Yu Lian and Wien were currently lying in the robot passage between the cabin and the third deck armor plate, having just finished a brief call with Earth.

The former stated that this operation was too normal, and he was not surprised at all. The latter, however, said that although he knew that bureaucrats were like this, he still couldn't accept it happening to him.

“At this time, they’re still putting on airs! Stand by, who the hell wants to stand by! A mere third-tier secretary from the Presidential Palace dares to order me, Horatio Wien, to stand by your grandpa!”

“Horatio, when did you learn to swear so down-to-Earth?”

“Of course, from Simon… bah, that’s not the point!”

Since Earth was unreliable, they could only find a way to solve the problem themselves. Wien was about to think of a battle plan when the large screen on the commercial street opposite suddenly lit up. The first thing that appeared on the light screen was, naturally, Brigadier General Morey’s threat to Earth.

This development was quite clichéd, but Yu Lian and Wien watched it very carefully, wanting to take the opportunity to observe the environment in the bridge. Immediately after, it automatically switched to the main hall of the Azure Princess.

That was the execution site for two ordinary civilians.

Through the ventilation window of the pipe, they took in the scene on the large screen. The two watched the entire cruel event. Two innocent ordinary people were shot through the head, falling onto the stage, their blood flowing everywhere.

The two were speechless for a moment. The sense of accomplishment from saving the “Spirit of the Stars” just now instantly vanished.

Yu Lian sighed. He had seen such scenes many times in his previous life. Although he felt regret for the two innocent people, he also knew that even if he became a Nine Rings ultimate big shot, capable of roaming the starry sea with his physical body, human power would eventually run out, and it would be impossible to save everyone.

He was a little glad now that he had managed to place Miss Serena in a safe place earlier. Such a scene was truly not suitable for a young girl to witness firsthand.

Wien, however, clenched his fists tightly, his eyes almost spitting fire: “These people are the Military Police Special Operations Team!”

“I know, the most elite special forces in the internal guard… How did you figure that out?”

Although these people wore high-end, form-fitting power combat suits and were fully armed, they had no identifying marks, only that they were Earth people.

“That person…” Wien pointed to a figure on the screen: “Kardier Shao Xiao, before joining the Special Operations Department, served in the Security Department and was my grandfather’s bodyguard.”

Hmm, this was the inherent social network of a young master from high society! The nature of this broken country was truly clear at a glance!

“It’s shameful that soldiers have degenerated to the point of shooting unarmed civilians!”

“Tsk…”

“What are you laughing at? Are you humiliating me again?”

“You’re right, I am humiliating you.” Yu Lian glanced at the other party, as if despising a pampered young man who hadn’t been beaten by society: “If the military doesn’t have the function of shooting unarmed ordinary people, what is its purpose?”

Wien was slightly startled and instinctively wanted to retort, but with his intelligence, he immediately understood Yu Lian’s meaning and had to admit that the other party was absolutely right.

However, precisely because it made sense, he felt even more depressed.

“Let’s keep going. That guy seems to be executing a batch of hostages every half an hour. To prevent more tragedies, we must hurry.” Yu Lian said.

Wien certainly understood this. But he also understood that people couldn't truly remain calm and rational at all times. For example, as soon as he thought that Miss Fina was also among those people, and might be harmed in the next round of atrocities, he felt like he couldn't breathe.

Looking at Yu Lian, who remained calm from beginning to end, Wien, who had always been a favored son of heaven, felt a more direct sense of frustration for the first time.

“When Brigadier General Morey appeared just now, I saw Feifei in his camera. Although it was only for a moment, and she was also huddled in the crowd, I did see her!” Yu Lian said.

Wien was a little stunned. He had also been watching just now, and he had been so focused that he didn't even dare to blink, yet he hadn't found Miss Fina’s presence at all.

“The hostages brought to the bridge by Morey should all be relatively valuable and won’t be easily harmed. We still have some time.” Yu Lian said without looking back, continuing to advance.

So, not only calmness, but even observation, attention, and even love for Miss Fina, have I lost to you?

Horatio Wien became even more dejected.

Fortunately, he quickly adjusted his mindset and told himself: “Horatio Wien, you haven’t lost yet! Life is a long marathon! His current lead doesn’t mean he’ll always lead in the future!”

“The top priority is to re-establish contact with the outside! We can’t rescue the hostages with just the two of us!” Yu Lian said.

Wien nodded: “Didn’t you just connect successfully?”

“Only for a very short moment. I just briefly invaded the communication channel using the Follower Type 12 processor to test the other party’s shielding status, but if I forcibly connect for a long time, it’s very easy to attract enemies. Besides, if it were really for contacting the outside, I wouldn’t connect directly to Earth. You don’t really think that calling Eternal City, Vice President, Prime Minister, and so many other important figures will attract attention, do you?”

The previous contact had already proven this point, and Wien could only admit that Yu Lian was right, so he said in a stiff tone: “Alright, what were the results of the test?”

