All the repairmen were rounded up, numbering just under twenty.
Xie Jianxun followed the crowd inside, passing through the entrance of the City Lord’s Mansion. The heavy gates closed behind him.
Delin stood right beside him, pressed tightly against his arm.
He seemed to be forcing himself not to show fear, while quietly comforting his younger colleague. “It’s fine, boss. I’ll block for you—if anything happens, you run first.”
Xie Jianxun comforted him in return. “Don’t worry. You’re tall and can run fast.”
Delin muttered nonsense. “What the hell is going on? Dragging all these people here—is Golden City about to go to war with someone? No way! Which bastard would do something like this?”
As he spoke, they passed through the front corridor and entered the mansion’s grand hall. It bustled with people rushing about. From outside, it hadn’t looked chaotic, but inside, it was utter mayhem.
It was like a colony of ants in total disarray.
Everyone wore anxious expressions, hopping around like ants on a hot pan.
The repairmen were intimidated and didn’t dare move, only stealing glances with their eyes.
“Alright, that’s enough for now. Let me explain,” the lead steward said. He shed his earlier contemptuous and haughty demeanor—that had just been a mask to uphold the City Lord’s Mansion’s image—and looked utterly exhausted.
“Some of you might already know, but there’s been a spate of higher-frequency small-scale insect disasters outside the city. Weapons are getting damaged at an alarming rate, so we need your labor right now.”
The crowd held back at first, but someone stepped up and shouted, “Repairing a single weapon isn’t simple at all—you’re just whoring free labor out of us!”
“Exactly!”
“I had orders back at my shop that I didn’t finish, and you dragged me here by force!”
The steward shook his head. “Golden City citizens have a duty to contribute effective labor before the city faces a major crisis, helping us tide over the difficulty unconditionally.”
“What major crisis could there be right now? Don’t make up excuses to fool us!” someone yelled.
The steward lifted his chin. “Take their Light Brains.”
“…What are you doing?!”
Patrol Troops immediately stepped forward from the sides, surrounding the repairmen and forcibly yanking the Light Brains from their wrists, preventing any communication with the outside world.
A Patrol Trooper searched Xie Jianxun and saw his hands were empty. Just as he was about to pat him down forcibly, he recognized the familiar face.
The armored soldier froze and whispered, “Repairman Xiao Xie, could you hand over your Light Brain, please?”
Xie Jianxun took the Light Brain from around his neck and gave it to him. Beside him, Delin leaned in, gritting his teeth and rubbing his wrist, which was bruised black and blue from being yanked too hard.
“Why are they so gentle with you and rough with me…”
The young man grumbled in annoyance.
Xie Jianxun whispered, “He’s one of the Patrol Troops we saw with the Joint Group. I’ve heard his voice before.”
The steward clapped his hands to draw the crowd’s attention. “Don’t be scared, everyone. You’ll get your Light Brains back after this is over. We just can’t let word of what we’re discussing spread outside for now.”
“Everyone, do you remember the Insect Clan invasion eighteen years ago?”
The room fell quiet for a moment. The older ones nodded, while the younger ones looked baffled.
The steward continued, “Back then, Golden City suffered heavy losses repelling the King Insect and its subordinate Insect Generals. And now, our exploration team has discovered a new King Insect awakening.”
…
The repairmen all fell silent, their faces turning ghostly pale.
Think about it—even with Federation aid back then, they had to abandon an entire city just to let the remaining citizens escape.
Now, with no Federation around, the King Insect could march right to their doorstep.
Could Golden City’s scrap metal and twenty-year-old tech level possibly hold it off?
The ones with stronger nerves managed, but the weaker ones were already squatting on the ground crying.
They were assigned tasks and paired rest rooms. They’d spend the next day—or even several days—here.
No one said another word. They merged into the sea like droplets of water, becoming part of the City Lord’s Mansion’s ant-nest chaos as they headed toward the stairs.
Xie Jianxun had already known about the King Insect, but Delin was completely in the dark.
The news hit him like a thunderbolt, and he didn’t react at first.
