Piloting his aircraft-shaped mecha, Leonardo made it back to the base without much trouble.
He still shared a dorm room with Liang Yixiao. After learning that Leonardo had gone missing, Liang Yixiao had been frantic with worry, but he hadn’t dared to go searching on his own.
The moment he saw Leonardo appear at the dormitory entrance, he sprang out of bed. He didn’t even bother putting on clothes.
“Leon, where did you run off to?”
The other two roommates gathered around as well. The leopard beastman asked worriedly, “Leon, are you hurt?”
The octopus beastman also looked Leonardo up and down.
Leonardo possessed a healing ability and had treated their injuries on the battlefield more than once. That was why, after he disappeared, no one in the entire dormitory had been able to sleep.
Leonardo shook his head. “I’m fine.”
He didn’t want his three roommates to worry, so he said nothing more.
But Liang Yixiao and the others all knew him well. Leonardo might be a man of few words, but he was cold on the outside and warmhearted underneath.
Since he wasn’t willing to say more, he obviously had his reasons.
Liang Yixiao patted Leonardo on the shoulder. “Then go take a shower and get some proper rest. We have another tough battle tomorrow.”
Leonardo gave a slight nod and strode toward the bathroom.
Only then did Liang Yixiao open his optical computer and report Leonardo’s safe return to Chief Executive Luo Yan.
Luo Yan then reported it to Leo.
Leo had just finished a meeting. When he received Luo Yan’s message, his brows drew together slightly. He knew his guess had probably been correct.
Lady Yunyang must have learned about the insect mother from Leonardo.
That Leonardo…
Leo quickly sent Luo Yan a message:
Keep an eye on him. Report to me immediately if anything unusual happens.
Yes, Commander.
Luo Yan didn’t understand why his commander had given that order, but he had no desire to investigate. His only responsibility was to carry out the commander’s instructions.
At the central command tower, Leo called Adjutant Pan En.
Pan En was still reviewing the day’s battle when he received the video call. He immediately saluted.
“Commander.”
“Pan En, select a group of people tonight and send them to the Third Army,” Leo said bluntly. “The Empress has learned that the insect mother is seriously injured and has ordered Commander Wu to lead a team to the insect planet.”
Pan En was stunned by the enormous piece of news.
What had he just heard? The insect mother was seriously injured?!
Could the last time the Federation destroyed the insect mother’s breeding site have inflicted irreversible damage on her?
If that was truly the case, then as long as they could kill the insect mother, the Federation would enjoy a long period of peace before a new one appeared!
Pan En was thrilled, though he showed none of it on his face. “Understood. I’ll make the arrangements immediately.”
Leo raised a hand, signaling that he wasn’t finished.
“Is there anything else, Commander?”
Leo pondered for a long time before finally speaking. “Add Leonardo to the team.”
Pan En’s face lit up. “That kid is back?”
Then he asked, “Commander, the First Army only has one person with a healing ability. Wouldn’t sending him out be a little—”
When he saw that Leo’s stern expression hadn’t changed at all, Pan En knew there was no room for discussion.
Well, at worst, they could issue more healing potions to the youngsters remaining at the base.
Having come to terms with it, Pan En immediately nodded. “Yes, Commander.”
It wasn’t only the First Army that began selecting personnel to send to the insect planet. At the same time, the other Federation armies also started making arrangements.
Wu Zhengming needed to select part of the team from the Third Army as well. Rather than leaving the task to one of his adjutants, he personally reviewed the candidates.
Although only one-third of the insectoid forces remained on the insect planet, the insectoids had always been extraordinarily numerous. Even a third of their original forces would be far from easy to deal with.
Moreover, the insect mother was still there. Her psychic shockwaves could easily disrupt the beastmen’s attacks, making her the Federation army’s greatest threat.
This mission was certain to be a brutal battle.
But as long as they could kill the insect mother, any number of casualties would be worth it.
Wu Zhengming stared at the list of selected personnel, his gaze lingering on Cang Zhuonian’s name for a long time.
Having that Zhuonian kid along would prevent quite a few casualties.
But the kid had only just become Lady Yunyang’s male consort. He had been recalled to the base after spending barely two days with Lady Yunyang. If something happened to him on the insect planet…
A conflicted look flashed through Wu Zhengming’s eyes.
And it wasn’t only because of that. He himself didn’t want Zhuonian to take such a risk.
After hesitating for a long while, Wu Zhengming finally decided to remove Cang Zhuonian’s name from the list.
However, before he could do so, the office door was pushed open from outside.
“Commander, I heard the insect mother is seriously injured, so I came to request permission to go to the insect planet and eliminate her!”
As Wu Zhengming’s most promising soldier in the Federation army, Cang Zhuonian enjoyed a few privileges that made little difference in practice. For instance, he could enter Wu Zhengming’s office after a simple genetic authentication.
Leonardo had told him about the insect mother. Aside from him, Qin Mo already knew as well.
Cang Zhuonian didn’t know that the Empress had already arranged for his own commander to lead the team, but he knew the Federation would certainly take action. This opportunity was simply too rare to pass up.
That was why he had come to Wu Zhengming to volunteer.
“You little brat, what are you going for?” Wu Zhengming hurriedly closed the light screen in front of him and glared at Cang Zhuonian. “It’s only been a few days, and your contamination level has already risen to seventy-one. Do you want to be sent to Deputy Jenkins again?”
Cang Zhuonian didn’t care. “Commander, have you forgotten? I have a female now.”
Wu Zhengming shot to his feet. “What? You want Lady Yunyang to go with you to the insect planet?!”
If that kid dared to say yes, Wu Zhengming would break his legs right then and there!
“Commander, what are you thinking?” Cang Zhuonian stared at Wu Zhengming in disbelief. “How could I possibly let my female go to a place as dangerous as the insect planet?”
“What I mean is, I have a female now. Even if my contamination level rises after going to the insect planet, my female can purify me afterward. You don’t have to worry about me losing control.”
Only then did Wu Zhengming’s expression ease, though he still didn’t agree immediately.
“There are plenty of people in the Third Army who want this opportunity. Go back and wait for the decision.”
Cang Zhuonian had no intention of going back to wait. “Commander, listen to yourself. Are any of them higher-level than me?”
“If you don’t assign me to the mission, I’ll secretly follow the team to the insect planet.”
Wu Zhengming fell silent.
That brat was absolutely capable of doing something like that.
He drew a deep breath. “Fine, fine, fine. I’ll assign you to the mission right now.”
Cang Zhuonian beamed. “Thank you, Commander. I’ll do my best to bring you the insect mother’s head.”
Wu Zhengming said nothing.
He walked over and kicked him.
“Get lost. Just looking at you annoys me!”
“You got it!”
That kick posed no threat to Cang Zhuonian whatsoever. He didn’t even furrow his brows. With a grin, he answered and left the room.
The door closed behind him.
Wu Zhengming sat back down and reopened the light screen, adding Cang Zhuonian’s name to the list.
“That brat sure knows how to talk!”
“Just don’t end up stranded on the insect planet and fail to come back.”
