Chapter 1211: Intercepted While Heading to the Starport

The hovercar traveled smoothly through the traffic network of the Capital Star.

From the Saladin residence to the Starport, the standard route takes thirty-seven minutes.

Alan chose the optimal path, avoiding the main thoroughfares and utilizing branch lanes, with an estimated travel time of twenty-nine minutes.

Yingzhou sat in the back seat, closing his eyes to rest his mind.

He extended his psionic perception, covering every surveillance camera, every patrol vehicle, and every checkpoint within a one-kilometer radius.

Everything was normal for now.

The large-scale chaos caused by the "Harvest" operation was still fermenting; the command chains of various departments were broken, and information transmission was severely delayed.

At least for the moment, no one had linked those "sudden illnesses" and "accidental incidents" to the Saladin Family.

But the time window was shrinking.

"His Majesty."

Alan's voice came from the front seat.

"Twenty-three minutes until arrival at the Starport. We need to confirm the evacuation plan."

Yingzhou opened his eyes.

"The plan."

"The family ship 'Three-Eyed Glory' is docked at the Starport's Seventh Berth with a crew of ten; they have received the 'urgent family business' order in advance and can take off at any time. The identification code and flight path have been entered into the system, with the destination declared as the border system 'Grey Rock', though the actual heading will be changed at the third jump point."

"Risk?"

"The main risk comes from the Starport checkpoint. The Capital Star Starport implements Level 3 security checks: identity verification, biological scanning, and cargo spot checks. My Saladin Family status is still valid, and your status as Adjutant has also been entered into the system. Under normal circumstances, the probability of passing is about ninety-two percent."

"Under abnormal circumstances?"

Alan paused for a second.

"If any faction discovers the truth about the Saladin Family in advance, the Starport might set up a blockade to intercept us. In that case, the probability of passing is less than ten percent."

Yingzhou nodded and did not ask further.

The vehicle continued forward.

Ten minutes later, they entered the area surrounding the Starport.

Traffic here had become noticeably sparse.

At this time of day, the lanes leading to the Starport should have been lined with hovercars, but now there were only a few scattered ones.

"The situation has changed."

Alan said.

"The Starport has initiated a Level 1 response protocol."

Yingzhou looked out the window.

The Starport complex in the distance was brightly lit, but the number of patrol vehicles in the vicinity had clearly increased.

Some security personnel wearing black uniforms were setting up blockades at intersections, checking every passing vehicle.

"Can we take a detour?"

"No. All channels entering the Starport have been blocked, leaving only the main thoroughfare."

Alan pulled up the Starport structural map.

"The main thoroughfare has three checkpoints, each with six to eight security personnel equipped with biological scanners and weapon detection equipment."

After a few seconds of Silence, Yingzhou spoke.

"Continue forward. When we reach the checkpoint, proceed as originally planned."

"Understood."

The vehicle slowed down and drifted slowly into the main thoroughfare.

Six security personnel stood by the roadblocks, all wearing black bulletproof uniforms and holding Energy Rifles.

Alan reduced the vehicle's speed to a minimum and slowly stopped before the roadblock.

A security guard walked up and knocked on the window.

"Identity verification."

Alan lowered the window and handed over the identity chip.

The security guard inserted the chip into a handheld scanner, and a string of information popped up on the screen.

"Major Alan Saladin Weike, Saladin Family..."

The security guard looked up, his Three-Eyed gaze fixed on Alan.

"Where are you headed?"

"Urgent family business. The border system requires my personal attention."

The security guard looked at Yingzhou in the back seat.

"And who is this?"

"My Adjutant, Corporal Kolan Weike."

The security guard frowned and raised the scanner toward Yingzhou.

Yingzhou calmly accepted the scan.

Three seconds later, the scanner lit up green.

The security guard's expression relaxed slightly, but he still showed no intention of letting them pass.

"Major, the order I received is that all personnel leaving the port must wait an additional fifteen minutes for a secondary verification."

"Why?"

"The higher-ups didn't say."

The security guard shrugged.

"It is only said to be a 'temporary security measure.' You may wait in the rest area; if there are no issues after fifteen minutes, you may pass."

Alan looked at him, her three eyes narrowing slightly.

"Do you know who I am?"

The security inspector froze for a moment.

"Major Alan Saladin Weike, the one who just testified at the Council."

"Do you know that my sister was just assassinated three days ago?"

The security inspector's expression became awkward.

"Major, I am very sorry, but this is an order from above..."

"An order from above. Which above? The Security Bureau? The military? Or the Council?"

The security inspector opened his mouth but did not answer.

Just then, a roar of engines came from behind.

Three military armored vehicles drove up from the rear, forcibly cutting into the lane and pinning Alan's vehicle tightly in front of the checkpoint.

The vehicle doors slid open, and fully armed soldiers jumped out.

At least twenty people, all wearing the standard combat uniforms of the Feng Qi Xing Alliance military, holding heavy weapons.

The leading officer stepped forward.

"Alan Saladin Weike. Get out of the vehicle."

Alan looked at him without moving.

"Who are you?"

"Seventh Security Service Bureau, directly under the Commander-in-Chief's office."

The Colonel flashed a badge.

"You are under arrest."

"The charge?"

"Suspected involvement in a series of assassination operations targeting high-ranking officials of the Feng Qi Xing Alliance."

Hearing this, the expressions of the security inspectors at the checkpoint changed.

They instinctively took a few steps back, gripping their weapons tightly.

Alan remained sitting in the vehicle, her expression unchanged.

"The evidence?"

"Evidence is not needed. Commander-in-Chief Valken issued the order personally. Now, get out. Your accomplices too."

He made a gesture, and the soldiers quickly surrounded the vehicle, all gun barrels aimed inside.

Alan looked at the rearview mirror.

In the back seat, Yingzhou opened his eyes.

Deep within those eyes, a golden light was burning.

"Alan," he said, his voice terrifyingly calm, "back away."

Alan did not ask why.

She let go of the steering wheel, leaned back, and pressed herself completely against the seat.

The next second, Yingzhou raised his right hand.

A golden psychic light bloomed.

As the light dissipated.

Five Grey Knights appeared around the hovercar.

They held the Heavenly Punishment Demon-Cleaving Halberd in their hands, standing in an arc, shielding Yingzhou's vehicle behind them.

They did not speak, made no unnecessary movements, and simply stood there.

But that pressure already made everyone choke.

The Colonel's Third Eye widened to its limit, his pupils almost jumping out of their sockets.

He had seen Space Marines, in battlefield recordings, in intelligence briefings, in those tragic defeat reports.

But seeing them with his own eyes, experiencing it personally, was an entirely different matter.

That sense of oppression did not come from their size or weapons, but from a deeper, more fundamental existence.

Fear made the Colonel unable to catch his breath, and he roared loudly.

"Fire... fire! Fire!"

The soldiers pulled the triggers.

Energy Beams, live ammunition, and rockets—all weapons fired simultaneously, aimed directly at the five Grey Knights.