Chapter 3097: After Divorce, Forced to Compete with My Ex‑Husband 27

Chenshu wasn't in a hurry to cash in those two requests, just like Jin Chen had been when he received candy back then; he also didn't ask for a deadline on fulfilling them. Such a promise gave them a sense of security and confidence.

The next morning, the starship set off again, heading for the next destination.

Blake stood before the cabin, holding a data slate, his expression more solemn than when he was at Bert's Comet.

He called up a star map, zooming in on the point marked with a red marker; the planet in the image was covered in rust‑red, its surface showing no trace of green or blue, only an oxidized dark red.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the planet we are heading to next is not the pre‑set exploration target of the main star. This is an exploration point added temporarily after the military and multiple parties took everything into account: the No. 7 planet of the Edge Star System Mine, outside the imperial routes, designated XG7 by the main star, because its surface is covered in iron‑rust‑colored ore dust, while its interior is riddled with abandoned mines and collapsed outposts; locals and black‑market traders call it Rust Husk."

One hundred fifty years ago, this place was the Empire's largest rare‑metal mine on the frontier. Later, an undetectable energy leaked during a prospecting accident, seeping into the crust's mineral veins and groundwater system, triggering a series of large‑scale human mutations.

Some humans developed symptoms called rusting: iron‑rust‑colored patches appeared on the skin, spreading gradually over the body until they covered the internal organs, causing people to lose their minds in extreme pain and become monsters that attack any living thing. At that time, the previous ruler of the Imperial royal family, in the name of ecological isolation, withdrew all official personnel and facilities, cut off all routes, and abandoned the remaining miners and their families on the planet to fend for themselves.

After all these years, the survivors split into three main bases.

Iron Fortress occupies the main control area of the old mine, ruling the surrounding resources and armed forces by force. Medicine Tower gathers the former mine's medical and technical staff, possessing partial technology to purify mutations, and is the only place able to produce the suppressant. The Wanderers are a loose neutral faction, drifting and surviving in the abandoned tunnels, unaffiliated with any side. The three bases fight over the purifying drug, food, and weapons; slaughter and betrayal are daily occurrences. Because the mutation‑induced rusting process is slow but irreversible, the only way to delay it is regular injections of the suppressant, and the raw material for the suppressant exists only in Medicine Tower. To survive, Iron Fortress raids Medicine Tower at intervals, while the Wanderers play both sides for profit.

When Blake said this, Chenshu lowered his eyes slightly and looked at Jin Chen, who was leaning in his arms looking at the terminal screen.

Jin Chen leaned on Chenshu's shoulder, holding the data slate; feeling Chenshu's gaze, he moved the slate away, met his eyes, and with an innocent expression said, "What?"

Chenshu stroked his cheek, lingering affectionately, then lowered his head to rub his nose, whispering, "It sounds a bit familiar."

Everyone present, including Blake, felt that Chenshu had probably seen classified data about this planet during his military service, after all an Imperial general's access to information far exceeds that of ordinary people, so it was reasonable for him to know the background of this frontier planet.

But the focus of the barrage comments was completely not on the planet's background.

: The three bases, war and plunder, the Wanderers' survival… this seems to have been recorded as well in Jin Mei‑ren's strategy escape game from last year.

: Sorry, I wasn't really listening to what Blake was saying—how did this general and the beauty become all lovey‑dovey overnight?! What exactly did you guys do last night?!

: General, your hand is practically glued to Jin Chen's body! From takeoff till now, how many times have you touched him? I can't even count!

: Does anyone care about Blake's feelings? After he finished talking about that tragic history and looked back, the general was flirting with Jin Chen.

: Jin Chen actually leans that close in his arms looking at the board, with no gap between them—is that a normal distance?!

Jin Chen felt Chenshu's fingers still lingering on his face, lifted his hand to pull Chenshu's palm down and place it over his own eyes, squinting and lazily saying, "Illusion."

He had another thought: being able to come to Rust Husk again was entirely an expedition deviating from the original plot. After all, in the original novel's setting, this destination didn't exist at all, meaning the plot's enforceability might be greatly weakened here; seizing this opportunity, he could completely kill Chi Mu.

When they heard that this planet's supplies were even scarcer than the previous one, Steve, who had hardly suffered any hardship, quietly performed a series of operations on his optical brain, while Yunwu beside him completely missed his actions, head down organizing the various small research devices and medicines in his backpack space, rearranging them by use and priority, muttering under his breath as if memorizing a list.

Blake continued to detail the mission: "This expedition, we have already made contact with the senior leadership of the Iron Fortress base. They said they would cooperate, but they cannot make decisions for the Medicine Tower, with which they have always been at odds. Therefore, we will carry out this mission under the guise of ordinary tourists whose tour‑group aircraft has run out of fuel and made an emergency landing on Rust Husk, visiting all three bases to find the star core causing the planet's anomaly."

"Moreover, the production team has already upgraded the live‑broadcast sphere, making it completely invisible and following the shoot, so as not to be discovered by the locals."

He spoke fluently, going over all the safety contingencies, then lifted his head to see if everyone understood—only to see his superior and Young Master Jin curled up together in a posture that didn't look appropriate for a public setting.

Blake's mouth twitched, he closed the data slate and turned to go to the cockpit.

After the cabin grew quiet, Chi Mu unusually did not initiate conversation.

〖I know the star core is important, but I can't possibly let go of the Fortune Value on Jin Chen! Didn't you say that as long as you capture the Child of Fortune, you too can gain endless energy? How dare you stop me from continuing to pursue Jin Chen? 〗

System: 〖………〗 It can't possibly say it's a bit worried that this dangerous person Jin Chen might kill Chi Mu, can it?

This premonition grew stronger and stronger, to the point that it didn't mind risking the host's scolding to voice opposition, but it knew Chi Mu too well—knew how stubborn he was, and knew that the more something is forbidden, the more he insists on doing it.

As expected, Chi Mu did not heed its silent warning; he demanded the system investigate Jin Chen's past and, using the remaining points, forcibly carry out another plot correction, sending Jin Chen back onto the script's proper course for his affection.

【Ding!】

999 Brave Online: 【Has blocked one plot correction for the task‑taker.】