“The problem isn’t big! Go to the central control room, and I should be able to bypass this ship’s communication shielding. It’s a product of Nine Rings Company anyway. It can strictly guard against the current mainstream Becca-style electromagnetic signals, but its adaptability is too poor, and it can’t react to even slight changes. This is the security vulnerability we can exploit! I just need to slightly change the wavelength, and it can become Z-type electromagnetic waves. However, first, a physical connection is needed.”

Thanks to the Imperial Military Academy, the Z-type encrypted waves you developed have not yet become the mainstream military encrypted signal, and few have even heard of their existence.

Also, thanks to Ina, who is two million light-years away. It was because of your (future) short videos that I knew how to mold sticky composite metal into the shape I wanted!

Wien nodded again. Whether he understood or not, nodding was the right thing to do at this moment.

“Also, according to the original plan, aren’t we supposed to confirm the number and location of hostages and enemies? Once there, I can try to infiltrate the enemy’s communication channels and confirm these.”

The two then decisively set off.

Wien followed silently behind Yu Lian, tiptoeing through the ship’s complex, spiderweb-like engineering passages. He had many questions, but he also knew that now was not the time to create further complications.

However, a few minutes later, when Yu Lian decisively led him through twelve intersections, he finally couldn't hold back.

“Why are you so familiar with this ship? How many times have you been on it, and when?”

Uh, it was (the future) you who brought me here! I also participated in the super large ship project that converted this Azure Princess into a battlecruiser and renamed it “Freedom Princess”! And I personally saw you and Teacher Yang drain the two domed swimming pools on the foredeck and forcibly shove a light spear and an Arc Cannon into them!

This was truly a case of burning the zither to cook a crane!

“…I’m actually not familiar with it at all; I’m just moving based on my intuition! Didn’t I say? A spiritual energy user occasionally needs to trust their intuition.”

“What? Intuition! You’re playing metaphysics with me now?”

“This is the universe spirit’s teaching to us! This is an extraordinary person discussing mysticism! Shut up, mortal!”

Wien thought seriously for a long time, but in the end, he didn’t raise his helmet to smash the other person’s head. After all, he had no other choice now.

Yu Lian certainly felt Wien’s anger, but he really couldn’t explain, so he could only use the almighty universe spirit as a scapegoat.

Fortunately, the universe spirit truly manifested. After the two crawled in the pipes for more than ten minutes, and avoided several scorpion-type robots patrolling and guarding in the pipes, they came to a relatively wide pipe. Through the side ventilation pipe, they could see the door of the central control room at a glance.

However, at this moment, the door was tightly closed, and two humanoid robots stood guard by the door, meticulous and motionless, like steel statues.

“The Gray Mist Guard Type 2… that’s not an opponent you can take down in just one or two rounds.” Yu Lian pouted, giving up the idea of entering through the main door. He closed his eyes and extended his spiritual energy perception, confirming there were at least ten people in the control room, but none were spiritual energy users, and he didn’t sense Wang Jingyang’s presence.

Yu Lian gritted his teeth, trying to suppress the growing anxiety in his heart, and continued along the pipeline. Wien naturally followed without a word.

Soon, the scenery before them suddenly opened up, and they entered a large server room.

In the center of the server room, countless cables connected the floor and ceiling, intertwining with the machine in the center of the room.

“This is the Azure Princess’s No. 1 communication control terminal, a commercial ship communication computer ordered from the Minlan Republic. Additionally, there are No. 2 and No. 3 as backups. Of course, if No. 1 is still functioning normally, the backups won’t be activated.”

Wien nodded obediently. He was numb now and decided it was best to stop thinking for a while. He understood that along this journey, if it weren't for Yu Lian, he would not only get lost but would also have already fought with various patrol robots.

Yu Lian picked up the makeshift intrusion terminal, assembled from various machine parts, pulled out the cables, and directly connected it physically to the central computer. Then he began operating on the cobbled-together portable device.

He adjusted the electromagnetic wavelength of his information terminal while his eyes rapidly scanned the constantly popping up images and numbers, trying to memorize all the information.

At this moment, the Azure Princess’s information terminal had completely opened to him. For him, there were no longer any secrets on this ship.

Wien watched the other party’s operation and said he didn’t understand any of it, suddenly feeling like a monkey.

He had also taken elective courses in engineering and communication management and had achieved quite good grades. However, he completely failed to understand the other party’s operations.

Fortunately, before Wien’s mentality completely exploded, Yu Lian finally completed all his work and pointed to his earpiece.

“…Phew, the situation is better than I expected,” he said.

“Oh? How so?”

“We’re not completely isolated and helpless on this ship. I mean, the Azure Princess has several hundred security personnel, so how could they have been wiped out so silently?”

Wien instantly understood Yu Lian’s meaning, and his heart immediately filled with joy.

At this moment, a burst of noise came through their earpieces. Wien thought he would immediately hear someone important from Friendship City, like Marshal Alwin, but what followed was a voice that was all too familiar, none other than Autumn Mountain Yawata.

“Horatio, Yu Lian, is that you?”

Wien couldn’t help but glare fiercely at Yu Lian.

“I think everyone on those two ships is more reliable than the big shots on Earth, don’t you agree?” Yu Lian shrugged.

