Chapter 449: A Flash of Inspiration

Chapter 449: Chapter 449: A Flash of Inspiration

Meanwhile.

Long Ming and Luoxue watched as Jing Chuan and the others piled up the excavated Bloodlight Stones, their spirits lifting with every stone added to the heap.

"I can’t believe we’ve mined this much, and we’re not even finished!"

It felt almost surreal to Luoxue.

"It’s to be expected. Guangxiao Planet itself is a resource planet occupied by the Third Legion. Back when the Kunpeng was transporting supplies, it carried a lot of Level 4 ore."

Long Ming explained to Luoxue.

"That’s true."

Luoxue nodded.

Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed, and Yu Lie burst in.

"Captain, we have a problem!"

"What’s wrong?"

The hearts of Long Ming, Luoxue, and the others sank.

"An inspection officer from the legion is here! I think he’s here for us!"

Yu Lie reported, panting for breath.

"What did you say?"

"What’s going on? Why would an inspector come to our area? Did someone report us?"

...

Jing Chuan and the others were shocked.

"There’s no need to wonder. Someone from Jiang Heng’s group must have reported us. After all, they’re not on our side."

Luoxue wasn’t surprised by this development.

That was why she had only brought her own people to dig here—she didn’t trust the others.

"So what do we do now? If they find these Level 4 ores, we’re screwed."

Qian Wei and the others were also getting anxious.

"Don’t panic. Hide all the Level 4 ore you’ve dug up. And hurry, bury the area you’re working on now and start digging somewhere else!"

Luoxue quickly gave her orders.

"Right!"

Qian Wei and the others quickly agreed.

After making the arrangements, Long Ming and Luoxue left in a hurry.

...

Back on the surface.

The small transport ship landed next to Luoxue’s vessel.

A middle-aged man with dark skin, a two-pronged mustache, and an arrogant expression disembarked from the ship, followed by several subordinates. He was wearing a gray second-generation exosuit.

Jiang Heng hurried forward to greet him enthusiastically.

"Officer Baisin, what brings you here?"

"Hmph. Where is Second Lieutenant Luoxue?"

Baisin said with a sneer.

"Our captain is currently on a work assignment. May I ask what this is about?"

"A work assignment? More like she’s up to something shady."

"How could that be?"

"Enough nonsense. Tell her to get over here and see me, now."

"Right away."

Jiang Heng replied with a placating smile.

「Over half an hour later.」

Long Ming and Luoxue flew in from a distance, landing directly in front of Baisin.

"Officer Baisin, what brings you here?"

Luoxue asked calmly.

Baisin’s eyes narrowed when he saw Luoxue piloting a Third Generation Mechanical God, the Graylight. He said,

"I’m here to inspect your work. Where have you taken all your personnel?"

"Well, I found a Level 3 mine and am leading a team to excavate it. Is there a problem?"

Luoxue confessed frankly.

"A Level 3 mine? You’re not secretly mining it to line your own pockets, are you?"

Baisin was secretly pleased but questioned her with suspicion.

"Of course not. I’ve already sent someone to file the report."

Luoxue replied calmly.

"Oh? Then take me to see it."

Baisin urged her immediately.

"Very well. Please, follow me."

Luoxue and Long Ming then led Baisin away.

「A long while later.」

They arrived at the edge of a massive wormhole.

"Hold on, why are you bringing me to an insect cavern?"

Baisin grew wary when he saw that Long Ming and the others were taking him to an insect cavern.

He even started to suspect that Luoxue and her team might be planning to get rid of him.

"Officer, there aren’t many mineral resources in this area. We had no choice but to explore the underground Insect Nest to find a vein."

Luoxue explained calmly to Baisin.

Baisin’s expression flickered, and he turned to a subordinate beside him.

"He Yuan, you go down with them and verify the situation with the Level 3 vein."

"Huh? ...Alright."

The soldier, who was wearing standard mechanical armor, could only brace himself and agree.

"Let’s go!"

Long Ming and Luoxue said nothing more and led He Yuan down into the cavern.

Soon, they reached the bottom passage and headed toward the mining area.

He Yuan asked nervously.

"Are there still bugs down here?"

"Of course. This underground Insect Nest is a sprawling labyrinth; it’s impossible to clear it out completely. But don’t worry, we’re here. We’ll do our best to ensure your safety."

