Meteor Fall Master in the 'Starry Abyss'

79 hours ago.

"The past of the expedition and the army has been basically dealt with. The soldiers who committed war crimes during the great expedition will soon be judged and punished. Now is a relatively calm period, it's time to show the rule of law... I've also completed the personnel transfer within the government, so there's no need for you to worry."

Dialan tapped on the tablet, completing the signing of a decree, then looked up at the man in front of her:

"But are you sure you want to leave just after returning? Former His Excellency the President."

"There's no other way."

Li Aozi shrugged.

"Azure Star is my base, I can't give it up."

"I have a lot of piled up meetings and diplomatic activities waiting for you..."

Dialan said helplessly:

"After all, you are our only Iota (9), many countries are willing to do business with Baizhu entirely because of you."

"So what do you think I should do?" Li Aozi smiled and asked.

"According to normal strategy, you should start making friends extensively, then use your status as an Iota to secure assistance loans and use this money for development and construction. However, thinking about submerging Starry Abyss right away will make you miss many diplomatic opportunities."

Dialan put one hand on her waist, said irritably:

"In the end, you, after breaking through Iota (9), didn't even greet the former suzerainty. Even though you achieved significant military success, you didn't show anything, didn't ask for sponsorship, didn't visit allies, not to mention, before submerging Starry Abyss, you're planning to go to that remote planet at all..."

"Do you think it's inappropriate?"

"No, there's nothing inappropriate."

Dialan shook her head:

"I just think it's inefficient—you're always a person who values efficiency. I don't want you to be held back by past entanglements or human relationships, hindering your personal development, Leoz."

"You're saying this... for my sake?" Li Aozi tilted his head slightly, "Thank you for your concern."

"I'm not concerned about you. Baizhu Star is my birthplace, and you are its master. If you have a problem, it would bring me a lot of trouble."

Dialan turned her head away, avoiding Li Aozi's gaze:

"Not to mention, you disappeared without a word for five years, and when you came back, you brought back a strange wife from an alien planet."

Li Aozi caught the implications of her thoughts and teased:

"Strictly speaking, Merid is genderless."

"Is that so? That's really rare, I haven't seen a genderless person who can become pregnant."

Dialan paused:

"I just found it curious, I have no issue with the Primordial Species' Zhi Xiang."

"It doesn't matter even with objections, after all, its age can dilute much hatred."

Li Aozi walked to the window, pulled down the curtain, and activated the soundproof array with a wave of his hand:

"My interaction with Merid won't affect my marital relationship, if anything, compared to spouses or partners, we're more like family and confidants. The connection between Merid and me isn't love, you don't have to feel anxious, Dialan."

"Is that so... then I'm relieved." Dialan unintentionally let out a sigh of relief, then was startled and quickly said, "I mean, this way, arranging marriage issues for you and meeting with powerful political figures of the opposite sex should reduce a lot of problems. I'm not saying—"

"Speaking of which, during this Galactic Eye Campaign, I think I understood one principle: in the face of an attack, simply avoiding and concealing only leads to losing the war."

Li Aozi said seemingly casually:

"The battlefield changes in an instant, if you don't seize the opportunity and attack a point aggressively, you'll tend to fall into passivity, then get besieged and divided by other fleets, allowing the target you coveted to fall into others' hands."

"Is that so." Dialan didn't catch the subtext of Li Aozi's words: "It seems this battle has benefited you quite a bit."

"Pretty much, I think I might cherish the people around me more now."

Li Aozi raised his hand, clenched his fist then opened it, mumbling:

"People are diverse, the day and night are unequally long, while one rises, the other fades, as long as they are fellow travelers, there will always be a day when they face separation. Nobody can tell who will laugh last in the future—I think it could be Merid's reminder to me to cherish every lesson now. After all... I'm not a Primordial Species, death eternally hovers over us."

Dialan hugged her tablet tightly, her head slightly bowed. Her golden eyes flickered for a long time but she didn't understand Li Aozi's meaning.

Li Aozi stood silently in place, pondering every step of his upcoming actions.

"I apologize."

However, after a moment of silence, she still said:

"I'm still not strong enough. If I could be stronger, I could act alongside you."

"This planet needs you more."

Li Aozi set aside his thoughts for a while, turned to look at the self-reproaching Dialan, smiled, and said:

"I'm meant for Starry Abyss, and you belong to Baizhu Star."

"...Baizhu Star needs to rely on an alien, a Dragon Titan."

Dialan sighed:

"When Baizhu Star People can independently control their own fate without needing protection from others, then perhaps I'd be free."

"So, until then, thank you for your hard work." Li Aozi stepped forward, patted her shoulder to comfort her: "Once these things are resolved, you'll have a lot less burden. And by then, you can be transferred to a position you like."

"...Actually, I don't like government work."

Dialan lifted her head, the golden pupils reflected Li Aozi's face, calling out loudly in her heart:

"If I could, I also want to roam the Starry Abyss like you."

——Those words, in the end, were not spoken out loud.

She opened her mouth, eventually lowered her head, and said:

"Good luck to you."

"I will."

Li Aozi gathered his thoughts, turned, and said to the outside:

"Nephis, come in."

This time, the journey to Lower Starry Abyss couldn't be done without the strength of the Destroyer pathway. One of the reasons he returned was to take Nephis with him.

It happened that they had not seen each other for many years, and he wanted to see how the Bloodline had transformed Nephis.

The door to the presidential office opened, and a small mountain poured in with a rattle.

"You..."

Li Aozi rubbed his eyes, surprised to see the small mountain piled with shopping bags before him, he opened his mouth, utterly disbelieving:

"Nephis?"

"I'm here."

A muffled voice came from within the small mountain. After a bit of shaking, the tall and curvy Nephis climbed out from the bottom of the shopping bags and packaging boxes. She raised her head and saluted Li Aozi:

"Boss, I've arrived."

Li Aozi looked at this former Gabros, a machine of war for the company, and felt bewildered.

The woman in front of him remained tall and strong, cool yet exquisitely alluring, leaving no doubt she could tear a small asteroid with one hand, but as she wore a maid outfit topped with cute pink cat ear accessories, her bared arm showed sharp triceps and streaks of scars.

With a lollipop in her mouth, Nephis maintained a cold demeanor while exuding an aura entirely incompatible with her cutesy attire, producing a strongly jarring effect, and looked particularly eye-searing.

"Boss, who do we hit? Where to? When do we go?"

Nephis said this while removing the lollipop from her mouth, trying to squint her left eye menacingly, while closing her right eye, as if confirming a sniper kill target.

"Oh my, boss, your loyal maid, adorable Nephis cat, is online now."

She let out a chilling sound while raising both hands, with strength that seemed as if she was about to strangle a griffon, shaped a heart:

"Long time no see, you've become more beautiful."

Having said that, she paused for a bit, tilted her mouth, showing rows of terrifying crocodile teeth, and coolly and ruthlessly sold cuteness:

"Meow ooh ooh ooh!!!"

Li Aozi glanced at her large shopping bags, then another glance at the helpless Dialan, finally raising his hand, looking at his slightly throbbing veins, and after a long silence, said:

"It seems the Bloodline is still not enough."