After parting ways with Lin Xiaohe, Brother Thunderbolt drove his flyer straight to the Blackwater District clinic.
“Old Black, I need to tell you something.”
The two whispered back and forth for a while. Doctor Old Black’s jaw dropped so wide it could’ve fit a goose egg.
“Your identity’s exposed?! The Stellar Ring Patrol didn’t even notice anything off, and a little girl managed to figure it out?!”
Brother Thunderbolt slapped Old Black heavily on the shoulder, nearly knocking him off balance. “Where was it her?! It’s the organization behind her that’s formidable!”
“Makes sense. What does she want to do?”
“Go to the Grand Theater to rescue someone.”
Old Black stroked his chin, glancing at Lin Chiyang lying on the sickbed. “The shadow in this guy’s brain… it’s not ordinary. I haven’t figured out what that shadow area really is yet.”
Brother Thunderbolt raised an eyebrow. Old Black’s medical skills were top-notch in their organization. “Even you don’t know? Seems this mysterious organization is even more complicated than we imagined.”
Old Black thought deeper. Their organization had just sent them to the Sixth Stellar Ring when Lin Xiaohe found them.
Was it a leak? Or had Lin Xiaohe’s organization’s influence penetrated the entire Sixth Stellar Ring?
Whichever it was, they needed to make contact with this mysterious organization.
“Just pulling someone out of the Grand Theater, right? A piece of cake. We’ll use our connections to get her second sister released.”
Brother Thunderbolt extended his hand. “Please, approve the funds for the extraction.”
Old Black grumbled, about to transfer the money, when a notification sounded from Brother Thunderbolt’s neural-computer.
[User Lin Xiaohe has transferred 30,800 Star Coins to you.]
Brother Thunderbolt and Old Black exchanged a look, their expressions turning even graver.
800 Star Coins was the fare. 30,000 was the treatment fee.
Clearly, Lin Xiaohe knew about the relationship between Brother Thunderbolt and Old Black.
Good grief, they hadn’t even seen a hair of this mysterious organization, yet the other side had their members all figured out.
What kind of control was this? How massive must their influence be!
“Thunderbolt, you stick close to Lin Xiaohe. I need to report this!”
…
Dong Yuxuan, having sold off all his mecha models, was still looking around for anything else he could sell.
Master said, the more money the better!
“Explain. What’s going on?” On the video call, a man stood alone, eyelids slightly lowered, his handsome face expressionless, lips pressed into a sharp line.
Dong Yuxuan hung his head, not daring to meet his gaze, and mumbled, “N-nothing.”
The man looked deeply at Dong Yuxuan. Seeing he had no intention to explain, a flicker of disappointment passed through his profound eyes.
“The Dong family can be foolish, can be incompetent, but they cannot be cheated and remain unrepentant. You disappoint me greatly.”
Dong Yuxuan’s heart trembled. A wave of grievance surged up, his nose turning sour. “Master wouldn’t cheat me. She’s… she’s truly amazing.”
The man closed his eyes, as if not wanting to say another word to him. “From today, you are forbidden to access the Star-Net.”
…
Unaware that her chief disciple had been grounded, Lin Xiaohe entrusted her mother to a neighbor’s care and took a ride to the Blackwater District clinic.
Her big brother needed surgery. She wanted to watch personally, lest Brother Thunderbolt try anything tricky.
As soon as Lin Xiaohe entered the clinic, the door automatically closed behind her.
Brother Thunderbolt explained, “We agree to cooperate with you. After your brother’s surgery, we’ll discuss the details.”
Lin Xiaohe nodded.
Her gaze remained fixed on the operating room.
Understandingly, Old Black set the operating room’s wall to transparent, allowing Lin Xiaohe to watch.
Big Brother Lin Chiyang lay pale on the cold operating table.
Three mechanical arms descended from the ceiling—one assisted Old Black with the surgery, one handled debridement, one passed tools.
