Haige Star will remain under blockade until multiple rounds of checks are completed.
Because of that, this memorial service will be held on Haige Star’s Satellite 3.
Song Wen sent out two space patrol ships to take part in the service.
Out in space, these patrol ships will flash their lights and send out signals at specific frequencies, announcing the fall of a hero to the entire starry sky.
When Yao Siyuan, the military commander of the Sixth Star Ring District, heard the news, he stayed alone in his office for a very long time.
His son called him in a panic: “Dad, did Lin Xiaohe really die in battle?!”
Yao Siyuan rubbed his forehead and pulled out an e-cigarette from his drawer. “Yes, she lived up to her uniform and her rank.”
“How could this happen? Lin Xiaohe was so amazing. I was waiting for her to go to the Central Military Academy and make a big name for herself!” the naive, privileged young man said, utterly lost.
“Dad, are you going to the memorial service?”
Yao Siyuan sighed. “Don’t be childish. How could I possibly leave the Sixth Star Ring? But I…”
He paused.
This memorial service will only be announced within a certain circle, not to the entire Federation.
The Federation government doesn’t want the public to know that they abandoned Haige Star and the Fourth Star Ring.
Even more so, they don’t want the public to know that the Federation government was powerless against the sudden attack of the Giant Sound Whales and could only rely on the efforts of the exam candidates.
Revealing the truth would only make people question the Federation government’s capabilities and would cause politicians a lot of trouble.
Since the matter has been resolved smoothly without significant losses, the Federation government has decided to bury it.
Once Haige Star returns to normal, many experts and well-known figures will appear on the StarNet or official channels to explain the causes of this crisis.
Blame it on interference from electromagnetic storms, or on the StarNet construction company cutting corners, or on a conspiracy by the resistance forces…
There are so many reasons to choose from. Just pick one. In the end, the story will be that the Federation government turned the tide and resolved the crisis.
“This isn’t fair! Why are they stealing my master’s credit?” Dong Yuxuan was like an angry little lion, lashing out in front of his older brother.
The older brother of the Dong family was also in a terrible mood. Not only had he lost a potential ally with great promise, but he had also lost 30 million! No, with the early investments, it was nearly 50 million! This was the only setback in his otherwise smooth-sailing life.
“Enough, calm down. This isn’t something we can control.”
Dong Yuxuan refused to let it go. “Aren’t you a senator? A senator’s duty is to oversee the Federation government. Are you just going to stand by and watch them steal a hero’s credit?”
The older Dong brother helplessly pinched the bridge of his nose and said seriously, “But Lin Xiaohe is dead. Do you know how much panic it would cause if the truth were revealed? The Empire would definitely seize on this and attack the Federation on political and economic levels.”
He swallowed a sigh and spoke earnestly: “Little brother, between the dead and the living, which side do you choose?”
Dong Yuxuan didn’t know which to choose, but he knew that this was wrong!
With red eyes, he stared stubbornly at his brother. “Are you all so sure my master is dead? What if she comes back alive? How are you going to explain yourselves to her?”
The older brother ruffled Dong Yuxuan’s hair. “No one wants her alive more than I do.”
That’s 50 million star coins! Even throwing that into a river would at least make a splash.
…
The military districts of the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Star Rings jointly pressured the Federation government, demanding that the blockade on Haige Star be lifted as soon as possible.
[Nuwa] firmly refused.
So the military districts compromised, requesting permission to send one warship to Haige Star to pick up the candidates’ families for the memorial service.
“They have the right to know the truth, and they should be allowed to see their loved ones off one last time.”
The Federation government wasn’t keen on agreeing, but considering that many people already knew the truth, a few more wouldn’t make a difference, so they reluctantly gave in.
On the warship, the atmosphere was as heavy as if dark clouds were pressing down.
Military doctors stood by at all times; just moments ago, more than ten parents had collapsed unconscious from the shock.
Grandma Lin, wearing an oxygen mask, rested her head against Grandpa Lin, staring blankly at the ceiling of the ship.
Her little darling, who had tried so hard, so desperately to live, and yet…
Tears poured down her cheeks like a broken dam, soaking her clothes.
Lin Jingqiu pressed her lips tightly together, flipping through Mori’s study notes.
She refused to believe her little sister was dead!
Her little sister loved home so much, she even wanted to bring her family along to school. How could she bear to leave her, to leave her family?
Lin Chiyang didn’t believe it either!
After his little sister led the candidates to the Nanyu Temple, Haige Star lost its network connection.
He hadn’t seen the moment of her death with his own eyes, hadn’t seen her body. So he absolutely refused to believe she was dead!
Haige Star’s Satellite 3 is an icy planet, covered in endless white.
The memorial site had already been set up.
More than 700 candidates lay peacefully in their coffins.
Each coffin was draped with a Federation flag and filled with crystal flowers.
The Lin family rushed frantically to Lin Xiaohe’s coffin.
Lin Xiaohe’s face was pale, her brows slightly furrowed, as if she were enduring some kind of pain.
“Xiaohe!” Grandma Lin let out a heart-wrenching wail.
She reached into the coffin, trying to pick up Lin Xiaohe. “My darling, you’re breaking your grandmother’s heart!”
Grandpa Lin quickly tried to stop her, but Grandma Lin kicked and thrashed wildly. “Let me go! I want to be with my darling! She hates being alone the most! How scared she must be, setting off on this journey all by herself!”
Grandpa Lin held Grandma Lin tightly, pressing her head firmly against his chest. Tears and snot mingled on his face, and his throat felt like it was stuffed with cotton, unable to utter a single word.
Lin Jingqiu stared blankly at her little sister in the coffin, reaching out a hand to smooth her furrowed brow.
What exactly happened in those final moments? Was her little sister in great pain? Was she crying out, begging her brother and sister to save her?
Lin Jingqiu reached out, wanting to warm Lin Xiaohe’s cold face.
Oh, why is it so cold? Her little sister must be freezing.
Lin Chiyang rushed up to Melina and demanded through clenched teeth, “Show me the recording! I want to see how my little sister died!”
The scene was filled with anguished cries.
Melina wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes, opened the screen at the front of the conference hall, and began playing the footage of Lin Xiaohe leading the group at the Battle of Nanyu Temple.
When the scene of the candidates perishing together with the enemy appeared, the crying in the room grew even louder.
The Lin family’s eyes were blurred with tears, but they didn’t blink, staring intently at the video.
Xinbao came out, Fanfan was injured, and Doudou and Tiantian were also battered and torn.
Xiaohe…
Xiaohe held on until the very end.
Seeing Xiaohe’s face twisted in pain, Lin Jingqiu and Lin Chiyang could no longer hold back and broke into loud, tearful sobs.
On the platform, a Federation government official recited the eulogy: “The silent mountains forever cherish their loyal blood. The sun and moon traverse the heavens, bearing witness to true hearts. The sincere spirits of these heroes, like brilliant stars, illuminate the Federation.”
“The green mountains remember their sacrifice, the sun and moon witness their loyalty! Here, we will hold a memorial service for them that will shine across space. May you journey well!”
In space, the warships flashed their lights.
May you journey well!
