Chapter 00064: Choice
# Choice
Chapter 64
Novel: Abandon The Universe
Chapter 64: Choice
Lan Xiaobu was a Lieutenant Commander, and naturally, no one questioned his words. A group of people followed Lan Xiaobu to his room, where Ding He immediately closed the door and, along with Ke'er, stood on either side of it.
Once inside, Lan Xiaobu used his Divine Sense to scan the room, ensuring there were no issues. Seeing the unease among the group, Lan Xiaobu finally spoke, "We are all new recruits from True Promise Star. To be honest, if it weren't for the fact that I brought you all here and am responsible for your lives on this mission, I wouldn't have called you here."
Sensing Lan Xiaobu's seriousness, everyone quieted down.
Lan Xiaobu continued, "Before I speak, I ask everyone to make the most venomous oath, not to divulge a word of what anyone says here today. Furthermore, if you have family or attachments on True Promise Star, it's best not to listen to today's conversation. You can leave the room now."
The group exchanged glances, but no one left. The recruits here were from various planets of the Hundred Mo Star System. Even someone like Gai Lin had already lost everything and had no attachments.
An Fei was the first to stand up and say, "If I, An Fei, reveal even half a word of what is discussed here, may I be struck by lightning and turned to ashes, my soul eternally damned..."
Swearing upon one's soul was considered the most severe oath. On planets with technological civilizations, people had already touched upon the existence of the soul, though its exact nature remained a subject for advanced scientific research.
With An Fei leading, the others each took a similar oath. These oaths were inconsequential to them as long as they didn't leak today's conversation.
Once everyone had sworn, Lan Xiaobu spoke softly, "Our mission is to protect five geniuses from True Promise Star as they participate in the Galactic Selection Tournament. Isn't this an extremely dangerous task? So dangerous that no one wants to take it on?"
"Yes," many instinctively replied.
Because every recruit mission had been perilous, no one had heard of a recruit mission from True Promise Star that wasn't dangerous.
Lan Xiaobu chuckled, "Then tell me, since we've arrived here from True Promise Star, where's the danger?"
The group exchanged puzzled looks. Indeed, where was the danger? If there were an ambush in space, they could just watch and laugh. After arriving on Heavenly Net Star, they could enjoy themselves in high-class accommodations with ample food, drink, and entertainment.
In other words, they were here on a vacation, and no one suspected anything.
A recruit scratched his head, "Recruits' missions have always been extremely dangerous. When it involves interstellar action, it's almost certain death, so..."
"So, everyone instinctively believes this mission is naturally dangerous, right?" Lan Xiaobu continued to question.
Some wanted to say yes, but upon reflection, they had already gone through the most dangerous phase, and the second most dangerous phase was before the Hundred Mo Star System's selection competition, protecting the five geniuses from True Promise Star.
But as they stayed comfortably in their accommodations, where was the danger?
"Maybe this mission is different from the previous ones, and we're just lucky," An Fei hesitated and said.
Lan Xiaobu sneered, "If it were different from before, it wouldn't fall to the recruits. Do you all know the military merits of this mission? Almost everyone can get promoted when they return. Can it be simple? So, I believe this mission is also a death sentence, and it's even easier to die than previous recruit missions."
No one spoke. Although there were no signs of death yet, everyone felt that Lan Xiaobu's words were correct.
Lan Xiaobu's gaze swept across the group, "Everyone knows the Sixth Prince is approachable, but I don't think he's so approachable that he needs to greet every recruit present, right?"
Everyone recalled how, when disembarking from the battleship, the Sixth Prince, Commander Tai, greeted almost everyone with an extremely friendly attitude.
"Maybe he's building his reputation. After all, he's a prince and still has a chance to become the imperial heir," a recruit said.
This was common knowledge. Some princes would lower their status to mingle with ordinary civilians to show they were approachable.
"Right, that makes sense," An Fei nodded.
Lan Xiaobu chuckled, "If that's the case, they would frequently visit our cabin to chat and bond with us. In fact, during the three-month interstellar voyage, he never came to our cabin once, even though where they stayed was just a door away from where we stayed."
The group fell silent; Lan Xiaobu was stating facts.
"Gai Lin, have you heard any stories about the Sixth Prince?" Lan Xiaobu's gaze fell on Gai Lin.
