Close-comrade relationship

In fact, with the experience of a past life behind him, raising a decent army from scratch wasn’t difficult for Bai Ling.

The real difficulty was the timeline.

In his view, it was best to get it done as early as possible. He had been undercover in the palace for a long time, and his identity was a ticking time bomb; there was no guarantee the dormitory officer wouldn’t conduct another background check before the ball.

Moreover, he and Yu Chen were now tethered together, every move affected the whole.

After some thought, Bai Ling decided to first draft a comprehensive mission plan. If Yu Chen found it generally feasible, they could adjust the finer details later.

Since accepting the other’s role as his sponsor, he felt much more at ease.

He took the money with a clear conscience.

Speaking of money, Bai Ling took the opportunity to bring up his idea for the joint procurement of light crystal alloy. He explained to Yu Chen that this alloy had great developmental potential; as particle-energy manufacturing leaped forward, it would become a critical necessity for upgrading aircraft.

Yu Chen leaned back against his chair, propping his forehead with one hand while pressing his temple with his thumb. Perhaps it was the lack of light after nightfall, but he looked pale and faint, his lips were devoid of color and carried a slight air of illness.

“How much of this alloy do you intend to stockpile? And how do you plan to use it?” He didn’t agree immediately but instead inquired about Bai Ling’s vision.

If the puppy wants a meat bone, one must ask where it intends to bury it.

Bai Ling had long ago calculated these questions. “In a standard medium-sized mecha, using just 1 kilogram of light crystal alloy can boost performance by 30% and increase damage resistance by 50%. In an interstellar offensive-defensive campaign, reinforcing an existing unit is over three times more cost-effective than purchasing a new one. That’s not even considering the time cost spent by pilots adapting to new machines.”

“The Tyrant’s regular combat force is around 400,000. I have ways to make one man count as ten, so let’s call it 40,000 soldiers. At one mecha per person, the total usage would be 40 tons of alloy.”

He was methodical and his goals were clear. Given enough time, he could even produce an analytical spreadsheet.

Yu Chen had a feeling that these thoughts had been lingering in Bai Ling’s mind for a long time. He pondered for a moment. “Procuring 40 tons is too much; it would draw far too much attention.”

Bai Ling explained, “That’s the maximum estimate. In reality, we wouldn’t need that much. We can cut it by two-thirds.”

Yu Chen replied indifferently, “Better to just buy a mine and produce it ourselves. It’s more convenient.”

Bai Ling: “……”

Only a wealthy retired Emperor could talk about buying a mine like buying a head of cabbage.

The small robot cleared the plates from the table. Bai Ling saw clearly that from start to finish, Yu Chen had barely eaten a few bites. The merman lacked energy and had no appetite; even his voice carried a trace of exhaustion.

“Stay tonight. Come to my bedroom.”

Yu Chen rarely made requests of him.

Bai Ling started slightly, asking subconsciously, “Do you have instructions for me?”

The merman lifted his eyelids, his green eyes slowly moving in their deep sockets. “Can’t I have you accompany me even if there’s nothing to do?”

Bai Ling mulled over the emotion in that sentence, a mix of condescending reproach, laced with reluctant affection. They said Emperors were cold-hearted, yet this old man had developed a fondness to him.

“Yes, yes. A pilot accompanying his sponsor, it’s only natural.”

Yu Chen narrowed his eyes, clearly displeased that he had phrased their relationship so distantly. Consequently, when the small robot brought over the mental tonic, he had to take it with a furrowed brow.

He pressed the bridge of his nose, trying to suppress the discomfort that had haunted him for a long time.

Taking too much medicine easily caused nausea. He knew a stomach cramp was coming, so he simply couldn’t be bothered to eat. This might be against doctor’s orders, but he had survived alone like this for years; he knew his own limits.

Yu Chen picked up a pill from a small, carved silver tray, rubbing it between his fingers thoughtfully.

…He hadn’t expected himself to actually ask the bird to stay.

