Chapter 2749: Transmigrated to the Aristocratic Academy as a Special Recruit 34

Ke'erliqi was roughly bound behind the back by two burly space bandits, his hands tied tightly with coarse rope, leaving him dazed with a buzzing in his head.

He did this because he distrusted these profit-driven space bandits, so he deliberately chose this location for the secret meeting to abduct Ling Yao, thinking he could seize the initiative on his own turf.

Who would have thought these desperadoes would have the gall to go this far!

He actually dared to lay hands on him, the local bully, on the turf of a Federal Brigadier General!

"……You're crazy! Do you know who I am?!"

Ke'erliqi was both shocked and angry, trying to struggle.

But his personal guards brought into the base had already been subdued; he was alone, no match for this gang of ruthless bandits.

The space bandit leader leered, stepping forward and delivering two solid punches to his abdomen!

"Ugh!"

Ke'erliqi let out a muffled groan, his stomach churning, pain doubling him over as cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

Ling Ling was terrified out of his wits, trying to flee, only to receive a even harsher beating; he was soon bruised and swollen, lying on the ground like a dead dog, trembling, without even the strength to cry out.

In contrast, Ling Yao, who had been 'kidnapped' from the start, aside from having his hands symbolically bound in front with a restraint strap, was completely neat from head to toe, not a hair out of place.

He even leisurely adjusted his sitting posture, making himself more comfortable.

He looked less like a prisoner and more like a young master coming to inspect the work.

Outside the base, over a dozen space bandits wielding energy rifles patrolled back and forth with wary expressions, ensuring not even a fly could get in.

They knew full well that these three 'honored guests' inside, especially the young master of the Ling family, were their biggest bargaining chip in this operation and their main leverage in negotiations with the Federal military.

After dealing with Ke'erliqi, the space bandit leader swaggered over to Ling Yao, looking him over.

"Young Master Ling, consider this—how many star coins will you pay to ransom your precious life?"

Ling Yao leaned back, looking at him with a carefree smirk, "Name your price."

The space bandit leader's eyes flashed with greed, but after a moment it was overtaken by greater ambition.

He snorted contemptuously, "Star coins? Hahaha! If I could loot the Ling family treasury, I'd have enough to build countless top‑star cruisers and buy loads of cutting‑edge weapons!"

"Then the whole fringe star region will have to listen to me—who'd care about your paltry ransom?"

Ling Yao raised an eyebrow, tried to hold back, but couldn't.

He lifted his gaze to the space bandit leader and, smiling, remarked, "You're also an idiot—idiotic in a uniquely creative way."

Space bandit leader: "???"

A twitch ran through the flesh on his face; he couldn't fathom how this young master, facing death, still dared to insult him.

Ling Yao shook his head, as if pitying the other's intellect, "You've tied me up and yet all you think about is building star cruisers and seizing territory?"

It's like an emperor wielding a golden hoe to till the soil.

Space bandit leader: "……"

He blankly turned to the slightly sharper‑looking subordinate beside him and muttered, "…What does he mean?"

The subordinate shrank his neck, "Boss, he seems to be insulting you… completely clueless."

The space bandit leader flew into a rage!

Just as he was about to erupt, a space bandit in charge of perimeter guard came tumbling in, face strange, panting, and reported, "Boss! Not good! Holy shit, we've seen a ghost!"

"They say the Interstellar Heavenly Empress Ivy has suddenly decided to hold a fan meet‑and‑greet on Sixth Sub‑star, and it's not far from here—her fans have surrounded our outer perimeter! It's completely sealed off! We need to pull out now, or we'll definitely be exposed!"

Hearing this, Ling Yao's eyes flickered with a knowing smile, the worry in his heart settling back down.

Xisi and Shiheng acted quickly enough.

The space bandit leader cursed furiously, but knowing the situation was urgent and not having time to settle scores with Ling Yao, he barked, "Damn it, what bad luck! Grab these three hostages and hurry back to the Ghost!"

They went through the secret passage, boarded the space bandits' ship whose exterior looked dilapidated but whose interior had been heavily modified, verging on luxurious.

Ke'erliqi tried to resist again.

He was, after all, a Brigadier General who had undergone the baptism of battle, his physical far surpassing that of ordinary people.

But his legion usually dealt with star beasts; when had they ever encountered such crafty, deceitful space bandits who played completely outside the rules?

