Chapter 109: The Gift Delivered

The jumping torpedo was launched from the torpedo tube of the “Imperial Truth,” striking directly against the spiritual bone hull of the Eldrin ship. The impact caused the hull to melt and part, allowing the torpedo to penetrate into the Eldrin vessel. However, it did not venture far inside; it stopped after crashing into a platform.

The hatch of the jumping torpedo opened, and Wang Ming, along with Edwina, Hu Jin, and several other travelers from the Second Regiment, emerged.

Except for Edwina, everyone else was scrutinizing the interior of the Eldrin ship, marveling at the architecture so completely different from human design.

Wang Ming looked at the breach made by the torpedo. Astonishingly, the hole was slowly repairing itself.

“The self-repair function of the spiritual bone,” Edwina said calmly beside him, watching the gradual healing of the damage.

“Oh,” Wang Ming responded, then pried off a piece of the spiritual bone floor, planning to bring it back for the First Engineer Company to study.

He sensed that Edwina was very familiar with the Eldrin ship. She led Wang Ming and the others through its corridors with ease, as if she had walked these halls many times before.

As they walked, she explained the various sections and facilities of the Eldrin vessel.

“This is the living quarters. Their children usually stay here,” Edwina said, pointing to a corridor ahead.

Suddenly, the sound of rapid footsteps echoed down the corridor.

“The Eldrin guards are coming. Don’t open fire. I’ll go talk to them first,” Edwina said to Wang Ming and the others before stepping into the corridor.

Wang Ming and the others waited quietly, watching Edwina disappear down the hall. Moments later, the sharp crack of star-darts firing rang out from the corridor.

Instinctively, Wang Ming and the others wanted to rush toward the sound.

“Alright, come on over. I’ve reached an agreement with them,” Edwina’s voice called out.

The shooting ceased, and Edwina emerged from the corridor, signaling for Wang Ming and the others to follow. Inside, several Eldrin guards lay on the floor clutching their heads, writhing in pain.

“Is this your ‘agreement’?” Wang Ming glanced sideways at Edwina, who was whistling nonchalantly beside him, and asked in disbelief.

“Yes, isn’t this what an agreement looks like? Now see, no one is stopping us,” Edwina replied with a smile.

“Back in the 2K era, did you work with the Russians?” Wang Ming asked, eyeing the writhing Eldrin. Her method of ‘negotiation’ was brutally effective.

“How did you know? I used to be in their counter-terrorism unit for a while,” Edwina replied, visibly surprised that Wang Ming knew about her past.

Wang Ming pointed at the Eldrin guards on the floor. “Isn’t it obvious?”

“Did you tell them what we’re here for?” Wang Ming asked, having almost forgotten the matter as he watched the squirming Eldrin.

“Oh, wait, I forgot,” Edwina said, pausing as she stared blankly at the guards on the ground.

“All set,” she said, giving Wang Ming a thumbs-up.

“Did you do all this just to deliver a gift?” one of the Eldrin guards who had managed to stand shakily asked Wang Ming.

His voice trembled slightly, still echoing with the aftereffects of Edwina’s psychic attack.

“Yes,” Wang Ming replied. The guard staggered and collapsed again at his answer.

“Is he alright?” Wang Ming asked Edwina.

“Absolutely. My spells are non-lethal, no harm done,” she answered firmly, confident in her psychic abilities.

“Alright then…” Wang Ming muttered quietly, watching the guard twitching on the floor.

“Anthan! The Human Emperor has sent you a gift!” Wang Ming called into the corridor, glancing at Edwina.

Following his voice, a doorway slowly opened within the corridor. A small figure cautiously peeked out, trembling as she stepped forward.

“The Human Emperor’s gift? Has the Emperor received my letter? Is today the Emperor’s Ascension Day?” the small figure asked in a youthful, incredulous voice as she approached Wang Ming.

“Yes, dear little Anthan, the Emperor has received your letter. Today is the Emperor’s Ascension Day, and this is a gift for you,” Wang Ming said gently, placing a soul stone delicately into the tiny girl’s hand with a warm smile.

“Thank you. I heard the Human Emperor wears shining golden armor and is a kind person. Are you the Emperor?” the Eldrin girl asked joyfully, holding the soul stone.

“I am not the Emperor. I am his son. He has many duties and cannot deliver the gift himself, so he sent me,” Wang Ming explained, draping a blanket sewn by Edwina over the girl’s small frame. The blanket was enormous compared to her, enveloping her completely.

As Wang Ming wrapped the blanket around her, a squad of Eldrin guards appeared at the far end of the corridor. They did not open fire but silently observed him as he gently covered the girl.

“This blanket was specially sewn by the Human Emperor’s daughter for you,” Wang Ming said to the girl while Edwina waved at her.

