CHAPTER 345: CHAPTER 130 PICKING UP PEOPLE_2

"We will use our connections to delay Bai Quan’s investigation into the outcome of this mission. As long as we transfer the person away, Tang Shi won’t die."

"This time we failed. He was completely unworthy of our investment."

"In the future, just listen to the others when they talk about Tang Shi, don’t believe everything, especially her words."

The Vice Admiral’s words held a certain implication, and Zhang Feng dared not respond too much, merely giving a vague acknowledgment.

The Vice Admiral didn’t mind this and instead comforted Zhang Feng, saying, "I understand the difficulties you face, but some things cannot be changed."

"I understand."

"Hmm, also, when you and your team return from the outpost, come directly to me. There are some things I need to discuss with you."

The communication was terminated.

The Vice Admiral, who had been communicating with Zhang Feng, put down the terminal and looked up at a stern-faced woman standing beside his office.

This woman was about the same age as him, appearing slightly older.

Clearly, she was the person he had just alluded to in the conversation, the one Zhang Feng did not want to contact.

Despite the Vice Admiral bringing her up quite unceremoniously in front of others, she held no grudge against him for it.

She simply asked the Vice Admiral, "Are you sure Chen Ming is dead?"

The Vice Admiral pushed the terminal on the desk and said, "The recording is right here."

"The impact with such power hit Chen Ming directly, he’s definitely dead. Even if by some chance he survived, Dusk over there is definitely not easy to deal with."

"Launching a rescue of this scale surely raised Dusk’s suspicions towards him, he couldn’t possibly come back alive."

The middle-aged woman frowned, copied a recording, and left the office.

Her eyes were filled with distrust, and she left a parting remark.

"I’ll verify Chen Ming’s death myself."

The Vice Admiral watched her back and shook his head.

As the United Fleet returned to the Fourteenth Legion’s outpost, a week quickly passed.

News of the defeat in the battle that erupted within the Dusk Star Realm in the Gallo Star Realm had completely spread to the Pirate Space Station closest to the star realm’s border.

The details of the mission that instigated this battle also somehow leaked out.

For instance, the initial cause of the mission was due to Chen Ming, the protagonist of this mission, who singlehandedly summoned the Dusk Fleet to rescue him, escaping aboard a frigate pursued by the corrupt Original Star Zone Military Cruiser Fleet.

He was then jointly rescued by the newly stationed Fourteenth Legion, Speed Particle Technology, Sinda Corporation, and the Star Realm Government, highlighting the utmost importance placed on the mission.

The speed at which information spreads in a place like the Pirate Space Station needs no further explanation.

Soon, stories of Chen Ming spread throughout the Gallo Star Realm, and even neighboring star realms.

Of course, the content of the rumors changed a bit during dissemination.

For instance, the ultimate mission failure and Chen Ming’s cause of death were not due to a command error by the Fourteenth Legion, nor was it due to Commander forcibly terminating Chen Ming during the final evacuation.

Rather, Chen Ming had been rescued, but unexpectedly massive support from Dusk arrived, attacking the fleet before its retreat, leading to Chen Ming’s accidental death.

This narrative preserved some face for the Fourteenth Legion while adding a legendary aura to Chen Ming’s experience.

Reports of Chen Ming’s abilities were spread by someone unknown.

A psychic capable of controlling multiple warships singlehandedly and amplifying their performance under normal circumstances could hardly be killed by Dusk.

Thus, after hearing this tale, some believed Chen Ming indeed died accidentally as stated, while others thought he suffered significant torture within Dusk’s territory and died from those injuries after being rescued.

Some, naturally, leaned towards conspiracy theories, suggesting that someone within the Empire considered Chen Ming’s psychic abilities too dangerous, leading to his silencing.

However, these theories were not widely spread due to intentional restrictions in the discourse.

Instead, Chen Ming’s past was unearthed by people.

The whole process from the Mining Space Station to the Pirate Space Station to the Dusk Star Realm was disseminated.

The mysterious annihilation of the Sinda Corporation’s Mining Space Station and the embezzlement of Sky Steel production shares for decades stimulated the nerves of people in the relatively quiet Edge Star Realm of the Gallo Star Realm, drawing attention to these events.

It’s unclear if this was the company’s handiwork, attempting to pressure the Fourteenth Legion through public opinion to make them deliver the due Sky Steel,

or if the Fourteenth Legion themselves orchestrated it to divert attention from their operational failure, focusing blame onto the ousted Original Star Zone Military.

Regardless, they achieved their objectives.

The main content of the rumors circulating widely focused on the corruption within the Star Zone Military and the fall of Chen Ming, a rising new star of humanity.

And before this rumor became completely widespread,

the factory manager closely associated with Chen Ming had received early information from the chairman.

It was said that the Fourteenth Legion’s mission had failed and Chen Ming had died.

So before these ridiculous rumors spread, the factory manager was forced to walk around with a sullen face all day.

Similarly, Lao Wu spent his time drinking away his worries at bars daily.

Of course, in reality, they both knew the actual situation, and their sorrow was just an act for those monitoring them.