Counterfeit Hero

”Transaction...” Margaret, who had been in the grip of the Mecha for a long time, was set down, yet she remained so composed and calm.

Elegantly white as jade, she brushed her hair with a movement so pristine it carried not a whiff of worldly smoke, yet that face and figure exuded an unparalleled allure and seduction.

The men nearby were all staring, stupefied. Having seen many women, no matter how beautiful, they couldn’t avoid occasional clumsiness. Usually as immaculate as moon and stars, as pure as a fairy, even they might wobble their graceful figure, sway their lovely hips, and strut onto a red carpet, only to fall sprawling with a thud.

Logically speaking, being shaken senseless by Fatty’s Mecha and having her head pinched shut was more humiliating than a tumble. But on the unflustered Margaret, it was just a graceful disarray with a light brush of her delicate hand.

This wasn’t the skill of a seductive fox cultivated over a thousand years; it was the natural grace of an orchid in a secluded valley.

To just have a pretty face, a fine figure, that is too low a level among beauties. Without the excellent genetic heritage of a century-old family steadily merged into its lineage, without a touch of divine favor granting charisma, without strict nurturing since youth, how could there be such composure, such ethereal charm?

”What do you want to discuss with me?” Margaret didn’t seem to hold any grudge against Fatty, standing before his Mecha as if she had forgotten about the fierce conflict earlier. Her eyebrows and eyes sparkled, perhaps with a hint of a smile.

”Want this Mecha?” Fatty pointed at the purple Lightning Lifting shell of the [Judgement] and asked.

Margaret was taken aback. Just now, she had offered all sorts of promises and benefits, yet Fatty wouldn’t relent, even willing to fall out with Feiyang. How come now there’s a sudden turn of events? This Mecha, what it means to Feiyang, needs no deliberation. Seeing Fatty offering these words, her eyes lit up. Knowing now wasn’t the time to haggle, she promptly nodded and crisply agreed, ”Yes!”

”Want it, but I can’t give it to you!” Fatty mused, lost in thought.

Nearby, Baz and the other Chuckna officers were quivering with laughter, their whole bodies twitching.

”However...” Seeing the sparks fly in Margaret’s eyes, Fatty leisurely said, ”I’ll take this Mecha back, study it for a while, at most half a year, then hand it over to you. The research results will also be shared with you! Rest assured, we’re Allies, and I know how this war collaboration should proceed. I won’t engage in mutual bloodshed that benefits the enemy.”

”What do you want?!” Margaret knew grabbing it by force from Fatty now was impossible. Since he made a promise, it’s better than nothing. Half a year isn’t long, her grandfather’s health still... Besides, from the performance of the green Mecha they piloted, no less than the [Divine], it’s clear their tech prowess is more than just a motley crew. Given Fatty’s skill, he might produce something valuable from this Mecha!

Now, what’s needed is to find out what conditions this Fatty, who refused her attempted allure, would propose!

”Let’s go over there to talk!” Fatty blushed and said bashfully.

Under the surprised gazes of the surrounding crowd, Margaret, with some trepidation, followed Fatty to the side.

Could it be that some stimulus has made Fatty ready to accept her earlier proposal?

Even though it’s a political marriage, for the sake of Feiyang, for the Hastings family, at the thought of marrying this bastard, Margaret’s face couldn’t help but bloom with two blush clouds.

The expressions of the two made the surrounding people’s gazes increasingly suspicious, increasingly ambiguous.

”The condition is simple...” Fatty lowered his voice, ”I want to know your entire strategic deployment and operation plan in the Longbow Star System.”

”.......”

”Just that?” After waiting for a long time and seeing that Fatty was intently watching her, with no intention of presenting other demands, Margaret became curious.

”Just that!” Fatty nodded.

”Nothing else?!” Margaret almost instinctively blurted out.

”Do you want to offer me anything extra?” Fatty had a wary look.

Margaret really wanted to grab Fatty’s face and punch it full of flowers. This condition indeed needed private discussion, but.....

What’s with the blushing, Fatty?!

Though a bit manic, Margaret, being hailed as the second military genius of the Hastings, swiftly seized on the doubt: ”What does our action in the Longbow Star System have to do with you? What are you planning?”

She’s not worried Fatty would sell out Feiyang; she just suspects Fatty wants to acquire this intelligence for some purpose. Without sufficient interests, this damn Fatty will definitely not voluntarily propose conditions.

”Anyway, I won’t sell you out to the Western Alliance, nor will I interfere with your actions.” Fatty rolled his eyes, ”Why do you care what I’m doing?! I just want to know for the fun of it; is that not okay?!”

”Damn Fatty!” Margaret cursed silently, her mind racing, then spoke, ”I can agree to your request. However, this condition needs a bit of an amendment.”

