Upholding justice
by M1zushiAfter handing Hai Mian over to the police and completing the reporting process, the Captain proactively offered to assist with the questioning.
The police officer asked suspiciously, “Why are you wearing a mask?”
The Captain replied succinctly, “I am hideously deformed. If I take off this mask, people’s sanity will plummet.”
The officer imagined a contaminated marine sub-species with four eyes and sixty legs and said with a look of disgust:
“Then stay out of it. We’re short-staffed, but we’ve called in the military. You can go.”
The Captain walked outside and found his number one and only raptor ace examining the wanted list on the wall. After several rounds of updates, many on the list had been captured or killed; not many remained in the “final circle.”
However, “Kepler,” with a bounty of 5 million star coins, still held the top spot.
Bai Ling remembered seeing Kepler’s wanted poster in the palace corridor during his first night exploring the merman’s waterway. The backlighting had been a sickly green, making the portrait look hideous. These wanted criminals usually left no trace and possessed high counter-reconnaissance skills; they didn’t leave photos behind. Thus, this portrait on the list was clearly an AI composite based on witness accounts.
The Kepler in the portrait looked utterly unremarkable, the type who would vanish the moment he blended into a crowd.
The Captain stood before the portrait and turned to Bai Ling. “Interested?”
Bai Ling offered his critique: “Why is this Kepler still only worth 5 million?”
Captain: “Yes, he hasn’t been caught yet.”
“He hasn’t improved either.”
“Improved?”
“Through his own efforts, increasing his self-worth,” Bai Ling pointed out flatly.
…Increasing his bounty value? The Captain thought about it and decided… “Makes sense.”
The conversation fell back into an awkward silence. Whether it was a hallucination or not, Bai Ling felt the Captain was constantly on the verge of saying something to him, his attitude shrouded in a mysterious, clunky hesitation.
So secretive—he’s definitely hiding something.
The mirrored black mask slowly turned toward him as the Captain tried to start another topic. But through the reflection, Bai Ling saw the elevator doors open. A man with a ramrod-straight posture, wearing a standard Imperial military uniform, straight-forwardly walked toward them.
As the Captain of Team C responsible for patrols in the Mecha Legion, Lu Hang had a mental stability rate of 98% and was often seconded to help the police. He just hadn’t expected to run into acquaintances this time.
Lu Hang glanced at the black mask, offering only a nod as a greeting. When he saw Bai Ling, however, he smiled and said, “What a coincidence, meeting again.”
His blatant difference in treatment between an alpha and an omega made the masked man let out a cold huff.
Bai Ling remained composed and offered a polite introduction: “This is our Captain.”
Lu Hang finally realized why the man in the black mask had been eavesdropping on their conversation in the breakroom last time and had rushed over so aggressively to assert dominance. It turns out the Captain himself was afraid of his ace being headhunted.
Lu Hang joked, reaching out for a handshake: “It seems we are competitors then.”
The Captain ignored the outstretched hand completely. Lu Hang didn’t look embarrassed; he simply retracted his hand and let it rest naturally at his side, his middle finger aligned precisely with the straight seam of his trousers.
His expression remained friendly as he smiled at Bai Ling:
“Looking at the wanted list? Many of the most vicious criminals on there were captured by my team. Once you join the military, you can uphold justice alongside us.”
At the words “uphold justice,” the Captain let out an even louder, merciless sneer.
Lu Hang glanced at him and asked with a smile, “Does the Captain have any suggestions for our operations?”
The Captain was silent for a moment, his face completely obscured by the mask. Finally, he spoke with a trace of mockery:
“Does a military that only serves the upper class have any value in existing? I suggest it be abolished.”
Lu Hang’s expression soured. While it was the truth, saying it in public was a blatant lack of respect. Seeing the atmosphere grow increasingly tense, Bai Ling was forced to step in as the peacemaker.
