Admiral, Your Wife Is Gone ABO - Chapter 24

Seeing his reaction, Luo Le smiled helplessly and pulled out his military ID tag from his chest pocket.

I really am from the First Legion. I just want to rejoin my unit. I’m definitely not an enemy spy.

Despite Luo Le’s earnest demeanor, the man remained skeptical. He was about to speak when the frail man stepped forward.

I believe you.

The man grabbed his arm. Asala…

Asala shook his head, saying nothing, his gaze fixed on Luo Le.

A faint smile touched Luo Le’s lips. Thank you.

You’re not with the First Legion’s vanguard, are you?

Luo Le paused, considered, and nodded honestly. But I really am from the First Legion.

Over the past few days, Luo Le had been gathering information, learning that the First Legion had encountered danger, though their exact location remained unknown.

He had been about to leave when he overheard about today’s gathering, hoping for news, which kept him from departing.

Ahem… yes, I believe you.

Do you have any news about the First Legion? I have two bottles of this medicine. I’ll give them both to you if you tell me.

He glanced at the medicine bottle in Luo Le’s hand and shook his head.

One bottle is enough.

Then he began to speak on his own.

Three days ago, I was gathering herbs in the forest east of the city when I suddenly heard a thunderous roar. Then the Insectoids came… I…

He touched the wound on his face.

Afterward, I saw the warship heading northwest.

Luo Le’s eyes flickered slightly. Finally, some news.

I also heard someone say the First Legion was in danger, and General Huo might be injured.

He lowered his voice when he mentioned the injury, as if afraid of being overheard.

Injured? How serious?

Ever since Luo Le lost contact with Huo Lanjing, a nagging unease had settled in his heart. Now, his fears were confirmed.

He couldn’t reach Feng Cheng and dared not send a message to Colonel Lin, fearing signal tracing. He had no idea if reinforcements had been dispatched or what Huo Lanjing’s current condition was.

I don’t know.

Did you see the First Legion fighting the Insectoids? Which side had the upper hand?

The First Legion. They saved me. Otherwise, I’d be dead by now.

I heard the First Legion has been winning most of the battles lately. Is that true?

It’s true.

Luo Le frowned slightly. If that were the case, why had Huo Lanjing been so busy lately, with the bloodshot veins in his eyes never fading?

Seeing Luo Le’s skeptical expression, the man spoke again.

It’s true, but the Insectoid numbers are overwhelming. They’ve been attacking the defensive network relentlessly, and our forces are stretched thin. General Huo arrived with the First Legion shortly after, initially holding them back, but soon the Insectoids breached the seven layers of laser defenses using some unknown method, followed by seven layers of electric grids, penetrating straight to the planet’s core. The Insectoids had always been confined to small territories and unable to advance, but perhaps the constant battles have drained their mental energy, leaving them vulnerable…

Alright, thank you.

No need, it’s my duty.

He accepted the payment.

Keep it all. Your information is worth this much, Luo Le said, shoving the medicine bottle into his hand and turning to leave.

Wait! About sixty kilometers ahead in that direction is extremely dangerous…

Because of the Insectoids?

Not entirely. Even the people of Ninth Planet avoid that area. It’s strange—anyone who goes there rarely returns, and those who do soon fall gravely ill and die.

Luo Le pondered for a moment, then looked up. Thanks.

Without hesitation, he weaved through the crowd and headed northwest.

The man hesitated, glancing at the medicine in his hand before watching Luo Le’s retreating figure. He gripped the bottle tightly.

To avoid causing a commotion, Luo Le waited until he reached a more desolate area before summoning his Mecha and taking to the skies. He maintained a moderate speed, constantly scanning below for any signs of First Legion warships.

Outside the pale blue aurora shield, Insectoids swarmed, relentlessly battering against it with dull, chaotic thuds.

The original defensive perimeter had collapsed.

Soldiers lay scattered across the ground—some being treated by medics, others gripping their weapons, warily watching the snarling Insectoids.

General, please release the shield. You’re wasting your mental energy, Subordinate Zhang pleaded, stepping forward to address Huo Lanjing.

Their general had been maintaining the mental energy shield for two days and two nights without rest.

Huo Lanjing didn’t respond, his gaze sweeping across the battlefield.

He saw wounded soldiers lying on the ground—some receiving medical attention, others with chests that no longer rose and fell.

An unreadable emotion flickered across his usually impassive eyes.

Shortly after the Insectoids lured them into this mining area, the Mechas lost all navigational signals. They couldn’t absorb underground energy, and their power reserves had long been depleted.

Each Mecha had two communication ports one for the military’s internal network and another for linking with other Mechas.

The First Legion was the Empire’s most elite military force, equipped with the latest generation of mecha technology. Their anti-interference systems were the strongest in the Empire, capable of blocking approximately ninety percent of interference attempts. Until now, no technology had ever been able to disrupt the mecha chain’s communication signals.

Huo Lanjing watched the Insectoids hurl themselves against the mecha with suicidal abandon, his eyes darkening. If he exerted himself fully, he had a high chance of escaping. But if he fled, his subordinates would undoubtedly perish.