Once it sank in, the smile vanished from his face.
The young man followed Xie Jianxun like a lost soul, anxious and uneasy. Xie Jianxun glanced back and saw sweat dripping from his forehead.
Delin jerked his head up and blurted, “My mom and dad don’t know about this! What if they try to leave the city during this time? No, I have to send them a message…”
He started to step out of line but was shoved back by a Patrol Trooper.
The steward ahead glanced back at him, signaling him not to wander.
“No need to worry. The city will be under strict control next—no ordinary citizens will be allowed to leave easily.”
Delin let out a huge sigh of relief.
Xie Jianxun thought to himself that he still hadn’t messaged One to say he didn’t need picking up.
…The Mechanical Puppet wouldn’t just stand there dumbly at the shop entrance waiting for him, would it?
He let out a breath, feeling a pang of sadness—like he’d broken a promise. Anxiety and guilt twisted in his heart.
He hoped One would sense something was off, take a closer look, or ask Old Man Desmond what happened.
As if sensing something, Xie Jianxun looked up.
The group ascending the stairs came to an abrupt halt. From ahead came the steward’s voice, respectful to the point of sycophancy. “Sir, why have you come down?”
A familiar voice drawled lazily, “Lying around made my bones ache. Just wandering out for a look… So many people. Spring cleaning?”
Huo Jing lounged obliquely against the stair railing, wearing only a sleeveless pure-black tank top. His arms propped against the rail, showcasing clear, defined muscle lines. His long pants were tucked into Martin boots, and he tapped the toe back lightly, making a dull thud against the stairs.
The spiked chain around his neck dangled with gravity, swaying against the Great Star Pirate’s chest.
The steward carefully sidestepped, afraid to block the center of the stairs and anger this esteemed guest of the City Lord.
“Sir, these are the conscripted repairmen. They’ll be working in the City Lord’s Mansion from now on.”
Huo Jing replied offhandedly, “No wonder it’s livelier.”
He glanced down—and locked eyes with Xie Jianxun.
Xie Jianxun flinched back sharply, ducking behind Delin. Then he felt he’d overdone the guilty act and sheepishly edged out.
Seeing Huo Jing in person reminded him he still hadn’t replied.
One had occupied all his attention before; he’d completely forgotten to respond. But Huo Jing had kindly invited him along—ignoring him outright would be rude.
Huo Jing’s eyes lit up, like spotting a lamb that had blundered right into his palm. He flipped over in a single leap, landing on the railing beside Xie Jianxun amid a chorus of gasps.
The tall figure squatted there without so much as a wobble.
Xie Jianxun startled and instinctively retreated, only to be blocked by Delin.
Huo Jing: “Move.”
Delin, of course, didn’t budge. He straightened his neck and glared, shielding Xie Jianxun. “Who the hell are you—Boss, you retreat first! I’ll hold the rear!”
The Great Star Pirate narrowed his eyes, displeasure flashing across his face.
The person he wanted to see was hiding behind another man… Oh, and not even that penniless old scrap-heap mechanic. The little face peeked out in particular terror, like he didn’t want to see him at all.
The steward hurried down in a panic, playing peacemaker. “Uh, uh, this gentleman is the City Lord’s honored guest—everyone, show some respect!”
Huo Jing ignored him and stared straight at Xie Jianxun.
He drooped his eyelids in clear unhappiness and said coldly, “Where’ve you been this whole time? Every time I went looking, you weren’t there.”
Xie Jianxun: “I… went out for a bit?”
Huo Jing: “Out for a bit, and you’re gone ten days or half a month?”
Xie Jianxun eyed him cautiously, trying to gauge his mood, then answered honestly with his head down. “I went adventuring with the Joint Group. Just got back yesterday.”
“Adventuring…”
Huo Jing rolled the word around on his tongue, savoring it. Suddenly, his eyelids snapped up. He jumped down from the railing and hooked an arm around Xie Jianxun’s waist.
Leaning in close, he murmured against his ear, “Let’s chat?”
He tossed to the steward, “You go ahead. I’ll bring this friend back later. Safe and sound.”
