Space Odyssey from Abandoned Mining Space Station

The result was the same upon redialing.

Cheng Xinghai also used her terminal to make a call, but similarly couldn’t connect.

She suddenly looked worried and asked Chen Ming, ”Could this be... related?”

”I don’t think it’s likely; even if someone wants to stir things up, it can’t affect Bai Quan now. He must have something going on,” Chen Ming replied.

Though he said it might not be a problem, his tone was very certain.

Cheng Xinghai chose to trust him.

At this moment.

In a teaching building within the military base’s educational precinct.

Bai Quan, studying tactics against the Mechanical Race with a retired old Admiral specially found by the Legion, suddenly felt the terminal made by Chen Ming’s Spiritual Energy vibrate.

Bai Quan’s expression changed, and he immediately took out the terminal given to him by Chen Ming.

During the class, he had set his regular terminal to silent mode out of respect, as the old Admiral was giving him private lessons.

Moreover, since the old Admiral’s health wasn’t great, the times he could conduct lessons were irregular. Bai Quan had mentioned this specifically to Chen Ming before.

So if Chen Ming couldn’t reach him usually, he would choose to call at a different time.

Thus, since Chen Ming used the special terminal to contact him, there must be something urgent.

Bai Quan opened the terminal and looked down to see a series of recently occurred events written in the terminal’s notebook by Chen Ming.

His initial expression was serious but quickly calmed down.

He wasn’t aware of the message.

But others at the base couldn’t possibly miss it.

Even while attending class, there were many ways for people to relay messages to him.

Only his former superior could block the information from reaching him.

This meant his faction behind him had certainly started taking action, and he didn’t need to worry excessively.

Thus, he directly tossed Chen Ming a contact, allowing Chen Ming to connect with people in his faction, signaling the time had come for Chen Ming to engage with other faction members at the base.

In the message sent by Chen Ming, there was a complaint about facing limitations at the base, but alongside these limitations, there were naturally other conveniences.

For example, the connections he was about to hand over to Chen Ming.

By this point, Chen Ming and Cheng Xinghai had emerged from the guardroom and were heading to the parking lot.

Having received Bai Quan’s response regarding the current situation, Chen Ming had a rough understanding.

The matter wouldn’t likely develop towards the worst possible outcome; he only needed to perform his role.

He glanced at Cheng Xinghai, who was lost in thought, ”Any ideas?”

Cheng Xinghai shook her head slightly and said, ”I’m not sure. I feel like there are many places to start, but I’m unsure which is the best. So, I wanted to ask what you think?”

Cheng Xinghai didn’t insist on handling the problem alone.

This approach was fitting: doing what she’s capable of while notifying those more capable to handle tasks beyond her scope.

For Cheng Xinghai’s query, Chen Ming quickly replied, ”My idea is simple: Get Cheng Xinghe out of the police station, put the slanderers in jail, completely erase the rumors, and find out who’s behind it all.”

Meanwhile.

In a certain online meeting room within the Fourteenth Legion’s headquarters network.

Number 2 was asking Number 1, ”Cheng Xinghe has already been taken to the police station, what’s next?”

”Didn’t I already say, do nothing.”

”Huh?”

”Think about our goal.”

Without waiting for Number 2’s response, Number 1 continued, ”It’s based on friction between Cheng Xinghe and Chen Ming, to provoke their relationship, leveraging it to trigger a conflict between Cheng Xinghe and Chen Ming. With Cheng Xinghe and Cheng Xinghai’s relationship, disrupt the alliance.”

”Simple provocations are just the start, whatever the case, Cheng Xinghe was raised by Bai Quan and has a decent mind; he won’t get so agitated over provocations to the point of having a dispute with Chen Ming. He can figure out who’s truly causing trouble.”

”It’s us.”

”So, how do we plan to stir conflicts?”

Though this was Number 1’s question, he didn’t rush to continue but instead waited for suggestions.

Number 9 asked, ”Really convict Cheng Xinghe?”

Number 1 replied, ”Indeed it’s possible, but not meaningful. Without a genuine death, there’s no way to nail someone down; Bai Quan’s people aren’t fools who can’t see our actions.”

”But if there’s a real death, the inspection department would have to intervene.”

Number 9 gestured, saying no more.

The others offered suggestions too, but were all rebutted by Number 1.

Once confirming no new ideas were forthcoming, Number 1 spoke up, ”All direct methods can’t truly be effective, so we need some indirect approaches.”

”We need to instill in Cheng Xinghe a feeling that his predicament is due to his association with Chen Ming.”

”How to instill?”

”Exactly as I said, do nothing.”

”Completely ignore Cheng Xinghe, leave him there, he’s nothing, just a tool against Chen Ming.”

”Belittle him, ignore him, let him feel unrespected, unnoticed, not even considered a genuine person.”

”Make him realize, we’re not targeting him; everything happening to him is meant to target Chen Ming.”