Chapter 348: New Clue

Chapter 348: Chapter 348: New Clue

Jiang Xia’s words and sobs only deepened the others’ anxiety. However, they were more concerned for Shi Lan’s safety than for the child in her womb.

They could always have another child, but they couldn’t lose their wife.

A heavy, dejected atmosphere spread with the sound of weeping. Mu Tangfeng didn’t even have the energy to scold Jiang Xia for his constant crying. After all, Jiang Xia had also been working hard to find their wife these past few days.

Just then, He Hanshi broke the silence. "Do you remember where the Chao Si were first discovered a few years ago?"

Mu Tangfeng snapped back to his senses, his expression puzzled. "Weren’t the Chao Si first discovered on the Capital Star?"

That was why the five of them had gone to Black Star.

Ye Ming, Jiang Xia, and Yan Huoshui all gave the same answer. After a moment, Yan Huoshui asked, "Why bring up the Chao Si all of a sudden?"

Since everyone was sharing information on the search for Lanlan, he knew He Hanshi’s comment wasn’t just a simple expression of concern for the Border Defense Star.

He looked at He Hanshi, whose expression was grim and cold. "Today, I captured two smugglers. They were working with a few men from the new recruits’ camp to secretly transport Chao Si to the Border Defense Star."

He had found it strange. The military could always locate other common Insect Clan members in time because they carried the wormhole-travel signature of the Flying Insect Race that served the Insect Mother. But over the last two days, the Chao Si had just suddenly appeared on the Border Defense Star, their presence only detected once they started attacking soldiers. It turned out they weren’t being transported by the Flying Insect Race. It was the work of humans.

As for the beginning, the Chao Si had been mixed in with large numbers of ordinary Insect Clan members. With the situation so critical, he hadn’t thought much of it at the time.

"Transporting Chao Si? Are you saying the Chao Si are actually being bred by humans? Not a mutation from the Insect Clan?"

Yan Huoshui immediately grasped He Hanshi’s train of thought, and Ye Ming’s gaze deepened instantly.

Meanwhile, Jiang Xia and Mu Tangfeng, a beat slower to catch on, were wide-eyed with astonishment.

He Hanshi nodded. "Yes. The initial appearance of the Chao Si as a Mutated Insect Clan was sudden. Recently, the Insect Mother absorbed an unknown Energy Body and also underwent a mutation, but hers was actually closer to a power-based evolution. It’s nothing like the Chao Si, whose Spiritual Poison and Sound Waves are incredibly damaging to us."

Logically, if both were mutations, the evolutionary path of the Insect Clan should be consistent and always trend toward greater strength.

If the Insect Clan could mutate into a form like the Chao Si, there’s no reason they would also choose to evolve their ordinary members.

The essence of evolution is to adapt to an environment and grow more powerful.

The others fell into deep thought at his words.

He Hanshi continued, "After I captured those men, I planned to interrogate them, but they committed suicide in their cells. Before they died, they said: ’We will never be the females’ lapdogs. Males are supreme. This is our world, a world for great men!’"

He recounted their final words in a flat tone, then added, "I suspect they were also part of that... Recovery Alliance."

"The Recovery Alliance is connected to the Chao Si, and the Chao Si first appeared on the Capital Star. If Lanlan was really taken by these people, it’s reasonable to suspect she might be on the Capital Star, along with the other kidnapped females."

The most dangerous place is often the safest.

The Capital Star has the highest concentration of female protection posts and Guard Teams, making it widely recognized as a safe haven for females. That would also make people subconsciously overlook it as a possibility.

At these words, a spark of excitement lit up in the others’ eyes.

Yan Huoshui took a deep breath. "This is still just a theory, though. To find Lanlan as quickly as possible, I think we should stick to our plan of splitting up. The Eldest Prince can take the Capital Star."

As he spoke, he looked at Ye Ming. His gaze swept over the unfamiliar background behind him, and his expression grew puzzled. "Ye Ming, you’re not on the Capital Star?"

Ye Ming nodded. He had been on the Capital Star, patiently waiting for news from his soldiers and investigating the person who had left that online message. But after a week with no results, he’d lost his patience. Now, like the rest of them, he was searching on other planets.

As the heir, he wasn’t supposed to leave the Capital Star at will, but he couldn’t just sit around and wait. He was constantly worried about Shi Lan, so he took the risk and left. His father had understood.

But he wasn’t alone; Ye Yan had come along, too.

His wife, Bai Rao, had also gone missing, and her chip was similarly impossible to locate.

Ye Ming had only just found out that the two had secretly gotten married. Of course, he despised Ye Yan, so they weren’t on the same ship; he was piloting his own Teleportation Spaceship, trailing behind them.

Now that he finally had a lead, Ye Ming snapped out of his daze and focused. "Admiral He is right. That slogan is definitely related to the Recovery Alliance. When I was searching online for the specifics of that person’s message about the Recovery Alliance, I came across similar descriptions."

"I’m heading back to the Capital Star right now. I’ll let everyone know as soon as there’s any news."

"Okay."

Everyone agreed.

Though they were normally romantic rivals, when it came to their wife, they were all unexpectedly united.

After all, without Shi Lan, their family would cease to exist.

After the call ended, Ye Ming ordered the spaceship to return to the Capital Star.

He had a small contingent of soldiers on his spaceship; the majority had been dispatched to search other locations.

Finding the spaceship too slow, Ye Ming walked to the Teleportation Spaceship docked at its rear. Leo, who had followed close behind, wisely slipped into the pilot’s seat.

Although he wasn’t particularly useful and his spiritual power was lower than the Eldest Prince’s, he was the Eldest Prince’s loyal subordinate. The Prince would always need someone to command, so of course Leo had to follow. More importantly, the Eldest Prince hadn’t slept in days; it wouldn’t be safe for him to pilot the Teleportation Spaceship himself.

Ye Ming glanced at him, his lips pressed into a thin line. Without ordering him away, he sat down in the co-pilot’s seat and gave a quiet reminder, "Back to the Capital Star. Maximum speed."

"As you command!"

Leo shouted in response, accelerating the Teleportation Spaceship and pulling away.

Seeing this, Ye Yan, who had been trailing Ye Ming’s main spaceship, immediately turned his own Teleportation Spaceship and followed.

Aboard the Teleportation Spaceship, Leo could feel the Eldest Prince’s gaze fixed on him and the digital speed display. Feeling the pressure, he ventured, "Eldest Prince, Miss Shi Lan has always been clever and brave. She’s made it through even more dangerous situations unscathed. I’m sure she can turn this situation around, too. You shouldn’t worry so much. Why don’t you try to get some sleep?"

It would take over five hours to return to the Capital Star from their current position, and Ye Ming hadn’t slept for a very long time. Leo was genuinely concerned for him.

Of course, there was a reason Leo was so loyal: the Eldest Prince was worthy of it. After all, it was rare for a male with mere B-level Spiritual Power like him to enter the Royal Family’s circle. But the Eldest Prince was that rare judge of talent who, from a crowd of applicants for the Imperial Guard, had chosen him—someone who was just there to make up the numbers.

Even though others were chosen that day as well, for Leo, it was the most important, life-changing moment he had ever experienced.

He had to serve a master like that for life, and he would absolutely ensure the Eldest Prince lived a long and prosperous life.