“Excellency, we have arrived at the base.”
The car had driven all the way to the outskirts, arriving at a remote military restricted zone. The secretary reported immediately. Emily Vrataski, wearing a pair of white pearl-satin gloves that no one had ever seen her remove, gently stroked the cat in her lap and nodded without a word. After a series of identity checks, the vehicle finally came to a halt before a black, warehouse-like building. The secretary stepped out and circled the car to open the door for her.
She handed the cat to an attendant and slowly stepped out of the vehicle. “Where is she?” Her voice was cold and clear, devoid of any inflection.
Just as the secretary was about to explain, the doors to the V-Squad training grounds opened, and a woman dressed in black training fatigues stepped out.
“Reporting to the Colonel: Mousse, signal officer of V-Squad.” She jogged over to the two and offered a respectful military salute to Emily.
In the early days of the Xeno emergence, after global political power had utterly collapsed, a group of soldiers from around the world formed an independent military to combat the threat. These soldiers sacrificed themselves to protect civilian lives, granting humanity—which had been on the brink of extinction—the time and space to breathe. Consequently, they earned the respect of all mankind.
In the United Government of the Post-Era, it was common for military officers to participate in politics while holding their ranks. Emily was the most prominent among them. Whenever a major government event occurred, the first person to appear before the media was not the Prime Minister, but this government spokesperson.
Beyond her beauty and intellect, the Vrataski family to which Emily belonged was one of the founding leadership groups of the original anti-Xeno military. Thus, her family held formidable power within the United Government. Because she was both a noble and a military officer, she was one of the few figures who could navigate both power blocs with ease.
Ordinary soldiers held deep respect for her family, and Emily herself, having ascended the political stage through her own merit, enjoyed a reputation among the public that rivaled that of Que Tang, who came from a purely military background.
Emily gave a nearly imperceptible nod.
The secretary took over the conversation. “Her Excellency heard that Major Que has returned safely to the unit and has come specifically to visit.”
“The Major is currently in the maintenance hangar at the rear. Please follow me.” Mousse turned and led the way.
Signaling her retinue to remain behind, Emily and her secretary followed.
“You down there, turn the music up! Otherwise, Valkyrie won't be happy!” Que Tang stood habitually on the shoulder of the sixteen-meter-tall mecha, performing fine adjustments.
“It’s already at maximum volume, Captain.” The squad’s emergency mechanic tried helplessly to turn the knob of the Old Era speaker further, but it had already hit the limit. He reported via radio to his captain, who was currently shouting and carrying on with zero regard for her image.
The mechanic pressed a hand to his forehead. He couldn't understand how this captain—who was so valiant and wise in battle, always the first to charge and capable of taking on a hundred foes alone—could be so obsessed with classical music from centuries ago.
Que Tang hummed along with the music. During a mission, she had scavenged a data storage device known as a "hard drive" from the Old Era on a junk planet. She had researched ways to decode it and, after much trial and error, successfully extracted this music from the dawn of history.
From the moment the music first flowed from the speakers, she had fallen deeply in love with it. Compared to modern pop music, she preferred these ancient notes and languages steeped in history. For this reason, she had even specifically learned the Old Era’s lingua franca, a fact that had once drawn ridicule from others in the military.
However, as her military achievements grew, this became one of her signature traits. Some of her admirers had even started an "Old Era Revival" movement.
Those inside the hangar were used to the deafening volume, but as Mousse led the two visitors closer, her brow furrowed deeper and deeper. Finally, she couldn't help but apologize for Que Tang. “I’m sorry, the Captain’s only hobby is listening to music while inspecting the mecha...” She expected no response, but to her surprise, the spokesperson known for her icy detachment actually replied.
“Every citizen of the Union knows that Her Excellency the Valkyrie is an aficionado of Old Era arts and holds a degree in Art History. It is a most elegant pursuit.” Emily’s tone was flat, making it impossible to tell if she was offering praise or a slight.
Mousse found it difficult to say anything else that might damage her captain’s image. She silently led them into the hangar.
Que Tang was huddled in the cockpit, happily listening to the music while verifying every safety index. In the middle of a hum, the music suddenly cut out. She complained into the intercom with dissatisfaction, “Hey, you down there! Where’s the music?”
“Captain, you have visitors.” Mousse’s voice came through the headset, sounding like she was speaking through gritted teeth.
“Visitors?” Que Tang raised an eyebrow. She had just been discharged and already had visitors? They were either rivals coming to mock her or factions trying to recruit her. She climbed out of the cockpit and nimbly descended the maintenance scaffolding leaning against the mecha. Once she saw the visitor clearly, her lips curled into a look of surprise. “If it isn't Her Excellency, Emily Vrataski.”
She picked up a cleaning wipe from a nearby table and casually wiped the black grease from her palms. Under the stunned and bewildered gazes of the secretary and her own squad members, she took Emily’s right hand and pressed a kiss onto the pearl satin.
