Reattaching the head was indeed a technical task.
Fortunately, the Supermodified Organization had many mechanical experts, and Yang Ming, holding his head, took a stroll around the repair station and returned to the squad formation unscathed.
Over the next week, Yang Ming tried his best to maintain the demeanor of a gentleman in front of Captain Catherine.
Yang Ming could sense that Catherine actually had feelings for him, and now that there were no barriers due to their identities, their relationship naturally progressed in a direction that television stations would not allow.
Catherine had some dreams about romantic relationships but was very restrained herself.
Yang Ming, also a veteran in the matters of the heart, hesitated to indulge too much when facing a powerful Supermodified person who could behead him in disagreement.
After all, it wasn’t his original body here; this mechanical body had limited resistance to hits.
In one week’s time, the two of them only completed a few activities together:
They hid in a corner of the base and watched a comedy film projected from Yang Ming’s chest;
They practiced mixed doubles together for men and women;
They learned new techniques for controlling exoskeletal armor together;
They carried out strategic battle simulations together;
They researched Bryant’s psychological gender together.
Catherine showed more laughter and joy during training, and Yang Ming, experiencing this kind of military camp romance for the first time, felt it was very novel.
Of course, their relationship did not progress too quickly, remaining in an ambiguous phase; neither of them made their feelings explicit.
Yang Ming, though a gentleman, couldn’t keep his gaze fixed solely on Catherine’s slim and athletic figure; he also used this rare opportunity to observe the underpinnings of the Empire.
This Supermodified Organization... turned out to be a nest of bosses.
Yang Ming’s mechanical body wandered around the training base for a week. After a brief summary, he discovered six Legion Level bosses and several other high-level, difficult bosses he vaguely remembered.
—It was also because Supermodified people were continuously coming to the Yaha Star Base to observe the White Ghost.
Even so, Yang Ming clearly remembered most of these bosses’ strategies and techniques.
Upon searching his memories carefully, Yang Ming found a small issue.
These bosses, in "Abyss", were all part of various departments of the Imperial Military, not serving the Supermodified Organization.
Yang Ming reasonably speculated that perhaps the Supermodified Organization disbanded later, and their resources were redistributed by the Imperial Elder Council and the military.
Regarding Captain Catherine, Yang Ming surmised that in the original timeline she might have been eliminated by Bryant or died in battle; "Abyss" had no data on her.
For that reason, Yang Ming also intentionally reminded Catherine, instilling in her the idea that it’s better to survive than to sacrifice unnecessarily.
During this period, Yang Ming’s interaction with Bryant was not frequent.
In order to avoid suspicion from above, Yang Ming always maintained a certain distance from Bryant, spending his days entering and exiting events with Catherine alone.
Bryant, being a rare Supermodified person with spiritual power, was also very busy.
In just one week of intensive training, Bryant had been temporarily borrowed away twice.
Yang Ming secretly inquired about the mission details with Bryant, and Bryant did not dare conceal anything, reporting in detail what he had done outside.
—He often had to help some secret tribunal deal with troublesome criminals, including some political prisoners.
"Can’t help it, I’m destined to do these dirty jobs," Bryant responded somewhat nervously, "If you mind, I will find a way to refuse."
"Ah, don’t worry, just follow your own path and serve the Empire well."
Yang Ming, fearing that he hadn’t made himself clear enough, specifically cautioned Bryant, "My moral standards aren’t that noble."
"Your modest character impresses me."
That weird Spiritual Imprint.
This squad training program was originally meant to last half a month, but because the Empire discovered a new Insect Swarm, Director Riva called a halt to their training.
In the squad meeting room, Director Riva and Captain Catherine stood at the podium, with Yang Ming and about a dozen other members sitting below.
Three planets appeared on the projection screen.
"Thanks to the new technology contributed by the White Ghost, the military has discovered three new Insect Swarm sites."
Director Riva spoke slowly:
"First, on behalf of the Imperial Elder Council and the military, I express gratitude to the White Ghost. The Elder Council has already sent an application to the Imperial Supreme Noble Senate, and as long as the application is approved, the provisional Baron title of the White Ghost will be confirmed.
"Prior to this, the Elder Council has already issued a commendation decree and rewarded the White Ghost with a suite of high-end residences on Yaha Star.
"You all should be aware of these details."
The teammates all looked towards Yang Ming, who smiled, picked up the commendation decree, and proceeded with a show-around.
"Show-off," muttered Catherine with a slight twitch of her lips.
Director Riva quickly shifted to the main topic, the middle-aged woman with a stern face issued the battle order:
"The newly discovered three Insect Swarm sites, two of which are on worthless uninhabited planets, have been targeted by the Imperial Dreadnought, which will carry out a live destruction next.
"This is a perfect opportunity to boost the morale of our citizens.
"But one of the Insect Swarm sites..."
She slightly adjusted the projection screen image, erasing two planets directly, with a tan planet slowly rotating in the center of the screen.
"This is a Second Level resource reserve planet, rich in a large amount of rare minerals, listed in the Empire’s development agenda for the next hundred years, and it also has the potential to be transformed into a habitable planet.
"So, after careful evaluation, the decision was made not to directly destroy the Star Core but to try to clear the Insect Swarm from the planet.
"Here are the precise details."
Several lines of notes appeared next to the planet.
Fourth Rank queen, half Fourth Rank mature bugs, half Third Rank mature bugs, and a few special Fifth Rank bugs.