“Just be patient. It takes girls a long time to wash up and change.”

Jiang Heng replied with a smile.

“What a pain.”

Jing Chuan replied, yawning.

“That’s why you’re still single.”

Jiang Heng teased Jing Chuan.

“Being single is great. I can barely support myself as it is, so I have no interest in finding a girlfriend. Besides, in our line of work, you never know when your number’s up. Having someone to worry about just makes things worse.”

Jing Chuan replied dismissively.

Just then, Luoxue, Zhihan, and the others walked in through the main entrance.

Jing Chuan’s and the others’ eyes immediately lit up.

“Wow, I guess makeup does make a difference! You all look like you’ve gone up a level!”

“Jing Chuan, if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all. We were already beautiful to begin with.”

Zhihan chided him.

“Heh, come on, have a seat!”

Long Ming said with a smile, playing peacemaker.

Zhihan and the others all took their seats, intentionally leaving the spot opposite Long Ming for Luoxue.

Luoxue sat down right across from Long Ming.

“Let’s get grilling! I’m starving.”

Jing Chuan couldn’t wait and immediately started grilling the meat.

“Alright, let’s get this started!”

As he spoke, Long Ming started handing out beers to everyone.

TSSSSS~

As greasy smoke billowed up, the fragrant aroma of barbecue instantly filled the air.

Long Ming poured himself a glass of ice-cold beer and addressed the group.

“Let’s have a toast! To our triumphant return, safe and sound!”

“Cheers!”

Qian Wei and the others happily raised their glasses and clinked them together.

Long Ming and the others downed their drinks.

“Here, try some of this.”

…..

Long Ming and his friends cheerfully dug into the barbecue.

The guests at a nearby table watched Long Ming’s group enjoying their meal, their faces filled with envy.

“Man, I’m jealous. A whole squad out celebrating together.”

“Nothing to be jealous of. You got out too, didn’t you?”

“I got out, but a few of my brothers didn’t.”

“Hey, just be glad you made it out alive. I heard someone killed people from the Third Legion to cover up a theft.”

“Shh! Don’t talk so carelessly. Walls have ears!”

“Right, got it.”

“But this incident really blew up. Even Deputy Legion Commander Bassaf and Supervisor Dikaya were taken in. It was a question if they’d even come out alive.”

“That’s old news.”

“What do you mean?”

“I just heard. Deputy Legion Commander Bassaf and Supervisor Dikaya were both released.”

“What? They were both released?”

“Yep. But right after Deputy Legion Commander Bassaf was released, he was admitted to the hospital.”

“Well, that’s good. At least he’s alive.”

“Good my ass! Our suffering is about to begin.”

“Deputy Legion Commander Bassaf was nearly tormented to death inside the Dark Abyss. Do you think he’ll let us off easy once he recovers?”

“Damn… what are we supposed to do?”

“I don’t know which son of a bitch started this whole mess. Stealing a bit of ore is one thing, but that bastard stole entire shipments of energy ore. He’s screwed us all.”

…

As Luoxue listened to the guests’ conversation behind them, her expression grew increasingly somber.

“Luoxue, what’s wrong?”

Long Ming suddenly noticed something seemed to be wrong with Luoxue.

Luoxue was silent for a few moments before looking up at Long Ming and speaking.

“Long Ming, have you considered transferring to another legion for better opportunities?”

As soon as she said this, the cheerful chatter at the table died down, and everyone fell silent.

Luoxue didn’t have to spell it out.

Qian Wei and the others understood exactly what she meant.

There wasn’t much of a future for Long Ming with them, and he had almost been dragged down with them into the Dark Abyss this time.

‘Of course, they had no idea Long Ming was the biggest culprit of all.’

Long Ming didn’t say anything. He just silently picked up a slice of marbled beef, grilled it on both sides, and once it turned a light, charred brown, he picked it up and gently placed it on Luoxue’s plate.

Jing Chuan and the others stared, dumbfounded by Long Ming’s gesture.

Luoxue looked just as surprised. ‘Did Long Ming finally get a clue?’

‘This isn’t like him at all.’

Long Ming looked at the stunned group, coughed, and said,

“What I want to say is this: back when I was broke and at rock bottom, did any of you ever look down on me?”

Luoxue and the others all shook their heads.

“Of course not.”

“Since none of you looked down on me back then, why would I abandon you now that I’m on my feet? Even if the Forty-Second Legion has no future, I’m willing to stick with you all.”

Long Ming said to them with a smile.

“Alright! Then let’s do our best together!”

Seeing Long Ming put it that way, Luoxue replied with a smile.

“I knew we could count on you, kid! Come on, enough of that depressing talk. Let’s eat and drink our fill!”

Jing Chuan and the others excitedly raised their glasses to toast Long Ming.

Not wanting to spoil the mood, Long Ming raised his glass and drank with Jing Chuan and the others.

At that moment, his bracer vibrated.

A message popped up.

Long Ming glanced down at it and then ignored it.

…

「Later that night.」

Long Ming, Luoxue, and the others walked out of the World of Grills.

Long Ming deliberately slowed his pace.

Luoxue subconsciously slowed her pace to match his, letting Jing Chuan and the others walk on ahead.

“You really don’t regret staying with the Forty-Second Legion? There’s not much of a future here, you know.”

Luoxue looked at Long Ming with a smile.

“A good career path is important, but some things are more important.”

“Fair enough.”

“Oh, right. There’s something I need to talk to you about.”

“Go ahead.”

“I have some things to take care of, so I wanted to ask for some time off.”

Long Ming said to Luoxue with a smile.

“Okay.”

“You’re not going to ask what I need the time off for?”

“There’s no need to ask. You’ll tell me when you’re ready. Just… it’s not too safe out there right now. Be careful.”

Luoxue advised him softly.

“I will.”

“When are you leaving?”

“In a little while. I’m catching the next flight back to Omro.”

“Then I’ll see you off.”

“Okay.”

Long Ming nodded.

The two of them strolled off into the distance together.

…

「Area A3, Observation Deck.」

Third Legion’s Deputy Commander Tarlona stood on the platform with his hands behind his back, gazing at the vast sky in the distance.

Lieutenant Colonel Fei Ang approached, saluting Deputy Legion Commander Tarlona. He spoke, his expression downcast.

“Deputy Legion Commander Tarlona.”

“You’re here.”

“Sir, as for the egg… it was my failure. I was unable to protect it.”

Lieutenant Colonel Fei Ang said guiltily.

Tarlona raised a hand, cutting Fei Ang off. He turned to face him and said,

“You’re one of my men. Someone will be held responsible for the egg, but it won’t be you.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“I’m not holding you responsible, but the fact remains: the mission was a failure.”

“I understand, sir.”

“I’m giving you another chance. There’s something I need you to do.”

“Your orders, sir?”

Lieutenant Colonel Fei Ang replied instantly.

“Come here.”

Deputy Legion Commander Tarlona said to Lieutenant Colonel Fei Ang.

Lieutenant Colonel Fei Ang immediately stepped forward.

The Deputy Legion Commander whispered a few words in his ear. A look of shock flashed in Lieutenant Colonel Fei Ang’s eyes, but he still replied with deference.

“Yes, sir!”

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