Star was carried out in secret.
It was also exceptionally strict.
The inspections were many times harsher than before.
However, anyone who passed inspection could leave immediately.
But if any problem whatsoever was found...
Even the smallest irregularity...
They would be stopped.
Many people who had always relied on luck were miserable because of it.
Previously, whenever they carried a little extra cargo, all they had to do was greet the right officials.
Since it wasn't a major issue, a few benefits exchanged hands, an eye was closed, and everything passed smoothly.
Now, however...
The inspections were being conducted by officers from various legions.
Had something happened again?
According to what they knew, Nan Yu had already left the Capital Star together with Yu Lanfeng's legion.
So who exactly were they searching for now?
Those with sufficient connections quickly learned the reason.
The missing person wasn't Nan Yu.
It was both of Nan Yu's older brothers.
Both had disappeared.
The person asking questions happened to be a famous international businessman.
He had conducted business in many countries, so even the Empire was willing to give him some face.
"Really?
"You're saying both young Ability Users from the Nan family have disappeared?
"They were kidnapped?
"And there's still no news, so you're conducting inspections?"
"That's right.
"I'm very sorry, sir.
"This time, the inspections are being handled by the military rather than our department.
"You'll have to follow the regulations regarding your cargo before leaving the Capital Star.
"Otherwise..."
He paused before smiling.
"Actually, you should consider yourself fortunate.
"They didn't completely lock down the Capital Star.
"As long as you pass inspection, you can still leave.
"You may earn a little less, but at least business can continue.
"Situations like this are quite rare."
The businessman rolled his eyes inwardly.
Rare?
If this happened often, that would be a disaster.
"What about the Nan family?
"Are none of them involved in the search?
"I haven't seen anyone from the Nan family moving around."
"Huh?
"Why are you asking about that?
"The Nan family only has a handful of people.
"Major General Nan Ming is fighting on the border.
"His youngest son, Nan Yu, has also joined a legion to experience frontline life.
"Only those two brothers remained on the Capital Star.
"And now something has happened to them."
His face darkened.
"The people who targeted them deserve to die.
"The Nan family has served the Empire faithfully for generations.
"And yet someone actually dared lay hands on them.
"If I ever catch those bastards...
"I'll kill them myself."
The last few sentences were spoken through gritted teeth.
It also reflected the Nan family's outstanding reputation throughout both the Capital Star and the Empire.
After all...
Everything he had said was true.
Generation after generation, every member of the Nan family had served in the military.
It was only natural for them to enjoy such prestige.
"Oh, right.
"I heard the other two members of the Nan family immediately started rushing back after hearing the news.
"At this rate, they'll probably reach the Capital Star in another ten days or so.
"What a tragedy...
"If only I could catch those criminals myself.
"I'd make sure they suffered..."
He muttered a few more curses under his breath.
The businessman had already learned everything he wanted to know, so he quickly found an excuse to leave.
Afterward, he loaded the cargo specified in his contract.
Only after enduring the military's strict inspection was he finally allowed to depart.
Before leaving, he casually mentioned the incident to several of his business partners.
Then he left.
He was gone.
But his words spread rapidly through those partners.
Within less than three days, people across the Capital Star believed that both Nan Yu and Major General Nan Ming would soon return because of the disappearance of the two brothers.
Naturally...
The people hiding in the shadows also received the news.
"Is this information real?"
"I think it is.
"There's no reason to hide something like this."
"Exactly.
"If the remaining members of the Nan family stayed calm after learning the two brothers had disappeared, that would be the truly surprising part."
"So now we're faced with two choices."
"The first is to follow our original plan and leave the Capital Star according to our predetermined route."
"The second..."
"We wait here until Nan Yu returns.
"Then we devise a completely new escape plan that includes capturing him.
"Of course, that plan will be much more complicated."
"We have to try capturing Nan Yu within a very short time.
"But whether we succeed or fail, once our identities are exposed, we must leave the Capital Star immediately."
"The only difference is what happens afterward."
"If we successfully capture Nan Yu...
"We only need to take Nan Yu away.
"Nan Yun and Nan Zhen can simply be abandoned and left to fend for themselves."
"But if we fail to capture Nan Yu...
"We'll have to bring those two brothers back with us.
"Otherwise, this entire operation will have been for nothing."
"And once we return...
"The punishment awaiting us will be something none of us wishes to experience."
"Frankly...
"It would be kinder to die here than return and be tortured."
The more difficult the organization's missions were, the greater the rewards became.