They had an agreement: within the week, he would recuperate properly, and Bai Ling would sleep in the dorms to avoid any “accidental sparks” at night that would further tax his mental control.

But with one day short of a week, he was already considering tearing up the rules.

Yu Chen pinched a capsule and was about to bring it to his lips when a slender hand reached out and snatched it. With a light, agile motion, Bai Ling sat upon his lap, acting as if it were the most natural and arrogant invasion in the world.

It was as if these legs, transformed from two tails, were merely a perch for the bird to stand on.

Yu Chen’s expression softened. He asked with interest, “Does the pilot offer this kind of service too?”

The bird emitted a faint, sweet-and-sour scent of sea buckthorn. He stuffed the capsule between the man’s teeth, held up warm water for him to take a few sips, and then hooked his arm around the man’s neck. Leaning down until they were only five centimeters apart, he said in a cool tone:

“I have to watch our Old Yi take his medicine, otherwise he’ll get grumpy.”

Yu Chen lightly patted his backside, as if teasing a puppy. “Little rascal.”

---

Based on the different branches of service and the actual needs of the battlefield, a regular legion can be combined in any way, but once simplified, it cannot lack four major modules: Command, Combat, Logistics, and Intelligence.

Bai Ling spent two nights drafting a brief 8,000-word plan. It included available talents for each department, and based on memories from his past life, he wrote a one-sentence profile for each, marking their strengths and weaknesses. Furthermore, he estimated the possible scenarios following the Tyrant’s removal in detail.

His final conclusion: Once the Tyrant is removed, the system will automatically announce a state of national mourning, and the entire country will immediately enter a [Hurricane-Level] state of emergency.

By then, all routes in and out of the Capital would be cut off within an hour. If they couldn’t escape, they would have to turn around and face the Central Army head-on.

Bai Ling took the plan to Yu Chen and slowly read it aloud, his attitude as formal as if he were delivering an official report.

After listening, Yu Chen’s lips thinned into a line. He raised an eyebrow slightly and critiqued, “Unpredictable and brave, but the success rate is only 20%.”

Bai Ling was actually surprised. “Is it really that  high at 20%?”

He had won battles with a 3% chance of success.

Yu Chen wouldn’t give him the chance to take the risk. “Too low. Raise it higher.”

“I will definitely revise it,” Bai Ling said, nodding. Watching the man’s concentrated, listening posture, the words suddenly slipped out. “Did you see any flaws? Any ideas?”

They were new allies.

Starting now, they had to learn to consult each other and build rapport and trust.

The merman slowly turned a fountain pen between his fingers. It was black lacquer with a gold clip. Looking closely, one could see the engravings and serial number on the semi-hooded nib, indicating it was a custom piece. It perfectly matched the man’s low-profile, luxurious nature.

Yet the merman’s words were bold: “Sentimentally, I still don’t quite agree with you taking me and running away. Unless… you have the ability to seize me by the neck, abduct me, and do whatever you wish with me.”

Bai Ling: “?”

He couldn’t help but get annoyed. He was just asking for a suggestion. Why was he bringing up old arguments and acting petty again? Talking about seizing him by the neck and abducting him… did he look like that kind of person?

Uh, actually, yes.

But that was no reason for the old man to intentionally say spiteful things to annoy him.

Because of that mysterious, grumpy comment, Bai Ling was still mulling it over even while taking a bath. In the tub, the honeycomb-shaped bubbles gradually dissipated. He hugged one leg, his brow furrowed into a small knot, as the image of the merman’s deadpan expression replayed in his mind.

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration hit him.

Wait… he had asked the merman what was missing from the plan, and the merman said he should be kidnapped. If he thought about the logic carefully, it actually made sense!

—They lacked publicity and momentum.

There was nothing more shocking and buzz-worthy than killing the Tyrant Kaide and then storming the palace to kidnap the imprisoned old Emperor.

As the saying goes, “infamy is still fame.” In this era, public opinion was heat, and heat meant strength and possibility.

