I Pick Up Talents on the Interstellar Battlefield

Chapter 267: Chapter 259: New Mission, Magnetic Vortex Star (Double-Length)

The Cat-man walked with light steps, his silver-gray vertical pupils scanning the surroundings vigilantly. The white fur on the tips of his ears trembled in the breeze, and the short blade hanging at his waist decorated the tailbone of the feline, emitting a fine clinking sound as he moved.​​

Humans, Beastmen, and the Spirit Race—originally adversarial forces—now simultaneously appeared on the same street, minding their own business while even engaging in trade.

Spiritual Energy technology equipment of the Spirit Race, tribal war drums of the Beastmen, human elixirs… all appeared in the shops or stalls along the street.

Qin Tian wandered around the market and bought some items.

However, shopping here is quite unique, as one must first exchange their bank card’s Star Element into a kind of Blue Crystal Stone at the exchange point, which is then used to purchase goods.

The same applies to the Spirit Race and the Beastmen. Their financial systems are not aligned, so transactions can only be completed through this intermediary currency.

After having a meal at a specialty tavern, Qin Tian was walking down the street, giving a deep look at those Spirit Races and High-level Beastmen. What a pity, he had a mission this time, otherwise, he could have gleaned some talents from these aliens.

Renting an unmanned flying device, Qin Tian returned to the Star Port an hour before the airship’s departure and successfully boarded the ship.

…

Two days later

The airship passed through a chaotic magnetic field band and landed at the Magnetic Vortex Star Port.

The port here was evidently more backward than those on other planets, and the sanitation environment was relatively poor, but this planet was located in a no man’s land, so having a port itself was quite good.

Upon arriving at the exit, Qin Tian immediately saw the person he was meeting.

It was a man with a neat crew cut, his hair standing stiffly upright. He wasn’t handsome, but his well-defined face exuded a sense of masculinity.

Along the way, Yan Qing had described the reception person’s features and name to him.

It was this person, Zhao Rui.

“Is he Qin Tian?”

Zhao Rui squinted his eyes, carefully scrutinizing Qin Tian approaching him. The video image couldn’t capture the true aura of this young man—he was tall and straight like a sword drawn from its sheath, exuding a sharp, exposed force. His stern face seemed sculpted with chisels and axes, his eyebrows sharp as swords, his nose high, and his thin lips tightly pressed into a cold arc. The most captivating were his eyes, with pupils as dark as ink, carrying a hint of sharpness, deterring anyone from easily making eye contact.

Damn, why is a soldier so handsome!

Zhao Rui secretly cursed, waving his hand:

“Over here~”

Qin Tian stepped forward, revealing a polite smile:

“Hello, Zhao Rui.”

Zhao Rui grinned, stretching out his rough hand: “Qin Tian, long admired.”

As their hands clasped, a glint flashed in Zhao Rui’s eyes, and his palm suddenly exerted force. This was his customary way of probing—with seventy percent strength, neither too excessive nor too reserved.

However, the next second, his smile froze.

“Bang!”

A visible airwave suddenly blasted between their palms, startling surrounding travelers with its unexpected sound.

Zhao Rui felt as if his hand was clamped by a hydraulic press, with his phalanges making unbearable “crack” sounds.

“The flying device is parked outside.” Zhao Rui struggled to keep his face unchanged, quickly withdrawing his hand and shoving it into his pants pocket. His hidden hand trembled uncontrollably, the web of his thumb already showing a patch of bruising.

This kid… Zhao Rui glanced at Qin Tian’s tranquil side face with the corner of his eye, waves surging in his heart.

He, whose hands could crush alloy, suffered a major loss in a single encounter!

What great strength!

To be honest, his perception of Qin Tian changed. This guy indeed had capabilities, but the troubles they were facing couldn’t be solved by mere strength.

Boarding a rather rudimentary flying device, Zhao Rui glanced around the environment, casually asking:

“Qin Tian, I heard from Director Yan that you’ve been in the Seventh Bureau for less than a year.”

“Yes.” Qin Tian nodded in admission.

“Then, to be honest, according to military regulations, you should address me as ’sir’.” Zhao Rui turned to say.

“I see~”

Qin Tian blinked: “I hold the rank of Colonel. May I know your rank…?”

