After the brief interlude, Yanqing located the Cloud Knights command post.
"Who's the officer in charge here? I need an explanation."
A Cloud Knight squad leader stepped forward.
"It's me… My apologies. We let our guard down for a moment; the fault is entirely mine."
Yanqing folded his arms, authority radiating from him.
"Speak. The Martial Arts Ceremony is imminent; Luofu's priority is safety and stability. Why was a Borisin prisoner loose in the Central Starskiff Haven?"
He looked at the squad leader, his tone accusatory.
"Per protocol, dangerous felons are to be kept aboard Stelle skiffs, delivered non-stop to the Shackling Prison. Who authorized the prisoner transport to dock at a civilian berth?"
A Foxian beside the squad leader stepped up to smooth things over.
"It's not the captain's fault; the Zhu Ming envoy ship was a little too eager to help."
Yanqing eyed the armored Foxian, frowning.
"And you are?"
"Lu Jun, Duty Officer of the Patrol Guard. Thank you, Lieutenant Yanqing, for your assistance. It was all so sudden; the captain is blameless."
Lu Jun began explaining: a Corporation freighter passing Luofu had been attacked by Borisin; the Zhu Ming envoy ship lent aid, helped repel them, and an accident occurred during handover—nonsense, every word.
Bai Luan glanced at Lu Jun—this kid was a Borisin in Foxian skin.
But Bai Luan had no intention of exposing him yet; reeling in the whole school was far more interesting.
After listening, Yanqing found it somewhat reasonable.
"So there were extenuating circumstances."
Bai Luan stepped up, slung an arm over Lu Jun's shoulder, and said to Yanqing:
"Right, no big deal. Don't be too hard on them—just file a detailed report."
Yanqing shot Bai Luan a puzzled look; meddling in Cloud Knight affairs wasn't his style… Bai Luan smiled back, meaningful.
That smile made Yanqing hallucinate Jing Yuan; the General wore the same grin when plotting something.
Bai Luan had already proven himself a good man; whatever he did now must have its reasons.
If Yanqing couldn't grasp them, it was merely youth; cooperating was safest.
So Yanqing nodded.
"Very well. I'll forward the matter to the Realm-Keeping Commission for follow-up."
Bai Luan nodded in satisfaction and casually removed his hand from Lu Jun.
The Nanobots had morphed into a Tracker now hidden on the Borisin.
Meanwhile, Bai Luan had Ark backtrack Lu Jun's movements, deducing every Borisin involved in the operation.
A detailed list now resided in Bai Luan's head.
Hand that list to Jing Yuan later and the job was done.
He'd helped enough; if they still bungled it, he'd have to draft a complaint file to them.
Bai Luan stepped back and, to keep Lu Jun from suspecting, helped the Cloud Knight disperse the crowd like a friendly semi-official helper.
Seeing that, Lu Jun's last trace of doubt vanished.
After the bustle, the Cloud Knights calmed the crowd and returned to their posts; the avenue was peaceful once more.
March 7th looked at Yanqing and couldn't help praising him.
"Yanqing, you're looking more and more like a grown-up."
Yanqing smiled at her.
"March, spare me. Before the Martial Arts Ceremony the craft's safety is a wire stretched taut—seemingly calm, but one pluck and the after-waves never cease."
He glanced at Bai Luan, who was still helping with the evacuation.
"Sorry, Mr. Bai Luan; you're our guest yet ended up doing so much."
"It's fine—I volunteered."
March 7th asked curiously,
"Those guys we just cleaned up… what exactly were they?"
Yanqing explained,
"Borisin, long-time enemies of the Luofu, creatures of Abundance. Their many clans have ravaged and enslaved other; their scourge rivals the Swarm. Three decades ago the Alliance fought them in a great war."
Bai Luan looked at Stelle and asked,
"Did all that cramming finally grow you a brain?"
"Noting it down, noting it—this, then that, then that…"
Dan Heng spotted the flaw and said,
"According to that officer, they attacked a Corporation ship in the spaceways near Luofu? Such blatant assault is bizarre."
"I find it odd too—looks like they've a serious grudge with the Corporation. Enough chatter; time for business. The General asked me to escort you to him."
Yanqing sighed.
"I'd love to chat more, but certain matters keep me on edge…"
March 7th scratched her head.
"'On edge?' You mean hunting Borisin… needs our help?"
Bai Luan chimed in,
"Could well be."
He chuckled.
"Maybe the Borisin put on a new skin and are playing hide-and-seek with the Cloud Knights?"
Yanqing pondered, murmuring,
"Would they really…"
Then he shook his head.
"Whatever the case, you're guests here for the festivities; you shouldn't be drawn into Cloud Knight affairs. And the matter I mentioned isn't about hunting Borisin—it's just a trifle."
Speaking of this trifle, Yanqing grew awkward.
"Well… the girl who just appeared swiped my sword. I'm going to the to Realm-Keeping Commissionto file a lost-property report and see if I can get it back…"
March 7th burst out laughing.
"Haha, I'm sure she didn't mean it!"
Stelle added,
"Go on, file it—that scene'll be spectacular."
The Realm-Keeping Commission a Cloud Knight case feels like a police station finding a snake and calling the Firefighter.
Yanqing scratched his head embarrassedly.
"Please stop; it was my oversight."
"Speaking of finding people…"
Stelle's eyes lit up; she looked at Bai Luan.
"Uncle, any ideas?"
Yanqing, curious, glanced at Bai Luan.
"What has Mr. Bai Luan to do with this?"
Stelle eagerly explained,
"Yanqing, you don't know—Uncle always knows things you think he couldn't, like the identity of the girl you're after."
"Then…"
Yanqing looked at Bai Luan hopefully.
"Mr. Bai Luan, do you know who she is?"
Bai Luan shook his head.
"I don't know her."
Stelle stood thunderstruck—someone Uncle doesn't know? Wait, that's not the point!
Uncle, you've never failed before; why fold the moment I brag?
I'm done for!
I've been back-stabbed by Uncle!
Disappointed, Yanqing nodded.
"All right…"
But Bai Luan changed tack.
"But I know who she is."
"?"
Yanqing looked at him, puzzled.
What do you mean you don't know her yet you know?
"Her name is Yunli, disciple of General ZhuMing. General HuaiYan brought her; if nothing goes wrong, we'll meet her again."
Stelle regained composure and nodded—now that sounded right.
She had no idea who Huai Yan was, but that didn't stop her trusting Bai Luan.
"As expected of Uncle."
Yanqing was puzzled.
"I'm a native and didn't know—how do you?"
Stelle answered,
"Don't wonder—Uncle just knows."
After hearing that,
Yanqing was even more confused.
He glanced from March 7th to Stelle to Dan Heng; all accepted Bai Luan's words without doubt.
Finally Yanqing looked at Bai Luan and hesitantly asked,
"Mr. Bai Luan… do you know divination too?"
...