The star-liner KG5 traversed the vast, glittering starscape of the Western Sector and, after one final curved trajectory adjustment, finally entered the Starfall Empire's most prosperous core region—the Central Star Sector. It sped toward its destination: S3 South Continent Star, the southernmost of the five super-planets.
Since the interrogation, Bai Hao had remained in Detention Cell Three.
The cell measured nearly twenty square meters, considerably larger than his cabin in the Residential Quarter. Aside from a single bed, it contained a washbasin and a toilet, providing the bare essentials.
Life inside was monotonous and dull. Beyond physical exercise and sleep, Bai Hao had little else to occupy his time. The three daily meals were a relatively humane touch—not the bland, utilitarian nutrient bars, but proper, palatable food, well-balanced meals with both meat and vegetables. This came as a mild surprise. The only significant discomfort was the lack of bathing facilities; he could only manage a rudimentary wipe-down with water from the basin.
'Day eleven. The ship should have entered the Central Sector by now,'Bai Hao calculated, his mind uneasy about his situation. First, regarding the kidnapping allegation: judging from the earlier interrogation and torture, they seemed convinced he was the culprit. What puzzled him was the complete lack of contact since then. He felt like a kitten abandoned in a corner, utterly ignored. Second, there was the matter of the interrogation officer. If the man had suffered serious harm, even if Bai Hao wasn't a kidnapper, he'd likely face severe consequences. This was the source of his regret; his actions had been impulsive.
'Sigh. Is my dream going to end here, on this star-liner filled with hope?'With a soft sigh, he threw himself into another bout of intense physical training. Only by pushing his limits could he temporarily forget his trivial worries, his dreadful predicament, his anxious state of mind... leaving room only for the goddess bathed in starlight in his thoughts—Su Shi'er.
Four days later, KG5 finally reached the end of its journey.
S3 South Continent Star, one of the five super-planets in the Central Sector. Together with the other four, it formed the political and economic heart of the Starfall Empire, governing the empire's boundless, star-studded expanse.
Under the escort of two officers, Bai Hao finally exited Detention Cell Three. He walked slowly along a bright corridor until he stood before Security Chief Ning Bei. Looking at the man he had beaten, Bai Hao's expression remained remarkably calm.
Ning Bei wore a stern expression, scrutinizing Bai Hao intently for a good ten seconds before speaking slowly. "Check the items on the table. See if anything's missing. Furthermore, the kidnapping incident was indeed a misunderstanding. However, you must spend ten days in a detention facility, as you did assault two active-duty officers. Of course, according to Imperial law, you may apply for administrative reconsideration, though the approval process can be lengthy. Therefore, it's advisable for you to simply spend those few days in detention."
As Ning Bei spoke, Bai Hao checked his confiscated belongings. Finding everything in order, he looked up and met Ning Bei's gaze squarely. "Thank you. Also, I have a request. Please convey my apologies to that interrogation officer. And... tell him he has a very handsome face."
Watching Bai Hao's departing figure, Ning Bei stood momentarily stunned. A strange, complex smile eventually touched his lips—a mix of anger, cold amusement, and perhaps a sliver of admiration...
Breathing in S3's fresh air, Bai Hao felt an unusual sense of lightness, as if a flower of hope had bloomed atop his head. As for the ten-day detention, it was far better than he'd feared. He naturally had no intention of applying for any administrative reconsideration.
Accompanied by the two officers behind him, he proceeded toward a special channel arranged specifically for him. However, before entering the passage, a man around fifty years old blocked his path. Dressed in a black suit and sunglasses, with temples graying slightly, it was Xi Chenglong, the elite bodyguard by Su Mengchen's side.
Xi Chenglong's features were stern and imposing, yet the faint smile on his face seemed oddly incongruous. "The young miss's matter has caused you unnecessary trouble. This is a Tulip membership card—a token of compensation from Madam. We hope you will accept it."
Bai Hao was taken aback for a moment. Seeing Xi Chenglong's attire, he immediately recalled the three men in sunglasses he had fought. Drawing a deep breath, he asked slowly, "Is Xiaoshi... alright?"
Xi Chenglong maintained that slightly mismatched smile. "The young miss is well."
Bai Hao felt a wave of relief. He took the exquisite black card from Xi Chenglong, tossed it casually into his duffel bag, and offered a small smile. "May she achieve her dream soon."
With that, Bai Hao walked into the special channel.
Outside the passage was a parking area where a police vehicle stood waiting. After a brief handover procedure between officers, Bai Hao was ushered into the car. It then drove toward Nanzhou City, about a hundred kilometers away.
Nanzhou City, the primary metropolis on S3 and one of the Starfall Empire's "Ten Super-Cities." Spanning over 100,000 square kilometers with a population nearing 200 million, it was a super-urban center where prosperity and cutting-edge technology coexisted.
By dusk, Bai Hao had been delivered to the designated detention facility. After a simple intake interview and the surrender of his luggage and other regulated items, he was escorted by two staff members through a series of alloy doors before finally being placed in a small detention room of about a dozen square meters.
The room contained two single beds. On one sat a middle-aged man, around forty, with a buzz cut and a scar over ten centimeters long on his cheek. His exposed arms revealed muscles with sharply defined contours.
The man paid no attention to Bai Hao. His gaze was fixed intently on a wall screen, seemingly engrossed. The screen displayed a Starfall Empire war documentary chronicling events on the distant battlefronts at the edge of the Eastern Sector. Of course, such "documentaries" were not without the Empire's military propaganda elements.
After settling in simply, Bai Hao also sat on his bed and began watching with keen interest. The war between the Starfall Empire and the Galactic Alliance had persisted for nearly a millennium, though it largely remained confined to minor skirmishes. Only two truly large-scale conflicts had occurred in history, the most recent being over a century ago—the famed "Galactic Tide." During that war, nearly half of the Empire's entire Eastern Sector was occupied by the Galactic Alliance, representing the Empire's gravest crisis in millennia. Ironically, it indirectly catalyzed the rise of a new type of weaponry: the mecha, the very object of Bai Hao's fervor.
The screen showed numerous battle scenes where mechas were absolutely indispensable presences. In the air, on land, underwater—their forms seemed omnipresent, their brilliance arguably outshining even the stellar carriers.