If they just took out a Tyrant, the greater nobility would likely quickly install a puppet. Plus, the Tyrant’s death would draw a wave of initial hatred, but those who previously hated him might feel their revenge was satisfied and settle down, causing the voice of resistance to weaken.

But what if he kidnapped the former Emperor?

Then not only the Empire, but the entire galaxy would likely broadcast the news 24/7, plastering his name across the front pages. The eyes of the world would be fixed on them. Thus, free media arrived, and universal momentum, without costing a cent, arrived too.

Bai Ling could already imagine how many people would hear the news and come to join them. Once the heat was up, they wouldn’t have to worry about how to scour the world for talent.

Except, in that case…

Bai Ling rubbed his chin. He estimated he would have to play the role of “arch-enemies” with the old man for a while. They’d probably trade threats in front of the world by day, and sleep in the same bed by night discussing who to take down next…

A close-comrade relationship!

Bai Ling relaxed back into the water, suddenly looking forward to the life ahead.

---

The morning sky peeked through the gaps in the leaves, a pale pink turning into a silvery white. Standing on tiptoe and looking out from the window, the vast ocean, once hidden by night, was now fully visible.

The position of this floor-to-ceiling window was chosen well, perfectly aligned with the stretching coastline. Standing here, to the left was the city not yet awake; to the right, the breeze kicked up, waves striking the rocks into white foam.

To prevent Yu Chen from overexerting his spirit, Bai Ling still slept in the side bedroom.

He loosened his muscles and, bracing one hand against the wall, performed a standard handstand-pushup training session. This movement helped the brain maintain balance; and accordingly, the difficulty was quite high. He had to lean against the wall, supporting his entire body weight with his arms, then bend his arms and control his shoulder and neck muscles for repeated presses.

Twenty reps per set, five sets.

Beads of sweat seeped from his taut abdomen. When he reached the bottom of the breath’s rhythm, the sexy contour of his hip bones was visible. When he controlled his muscle strength to straighten out, his shoulders and arms formed a perfect 90° angle. Though he was steaming with sweat, his silhouette was refined and cold, without a single unintended tremor.

Training while watching the high-altitude view made the time pass more easily.

“…Ninety-eight, ninety-nine, one hundred—” The counting stopped abruptly. His toes lightly kicked off the wall, and with a backflip, Bai Ling landed steadily.

Grabbing a towel to wipe his sweat, he maintained a cold demeanor and a leisurely gait, with his loose pajama pants covering his bare feet. He didn’t go to the bathroom to wash up; instead, he headed into the greenhouse to breathe some fresh air.

The small robot was re-applying tape to the hole in the glass.

Bai Ling looked at the irregularly shaped hole. He hadn’t paid attention before, but now, with the daylight, he saw radial cracks around the break. It looked very much like it was caused by external force attacking from a high altitude.

Bai Ling frowned and asked, “How did this hole get here?”

The small robot rewound its memory and explained, “This? This was the hole drilled by the Royal Guard that Kaide sent before.”

Speaking of this, the robot grew animated. “A whole bunch of them drilled for a week straight just to make a hole this big!”

In an instant, the blood in Bai Ling’s entire body turned ice-cold.

---

Author’s Note:

Revised.

Little Bird: Someone is targeting my Big-Tailed Merman sashimi! (Cold-blooded) (Shakes the fish awake)

Old Merman: (Habitually hugging) (Mental health continuously draining) What is it, my darling?

Little Bird: It’s nothing. (Writes in diary: The Sovereign is also awake.)

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Translator’s note:
did i spend way too much time trying to figure out if Close-comrade relationship (亲密战友关系) meant something else, entered a rabbit hole and messed up my upload schedule? yes? but did you know that in the cold war japan and russia traded with e/o even though they were from opposing forces? A declassified CIA document showed that the KGB systematically used Japan as a source for Western high-technology products that were then diverted to the Soviet military. This continued throughout the Cold War while both nations publicly condemned each other.