Ke'erliqi had strength and combat skills, but facing overwhelming numbers and a ruthless enemy with no scruples, he couldn't bring them to bear.

Instead, because he resisted he took even more blows, was thrown into a narrow, dark cell, looking no better than Ling Ling—utterly wretched.

Although Ling Yao was also shoved in, his treatment was clearly far better—at least no one dared to use force on him.

He found a relatively clean corner and sat down leisurely.

Ling Yao looked at Ke'erliqi, sprawled on the ground and panting heavily, and shook his head.

Ke'erliqi, seeing that, flared with rage, hoarsely snarling, "Ling Yao! What are you pleased about? We're all on the same rope now—do you really think these desperadoes will let you go?!"

Hearing that, Ling Yao actually burst out laughing.

He tilted his head, lowering his voice, "I can get away, you know."

In Ke'erliqi's incredulous gaze, the metal bracelet on Ling Yao's wrist, which looked merely decorative, flickered faintly.

A pale‑blue arc flashed, a soft sound, and the specially made restraint band on his wrist snapped apart.

Ling Yao flexed his wrist, playing with the broken string between his fingers, a small smirk of satisfaction.

"The little gadget Baiyu gave me really works."

He was already thinking, when he gets back he'll pester Baiyu for a few more—this is practically a travel essential, a must‑have for self‑defense and survival!

Ke'erliqi's eyeballs were about to pop out!

Lin Baiyu!

Lin Baiyu never betrayed Ling Yao! This whole thing was their trap—he actually stumbled right into it, clueless!

Ke'erliqi was unwilling to accept it, wanting to shout loudly for the space bandits outside.

Ling Yao was quick‑eyed and quick‑handed, grabbing the broken rope and stuffing it into Ke'erliqi's gaping mouth.

"Mmm! Mmm‑mmm!" Ke'erliqi's eyes nearly popped out, but all he could manage was a muffled sob.

Ling Yao no longer paid attention to him; following the plan he had discussed earlier with Lin Baiyu, he slipped out of the confinement chamber.

Inside the labyrinthine spaceship, they searched for the federal soldiers captured by the space pirates.

They were all heroes who had earned battle merits, and two of them were instructors from their academy; they must not be allowed to die here.

Lin Baiyu originally did not want Ling Yao to take such a risk, for many warriors could accomplish the hostage rescue, but at that time Ling Yao said……

"He said, since Ke'erliqi could choose to cooperate with me, he would certainly not let his guard down; our plan could proceed more smoothly—this is a rare opportunity."

On the enemy warship that had walked into the trap, Lin Baiyu explained this to Jin Chen.

The opportunity was rare, and everyone from the military department involved in this space pirate extermination plan felt the same way.

This band of space pirates had long roamed the fringes of federal planets, being more troublesome than space beasts; now the First Army Corps had dispatched over a hundred combat warships, forming an encirclement—once this elusive pirate flotilla leaves Sixth Sub-star, we can swoop in.

"Ling Yao didn't tell me."

Jin Chen gazed out the window, the stars twinkling, yet at that moment no one could peacefully admire the view.

He had only been gone for half a day plus a night, yet Ling Yao dared to venture alone into the tiger's den.

Lin Baiyu glanced at Jin Chen upon hearing that, but did not respond to the remark.

He could sense the resentment hidden in Jin Chen; just now, when faced with his confession, Jin Chen's reaction had been indifferent.

Lin Baiyu easily tugged at the rope binding his wrists, rose, turned his back to Jin Chen, tilted his head, and calmly reminded, "To ensure the operation's safety, my brother and the military's assault team will shortly meet us and transfer us to the assault ship ahead."

"Can you untie me first?"

Jin Chen withdrew his gaze from the starry sky, his eyes falling on Lin Baiyu, and said, "Give me two guns, fully loaded."

Lin Baiyu fell silent for a moment, then understood.

Since Jin Chen knew the entire plan, he could not simply watch Ling Yao continue to stay on the enemy ship.

"All right." He sighed helplessly.

Jin Chen flipped his wrist, a cold gleam flashed.

The tactical dagger snapped the rope binding Lin Baiyu's wrist.

The rope fell to the ground, and Jin Chen led the way toward the connecting passage.

Lin Baiyu lowered his head, rubbing the wrist where the rope had left a red mark, and followed closely behind.