Chapter 451 - 447: Invitation

"Please have a seat, Captain Xie." Secretary Chen smiled and nodded, then introduced her to the several elderly men beside him.

"This is Vice Minister Zhao from our Special Operations Department."

"This is Deputy Minister Qiu and Director Zhou."

"We’ve taken the liberty of asking you here, Captain Xie, because we wanted to ask for your opinion on a matter." Secretary Chen nodded to Assistant Hu, who was sitting to one side.

Assistant Hu quickly handed Xie Ning a thin, two-page document. "It’s like this, Captain Xie. Because you provided us with extremely important information, the organization discussed it internally and decided to award you with Second-Class Merit."

"And we would also like to cordially invite you to join our Special Operations Department."

"You don’t have to rush to refuse." Seeing that Xie Ning seemed about to speak, Assistant Hu hurriedly added, "Here’s the thing. We understand that you, Captain Xie, would never abandon your teammates in the Starfire Team."

Xie Ning nodded her head.

Assistant Hu said with a smile, "So, the officials hope you’ll join our Special Operations Department under the title of Senior Consultant."

"When the time comes, we’ll grant you a Special Operations Department Senior Consultant badge, which will allow you to enjoy all the benefits of the department."

"Any mission you help the officials complete can be recorded for personal Merit Points. You can take a look at our official Merit Point exchange interface right now!"

Xie Ning blinked. Before she even had a chance to speak, Assistant Hu had rattled on and on, swiftly opening an electronic screen in front of her and letting her preview the exchangeable rewards...

Secretary Chen said with a beaming smile, "Captain Xie, don’t be so quick to refuse us. How about this: you can take some time to consider it. It won’t be too late to give us an answer after you return from the Gushang Base rescue mission."

"Yes, yes, yes." The chubby Vice Minister Zhao from the Special Operations Department grinned so widely his eyes disappeared. "I think Secretary Chen’s suggestion is excellent. Captain Xie, if you have no objections, let’s just decide on that, shall we?"

"That’s right, that’s right. You’re about to set off, so we can’t delay you too much. You should hurry and depart. You can think it over carefully on the way."

"Besides, on this matter, as long as you agree, it’s a win-win situation for both of us."

"Right, right. Captain Xie, if you agree when you get back, we’ll give you double Merit Points for this Gushang Base mission."

"Yes, yes, we must maintain an encouraging attitude toward our young comrades!"

Xie Ning didn’t even get a word in, completely bamboozled by this group of old foxes talking her in circles.

When Assistant Hu escorted her out, she was still dazed, but the document agreement was clutched in her hand.

"Captain Xie, take a look at the document when you have time." Assistant Hu resisted the urge to pat her on the shoulder, chuckling as he escorted her out of the conference room door and back to the Starfire Team.

"Huh? Captain, you’re back so soon?" The members of the Starfire Team were baffled.

From the moment the captain was led into the small conference room by Assistant Hu until her return, it really hadn’t been more than five or six minutes.

The dazed and confused Xie Ning glanced blankly at her teammates.

"Captain, what did Assistant Hu and the others say to you?"

’Why does she look so stupefied...’

"N-nothing." Xie Ning gave a dry cough, put away the two-page agreement, and tucked it into her personal backpack.

"Let’s head up."

Her teammates all gave her a strange look.

"You sure nothing’s wrong?"

"What’s up with the captain?"

"She’s acting weird."

Xie Ning ignored the murmuring voices behind her and walked toward the electronic access gate.

The four or five patrol guards standing by the elevator door all broke into friendly smiles when they saw the Starfire Team approaching.

"Heading out, Captain Xie?"

"Mhm." Xie Ning nodded. "Please take good care of Aunt Cen and her daughter."

"We know, we know. Don’t worry, Captain Xie."

Xie Ning and her teammates split into two express elevators to go up to Basement Level 1.

The moment she stepped out of the elevator, she couldn’t help but frown.

The main hall was in an uproar; it seemed the argument hadn’t ended yet.

Several people from R Country were red-faced and roaring, "Refund our Crystal Cores!"

"Yeah, why can’t we speak face-to-face with the people from the X Realm? Who is the X Realm person in charge of the System Mall?"

"Exactly! How can they just swallow our Crystal Cores and not give us an explanation? Can any of you contact the X Realm?"

Xie Ning shot them an expressionless glance.

She saw Lu Wei standing next to the person in charge of Zone A, explaining something to a group of foreigners.

Xie Ning rolled her eyes and couldn’t stop herself from saying sarcastically, "Your top-up failed, so go find whoever you want. Why are you pestering people who don’t know anything?"

"Exactly," Song Kexin chimed in, nodding.

Lu Wei turned, saw it was the Starfire Team, and waved with a smile. "Aunt Song, Ningning, go sit in the rest area for a bit. We still have to wait for the others."

"Okay, you get back to it." Song You’ai nodded and pulled Xie Ning and the others over to sit down in the adjacent circular sofa area.

Some Superpower Users from a neighboring group quickly stood up to greet them.

"Captain Xie."

"Aunt Song."

"You’re all here?"

"Mhm, sit, sit, everyone sit down." Song You’ai gestured for the few enthusiastic young people who greeted them to sit.

"You’re... um, from the Shark Team, right?"

"Yeah." The young man in the lead nodded, a little embarrassed.

’Ahem, how should I put this?’

’Usually, the Shark Team doesn’t feel any different from other teams like the Fierce Tiger Squad or the Hungry Wolf Squad. But in front of the Starfire Team, why do we feel... so lame?’

"Hehe, we’ll be traveling together later, so I hope we can all look out for each other." Song Youzhi shook hands with the captains of the other teams, leaving them all feeling rather flattered and overwhelmed.

"Not at all, not at all! The Starfire Team’s strength is plain for all to see. Since we have the chance to cooperate this time, we hope to learn a thing or two from all you uncles and aunts."

"Hahaha, there’ll be chances, there’ll be chances."

"Do you guys know what the situation is like outside right now?" The Shark Team captain scratched his head and said a bit sheepishly, "We only heard a rough outline and wanted to understand a bit more."

"Oh, it’s quite serious. But don’t worry, everyone. When the mission leader comes over later, they’ll definitely explain the actual situation and the degree of difficulty to everyone."

"As long as we prepare thoroughly, unity is strength. There shouldn’t be too big of a problem."

"Uncle Song is right."

"Hello, Master."

"Hello, Master."

Xie Ning had just found a place to sit when a number of people ran up to her, bowed, and greeted her.

The scene made the rest of the Starfire Team laugh...

Xie Ning was speechless as well. She glanced at the bunch of rascals and recognized them as the young men and women she had taught about the Space Ability and Gold Ability back at the front line.

"Master, I have a few more questions about the Space Ability. Can I ask you?" The speaker was a pretty young woman with shoulder-length hair, who glanced shyly at Xie Ning.

Xie Ning didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. "Go ahead and ask. I’m about the same age as you all. You can just call me by my name."