Hunting Game [Interstellar]

Ten years later, in the Luo Yin galaxy, the alliance's temporary star, Sirius.

The night is already dark, the sky is full of sand and dust, and the artificial satellites hanging high in the sky emit cold fluorescence. There are frequent exchanges between ports outside the atmosphere. On average, a spaceship will call at the port every few minutes. Business is in full swing. It seems that there is no day and night at all. points.Opposite to it is a city that never sleeps in the desert, the adobe buildings are densely scattered, but the lights are bright and the streets are very lively.

This is a remote continent far away from the imperial capital, where a large number of extraterrestrial merchants engaged in trade are gathered, and the composition of the personnel is chaotic and complicated.

At two o'clock in the morning, the front door of a tavern in the city called "Green-Tailed Lizard" opened, hot wind and yellow sand were blown into the bar counter, and the row of crystal cups placed on the countertop was covered with floating dust again.

The sexy and glamorous proprietress seemed to be unaware, she wiped the cup in her hand without raising her head, and said, "Staying in the hotel or drinking? Of course, we also provide entertainment services for fun. The price is extra, and you are satisfied." After finishing speaking, she raised her cat-like sly eyes, her long and curly eyelashes fluttered slightly, and cast an ambiguous look at the visitor.

Standing in front of the bar was a tall outsider, wearing a thick wind-resistant cloak with a deep-drawn hood, revealing only thin, emotionless lips and a strand of silver hair hanging down the side of his neck.

The proprietress was well-informed, so she couldn't help but stare at the strand of hair a second time, thinking to herself, she didn't expect it to be a half shark.

"Looking for someone," said the outsider.

Different from his attire, the man's voice is young and clean, exuding a cold texture that should not be approached by strangers, like a poisonous sharp knife, not aggressive, but the moment it enters the ear, it gently scratches the eardrum like a threat.

The proprietress shuddered for no reason, and her five fingers holding the glass were clenched a little tighter, with a smile on her face, she calmly said, "Separate seats or private rooms?"

"Single room 216." The other party replied.

"The penultimate room at the end of the corridor on the right side of the second floor." The proprietress raised her hand holding the rag and gestured to the rear, "You can go up this way."

The man raised his head slightly and glanced in the direction she indicated: "Thank you." After speaking, he walked into the stairwell behind the bar without looking back.

The interior of the tavern was not much better than the outside, with a low ceiling, steep and narrow stairs, and deformed and bulging wooden floors, which would make an annoying "squeak" when stepped on.Arriving at the second floor, Cang Xingyun turned into the corridor on the right. He raised his hand and lifted the edge of the hood slightly, deliberately slowing down his pace, carefully paying attention to the movement behind each door, until he reached the penultimate door, He already had a rough estimate of the number of guests on the same floor in his mind.

There was a knock on the door, and after a while there was a "come in" from inside.

Even Cang Xingyun, who has always seldom showed his emotions, heard that person's voice after a long absence of ten years, and at this moment, there was inevitably a slight fluctuation in his heart.The hand holding the doorknob was not in a hurry to press it down, the rough rust on the metal surface rubbed against his palm. For the first time in his life, he realized that he could have known someone for such a long time. Go, you can also usher in a long-awaited reunion.

At this moment, the lock cylinder was turned with a click, and the door opened from the inside.

"What are you doing in a daze, and I have to come and open the door for you in person?"

Eyes met, Cang Xingyun didn't speak, took off his hood, his long hair rolled up, and he followed the man into the private room.

Su Shichuan was dressed as a businessman and wore metal thin-rimmed glasses that were full of sanctimoniousness. He turned around and sat down on the sofa on the side of the booth. He picked up the bottle and poured the wine. He watched the light brown liquid swirling at the bottom of the glass and wrote lightly :"haven't seen you for a long time."

Cang Xingyun sat down opposite him, took the poured glass, didn't drink it, but shook it absent-mindedly: "At first I always thought about when I would see you, but after a few years I don’t think much about it anymore.” He raised his glass and gently touched the edge of Su Shichuan’s cup, “Long time no see, Boss.”

Su Shichuan bent the corner of his mouth inconspicuously, and looked up at him: "You haven't changed much."

"It's only been ten years," Cang Xingyun asked back, "What can it become?"

