Chapter 23: Interview
Lu Yi: “……”
Two investigators: “……??!!”
The entire room of mecha operators: “……!”
The onlookers on StarNet: “!!!!!!”
“Where did this handsome guy come from! Wait! Rong Mi, don’t turn the camera away! Let me see you again!”
“Ahhhhhh! It’s Rong Mi! Rong Mi, how are you! Are you injured! Let me see your face again! Rong Mi, you’re so handsome!”
“Wow, you guys are just staring at his looks! Did anyone notice what Rong Mi just said? What happened to Yu Tiantian? He just left him to die, right? …Wow, how can he still have the nerve to say he was worried about Rong Mi…”
“Yu Tiantian is really disgusting! Is he going to be sentenced for this…? Hey, hey, hey, wait! Rong Mi, don’t turn off the camera! Let me see the five-dollar €€€€ again!”
“I’m not injured… Yes, of course I’m amazing!” Rong Mi glanced at the livestream comments and smiled casually. “But it’s also thanks to the big shots from the military who stepped in.”
“Just wait for the official report about the investigation on the barren planet. Don’t be hanging around in livestream rooms. I’m turning off Yu Tiantian’s stream.”
“……Wow, Rong Mi looked so handsome when he said ‘of course I’m amazing’!”
“Handsome, handsome, handsome! Hey… hey hey! …Handsome guy, wait! Don’t turn it off yet!”
Under the barrage of fast-scrolling comments, the livestream screen suddenly went black without mercy.
Everyone: “……”
“……He turned it off.”
“Really just turned it off.”
“Heartless man.”
“……The guy he just showed us, that ‘ideal type’—that’s the real heartless man! That face! Handsome, yes, but a little cold!”
“Looks like someone from the military. I saw them wearing a military uniform.”
“Damn, brothers and sisters, I won’t hide it from you, I’m totally crushing on these two! Their looks are just irresistible to me!”
“This is too perfect! €€€€ Did you guys notice? When Rong Mi turned the camera to talk about his ideal type, that cold-faced handsome guy seemed to freeze for a moment!”
“……That’s just over-interpretation. I didn’t see any change in his expression.”
Rong Mi didn’t notice it either.
He just wanted to clarify his aesthetic direction and didn’t particularly pay attention to Lu Yi’s expression.
After the investigation team took Yu Tiantian away, they quickly issued a criminal detention order, confirming that Yu Tiantian would receive the punishment he deserved.
Rong Mi was quite satisfied with the outcome, and his already explosive popularity on StarNet was further ignited by this incident.
“From a StarNet singer to a genius mecha operator.”
“Exclusive emotional report on Rong Mi: The handsome young genius mecha operator was once betrayed by someone.”
“Rong Mi boldly announces his ideal type! Revealing the true identity of the mysterious man who briefly appeared in the livestream…”
“Let’s review again! Rong Mi’s high-energy moments from the Ice and Fire Mecha Tournament!”
“Hey… is there more news about Rong Mi?” Some people on StarNet still felt unsatisfied with the gossip. “I’m not talking about his past scandals as a StarNet singer. Please! Who cares about those anymore?”
“I mean! How does he train his mecha? What was he thinking during the competition? How was he so calm when he saw the ice butterfly? And will he join the military or a mecha club in the future? He’s not going back to being a StarNet singer, right? Ahhh… why hasn’t any media tried to get an interview with Rong Mi?!”
Of course, the media on StarNet were eager to interview him.
Three days after the accident at the Ice and Fire Mecha Tournament, eight small teams from the Third Army, responsible for patrols in the star zone’s safety areas, arrived at the barren planet and stationed near the deep pit, beginning to discuss plans to eliminate the dormant high-level ice butterflies.
At the same time, reporters who had heard the news also arrived on the barren planet.
Reporters weren’t allowed to approach the deep pit or the military’s warships but could conduct interviews around the area. Besides reporting on the situation on the barren planet, they had another important goal: to interview Rong Mi while they had the chance!
