It was a long journey from Earth to the capital ring. Fortunately, Xia Fei was already used to flying alone in the darkness of space. Besides, he still had a lot of work to do, so he did not feel lonely.
Ten days after entering space, Boateng's message came through his communicator. Xia Fei quickly turned on the screen, hoping to learn about the military's strongest warship in the tournament.
Are the results out already? Xia Fei asked.
Boateng nodded. The result wasn't too ideal. We only managed to get 178th place, which is considered average among all the participants.
Charlie, who was beside him, appeared very excited. Actually, it wasn't as bad as Brother Boateng said. The ship we used was merely a Mittal Lumberjack, which is considered a very low-end choice among all the participants. Some of the rich participants even used hybrid warships like Vampire or naval-issue warships. Being able to achieve such a result is already very good.
Besides, our warship is ranked third on the defense leaderboard. It's just that its overall performance is too poor, which is why we're lagging behind. After all, we spent less than twenty million on this ship, so we can't compare to those warships that cost hundreds of millions.
Xia Fei laughed. Charlie's right. Being able to achieve such a result has already exceeded my expectations. How did the energy-shield booster perform in the tournament?
Boateng answered, The effects of the energy-shield booster are obvious to all. I once got surrounded by three frigates during the chaotic battle, only managing to hold out for a full fifteen minutes before I lost. If not for the energy draining mechanism on the other side, I could've held out for at least another five minutes.
That was when Charlie suddenly received a call. He was excitedly waving at Xia Fei as he spoke to the person on the other end, appearing very surprised.
Putting down the phone, Charlie said, "Xia Fei, business is knocking on your door! The tournament committee just told me that the defensive capabilities of the energy-shield booster have caught the eye of several companies in the Alliance, and they hope that I can submit a sample to the tournament center for testing. If its performance is as good as the product description, they might very well place an order to purchase it. "
Xia Fei replied, "That's a good thing, but you must remember that we're only selling the product, not the technology. Also, you must take into account the current production capacity of the factory. Don't accept the order and fail to complete it on time. As for the price, we're not giving you a single cent."
"Yes!" Charlie nodded in agreement.
It was no surprise to Xia Fei that the energy-shield booster was so popular. Since it was a new product, it was only natural for the market to adopt a wait-and-see attitude. Once his energy-shield booster had been tested in actual combat, the shrewd businessmen would surely purchase it in bulk, and when that happened, it would be a test of Quantum Holdings' production capacity.
…
In the capital ring, this was the second time he had arrived at the most prosperous place in the Pan-human Alliance. Xia Fei felt a little emotional. He had been in too much of a hurry the first time, so he did not even get a chance to enjoy the scenery. Now, not only did he have the time to wander around, he even had the company of a stunning beauty. This was like a dream.
Avril obediently held onto Xia Fei's arm, a blissful smile on her face. She was no different from countless couples on the streets, except that Avril's appearance and temperament attracted many envious gazes.
In fact, Avril had already deliberately dressed herself in a more ordinary manner. She had given up on her favorite color, pink, and was wearing jeans and a T-shirt. Even so, it could not hide the alluring fragrance on her body. She was like a pure white lily in a sea of colors, showing off her extraordinary beauty in a low-key manner.
The two arrived at a place called the Music Plaza. Countless man-made fountains danced in the air in beautiful arcs, and the lively music surrounded them, making them feel extremely relaxed.
There were many benches around the plaza, and many young couples were sitting there flirting. Avril blushed slightly. "Let's sit there, too. I'm a little tired from all the walking."
Xia Fei nodded in agreement and bought two rainbow ice creams from a roadside stall. Avril took one and licked it with her tongue.
"Delicious!"
Xia Fei smiled without saying a word. He knew that Avril's family had taught her not to eat outside, so everything she tasted was new. Xia Fei suddenly thought of letting Avril try zhajiang noodles. He wondered if his favorite zhajiang would suit her taste.
"Your old man's birthday is next month, right?" asked Xia Fei.
Avril lowered her head and said, "Yeah, it's a week after the Golden Finger Cup. Are you confident in the tournament?"
Xia Fei lit a cigarette. He felt that Avril was purposely not talking about her grandfather's birthday, probably because she did not find birthday parties interesting.
"Of course not, but I'll try my best," said Xia Fei. Everything was full of variables, and a person would never know what was going to happen in the next second. That was why Xia Fei had always been very cautious. He only needed to work hard in the right direction, and the rest would depend on a little bit of luck.
"Yeah, I believe you. You look the best when you're serious. I'll cheer for you when the time comes," said Avril.
Xia Fei thought for a moment and said, "Sure, there will be a lot of people there. Remember to bring some bodyguards with you."
Avril furrowed her brows. "I hate those blockheads the most. They're like robots. It's not fun to be around them. Didn't you manage to get rid of them today?"
Xia Fei smiled. "I'll naturally protect you when you're with me, so I don't need those bodyguards to get in the way, but you can't make me worry when I'm not by your side, can you?"
Avrils cheeks instantly turned as red as an apple. She snuggled up to Xia Fei and said softly, I know you treat me the best. You will always protect me no matter what happens. You will always be there to protect me.
