Qu Jianlei’s question seed a bit naive, but Spirit Fox wasn’t surprised he asked it this way,
In his view, Black Heaven’s cultivation level must have a foundation, but this knowledge is also niche in the Imperial.
Spirit Fox was able to know because he specifically sought soone out before joining the Pioneer Team for adventure.
Qu Jianlei spoke thoughtfully, "So, there aren’t many days left for the Star Thieves?"
"Of course," Spirit Fox replied solemnly, "but we still have to fight, otherwise the Pioneer Team will suffer great losses..."
A lot of the Star Thieves’ supplies were obtained from the Pioneer Team, but the support team definitely won’t consider this.
After all, the supplies in the hands of the Star Thieves are stolen goods, whoever captures them owns them—if you’re dissatisfied, you should go kill the Star Thieves too.
If the support team really occupies the supplies, the Pioneer Team would be too ashad to ask for them back.
Anyway, they’re here to rescue, who can receive help one mont and deny it the next?
"I think that’s normal, right?" Qu Jianlei truly didn’t think it was excessive, "Is there anything in the world that’s for free?"
When he was on Blue Star, he was used to the army doing things like disaster relief and firefighting mountain fires—that were all free.
But that’s Divine Land, right? Unique, other Guojia all go to disasters ard—actually protecting property.
However, he felt other Guojia were the norm, compared to Divine Land, the Imperial’s civilization is very cold, just look at Garbage Star.
Spirit Fox couldn’t help but sigh at the words, "You’re right, but our losses are too great!"
"The investnt for pioneering is very high, and so many people died this ti... Do you think we don’t need compensation?"
Qu Jianlei nodded, "Indeed, especially your Qian Duoduo, the investnt seems particularly more."
Spirit Fox answered with a frown, "Sigh, don’t bring that up just because it’s a sore spot."
As they talked, they arrived at the Secret Camp where Hongyun and Fangcao were hiding.
Fangcao jumped up anxiously upon hearing the bald one was captured, but sat down despondently upon hearing White Clothes died.
She kept muttering, "Luckily, luckily... at least can save lives, can save lives."
Hongyun was very surprised by Fourth Master’s words, "Kainan Nebula... I think I know who he is."
"Anyway, it’s nothing more than those four, also a Gold Attribute, easy to track, though among these Star Thieves, truly hidden in plain sight."
Besides, the dicine given by Fourth Master was also good, although the quantity was small, it was really urgently needed.
The four discussed it and decided to endure through this day, then move to Blazing Fire’s battle hospital at night.
Upon reaching the battle hospital, they unexpectedly discovered, Mu Guoguo had also retreated and even brought people from United Command.
United Command is not just Blazing Fire and Black Rain people; they co from different Pioneer Teams, making warti joint command easier.
The entire United Command group was over thirty people, but spread out widely, chased by Star Thieves during retreat, and had to cover their own warriors.
They helped twenty or so comrades, but also lost quite a few.
When they retreated to a relatively safe place, counting the rescued comrades, the entire team was less than forty people.
Others were either killed, captured, or lost during retreat.
This was indeed not a minor force, more than half were B-level, and even though many were injured, their combat power was quite formidable.
Usually, each Pioneer Team had its own secret camp, and once out of danger, they should have dispersed accordingly.
Anyway, each had built a secret camp, everyone has a place to heal.
But those who managed to retreat all knew the Relay Tower had been destroyed, such a big deal couldn’t be hidden from others.
This is the ti when disbanding United Command would be unwise—the Relay Tower being destroyed ans the Imperial’s Starship arriving is just a matter of ti.
The next period may be hard, fighting individually is unadvisable; it’s better to stick together for warmth.
This gathered force can attack or defend, also able to better coordinate with the besieged main force.
So everyone discussed and decided to move directly to the battle hospital built by Blazing Fire.
Here, not only are there plenty of dications, but also ample food and ammunition, just what everyone needs urgently.
Other Pioneer Team’s secret camps can’t offer so many resources.
Moreover, over a hundred warriors are in the battle hospital, though not many healed, most are able to fight while injured.
This too is a considerable force.
Add to that, Hongyun, Spirit Fox, Bald, Fangcao, and Black Heaven know about this place, whoever managed to get out might co looking.
So Mu Guoguo led everyone here, and the wounded were promptly treated.
Mu Huahua didn’t hesitate about the dicine this ti, everyone knew reinforcents were coming, these expired dicines wouldn’t be needed soon.
As soon as Qu Jianlei and the others appeared, the sentry imdiately popped out, delighted, "Lord Black Heaven, you..."
Yet the next mont, the delight turned to shock, "Why are all of you wounded?"
"Being able to co out alive is already good," Spirit Fox muttered a phrase, then pointed at Qu Jianlei, "He isn’t wounded."
"Who said that?" Qu Jianlei rolled his eyes at him, "An internal injury isn’t an injury?"
