stood somewhat dazed outside the cosmetic surgery pod.
She had just complimented her boss, who had finished his makeover, saying that he looked "more handsome," and then received a notification that her bonus for the month had been canceled due to "overly conservative attire."
Was her flattery not sincere enough?
smacked her lips, peeked at the cosmetic device, and after much thought, decided to maintain her current facial ecosystem.
She did not need to care too much about her appearance at the moment; what the boss valued was her outstanding combat prowess!
Yes, that must be it.
In the break area on the bridge of the "East Wind," Yang Ming looked at his reflection in the projected mirror, cradling his forehead as he fell onto the sofa.
He had come full circle, returning to the starting point.
However, this journey wasn’t in vain; during these years, he had experienced a life "beyond Hanton," built his own power base, met several enchanting beauties, and had found the answers he most desired, learning why Earth had been bombed.
Ultimately, it was because the Faya Civilization was too treacherous, and Earth’s civilization was too weak.
"Boss, we are about to enter Sherman Empire territory," Lyu gently asked, "Would you like to witness this historic moment personally?"
Yang Ming snorted, "What’s historic about it? It’s not like I’ve never been there before."
"It’s different. Before, we went into Sherman Empire territory to cause trouble, gain some advantage, or solve problems," Lyu’s miniature projection appeared by Yang Ming’s ear, "This time, we’re going to establish a base and strive for a glorious future!"
Where did this guy get such enthusiasm?
Yang Ming’s lip twitched slightly as he flicked Lyu with a finger.
"Let me rest for a bit, we’ll probably have no time to rest soon."
Lyu smiled slyly, "The Emperor Star Circle is known for its beauties!"
Yang Ming turned over, lying flat, his arm covering his eyes.
Lyu tilted her head to the side.
She did not quite understand why the boss was so averse to the Empire.
In truth, it wasn’t just Lyu who didn’t understand; Yang Ming himself didn’t understand either.
The thought of entering and operating within the Sherman Empire made him lack fight and feel disheartened.
Yang Ming closed his eyes deep in thought; scenes flickered across his mind like a flowing stream.
He seemed to return to the planet where they resolved the pirate disputes, sitting in a stealth boat with the old man Kolev, watching the brilliant beams of light appear and disappear in the sky, seeing Lina vanish.
Was it that dreadnought’s shot that instilled fear of the Empire in him?
Or maybe, entering the Empire was inviting certain doom.
Yang Ming’s mood grew increasingly troubled.
Lyu considerately dimmed the lights on the bridge.
The sound of the "East Wind’s" engines filled Yang Ming’s ears, indicative of the spacecraft’s high-speed and stealthy flight.
Empire, Emperor, Nobles, Elder Court, Invincible Fleet, Planet-level bastion, Dreadnought, Constant Star-jumping cannon...
One term after another swept through Yang Ming’s mind.
He had played "Abyss" for five years, witnessing the era when the Milky Way’s ’plot exploded,’ so he understood the vast power of this empire.
Possibly because the cosmetic surgery restored his body’s original appearance, Hanton’s looks evoked Yang Ming’s memories of him.
Hanton was born into a normal Imperial family; his father, having worked hard all his life without finding the ladder to become a noble, placed all his hopes on Hanton.
Hanton was loyal to his country, he loved it, yet his journey in the military was far from smooth, at one point being assigned to technical units due to his poor physical fitness.
He began rigorous training.
Unrelenting training, enhancing his stamina, continually setting targets to move forward, to improve, and after being transferred to the Kigrov experimental ship, actively applied to participate in modification experiment plans to make himself stronger.
Hanton’s original fate should have been destroyed on that test ship, sacrificed in the battle between Kigrov and the Valkyrie Po Suo.
But in Hanton’s memories, Yang Ming saw mostly laughter and joy.
It was as if a mirror appeared in Yang Ming’s mind.
He and Hanton sat facing each other, inside and outside the mirror.
"Are you afraid of those things?"
It seemed like Hanton was asking.
But Yang Ming knew that wasn’t Hanton.
The scenes in the mirror changed, the past streaming across constantly.
"Yes, on this journey, there were not many times I made adequate preparations, not just this once."
The precariousness in Cole Port Prison, had it not been for his timely assessment that Lina was problematic and securing Kolev as an ally, he would have been erased by the warden.
On the research ship, there was no strategic planning, only a survival instinct-driven struggle where he made several critical judgments at key moments and courageously put them into action.
Entering Wind was initially intended to pursue economic development, yet due to Kolev’s ’senile constipation,’ he was drawn into a military embezzlement case; had he not bluffed his way through with Gudun Mah, either he or Kolev would have escaped at best...
Opportunities always accompanied risks.
There was unlikely to be any easy advantage to seize without effort.
Just like the benefits from the Intelligent Mechanic Dusk, he also bore the risk of being labeled a "human traitor" or the "creator of the Third Natural Disaster."
What more did he need to fear?
The worst-case scenario was akin to losing the battle against the Valkyrie on the research ship.
Up to now, he had always been a winner.
If the Earth loses the Pioneer... as long as he tried his best, then perhaps Edwan could lend Earth a hand when the time came.
The universe was in constant motion.
He did not have to be bound by a single idea.