Afterlife Department

Another week passed and Huo Jinghua and the others still haven't found a clue to Huo Ling's death. Since the crime scene is the best place to search for clues, they have decided to go back to the planet where Huo Ling died. And since all the Zergs on the planet were eradicated, leaving the planet empty after it lost its queen, it was now a safe place to travel to. 

However, after Huo Jinghua and Mary Jackson talked last night in Huo Ling's room, Mary Jackson insisted to go with them on the now-empty planet. Naturally, Huo Jinghua disagreed. They argued, but for the sake of Mary Jackson's feelings, Huo Jinghua finally conceded. 

After Jiang Ce heard that Mary Jackson was going, he also wanted to come. However, Harry Walter is a man of reason, not feelings. Thus, under the excuse of research, Jiang Ce was finally let by Harry Walter to come with him. 

And then there's Kale. He is unfortunate, since everyone disagreed of him leaving the empire. Sam comforted him when he sulked for a whole day after he watched Huo Jinghua and the others left.. Harry Walter is a marshal, and is irreplaceable to the empire, but since the only Royal Princess, Mary Jackson, will be going, then he went with the group. 

Thus, the large group boarded a starship bringing with them their trusted people and went to plant XTV1. Mary Jackson felt her eyes were filled with tears again when she saw the planet they were going to, the place where her only child died, from a distance. 

Huo Jinghua was instructing his own subordinates when he saw his wife whose eyes reddened because of tears again. He helplessly sighed before he dismissed his subordinated and quietly walked behind Mary Jackson. 

"Howee… Howee…!" Mary Jackson cried as her tears finally fell. 

Huo Jinghua clenched his fists. This is the reason why he doesn't want to bring Mary Jackson with them. But, she is Huo Ling's mother. She has the right to go to the place of her child's death. He brought her out of respect to her as Huo Ling's mother, and he knows that's the reason why Gerard Jackson, Lewis Johnson and Harry Walter also conceded to her request. 

She needed a closure to Huo Ling's death. "Meiying." He called as he hugged her from behind. 

Feeling the familiar warmth and security, Mary Jackson finally burst into tears again. 

(A/N: I really feel sorry for her. She hasn't had the chance to grieve for her child in the previous world due to her condition, so now she was given the chance to pour out all of her emotions for her child.) 

Huo Jinghua closed his eyes as he listened to Mary Jackson's cries. He isn't an expressive man, so he only knows how to comfort his wife through hugging her. 

Jiang Ce who was about to go see Huo Meiying hid behind a wall and lowered his head. He might have met Huo Ling very late, yet the child has already grown in on him. He already loved him, thus he is really saddened for Huo Ling's death. 

He already felt like this, regretting so much for losing such an adorable nephew, then how much more is it for Mary Jackson, who lost her only child? How was it for Gerard Jackson to lose his son? 

A pair of leather boots appeared before his eyes. He raised his head and saw Harry Walter stood in front of him, the time unknown. His eyes reddened when he saw his husband and he thrown himself to Harry Walter and cried. His sobs are muffled in his husband's chest, wetting Harry Walter's uniform with his tears, yet Harry Walter didn't mind it as he placed a hand on Jiang Ce's back to comfort him. Then, he brought him away to give some privacy to Mary Jackson and Huo Jinghua who were left. 

In the control room, Lewis Johnson silently, and helplessly, watched Gerard Jackson endure his sadness and anger as they saw the planet XTV1 appeared before their eyes. Lewis knows that Gerard is strong, but he sometimes wanted for the other to rely on him more than suppress his emotions. 

He soundlessly sighed and pressed some buttons to prepare for their landing on the planet. 

… 

Harry Walter, Jiang Ce, Lewis Johnson and Gerard Jackson looked at each other when they went out of the starship. Huo Jinghua and Mary Jackson are still inside. Huo Jinghua must have let Mary Jackson rest. 

Harry Walter, Lewis Johnson and Gerard Jackson didn't speak anything and just instructed their subordinates to inspect the planet, which is their excuse to leave the empire, and to report any suspicious places or any suspicious objects. 

To make their business more convincing, Jiang Ce brought some of his students with him. Harry Walter brought them to the former planet Zerg queen's residence while Lewis Johnson and Gerard Jackson stayed after Gerard Jackson's eyes reddened to the point it was bloodshot when his emotions surged in his chest. 

"Take some sampled of the soil, the plants and the rocks in this planet. If you find an insect, bring it." Jiang Ce instructed his students. "Take some sample of the water here, too, and check the air with the instrument." He added. 

"Yes!" the students answered and then dispersed. Since the planet was occupied by the Zergs before, and there was the Zerg queen, the empire didn't send anyone to inspect the planet's resources. Now that the planet's Zerg queen died after Huo Ling committed suicide and took it down with him, the empire can now inspect the planet and, after some procedures, claim it. 

"Was it here…" Jiang Ce was about to ask if it was the place where the Zerg queen resided and Huo Ling died, but stopped himself since it was already obvious. 

There was a deep and large pit before them, and the surrounding soil turned black because of the explosion. Anyone who would've seen it would feel their heart go cold after seeing the devastation. 

Jiang Ce sucked a cold breath and his eyes reddened. For Huo Ling to die in this way, how much pain must he have felt?