The night before last, he used up three B-level and two A-level crystal fragnts, and even gave Spirit Fox half of one.
The frequent rapid replenishing of Qi had indeed caused substantial damage to his body, although it wasn’t apparent on the surface.
Spirit Fox laughed nonchalantly, "Just a minor internal injury, can it be worse than my broken arm?"
The return of the four still significantly boosted morale, even if the three A-levels looked utterly miserable.
In comparison, Black Heaven, a re B-level, actually returned unhard, which surprised many people.
The Mu siblings handled it a bit better, and the wounded who were healing weren’t too surprised either—everyone assud Black Heaven had near A-level strength.
But the group from United Command couldn’t quite accept it, with Pan Yifu captured, how did this person manage to return completely unhard?
When a Fire Attribute B-level from the Quantum Team heard that Deputy Commander White Clothes had died in battle, he couldn’t hold back anymore.
"Black Heaven, I’m very grateful for the secret camp you established, but I don’t quite understand, how did you manage to co back unscathed?"
"What are you implying?" Spirit Fox fud at the question, "The Relay Tower was blown up through my cooperation with Black Heaven."
"Including ," he pointed at himself, then at Hongyun and Fangcao, "all three of us were rescued by him!"
He stared at the other person, not blinking, "He wanted to save others too, but just couldn’t!"
"I’m just curious, who gave you the right to doubt him? He destroyed three power centers, and you, how many did you destroy?"
"I’m sorry, I didn’t an to offend," the Fire Attribute B-level said with a stern face, still clearly emotional.
"I fought alongside Deputy Commander White Clothes for a long ti, and finally had to retreat. Hearing this news, I couldn’t control my emotions."
"Black Heaven shouldn’t be blad," this ti it was Hongyun who spoke up.
"Both Fangcao and I were rescued by him right under the Star Thief Supre’s nose; I was already captured then."
Once he started speaking, the other person instantly went silent, more effectively than if Fangcao had spoken.
Hongyun and the Engineer Battalion have always had a good reputation, not to ntion his strong military connections.
Octopus Vine was also among the escapees. Seeing his teammate being scolded, he quickly spoke up, "Black Heaven’s strength is indeed formidable."
Then he looked at Spirit Fox, "I have a question, Spirit Fox, how did you know how to trigger the Relay Tower’s self-destruct chanism?"
Mu Huahua nodded upon hearing this, "Indeed, if not for this ti, I wouldn’t have known the Relay Tower had a self-destruct device."
This really hit a knowledge blind spot for everyone. After all, building a relay station is for communication convenience, right?
Even if this planet were abandoned, there’s no need to destroy the Relay Tower, is there? At least it’s a coordinate in the starry sky.
Even Qu Jianlei wasn’t quite sure of the reasoning behind it—the Empire, in its material abundance, didn’t need to be wasteful, did it?
Spirit Fox glanced at Hongyun, "Should you say it, or should I?"
Hongyun smiled wryly and answered weakly, "You say it; I’ve signed a confidentiality agreent."
Spirit Fox pondered for a while and straightforwardly stated, "In the era of interstellar voyages, how should we effectively manage those planets?"
"Today’s Empire isn’t all that peaceful, so a self-destruct chanism for Relay Towers is necessary, to allow them to self-destruct remotely."
"As for how I triggered the self-destruct... it was actually by brute force; I just know a tiny bit more than others."
His words were sowhat vague, but many people understood it as a ans of control by the Empire.
Discussing such secrets shouldn’t be too in-depth, but most people weren’t interested in delving any further.
Everyone simply wanted to co to a planet, pioneer, and earn a little life-saving money. The Empire’s thoughts... what do they have to do with ?
Qu Jianlei nodded and didn’t argue with the Fire Attribute B-level any further, but turned to Mu Huahua.
"By the way, Deputy Commander Mu, the Star Pirates might launch a fierce attack on the main force to cover their retreat. Do you have a radio?"
"Yes," a B-level Earth Attribute nodded, he was from the Black Rain Gang and also one of the United Command leaders.
"We’re also guessing the Star Pirates’ next move, so should I notify them now, where is it safe to send a signal?"
Sending a ssage now, basically anywhere is safe, but Qu Jianlei still took him to a place near the Settlent.
As expected, the warrior contacted the main force for more than ten minutes, and no shells ca their way.
Two days later, news ca from the main force.
Indeed, the Star Pirates had intensified their attacks, but the Pioneers, having received news from the front, resisted resolutely.
Pioneer teams aren’t armies; while the mbers aren’t afraid of hard battles, they don’t have a strong sense of collective honor; they care more about goods.
With rescue imminent, they still fought hard, for one reason only: they didn’t want the reinforcents to take too much of the loot.
In contrast, while the Star Pirates’ firepower was fierce, they didn’t have much of a fighting spirit.
Another two days passed, and new information ca through: the Star Pirates besieging the main force suffered a great defeat!
(First update of October, during double votes period, seeking guaranteed monthly votes.)
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