That was why so many people willingly risked everything.
But at the same time...
The punishment for failure was something very few could accept.
The organization had members scattered across countless countries.
Running away was impossible.
They would either be hunted down and killed...
Or captured and subjected to endless torture.
Many preferred death.
So when accepting these lucrative missions, they all shared the same mindset.
Either you die...
Or I do.
Some were even willing to detonate themselves just to eliminate their enemies.
Most of those people had families to support.
The organization had promised them that if they died during missions because their pursuers were too powerful...
Their families would be properly cared for.
And the organization had always honored that promise.
That was why so many people remained willing to die for it.
After hearing that failure meant suicide was the better option...
None of them objected.
Given the organization's reach, resisting it simply wasn't possible.
For them...
Retreat was no longer an option.
Only moving forward remained.
Moreover, as relatively high-ranking members, accepting missions like this wasn't optional.
Refusing meant receiving exactly the same punishment as failing the mission.
Rather than refuse...
They might as well gamble.
Perhaps...
They would succeed.
"So now you all understand our situation?"
"If we capture Nan Yu...
"We'll complete the organization's highest-level mission.
"The reward will be beyond anything we've ever dreamed of."
"But if we fail...
"The gap between reward and punishment is the difference between heaven and hell."
"We understand."
"Don't worry.
"The previous escape route wasn't completely safe.
"There was still a chance something could go wrong.
"We'll inspect it again and make absolutely certain everything is flawless."
"The previous spacecraft definitely can't be used anymore.
"Those two hadn't even reached the upper atmosphere for fifteen minutes before they were discovered and arrested.
"They've now resumed normal flight and already left the Capital Star.
"But that's obviously bait meant to lure us out.
"We can't fall for it."
"So what do we do now?
"We've already lost one spacecraft.
"We no longer have a decoy to distract the military.
"We'll have to think of another method."
"One less spacecraft doesn't matter.
"Trying to sneak out will only get us caught.
"We still have to leave openly through normal channels.
"Otherwise..."
"But Nan Yun and Nan Zhen are too conspicuous.
"Where can we hide two living people?"
Silence filled the room.
None of them knew how to secretly transport two Ability Users out of the Capital Star.
There were simply too many risks.
"I still think my plan is best.
"We move them off the Capital Star first.
"Hide them on a nearby prosperous planet."
"A few of us remain here waiting for Nan Yu."
"Assign one person to guard Nan Yun and Nan Zhen.
"They'll wait for our message."
"If they don't receive word by the agreed time...
"It means we've failed."
"That person immediately takes the brothers back to the organization."
"But if we send word...
"It means we've successfully captured Nan Yu."
"They'll rendezvous with us immediately."
"Then all of us will leave the Empire as quickly as possible."
"No problem."
No one objected.
Nobody thought the person guarding the brothers was particularly lucky.
If the mission failed...
Everyone's fate would be the same.
If it succeeded...
The rewards would also be nearly identical.
Their final arrangement was simple.
The strongest members would remain on the Capital Star.
The weakest among them would escort Nan Yun and Nan Zhen to the nearest prosperous planet.
Their spacecraft would remain docked at the local starport while they waited for further instructions.
The greatest obstacle now was the military inspection.
If those searches continued...
There was no way they could leave safely.
Therefore...
They would have to use their trump card.
It was a special item the organization had given them when assigning this mission.
It resembled an enlarged spatial storage device.
Unlike an ordinary storage button, however...
It was roughly the size of a box large enough to hold a basketball.
Pure white on every side, it looked quite attractive.
Inside, however...
It contained a living storage space.
Since it was merely the newest experimental prototype, living beings could remain inside for no more than five hours.
If they failed to leave the Capital Star within five hours after placing the two brothers inside...
No matter where they were delayed...
Both men would die.
Because the device couldn't fit inside a storage button, they carried it in an ordinary backpack.
Using it was simple.
Place both brothers inside.
Board an ordinary civilian spacecraft.
Leave.
The more ordinary the spacecraft...
The better.
The more ordinary it appeared, the shorter the military inspection would be.
That gave them a reasonable chance of remaining within the five-hour limit.
After all...
The organization wanted living captives.
Not corpses.
Furthermore...
The collaborator working with them still had value.
He happened to be extremely fond of the two brothers.
It was best to accommodate him.
At the very least...
They couldn't allow the brothers to die or suffer serious injuries.
Most importantly...
They still required his assistance.
