Just as Topaz finished speaking, a massive energy fluctuation came from within the asteroid belt.
The ship outside the asteroid belt began to shake violently under the impact of the energy waves.
Countless screams rang out from inside the ship.
Topaz steadied herself and looked toward the asteroid belt ahead.
Her expression froze.
Deep within the asteroid belt, something seemed to be burning, emitting a dazzling light.
Then another wave of energy surged out.
BOOM!
Rapidly spreading flames instantly ignited the asteroid belt in front of them. Soon after, white monsters covered in crimson-red patterns gradually appeared atop the asteroids.
They let out the first roar of their existence toward the only place where living humans were present, the ship carrying Topaz and the others.
'What the hell are those things?!'
Topaz couldn't help but think. Even with her vast experience, she couldn't recognize what these things really were.
Roar!
The monsters leapt back and forth between asteroids, their target clearly being Topaz's ship.
Watching the scene before her, Topaz frowned deeply.
She raised her hand to give an order. "Withdraw..."
Before she could finish the command, another wave of energy swept through.
The monsters closing in on the ship instantly turned to ash without any reaction at all.
The entire asteroid belt was left with only the flickering flames deep within.
Seeing this, Topaz didn't know whether she should continue deeper to search for the source of the signal.
After all, given what had just happened, even if there had been someone alive, they were probably already dead.
[Beep beep beep beep…]
The ship's system still detected the signal. Topaz took a deep breath.
"You all stay here. I'll go take a look myself."
"Yes!"
Placing a stone into her pocket, Topaz boarded a small craft and carefully headed toward the signal's source.
Coincidentally, or unfortunately, the signal was coming from that glowing area.
The journey was safe. The asteroid belt didn't show any more abnormal activity.
Topaz successfully found the source of the signal.
A star skiff with its shield shattered.
The artificial intelligence aboard the skiff kept repeating the same line.
"Distress signal has been sent. Please wait patiently for rescue! Please wait patiently for rescue!"
With the shield destroyed, it was obvious the owner had already met with misfortune.
Topaz withdrew her gaze, then looked at the flames burning not far from the skiff, curiosity rising in her heart about what exactly that was.
As if sensing her curiosity, the raging flames vanished.
Revealing a human figure that had been enveloped by the fire.
———
"Director Topaz, this individual's identity is unknown. Keeping him on the same ship as you could pose a danger."
"Is it dangerous for me, or dangerous for him?"
"..."
In a hazy state, Levi seemed to hear voices talking.
Slowly opening his eyes and looking toward the sound, two fair, slender thighs appeared before him.
"Is this heaven?"
'Waking up to such a generous gift right away!'
Levi wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth and reached out toward the two "gifts."
But the "gifts" smoothly slipped away from in front of him.
"You're awake."
Although she reacted in time and avoided Levi's grab, Topaz still reached out and patted her own thigh.
That scene nearly made Levi's eyes pop out.
But he quickly snapped back to his senses, lifting his gaze from her legs to her face.
After seeing her clearly, Levi looked puzzled.
"Topaz? Did you die too?"
Could it be that his tampering with her company accounts had been discovered, and she was judged negligent and executed because of it?
Hearing Levi's words, Topaz fell silent for a moment, then said, "This isn't heaven, and you're not dead."
"You're currently aboard an Interastral Peace Corporation ship. We received the distress signal sent by your star skiff and found you."
Not dead?
"I didn't die even in that situation?!"
Levi's tone was full of shock.
When Phantylia left, he had basically already stopped breathing, yet he still managed to hold on until rescue arrived.
"This is practically a miracle!"
Then he thought of something and pulled out the little fish charm from his pocket and kissed it twice.
No wonder Qingque treated it as a treasure. With this luck boost, he could survive even an almost guaranteed death scenario.
Levi climbed up, grabbed Topaz's hand, and shook it vigorously, repeatedly thanking her for the rescue.
"Treatment at this level must be insanely expensive!"
Coming back from that kind of environment without even the slightest discomfort, this level of treatment was basically like the Aeon of Abundance personally casting a spell.
Topaz's expression turned strange as her hand was held.
Rescue? What rescue?
She had only brought him onto the ship.
With his abilities, even without her, he could've woken up in space and then left aboard his damaged star skiff.
She just didn't know who had attacked him.
"Director Topaz! Headquarters is asking why the ship's coordinates haven't moved at all!"
"They want it to move? Easy! Transfer my activity budget for this mission, and it'll move immediately!" Topaz complained.
No funding, yet they're rushing her this hard.
Making the horse run without feeding it, when did the company get this stingy?
After complaining, she looked back at Levi.
"We've already checked your star skiff. Its jump coordinates match ours."
And it was carrying a whole pile of supplies, he probably met some people there by chance.
That meant there were still survivors over there.
"Your star skiff is under repair right now. Stay on the ship for now and leave once we reach that star system."
"Oh, that'd really be too much trouble for you!"
He said that, but Levi had already found an empty spot and sat down.
Seeing him settle in, Topaz didn't say anything. She stood in place with her arms crossed, looking forward.
"Squeak squeak squeak."
Picking up Numby at her feet, Topaz gave the order, "Prepare for warp!"
This place wasn't that far from Jarilo.
Originally, Topaz had planned to take her time getting there, treating it as a silent protest against the company.
But Levi's appearance made her abandon that idea.
She chose to warp directly and arrive quickly in the Jarilo star system.
While the staff adjusted the procedures and coordinates, Numby noticed Levi staring at Topaz in deep thought. It jumped out of Topaz's arms, ran over to Levi, and tilted its head.
"Squeak squeak squeak?"
"I'm not staring at you. I'm staring at your owner."
"Squeak squeak squeak?"
"I don't like you either. I like people. We're not even the same species, how would that work?"
Levi withdrew his gaze speechlessly, looking at the little thing that had interrupted his appreciation of beautiful legs.
He had been secretly admiring Topaz's toned thighs. How did this little guy notice and even think he was staring at it?
Most ridiculous of all, it asked whether he liked it.
"You can understand what Numby is saying?"
Their squeak-filled exchange caught Topaz's attention. She looked over and saw Levi slumped in his chair with a dead expression, while Numby excitedly ran circles around him, squeaking nonstop.
Topaz looked curious.
"This is the first time I've seen Numby be this friendly to someone other than me."
"This little guy misunderstood and thinks I like it but I'm too embarrassed to admit it…"
Levi said helplessly, then quietly opened the chat group. Seeing it filled with Kiana's worried messages, he shook his head.
"Kiana is still just as reckless."
Just like Qingque, no trust in him at all.
Though, to be fair, even he hadn't been confident in himself at the time…
[Levi: I'm fine. I got lucky and was rescued by a kind person. I'm on my way to you now.]
[Levi: How are things on your end? @Kiana @Stelle]
[Stelle: …]
[Kiana: …]
Seeing no one respond, Levi frowned slightly, a bad feeling rising in his chest.
BOOM!
Flames suddenly surged out from Levi's body, giving Numby by his feet a huge scare.
[🎉 Shoutout to Fanisa & Luck for joining p@treon. Thank you very much.🤗]