Rong Mi’s communicator was set to block unfamiliar messages, so none of them could contact him. The military’s starship also didn’t allow reporters on board, so they could only hope that Rong Mi would get bored on the ship and decide to take a walk outside.
Their luck was good.
On the second day after the reporters arrived, they found their opportunity.
With the arrival of the Third Army, the First Squad of the First Legion completed their emergency mission. They would continue on their original journey, following Lu Yi to the Capital Star.
Thanks to Rong Mi’s treatment, Lu Yi’s mental domain condition had stabilized, and he decided to leave the isolated starship that had made an emergency landing on the barren planet and transfer to the main ship.
Of course, Rong Mi went with him.
The young man was yawning as he walked out of the starship’s cabin.
The original body had been entirely focused on music, so there wasn’t much detailed information about the whole era in his memory. Over the past few days, Rong Mi had been reading many books nonstop.
He read about the environmental climates and locations of major star fortress planets, star charts for different sectors within the human star zone, the structure of the Federation’s power, and the duties of its various departments… He also studied the star navigation environment of this era, the internal rankings and duties of mecha operators and healers…
He was dazzled by it all, feeling that life in the old era was so rich and colorful. Just the planetary environment descriptions made him yearn to explore, thinking that if the insect crisis were solved, he would visit each planet one by one.
During the interstellar nomadic era, the planets he had visited were all dangerous, and most of them were unsuitable for human habitation, never having been developed. While the landscapes on those planets were indeed unique, he was always on edge when landing on them.
But the tourist planets he saw on StarNet were completely different! The scenery was beautiful, the facilities complete, and there were even entertainment options… Rong Mi was extremely curious! He stayed up late watching other people’s travel videos, only to wake up still tired. After drinking a nutrient solution for breakfast, he followed Lu Yi out, still half-asleep.
The General’s mental domain was stable, and his body had been treated, so his complexion had improved a lot. His posture was upright, and his profile was clearly defined. Rong Mi couldn’t help but glance at him a couple of times, walking drowsily for a few steps before suddenly snapping out of it.
“Where’s Ah Yin?” Rong Mi turned around to look for the wolf.
Last time, when the starship came aboard, the wolf had been so agitated. Now they were heading to the main ship, so its mood would definitely be worse.
“It’ll catch up,” Lu Yi said. “Don’t worry about it.”
Rong Mi: “……”
Rong Mi had already figured out Lu Yi’s lax attitude towards the wolf over these few days, and he didn’t want to complain about it anymore.
Lu Yi, as a master, really wasn’t considerate or responsible at all!
“Really got lucky, having you and Ah Yin make a pact,” Rong Mi muttered to himself, stopping in place to look inside the starship. He raised his voice slightly, calling out, “Ah Yin?”
There was no reply from the wolf in the starship corridor.
Rong Mi simply greeted Lu Yi and turned back to search inside the starship.
He walked through several corridors and faintly heard a slight rustling noise coming from the cockpit, so he headed toward it.
The silver wolf was sitting on the control panel in the cockpit, its fluffy tail hanging outside the console, flicking back and forth in annoyance. Its fur was bristling, and its ice-blue eyes were fixed on the window.
The starship was docked in front of the deep pit where the high-level ice butterflies were sleeping. Nearby, a squad from the Thirteenth Legion was patrolling. Fifteen defense devices surrounded the pit, forming an inverted golden defense field. Outside the defense field, a reporter with a camera was walking along the perimeter, seemingly trying to get closer to film but being politely stopped.
“Ah Yin?” Rong Mi knocked on the door.
The silver wolf turned its head to look, its tail pausing for a moment.
“Let’s go,” the young man said with a smile. “Why don’t you want to go to the main ship? Are you scared?”
Silver wolf: “……”
The wolf’s tail flicked, and it stood up.
Rong Mi: Still so easy to trick!