"What do you mean, ’do your best’? You *must* guarantee my safety! I’m Officer Baisin’s trusted confidant!"

He Yuan stressed to the two of them.

"Alright!"

Long Ming and Luoxue replied in agreement.

Just then, Jing Chuan came toward them, carrying a damaged "Excavator."

"Let’s step aside and let them pass."

Long Ming and Luoxue pulled He Yuan aside, pressing against the rock wall.

"Why is this Excavator so badly damaged?"

He Yuan asked uneasily.

"Ah, it was attacked by a Type-III bug during excavation. We couldn’t save the pilot."

Long Ming said with a sigh.

"No way... it’s that dangerous?"

"To be honest, if we hadn’t been assigned such a poor sector, we wouldn’t be risking our necks digging in a place like this."

"I suppose so."

He Yuan said, swallowing hard.

Soon, Long Ming and Luoxue brought him to the excavation site.

"This is the mining area. Take a look around."

Long Ming and Luoxue said cooperatively.

He Yuan was immediately startled by the sight of Zakun’s corpse.

Trembling, he raised his recording device, hastily snapped a few photos and a short video, and quickly said to Long Ming and Luoxue,

"Okay, that’s enough! Get me out of here, now!"

"Don’t you want to take a closer look?"

Long Ming asked with a smile.

"What’s there to see? It’s just a Level 3 mine."

He Yuan urged them impatiently.

"Alright!"

Long Ming and Luoxue escorted He Yuan out.

They soon returned to the surface.

He Yuan rushed forward to report to Baisin.

"Sir, there is indeed a Level 3 mine in the Insect Nest below. They’re mining it at great risk. I took video and photos."

Hearing this and seeing he had no leverage against Luoxue, Baisin smiled and said,

"You’ve done well. I will report this to our superiors."

"Thank you."

Long Ming and Luoxue replied politely.

Baisin then left with his men.

Watching Baisin and his group depart, Long Ming and Luoxue let out a sigh of relief.

....

「One day later.」

Inside a hidden insect cavern.

Long Ming, Luoxue, and the others had hidden all the excavated Level 4 Bloodlight Stones here.

"Is it really okay to hide the stuff here?"

Qian Wei asked, a little worried.

"Honestly, the best thing would be to get rid of them somehow. Hiding them will always be a problem."

Luoxue also looked at the ores with some concern.

"It won’t be easy to transport them out."

Long Ming also felt this was a tricky situation.

"Let’s leave it for now. We’ll head back and deliver the Level 3 ore to the Kunpeng first."

Seeing no better solution, Luoxue decided not to dwell on it.

"Alright."

Long Ming and the others followed Luoxue out of the hiding spot.

...

「A long while later.」

Long Ming and his team boarded a small spaceship, escorting the Level 3 ore back to the Kunpeng.

CLANK!

The spaceship docked with the Kunpeng.

A quartermaster arrived with several soldiers to receive the cargo.

Luoxue, along with Jing Chuan and the others, coordinated with the quartermaster. They unloaded the cargo while taking inventory.

Long Ming stood aside, watching quietly, when a sudden flash of inspiration struck him.

Long Ming’s eyes lit up. He raised his wristband, connected to the Kunpeng’s communication signal, and tried sending a message to Hopka.

"You there?"

"What? Don’t bother me if it’s not important."

"Hey now, didn’t I hear you were short-handed and looking for people for a mission?"

"You want to help me?"

Hopka was extremely surprised.

"That’s right. Come pick me up."

"Can’t you get here yourself?"

"You coming or not? If not, forget it."

"I’m coming! Where are you?"

"I’m on Guangxiao Planet!"

"Holy shit! That’s Third Legion territory! How the hell am I supposed to pick you up?!"

"Cut the crap. You’ve snuck into Third Legion territory plenty of times before. I don’t remember you saying it was impossible then!"

Long Ming knew very well that Hopka’s ship, the Azure Blue, was capable of infiltrating Guangxiao Planet.

"Damn it, you’re unbelievable."

"Sent you the coordinates. Hurry up."

"Hurry my ass! The ship isn’t even fully repaired yet. The earliest I can make it is tomorrow afternoon."

Hopka replied, extremely irritated.