“I’m a spiritual energy user, so I can sense the existence of these things. Sergeant Baka guessed correctly; this is indeed a testing workshop. I suspect it was where the Enlightener civilization experimentally produced Zero Element.”

Sergeant Baka’s bear-like face immediately showed an expression of shock, as if his faith had been overturned.

Yes, these pioneers had indeed mastered the method of manufacturing these ‘divine substances,’ and this was actually no secret. It’s just that the media wouldn’t widely announce it, and the officials wouldn’t specifically refute rumors, so ordinary people still thought that “Zero Element” was truly a “gift from the gods,” a Present from the universe spirit.

“Ho-how can it be a laboratory…?” The bear-like man’s face fell, and he mumbled, trying to retort. However, he was not good with words and wasn’t the type to be assertive in front of his superior, so he ultimately said nothing.

Doctor Banks and Youyou patted his shoulders from left and right to comfort him, though due to their height, they could only reach his back.

Yu Lian pretended not to see and continued, “Up to now, ninety-nine percent of the Enlightener Ruins opened by various nations are very practical facilities: factories, laboratories, barracks, archives, and so on. Of course, there are indeed palaces and divine temples, and the media would certainly report on the latter, which led the outside world to believe that the pioneers were idealists… that they were a divine religious civilization. This is actually a misconception.”

Moreover, this misconception was very likely deliberately manipulated.

“Our pioneers and guides were far more pragmatic than we imagine. But, let’s get back to the main topic. These mithril…” Yu Lian paused, feeling that using this word in a cosmic setting felt particularly out of place. Although he had experienced it many times in his previous life and was used to it, it was still out of place.

“Actually, they can’t be considered successful. Perhaps there’s a problem with the manufacturing process, or perhaps they’ve been stored for too long, but they’ve lost their activity and can no longer be considered strategic materials. Of course, they can be sold. If everyone trusts me, I’ll find reliable channels. If we divide it equally, everyone will get…”

Sergeant Baka suddenly lifted his head, his face instantly switching from sorrow to visible eagerness, and he loudly said, “No, we can’t divide it equally!”

Yu Lian was startled, thinking, ‘I didn’t realize you, with your thick eyebrows and big eyes, were so insatiably greedy! Do you think I can’t lift a knife just because I only have one ring?’

Perhaps seeing Yu Lian’s expression turn a bit ugly, Doctor Banks quickly explained, “Sir, he means that we shouldn’t take so much. You’re new here, so you don’t know. When Mondson and Lieutenant Russo were here, the officers took seventy percent of the extra earnings, the Sergeants took twenty percent, and the soldiers took ten percent. Uh, I also have an accounting certificate; I do all the accounts.”

“Are you pirates? No, even pirates aren’t this ruthless! I remember captains, officers, and sailors usually split it five-three-two or four-three-three, right? That’s common practice!”

“So why are you so familiar with pirate customs?” Uncle Karl asked.

Yu Lian coughed, pretending not to hear, and continued, “…Then, let’s each take one-third.”

“You, you’re so generous!” Doctor Banks’s gratitude was practically overflowing.

Yu Lian weighed the box in his hand, quickly estimating its value: “If we sell it now, I alone could get at least 10 million, and each of you should get around 1 million, but soldiers would only get about 500,000.”

Yu Lian was the only officer Present; if it were truly distributed by rank, he would get that much. Of course, the 12th Garrison Station’s official roster also included Lieutenant Kruse, the airship pilot, but everyone had completely overlooked him.

Everyone cheered, and Youyou even shouted slogans like “Long live Yu Lian!” Sergeant Baka wiped away tears, looking at him as if on a pilgrimage, as if he had seen a Bodhisattva who saves the suffering.

This must be finding a new source of faith, right? So, superstitious beliefs built on information asymmetry are truly vulnerable in the face of naked self-interest.

“After you get the money, don’t breathe a word! If I find out who leaked it, I’ll skin them alive!” The old mechanic sternly shouted, his voice and presence overpowering everyone else in the room.

When the most respected old man in the entire barracks spoke, everyone quickly nodded in agreement.

“…What you’re doing breaks the rules, and you absolutely cannot let other officers know.” The old man lowered his voice, advising Yu Lian with the tone of a kind, honest elder.

“Don’t you think there’s a problem?”

“There is a problem! If word gets out, your generosity and nobility will be praised by your enemies, even if they haven’t met you yet. However, before that, your colleagues will be the first to view you as an enemy. You are so young and so excellent, but I have seen many excellent and upright young people ruined by backstabbing.”

“…No, don’t you understand yet? I would be taking dozens of times more than you!”