Wien had to admit that he really did think so, as the previous facts had already proven this point, so his gaze became even more ferocious.

Yu Lian ignored him, lowering his voice to reply, “We are on the Azure Princess, and for now, we’re lucky; we haven’t been taken hostage!”

A small cheer seemed to erupt in Wien’s earpiece.

“That’s great, Yu Lian is okay…” This was Liu Li, with a trembling voice.

“You scared me to death!” With a hint of a faint sob, this was Zhi Xia.

“Are you hurt?” Calmness suppressing anxiety and irritability, this was Annie.

“You sound quite healthy.” Appearing very calm, but clearly letting out a long sigh of relief, this was Daina.

“May the universe spirit bless us!” A sincere prayer, this was Lilia.

“Oh, by the way, Horatio should be fine too, right? That’s wonderful.” As expected, Liu Li was the most considerate, at least remembering to add a greeting. However, Brother Wien clearly didn’t appreciate it and immediately darkened his face.

Then, in this joyful atmosphere, Autumn Mountain Yawata’s voice suddenly sounded a bit listless: “Anyway, thank you for checking in… But, you wouldn’t be contacting us just for that, would you?”

Wien continued to scowl, looking like he didn’t want to say anything.

Yu Lian shrugged and lowered his voice, saying, “Where are Major Kardier and the supervision team now?”

“Oh, before the incident, they had already taken a shuttle back to the director’s office to report.” Zhi Xia’s voice was very natural, but it was too natural, which made it seem unnatural.

“Yu Lian, you can say whatever you want now. It’s just us here.” Liu Li added.

I’ll pretend I don’t know anything. Yu Lian told himself, cleared his throat, and began to report the current situation: “Excluding Brigadier General Morey, there are fifty-six terrorists in total. Sixteen of them and Brigadier General Morey are on the bridge, where there are also two hundred and twenty-three hostages. Additionally, thirty people are outside the auditorium, guarding the remaining 21,134 hostages, commanded by Major Bald. The remaining ten enemies are in the control room next to us, on standby, responsible for monitoring the entire ship’s status!”

“Who are they?” Kent’s voice came through the earpiece.

“Military Police Special Operations Team.” Wien replied.

“Oh, well, bad news.” Yawata’s voice became even more distressed.

“Additionally, there are two hundred unknown combat robots on board, divided into two models. Two of them are on standby outside the control room, twelve are on the bridge, and forty are inside the auditorium. The rest are still patrolling inside the ship.”

“Worse news!” Rozes’s voice also rang out.

“Captain, and Captain Wien, do you have the robot models? I can analyze them.” Aisen’s voice came through the earpiece.

Unfortunately, Brother Aisen, even if you and your buddies were fully matured now, things you haven’t seen are just things you haven’t seen!

Although he said that, out of politeness, Yu Lian still sent the information over, followed by the distressed voices of several future tech giants.

“What the hell is this?”

“There are no such combat robots in active service, I can assure you!”

“So, it’s an unknown model after all?” Wien sighed.

“Yes! Bad news among bad news!” The helplessness and distress in Autumn Mountain Yawata’s voice were almost condensing into resentment.

Yes, no model, no origin, no performance—everything was unknown, which was truly unnerving.

Fortunately, at this moment, he heard Yu Lian say again, “Of course, there’s also good news: the security personnel on the Azure Princess haven’t been completely wiped out. More than three hundred people are locked in the security room. They have weapons!”

Yu Lian estimated that Brigadier General Morey, acting as the security chief, had ordered them to wait in the security room. His subordinates only needed to lock the security room door from the outside to silently disarm all security forces on the Azure Princess.

Then, couldn’t he do the opposite?

Wien’s eyes lit up, feeling that there was finally something he could do.

“I say… you’re not thinking of releasing the security personnel and then leading them to retake the Azure Princess, are you?” Autumn Mountain Yawata’s voice grew even more helpless.

“I’m not that reckless. That wouldn’t ensure the safety of the hostages, and most importantly, Feifei’s safety!” Since there were no outsiders, Yu Lian spoke frankly.

Wien kept nodding beside him, thinking this was the most sensible thing Yu Lian had said all night.

“Also, that destroyer outside is the biggest threat! Its firepower probably can’t sink the Azure Princess immediately, but a few shots, and who knows how many people would die…”

Yu Lian’s words caused silence on the other end of the earpiece.

“So, I’m sincerely asking for everyone’s opinion. Should Wien and I find a place to hide and wait for things to end, letting Earth and Brigadier General Morey negotiate, entrusting our lives, the lives of over twenty thousand people on board, and Feifei’s life, all to others? Or… should we all put our heads together and find a way to solve this?”

After a long while, Autumn Mountain Yawata’s voice, full of lament, came through the earpiece again: “Tell me, what do you want to do?”

“I do have a small plan. However, it’s a big gamble. At this point, we need everyone to find and fix any flaws. Also, Brother Yawata, please quickly put your mind to work and devise a Plan B for us!”

Who knows what Autumn Mountain Yawata’s expression was like at that moment, probably constantly pushing up his glasses again.