"That's right." Su Shichuan said thoughtfully.

Cang Xingyun lowered his head and took a sip of his wine, and said: "It's too risky, even if you want to meet, you should choose the asteroids nearby. Why did you come here in person?" He met Su Shichuan's gaze, with an extremely serious expression, "I know In the black market here, how much is your life worth?"

Hearing this, Su Shichuan couldn't help but chuckled, and said after a while: "I don't know how much, I'm sure it's not easy to make money."

Cang Xingyun was noncommittal, thinking that this guy has not changed at all, as always, it makes people have the urge to sew that mouth shut.After thinking about it, he raised his head and drank the wine in the glass, staring at the empty glass and asked: "You came here this time because you have a plan, right? What's the situation in the empire over the past few years? Did Cisse suspect you? Here you are." What task was arranged?"

"It's a long story." Su Shichuan said, "I'm here today to trouble you with something."

"You say." Cang Xingyun said.

Su Shichuan didn't speak in a hurry, but took out a piece of paper from his backpack and pushed it along the table.

Cang Xingyun picked it up and opened it, and found that it was the timetable for the passenger spacecraft within the range of more than a dozen asteroids under the Alliance.This kind of thing can be seen everywhere in taverns and hotels, especially in the trade area where the two of them are located. He frowned for no reason and gave Su Shichuan a questioning look.

"The task given to me by Cisse is to arrange infiltration agents. Now you understand why I came here?" Su Shichuan looked at him with a half-smile.

Cang Xingyun suddenly realized, and couldn't help thinking that Su Shichuan was really calm, and it took ten years for the deployment: "Is your people ready?" He asked.

Su Shichuan gave a flat "hmm" and said: "I personally selected people, trained them, and installed them in the imperial capital of the alliance. There are seven agents in total, including me. I will give you the list later, you Choose to kill a few first, and do it more covertly, don't be too obvious."

"I know." While talking, Cang Xingyun crushed his fingers, and the timetable bent, making a slight noise unique to paper, "Then what about you, a big fish?"

The smile in Su Shichuan's eyes deepened, and he took the time to say: "I will leave Sirius on a merchant ship in the morning, and arrive at a nearby asteroid two days later. Those agents are waiting for me to go back and handover, and then pass through different I will stay here for an extra day, and at nine o'clock the next night, I will take the spaceship on Line [-] to leave the alliance's territory."

"Do you want me to lead someone to hijack that passenger spaceship?" Cang Xingyun pointed out sharply.

"Yes, but it's not you." Su Xingchuan corrected, "You find a way to convey this news to the Alliance Military Headquarters, and say that a senior official from the Intelligence Department of the Luoyin Empire is planning an infiltration mission and guide them to thoroughly investigate that All spaceships leaving the territory during the time period."

Cang Xingyun frowned: "Are you going to be arrested on purpose?"

"Well." Su Shichuan admitted frankly, "Cisse asked me to be in charge of deep penetration, the purpose is to assassinate the alliance commander Rex, I have to go deep into the alliance, but it is impossible for Rex to let anyone go deep, no matter in Ten years ago or ten years from now, that would have been a near-impossible task."

"Then what are you going to do?" Cang Xingyun said, "With your status in the empire, once you are arrested, the consequences will be disastrous."

Su Shichuan smiled and comforted him: "Don't worry, we have the trump card to win Rex's trust. Compared with it, it is more difficult to be arrested."

These words are not clear, Cang Xingyun is not sure what the "hole card" refers to, but since Su Shichuan said don't worry, he will definitely believe him.

The prison robbery ten years ago was the last meeting and the last contact between the two parties.From then until tonight, they were completely isolated, without any private contact, and all news came from official feedback or black market rumors.

Cang Xingyun quietly stared at Su Shichuan who was seated opposite him, obviously there should be a feeling as if he had passed away, but the moment he saw him, he seemed to feel that ten years was nothing. , even words and deeds, everything is exactly the same as in memory.

His calmness seems to have the effect of benign contagion, people can't help but get rid of their cranky thinking, and only the facts are left in their eyes and hearts.

"By the way," Su Shichuan said suddenly, "How about Xifa?"