…
Three days later, on a satellite called Balan, which was located outside the capital ring.
This planet was less than a lightyear away from the capital ring, and it was considered a functional satellite outside the capital ring. Balan was used for various tests and competitions. For example, the Adjudicator Union's annual competition would be held on this planet, and the Association of Machinists' Golden Finger Cup was no exception.
The people in charge were very smart. They knew that a large-scale competition like this would definitely attract a large number of spectators, and when the time came, it would be extremely inconvenient to manage. As such, they turned the small planets outside the capital ring into functional planets. Normally, these planets did not have many permanent residents, but when the various competitions began, these small planets would become extremely lively.
Xia Fei was faced with a sea of people as he got off the express plane. Since there were many participants, there would be a preliminary round first, and only the winners would be able to advance to the finals.
Following the electronic sign, Xia Fei arrived at the event center to handle the procedures. After walking along a wide concrete path for a few minutes, Xia Fei suddenly saw two familiar figures in the crowd.
"Moon Song?" Xia Fei called out in confusion. She was accompanied by Bai Ye, who was the heartthrob of the training camp, as well as two rather elderly men. In the middle was a young man dressed in a fluttering white robe. He had an extraordinary demeanor, and his aura was even more impressive than Bai Ye's, making him a rare character.
Moon Song crossed her arms in front of her chest angrily. She turned her head to look at Pine Forest, intentionally avoiding Bai Ye's passionate gaze, as if she did not like being with them.
Hearing someone call her, Moon Song turned to look at the crowd. Xia Fei smiled and waved at her. Moon Song was stunned, and the dissatisfaction on her face quickly turned into joy.
She excitedly ran over and yelled, "Xia Fei! Why are you here, you madman? "
Xia Fei replied, "I'm here to participate in the competition, of course. I heard from Andre that you returned to the training camp a few days after I left. Why are you here?"
"I had fun on Earth for a few days, so I returned to the training camp when I got bored, but I was forcefully dragged here. I actually didn't want to come, but …"
Moon Song looked at the group of people behind her, feeling a little wronged. She saw that they were all looking at Xia Fei suspiciously. Bai Ye's eyes were filled with resentment, which Xia Fei could see very clearly. The man in white next to him, on the other hand, displayed a good demeanor, giving Xia Fei a slight nod. Xia Fei returned the gesture.
As for the two older men, they appeared a little arrogant. The one in the blue robe seemed to be trying to curry favor with the one in black, purposely lowering his stature.
"You're participating in the competition, too? Why haven't I heard you mention it before? "Moon Song ignored the three people behind her and turned to Xia Fei.
Xia Fei replied with a question, "Miss Moon, I don't have to report everything to you, do I?"
The two were very familiar with each other joking around, which was how they usually did. They were more like brothers, and the boundaries between men and women were very blurry.
The old man in blue did not seem to like Moon Song chatting with Xia Fei, so he said, "Moon Song, how could you leave Mr. Bai out here?"
Moon Song glared at the old man and said to Xia Fei, "That man in blue is my father. If he hadn't forced me, we might not have met."
Xia Fei replied, "Oh, your father is calling for you. Why aren't you going back?"
Moon Song had a strange expression on her face. She put her hand to her ear and made a gesture as if she was making a call. "I'll call you later. Tell me your room number."
Xia Fei nodded and did not say a word. He bowed to the members of Moon Song's family before he strode into the tournament management center.
Not only was the Golden Finger Tournament very concentrated, but it also had many different kinds of events. Xia Fei confirmed his identity at the registration counter and obtained a participant card. When he confirmed his registration, he suddenly had an idea to include the unregulated search event.
Originally, Xia Fei had only registered for the warship modification event and the mechanical system repair event. Of the two, the warship modification event was the most important event and also the most difficult.
As for the unregulated search event, it was to randomly throw an item into space and have the participants search for it. Aside from testing one's adaptability in an unfamiliar star region, it was also an evaluation of the warship's radar system.
Although Xia Fei had yet to develop his super radar, he still signed up for the event with the intention of giving it a try. After all, the search event was worth a lot of points, so it was worth it.
As for the electronic system repair event and the power system modification event, Xia Fei put them in the waiting column. The tournament did not stop a participant from signing up for more than one event, and the rules were not too strict either. It was fine as long as the participant confirmed their participation before the event.
Xia Fei easily found his assigned dormitory. He took a quick look around before leaving. It was not convenient for him to contact Avrils if he stayed here. Besides, the tournament did not require the participants to stay here. Thuram was still thinking of testing Xia Fei's martial arts, so he needed to make a trip there.
Didn't Moon Song ask you to wait for her? reminded Phantom.
Xia Fei only remembered what Moon Song said then, so he lit a cigarette and sat at his desk. He turned on his microcomputer and continued to study the nether bell's directional transmission system.
Time passed quickly. Xia Fei always lost track of time when he was working. It was already dark when he heard someone knocking on his door.
Xia Fei put away his microcomputer and opened the door. He saw Moon Song, who had changed into a tight-fitting tracksuit, standing sneakily outside the door.
