Chapter 147: Chapter 147: Gratitude

Admiral Clan approached with a nutrient solution, casually handing it to Fred, who was sitting on a wooden crate and smoking.

His gaze swept over Fred’s bandaged arm, which was held in a sling. “Are you all right? I don’t recall you being a smoker.”

Fred took a few quick drags, then stubbed out the cigarette. He took the nutrient solution but didn’t open it, his voice a little hoarse. “I never knew these things could relieve stress.”

Hearing this, Admiral Clan fell silent for a moment. “You should still smoke less. It’s bad for your health. The mission was a great success.”

“It’s all thanks to Your Excellency, Lu Xiao. If not for her, I’m afraid I would have had to remain hidden here for much longer before finding a way out.”

As Fred said this, he couldn’t help but recall the moment he’d just witnessed—Lu Xiao and Ares embracing.

’He was reluctant to admit it, but he was truly envious.’

Noticing his downcast mood, Admiral Clan raised a hand and patted his shoulder. “Don’t sell yourself short.”

Fred shook his head. “I’m serious. If not for Her Excellency, Lu Xiao, we would never have known that the Black Tower has been using females for human experiments all these years. We certainly wouldn’t have gathered so much evidence in one fell swoop. Her Excellency, Lu Xiao is the one who truly rendered the greatest service.”

“All right, I get it. That’s all I hear from you. She did perform a great service, but so did you. Stop pleading her case. No one’s contributions will be overlooked. As for your arm, get it treated as soon as you get back. It’s an eyesore.”

After saying this, Admiral Clan didn’t linger. He got up to see Lu Xiao.

When he’d gone over earlier, Lu Xiao had been talking with Ares. The couple hadn’t seen each other for many days, and the atmosphere around them now was one that outsiders couldn’t easily intrude upon. Admiral Clan wasn’t so tactless as to deliberately interrupt them.

Coming over again now, he found that the doctor who had accompanied the team had already finished examining Lu Xiao.

Seeing Admiral Clan, Lu Xiao smiled and called out, “Father. I’m sorry for making you worry.”

“As long as you’re all right. How are you? Is everything okay?”

“Don’t worry, Father. I don’t even have a scratch on me. But how is Vice Admiral Fred? Is his arm going to be okay?”

“It’s just a minor injury. It’ll be fine after some treatment back at the base. You were very brave this time, Lu Xiao. And you rendered a great service. Very impressive.” Admiral Clan looked at his daughter, his eyes filled with relief and pride.

He’d never had much of an idea of what having a daughter would be like. If Lu Ge Wei hadn’t forced the issue, he never would have had a child with her.

But now, he thought Lu Xiao was truly wonderful.

She hadn’t inherited Lu Ge Wei’s vanity or arrogance, nor did she have the spoiled willfulness of a typical female.

She had an independent mind, extraordinary abilities, and more than enough courage.

Lu Xiao was different from all the other females in the Empire.

She was like a rising star, beautiful and brilliant.

Whether or not she had rendered a meritorious service wasn’t something Lu Xiao cared much about. After all, her motive for coming here was simply to figure out the development process for that particular drug.

She hadn’t been thinking about earning accolades at the time.

“By the way, Father, were all those females rescued?”

“Yes, they’ve been rescued. We’re currently verifying their identities. Specialized personnel will be assigned to care for them later.”

“That’s good. Also, did you find anyone named C Luo in the Black Tower?”

Admiral Clan thought back carefully. “I don’t think that name came up. I’ll have someone run another check later. What about him?”

Lu Xiao briefly told Admiral Clan what had happened at the Black Tower Base. Hearing her story, the admiral nodded. “I’ll have my people keep an eye out.”

“Okay, Father. If Ban Lun’s trial is public, you must contact me. I want to witness the verdict myself.”

It was the first time Admiral Clan had seen such an angry expression on Lu Xiao’s face. He smiled and nodded. “I will.”

With that, Admiral Clan glanced at Ares, then said to Lu Xiao, “Ares has been looking for you this whole time, and he’s been through a lot. Once you’re back, don’t rush off to work. Take a good, long rest first.”

“I know, Father.”

“Good. You two rest for now. We’ll all leave together once the cleanup here is finished.”

Having said his piece, Admiral Clan didn’t linger.

Watching Admiral Clan leave, Lu Xiao turned her gaze back to Ares.

In just a few short days, Ares had lost a lot of weight. One could only imagine what he had been going through.

The man even had stubble growing on his chin.

Lu Xiao reached out and gently touched his chin. As expected, it was prickly.

“When we get back, how about I shave you?”

Ares took her hand, his eyes filled with deep affection. “Okay.”

Lu Xiao smiled at him. Even without speaking, just gazing into each other’s eyes brought a sense of joy.

’It’s so good to see Ares again.’

After a few more sweet moments with Ares, Lu Xiao stood up. “I want to go see Fred and his comrades.”

If Fred and his two comrades hadn’t protected her at the end, she would have been in great danger.

Ares, of course, had no objection. He stood up and said, “I’ll go with you.”

The two of them left the temporary lounge, and Lu Xiao casually stopped a young soldier. “Where is Vice Admiral Fred?”

The soldier seemed completely caught off guard by a female addressing him directly. His face instantly turned bright red as he stammered, “O-over there!”

Lu Xiao followed the direction the soldier pointed and saw Fred sitting on a wooden crate. She smiled and nodded at the young man. “Thanks, I see him.”

“N-no problem!” The young soldier was so flustered as he walked away, red-faced, that his arms and legs moved in unison.

Lu Xiao took Ares’s hand, and they went to find Fred together.

Seeing them, Fred rose from the crate. “Your Excellency, Lu Xiao. Major General Ares.”

“Are you all right, Fred?” Lu Xiao asked, looking at his injured arm. “Will this injury have any long-term effects?”

“It won’t. The bullet has been removed, and it’ll be fine after a session with the Treatment Device back at the base. You don’t need to worry, Your Excellency. You’re the one who should be resting.”

“I wasn’t injured, so a little rest is all I need. But you guys… thank you, really. Later, get the other two and come over to my place. I’ll treat you all to a big meal. And don’t you dare refuse! If it weren’t for you all today, I wouldn’t have made it out so smoothly!”

She never overestimated her own abilities, nor did she underestimate the contributions of others.

She genuinely wanted to thank Fred and his comrades.

Fred looked at the smile on Lu Xiao’s face, his feelings incredibly complicated. He nodded. “All right. We’ll be there.”

“Then it’s a date,” Lu Xiao said happily.

As they were about to leave, Ares gave Fred a very solemn salute. “Thank you.”

Fred knew what he was being thanked for. But in some ways, he hadn’t contributed as much as it seemed. He patted Ares’s shoulder. “No need to thank me. It was mostly due to Her Excellency Lu Xiao’s own efforts. She’s strong. Don’t underestimate her.”

A female who, when facing danger alone, could still bravely fight back against males whose combat strength was several times her own—that alone was enough to prove Lu Xiao was not to be underestimated.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep