Spend pocket money however he liked? In the source energy world, pocket money naturally meant far more than paper bills; dead iron and source energy blocks were the true hard currency of this realm.
Han Qingyu pondered for about a second, then said, "How about this?"
"How about what?" the Little Prince asked rather eagerly.
"Why don't you just take your knife, stand up, and kill me instead?"
"..." Zhu Jiaming stood up. He did not move to kill Han Qingyu, but gave a sneer and turned away. "Whatever. It just occurred to me anyway—I still have five Bones of Eternal Life hidden away where no one else will ever find them."
With that, he made a show of stepping toward the tent exit.
The rustle of someone getting up from the bed came from behind. The Little Prince said calmly, "Don't reach for your blade. It's useless. I won't be threatened. I'd rather die than submit."
"How could I ever do that, Brother Jiaming?"
An affectionate voice, sounding just like a boy next door, came from behind him.
Zhu Jiaming's face instantly contorted. Resisting the urge to retch, he looked down at the goosebumps on his arm and said with earnest gravity, "Have some shame, Han Qing-King! The warriors of our Stream Vanguard are all taking pride in you right now. Besides, calling me your big brother won't help you with this..."
"Then let's agree on a set amount for pocket money. As long as you don't use it to trick young female soldiers among our own ranks," Han Qingyu said.
"Now that's more like it... I'll consider it."
Zhu Jiaming finished speaking and strode toward the entrance.
He couldn't bring himself to use the knife, and in reality, he was no match in a fight anyway. Banter aside, the Little Prince's inner turmoil was genuine—a mix of guilt and a hollow sense of emptiness.
Those five hidden bones had taken immense toil and hardship to find. Kept as they were, they were practically useless to him now. Yet actually handing them over felt like betraying his own life and his family's sacred mission.
Exiting the tent, he walked over to a campfire.
Piping-hot embers and ash had been raked out from beneath the fire, piled into a small mound beside the open flames. The Little Prince sat down, used his knife to fish out a roasted sweet potato, peeled it, and began eating in silence.
Nearby sat He Tangtang, roasting sweet potatoes. Wrapped up in his own thoughts, he didn't even greet him.
Beside them, Milla sat with downcast eyes, equally silent.
*If you add my five pieces, it should be about enough for half the skeleton. Plus, the two horn bones are both here. Who knows what it'll turn into? And should I lead them to search for the other half?*
*I'm going to get strong—super strong—but I might end up terrified of dying, or even start eating people. What am I supposed to do?*
*Maybe I should take the initiative and ask to return to Squad 1777? As I am now, staying here is just a burden.*
***
When Yang Qingbai stepped into the tent, he happened to catch sight of the Little Prince walking out.
Because they hadn't journeyed together over the past three years, he wasn't quite as familiar with Zhu Jiaming or as close to him as the others were. Walking up to the bed and looking down at the mummified Han Qingyu, Yang Qingbai whispered, "What was the Little Prince doing in here just now?"
"Asking for pocket money," Han Qingyu said.
"But I saw a knife in his hand."
"That's just how he asks for pocket money," Han Qingyu said with a faint smile. "It's fine. He's one of us. No need to be on guard."
"All right." Yang Qingbai nodded, pulled up a stool, and sat down. "How are you feeling? Doctor Zhe said while she was tending your wounds, you mentioned you wanted to see me once you woke up."
"Yeah." Han Qingyu shifted slightly on the bed, grimacing in pain, though his eyes burned with eager excitement. "I remember you said you test-flew Azure's source energy aircraft, right, Qingbai?"
Yang Qingbai nodded. "That's right! Don't look down on me—whether driving cars, flying airplanes, or piloting spacecraft, I'm among the very best."
"I'm not looking down on you. I just wanted to ask: what's that thing like?"
"Terrifyingly formidable. Even though it carries no offensive weaponry of its own, its propulsion and hull make it invincible in the ordinary world."
"I see. Does Azure have many of those aircraft right now?"
"Not many, but it's not just a couple of experimental prototypes sitting around for show either. In that secret base they took me to alone, there were at least dozens parked. There were single-pilot ones, two-seaters, ten-person transports, and hundred-person vessels. There might even be bigger ones, but I didn't see them."