"You wanted to ask a long time ago, didn't you?" Cang Xingyun rarely showed a smile on his face, and there was a hint of ridicule in his voice.

"Business matters," Su Shichuan followed the good advice, cunningly hooked the corners of his lips, "Besides, you shouldn't see me through."

Cang Xingyun shook his head with a smile, remained silent for a few seconds, and answered truthfully: "Actually, it's not bad. Rex treats him very well, at least on the surface. He will personally ask any questions related to His Highness. He has not lost anything in military decision-making, fighting skills or mecha operation. You should have heard that Xifa was named the crown prince of the alliance shortly after he came here, and Rex himself served as the emperor's tutor. These are all true."

"Rex has more experience than me in educating people. It should be said that there is no better teacher than him in the entire galaxy." Su Shichuan praised without hesitation, leaned back on the sofa, and said full of memories , "And he can also be regarded as Xifa's first teacher. No matter whether he has other purposes or not, he has watched Xifa grow up. In this life, he has been with him longer than me."

Cang Xingyun was startled when he heard the words, he hadn't thought about the real origin of this man for many years.

"Xifa shouldn't reject him, right?" Su Shichuan asked again.

Cang Xingyun nodded slowly: "At first I thought he needed time to adapt, but I really didn't expect their personal friendship to be so good."

"It's not surprising," Su Shichuan said, "Sifa is young after all, and he and Rex have a basic relationship, so he may not let go of his guard, but it's easy to get back to the old feeling when getting along, this is instinct, It can also be said to be a habit."

"So even though he didn't agree to Rex's invitation at the beginning, he didn't take the initiative to sever contact with him." Cang Xingyun looked at him meaningfully, "Is this also what you fancy?"

Su Shichuan said with a smile: "It can only be regarded as icing on the cake, after all, I have no other choice."

"That's true." Cang Xingyun thought for a while, and then said, "But apart from their personal relationship, there is actually another reason."

Su Shichuan raised his eyebrows slightly, and looked at him questioningly, Cang Xingyun said, "His Royal Highness's biological mother is also here."

When his voice fell, Su Shichuan's expression changed instantly. After being silent for more than a minute, he put down his wine glass and said word by word: "Is the biological mother you are talking about Andrew Tranzel's princess, Anna?"

"Yes." Cang Xingyun expected that Su Shichuan would be surprised, but the reaction in front of him was beyond expectations. After answering, he added cautiously, "I only learned that she was in Luoyin from Seventeen later. There have been news of the death of the empire, and it seems that the previous emperor held a funeral for her. According to the statement given by the alliance, it seems that the princess herself has no feelings for the emperor. According to Rex's proposal, he feigned death and escaped."

After the words were closed, he noticed that Su Shichuan's face did not relax in the slightest, and suddenly realized that the problem inside might be more complicated than imagined, so he couldn't help asking: "Is there any problem?"

Su Shichuan has recovered from the initial shock. At the moment when the news blurted out, he thought a lot, and there were also many things he couldn't understand.That reason sounded reasonable to a third party, but he had heard Xifa talk about their relationship with his own ears. Even though Princess Anna, as the biological mother, had the possibility of "doing not love Xifa on the surface, she actually carefully maintained it", but despite Apart from this point, would she really plan ahead to worry that Cisse would attack Sifa?

And most importantly, she is a "dead person".

As if the dust in the deepest part of his heart was swept away, Su Xingchuan couldn't help but hear the voice of Pei Li's dying voice in his head.

The smile on Su Shichuan's face receded, and he returned to the coldness of the outside world: "There is something that I haven't had time to tell you."

"On the day of the prison break, Perry took the initiative to remind me that I might encounter danger. I was negligent at the time and only asked whether it was 'me' or 'us', but ignored Xifa, who did not belong to the two. She predicted the location of Xifa and changed It was his fate that caused me to be backlashed by the prophecy, and by the time I returned to the Opera House, she had...disappeared."

Cang Xingyun was shocked for a moment, and after a while, he confirmed in disbelief: "The witch is dead?"

"Yeah." Su Shichuan said, "This is my personal mistake. I originally kept her to protect her, but I didn't expect her to have an accident because of me."

"I can't blame you," Cang Xingyun said, "She just chose to help you, so she didn't refuse to tell His Highness's whereabouts."

