Upon returning to the Sand Sea Stellar Cultivation Camp, Ender contacted Borswell for a nutrient cabin enhancement.
He spent 80 points and several days to elevate his Gene Energy Rank to Stellar Level 4.
Considering that applying for a trial mission also required some time, he simply sent an application to the Stellar Training Camp after his nutrient cabin enhancement concluded.
As expected, he received news from the Stellar Training Camp a few days after submitting his application.
The message from the Stellar Training Camp Dispatch Headquarters was brief, providing only a login verification for a spaceship.
Ender had heard of the Stellar Training Camp Dispatch Headquarters; it was the department responsible for allocating supplies and trial missions to the three major Stellar Training Camps, possessing significant authority!
Only when Ender boarded the spaceship did his communicator receive new information about the trial mission.
"Hmm, a Scout mission?"
Looking at the new message, Ender murmured, "Aside from fixed guard posts, border Scout and investigating smuggling in a Scout mission carry some risk, but with a Universe Level expert leading the team, there shouldn't be any problems."
Instructors capable of leading Stellar Training Camp students are generally Universe Level Eight or Nine experts, whose strength is considered top-tier among the Universe Level.
With an expert of this Rank leading the team, as long as the students don't court death or are exceptionally unlucky, their safety won't be an issue.
After several days of space travel, Ender received the specific details of the trial mission.
"Investigating smuggling during a Scout mission."
"20 students will be divided into 4 small teams, converging with a 5-person team from the Empire's Investigation Department to form a 26-person investigation team for a period of six months."
Looking at the information on the light screen, Ender frowned slightly, "This mission requires cooperation with other students, so I'll have to conceal some of my strength and not display power beyond my Spiritual Master Rank."
"My Domain, however, can be shown, as my status as a Planetary-Level Domain Genius is well-known."
He scrolled with his finger, and below was information about his team.
This team consisted of four males and one female, with Ender as the captain.
Ender was a bit surprised, "I'm the captain?"
After reviewing the team members' profiles, he understood why he was the captain.
His Gene Energy Rank was Stellar Level 4, his Spiritual Master Rank was Stellar Level Six, and he had comprehended a Domain, making him the strongest in the team.
Aside from him, none of the other team members exceeded Stellar Level Five, and one was even only Stellar Level One, seeming to have just Broken Through.
"Being a captain isn't easy."
Looking at the captain's responsibilities at the bottom of the light screen, Ender couldn't help but shake his head, "For every team member who survives until the end of the mission, there's a reward of 5 points, but if one dies, 20 points, four times the amount, will be deducted."
Clearly, the Stellar Training Camp's captain system was designed to make captains restrain their team members and prevent them from acting alone.
If a captain's ability is insufficient, they naturally cannot restrain their team members, and the team members will inevitably have thoughts of acting independently.
"However, I can restrain them!"
Ender believed he could earn the trust of his team members, given his identity as a Planetary-Level Domain Genius and a Stellar Level Six Spiritual Master!
"Let's go, I'll go meet my team members."
He exited his cabin and sent messages to the four team members, inviting them to meet.
Not long after, three males and one female arrived, "Captain."
Ender said, "My name is Ender, it seems everyone already knows me."
The four nodded in unison; they all knew Ender, the Planetary-Level Domain Genius of the Sand Sea Stellar Cultivation Camp!
Seeing the four nod, Ender smiled, "That's good then, let's just have a simple chat."
Ender had a pleasant conversation with them; none of the four were troublemakers, and all were willing to follow his lead.
After the conversation ended, everyone returned to their respective rooms, waiting to rendezvous with the Empire's Investigation Team. Fourteen days later.
On a planet along a busy route in the Molten Rock Empire, Ender and the others rendezvoused with the 5-person team from the Empire's Investigation Department.
"Heh heh, this is interesting."
When the Empire's Investigation Team converged, Ender noticed that one student team had internal discord; the captain had only won over two team members, while the other two were ganging up in opposition.
After the rendezvous, Ender and the others deferred to the Investigation Team of the Empire's Investigation Department, entrusting professional matters to those who specialized in them.
According to the Cosmic-Level Instructor, their mission was to charge into battle; any spaceship that refused to undergo inspection by the Investigation Team would be their target.
In the first few months, the investigation vessel stopped at one planet after another, intercepting dozens of spaceships and seizing a considerable amount of smuggled goods.
No spaceship dared to refuse inspection; one spaceship captain tried to escape, but was prevented by his crew.
As the six-month mission deadline approached, just as Ender thought this trial mission would end, the captain of the Empire's Investigation Team suddenly called a meeting of all the captains.
"According to intelligence, a smuggling vessel is about to arrive at Planet Macrocable."
On the light screen displaying the star chart, a busy route appeared before everyone, with the prominent Planet Macrocable being one of the most prosperous planets on this route.
"This smuggling vessel will unload its goods near Planet Macrocable, then load declared legitimate goods at Planet Macrocable and depart through a wormhole."
The captain of the Investigation Team moved his finger across the light screen, drawing a line from Planet Macrocable to the wormhole.
Then, he circled Planet Macrocable, "Therefore, we must intercept this spaceship before it reaches Planet Macrocable, so we can catch them red-handed!"
A captain asked, "The area around Planet Macrocable is so vast, how do we intercept this smuggling vessel?"
With a thought from the Investigation Team captain, the star chart zoomed in on the starry sky around Planet Macrocable, showing several satellites orbiting Planet Macrocable.
"W-998!"
He pointed to a satellite and said, "This planet is often used as a smuggling unloading point."
Then, he moved his finger to the satellite next to W-998 and said, "We only need to conceal ourselves behind W-997; once the smuggling vessel appears, we immediately move out and intercept it!"
Finally, the Investigation Team captain asked, "That's the plan. Do you have any questions or additions?"
After listening to the Investigation Team captain's plan, Ender was momentarily at a loss for words, as the plan was crude and full of loopholes!
But the problem was that the investigating smuggling mission was primarily led by the Empire's Investigation Team, and these students on trial missions were more like enforcers; they just needed to obediently follow orders.
A captain nodded, "No problem, my team can join the battle at any time."
Ender and the other two captains said, "My team also has no problem."
"Good, please return, Captains, and have your team members prepare for battle!"
The Investigation Team captain shouted loudly, "For Your Majesty Molten Rock!"
Ender echoed, "For Your Majesty Molten Rock."
Immediately, the other captains showed strange expressions, as if to say they hadn't expected him to be a fervent believer of Emperor Molten Rock.
Contrary to the expressions of the other captains, the Investigation Team captain looked at Ender with appreciation, deciding to give him a high evaluation after the trial mission concluded.
The meeting ended, and the investigation vessel headed to hide behind W-997, awaiting the arrival of the smuggling vessel…