Delin: “Hey! What are you gonna do to the boss!”
Steward: “Of course, sir. Please, go ahead.”
With that, he had the Patrol Troops drag the foolhardy kid away. The group hurried upstairs, leaving space for the two.
Xie Jianxun’s vision blurred—they’d already descended the steps to a corner of the second-floor terrace. Passing maids kept their distance, sneaking peeks but not daring to approach.
Xie Jianxun glanced around warily, his golden eyes clear and innocent, like honey flowing without guilt.
He struck first. “Didn’t you say someone was coming to pick you up? Why haven’t you left?”
Huo Jing countered, “You that eager for me to go?”
Xie Jianxun: “…”
Huo Jing glanced at his back, then at the terrace view, his puzzlement seeming genuine. “Where’s that scrap-heap always stuck to you?”
Why do you always give people nicknames like that?
Xie Jianxun said speechlessly, “I’m here working at the City Lord’s Mansion—what’s he supposed to do, watch me work?”
Huo Jing drawled lazily, “Sounds perfect to me. What’s wrong with that?”
Xie Jianxun glared at him. “…”
What kind of logic is that!
The little repairman peeked at the stairs—the group had vanished. He desperately wanted to chase after them and ditch this big shot who only toyed with him.
Huo Jing watched him, then spoke up. “This place is done for soon. If you don’t agree to come with me, you might die here along with it.”
“There’s plenty of room on my ship for one more.”
He seemed to think of something and added disdainfully, “If worst comes to worst, I can let that scrap-heap tag along too—but he’d have to stay in the hold and keep out of my sight.”
Xie Jianxun said speechlessly, “Thanks, but he has a name…”
“Mr. Huo! Mr. Huo!”
A hurried set of footsteps interrupted from the side, cutting off their conversation.
Xie Jianxun turned to see a richly dressed middle-aged man with thinning hair slicked meticulously with heaps of oil, making it gleam slickly and greasily.
He guessed the man held high status in the City Lord’s Mansion—Huo Jing’s greeting confirmed it. “City Lord.”
“…Mr. Huo, we’ve really detected the King Insect. Golden City can’t hold out—you have to help…”
He spotted Xie Jianxun and trailed off.
Huo Jing casually draped an arm over the little repairman’s shoulder and prompted, “Go on.”
The City Lord tore his gaze from Xie Jianxun, sweat beading nonstop on his forehead.
He seemed terrified yet clung to his last shred of composure.
“If I apply to the Federation for aid, by the time they arrive, Golden City will be ruins! Far water won’t quench near thirst… Plus, they’d dispatch a Star Warden and lock this planet down tight again!”
Too anxious to mind Xie Jianxun’s presence, he paced and muttered to himself.
“It was so hard to break free from the Federation—how could I let it go back to that… Mr. Huo, hear me out. I have a proposal.”
He wiped his sweat, calmed himself, and gritted out, “If you help Golden City through this crisis, I… I’ll give half the administrative rights to the Siphon Whale. We’d co-govern!”
Huo Jing said nothing.
He seemed uninterested, turning his head away and twiddling his fingers—as if far more intrigued by the tuft of hair sticking up on Xie Jianxun’s head… Could he pinch it between his fingertips? he wondered.
City Lord: “I-I’m willing to give you Golden City! As long as I keep a seat at the tax bureau and get about thirty percent of the revenue…”
“You’re so desperate to hide from the Federation—what dirty deeds have you been up to?”
Huo Jing asked abruptly. The middle-aged City Lord froze, mouth opening but no words coming out.
“Let me think…”
The Great Star Pirate tapped his chin. He addressed the City Lord, but his eyes stayed on Xie Jianxun.
“Back during the Insect Clan invasion, Federation control was at its weakest. But a border planet that dispatched ships wouldn’t be off their reclamation list.
“Communication hub destroyed? Fine, but some of the soldiers who exterminated the Insect Clan must’ve survived. Once the Federation takes them back, it’s as good as retaking you lot.”
Huo Jing smiled. “You blew up their return shuttle?”