“If you’re really scared, I’ll carry you,” Rong Mi said, walking up to the control panel and pretending to reach for the wolf.
Though Rong Mi had seen the wolf’s adult form, fierce and imposing, it was now injured and back to its juvenile form. Leaving its own territory would naturally make it feel insecure!
Rong Mi thought that having someone it trusted hold it while changing starships would help calm the wolf down.
The wolf glanced at him, then growled anxiously. But to show it wasn’t afraid, it walked to the edge of the control panel and jumped down onto the floor of the starship.
Rong Mi’s reflexes were quick. As the wolf leaped into the air, he reached out to catch it…
Silver wolf: “……Awooo!”
Caught off guard, the wolf growled in anger as it struggled in Rong Mi’s arms. When it realized the young man wouldn’t let go, it bit his wrist.
Its sharp fangs grazed Rong Mi’s skin, but as always, the wolf didn’t bite down hard.
“Alright, alright, I didn’t mean to touch you,” Rong Mi quickly soothed, “I’m scared too, I don’t want to go alone to the main ship, I need you to help me gain courage.”
As he spoke, he used his free hand to stroke the wolf’s back, sincerely adding, “With you, I feel so much safer!”
The wolf released his wrist and turned its head to look at him.
In the wolf’s ice-blue eyes, Rong Mi saw a hint of doubt.
“If something happens, Ah Yin will protect me, right?” Rong Mi said as he walked out, carrying the wolf.
The silver wolf turned its head again.
It stopped struggling and laid its head on Rong Mi’s arm, giving a short, affirmative howl. Its ears stood alert, listening for any sound around them.
Rong Mi gently patted the wolf as they walked toward the starship door, only to find that Lu Yi had already left.
…He couldn’t even wait for the wolf!
Rong Mi clicked his tongue inwardly, stepping out of the cabin.
“Rong Mi! €€€€”
In that instant, Rong Mi heard someone from the distance calling his name, followed by loud cheers.
“Rong Mi! €€€€” someone yelled from afar, “Rong Mi is coming out! €€€€”
Moments later, several sounds of something quickly cutting through the air filled the air.
The silver wolf in his arms, confused, suddenly straightened up, ready to attack.
Rong Mi: “……”
Rong Mi quickly pulled the wolf back into his arms and lowered his head to comfort it. “It’s okay, don’t get too agitated.”
Then he looked at the group of reporters approaching.
Three or four reporters with cameras rushed over.
“Rong Mi! We’ve been waiting for you! We’re from StarNet’s top gossip column, are you willing to accept an interview?”
The silver wolf gave a low growl.
The reporters noticed the wolf’s gaze and stopped, shocked.
“Hey, look at the wolf! This is… The Ice Wolf?”
They continued, “This is—this is the wolf that’s been shown in the Ice and Fire Mecha Tournament and in the official broadcasts, right?!”
Rong Mi took a few steps back, holding the wolf closer. “You’re mistaken. It’s just a normal wolf.”
“Well… so, when will you be heading back to the Capital Star?” the reporter asked again, staring at the silver wolf in awe.
Rong Mi looked at him, smiling faintly.
“We’ll leave soon,” he said. “But you should get back to your work too.”
“How about a quick interview, just for a minute?” The reporter grinned, suddenly noticing the wolf’s mood.
The other reporters exchanged looks, realizing that Rong Mi seemed not so fond of having his personal space invaded.
“We’ll just take a quick shot! Just one question!”
Rong Mi was about to refuse when a loud voice interrupted:
“Step aside, everyone!”
A uniformed soldier came forward, pushing the reporters aside.
“General Lu’s orders. There are no interviews today!”
The reporters were stunned, watching the soldier approach Rong Mi with a calm demeanor. He bowed respectfully. “Please, Sir Rong Mi. This way.”
Rong Mi: “…”
“Of course, what happened later proved that my initial feeling in the cocooned land was right.”
