Qianyuan: My crew comes from the world of anime.

As the old saying goes: Freshly fried mushrooms coated in egg batter and sprinkled with salt and pepper are a perfect match for beer.

The cooks fried the small pot of oil they had painstakingly prepared over and over again until it turned black...

The aroma of fried mushrooms traveled along the ventilation ducts to the upper floors—Major Soloviev only realized Luo Tianming had arrived at Red Star Station after smelling the aroma.

He was clearly displeased at not knowing the news immediately, and the major said to Luo Tianming:

"Lieutenant Luo, you really got me into trouble last time by leaving without saying goodbye... This isn't over until you give me three kegs of beer!"

Luo Tianming: "..."

Seeing that the major's attitude towards him remained unchanged, he felt relieved.

"What's wrong?" he asked curiously. "Did the higher-ups in the alliance give you a hard time?"

This is probably also related to the fact that he took so long to arrive.

"Hmph, the methods of the intelligence department," the major said disdainfully, "they've been infiltrating their own people since my great-great-grandfather's generation."

"The massive bureaucracy and various internal constraints that have formed within the alliance to this day are all due to them."

Luo Tianming was about to say something.

Soloviev said, "It's alright, I've already sent that secretary to clean the toilets, that self-important idiot!"

"By the way, I've already covered for you when you suddenly disappeared. If the guys from the intelligence department ask again, just say that I ordered you to leave."

"..."

This is the major deliberately taking the blame for Luo Tianming.

He was deeply moved and also said:

"No need, Major... I have a way to silence them. Please contact Colonel Ivan for me now."

"I have made a significant discovery to tell him."

As he spoke, Luo Tianming glanced at the mushrooms the soldiers were eating…

Soloviev: "..."

Inside the stationmaster's office, the moment the computer screen was connected, Colonel Ivan's expression on the other end of the video call instantly turned sinister.

He stared at Luo Tianming's figure like a venomous snake about to strike:

"Lieutenant Luo Tianming, do you know how serious these crimes are... violating the Alliance's 'mandatory missions,' refusing to contact superiors, and concealing your flight itinerary?"

Luo Tianming said without the slightest fear, "Colonel, I know this matter is very serious... but ever since I agreed to become a special agent, I have been prepared to sacrifice everything for the Alliance."

"The reason I left without saying goodbye is because something more important than the mandatory task came up."

"Oh~" Colonel Ivan looked at him with a half-smile, "Let's have our little lieutenant tell us, what have you discovered?"

Luo Tianming opened a briefcase and took out a huge, fully bloomed 'delicious' mushroom, as well as a glass jar containing mushroom spores that were too small to cover a fingernail.

"Colonel, this is the product I obtained from the enemy at the risk of almost being exposed—a magical mushroom."

He's reached the point where he can lie without batting an eye.

Colonel Ivan unconsciously leaned closer to the screen: "Lieutenant Luo, what's this for?"

His intelligence instincts told him that this thing couldn't possibly be fake, especially since there was a physical object of it.

Luo Tianming nodded and explained, "Colonel, this is a kind of food. It grows extremely fast and can mature by absorbing nutrients from the humus soil in just three days."

"The production volume is enormous. I acquired 200 kilograms from Jupiter separatists—this food has now been distributed to Alliance soldiers as volunteers for food testing... There are no toxins due to the high-temperature frying process, and I estimate that a detailed medical examination in a few days will reveal the specific effects."

"..."

Upon hearing his words, not only Colonel Ivan was surprised, but Major Soloviev was also quite shocked.

"Is this true?! Lieutenant, if your intelligence is accurate, this is of paramount importance to the Alliance!"

Luo Tianming: "Yes, that's why... I have to refuse the 'mandatory mission.' Colonel, I'm willing to accept the punishment, but this thing must be handed over to the Alliance's scientists for research (crying voice)!"

"..."

A profound silence fell over the other side of the screen...

A while later.

"Lieutenant~" Colonel Ivan's insincere tone was far inferior to that of Luo Tianming, a 'veteran artist'.

"Why didn't you report this to your superiors sooner? Forget about punishment—if there had been a record earlier, you, me, and the Major could all have received merit awards from the Alliance."

Luo Tianming shook his head in 'pain': "No, I was worried that the traitors within our alliance would expose this matter prematurely. Therefore, after receiving the report from my informant, I immediately turned off the navigation and secretly entered Chongshan Station... After spending several days confirming this secret research, I quietly stole it."

"...Now, I only hope that the Alliance can develop this mushroom as soon as possible. Soon those Jupiter separatists will spread this product, and we must catch up with them!"

Colonel Ivan waved his hand, giving off an expression that said, "I know, I know everything."

Even Soloviev looked at him like he was James Bond.

"..."

Actually, he picked these spores from mushrooms he had harvested a second time and soaked them in alcohol.

Half of the original fungal spores were given to Catherine for safekeeping—these degraded spores not only have a lower yield, but the mushrooms that grow from them will probably all rot in a dozen or so generations.

Besides, even if these things were given to the Europa Alliance, they wouldn't be able to grow mushrooms... The Alliance has very little humus soil; there are more hydroponic farms here.

With a large amount of nutrient solution, the consumption of mushroom cultivation would be counterproductive.

"..."

In this way, by taking advantage of the information gap, he easily resolved a crisis and even gained some credit along the way.

Chapter 81 Preparations

The people in the intelligence department were easier to deal with than Luo Tianming had expected. These guys lacked external intelligence capabilities, but they always launched powerful attacks on internal matters.

Clearly, if there were just one or two spies lurking in Chongshan Station, they could easily expose Luo Tianming's lies...

However, it is very difficult for people within the alliance to infiltrate Jupiter's separatism. Even if they manage to get in, the four major factions within the alliance make it extremely difficult for them to obtain intelligence.

