The Higher the Devil

The training base was equipped with signal jamming devices, and the students' smart brains were running only the exclusive secondary system of Moye Military Academy, unable to connect to the Sky Network or communicate with the outside world.

But while the law is high, the devil is higher.

A tiny square block with two little wings flew out from Shen Shouli's cuff. It gave a slight shake, and then projected a block of text into the air.

This was the report that Shen Shouli had sent out to investigate Xu Lingqu, now returned. This finely crafted miniature robot, made of special materials, could bypass the jamming device and deliver external information accurately into Shen Shouli's hands.

"Xu Lingqu has lived at the Zhuyun Frontier since she was little. Her grandfather passed away when she was young, and she was never in good health herself. She scraped by on relief funds in the house her parents left behind. The only person she was somewhat familiar with was an old neighbor. Based on feedback from the Military Department, her parents were both old subordinates of General Xu Chengbi. They died in a skirmish with the Federation—at a time when the peace movement was at its peak, so their deaths were simply buried. It wasn't until recently that General Xu learned that one of his old subordinates had a daughter still alive, left alone and helpless, and brought her back as an adopted daughter."

Her background read like a tragic novel of an interstellar orphan. Jin and Shen Shouli exchanged a glance—this was exactly what made Xu Lingqu suspicious.

Her fighting stances, her combat techniques, her ability to see the big picture, and her marksmanship worthy of a sharpshooter—how could any of that have been nurtured in such an environment?

"Ares's latest intel is that the Federation has been sending spies our way, and some of them have infiltrated the six major military academies." Jin leaned back. "You think it could be Xu Lingqu?"

"Too obvious. That would be too stupid." Shen Shouli said decisively. "And do you think Xu Chengbi's people are just sitting around eating free meals?"

General Xu would certainly have run his own investigation on Xu Lingqu before deciding to adopt her.

Moreover, spies would want to keep a low profile. Even if they had these abilities, they wouldn't be so blatant about displaying them—that would be practically begging for people to investigate them.

Jin blinked. "There's more, isn't there? Keep going."

"According to the neighbor who was Xu Lingqu's only contact at the Zhuyun Frontier, she… deeply admires the Galaxy Admiral. When she stayed in her room, she would spend her time studying various video recordings of the Galaxy Admiral. She had no other notable hobbies. At sixteen, because her body was too frail, she never underwent psychic power activation or testing. It wasn't until she arrived at General Xu's household that she was activated and tested through back-channel connections."

Xu Lingqu's past was so sparse that the investigators eventually didn't know what else to say. Aside from being tragic, there was nothing else in her life worth noting.

But this time, there was some useful information.

They had finally found a connecting point in the two wildly disparate halves of Xu Lingqu's life.

The Galaxy Admiral.

"She admires the Galaxy Admiral?" Shen Shouli's voice carried a note of doubt.

"That should be accurate." Jin nodded in confirmation of this piece of information. "Xu Xiqin mentioned it to me—they both chose Moye Military Academy because they admire the Galaxy Admiral."

In the past couple of days, he had managed to pry out some useful information.

"So is there a possibility that she's always been smart, but her physical condition really was poor, and she taught herself those combat techniques from the scarce combat footage of the Galaxy Admiral? Later, when her body recovered—probably after arriving on the Capital Star and receiving better treatment—" Jin tried to form a coherent summary of this investigation into Xu Lingqu.

"But her shooting… that can only be explained by talent." Remembering how he had just witnessed Xu Lingqu's perfect thirty-for-thirty shooting record, Jin's tone was doubtful, yet his smile only grew wider.

Few people could remain as elusive and inscrutable as a mist after undergoing the Shen family's investigation.

"I think maybe that's just what I said. After eliminating all other possibilities, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, is the truth." Jin gave a self-deprecating smile. "Believe in the power of the Galaxy Admiral as an idol. Don't you admire him too?"

