Chapter 338

The thrilling scene in the simulation drill served as a live combat rehearsal, not only testing the adaptability of the Star-Chasing candidates but also vividly demonstrating Xia Wan's pivotal role as a Tiankong Guardian in crisis. Her precise control and calm decisiveness amid energy turbulence and meteor impacts utterly won over all participants and observers.

After the drill ended, an immediate investigation into the system anomaly began. The preliminary conclusion was that the simulation system contained an extremely hidden underlying logic flaw, accidentally triggered by high-intensity energy conditions, causing parameters to run out of control. Though an accident, it sounded an alarm for the central control system of the Mother Ship "Hope," and related checks and reinforcement work were immediately elevated to the highest priority.

After a brief rest and replenishment of her depleted Spirit, Xia Wan returned to intense battle preparation. She began systematically using the Dragon-Origin Horn for cultivation. The essence fragment of this ancient dragon relic, containing a thread of Origin Dragon Qi, proved remarkably effective in tempering her flesh and nurturing her Bloodline. Under Mo Yu's seemingly unreliable yet consistently on-point "probability theory" guidance (though he spent most of his time teasing Xiao Bao), Xia Wan's absorption efficiency of the Dragon Qi greatly improved; she could feel her physical strength and energy affinity steadily increasing.

That day, after finishing a deep meditation session powered by the Dragon-Origin Horn, she felt her body brimming with power, her Bloodline surging as if she had endless energy. She stepped out of the dedicated Quiet Chamber, preparing to head to the gravity training field to stretch her limbs.

As she passed through the connecting bridge from the living zone to the core zone, she saw Lei Dong standing alone by the window, gazing at the busy yet orderly Base scene. Unlike his usual commanding, decisive demeanor, his back now appeared… weary, even carrying a faint, almost imperceptible loneliness.

In his hand, he held an electronic report, his brow furrowed as if troubled by something.

"Commander Lei." Xia Wan approached and greeted him softly.

Lei Dong snapped back to awareness, saw it was Xia Wan, and forced a smile, instinctively hiding the electronic report: "Ah, Xia Wan. Finished your cultivation? How do you feel?"

"The results are excellent—thank you for your support, Commander Lei." Xia Wan nodded, her gaze settling on his unmistakable exhaustion. "You look tired. Are you facing some difficulty?"

Lei Dong sighed, rubbing his temples, and didn't hide it: "Yes. Still the money problem."

"Money?" Xia Wan froze. The Base's operations, especially the construction of the "Hope" and the advancement of the Star-Chasing program, consumed astronomical resources—but with the New Era's current global integration and Qin Feng's "casual" infusion of G. S. C. oilfield wealth, financial pressure shouldn't be this severe.

"Not the regular budget," Lei Dong explained, voice tinged with helplessness. "It's the Black Gold."

"Black Gold?"

"Yes." Lei Dong lowered his voice. "Certain expenditures that can't go through official accounts but must be made: buying intelligence on the Guixu ruins' surrounding starfield from gray-zone interstellar information brokers; hiring… unsavory but highly skilled mercenaries or specialists to carry out covert reconnaissance missions; acquiring key technologies or materials restricted by international treaties through unofficial channels…"

He gave a bitter laugh: "Each item costs a fortune and usually demands untraceable encrypted digital currency or rare resources. Our previous reserves, spent preparing for the annual gala and countering G. S. C.'s covert pressure, are nearly gone. Now that the Star-Chasing program is fully launched, this gap has widened dramatically."

Xia Wan understood. Even within an organization like the New Era, there were shadowy corners requiring Black Gold to function. This was indeed a thorny issue—official funds could never be used for such purposes.

"So you're struggling to raise this Black Gold?" Xia Wan asked.

Lei Dong nodded, his expression pained: "Yes. I'm trying to 'redirect' funds from a few legitimate commercial projects, or see if I can 'reallocate' other resources for exchange… but I can't make too much noise—otherwise it draws unwanted attention and audits. Sigh…"

Watching him fret over "money," and recalling Su Wenqian's half-joking, half-serious remark—"I'm the world's richest man's wife"—Xia Wan suddenly felt an absurd sensation.

The "manager" theoretically controlling trillions in wealth (the oilfield's potential value) was now desperately scheming over tens or even just millions of Black Gold, risking exposure to "redirect" or "reallocate."

The image was… profoundly ironic.

She couldn't help murmuring: "I never thought you'd ever worry about money."

The remark was spoken without intent, but to Lei Dong, drowning in this very stress, it made his face flush red. He coughed awkwardly.

At that moment, a teasing voice came from behind them:

"Oh? What's going on here?"

"Little Guardian, are you pitying our… 'World's Richest Man'?"

Mo Yu had drifted over again, Xiao Bao slung over his shoulder, clutching a bag of snacks—evidently stolen from somewhere—and munching with crumbs all over his mouth.

Mo Yu walked up beside Lei Dong, elbowed him, and winked: "Old Lei, I'm not saying this to mock you, but hoarding a mountain of gold and crying poverty? Your acting's top-notch."

Lei Dong's face reddened further. "Mr. Mo, please don't tease me. That oilfield… it belongs to Mr. Qin. It has nothing to do with me or the Base. Besides, G. S. C. is mining it—we only secured some strategic breathing room and tech exchange terms. The real capital flows? We never touch them."

"Stubborn!" Mo Yu sneered. "Old Qin called it 'mundane trash.' Does he care? Can't you be a little flexible? For example, set up a shell company to secretly buy shares in G. S. C.'s subsidiary developing that oilfield? Or use future oilfield revenues as collateral to issue 'bonds' on the interstellar black market? There are plenty of ways!"

Lei Dong stared, dumbfounded: "This… this could work? Isn't that negotiating with tigers? And the complexity, the risk—it's too high!"

"High risk, high reward!" Mo Yu dismissed it, then suddenly brightened, turning to Xia Wan. "By the way, Little Guardian—you just got access to the Dragon-Origin Horn, right? Though useless for your research, to certain ancient beings or top collectors, it's priceless! Just cut off a tiny sliver and sell it—enough Black Gold to cover your needs for ages!"

Xia Wan: "…"

Lei Dong quickly waved his hands: "Impossible! Impossible! That's a vital research sample!"

Mo Yu watched their alarmed expressions, shrugged, and found it boring: "Fine, I'll shut up. Keep clinging to your rules and starve yourselves."

He slung Xiao Bao over his shoulder, muttering as he walked away: "Seriously, both of you are so rigid… problems that could be solved with a wave of the hand…"

Watching Mo Yu's retreating back, Lei Dong and Xia Wan exchanged a wry smile.

Some rules, some boundaries—they had to uphold them. Even if, at times, it made them seem… pitiful.

Lei Dong took a deep breath, straightened his posture: "Forget it. There's always a way when you reach the mountain. I'll find another solution for the Black Gold. Xia Wan, focus on your battle prep—don't worry about these trivial matters."

Xia Wan nodded, watching Lei Dong's back straighten again, her heart filled with quiet admiration.

This "steward" of the "World's Richest Man" had it far from easy.