However, although the higher-ups in the intelligence department are easy to fool... Luo Tianming felt that he should do less of this kind of thing.

One lie leads to countless others to cover it up.

If the scientists on the Alliance side don't make a breakthrough in their research on mushroom spores, he'll probably have to sneak into Chongshan Station again soon to steal a non-existent 'research report'.

"..."

-

After ending the video call with Colonel Ivan, Luo Tianming stayed behind to get to know Major Soloviev about the current situation.

Since the matter of the Giant Beast Hunting Grounds could no longer be concealed, the only option was to impose military control on Red Star Station, and a large number of officers were dispatched from the military station.

It was under these circumstances that the intelligence department infiltrated the major's men.

Those officers who were ostensibly loyal to the Alliance but were actually part of the vast intelligence system quickly stripped the major of his power.

One might ask: 'Why would a colonel be sidelined by his subordinates?'

Actually, this matter is quite simple and is inseparable from the bureaucracy within the alliance... The hierarchy among officers is absolute, so those people can outwardly comply with the orders of majors who are lower in rank than colonels, but soldiers of lower-ranking majors cannot disobey these officers' orders.

Once the major and lower-ranking officers are sidelined, the entire Red Star Station will be under their control.

"..."

"Just as you see,"

The major poured himself a large glass of beer. "Besides my orderly, I don't have many soldiers left that I can command... not even as many as you, Lieutenant."

Luo Tianming: "Do these officers sent by the Alliance know anything about the giant beast?"

Soloviev downed nearly a liter of beer as if by magic, and said indistinctly, "Of course I know, those people are currently carrying out the 'induction operation' we discussed last time."

"The new guy we brought in is a complete idiot who knows nothing about military affairs. He's probably some rich kid who's desperate to make a name for himself... You know, it's hard to get promoted within the alliance without merit."

Luo Tianming: "..."

He could only try not to discourage the major, saying, "Major, I advise you to prepare in advance—I have no confidence in the so-called 'inducement operation' at all."

Major: "?"

Soloviev thought so too, but he was troubled by the lack of evidence to prove that there was a problem with this so-called operation.

He asked, "Lieutenant, have you found the problem with this operation?"

Luo Tianming shook his head: "Not yet... But please think about this: if the so-called 'inducement' worked, why didn't they use it when the hunting grounds changed last time?"

"It's very possible that they discovered the so-called sound stimulation only had a partial inducing effect on the behemoth. What if the behemoth discovered something else along the way and its attention was diverted?"

"Even if the behemoth has been lured away, no one can guarantee it won't come back... By the way, how many torpedoes were prepared for this operation?"

The major replied solemnly, "There's only one. The colonel refused, citing the 'high cost' and the inability to mass-produce it."

Luo Tianming: "Look, a problem has arisen."

He pointed out the problem: it was a matter of life and death for thousands of people, yet there was only a hasty plan—and even a scapegoat had been found. This was clearly due to bureaucracy within the alliance.

As long as the blame doesn't fall on them, these guys will just pass the buck around like a football.

"Without any guarantee of success, without contingency plans, without remedial measures, and certainly without anyone holding anyone accountable afterward..."

His words made the major think deeply.

“You’re right, Lieutenant.” The major rubbed his tight throat.

“We need to be cautious and prepare a war plan… I’ll contact my old subordinates; considering I was their captain, I should be able to get a few more over.”

After leaving the stationmaster's office, Luo Tianming hummed a song as he left the upper level.

As he walked past the automated turret, an unexpected voice called out to him.

"We meet again, you cunning businessman."

"..."

The giant beast hunter who carried the algae-covered skull was still lying on the ground, 'selling himself' with a tattered rag.

Luo Tianming stopped in his tracks.

"Heh," the hunter's eyes peeked through the gaps in the skull, "You deceived me, you cunning 'captain'..."

He looked at the rank insignia on Luo Tianming's uniform and said, "If you hadn't been wearing an engineer's uniform last time, I almost would have recognized you."

"But don't worry now—no matter what you wear from now on, people will recognize you: 'Lieutenant Luo Tianming, the man who escaped from the beast'..."

Luo Tianming looked at him strangely: "You guys..."

"..."

He interrupted first:

"Don't ask us where our information came from, and don't ask us anything else. We are only interested in the behemoths."

The hunter answered Luo Tianming's question in his strange accent again.

Luo Tianming felt that these 'mysterious' guys were definitely not good people.

Although there is no evidence to prove that these people lured the giant beast there, their riddle-like way of speaking is enough to make people believe the rumor.

He looked at the hunters' rather rudimentary equipment with some doubt: serrated harpoons made of an unknown material, climbing boots with barbs on the soles, and a worn-out diving suit...

"You really intend to fight these behemoths with these things?"

Luo Tianming's tone was full of doubt.

“Of course.” The hunter nodded seriously. “Don’t underestimate these things left by the older generation. When a giant beast is right in front of you, you’ll realize how useless those firewood sticks are.”

Luo Tianming pointed to the 155mm automatic turret in the distance: "Is that also a fire poker?"

"&..."

The hunter shook his head: "No... but those people might as well have shot themselves in the head with a fire poker."

"When you actually see a giant beast attacking, it's a miracle if anyone can hold their post. You've been to the battlefield yourself, so you should know how terrifying it is."

"..."

The hunter's words made Luo Tianming think—indeed, once a battle breaks out, how many people can hold their posts?

It's not enough for just the officers to be there; if any link in the chain—ammunition supply, aiming unit, or command system—goes wrong, the entire gun will misfire.

Moreover, if the 'Crimson Queen' causes damage and the site starts to leak, will any warriors rush forward to desperately plug the leaks?