Even though his name had already appeared on the Capital Star's wanted lists...
He still possessed a private fortune.
Obtaining a spacecraft wasn't difficult for him.
That saved them considerable trouble.
Once they escaped the Capital Star...
They could simply kill him.
"Can we really trust Song Xiaoyu?
"If he exposes us, we're all dead.
"And he's still a member of the Empire's Song family."
"Don't worry.
"Everyone already believes he kidnapped those two brothers himself.
"No one suspects anyone else.
"The entire Capital Star is searching for him."
Turning toward another person, he asked,
"Has his surgery been completed?"
"Don't worry.
"I've performed this type of operation thousands of times.
"I know it by heart.
"I guarantee that after he comes out...
"None of you will recognize him as the former Song Xiaoyu."
"It had better be that convincing.
"When we leave, his identity verification absolutely must pass.
"Otherwise he'll still be exposed."
"No need to worry.
"The identity documents are completely genuine.
"Song Xiaoyu secretly imprisoned another person.
"We simply used a few methods to disguise him as that individual."
"In all our infiltration and escape operations...
"We've never been this meticulous."
"Good.
"Then get everything ready.
"We have to move those two off the Capital Star as soon as possible.
"Otherwise I won't be able to relax."
"The boss has woken up.
"I'll bring him over now.
"After that, we can leave smoothly."
"Bring him here.
"I'd like to see just how capable he really is.
"He managed to secretly smuggle two unconscious Ability Users out of the academy by himself.
"That place is patrolled by legion soldiers everywhere."
Soon, someone was escorted inside.
The newcomer possessed a handsome yet sharp-featured face.
He looked like an arrogant young master raised in luxury.
"Well now.
"Our young master from the Song family certainly became much more eye-catching after changing his face.
"That doesn't really concern us.
"Have you prepared the spacecraft?"
"I prepared several spacecraft under different identities long ago.
"There are various models.
"If we want to leave...
"We can depart immediately."
"Then we'll leave now.
"We can't waste time."
"Oh, right.
"We have a little treasure."
"We'll use it to avoid the military inspection.
"When the time comes...
"I hope you'll cooperate."
After changing his face, Song Xiaoyu even seemed like a completely different person.
Frowning slightly, he clearly wasn't satisfied with their explanation.
"What exactly is this?
"Is it really harmless?"
"It's our organization's newest invention.
"It can store living beings.
"Using it to transport them out will be absolutely foolproof."
The fact that Song Xiaoyu had managed to smuggle Nan Yun and Nan Zhen out of the academy alone proved he wasn't someone who could be fooled easily.
"How long?"
Research into living storage devices had existed before.
The problem was...
The storage duration was far too short.
At most, thirty minutes.
Sometimes not even two or three.
That was why the technology had been criticized as nearly useless.
It was several times more expensive than ordinary storage buttons.
And even ordinary storage buttons were already beyond what most people could afford.
Faced with Song Xiaoyu's insistence, they ultimately chose not to hide the truth.
After all...
If they concealed it now, only for problems to arise later that caused the mission to fail...
They would be the ones paying the price.
Not Song Xiaoyu.
"Five hours.
"At most five hours.
"It absolutely cannot exceed that."
"We're all tied together now.
"So believe us.
"We have no reason to deceive you."
"We'll give you the device."
"And he'll accompany you."
"You'll wait at the agreed destination."
"The moment you receive our message...
"You move immediately."
Song Xiaoyu had no objections.
"No problem.
"I hope you succeed.
"Let's go."
He understood perfectly.
If those remaining on the Capital Star succeeded...
Nan Yun and Nan Zhen would no longer be needed.
He could simply take the two brothers away forever.
If they failed...
Then he would have to accompany the others back to the organization.
Because the brothers would be used to threaten Nan Yu.
Ideally...
To force Nan Yu into joining the organization.
He narrowed his eyes slightly.
He had never liked Nan Yu.
From the very beginning...
He felt Nan Yu had constantly squandered Nan Yun's and Nan Zhen's love without ever giving anything in return.
It had always seemed utterly incomprehensible.
He simply couldn't understand why someone like Nan Yu continued receiving such unconditional affection.
Was it really just because he was their younger brother?
Now...
He was also a Mid-Tier Mental Power User.
If he worked hard enough...
Perhaps he could be together with them too.
He gently touched his new face.
In truth...
He had made one specific request during the surgery.
He wanted his eyes...
To resemble someone.
To resemble Nan Yu.