“We haven't met in years, yet Her Excellency the Valkyrie is as humorous as ever.” Emily seemed accustomed to this; she withdrew her hand without a change in expression.
“This was an indispensable piece of etiquette for noblewomen in the early Old Era.” Que Tang retracted her hand, simultaneously smoothing and tying back her messy brown hair. “To what do we owe the honor of the Great Excellency Vrataski visiting our savage, disorganized, and lawless unit? Should I call out all my subordinates for a lecture?”
The moment Que Tang finished speaking, several gasps could be heard from the sidelines.
Her squad members hadn't expected their captain to be so confrontational with a superior. Fortunately, the Excellency didn't seem displeased, even if she was famous for never showing her emotions.
“You haven't changed a bit.” Emily’s purple eyes reflected Que Tang’s expression. To everyone's surprise, she wasn't angry; instead, the corners of her mouth curved up in a rare smile.
The secretary, who had been by her side for years, was so shocked he couldn't control his expression, his eyes widening. In all these years, he had never seen his superior—who seemed as if she had been born in the realm of Niflheim—show even a hint of a smile, not even before her own parents. This compelled him to take a few more looks at Que Tang, trying to discern what magic this famous Major possessed that made even his superior treat her so differently.
“You haven't changed either. Just as arrogant as ever.” Que Tang looked her over—the white double-breasted military uniform, the white leather shoes, even the white gloves. This former schoolmate had always been detached from human sentiment; even back in school, she always appeared in this formal, ascetic, and cold attire paired with a stoic expression.
“I didn't come here to reminisce.” Emily glanced sideways at her secretary and withdrew her smile.
Que Tang blinked, then turned to her squad. “Mousse, Qiao, guard the door.” The two nodded immediately and stepped out.
“Liao, go have some tea with the members of V-Squad. Use the spring tea harvested this year,” Emily said calmly to her secretary.
The secretary bowed and followed the others out.
The two remaining women stood in silence until the hangar door was pulled shut, blocking out the warm sunlight that had illuminated the space and leaving only the bright white glow of the electric lights.
“Alright, Great Excellency Vrataski, what business could possibly be so difficult that it stumped even you?” She picked up her military canteen from the table and took a swig with zero regard for decorum.
“The government has received word that there are signs of a mutiny within the military.” Emily’s gaze remained fixed on her.
“What?” Que Tang feigned a look of surprise that didn't match her inner thoughts. She had already heard the news from her Vice-Captain. She just hadn't expected the government to find out so late.
However, the struggle between the nobility and the military was long-standing, and information sharing between the two had always been asymmetrical. Currently, the government was largely controlled by the nobility, so the military’s attempt to suppress the news was understandable. If the government found out, they would likely use the opportunity to plant spies within the army to suppress military power.
But for an officer like Que Tang, who had always remained outside these two power blocs and climbed the ranks solely through hard work and outstanding performance, both sides felt a mix of love and hate. They loved that she wasn't absorbed by the other side, but hated that she wouldn't serve their own. Yet, they were forced to rely on her to maintain public support.
“Yes. The battle that made you a hero once again was compromised because of a mole. The news of the military’s plan to annihilate the Xenos was leaked early, allowing the enemy to prepare and even launch a sneak attack.” Emily noticed a scar on Que Tang’s left shoulder and narrowed her eyes slightly.
Que Tang pursed her lips and remained silent. Whenever this matter was raised, her heart filled with an indescribable rage.
“Therefore, we wish to cooperate with Major Que to find the traitor.”
“You know I never take sides. For me and my teammates, this is the best way to protect our interests.” Que Tang was silent for a long while before looking at her. “And you—how do you plan to convince me? Simply because a mole in the military caused the mission to fail and cost many soldiers their lives?”
Emily looked straight into her black eyes. “What other reason do you need?”
“I never thought I’d hear a question from the mouth of the all-knowing Excellency Vrataski.” Que Tang suddenly laughed. “You aren't that naive, and I’m no longer that simple-minded student from the military academy. It’s true that the traitor caused many deaths, but if I truly cooperate with the government to investigate, even if the matter is resolved peacefully, I will be branded as part of the government faction.”
Que Tang’s expression darkened. “Yes, I loathe traitors, but until he or they are exposed, I cannot act rashly. The military won't let these people go either. Therefore, I have no reason to cooperate with the government’s actions.”
“Your analysis is correct.” Emily nodded.
“So, Great Excellency Vrataski, what reason will you use next to convince me?” Que Tang offered a playful smile.
“C2XY001.” Emily watched as Que Tang went from slightly stunned to utterly shocked. She lowered her eyes as she heard a prompt.
*“Host’s hostility toward the female supporting character has increased by ten. Current hostility: fifty. Meow.”*
“Don't you want to know what that is?” Emily took the canteen from her hand. Ignoring the fact that Que Tang had just used it, she took an elegant sip from the spout. “Of course, if you don't want to know, consider that I was never here.”
The smile had completely vanished from Que Tang’s face. she stared at her coldly. “I’m in.”
***
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