The Interstellar Queen of Scavengers

Chapter 784: Chapter 784: The Cubs

The temporary in-charge of Eagle Space Station is a soldier with an extraordinarily youthful and handsome appearance. In fact, he’s not that old; he’s not even 50 years old this year, and has already been serving in the Sixth Legion for 25 years, during which he has accumulated a wealth of combat experience.

Because of his baby face, people often mistook him for a student. Therefore, to make himself look more serious and proper, he usually kept a straight face and never smiled.

At this moment.

The baby-faced in-charge was keeping his mouth shut, face taut as a board.

Nearby, a few warriors were watching a scene on the light screen. An old soldier asked, ”Which grade are these kids in?”

The others exchanged glances, all looking confused.

”No idea.”

”Didn’t notice.”

”Seems like, probably, second year or something?”

Ji You’s group’s entry to Eagle Space Station went unnoticed by the stationed warriors; their full attention was on the entrenched frontline battle, focusing all their energy on their responsibilities, and honestly, almost no one had the energy to care about the group of young pups rescued back to the base.

So, they really didn’t know.

Then—

The baby face said: ”Freshmen.”

After uttering three words, he closed his mouth.

Upon hearing this, the old soldiers stood up with a clatter:

”Freshmen?”

”Really?”

”Are you sure?”

...

Facing his comrades’ doubts, the baby face said: ”Sure.”

Everyone: ”!!!”

An old soldier with his mouth agape said, ”That small leader, if you guys didn’t say anything, I would’ve thought he was a middle schooler!”

”Cough cough...”

”Is this kid underdeveloped or what?”

”Let’s not digress. Talking about these little pups, just freshmen, that’s kinda impressive!”

”Freshmen pups, but looking at their mecha control level, it doesn’t seem like it at all. Back when we were in school, to reach their current level, it would have taken at least until the second year.”

”Cough cough... I remember some people didn’t reach that even in their second year, seems like, for their Basic Mecha Driver’s License exam, they took the test 10 times, or was it 9 times to finally pass.” Saying so, the old soldier shot a glance at the baby-faced in-charge, with a hint of teasing in his eyes and tone.

The baby face: ”...”

With a serious face, the baby face said: ”5 times.”

Just 5 times, where did 10 or 9 come from?

The old soldier laughed, ”Ah! Right, 5 times, my old age is getting to me, memory isn’t what it used to be.”

With a solemn expression and speaking deliberately, the baby face said, ”A clumsy bird has to start flying early; diligence can make up for clumsiness. Those who were better than me back then are now no match for me, including you.”

The said old soldier: ”Cough cough... That’s old news; let’s not talk about it. Cough cough... Look at these little pups, the future of our Alliance is a smooth path.”

The Space Station, as a border defense checkpoint, was surrounded by layers of defense mechanisms and naturally could also monitor nearby movements at all times. At this moment, the moves of the students were seen under the watchful eyes of the baby face and the stationed warriors.

On the screen, Ji You’s group switched to a line formation quickly, led by Ji You’s Wind Wing, followed by Chu Jiaojiao’s Po Jun, the team advancing on their flight path with extreme disciplinary precision.

A glimmer of satisfaction crossed the baby face’s eyes, and he nodded: ”Mhm.”

After watching for a while and seeing that the young pups didn’t have any issues, an old soldier asked, ”How’s the front line?”

”The kids are playing in the safe zone, shouldn’t be any problems.”

”Let them play by themselves. Practicing flying is good too, it helps with future battles.”

”Look how seriously they’re playing, quite professional, haha...”

”The little pups are playing house, what cute kids they are! Everyone, perk up! Secure our own lines well, don’t let the Star Beasts break through, otherwise, our little pups will get scared.” An older soldier, his face filled with worry, warned.

Seeing his face color, it was clear that he was genuinely concerned when he spoke these words, not just teasing.

The baby face pursed his lips.

Playing?

They were certainly not playing.

Practice?

They didn’t treat it as practice either.

Playing house?

Which cub would have the guts to come to the front line to play house? And with Star Beasts rampaging, it’s quite possible they would burst in and smash their toys, devouring them whole.

They—

This group treated the patrol within 5 light-years as their duty and responsibility, strictly executing their mission in their own way.

These youngsters were quite endearing.

Suddenly, Baby Face’s expression turned solemn, and he said in a deep voice, ”Switch to coordinates north 50 degrees.”

The screen shifted.

The scene of the cubs peacefully and earnestly at play disappeared, and the screen violently turned intense and bloody. A giant Carrion Vulture, with its massive beak open wide, brutally picked up a warrior clad only in protective clothing after shattering the mecha, and brought him close to its mouth.

Everyone’s heart clenched.

Baby Face clenched his lips tight.

The sharp beak of the Carrion Vulture ruthlessly pecked towards the warrior’s head—

Baby Face closed his eyes, clenched his teeth; a faint metallic taste of blood gradually spread in the air.

Silence.

A suffocating, utterly oppressive silence.

...

Baby Face reopened his eyes, on the screen was the triumphant cawing of the Carrion Vulture, and the motionless body of the warrior floating in space. Baby Face’s voice was calm and untroubled: ”Notify the troops, coordinates north 50 degrees, defensive line breached, immediately dispatch more personnel to block it.”

”Yes.”

On Baby Face’s exquisite cheeks, not a single trace of sadness, grief, or mourning could be seen. His tone remained steady as he said, ”Switch to coordinates south 30 degrees.”

The screen shifted once again.

Several mechas were surrounding and penetrating a massive Vulture.

In the blink of an eye, the Carrion Vulture shattered into several pieces.

Immediately after, the mecha squadron expanded the battlefront, advancing towards the next target.

The corners of Baby Face’s tightened lips relaxed imperceptibly, and his voice remained steady and calm: ”At south 30 degrees, a breakthrough was created, dispatch two more people to hold the new position.”

”Yes.”

...

One after another, calmly reporting various information, issuing various commands.

The work seemed easy, but was incredibly difficult. The most important thing was to remain absolutely calm, to keep a clear mind. If your emotions take over, cloud your judgement, lead to misjudgments, or result in the transmission of incorrect information or errant commands, it’s not just a mistake in the job, but a disregard for the lives of comrades.

Despite this, with absolute calm, you would witness countless familiar comrades disappear before your eyes, one after another.

Inside the room.

Silent, save for Baby Face’s continuous relay of information.

Time ticked away...

Baby Face raised his hand, his voice clear and steady as ever: ”Switch to 5 light-years.”

—To see how the cubs were doing.

On the screen, in the vast starry sky, the cubs were arranged in a V-formation, flying continuously.

No gunfire.

No flashes of blades.

No bloodshed.

...

The scene was so peaceful, so beautiful.

Unconsciously, the taut strings of their hearts calmed down. Baby Face and the few veteran soldiers beside him had an almost imperceptible uplift at the corners of their lips.

Suddenly—