Bai Ling changed the subject: “I think you could improve the aesthetics. Change the borders of the wanted list to something simpler; it’s quite unattractive as it is.”
The Captain agreed deeply: “Indeed. That green light makes everyone look hideous.”
Lu Hang frowned. “Why do you care about the aesthetics of the wanted list? It’s not like you two will ever end up on it.”
Bai Ling & Captain: “……”
The two of them looked up at the ceiling simultaneously, acting as if nothing had happened.
The interrogation room was waiting, and Lu Hang had to get moving. Before leaving, his professional habit as a officer kicked in; he instinctively reached out to pat Bai Ling’s shoulder and offer a few encouraging words.
To his surprise, the moment his hand began to rise, his wrist was seized with a “thwack.” The grip was so powerful his bones went numb with pain, as if he were being held by a mortal enemy.
Even with Lu Hang’s good temper, he felt a flicker of anger. He barked, “Let go. This is a police station.”
The Captain froze, looked down to realize it was his own hand, and his heart skipped a beat as he released it instantly. He began scrubbing his hand with the disinfectant from the hallway dispenser, deliberately performing a show of extreme disgust. He didn’t realize that this behavior caused Lu Hang to eye him closely and quietly.
Lu Hang asked slowly, “You seem to dislike me quite a lot?”
Captain: “I’m not gay. Why would I like an alpha?”
Lu Hang was momentarily speechless, then let out a strange, soft laugh. He remembered it had been a long… long time since he had been riled up by someone so sharp-tongued.
The Captain scrubbed vigorously at the sticky sanitizer, his voice chilling: “Please leave immediately. I despise the scent of my own kind. Also, if I see you harassing my association member again, I’ll cut off your hand.”
Lu Hang let out a light chuckle, showing no anger. He nodded to Bai Ling. “We’ll talk online later.”
The Captain’s body shuddered almost imperceptibly.
Bai Ling found it baffling. Talk online? Those two hadn’t even exchanged contact info. He looked strangely at Lu Hang, only to see the tall soldier pass him by. As Lu Hang brushed past the Captain, he slowed down for a single second and said in a teasing tone:
“So fierce.”
Though he couldn’t see the head beneath the black mask, Bai Ling had a premonition that the Captain’s feathers were currently bristling in a massive explosion.
Only after Lu Hang had left did the Captain slightly relax his shoulders, solemnly warning his association member:
“In the future, when you see that alpha who’s constantly lusting after you, stay as far away as possible!”
Bai Ling asked subconsciously, “Which one?”
The Captain paused. Which one? Does this omega have that many fish and shrimp surrounding him? He had no choice but to say, “…The one who just left.”
Bai Ling shifted his grey eyes and curled his lips, asking, “Why? Do you know him?”
“I don’t,” the Captain denied flatly, his voice dropping an octave. “But I know he’s a perverted white-hair fetishist… he especially likes white-haired omegas. Someone like you is exactly his prime hunting target.”
Finally, he summarized: “I hate alphas like that most of all.”
The Captain looked utterly disgusted, speaking with the tone of someone who knew from experience. Bai Ling stole another glance at him, but a phrase popped into his mind for no reason—
Closeted homophobes are often the loudest.
The Captain had things he wanted to say in private, so the two of them found a small curbside café.
These tiny coffee shops usually hold a liquor license; they sell coffee and simple bread meals by day and foamy beer by night. Stepping inside, the humid heat mixed with the smell of smoke instantly numbed the nerves. One could grab a small round table, order a 2-star-coin mini coffee and a croissant, and leisurely pass the entire afternoon.
It was peak mealtime, and the shop was bustling. A large virtual screen on the wall replayed scenes from the Mecha Tournament. Everyone was staring intently at the screen, so no one noticed the person wearing a black face mask sitting in a cramped corner.
Bai Ling added a spoonful of creamer to his coffee, stirring it until it turned a muddy sludge color. He picked up the cup, took a light sip, and observed the person across from him over the rim.
