It was already noon two days later when Chu Ran woke up.
Opening her eyes, the first thing she saw was a snow-white ceiling. She slowly propped herself up on her arms and sat up, when she heard hurried footsteps outside the door, and a group of people rushed in.
The one at the lead was someone she didn't recognize.
The man had a refined face, wore a suit that looked wrinkled, and the fox-like eyes behind his glasses gave him a shrewd appearance.
"Thank goodness, you're finally awake." Gao Yuan wiped his sweat, quickly opened his Light Brain, and brought up a live stream. He explained, "See, she really didn't wake up before because she was exhausted, not because we did anything to her."
Perhaps due to the barrage comments, Gao Yuan turned to Chu Ran and said hastily and politely, "Could you greet everyone and prove that you're not under any coercion from us?"
Chu Ran glanced at him, then at the barrage. Under Gao Yuan's anxious gaze, she finally spoke slowly, "I just woke up. I don't know what happened."
Gao Yuan nearly choked on his breath.
"But I'm not in any danger now."
Gao Yuan let out the breath he was holding and quickly said to the stream, "The truth is out. We need some time to explain the situation to her."
He wanted to turn off the live stream, but his subordinate approached with a troubled expression and whispered, "The Andrew Family and the Huang Family demand that the live stream continue."
Gao Yuan almost choked again on the breath he had just released.
Damn Andrew Family! Damn Huang Family!
Did he not know about the dirty laundry in their families? One family was in internal strife, planting spies on the Seventh Sub-Star to inquire about Chu Ran's Spiritual Power recovery; the other had watched Huang Ni die tragically and was now coming to settle accounts.
Bah! What's all this about the Federation's interests being paramount? When the Seventh Sub-Star was facing annihilation, those bastards were just watching the show from the Garbage Dump.
Gao Yuan recalled his own despair and fear during the Zerg invasion, and then the image of the special squad members from Central Star hiding in the Garbage Dump watching the live feed without lifting a finger—it made his blood boil.
Was the God Summoning Society really that important? More important than all the people on the Seventh Sub-Star? Those bastards just watched them struggle on the brink of death!
Gao Yuan's face turned livid, but he couldn't say any of this on the live stream, especially regarding the secret squad's mission. Although he didn't agree, the news that the Divine Ruins Key was the key to ending the centuries-long war with the Zerg had been confirmed by the Central Star Research Institute.
Whether he agreed or not didn't matter at all.
Damn it!
Gao Yuan took a deep breath, put on a genial smile, and opened a video on his Light Brain. "I know you've been treated unfairly before. Commander Huang's concern is only natural."
"At the time, we chose to handle it discreetly because many things needed further investigation. For example, that chef from the Chu Family who poisoned you—after digging deeper, we found out he was actually a member of the God Summoning Society."
"Another example..."
Chu Ran stared at the video showing Aunt Huang's face and could no longer hear Gao Yuan's incessant chatter.
This was a video Aunt Huang had recorded while putting on her combat suit—or rather, a video recorded together with the elders of Old Street.
"As a soldier, sacrificing for the Federation is my duty, but the Federation should not let heroes bleed and cry. Chu Ran, as the orphan of a second-class martyr, I hope she can live safely and happily under the sun, free from prying eyes." As Aunt Huang said this, her personal achievements scrolled on the left side of the video.
"At 17, won the Phantom Master Tournament championship.
At 20, graduated from the First Military Academy and joined the Seventh Legion.
At 21, received the Third-Class Medal.
At 30, killed an S-class Zerg and received the Galaxy Medal.
...
At 40, became the commander of the Seventh Legion.
At 72, successfully escorted the civilians of a mining planet during evacuation, resulting in Spiritual Power Destruction, and retired at 73."
The image ended with Aunt Huang fully clad in her combat suit.
A large black line of text appeared on the screen.
Huang Ni died on December 3, 3096, Stellar Era.
The video continued in the same manner. The elders put on their combat suits without any hesitation, looking straight into the camera. "I hope she can live safely and happily under the sun, free from prying eyes."
When it got to Aunt Wang's turn, there was a slight change. She didn't wear a combat suit but instead picked up a medal of a sword and a gun.
The personal achievements scrolling on the left were very simple.
"Wang Cuihua
At 25, joined the Explorer Alliance.
At 50, obtained the title of Exploration Master.
At 51, became a contracted collaborator of the Seventh Legion.
At 56, retired due to health issues."
When a humanoid mecha appeared on screen, black text emerged.
Wang Cuihua died on December 3, 3096, Stellar Era.
Her determined and cheerful voice came from inside the mecha, "I hope Chu Ran can do everything she wants to do."
There was no background music, no editing—just a simple documentary recording the final wishes of these heroes before their sacrifice.
Three hours after the protective shield was reestablished, this video was posted on StarNet.
In less than five minutes, the Central Star Federation government officially issued a notice: S-class Zerg invaded the Seventh Sub-Star on December 3, 3096, Stellar Era, and have been repelled. Casualty numbers are pending further confirmation.