Chapter 480: Forced Conscription

Looking at the electronic tomb before him, Zhang Jie sighed.

Remembering before he left, the old man still said he had a few hundred years to live, yet he died so obscurely in the Nightmare tide.

The world's situation is not optimistic; the distance between each star system is so great that relying on manpower cannot monitor all natural disasters, especially for planets near the border of the Star Alliance.

Moreover, this planet isn't even an officially recognized inhabited world; it's merely a chaotic place that accommodates various interstellar visitors.

"This this isn't me doing it, don't take your anger out on me!"

The Nightmare objected in Zhang Jie's mind; Zhang Jie certainly knew it wasn't the one who did it, but it had likely done many similar things.

Most scholars' view is that the behavior of natural disasters is entirely instinctual.

But Zhang Jie knows that there is a consciousness driving them to act; tentatively call this thing the will of natural disasters.

Other natural disasters are merely tools and pawns; only this thing is the true culprit.

"Let's go, Xiao Jiu."

"Let's go hang out."

"Oh... oh."

Xiao Jiu originally thought Zhang Jie would have no mood to accompany her for a stroll, but in fact, Zhang Jie merely felt regret.

The old man's status was not low, at least not low on this planet; having a tomb of robes and hats was to be expected.

Zhang Jie is not the type to dwell in the past; all he could do was buy a few bottles of good wine for the old man and pour some water on his electronic tomb.

The departed are gone; there's no need to stay here any longer. This place remains as it was—wasteland, oasis, nothing has changed.

And the natural disaster that took the old man's life occurred shortly after he left.

In other words, the old man... basically never got to enjoy the assets he left behind.

Poor old man.....

Although this isn't his fault, Zhang Jie still felt a faint sense of helplessness.

Even though his talent is outstanding, even though he is seen as a talent freak by others, many things still cannot be changed.

If it can't be done, it can't be done.

"Disasters really are chasing close behind my footsteps."

Zhang Jie glanced at the workers constantly transporting desserts onto Xiao Jiu's ship behind him, smiled helplessly, and stepped onto the vessel.

"Two months flew by; you returned to the main star of the Iron Law Star Alliance, and once again the fierce student who signed up for 21 courses burst onto the scene—this time you still enrolled in 21 courses."

"You must forge yourself into an all‑talented genius!"

"This semester's courses, besides 15 still being taught by Ms. Yuan as a substitute, you actually ran into your fellow research senior, Huang Luo, who happens to be the substitute teacher for one of those courses."

"Compared to Yuan's solemn and dull demeanor, Huang Luo, this little old man, is obviously more popular with his interesting and talkative nature; he often throws out fun conjectures and fun questions, which is why his class rarely sees absent students."

"And what he lectures on is likewise his strongest suit—carbon‑based biological neurology—he is shining in his field of expertise."

"Learning has no bounds; the more you learn, the clearer it becomes. Human technology is a huge circle; every breakthrough in a field protrudes a small spike on the circle's edge, and if that spike is big and long enough, it can drive the other fields forward."

"A true genius certainly has this ability, but you're not sure whether you can pull it off."

"This time studying isn't as troublesome as last time; this time you've obtained exclusive tutoring rights!!!"

"As Yuan's student, you may freely consult Yuan; this is a privilege unique to Yuan's students—otherwise how could you be called a true student?"

"This also gives you more free time; you start using your spare time to design Xiao Jiu's ship blueprints, during which you inevitably pester Yuan about technical issues, so annoyed she directly refers you to a specialist in the design field."

"And 7774, who knows what she's been through, is no longer so arrogant, faithfully carrying out her duties as a secretary ship—pouring tea, delivering meals."

"These used to be Xiao Jiu's chores, but now 7774 has snatched them all."

"She may not be a super‑talented genius, but she is a highly professional secretary ship; her handling makes things much easier for you."

"Hmm, Xiao Jiu is unhappy again—another bout of unhappiness—but she doesn't say anything; she just sulks, secretly competing with 7774."

"Zhang Jie! I want to take a leave of absence from you!"

Dai Tao suddenly called out to Zhang Jie, who looked at her with a puzzled expression.

"Where are you going that you still need to ask me for leave?"

"This time is different! This time it's a long vacation!"

"Hmm... I want to go find my former master and prove myself to him!"

Well, Zhang Jie clearly promised to personally help her craft accessories, but now he's basically busy with other things; the present Dai Tao has all her accessories self‑purchased.

Is she already strong enough?

"I will prove it to him! My current pilot is the better one!"

"Fine, go ahead."

"Um, I also need to make a trip."

This time it's Qiong; Zhang Jie looked at her with a question mark on his face.

"You also have business? Aren't you a ship's life that was buried for several hundred years?"

"That's right, but there's nothing I can do—I was forcibly conscripted."

"Lately... um... the major Star Alliances are about to go to war with that thing."

"It's that thing you understand, right?"

"What thing? Is there something that can't be said?"

"Could it be entropy disaster?"

"All right, Zhang Jie understood."

"My system compulsively orders me to go back for a trip, but you don't need to worry—I won't be going to the battlefield."

"All right, go ahead."

"Okay, I won't be gone long."

"Those two have left—doesn't that mean Xiao Jiu has no one to keep her company?"

Zhang Jie looked at Xiao Jiu, but realized this little guy also looked hesitant.

That... human... I also...

Zhang Jie:???

You also want to go???

Hmm....

Ah, being busy is good, being busy is good.

Go, go, go, everyone go.

Zhang Jie only felt like a lonely old person, left at home by his own child.

Looking at Zhang Jie's appearance, Xiao Jiu covered her mouth and snickered, brought over a stool, stood on it, tiptoed, and pretended to pat Zhang Jie's head.

Good human.

7774 stood at the doorway watching the interaction of the few people, not knowing what they were thinking.

Xiao Jiu's departure hasn't made you feel much change; it's just that you always lack a clingy little guy to be close with.

7774 is still the same, just a normal colleague to you, completely lacking the closeness that Xiao Jiu has.

Human females are also much busier than before, and all day they hardly meet any familiar people.

Peaceful life is dull and boring, but fate won't let you idle; the tiger‑eyed disaster constantly erodes humanity's living grounds.

On an ordinary day, the Iron Law Star Alliance suddenly activated red combat readiness; human females hurriedly sent you a communication, bringing very bad news.

Qiong, as well as Xiao Jiu, were forcibly conscripted and dragged onto the disaster battlefield....