“Yes, exactly. So, your taking so little is breaking the rules. This is society, sir…” The old man still spoke earnestly.

This society certainly has problems, but it has to start with you all!

“So lively! What happened?” Ina walked in, radiant and full of spirit. Her appearance hadn’t changed much, but her whole being seemed to have been reborn, with a hint of cleverness and agility in her demeanor, instantly increasing her charm by several points.

spiritual energy users are all handsome men and beautiful women, probably for this reason. Even if a starfish awakened spiritual energy, it would surely be the prettiest and most delicious starfish in the entire Universe.

“…Uh, I just re-evaluated society and set a small goal again. What about you? Everything went smoothly?”

“When I close my eyes, I seem to see nebulae, and my head hums uncomfortably. My eyes are a bit blurry, and my ears are full of static. I really need to get used to it… Don’t worry, overall, things are changing for the better.”

I didn’t hear anything good about that; if it were anyone else, they’d surely think you had a concussion. However, this indeed sounds like a “Sentinel” awakening, which is the first stage of a Fallen Star Envoy.

The “Blazing-Eyed Witch” was destined to walk this path, and this was probably the will of the universe spirit.

In any case, this operation was a great success. The enemy’s pursuers were completely routed, the boss fell before even exerting himself, the team found intact and usable new equipment, the soldiers all received a payout that boosted their morale and loyalty to full, the Sergeant was promoted, and the protagonist, Yu Lian, not only obtained the most important item in this ruin but also no one suspected him… This was truly a perfect story!

However, Yu Lian didn’t have time to check the chip he had secretly hidden. After this treasure hunt in the ruins, everyone realized that with their guns, cannons, and tanks, they were all full of morale, and only then did someone finally remember that they weren’t scattered, fleeing soldiers who had lost their homes, but rather legitimate reinforcements dispatched by Command HQ to aid Tulon.

Thus, Ina, as the staff Sergeant, formally proposed the idea of “marching towards Tulon,” and it was approved by Yu Lian. He pulled out a map and called the Sergeants over for a meeting.

No matter what, the security team’s miscellaneous members were still legitimate national soldiers; surely no one would suggest becoming bandits in the mountains.

“Um, sir, we could actually rest here for a few more days, until the fighting in Tulon ends…” Doctor Banks suggested softly.

…Why do my colleagues always contradict me?

“Anyway, Tulon is so big, it’s impossible for the Sand People to capture it, right? We can say we lost contact with Command HQ, were pursued by a large group of Sand People, and got lost in the mountains. That’s actually what happened, I… No, no, no, just a suggestion, just a suggestion.”

Before Yu Lian could react, Doctor Banks raised his hands and retreated sheepishly under Ina’s glare.

“Sir, please don’t mind… Doctor Banks is the pillar of his family; his parents are old, and his younger brother is still studying abroad in the Empire. They all depend on his income. He, he really can’t afford to die.” Perhaps worried that the “upright, generous, yet still young” superior would trouble Doctor Banks later or even report him directly, the old mechanic quietly explained.

“Who here can afford to die? Uncle Karl, don’t you also have elders above and children below?”

“Th-this…”

“Hmm, perhaps the only one who can afford to die is me. After all, I grew up in a veteran’s orphanage; I have no parents, no family, and no attachments.” The Sergeant said with a smile.

“Ina…” Old Karl was helpless, thinking, ‘I haven’t offended you, have I? Girl, don’t stir things up now!’

“Don’t worry, I won’t take it to heart. After all, none of you have fought in any major battles, so it’s understandable to be nervous and afraid. However… hey, it would be too pretentious for me to talk about a soldier’s sense of honor right now, but since you all receive salaries from the Governor’s Office and can profit as soldiers, you should show some attitude when it’s time to work. Moreover, in Tulon Port, at least some of you must have family and friends, right? Putting everything else aside, Sergeant Baka’s daughter is there, so even for the sake of your comrades’ families, please show some courage!”

Everyone looked at the taciturn bear-like man, thinking that although he looked fierce and fought fiercely and was a bit eccentric, he was actually an honest, simple, and warm-hearted person in everyday life. His daughter was indeed a lovely and good girl!

Banks felt guilty and ashamed, and patted the bear-like man’s shoulder again—though still only reaching his back—receiving a kind and honest smile in return.

“I also have friends in the city. I don’t know her situation right now, whether she’s dead or alive! So, even if it’s just for that, I hope everyone can lend me their strength!”

Isn’t your friend Lieutenant Colonel Eleanor Bonaparte? What danger could such a high-ranking officer be in? Ina really wanted to complain.

In any case, the sergeants’ fighting spirit visibly increased.

This is what you call a usable army! Yu Lian was full of pride.