Lin Xiaohe couldn’t understand the surgery’s progress, but she stared intently nonetheless.
At this moment, her feelings were complex.
On the way to the clinic, she had asked Heart Treasure to check why Big Brother and Second Sister got separated.
Heart Treasure said Big Brother went to buy [Starlight Life] nutrient fluid. He bought four vials.
Lin Xiaohe instantly understood everything.
Thinking of such a good Big Brother lying on the operating table, life hanging in the balance, made Lin Xiaohe furious enough to kill!
Why was it so hard?
All her Lin family wanted was to live peacefully, steadily, in a little place like Hengshan Village. Being poor, suffering a bit, it didn’t matter, as long as the family was together.
But such a small, humble wish was a luxury.
Lin Xiaohe’s face was cold, her hand rubbing over her satchel.
The satchel held Heart Treasure and Dou Dou, both staying obediently and motionless inside.
After half an hour, Old Black came out, removing his face shield. “The hematoma in the brain has been cleared. But I don’t know what the shadowed area is, didn’t dare touch it. If possible, you could take your brother to the Third Stellar Ring’s Nebula Regenerative Medical Center. They’re more specialized there.”
“Alright, thank you. When will my brother wake up?”
“Within an hour.”
Lin Xiaohe also described her mother’s symptoms to Old Black. “Is there a way to treat it?”
Old Black thought for a moment. “Sounds like severe Radiation Dust Disease. But if it’s truly as you described, with no treatment at all, bodily functions should have collapsed long ago. My equipment here isn’t sufficient for a precise diagnosis.”
“If it really is Radiation Dust Disease, where should one go for treatment?”
“The Radiation Dust Disease Prevention and Control Hospital in the Second Stellar Ring.” Old Black sighed with emotion. “Actually, the Central Stellar Ring’s medical level is the most advanced, followed by the First Stellar Ring. The endpoint we strive for all our lives can’t even catch up to their starting point.”
Lin Xiaohe silently committed the two medical locations to memory.
While waiting for Lin Chiyang to wake, the three began discussing the Grand Theater rescue plan.
Brother Thunderbolt: “Our side can provide three tickets to the Grand Theater.”
The Grand Theater wasn’t a place you could just walk into. Brother Thunderbolt spent quite a few favors to get these three tickets.
Lin Xiaohe waited a moment. “That’s it? Nothing else?”
Brother Thunderbolt glared. “Isn’t that enough to show our sincerity? We can’t possibly do everything, right?”
Lin Xiaohe’s expression was indescribable.
Old Black glanced at her, probing, “How did you think we would do it?”
Lin Xiaohe blinked her big eyes. “Shouldn’t we fight our way in, bombard the Grand Theater?”
Brother Thunderbolt was horrified, shaking his head frantically. “I didn’t, don’t talk nonsense! Do you know how tough the Grand Theater’s protective shield is to breach? You’d probably need a starship’s main cannon to shatter it!”
Lin Xiaohe snorted disdainfully. “The Iron Meteorite Raiders are just so-so.”
Brother Thunderbolt held back. Their raider group were space pirates, not idiots!
“If you can get your hands on a starship, then go ahead and bombard it.”
Lin Xiaohe…
She didn’t even have a mecha, where would she get a starship!
After some back-and-forth, both sides finally sat down to talk properly.
Over the next few days, the three of them would go to the Grand Theater to scout, to locate Lin Jingqiu.
They would act after Lin’s father and the others were released.
Brother Thunderbolt, afraid Lin Xiaohe would make another outrageous demand, quickly said, “Let’s be clear upfront. We’re only responsible for scouting. Your side handles the action!”
“You have to protect my family.”
“Deal!”
This suited them just fine.
Brother Thunderbolt lowered his eyes. Orders from above wanted to see the Grand Theater’s true capabilities. Let Lin Xiaohe’s side take the lead first.
