Chapter 49: I Will Wait for You

She was clearly the last person who should have any connection with interstellar pirates. Yet, at the very moment this star pirate was fleeing for his life, he was looking at her photo!

Was it innocent admiration or lustful fantasy?

Ferry’s face darkened instantly.

Males understood the shamelessness of their kind best.

Just the thought of how Nian Tu’s photo might have been abused by other males set his blood boiling.

He glared grimly, confirming the owner of the data pad.

—Sure enough, it was that male named Xie Jili!

What a coincidence that he had just picked up this guy’s data pad.

Ferry closed his eyes and exhaled slowly, releasing his frustration.

Having the data pad in his hands was not only irrefutable proof confirming Xie Jili’s identity as a star pirate—enabling the Empire to issue a wanted notice—but also severed Xie Jili’s only link to Nian Tu.

Excellent.

“What’s the matter, Marshal? Did you find something?” his aide approached.

Ferry pocketed the data pad into his spatial button and shook his head.

“Have the legions split up and explore the blasted pirate base. Tell everyone to be extremely cautious,” he ordered, gazing toward the devastated planet.

According to his analysis, Jiao wouldn’t have destroyed the planet without cause; there must be something on that world.

Most likely, nothing good, Ferry thought grimly.

As expected.

Half an hour later, a legion reported discovering a wasteland northeast of their position—suspected to be an abandoned illegal laboratory, filled with numerous bones: animal remains, human bones, and even a clearly identifiable female skeleton.

The evidence was undeniable. Even though the site was destroyed, it was clear horrific human experimentation had taken place here.

“Damn it!” a soldier cursed uncontrollably. “These interstellar pirates are not human!”

“Insane beyond reason! They even persecute females! We must capture Jiao, put him on trial, and execute him!”

Females were strictly protected on advanced planets, yet they were still abducted and used as test subjects. The pirates’ influence had clearly seeped deep within the Empire—far more than the Empire had imagined.

The scene before him was like a living hell, and Ferry’s brows knit tightly.

Judging from the bones, many females had been killed here. The research must have involved illegal projects related to females.

Jiao was a madman, his logic beyond normal comprehension. He was said to despise females and harbor deep malice toward them—this was entirely within his capacity.

Given the grim situation, Ferry had no choice but to stay here longer, personally overseeing the excavation and testing.

The pirates lost a small portion of their forces, but most had successfully evaded the Imperial troops, heading to regroup at another base.

Brother Xiong looked around and finally found Xie Jili.

The lean male wore a blank expression but seemed slightly lost, clutching a yellow fleece jacket tightly to his chest.

Amidst the dirt-smudged crowd, the bright patch of color made Xie Jili a glaring target.

“At a time like this, why are you still carrying that jacket?” Brother Xiong exclaimed.

So conspicuous, and yet the Imperial forces hadn’t caught him—Xie Jili was lucky.

“Even if you can’t bear to leave it behind, you should at least put it in your spatial button!”

Xie Jili remained silent, burying his head into the jacket, shoulders rising as he took a deep breath.

In the chaos, his data pad had been dropped by someone unknown, severing his only contact with Nian Tu.

Since choosing to become a star pirate, he knew he could never see Nian Tu again, nor dared to reply to her messages. All he wanted was to watch her life through the screen, to confirm she was well.

But now, even that privilege was lost.

The only thing Nian Tu left him was this jacket.

Xie Jili’s expression was heavy with sorrow.

“What’s wrong? You survived, so why the gloom?” Jiao’s beautiful face suddenly appeared before him, asking softly.

After scanning Xie Jili up and down, Jiao raised an eyebrow. “You lost your data pad? Can’t reach your beloved little female?”

Faced with Xie Jili’s silence, Jiao patted his shoulder lightly, whispering seductively, “...If you really miss her, you can sneak out and invite her to come see you.”

Xie Jili declined faintly, “I won’t see her again.”

His data pad was lost and likely in Imperial hands. If they decoded it, they would find the link between him and Nian Tu.

For the protection of females, the Empire would surely approach Nian Tu, warning her that this male she knew was a fugitive, a bad man, and she must be wary and keep her distance.

...

Indeed, the Imperial authorities did come looking for Nian Tu.

But several days later.

They came not because of Xie Jili, but concerning her guardian.

Ferry was still away on a mission, and the one-month deadline was rapidly approaching.

The system detected Nian Tu lacked a guardian and automatically assigned a new one. The municipal office notified her to come meet the new guardian and complete registration.

Early in the morning, rubbing her sleepy eyes, Nian Tu received this notice and was shocked awake instantly.

She had already found a guardian—she just hadn’t registered yet!

Nian Tu sent a quick message to Ferry: [What should I do, Uncle? The system automatically assigned me a guardian!]

Nian Tu: [The municipal office came looking for me... I’m going to meet them first.]

Nian Tu: [Don’t worry, Uncle. I’ll wait for you.]

She would not break the promise they had made.

...

She planned to explain the situation to the system-assigned guardian and then refuse him, waiting for Ferry to return.

Ferry, busy and distracted, hadn’t seen Nian Tu’s messages in time.

In these days, the excavation of the illegal experiments finally yielded clues.

Ferry lowered his head to review the report, which boldly declared:

[Advanced Female Artificial Breeding Project]

This laboratory specialized in advanced females. All the deceased females were Class A psychics.

The experiment’s goal seemed to be artificially cultivating S-class psychic females.

Knowing Jiao was rumored to be an SS-class male, Ferry vaguely understood his madness—

Because Class A females couldn’t control an out-of-control SS-class male, and the Empire still had no S-class females.

Ferry frowned and continued flipping through the report.

According to some records not completely destroyed, the laboratory had once successfully artificially bred several females, but none had awakened psychic powers. Many had defects, the most severe being short lifespans—expected to live only decades at most.

These pitiful, deemed defective artificial females were ordered to be destroyed. Whether they were killed outright or became playthings for the pirates was unknown.

For the sake of obtaining advanced females, the interstellar pirates had sunk to such depravity...

When Nian Tu awakened, her situation would be extremely perilous.

Ferry’s mood grew heavy as he opened the data pad to send a message to Nian Tu—but before he could, he saw several messages from her, and his expression changed.

He had been so busy these days that he forgot the date!

The system had already assigned Nian Tu a guardian? She had gone to meet him?

At a high-end restaurant,

Nian Tu sat upright across from a young noble male.

The noble’s manners were refined, tone respectful, but a faint trace of condescension lingered beneath his words: “Lady Nian Tu, I’m sorry, but I cannot register with you.”

“I intend to partner with a female of Class B or higher psychic level, but you...” He lacked psychic abilities.

He only said half the sentence; the rest was implied.

The noble smiled lightly.

Although he himself was merely a D-class male, his family’s backing allowed him to choose superior females to improve his offspring’s genetics.

He would never consider a female like Nian Tu, who had failed to awaken psychic powers. It was the Empire’s guardian system that had arbitrarily matched them.

“I suggest you apply to the municipal office for a new match. As compensation, I can offer you a billion star credits,” the noble said confidently, raising his head. “Or if you want other compensation, I will do my best to satisfy you.”