Chapter 61 (2/2)

Very few people were privy to its occurrence, thanks to the confidentiality policy he had imposed surrounding the matter; the classified investigation was still ongoing, though it was unfortunate that they had not discovered any trace of the culprit even now.

*Knock knock knock*

A series of knocks came from the other side of his office door.

“Come in,” somberly called Robert.

The chief monitoring officer of Crisis grade assessment, Robert’s trusted aide Sean, came in.

Shutting the door behind him, Sean quick-stepped to the front of Robert and spoke in a hushed voice. “I’ve just uncovered a few problems.”

Robert’s face froze. Sean was the team leader of the Adjudicator Union’s classified investigations team. His report must be related to the kidnapped candidates.

“What problems? Have you uncovered any trail regarding the kidnapped candidates?” Robert anxiously asked.

Sean shook his head. “No. I discovered that the main computer had been secretly tampered with. Xia Fei’s opponent in the first round should not have been Chen Dong but rather a candidate by the name of Chang Yuanning. Someone swapped their names out.”

Robert was stunned. The lots for the tournament this time had automatically been computer-generated. Tampering with the computer’s ballot results required at least a four-star access clearance, and presently there were only five individuals who possessed four-star access clearance to the assessment command: Robert himself, Sean, and the three key examiners for the assessment.

Robert could eliminate himself and Sean, which left only Xiao Haili, Queiroz, and Bosingwa.

Xiao Haili was his student, while Bosingwa and Queiroz were people whom he knew very well, or else he would not have asked Team 13 to run such an important assessment.

Robert wrinkled his forehead. “Are you certain about that?”

Sean nodded. “Absolutely. The tamperer was thorough, but he still left a few barely noticeable traces behind.”

Robert leaned back, a ghastly expression on his face. He had not once imagined that his most trusted Team 13 would be the one causing trouble.

“Continue your investigation. Inform me if anything crops up.” Robert’s eyes were staring at the ceiling, a sheen of liquid forming.

…

On a scenic island near the Great Barrier Reef, Eastern Australia.

Xia Fei was lying on a lounge chair, basking in the sun. A round table was to his right, and bottles, which seemed to contain dark beer, were on it.

These were all the secret rejuvenation potions Xia Fei had concocted following Phantom’s instructions. This assessment had utterly drained Xia Fei. The twenty-one days of continuous battle, be it physically or mentally, had pushed him to the very extreme on either front. He would need proper, long rest to avoid permanently damaging himself.

Reaching out for one of the bottles, Xia Fei uncorked it with his mouth and drank its content at one go. This beverage was highly effective in replenishing his physical energy and in regulating his body, though it was acrid in taste, similar to Chinese herbal medicine. Drinking too much of it would cause his tongue to lose his sense of taste temporarily, and the only flavor that remained was its astringency which lingered in his mouth.

Both Xia Fei and Chen Dong were given exceptional admission, something no one questioned when it was announced, greatly increasing the reputation of the Adjudicator Union as a result.

The tenacious display that both men had demonstrated sent shockwaves throughout the entire Endaro Star Region. Everyone believed that what the Adjudicator Union had done was the correct move. Both youths were indubitably eligible to join the Heaven Execution Training Camp.

“How long do I have to drink this for… My mouth is almost dying from this bitterness. I’m sure I can hardly stomach even the most decadent delicacy out there,” complained Xia Fei as he placed the jug down.

Phantom, who was lying not too far away from him on the beach, responded, “Three more days should do. You need to completely recuperate your body, or else it will cause future complications.”

Xia Fei picked up a bottle of mineral water and guzzled it, hoping he could rid his mouth of the taste, but the result was far from satisfactory.

“We’re going to a place in a few days’ time,” said Phantom.

“Where?”

“You’re about to take your first steps into the cosmos, and the cosmos is different from land. You need a good pair of shoes when walking on land—durable and comfortable to wear, but the cosmos is different. Because of how vast it is, what you need is a good spacecraft, so you can fly yourself out to any place you wish.

“Plus, plenty of unknown danger lurks in outer space. Going without a decent spacecraft is akin to taking a rowboat out to an open sea; you’ll simply be courting death,” stated Phantom very matter-of-factly.

Xia Fei immediately sat up from his lounge chair the moment he heard the word ‘cosmos’. He had not simply been dreaming about owning a spaceship for a few days. Even if Phantom did not mention this, Xia Fei already had plans to purchase a spaceship of his. He had been generously rewarded for his participation in the assessment this time, so he had no problem paying for his own ship.

“Ha ha, well said! I’ll log into the interplanetary internet right now and order the Eagle-class frigate. Honestly speaking, I very much adore the design of that ship.” Xia Fei laughed in sheer delight as he said this.

Phantom stood up from the sandy shore and faced him, unsmiling. “It’s fine if you order the second ship you’ll be owning pre-built, but for your very first spacecraft, you must build it with your two hands. A spaceship is the most reliable companion to anyone in this universe. You must understand every detail of it, as well as its performance, and there’s no faster way than by building it yourself.”

Xia Fei was startled, the excitement he was feeling well beyond words. “Are you saying that I need to build a ship to call my own with my two hands?”

“That’s right. Choose every part seriously. See with your own eyes as your ship gets fitted piece by piece.”