”How to amend?!” Fatty’s eyes widened menacingly, with a look of if you dare to demand an arm and a leg, I dare to beat you up.

”First, the time to hand over the Mecha to us needs shortening—to three months!” Margaret didn’t even glance at Fatty, her fair fingers counting: ”Second, during these three months, I will join the bandit army for full tracking, ensuring the Mecha’s integrity, and you promised our research results, which I want to be the first to receive.”

”No way, no way!” Fatty shook his head so vigorously that the flesh on his cheeks waved, angrily roaring: ”Six months is the shortest period; that’s non-negotiable. Besides, you mingling with us isn’t practical; the bandit army is filled with tens of thousands of males at the peak of their hormonal surges, with you as the lone woman among them...... even God wouldn’t be able to watch.”

”Four months.” Margaret said lightly, ”I’ll take care of my own safety.”

Filled with cunning thoughts, she certainly knew that when Fatty made an offer, he had already left room for negotiation.

Seeing Fatty glaring at her fiercely, Margaret nonchalantly glanced at him and continued, ”Besides, if I’m not by your side, who will liaise with Longbow? In case there’s any change in the plan...”

”Fine!” Fatty gritted his teeth, looking as if he was in pain.

The two of them clapped hands, exchanged a smile.

Margaret was very satisfied; being able to cut down the timeframe by two months had already exceeded her expectations. Being able to get the bandit army’s research results at any time was a delightful surprise. Furthermore, observing this army up close offered her another opportunity...

Fatty was also very satisfied......

Keep promises?

Bah! Old habits!

The crowd gathered around the Mecha passage access area saw the two smile as they walked over and understood that the two crafty opponents had already reached an agreement.

As for what Fatty and Margaret talked about, they didn’t want to speculate. That would be a complete waste of effort. The bandit army and Zhang Pengcheng knew Fatty, Carolina and several officers beside her knew Margaret; both were simply formidable. Ordinary people, better not waste the brain power. Anyway, things wouldn’t be as shown by that shy expression when Fatty walked over.

Carolina turned to look at Zhang Pengcheng, ”General Zhang, with Suss invading grandly, how long can we hold them off?”

The Night Cat reconnaissance ship, targeted by two Sword of Imperial Power fighters, ultimately managed to evade enemy pursuit and sent back news of the Suss Fleet attacking Mars from Triumph Corridor.

This message provided the Mars Front Army with enough time for a composed deployment.

Triumph Corridor and Louis Corridor are two A-grade channels that don’t connect with each other, only meeting at the Ernst Star System. The Chuckna 12th Group Fleet and Feiyang B15 Fleet had long set up defenses in the Ernst Star System. With knowledge of the enemy’s specific movements, Mars Front Army’s strategic choices expanded significantly. They could either stay at the Ernst Star System’s Jump Point, fully prepared, or take the initiative, maneuvering more widely in the Triumph Corridor against the enemy.

Carolina was very clear about her purpose in being sent to Mars.

She never believed that a mere B-grade fleet and an Armored Division under her command could hold the Mars Free Port.

The real main force of combat lay only with Zhang Pengcheng’s Chuckna 12th Group Fleet.

The 1021 Battle Flag, 1202 Dragon Spear, and 1203 Curved Blade, these three A-grade fleets were absolutely top-tier in combat ability, according to Feiyang’s intelligence assessments. Despite suffering considerable losses in numbers, the Battle Flag, along with Dragon Spear, Curved Blade, and the Feiyang B15 Fleet compared to Suss’s four A-grade fleets and two B-grade fleets, were at a distinct disadvantage. However, in this space battle, numbers ceased to be the measure of combat strength hundreds of years ago.

The only concern was the commander of the Suss forces this time – Admiral Gershkov, renowned as an aerial combat expert!

This person is definitely a formidable opponent!

Currently, to strengthen control over the Mars Channel and increase the threat to the Southeast Main Channel, both the Feiyang Army and Chuckna Military Department were planning to reinforce Mars. Even the troop numbers had been determined.

Now, what Mars needs is time.

Zhang Pengcheng did not answer Carolina’s question.

This Feiyang Major General still didn’t quite understand the ever-changing nature of space warfare.

In that boundless space, there are countless stars, planets, nebulae, asteroid belts; a few fleets are but grains of sand in the desert of the universe. A gust of wind can bring countless possibilities.

No one can completely master space warfare; too many uncertain factors exist.

The battle between fleets might be decided at the moment of mutual discovery, or perhaps, they could keep playing through constant contact and disengagement until resources run dry.

”Let’s go!” Zhang Pengcheng nodded to Carolina and Fatty, ”Let’s head to the port.”

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.Today’s Qixi, probably need to take leave. Don’t wait tonight.

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.(To be continued. To find out what happens next, please visit www.qidian.com, more chapters available, support the author, support legitimate reading!)