The little Eldrin girl waved back shyly.

“Is this my mother?” the girl asked, her eyes shimmering with tears as she looked at the soul stone.

“Yes, child,” Wang Ming nodded.

Hearing this, the girl clutched the soul stone tightly and whispered her mother’s name.

“Child, these gifts are not free. You need to pay some shipping fees,” Wang Ming said thoughtfully, watching the girl quietly weep.

“How much do you need? I have nothing valuable, but if you tell me what you want, I will try my best to find it for you,” the girl said, wiping her tears.

“Didn't your letter say you wanted to give the Human Emperor a million hugs? I’ve accepted those on his behalf,” Wang Ming said, gently tousling her hair with a smile.

The girl carefully stowed the soul stone, then opened her small arms and hugged Wang Ming’s massive arm. Her two pointed ears twitched happily as she nuzzled his arm and squeezed tightly.

Wang Ming and the Eldrin guards watched silently as the girl hugged him, no one uttering a word.

After a long while, the girl seemed to grow sleepy; her movements slowed until she finally fell asleep while clutching Wang Ming’s arm.

Wang Ming carefully lifted the sleeping girl, then approached one of the Eldrin guards and gently handed her over. The guard received her and carried her back toward her room.

As the door to the girl’s room slowly closed, the Eldrin guard swiftly raised a gun, aiming it at Wang Ming. Wang Ming looked at the star-dart muzzle pointed at him and smiled, making no move.

“The warm moment is over,” Wang Ming said softly, as the Eldrin guard hesitated, wondering what he meant.

Suddenly, Wang Ming delivered a palm strike, sending the guard flying. He had controlled the force to avoid lethal harm; had he used the full power of his genetic prototype strength, the guard would have been pulverized.

“I bear no hostility. Please do not point your weapons at me. Thank you,” Wang Ming said, arms open as more Eldrin guards approached. Edwina quickly translated.

“You are the son of the Human Emperor, correct? We are members of the Death’s Embrace Army, allied with the Human Empire. You should not harm us,” a female Eldrin emerged from the guards, addressing Wang Ming.

“Yes, ma’am. The Death’s Embrace Army is indeed allied with the Human Emperor. But I have not harmed you. If you doubt me, look at the Eldrin guards lying on the ground,” Wang Ming said with a friendly smile.

The Eldrin woman glanced at the writhing guards, then nodded reluctantly. She understood Wang Ming had no intention of truly hurting them; otherwise, they would not still be writhing on the ground.

“Also, ma’am, I dislike your star-dart guns aimed at me. Could you please have them lower their weapons?” Wang Ming requested, recognizing her as a commander or someone with authority.

“Very well,” she answered respectfully, signaling the guards to lower their weapons. She understood that refusal would mean death for all present.

“Thank you, ma’am. You are very polite,” Wang Ming smiled, and the Eldrin woman forced a strained smile in return.

“Well then, the little girl’s gift has been delivered. We will be leaving now,” Wang Ming said, glancing at her before turning to leave with Edwina and Hu Jin.

The Eldrin woman watched Wang Ming’s retreating back, suppressing the urge to draw her star-dart gun and open fire. She followed with the guards.

“I will escort you, great son of the Human Emperor,” she said with utmost respect. She felt compelled to follow Wang Ming to ensure he did not cause more trouble aboard the ship.

“Very well. For an Eldrin, you are quite polite, Commander,” Wang Ming said with a sidelong glance and a smile.

“Heh…” The Eldrin woman smiled awkwardly, secretly wishing she could fire a full volley at him.

When the “Imperial Truth” had caught up to her ship, the Eldrin commander had felt alarmed. She saw the double-headed eagle insignia on the “Imperial Truth” and sensed danger. She had ordered a full assault against the human ship in desperation, but the firepower of her ship was no match for the “Imperial Truth’s” defense shields.

She could only watch helplessly as the “Imperial Truth” launched ship-intercepting tendrils that breached her hull, capturing her vessel completely.

The Eldrin aboard were terrified as a massive human jumping torpedo breached their ship.

Now, recalling that moment of panic, the Eldrin commander looked ahead at Wang Ming, eager to see this plague leave.

Under the watchful escort of the Eldrin guards, Wang Ming and his group finally reached the jumping torpedo. The “Imperial Truth’s” jumping torpedo was not disposable; it was essentially a small space shuttle. After completing their mission, the jumpers could ride it back to the main ship.

The Eldrin commander watched as Wang Ming and his companions boarded the shuttle. The torpedo then activated its forward thrusters, darting out of the Eldrin ship and swiftly returning to the “Imperial Truth,” leaving behind the slowly repairing but still breached hull and the silent Eldrin crew.