Chapter 2748

"I will weigh all pros and cons for you and pave the way." Lin Baiyu said, "The military department is more suitable for you than the Ling family, but I won't say... I am more suitable for you than Aoyao."

"Aoyao…… is very good, likes you a lot."

"Hearing this, Jin Chen finally had a somewhat different reaction, lifting their eyelids to look at Lin Baiyu, wanting to hear what shocking words Lin Baiyu could still say."

"Lin Baiyu met their gaze, lips parting slightly, 'So…… my proposal is, you can continue your romance with Aoyao.'"

"As for me, I don't need that complete, worldly romantic relationship. I only need you…… to spar with me in the training field, and,"

"They paused slightly, their gaze sweeping over Jin Chen's uniform‑clad chest, their voice growing hoarser, '…… to bed.'"

"Jin Chen:."

"Jin Chen was greatly shocked."

"What kind of brain circuit came up with this 'win-win' plan?"

"【As for the nobles' private lives, we are indeed still completely ignorant.】 Ling Gun Gun gave a speech."

"Jin Chen took a full two or three seconds to come to, pressing their throbbing temple."

"I disagree, the discussion ends here."

"The last question: have you and Kolrich cooperated?"

"Lin Baiyu remained silent for a few seconds, not answering immediately."

"【Host, we can shift to the route now! Let's head to the secondary star!】"

"Jin Chen no longer wasted words."

Lin Baiyu hadn't expected him to suddenly strike; he instinctively blocked and resisted, but Jin Chen's movements were simply too fast—after a few grappling moves, Lin Baiyu had his arms twisted behind him and his wrists bound with a fiber rope he seemed to produce from nowhere.

In the struggle, Lin Baiyu felt a familiar, almost thrilling excitement.

That night, in the villa's living room, when Jin Chen completely subdued him with killing intent, that was exactly the feeling.

Jin Chen showed no mercy, lifting his foot to kick him in the back of the knee.

Lin Baiyu let out a muffled groan and fell to his knees on the deck, a very humiliating posture.

He lifted his head, his neck arching, the back of his neck flushing red as he looked at Jin Chen, who had taken his place in the pilot's seat, his voice hoarse.

"Your suspicion is a bit premature… but… I don't mind."

Jin Chen ignored him.

Right now I don't want to say another word to this guy with a screw loose.

——

At the same time, the sixth peripheral sub-star located by Ling Gun Gun.

Deep within the rust‑stained mining base, the light barely illuminated the cleared patch of ground.

Ling Yao had been "invited" here, yet he showed none of the fear or panic one would expect from a kidnapping victim.

He even had the leisure to criticize his surroundings, lifting his chin at the escorts: "Are you blind? You didn't notice we're missing a chair—go get another one."

That subordinate, glared at by him, actually turned around and dragged over a fairly intact metal chair from the junk pile.

People accustomed to obeying orders, faced with such a natural, inherently commanding demand, often find no thought of resistance arising.

Only then did Ling Yao condescend to sit, legs crossed, elbow casually resting on the armrest, as if this place were not a bandits' den but the reception hall of his Ling family.

He lifted his chin, glanced at Corriqi and Ling Ling, and said, "Your turn—you went to all this trouble to invite me here; spit it out, quickly."

At this moment, Ling Yao bore no trace of the arrogance or meekness he showed before Jin Chen; his whole being exuded an innate, haughty nobility, the arrogance cultivated from long immersion in top‑level power.

Even in such a dilapidated setting, he remained so dazzling that one could hardly look straight at him; even Corriqi in his crisp uniform paled a little in his presence.

Corriqi's eye twitched. "No wonder you're the Young Master of the Ling family—still throwing your weight around in a place like this. Do you think this is the main star?"

Ling Yao gave a soft snort, smiling narrowly. "Open your dog eyes and look at the star chart—even the most remote junk star on the Federal map has Ling family holdings, what do you say?"

Corriqi: "……"

It's damned frustrating that he can't refute it!

Although this planet falls under his jurisdiction, its economic production is actually mostly in the Ling family's hands.

He flared up in embarrassment and anger, lit a cigarette, and glanced at the restless Ling Ling beside him.

Ling Ling had long been impatient, eager to see Ling Yao's lofty façade torn apart.

"Ling Yao, even with death at your door you're still arrogant! You surely didn't expect this—how much thanks do we owe to whoever betrayed you for getting you out so smoothly?"

Ling Yao lazily lifted the corner of his eye, his gaze at Ling Ling like looking at trash: "Idiot."

Ling Ling, provoked by the contemptuous attitude, trembled all over and shouted in a sharp voice: "It's Lin Baiyu! Your best brother!"

"He gave us the route home and the security loopholes, hahaha! Now you know what it feels like to be betrayed by the person you trust most—do you think you can still return unharmed?"

To Ling Ling's surprise, Ling Yao's face showed none of the shock and pain he had expected.

Ling Yao's gaze swept past him and landed on the sullen Corriqi, his eyes as if looking at a hopeless fool.

"As a federal major general, you're stupid enough to collude with space pirates—do you even realize what you'll be facing next?"

He shook his head, tone regretful: "Marshal Cleveland, how could you have such an idiot brother?"

Corriqi fiercely stubbed out his cigarette, sparks flying: "What do you mean?!"

Ling Yao no longer looked at him, turning instead toward the shadowy heap of abandoned machinery behind Corriqi, lazily raising his hands in a surrender pose.

But coming from him, the gesture was full of a carefree, teasing air.

"You actually naively thought that this bunch of space pirates, who don't even put federal law in their eyes, would meekly cooperate with you and split the profits?"

Before his words even finished, Corriqi rose and turned, the gun muzzle already pressed to his forehead.

A burly man in tattered leather armor stepped forward, lugging an energy gun: "Hahaha! Still, the Ling family Young Master is sharp—a federal major general with real power, and the sole heir of a conglomerate!"

"Damn, I've really hit the jackpot this time!"

Ling Yao lowered his hands, elegantly crossed his legs, and asked with interest: "By the way, do you accept bribes in star credits?"