Gai Lin shook his head, "Although I'm a resident of True Promise Star, I've only heard of the First and Second Princes of the Hanlan Empire being close to the common people. As for the Sixth Prince, I haven't heard much about him." Lan Xiaobu said, "This means that even if the Sixth Prince is approachable, he hasn't reached the level of the First and Second Princes. After thinking it over, there's only one possibility: he feels guilty. First, he feels too guilty to meet with us frequently, and second, he hopes we won't blame him once we know the truth."
"Then what is the truth?" An Fei instinctively asked.
Lan Xiaobu replied, "I don't know the truth either, but I'm sure there's an extremely dangerous task waiting for us that is the real reason for our protection mission. I suspect this task has a very high mortality rate, but not everyone will die. If we survive, there's still a chance for promotion and wealth.
The reason I called everyone here today is that, knowing it's certain death, if anyone wants to leave this place and seek a chance for survival, I won't stop them, nor will I inform Commander Tai."
Upon hearing Lan Xiaobu's words, the group began to discuss.
"Lieutenant, why are you telling us this?" asked a Junior Lieutenant Commander.
Because Lan Xiaobu's words could have been kept to himself, and telling them brought him no benefit, perhaps even trouble.
Lan Xiaobu replied calmly, "Because this guard squad is nominally under my command. If I suspected that you were heading to your deaths and kept silent, it wouldn't sit well with me, and I wouldn't feel at ease."
The main reason was that Lan Xiaobu felt no allegiance to the Star Expedition Army. Being a death squad was acceptable, but if you wanted him to be part of such a squad, you should say so upfront. Life was his own, and the choice was his.
"Sigh..." The Junior Lieutenant Commander sighed, "Even if we want to leave, we'd be pitiful wanderers on Heavenly Net Star. If caught, we'd be no better than slaves."
This time, Lan Xiaobu said nothing. He had already informed everyone of the danger, and the choice was theirs alone. With his current ability, he could only do this much.
"Lieutenant, are you leaving?" An Fei looked at Lan Xiaobu.
Lan Xiaobu shook his head, "I don't plan to leave; I'm staying here. I'm a Lieutenant Commander, and if I survive this, I might even become a Three-Star Marquis."
Aiming to become a Three-Star Marquis was a pretense. In fact, Lan Xiaobu had no intention of returning to True Promise Star. His main reason for staying was one: Jade Dawn Star. Otherwise, he would have left first, rather than staying here as cannon fodder for Commander Tai and others.
To pursue immortality, one mustn't fear death, and Jade Dawn Star was his closest opportunity to cultivation. Lan Xiaobu suspected that Lian had likely obtained some cultivation technique on Jade Dawn Star, then learned that Earth was the origin of the immortal path, which led him to leave the Astral Order Galaxy for Earth.
Lian went to Earth seeking true cultivation inheritance, believing Earth's heritage to be far stronger than Jade Dawn Star's and easily obtainable. Plus, he had the means to reach Earth. What he didn't expect was that, although he reached Earth, he ended up as a mere soul, eventually eradicated by Lan Xiaobu.
For Lan Xiaobu, he was currently practicing martial arts, and once he reached the Foundation Establishment stage, he lacked further cultivation techniques. Whether for future cultivation or to ensure his path to immortality, he had no reason to pass up this opportunity.
These legendary things from Huaxia, once they seemed plausible, no one could refuse such a chance. Even if it meant risking his life, Lan Xiaobu was willing to take the gamble.
"Then I'll stay too," An Fei hesitated before saying.
He was tired of being a wanderer. If he survived this, he would have a stable home on True Promise Star.
"I'll leave..." Chun Mu Li said without hesitation.
"I'll stay..."
In no time, the hundred people were divided into two parts, some leaving and some staying. However, Lan Xiaobu noticed that the majority chose to stay, with only twenty-three deciding to leave.
"Alright, those who are leaving can just go without telling me. I believe no one will leak today's conversation. Also, if anyone wants to leave the accommodations to explore Heavenly Net Star, you can go out as long as you return within a month. But I must warn you that Heavenly Net Star is a Level-5 Technological Civilization Planet, and they might look down on us from a Level-2 Planet. If anything happens, no one here will cover for you," Lan Xiaobu added.
For those wanting to explore Heavenly Net Star, Lan Xiaobu didn't stop them either. They were here to broaden their horizons, and Commander Tai's orders didn't apply to him.
"Haha, great, I want to explore a Level-5 Technological Civilization Planet and broaden my horizons," Ke'er exclaimed first.
He initially wanted to learn martial arts from Lan Xiaobu, but faced with the allure of a Level-5 Technological Civilization Planet, that idea had long been discarded.
(End of Chapter)