Shen Shouli shot him an exasperated look, rubbed his temples, and tucked the miniature robot away. "Anyway, the Third Prince's main mission this time isn't to investigate her, so there's no need for you to pay her that much attention."

He put it away quickly, with the air of someone who would lose out if Jin got another look at it.

Jin's smile faded. "Can you stop calling me that? Feels like you're about to run off and tattle to my brother."

"Weren't you telling me just two days ago that you wanted to find a way to recruit Xu Lingqu into your Ares? Her psychic power level is B. To pull that off, wouldn't you need to wield your inviolable authority as a prince?" Shen Shouli's tone carried a hint of sarcasm. He had grown tired of watching Jin play the simple-minded kid from the Three Star System these past few days. "Xu Xiqin is already suspicious of you. Luckily she doesn't like attending those parties and banquets, or she'd recognize your voice."

The Third Prince of the Interstellar Empire had never truly shown his face in public. Everyone only knew that he had been frail since birth and was nearly lost as an infant. But thanks to the efforts of the Royal Medical Academy, he survived, and was kept in the palace, raised in seclusion. Somehow, he managed to grow up.

He simply didn't like meeting people. He refused to attend most gatherings and banquets, and when he did show up, he wore a mask. Most people had only heard his voice, and even then, only a word or two.

Many speculated that the Third Prince was either hideously ugly or afflicted with some hidden ailment. But with the princely title adding to his mystique, the vast majority believed he was enigmatic and serene.

And here sat Jin, right in front of Shen Shouli, his fiery red hair setting off his handsome features.

This was the frail, reclusive Third Prince of legend.

In reality, a loquacious, performative madman.

Instead of lying in the palace recuperating, he had blended into the new students of Moye Military Academy, carrying a secret mission.

Jin grinned. "It's fine. She'll find out eventually."

Xu Lingqu helped Xu Xiqin out of the infirmary.

After training ended, Xu Xiqin only realized belatedly that she had taken a hard hit to her thigh and was complaining about the pain. Xu Lingqu checked it—a large dark bruise had formed—so she brought her to the infirmary for treatment.

Watching Xu Xiqin finally quiet down during treatment, her head tilted to one side with her eyes closed resting, Xu Lingqu couldn't help but think of that insufferable Xu Youwen.

If he knew his sister was hurt, he'd be pretty worried, wouldn't he?

He had hinted more than once for her not to hold Xu Xiqin back, with such an arrogant attitude. It was quite annoying.

Recalling their first meeting—how Xu Xiqin had eagerly grabbed her and asked if she had applied to Moye because she admired the Galaxy Admiral, her eyes sparkling—Xu Lingqu found it hard to put Xu Xiqin in the same category as Xu Youwen.

Besides, Xu Xiqin had provided her with a very convenient cover.

Admiring the Galaxy Admiral.

The day before the trial training began, Xu Lingqu had asked Miss Gina to go back to the Zhuyun Frontier and do a little something.

The old neighbor didn't actually know the sickly girl next door very well. The two had little interaction. He had only heard that she'd gone to the Capital Star and become a general's adopted daughter, and he certainly wanted to brag about that—if only he truly knew Xu Lingqu.

That was when Gina delivered him the material for his boasting.

"She spends all her time alone in her room looking at various materials about the Galaxy Admiral… Those dramas? And the public combat footage? Because she really admires him, haha. Word is she's in military academy now? I knew she'd go. She studied those things on her own, really clever."

The old man rambled incoherently, but he helped Xu Lingqu spin a lie with a reassuring level of credibility.

Being investigated was something she had anticipated. Xu Lingqu had never considered playing weak and taking the middle path during this trial period. It was safe, but playing it safe was never part of Xu Lingqu's considerations.

Since she had decided to shine, she had prepared herself for investigation. Cross the river by feeling the stones; block the flood with soil.

This wasn't a perfect explanation—if you thought about it long enough, it was frankly crude.

But what Xu Lingqu wanted was never to explain. It was to confuse.

If she could confuse those who wanted to investigate her, that was a victory.