Over the past few days, Rong Mi had completely understood the atmosphere of this era and realized that even in a mecha competition, it was impossible to use the insect race as a “level” in the game.
There was clearly a huge conspiracy behind this competition, but it involved too many people, and it was not something that could be commented on lightly. So, he just briefly mentioned it in front of the cameras.
“In this disaster, no one was harmed. My contribution is just one part of the whole. Of course, it is an important part,” Rong Mi said with a smile, then became serious. “But the timely rescue by the soldiers of the military is the most crucial element.”
He wasn’t sure if it was appropriate to publicly disclose the incident of Lu Yi being attacked and forced to land on the barren planet, so he didn’t mention Lu Yi. Instead, he very sincerely and earnestly made his statement.
“I want to salute all the soldiers in the war zone and the safety zone.”
Not far away, on the icy plains, the medium-sized flagship of the First Squad from the First Legion was already preparing for takeoff.
Squad leader Allen and the pilot, Sun Tong, walked out of the cabin, looking at Rong Mi, who was still being interviewed.
“The reporters are all here for him, and he isn’t even trying to take too much credit,” Allen remarked in a soft tone. “Quite impressive.”
“I’m sure tomorrow, all the major media outlets will have his big photo as the headline,” he laughed. “Very eye-catching.”
“Definitely not just the major media outlets, and you don’t even need to wait until tomorrow,” Sun Tong added. “Rong Mi’s profile has probably already been placed on the desks of every legion commander. The Supreme Commander must have received the news by now. Maybe even the Federal Prime Minister knows… But I thought our general wouldn’t agree to this interview.”
Sun Tong sighed. “After all, the general never accepts any interviews and doesn’t like the media spotlight on him.”
“Rong Mi needs this interview,” Allen said. As the executor of Lu Yi’s orders, he was responsible for coordinating with the media, explaining the interview time, and specifying what could and could not be covered. From this, he had guessed Lu Yi’s intention.
Rong Mi had always been a public figure. The transformation he showed during the Ice and Fire Mecha Tournament had been sudden and strong, so he needed a public opportunity to explain the reasons behind it in a way that worked in his favor, allowing people to understand the real Rong Mi.
Similarly, the young man needed an opportunity in a more formal setting to take the glory that belonged to him for his actions during the barren planet incident.
Sun Tong, who hadn’t cared much about the StarNet singer scene before, had caught up on some knowledge over the past few days.
“Rong Mi was mocked a few months ago for abusing his privileges, being rude to others, disrespecting seniors, and his vocal performance declining, getting into debt…” Sun Tong said firmly. “But that’s all in the past!”
He continued with conviction, “Rong Mi is completely different now. He is my belief.”
Allen: “…”
Allen: “…? What?”
He asked in a gentle, polite tone, clearly confused by his deputy’s words.
“He saved the general, calming down the general’s terrible mental domain…” Sun Tong explained as if it were obvious. “I said before, when miracles happen, I will believe in miracles.”
Allen: “…You’re not wrong.”
Allen patted Sun Tong’s shoulder, fell silent for a moment, then finally said, “The interview with Rong Mi is over. You can go back to the cockpit and do the final checks before the starship sets off.”
Sun Tong gave him an “OK” gesture and turned to leave. But his gaze swept over Rong Mi in the distance, and his movements suddenly halted.
The young man had just finished his interview and was walking quickly toward the starship where the two of them were, passing through the flying cameras that were still circling in the air.
Sun Tong’s sharp eyes noticed a flash of silver in Rong Mi’s arms.
Sun Tong: “…”
Sun Tong suddenly froze.
“Captain,” he turned to Allen, instinctively lowering his voice. “What’s that in Rong Mi’s arms?!”
“…Could it be… the general?” Allen hesitated, “No, I mean… the silver wolf…”
“The one who acts as the general’s substitute, though fluffy, doesn’t allow anyone but the general to touch it. It’s so majestic that I can’t help but salute every time I see it…”
“…General Silver?!?!”