"Oh, so that's how it is." Han Qingyu nodded slowly, falling into deep thought.
"Speaking of which, we used to wonder why there was always a shortage of dead iron alongside the shortage of source energy. The yield of dead iron was clearly so much greater, and it isn't a consumable—it can be recycled. It wasn't until then that I finally understood: Azure had never stopped researching, manufacturing, and preparing for aerial warfare. They already had the manufacturing know-how for the rest of the craft. They built the hulls first, waiting on the crucial breakthrough—specifically the source energy engine... And you were the one who helped them achieve it."
Yang Qingbai mentioned that when passing by or chatting with researchers from various nations at the spacecraft base, whenever they learned he was from Huaxia, many spoke of Major The Qing with deep respect and gratitude.
"Pointless. That sort of stuff is just hollow vanity," Han Qingyu muttered regretfully. "If that was the case, during your test flight, you should've just stolen the ship and flown straight to find us!"
"I wanted to! Just imagine: at the desperate climax where you guys were getting beaten black and blue, locked in a life-and-death struggle, I would come diving down in a source energy aircraft. With tears in your eyes, you'd look up at the sky and shout, 'Daddy! Dad, you're finally here...'
"But did I even know where you were back then? Did you contact me once in those nearly three years?!" Yang Qingbai fumed.
Han Qingyu: "Sorry, son."
"Forget it. There'll be plenty of chances for you to call me Daddy later anyway... Wait, from the sound of it, do you want an aircraft?"
"Yeah. Feels like we need one. I'd like one... maybe two."
"Then what are we waiting for? Before that Azure councilman gets too far, let's send people after them right away and tie them up!"
"No need. Howard might not even be worth a single aircraft."
"Then what? Go steal one?"
"Steal? I'm not that kind of person. If I want it, I'll demand it openly and honorably." Han Qingyu chuckled. "Qingbai, Azure isn't having nearly as peaceful a time as we are right now, you know? They're probably holding a massive conference over there, trying to figure out what to do next."
***
The medical tent had emptied; everyone had left except Zhe Qiuhong.
Packing her essential belongings into a bag, she prepared to head out as well to check on Han Qingyu's condition.
An ordinary-looking female Stream Vanguard warrior quietly stepped inside the entrance of the tent.
Zhe Qiuhong looked at her.
Her gaze seemed straight and piercing as usual, but in this moment, there was an imposing, natural majesty in her eyes that Han Qingyu and the others had never seen.
"Who gave you permission to come see me without a summons?" she said.
The female soldier's eyes flickered with panic. She trembled slightly, looking up at Zhe Qiuhong—the true leader of Voyage, traditionally called the Navigator, though the title was terribly awkward. The soldier said:
"I apologize, Miss."
The eldest young mistress of the Zhe family before her was the true leader of Voyage, and had been ever since coming of age at eighteen—even when she later walked into the trap of her own accord, remaining imprisoned by Azure for years, and subsequently vanishing for an extended period.
During that time, every major decision made by Voyage, including their initial failed collaboration with Azure and their eventual allegiance, had been her doing.
The only handful of individuals and events outside Zhe Qiuhong's command were all tied to her brainless younger brother, who daydreamed every day of achieving great feats.
"Speak."
"A transmission came from the organization saying that because of Gilles's exposure today, the young master..."
"Call him Zhe Shouzhao."
"Zhe Shouzhao's past collaboration with Alphonse to conspire against Major Qing and the others is now clearly known to Azure. The leadership discussed it and believes Azure will likely make an example of us to curry favor with Major Qing."
Zhe Qiuhong nodded, her brow furrowing.
"They wish to ask you, Miss, what we should do now," the female soldier asked gingerly, waiting.
She waited for about ten seconds.
"...Before Azure can act, announce that Zhe Shouzhao has colluded with the enemy and committed treason. Let him go on the run by himself." Zhe Qiuhong finished speaking and moved past the female soldier toward the tent exit.
"B-but Miss! If we handle it like that, Mr. Zhe... your father's side..." the female soldier called out from behind.
Zhe Qiuhong glanced back at her.
"Don't forget, I am the Navigator.
"Remind the Zhe family of their place. They are to obey orders."
Chapter 587