This alpha, who had once gifted him a combat suit, was touching a switch on his mask to open the “feeding port.” It was a small opening about four centimeters wide at the jawline, allowing a straw to be inserted so he could eat and drink normally while maintaining his mystery.
Bai Ling watched the fruit juice mix he was drinking. This kind of powder contained no actual juice, it was pure chemical flavoring. For the head of a association, drinking this stuff was a bit pathetic.
The Captain, however, sipped it quite earnestly, sucking the bottom of the cup dry.
Bai Ling asked naturally, “Is the association short on funds?”
The Captain stiffened slightly, and Bai Ling knew he had guessed correctly. In truth, because the [Eloquent Crows and Sparrows] association lacked raptors, it was at the bottom of the five-star clubs. Coupled with the Captain’s refusal to curry favor with the nobility, the funding they could pull in was quite limited.
Bai Ling toyed with a small paper packet of sugar, speculating, “So you’ve hidden your identity to compete personally just to earn association fees?”
The Captain sat up straight and said solemnly, “I compete to earn extra travel expenses. As for the association, don’t worry, pilot salaries and mecha maintenance will be paid as usual. You won’t lose a single cent of your pay.”
Bai Ling arched an eyebrow. “Travel expenses? Where does the Captain want to go?”
“The Wild Planet.”
The fact that the other party threw it out so bluntly actually made Bai Ling a bit surprised. The nearby diners were chatting loudly, so the Captain’s bass voice blended in, sounding cautious and discreet:
“Bai Ling, I know you’ve also been persecuted by the authorities. On the night of Thanksgiving, you were summoned by the Power King, Power, and not two hours later, TGK’s space palace exploded. That incident must be related to you, but Anna and I have kept your secret.”
Blowing up a palace is a capital offense for attacking the Sovereign. It earns a public hanging and a month-long display of the body at the City Hall gates. From this perspective, the Captain and Anna indeed deserved his gratitude.
Bai Ling narrowed his eyes slightly. “And so?”
“And so, why shouldn’t a person of insight like you join us? Let’s resist the tyranny together, overthrow the rule of the Seafood Nobility, establish the first avian regime in history, and turn this rotten Empire into a new Federation surrounded by green trees!”
As the Captain spoke of his imagined future, his voice inevitably rose.
Bai Ling stared at the swirling coffee in his cup; the muddy vortex formed a funnel-like eye of the storm. “New Federation…” He repeated those three words slowly, falling briefly into memory.
When mentioning the “New Federation,” one couldn’t help but think of the six major “bandit leaders” of the Wild Planet Revolutionary Army from his past life. Aside from Commander Bai and General Sava, among the remaining four forces, there was another raptor: The Black-winged Kite.
The Black-winged Kite, as the name suggests, has black wings but a white belly and crown. Adults have red eyes, so their human forms often manifest as white hair and red pupils. Previously, when Sava first met Bai Ling, he thought he was the Black-winged Kite.
However, as a small raptor of the Elanus genus, the Black-winged Kite’s individual strength wasn’t particularly prominent. Especially among the gathering of elite raptors, he couldn’t occupy the top spot in power, night combat, or agility like the Golden Eagle, Bald Eagle, Eurasian Eagle-Owl, or Peregrine Falcon.
The reason the Black-winged Kite on the Wild Planet was able to rise was largely due to timing, geography, and popular support. He was a Wild Planet native.
As a bird born and raised on the Wild Planet, no one knew the undulations of every inch of land or the frequency of every sandstorm better than he did. His control over the local climate and seasons was terrifyingly precise, and he utilized these details to minimize combat losses, carving out his own territory among a crowd of fierce “big-wings.”
Unfortunately, he was also the one who “delivered” himself to defeat the fastest.
The Black-winged Kite’s proposal was: “To emulate the neighboring Mammalian Federation and establish a New Federation system in the Empire with a tolerant government.”
Sounds decent, right?
