Even though they had already guessed the outcome, when Mitras revealed the details, everyone in the command room was stunned. Operations halted as they stared, open-mouthed, at the holographic image of Mitras laughing maniacally.

  Tears streamed down their faces.

  Xiao He’s fists clenched tightly, veins bulging on his forehead as he glared at the screen, gritting his teeth. "So, that means my deputy squadron leader is also one of your people?"

  Mitras feigned a look of realization. "Oh, you mean Ahogo? He’s one of my right-hand men. Without him, I wouldn’t have known the Royal Fleet’s First Squadron had left the base early. Speaking of which… what exactly are you carrying on those ships that’s so important? It must be something significant for Zhao to send the First Squadron to escort it."

  So, the traitor was Deputy Squadron Leader Ahogo… Yun Yi glanced at Xiao He, whose face was twisted with anger, and felt a pang of guilt. He made a slashing motion with his hand, signaling Xiao He to deal with Ahogo immediately.

  Xiao He understood but shook his head helplessly. Hours earlier, Ahogo had claimed there was instability in the fleet and had gone to another ship. By now, he had likely taken control of a significant portion of the fleet.

  "Ahaha, Xiao He, no need to deny it," Mitras said dismissively, mistaking Xiao He’s gesture. "Look, the base is gone. The queen has joined her ancestors. Why cling to a dead empire? Take my advice and surrender. I have some influence with Zagu. If you surrender, I’ll make sure you get a position no lower than deputy fleet commander. How about it?"

  Xiao He’s expression gradually returned to normal as he seemed to consider Mitras’s offer. Mitras waited patiently, not pressing further.

  Yun Yi’s heart raced. He thought Xiao He might be swayed and was about to rush forward to restrain him. But then he realized this might be part of Xiao He’s plan, so he forced himself to stay still.

  After a moment, Xiao He looked up at the screen and said slowly, "General Mitras, may I have some time to think it over?"

  Mitras knew that loyalists like Xiao He were hard to convince. Giving them time to see the reality of the situation often worked better. "Fine, I’ll give you an hour. If you haven’t surrendered by then, my fleet will attack."

  As soon as the communication ended, before Yun Yi could question him, Xiao He said urgently, "Commander Yun, take the girl and leave in your mecha. We only have a hundred ships, and some are under Ahogo’s control. We’re no match for the enemy."

  Yun Yi hesitated. In the vastness of space, where could he go with just a mecha? If they had a ship, maybe… but if Ahogo had already taken control of some ships, they’d be destroyed before they could even turn around.

  Seeing Yun Yi’s hesitation, Xiao He quickly added, "Don’t worry. While you’re leaving, I’ll release M-particles under the pretext of stabilizing the fleet. That’ll cover your escape. Normally, I’d send a ship with you, but under these circumstances, any movement would alert Ahogo."

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  Yun Yi knew about M-particles. They were often used in space warfare to block communication and detection signals.

  Should he trust Xiao He?

  Yun Yi couldn’t decide.

  But he quickly realized that staying only led to two outcomes: either they’d be captured, and the girl’s presence would raise suspicions, leading to her execution, or they’d be destroyed along with the ship.

  If it came to a battle, against two thousand ships, even an eighth-level warrior like him—or even an innate-level warrior—would be obliterated.

  What if he escaped in the mecha?

  Yun Yi calculated that if Xiao He’s plan worked, he had an 80% chance of escaping the battlefield.

  The problem was, where would he go? In the vastness of space, a mecha couldn’t reach an inhabited planet.

  Just then, Xiao He hurried over with a computer. "Look, Yun Yi. Fly in this direction. In about three days, you’ll reach this point. Stay there for a day, and a Star Express interstellar train will pass by. I’m sure you can sneak aboard, right?"

  Yun Yi’s eyes widened as he looked at the screen. It was Star Express’s official ticketing website, showing the routes of all interstellar trains in the Fengzhou Star Domain. In four days, a train would pass the location Xiao He had mentioned.

  That solved the final problem.

  Yun Yi nodded firmly. "Captain Xiao, it’s all up to you. If you still have any loyalty to the Zhao Song Empire, please let us escape before you surrender. I’ll be forever grateful."

  Surprisingly, Xiao He didn’t argue this time. He simply nodded, leaving Yun Yi with a sense of unease.

  In Xiyue’s room, Yun Yi found the princess trembling, curled up by the bed. He sighed, picked her up, and carried her back to his room. After gathering the items Zhao Xuanxin had entrusted to him, he made his way to his mecha.

  The red mecha stood quietly, with technicians conducting final checks.

  Yun Yi stashed the items inside, accepted a large bag of food from a technician, and squeezed into the mecha with Xiyue. It was a tight fit, but Yun Yi’s slim frame and Xiyue’s small size made it manageable.

  A message came through the mecha’s console: "Mecha check complete. All systems normal. Ready for launch."

  Once the technicians left, Yun Yi started the mecha. The familiar hum of the engine filled the cabin, but Yun Yi felt no excitement. He knew the challenges ahead.

  Xiao He’s voice came through the communicator. "Commander Yun, are you ready?"

  "Yes, Captain Xiao. Ready to launch at any time."

  "Good. Time’s running out. I’ll release the M-particles now."

  The communicator fell silent, likely turned off temporarily. For five tense minutes, Yun Yi’s heart pounded, fearing Xiao He might not let them go. Xiyue, nestled in his arms, curiously watched his chest rise and fall.

  When the communicator crackled back to life, Xiao He said, "Sorry, Mitras questioned me. It wasn’t easy to lie."

  Yun Yi understood. Releasing M-particles would raise suspicions, but since Xiao He only dispersed them within their fleet’s formation, Mitras likely believed his excuse.

  "Thank you, Captain Xiao. If there’s ever a chance, I’ll repay you," Yun Yi said earnestly.

  Xiao He gave a bitter smile. "There won’t be a chance…" Then, his voice hardened. "Enough talk. Commander Yun, prepare for launch!"

  Yun Yi straightened. "Ready for launch."

  Xiao He’s final words came through: "Launch!… Take care of that girl…"

  As the mecha shot into space, Yun Yi froze. Did Xiao He know Xiyue’s true identity?

  There was no time to confirm.

  The mecha entered the M-particle-filled void, cutting off all communication and detection.

  "May heaven protect us," Yun Yi murmured, touching the necklace around his neck. His hands flew across the controls, and the red mecha streaked across the stars, leaving a faint trail.

  "May the heavens protect the empire’s last hope."

  On the ship, Xiao He stood by the window, silently watching the mecha disappear.

  An hour later, Xiao He stood in the command room and issued his final orders: "All ships, switch to signal lights for communication. All units, prepare for battle. Full speed ahead…"

  As distant stars flickered in the vastness of space, Yun Yi gazed into the void. He knew now that deep in Xiao He’s heart lay an unshakable loyalty to the empire.

  "Captain Xiao, may you find peace…"