The disruption of the mecha signals was a terrifying development, indicating that the Insectoids had mastered unknown technology. This intelligence had to be relayed back to the Empire. Otherwise, the next Insectoid assault would catch them completely unprepared.

Admiral, don’t hesitate! We’ll cover you. You must get the message back!

From the moment they joined the First Legion, they had been prepared to sacrifice themselves for the Empire at any time.

After a long silence, Huo Lanjing closed his eyes and exhaled deeply. Then, his voice heavy with solemnity, he said, Give me the roster of this expedition. The Empire will remember your sacrifices.

The soldier’s lips trembled slightly before breaking into a faint, bittersweet smile. His voice rang with unwavering resolve as he replied, Understood.

Luo Le dared not relax, fearing he might miss something.

He followed the direction the man had pointed, and he was nearly beyond the distance the man had mentioned, yet he still hadn’t seen a trace of the First Legion.

His heart felt like it had been burned through, leaving an empty void.

Huo Lanjing wouldn’t… no, he couldn’t be.

Just as he was thinking this, two mantis-like Insectoids suddenly appeared ahead, as if on patrol.

He descended with lightning speed, retracted his Mecha upon landing, and hid in a tree hollow, cautiously scanning his surroundings. After a while, when he was sure no one was following, he let out a sigh of relief.

Thank goodness I was still some distance away. If they’d spotted me, it would have been over.

His mental energy was far too weak for combat.

But since Insectoids were here, did that mean the First Legion was nearby?

Judging by their behavior, they seemed to be searching for someone.

Luo Le emerged from his hiding place and glanced back in the direction he had come from.

He retrieved a blue pull-ring from his ring, activated it, and hovered into the air, propelling himself forward at high speed.

Before long, he heard the sounds of combat ahead.

He stopped and ducked into the undergrowth. Through the foliage, he saw over a dozen heavily armored Insectoids surrounding a lone figure.

The figure’s back was turned, but Luo Le instantly recognized Huo Lanjing’s clothing.

His wide coat was tied around his waist, its edges flapping in the wind, torn with several large holes stained with bl00d—some crimson, others dark red.

Luo Le clutched his collar, knowing that stepping outside now would be suicide.

What to do? What to do?

Huo Lanjing’s face was streaked with crimson and azure—his own bl00d mingling with the Insectoid’s. His mental energy had been drained to its limit, leaving him unable to even materialize a weapon. Yet his scarlet eyes remained cold and indifferent, as if he were observing ants. It was as if he weren’t the one surrounded.

The air was filled with the Insectoids’ roars and their incomprehensible chittering.

Suddenly, a lizard-like creature stepped forward.

Huo Lanjing’s hand instinctively moved to his waist, gripping the object hidden in his pouch.

Huo, Shang, General, the lizard rasped, its voice halting and awkward due to its unfamiliarity with human speech. Our Wang has said… if you surrender the Insectoid data your Empire currently possesses… and the latest Mecha development blueprints… we will spare you and your subordinates.

Huo Lanjing glanced at the creature with disdain, his posture ramrod straight. Get lost.

The lizard roared, Don’t be a fool! This is your best option now!

Huo Lanjing’s narrow eyes narrowed further. With lightning speed, he materialized a gun from thin air.

Bang!

A crimson energy blast grazed the lizard’s cheek, striking the ground and igniting a trail of flames.

The lizard hissed fiercely, and the Insectoids swarmed forward again.

Luo Le watched from the sidelines, frantic with worry. Huo Lanjing, can’t you stop showing off and just focus on surviving?

Huo Lanjing nimbly dodged the Insectoids, darting behind the lizard and kicking it away.

The Insectoids instinctively moved to protect the lizard in the white lab coat.

But when Huo Lanjing grabbed it, he felt unusually hard bones beneath the flesh. His brow furrowed as an absurd thought formed in his mind.

You’re…

Let go.

The voice was young, distinct from the lizard’s earlier rasp. It was clear, fluent, and not hoarse.

The kicked lizard scrambled to its feet and charged back.

Its speed was overwhelming. Huo Lanjing’s already injured body couldn’t react in time. He was sent flying, coughing up a mouthful of dark red bl00d.

He slid across the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

For a moment, darkness enveloped him.

Luo Le couldn’t bear it any longer. Grabbing the broken rail, he teleported behind Huo Lanjing.

He propped him up, patting his cheek. Hey, don’t die.

Huo Lanjing lifted his weary gaze, his heart clenching at the sight of Luo Le’s worried face. He frowned and snapped, Who authorized you to come here?!

Luo Le’s hand trembled with anger. He pinched Huo Lanjing hard.

Shut up.

With those words, Luo Le raised his hand to Huo Lanjing’s forehead, releasing his mental energy.

Huo Lanjing felt a warm current flow through his mind, easing the intense pain somewhat.

Luo Le watched the approaching Insectoids, withdrew his hand, and gently lowered Huo Lanjing to the ground.

He raised his hand before his eyes, his pupils contracting slightly, and summoned a black-and-white Mecha.

The Insectoids halted, exchanging glances.

Huo Lanjing noticed a black ring on Luo Le’s slender, jade-like finger.