Upon hearing this, the casual smile on Ruan Xiongfei's face disappeared, and he took out a trimmed cigar, holding it in his mouth.
With a whoosh, a faint flame ignited, and Ruan Xiongfei gently exhaled a puff of pure white smoke.
Amidst the swirling smoke, the robust voice of this rough man sounded:
"S Squadron has never pledged allegiance to any one person or any one group. I stand by these words, at least in the past and present, it's been this way. As for the future, if one day I'm no longer around, I don't care about this damn stuff."
With rough words, Ruan Xiongfei had clearly expressed his intentions, giving Qi Longxiang a satisfactory answer.
"But..."
Ruan Xiongfei paused, turning his head to look at Qi Longxiang.
"Hey, kid, are you trying to fish information out of me? Speaking of which, the Staff Department you're in is valued several levels above S Squadron. If the higher-ups ask you to take a side, which side will you choose?"
"Bauhinia, Iris, Mandala... you will have to choose one of these families eventually."
Ruan Xiongfei's expression looked over with a half-smile, but the sharpness in his eyes was somewhat glaring.
Qi Longxiang looked back calmly, unaffected by Ruan Xiongfei's expression, and instead smiled lightly, "Why mock me, Mr. Ruan? Long has understands the principle of not imposing on others what you do not desire for yourself. Perhaps it's time to move to another place for freedom since staying here isn't comfortable."
"Don't tell me you're going to the Gardot Empire!"
Ruan Xiongfei's eyes widened, showing the tendency to act at the slightest disagreement.
"I still want to live." Qi Longxiang blinked, smiling as he spoke.
"Hahaha!"
Ruan Xiongfei touched his bald head and began to laugh heartily.
The two leading figures, who intersected through Dingchuan Academy, through their recent conversation, had confirmed their alignment on the same front at this moment.
Under this starlit sky, there are still quite a few people unwilling to bow and scrape.
...
"Colonel Wang, I hope our friendship lasts forever."
"It's my honor!"
Amid two hearty laughs, an officer emerged from the top-level platform of a building towering like a shark's fin.
In front of him, a sleek, silver-white spaceship had been parked for some time.
The officer, holding the rank of Colonel, unabashedly seated himself in the spaceship.
Silently, this exquisite private spaceship swiftly ascended into the clouds.
After the spaceship disappeared, a handsome young man with short hair stepped out from the corridor at the back.
Standing over 185 centimeters tall, his fitted double-breasted vest paired with well-pressed trousers made his build appear even taller, and his calm demeanor added an extra layer of charisma.
His pupils were an uncommon deep purple, and most unusually, the beautiful eyeball's base displayed a pattern of purple flowers.
A beautiful and exquisite purple petal emblem was pinned to the left breast of his vest, the emblem's shape and color unmistakably that of a beautiful Bauhinia flower.
"Young Master Shuangming... the wind outside is strong, it could mar your elegance."
An elderly butler respectfully held out a blanket to drape over the young man.
"No worries."
The young man named Shuangming gently waved his hand and said warmly, "No worries, he is an honored guest, worth me coming out personally."
Upon hearing this, the old butler hesitated for a moment, ultimately remaining silent, merely bowing even lower.
"What is it, Uncle Li, you are an elder of the family, speak freely."
However, as if seeing everything, the young man turned his head and said with a smile.
His gracious demeanor left the old butler awestruck, "Young Master Shuangming, I've watched you grow up, and my words have some personal bias. I hope you won't mind."
Shuangming nodded gently, indicating to continue.
"Just now, you didn't avoid discussing with Colonel Wang with the subordinates around, regarding your expressed intentions... I truly cannot understand."
"Can't understand why I place such importance on an officer with no power in the Capital Star? Can't understand why I would so rashly arrange my lifelong affair this way?"
Wrapping himself in the gentle blanket, the howling wind on the top-level platform continued to blow the blanket audibly.
"I wouldn't dare." The old butler hurriedly lowered his head, too shocked by the young master's blunt words, leaving him inwardly terrified.
The young man's charming pupils gazed towards the clouds above, which was precisely the direction the spaceship had departed. He lowered his eyes, smiled, helped the old butler to his feet, and turned to walk towards the corridor.
The old butler followed closely behind.
"I said speak freely, you can speak."
"... I have never presumed, it's just that I simply think he and his family are not suited for the Bauhinia... I'm worried this might affect your reputation. Of course, if the young master has made a decision, I will undoubtedly have no second thoughts."
In the silent corridor, only Shuangming and the old butler were present. Upon hearing these words, there was no change in his expression.
"I can only say that the Staff Department runs deep, although Colonel Wang indeed pales in comparison to those great families tenfold, can other families be compared to Bauhinia?"
The old butler quickly replied, "Naturally incomparable; the great Bauhinia Family, with three hundred years of honor, cannot be matched even by those you can count on one hand."
Shuangming's face bore a playful smile, speaking softly as he walked: "The Iris Family, The Mandala Family, and the once celebrated Wei Family... the daughters of these families can marry, but can I marry them?"
"This..."
The old butler's tone turned hesitant.
"Regardless of family background, whoever enters the Bauhinia Family becomes the top noble of this starlit sky. So even if his family and power are lowly in my eyes, they bear no difference to those so-called nobles."
"Given that, why can't I choose a person of excellent character, appearance, and talent?"
The two had entered a luxurious hall adorned with crystal lamps. Shuangming removed the blanket and handed it back to the old butler, turning to the sofa in the hall, smiling as he asked:
"Now, do you have any questions?"
"No, the young master's decision, in this subordinate's view, always stands as the wisest presence in this starlit sky."
"No need for flattery. I just want to make a point, not to you but to the family's elder council... the other half of Shuangming Mountbatten, doesn't need anyone else to decide for me, I am naturally clear about what you all think. Just don't make me spell it out sometimes."
Upon these words, the old butler was so frightened that he knelt down directly.
"This subordinate holds no dissent!"
"I said it's not about you, step back."
The young man waved his hand.
The old butler's forehead was dripping with sweat, retreating with great trepidation.
The young man revealed a smile, picked up a cup of tea offered by the nearby maid, and with a calm gaze, looked out the window.