Su Xingchuan frowned, and smiled self-deprecatingly: "Even if this is the truth, I can't completely rule out my responsibility." He stood up and put on his trench coat, "Peli gave me two prophecies at the end. , one of which is to remind me to be careful of the dead."

Cang Xingyun was stunned for a moment, and finally understood the reason for Su Shichuan's face change: "Do you think it's Princess Anna?"

"I'm not sure, but at least she fits the literal meaning." Su Shichuan calmly analyzed, "In any case, as the princess of the empire, it is very suspicious that she will follow Rex to treason. It will take time for me to contact her , now that you know, you must take good care of me."

"Okay." Cang Xingyun also stood up, "Are you leaving?"

Su Shichuan picked up his backpack and said to him: "I came here as a businessman. I do have a business to discuss later, and I have to meet the buyer."

Cang Xingyun: "..."

"Don't be surprised," Su Shichuan said with a smile, "This identity has been in operation since seven years ago, and the business has spread over half of the galaxy, and it has only recently come into contact with buyers within the alliance."

Cang Xingyun was silent for a moment after listening, and said: "This identity is actually good, but if you are arrested three days later, your real identity will be exposed directly, wouldn't it be a pity?"

"I'm not alone as a businessman." Su Shichuan said, "I don't know if you have any impression of my teaching assistant in the military academy?"

Cang Xingyun didn't stay in the military academy for a long time at the beginning, so it was difficult to answer this kind of question down to a specific person for a while.Su Shichuan knew that he probably didn't know, so he explained: "His public name is 'A Ning'. I don't know the real information until now. I only know that he is from Xisai. Compared with the time with Xisai, I want to grow."

"—This time, Cisse deliberately arranged him as my assistant. The purpose is obvious."

"Do you want to give priority to it?" Cang Xingyun asked.

"His death will arouse the suspicion of Cisse, otherwise I would not let him live to this day." Su Shichuan breathed a sigh of relief, "And he is the one who runs the business with me. After I was arrested, I could just Leave this identity to him. Aning will become the link connecting Sirius and the Imperial Space Station, and is an important source of information, so it must be kept."

"Then what's your plan?" Cang Xingyun stared into Su Shichuan's eyes without blinking, "I thought you didn't plan to leave when you came this time."

Su Shichuan replied frankly: "Actually, I haven't thought about it yet."

"What are you hesitating for?" Cang Xingyun couldn't help but said, "Could it be that you really want to assassinate Rex for Cisse, go back to accept the reward with full of honor, and continue to be the internal response over there?"

"Not to mention anything else, I have reported the relationship between Xifa and him, and I have watched him grow up, and I have been a teacher for ten years. Are you sure that Xifa will remain indifferent to your assassination of Rex? Even if he can still see clearly What about the princess? She can feign death and follow Rex to treason, how can she just watch you come to take Rex's life?"

"Take a step back," Cang Xingyun spoke quickly, thinking very clearly, "If you succeed, and Rex dies at your hands, everyone will know about it, and the entire alliance will know that it was you Su Shichuan assassinated their commander in chief. At that time, the Alliance captured the White Emperor Star and Xifa took the throne. With your crimes, even if he wants to protect you, can others agree?"

Su Shichuan listened very carefully and did not intend to interrupt the other party at all. After Cang Xingyun finished speaking, he replied after a while: "For agents, 'judging the possible outcome' is very important in the initial stage. It is a part of the process, but the opposite is that the action must not be affected by it."

"We all know that Rex is likely to use Xifa as the justifiable reason to attack the Luoyin Empire. No matter whether the real situation is different or not, his life is a threat to Xifa, and we can't take the risk of leaving the threat until the end. He After cultivating Xifa for ten years, I am very grateful that he has accomplished for me what I could not accomplish by myself, but that is all, his role ends here."

Cang Xingyun was about to speak, but was suddenly held down by Su Shichuan's shoulder, he subconsciously silenced, and then noticed that the hand on the shoulder was trembling slightly.

"Remember what I said last time, Xifa chose to die with Rex?" Su Shichuan maintained a just right smile at the corner of his mouth, but his eyes were cold, "He forced my Xifa to death, just by I can't forgive him for this!"