WTF!

Colonel!

Zhao Rui’s face stiffened. After graduating from military school, he was directly selected into the Seventh Bureau, and it’s been eight years now. In these eight years, he completed many tasks, and his rank ascended from lieutenant at graduation to lieutenant colonel.

Three promotions in eight years, that’s a very rapid pace of promotion. Now, just past 30 years of age, his résumé definitely classifies him as a rising star in the military.

But he hadn’t anticipated that Qin Tian, who seemed a bit younger than him, having joined the Seventh Bureau for less than a year, was already a Colonel.

Whose second-generation is this?

Why would someone like this come to the Seventh Bureau to polish their résumé?

Zhao Rui didn’t believe that a young man from an ordinary background could be promoted to Imperial Colonel at such a young age. Obviously, Qin Tian had an extraordinary origin.

“Ahem, Qin Tian, later apart from me and Director Yan, there are two other colleagues. Let me introduce you beforehand.” Zhao Rui awkwardly changed the topic, “The elder brother is called Chen Wei, he’s slightly older, with a calm personality, and the other is a short-haired beauty, Jiang Yihan, independent and fiery. In the Seventh Bureau, she is notoriously known as the tigress.”

Chen Wei, Jiang Yihan

Qin Tian memorized these two names in his heart.

“Zhao Rui!”

Just then, a familiar voice to Qin Tian came through the earpiece pasted on Zhao Rui’s ear.

The voice belonged to Yan Qing, although very faint, couldn’t escape his super hearing.

“You forgot to turn off your communication channel.”

Yan Qing’s tone carried a subtle oddness.

Soon after, an ice-cold female voice emerged.

“The tigress, Zhao Rui, I wasn’t aware I had such a good reputation in the Seventh Bureau.”

Snap

Zhao Rui’s face instantly stiffened, furiously tapping his toe, nearly tapping out a three-room-one-hall space.

To cover up the awkwardness, he ended up creating an even more awkward situation.

What to do?

Let the world be destroyed already!

“Remember to turn off the channel next time.” Yan Qing’s voice carried a hint of laughter.

Zhao Rui closed the channel, leaning dejectedly against the seat, silent.

Qin Tian eyed Zhao Rui with full sympathy; to offend the one person beside him who mustn’t be provoked.

Brother, may you find solace in your misfortune.

An hour later, the flying device landed.

Zhao Rui led Qin Tian into an unremarkable shop. As soon as the door opened, a pink fist landed directly on Zhao Rui’s face.

“Ah!”

Zhao Rui clutched his face, crying in pain.

Bang!

Another punch struck Zhao Rui’s abdomen, making him bend like a shrimp with a retching sound.

“Tigress? How do you find my tigress punch, Zhao Rui.”

A heroic-looking short-haired beauty stood at the door, her gaze carrying a hint of evil Qi.

“Yihan, great beauty, I was wrong!”

Zhao Rui lifted his body, smiling bitterly: “Can you give me a chance to start anew?”

“Hmph, a tigress doesn’t give people opportunities, she only devours them!”

Jiang Yihan snorted coldly, turning her head to walk into the room.

Seeing that Jiang Yihan seemed to let it go, Zhao Rui breathed a sigh of relief, turning to Qin Tian.

“Let’s go.”

“Mm.”

Qin Tian nodded, following Zhao Rui into the shop.

Entering the room, Qin Tian saw the long-missed Yan Qing, besides him, there was also the Chen Wei and Jiang Yihan Zhao Rui mentioned.

Chen Wei’s broad shoulders and square face gave off a sense of steadiness. Jiang Yihan’s heroic and brisk short hair was clean and sharp. Judging from the earlier parry, she truly was a woman not to be trifled with.

Qin Tian was observing the two, and they were also observing Qin Tian.

At first sight, Qin Tian left them with a deep impression,

His appearance was too outstanding, his build tall and sturdy, his features cold and rugged, at first glance one might mistake him for a celebrity, but the depth and sharpness in his eyes marked his extraordinary qualities.

“Director Yan, Qin Tian here to report.”

Qin Tian stood before Yan Qing, feet together, offering a standard military salute.

Seeing this, Yan Qing’s face broke into a smile.

“Qin Tian, you’ve arrived just in time.”