* Whoosh! *
Moon Song ran into the room and hurriedly said, Hurry and close the door. Dont let anyone find out.
After saying that, Moon Song sat on the bed and panted heavily.
Why are you being so secretive? It's not like we're having an affair. Xia Fei laughed.
Moon Song raised an eyebrow. Affair? Do you dare?
Xia Fei pursed his lips. Nope. Nope.
Lighting a cigarette, Xia Fei sat across from Moon Song and looked at her curiously. For some reason, Xia Fei found Moon Song's behavior very interesting. She really looked like someone's wife who had run out to have an affair.
I used a stomachache as an excuse to sneak out today. I'll have to go back later, Moon Song said.
Is there something on your mind? Xia Fei asked.
"You can tell?" Moon Song covered her face with both hands. "Is it that obvious?"
It's not that obvious. Perhaps it's because we've known each other for a long time, so I feel that you've changed a lot from the past, Xia Fei said.
Moon Song took out half a cucumber from her pocket and took a small bite, looking like she had a lot on her mind.
You should know Bai Ye, right?
Xia Fei nodded.
Actually, I'm engaged to Bai Ye, Moon Song complained.
Xia Fei came to a realization. I was wondering why you always find him an eyesore. So that's what's going on. Actually, Bai Ye is quite handsome. You don't have to hide from him.
Moon Song was enraged when she heard that. She stood up and pointed at Xia Fei with the half-eaten cucumber. Xia, are you speaking the truth?
Xia Fei did not understand why she was so angry, so he could only say, What I mean is that it's not your fault that he's pursuing you. If you like him, you should get to know him more. If you don't like him, you can just end the engagement. We're both in the training camp, so it's not good to see each other like enemies.
Moon Song huffed angrily. Who would want to do that with him? If not for … If not for …
Moon Song's eyes filled with tears as she spoke, and Xia Fei did not know what to do. The last time Moon Song cried, Xia Fei was tormented by her for no reason. Now that she was crying again, it was probably not a good thing, either.
Bai Ye is from the Bai family of Mount Baitou. He's quite influential in the Endaro Star Region, so he can't do anything to me just because of that, but the Bai family's cousins are quite influential. It's the father and son you saw today. They also have the surname Li, and they're cousins of the Bai family. They're known as the Unchangeable Gold Li family, one of the six major families in the Alliance. My father is afraid of the Li family's influence, so he insisted on marrying me to the Bai family. Because she was in a very bad mood, her words were unclear, and Xia Fei did not really understand what she was trying to say.
You said that the gentlemanly man in white today has the surname Li? What does his family have to do with your marriage with Bai Ye? Xia Fei was confused.
Moon Song said, You still don't understand. The Li family is known as Unchangeable Gold because they control the largest bank and securities companies in the Alliance. They're the biggest financial backers in the Alliance. He and the Bai family are cousins, while Li Mo and Bai Ye are cousins.
Xia Fei was speechless.
I really don't understand. Why do you think they have the right to interfere with your matters? Why don't you just ignore them? "
Moon Song slammed the edge of the bed and yelled, Are you a pig? You don't have any relatives, so you don't have to worry about anything, but I'm different. My family has tens of thousands of people! A single word from that Li guy, and the Moon family will go bankrupt! Unlike you, who has nothing to worry about, living a carefree life.
Xia Fei was speechless. He was indeed too casual when it came to many things. After all, he was all alone, so he had nothing to worry about, but many people were different from him. They needed someone to take care of them for everything.
A moment later, Moon Song realized that she had gone overboard, so she apologized to Xia Fei, Sorry. I shouldn't have mentioned your family.
Xia Fei waved his hand. It's fine. You didn't mean it, so I don't blame you. It's hard for outsiders to understand things like this, so I shouldn't have thought your matter was so simple.
What do you plan to do? Xia Fei asked.
Moon Song said, What else can I do? Drag it out as long as I can.
Xia Fei thought for a moment and said, I have an idea, but it might be a little evil.
Moon Song's eyes lit up. Say it. What's there to be afraid of if it's a little evil?
Xia Fei smirked. You can find a beautiful woman to seduce Bai Ye and get evidence that they're together. That way, you can say that Bai Ye has a bad character and reject the marriage.
It had to be said that Xia Fei's idea was quite evil, but he did not care. It was fine as long as he could achieve his goal. The method was just a way to achieve his goal.
Moon Song pursed her lips. It's useless. Bai Ye has had plenty of women all these years. In the eyes of his family and ours, it's not a big deal for a man to fool around.
Xia Fei was silent for a moment. He recalled how Bai Ye was surrounded by so many beautiful women in the training camp. It seemed that his plan was not going to work. Actually, Xia Fei was thinking of killing Bai Ye and ending things once and for all. However, doing so would make Moon Song a lot more suspicious. After all, everyone knew how she felt about Bai Ye, so he was afraid that it would backfire.
That was when Moon Song suddenly asked, I remember that you have a girlfriend in the capital ring. Did you go see her this time? What's her name?
Xia Fei laughed. Just a normal friend. We're not as close as you said. Her name is Avril.
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