Chapter 37: Soldiers Watching the Live Stream
Sophie Wexler looked at the flood of questions in the chat. Many people were even asking if she had any and to show them.
Most people’s daily diet consisted of nutrient liquid. Very few ate anything else, because fresh vegetables were so expensive that the majority of the populace couldn’t afford them, so they simply ignored that option.
Of course, it wasn’t as if there was nothing else to eat besides vegetables, but the dishes made from those other ingredients were truly awful.
Sophie recalled something she’d read when she was first learning about the Galaxy’s history: many things had been lost during the migration from Ancient Aethel, including cookbooks—the culmination of thousands of years of ancestral wisdom.
In other words, even if they had the ingredients, they didn’t know how to cook them. And even if they managed to make something, it tasted terrible.
So, rather than choosing prohibitively expensive vegetables and disgustingly unpalatable food, they preferred the economical and practical nutrient liquid.
Watching their discussion, Sophie said to her robot, "Tammy, go bring me the tangyuan I set aside."
Tammy’s head swiveled, and the eyes on its screen turned into two question marks. "Tammy bring tangyuan?"
Sophie realized the concept of "tangyuan" wasn’t in its processor, so it couldn’t understand.
With no other choice, and after making sure she was off-camera, Sophie got up to get it herself.
She placed the bowl in front of the camera. "Here, this is it."
The viewers in the stream stared at the item on the desk, their eyes full of curiosity.
[Can you really eat that? It looks pretty good.]
[At least it’s not that black stuff I’ve seen other people selling.]
"Of course," Sophie said, taking a bite to show them. The outside was a skin made of glutinous rice, and the filling inside was the classic black sesame. One bite was delightfully chewy and sweet.
[Oh my god, watching the host eat is making my mouth water.]
[This is supposed to be a singing stream, why am I getting hungry?]
[I’m looking at the nutrient liquid in my hand and falling silent.]
[Host, where did you buy it? Tell me! Even if it’s expensive, I have to buy some to try it out.]
Everyone in the stream was talking about it. For a moment, Sophie started to wonder if this was a singing stream or a food stream.
Seeing how curious everyone was, Sophie recited the recipe. "I don’t have the ingredients on me right now, but if you want to eat it, you can try making it with my instructions."
「Meanwhile, at the Seventh Legion’s military base on this planet.」
Just after training ended, several soldiers simultaneously opened their Light Brains.
"She’s live, she’s live! Quick!"
They had only discovered this stream in the last couple of days. Training was tedious, and sometimes they had to take out their warships to deal with the Swarm.
Their Spiritual Sea volatility levels were always high. A couple of days ago, they’d heard a rumor that a streamer in the entertainment section could soothe the Spiritual Sea with her singing.
Curious, they had gone to check it out. They were skeptical at first, but to their surprise, it actually worked.
Like everyone else on the StarNet, they were stunned.
Who would have thought that the stream would suddenly go black that time? So now, desperate for some relief, they had been lying in wait for her to go live ever since training ended.
Sure enough, the streamer started her broadcast. She sang a few songs, and the turmoil in their Spiritual Seas subsided a little.
Then they saw the host take out this food during her break, and they all watched with curiosity.
"What do you think you’re doing!" a harsh voice barked from behind them.
In an instant, everyone shot up from their seats, standing ramrod straight. None of them dared to even breathe too loudly.
The nearby Light Brain was still displaying Sophie Wexler’s stream. The man glanced at the screen, and his face turned black with anger.
He sneered. "Are you watching an eating show?"
Although such streams were few and far between in the Galaxy, there were some who ate bizarre food just to grab attention. He never imagined his own soldiers would be watching this kind of entertainment stream in their downtime.
Seeing them remain silent, his anger flared. "Speak!"
"Sir, report! It’s not an eating show. It’s a singing stream. It can soothe the volatility of our Spiritual Seas."
’A singing stream?’
The man frowned and looked at the screen again. Indeed, the person in the stream had already put down her food and started singing.
"This is the person Major General Cross had us add to the confidential list?" he asked the adjutant beside him.
The adjutant nodded. "Yes, sir."
Not long ago, Major General Cross had paid a visit to the Seventh Legion, saying he needed their assistance with a matter. He had borrowed their authority, but they never expected it would be to protect a streamer.
Major General Cross was one of the Marshal’s men. Although the Marshal was based on the Capital Planet and the Seventh Legion wasn’t under his direct command, they still had to give him face, so they had agreed.
For the past two days, he had been dealing with the Starbugs swarming the planetary shield. He only learned about this matter after returning today.
’Can it really soothe the Spiritual Sea?’ Felix York thought, watching the stream on the Light Brain with an unreadable expression.
Then he turned to his adjutant. "Major General Cross hasn’t returned to the Capital Planet yet?"
"That’s correct, sir."
Felix York was silent for a moment. ’It seems the rumors I heard from the Capital Planet are true, then.’
"Contact Major General Cross. Ask him to come to the Seventh Legion."
When Ethan Cross received the message from the Seventh Legion, he glanced at Cillian Forrest beside him, then handed him the communicator. The message was plain to see. "Marshal, the Seventh Legion has asked me to pay them a visit."
"Could it be that they know about you...?"
He had been on this planet for too long. Coupled with the news from the Capital Planet, it was natural for those on the subordinate planets to start speculating.
Cillian Forrest looked at the message, his fingertips tapping lightly on the edge of the desk. "They’ll find out sooner or later," he said slowly.
Even if they didn’t, those on the Capital Planet who love to stir up trouble would make sure they found out.
"However," he added, "they’re likely calling you for another reason."
"Another reason?" A flash of confusion crossed Ethan Cross’s eyes. Seeing Cillian Forrest’s expression, he had a sudden realization. "You mean... Miss Wexler?"
Miss Wexler was on this planet. As the saying goes, even a mighty dragon can’t crush a local snake. To ensure her safety, relying on the Seventh Legion stationed here was the best option.
Other than matters concerning the Marshal, the only reason he had contacted the Seventh Legion was about Miss Wexler.
Cillian Forrest gave a slight nod. "Go and see what they have to say."
「The Seventh Legion Headquarters.」
"Major General Cross, I won’t beat around the bush. I’ve asked you here because of that streamer."
’The Marshal was right,’ Ethan Cross thought.
"It’s like this: I want to know if the news that the streamer can soothe the Spiritual Sea is true."
This news was already all over the StarNet, so there was nothing to hide. Ethan Cross grunted in affirmation. "It is."
"I have a request," Felix York said, looking at Ethan Cross.
Ethan Cross nodded. "Go on."
"I want that streamer to come to our military base."
Ethan Cross was stunned.