But the Black-winged Kite publicly declared: “We will eradicate all Marine-system nobility, reclaim all controlled fiefs, and establish a regime ruled by birds.”
Izu Paraiso hadn’t managed to do it in a lifetime, yet this guy made a one-year plan and prepared to roll up his sleeves and get to work.
Commander Bai had thought at the time that this guy was too idealistic: taking such a huge stride would surely trip him up. Sure enough, while his words gained support from many birds, they also invisibly alienated the Marine race. Suddenly, labels like “racist” and “separatist” were slammed onto the Black-winged Kite’s head. Not only was he criticized daily by the government-controlled media, but the matter even reached the Interstellar Alliance, which directly labeled the Black-winged Kite’s revolutionary army as [Terrorists].
What is the biggest fear in war? It’s not a lack of weapons or men; it’s losing the moral high ground. Soon, the morale of the Black-winged Kite’s team dissipated. People fled or deserted, and eventually, the Black-winged Kite himself was captured by the Central Army. Until Bai Ling’s death, his fate remained unknown.
So when the Captain mentioned the “New Federation,” Bai Ling naturally thought of the Black-winged Kite.
Bai Ling looked expressionless. No way, no way… destiny wouldn’t let me run into another bandit from the neighboring hill… right?
The Captain played his final card: “And, my hometown is on the Wild Planet. I have a natural advantage.”
Bai Ling: “…”
It really is you, Black Pepper Chicken Wing.
[Black Pepper Chicken Wing] was a derogatory nickname given by the media, using a pun to mock the scorched earth the Black-winged Kite left in his wake. Commander Bai had a derogatory nickname too, but… that wasn’t the point right now.
The Captain officially extended the invitation: “Well? Do you want to ‘strive to increase your self-worth’ with me?”
Bai Ling said dryly, “I don’t think I have much room for ‘increase’…”
With his 40 billion bounty, even if he blew up the Capital, it would be hard to double that “value.”
The Captain thought he was trying to decline, so he said understandingly, “It’s alright. I can give you a week to think about it. It’s a grave matter, after all; you might not be able to make up your mind right away. Perhaps you need to discuss it with your family, and if they don’t agree—”
Bai Ling interrupted him: “I’m in.”
“If they don’t agree… huh?” The Captain stopped dead, his shock visible even through the mask. “You’re willing to join?”
Bai Ling rubbed his chin, thinking for a moment. “However, I’m bringing a few people with me. Is that convenient for you?”
“Of course, the more the better,” the Captain nodded subtly.
He naturally assumed that the people Bai Ling brought would eventually fall under his command. He would be the boss, managing Bai Ling and his crew.
Bai Ling, meanwhile, was mulling over how to kick the grumbling, Dark Night Hen into the cabin and take him to the Wild Planet, then put two heavy locks on his reproductive chamber to prevent him from being tricked into getting a big belly by his lover again.
“How many seats are on your ship? Can it fit everyone?”
The Captain thought for a moment. “I rented a medium-sized passenger ship that can carry 100 people. If it doesn’t fit, we’ll just take standing room and overload it. When we hit the interstellar checkpoints, just don’t make a sound. I’ll bribe them, and they won’t come on board to count heads.”
Bai Ling: “……”
Why does this sound like a shady black-market bus?
In the past, Bai Ling wouldn’t have cared, but this time he had to “package and ship” a merman. He couldn’t just fudge it. Izu Paraiso would certainly not be willing to share a public toilet with 100 people for three days.
So, he had to get a big ship, the bigger the better. Ideally, it should be fully equipped, have a formal license, and be able to sail out of the Capital Star without breaking down.
Otherwise, that fish would have to bring his own portable urine bottle.
Author’s Note:
Old Merman: A portable “bird” bottle? I have one.
Little Bird: (Draws gun) (Lifts chin with the barrel) (Expressionless) What kind of bottle? I didn’t catch that. Say it louder.
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