Yang Su, the interrogation officer of the KG5 star-liner, possessed a face so handsome it stirred envy among men. His favorite pastime was experimenting with various implements in that dimly lit interrogation chamber, slowly tormenting prisoners reluctant to talk. However, such sessions were exceedingly rare on star-liners, as few chose to commit crimes aboard a vessel—a sealed environment where the chance of escape was less than one percent.
Today, Yang Su was thrilled. Not only could he once again employ his beloved tools, but the subject of his interrogation was also the fierce individual who had soundly thrashed his boss, Ning Bei.
Yang Su retrieved a small syringe from the instrument rack, drew ten milliliters of a clear liquid from a vial, and walked unhurriedly to stand before Bai Hao. "This will help heighten your sensory perception," he explained leisurely. "It allows you to experience pain more vividly while preventing unnecessary loss of consciousness. However, as a reward for beating up the boss, I'll make an exception. If you're willing to confess truthfully now, you can avoid unnecessary suffering."
"I am not a kidnapper. What I said is the truth," Bai Hao stated earnestly once more.
"Almost every suspect I interrogate initially denies their crimes. Yet, the vast majority eventually admit to them," Yang Su replied with a faint, cold smile. He injected the clear liquid directly into a vein in Bai Hao's right arm, a glint of unconcealed excitement in his eyes. "It seems you'll have to taste what interrogation feels like first," he murmured softly.
Yang Su then returned to the rack and picked up a small, metal rod-like object. He waved it before Bai Hao's eyes. "Know what this is? A shock baton. Consider it our appetizer. Don't worry, I'll control the voltage. When the current courses through your body, it will undoubtedly be your most... enjoyablemoment."
With that, Yang Su flicked the miniature switch on the baton and pressed it against Bai Hao.
...
Elsewhere on the ship, in a premier VIP suite, Yan Xiaoshi sat on a small chair, her doll-like face a picture of intense concentration. Her chubby little hands manipulated the mecha in her handheld game console, launching fierce attacks against the enemy.
Seated beside her was an elegant, beautiful young woman—Yan Xiaoshi's mother, the Young Madam of the Yan family, Su Mengchen. Su Mengchen gazed at her daughter with loving eyes, though a trace of worry lingered within them. Since being recovered, Yan Xiaoshi had done little but immerse herself in the game console or clamor for her "Big Brother"—the very kidnapper.
From her daughter's fragmented descriptions, Su Mengchen gathered that the young man seemed to harbor no ill will toward Xiaoshi. However, the thought of the three injured bodyguards made her hesitant to jump to conclusions. For Xiaoshi's safety, until the man's identity and motives were fully clarified, she would not allow her daughter any contact with him. No—even after clarification, contact was undesirable. Anyone capable of instantly defeating three A-class bodyguards was no ordinary individual; rumors even said he had brutally beaten the ship's security chief, a former military instructor.
Knock, knock.
Two firm yet measured knocks sounded at the door.
Su Mengchen rose gracefully. "Xiaoshi, Mama will get the door."
Yan Xiaoshi, utterly absorbed, gave no indication she had heard.
Su Mengchen shook her head slightly and walked into the adjoining sitting room. Glancing at the monitor connected to the door's camera, she saw it was Xi Chenglong before opening the door.
"Uncle Xi, please come in," Su Mengchen said softly.
"Yes, Madam." Xi Chenglong stepped inside respectfully and, at her gesture, took a seat in the room.
Su Mengchen's eyes held a hint of anticipation. "Well? Have you found out everything?"
Xi Chenglong nodded. "Madam, we have a fairly clear picture now. His name is Bai Hao, born on Planet B5 in the Western Sector. Twenty years old, no criminal record. His father was a miner who died in a mining accident. His mother remarried a year after his father's death and moved to H3. He has a ten-year-old sister who went with their mother to H3. He remained on B5, with no prior records of leaving the planet. Three years ago, he and a man named Yin Ya opened a joint repair shop at No. 44, Agricultural Trade Street, East River District, Jiangyan City, on B5. He only left Planet B5 on the 16th, boarding this star-liner from H1, the Western Sector capital, en route to S3 to take up a position at Pao Li Corporation."
"Pao Li Corporation?" Su Mengchen's calm expression showed clear surprise, tinged with a hint of astonishment.
Xi Chenglong's face remained solemn. "Indeed. One of the three premier mecha design corporations."
"I see. Those who can enter Pao Li are among the Empire's elite talents," Su Mengchen remarked, her expression returning to neutrality. She then changed the subject. "Uncle Xi, did you find any issues with the man himself?"
Xi Chenglong paused, seeming to deliberate. "Based on the information gathered, his background is clean. The kidnapping incident with the young miss was most likely a genuine misunderstanding. I reviewed the video footage obtained from the ship's security department several times. His encounter with the young miss appears to have been a mere coincidence, and they seemed to converse quite congenially."
"Xiaoshi did mention that to me. He seems to be a mecha enthusiast and, apparently, a fan of Shi'er," Su Mengchen said, a faint smile touching her lips.
"In the Empire, Miss Shi'er's fanbase could probably drown the entire Imperial Star," Xi Chenglong replied with a slight smile before continuing. "Furthermore, I questioned the three injured bodyguards in detail. Their handling of the situation at the time was indeed somewhat lacking in propriety."
Su Mengchen nodded. "To defeat three A-class bodyguards, his skills must be quite remarkable?"
"Exceptionally formidable," Xi Chenglong stated with utmost seriousness.
"Exceptionally formidable?" Su Mengchen showed mild surprise. "Uncle Xi, you rarely speak of someone's abilities in such terms."
Xi Chenglong nodded. "At the very least, he is on par with me."
Su Mengchen was visibly moved. After a moment of silence, she spoke slowly. "Twenty years old, with combat skills comparable to yours, Uncle Xi, and about to join Pao Li Corporation... by any measure, he is a young man with considerable promise. Since his involvement with Xiaoshi was a misunderstanding, please liaise with the ship's security department. If he were actually convicted of kidnapping, it would reflect poorly on us and could damage the Yan family's reputation."
"As you wish, Madam," Xi Chenglong replied with a respectful bow.