Chapter 38: Sophie Wexler Goes to the Military District
"You want me to go to the Seventh Corps?" Sophie Wexler abruptly lifted her head from her Light Brain screen, her eyes wide with astonishment.
Her surprised gaze shifted from Cillian Forrest to Ethan Cross.
"Yes, that’s right," Ethan Cross replied affirmatively.
"Why?" Sophie Wexler’s expression was full of confusion. "I’m just an ordinary person. Why would the military be looking for me?"
Hearing this, Ethan Cross chuckled. "Miss Wexler, I’m afraid you have a misunderstanding about your own identity and abilities."
"Healer-class individuals are precious in and of themselves, and you also possess the ability to clear Starbug toxins and perform group soothing," Ethan Cross said, enunciating each word.
"Even one of these abilities would be considered extremely rare, let alone possessing both at the same time."
There wasn’t another person in the entire Empire with such abilities, yet she claimed to be just an ordinary person.
"But why is the military looking for me?"
"Because of your group soothing," Cillian Forrest, who was standing beside her, spoke up. Seeing this, Ethan Cross said no more.
Cillian Forrest continued, "The military has no shortage of people with severe Spiritual Sea problems, but there aren’t nearly enough Healer-class individuals. And you... you appeared at just the right time."
Recently, large numbers of the Swarm have appeared outside the Star System, and the Seventh Legion has been clashing with them frequently. You have to understand, mobilizing spiritual power for combat with such frequency inevitably aggravates the violent outbursts of spiritual power during a Disorder Period.
Although outbursts of spiritual power are a problem every Empirean faces, the situation is far more severe in the military compared to the general populace. They use their spiritual power much more frequently than ordinary people, so the outbursts are more frequent and harder to suppress.
This is especially true for those with High-level Spiritual Power. Without a Healer-class individual of a matching Level to soothe them, they can only rely on medication for forced suppression. Doing so inevitably causes severe damage to their Spiritual Sea.
After Cillian Forrest finished speaking, Sophie Wexler asked, "So they want my help to soothe these spiritual power outbursts?"
"Based on the current situation, yes," Ethan Cross gave a relatively definite reply.
The moment Felix York had brought up Sophie Wexler, their objective had been clear.
From the moment Sophie Wexler’s abilities were revealed, she was destined to be more than just an ordinary Healer-class individual.
Seeing Sophie Wexler remain silent, Ethan Cross assumed she was unwilling.
After all, it was perfectly normal for an ordinary person to hesitate or feel intimidated at the prospect of getting involved with the military.
Sophie Wexler was just a streamer. Even though she’d been in the entertainment industry before, that was a world away from the military; the two were completely unrelated.
Besides, her current streams weren’t lacking for popularity or money. It would be understandable if she didn’t want to go.
But from a soldier’s perspective, he still hoped Sophie Wexler would agree.
Cillian Forrest glanced at the silent Sophie Wexler. "You don’t want to go?"
Sophie Wexler startled with an "Ah?" and snapped out of her thoughts. "No, it’s not that."
"I was just wondering if I go to the military base, will I be able to stream normally? I’m thinking I should probably tell the platform."
Ethan Cross glanced discreetly at Cillian Forrest. When the Marshal said nothing, Ethan understood his meaning.
After all, the Seventh Corps wasn’t under their command, and they weren’t familiar with its rules. It really was uncertain whether Sophie Wexler would be allowed to stream.
He looked up at Sophie Wexler. "Alright. Go ahead and inform the platform."
And so the matter was settled. Sophie Wexler went to notify the platform.
Technically, this counted as a breach of her contract, so she offered to pay the platform a certain amount of Star Coins as compensation.
When Zane Yale heard this, he waved his hand dismissively. "No need. Just sing a few extra songs in your stream later."
Ever since Sophie Wexler signed with the Arts & Entertainment section, its traffic had shed its usual sluggishness and was now experiencing an exceptional surge.
The daily active user count was now higher than it had been for the entire past year, which had significantly boosted their revenue and growth.
Sophie Wexler had already brought them more than enough. ’If I were to charge her a penalty for breach of contract on top of that, what kind of person would that make me?’
With matters on this end resolved, Sophie Wexler followed Ethan Cross to the Seventh Legion.
「Within the Seventh Legion.」
Felix York sat in the main seat, scrolling through messages from the Capital Planet, his brow furrowing from time to time.
’The situation on the Capital Planet is tense right now. It seems the Marshal really has disappeared.’
’However, the Seventh Legion is stationed on a subordinate Low-level Planet. We just mind our own business and never get involved in the power struggles on the Capital Planet. This time will be no different.’
’It’s just... with Ethan Cross showing up here... remembering he’s the Marshal’s adjutant, I can’t shake the feeling that something’s not right.’
’Ethan Cross must be out here looking for the Marshal. With the First Corps providing cover, the people on the Capital Planet don’t know his whereabouts, but I do. And Ethan Cross has been on our planet for far too long.’
’Could it be... the Marshal is here?’
Felix York was startled by the thought, but he quickly suppressed it.
’This time, it was Ethan Cross who came to the Seventh Legion for a favor. It’s only right for me to ask for something in return.’
’Once this business with the Healer-class is over, Ethan Cross can just leave the Seventh Legion as soon as possible.’
Just as he was thinking this, a knock came from the door. "General, they’re here."
Hearing this, Felix York put down the file in his hand. "Understood."
He rose and walked outside.
Meanwhile, Sophie Wexler sat on a chair, the surrounding furnishings spartan and possessing a unique military efficiency. Several guards stood at the door, making the atmosphere feel a little tense.
Whether in her past life or her current one, this was the first time Sophie Wexler had ever been in a place like this. It was inevitable that she’d feel a little nervous.
She reached out and tapped Cillian Forrest, who was next to her, then leaned in to whisper, "Aren’t you from the Seventh Legion? Is your commanding officer easy to get along with?"
Cillian Forrest observed her for a moment, then averted his gaze and said calmly, "I am not affiliated with the Seventh Legion."
Sophie Wexler: "Huh?"
’Her eyes filled with confusion. Didn’t Ethan Cross tell him to return to the military base before? Besides the Seventh Legion, are there other troops stationed on this planet?’
Ethan Cross overheard their conversation. He cleared his throat and said to Sophie Wexler, "He’s my... subordinate. He isn’t part of the Seventh Legion."
It took a moment for his words to register with Sophie Wexler. Her pupils widened in surprise. "You’re not from the Seventh Legion either?"
Ethan Cross grunted in affirmation.
Sophie Wexler wanted to ask which corps they belonged to if not the Seventh Legion, but seeing that Ethan Cross clearly didn’t want to say more, she swallowed her words.
’I’ll just ask Cillian about it later if I get the chance.’
Ethan Cross glanced at Cillian Forrest, then continued, speaking to Sophie Wexler, "Although we are not affiliated with the Seventh Legion, we will be staying here for the near future, so you don’t need to worry about that."
"Moreover," Ethan Cross paused before adding, "to ensure your safety, Cillian Forrest will be with you for the time being."
’Of course, this was also the Marshal’s intention.’
’He needed a reasonable cover to be in the Seventh Legion.’
Just then, a loud voice called out from outside the door, "General!"
A figure walked in.
Felix York had come to see just who this Healer-class individual with the group soothing ability was. But the moment he stepped into the room, he froze on the spot.