Chapter Seventy-Four: You Become the Captain

Chapter Seventy-Four: You Be the Captain

The cigarette butt in his hand was nearly burned to the end, and the smoke curling in the room gave everything a dreamlike haze.

Liu Shaoyu had been holding this pose for a long time. Ever since he returned to the planet Zambiage, he had shut himself inside his quarters and hadn’t stepped out once.

He was waiting. Xu Meng was almost at the stargate with the fleet. Two days had passed since their last mission to rescue Wang Yuyan.

“Bro, we’ve arrived at the space station. We’re about to enter the dock. Where are you?” Xu Meng’s face appeared on the communicator, alight with enthusiasm.

That expression brought a trace of warmth back to Liu Shaoyu’s own features.

“When you register, fill in Dock ZB734-13. I’ve already applied for it—here’s the docking order.” Liu Shaoyu spoke as he sent over a file.

He’d arranged for the fleet’s dock ahead of the call, one adjacent to his own current berth, so as to minimize the risks during cargo transfer—after all, he still had a full hold of ice ore.

Seeing Xu Meng, Hua Qiang, and the others filled Liu Shaoyu with joy, but there was work to be done and they only grabbed a quick bite at the station, a modest welcome from Liu Shaoyu. There would be time enough for celebration when they returned to the Earth Federation.

Truth be told, Liu Shaoyu didn’t want to stay here a moment longer. But the long journey had worn Xu Meng and the others down, and the fleet, after such extended travel, needed repairs and resupply. Liu Shaoyu decided they would set off again in three days.

From a call with Wang Weifu, he learned that Wang Yuyan had safely reached the Shen family’s secret base—the very place where Liu Shaoyu had last awoken. All preparations were complete. They had begun extracting genetic samples to start cloning Shen Qingyi, which set Liu Shaoyu’s mind at ease.

“Bro, you’re smoking a lot more lately.” Xu Meng glanced at Liu Shaoyu, who was lighting another cigarette, and spoke in a low voice.

Xu Meng’s words snapped Liu Shaoyu out of his reverie. “Hm? Really? I hadn’t noticed,” Liu Shaoyu replied with a slight smile.

Thinking it over, he realized it was true. Smoking had always been a way to ease his nerves, but ever since war broke out with the Fengtastar System, he’d been lighting up more and more.

Often it happened without him realizing—one after another.

“Something on your mind?” Xu Meng asked quietly, watching Liu Shaoyu drift off again.

“No, just a lot going on lately.” Liu Shaoyu was aware he’d been distracted more often these days. He stubbed out the cigarette and replied.

Though Liu Shaoyu said this, Xu Meng knew it was just his usual response. Out of familiarity, he understood that Liu Shaoyu really did have something weighing on him.

But there was little Xu Meng could do. Liu Shaoyu was the kind of person who could only be counseled by himself; others were powerless to help.

“Well, it’s late. Get some rest. If there’s anything you want to talk about, I’m here.” Xu Meng decided he should leave Liu Shaoyu to his own thoughts for a while.

“Xu Meng, what’s your dream?” Liu Shaoyu seemed not to hear Xu Meng’s words at all, suddenly asking this question.

The abruptness caught Xu Meng off guard, but it was a question that required no thought.

“I want to be like my father,” Xu Meng said. That was his dream. Since childhood, Xu Meng had seen his father as a hero, protecting the people of the Earth Federation on the interstellar battlefield. That had been his own goal in life.

To fight for all humanity.

Liu Shaoyu already knew this answer; his real intention lay elsewhere. He wasn’t truly asking Xu Meng about his dream—he was asking himself.

He wanted to know: What was his own dream?

“I’m planning to hand the fleet over to you,” Liu Shaoyu said after some thought.

“What?” Xu Meng was clearly caught off guard by Liu Shaoyu’s words, unable to react at first.

“Yes, the fleet is yours. You’ll be the captain—pursue your own dream.” Liu Shaoyu clarified. This was not a spur-of-the-moment decision. He’d been pondering his future these past few days.

His conclusion was that he couldn’t keep himself confined to the bounty group. It was a decent enough occupation, even prestigious on the surface. But in the end, being a bounty hunter or a mercenary was always dangerous and carried a certain unsavory reputation. Unlike soldiers, who represented the will of their nation, bounty hunters or mercenaries in the eyes of others were always just out for themselves.

One couldn’t blame others for their perceptions. Bounty groups had always existed for this purpose, and newcomers could only operate within the limits set by their predecessors.

Liu Shaoyu didn’t want to live at others’ whims, nor did he wish to remain a big fish in a small pond. No matter how well a fish does, it cannot escape the fisherman’s net. Liu Shaoyu didn’t want to be the fish—he wanted to be the fisherman.

Handing over the fleet was only the first step.

“And what about you?” Xu Meng, unaware of Liu Shaoyu’s deeper thoughts, was surprised but also felt a flicker of excitement.

“I have my own plans. You’re more than capable—you’ve done well these past weeks, haven’t you?” Liu Shaoyu wanted to make sure Xu Meng understood his intentions and spoke with finality.

Xu Meng realized Liu Shaoyu referred to the time he’d served as acting captain while Liu Shaoyu was gone. The fleet hadn’t stopped working; with so many mouths to feed, Xu Meng had to shoulder the responsibility as acting captain.

At first, he worried he wasn’t up to the task, so he picked only the easier assignments. But over time, the fleet’s success rate and efficiency matched their performance under Liu Shaoyu. This bolstered Xu Meng’s confidence, and he began to take on riskier missions that previously only Liu Shaoyu would have dared attempt.

Though the fleet’s overall combat strength had initially suffered with Liu Shaoyu, Monkey, and Long Ruyuan all absent, after consulting with Liu Shaoyu, they began to excel even in high-difficulty missions.

Xu Meng was growing increasingly comfortable in the captain’s chair. While he would have gladly ceded the seat back to Liu Shaoyu upon his return, if given the chance to remain captain, he had no reason to refuse.

Seeing Xu Meng’s expression, Liu Shaoyu knew the boy was tempted and said, “Then it’s settled. Once we’re back, we’ll handle the formal transfer. As for whether Long Ruyuan and Monkey will stay, that’ll be up to them.”

Xu Meng could only nod. He’d already assembled his own command staff during their absence. If Long Ruyuan and Monkey decided to stay, their experience and combat prowess would be a great asset, but there would be a new period of adjustment to build up their teamwork again.

Every captain had their unique methods and tactical thinking. The best people gathered together did not always yield the greatest combat strength.

So, in that regard, it was not a major concern.

With this major decision made, the fleet finished its preparations at last. The Young Dragon Fleet departed the space station and set out on the journey home.