Chapter 27: When Age Is Just a Number in the Federation

Serena had already left.

She’d only stayed for a few minutes this time.

All she really did was leave Andrei with a black eye and swollen face—nothing more.

It almost felt like…

She just dropped by for a quick sparring session.

“So, Serena’s your actual big sis?”

“Yeah!”

At this moment Andrei really didn’t want to talk.

Getting beat up was bad enough, but the worst part was…

It happened right in front of Lin Yu!

Nothing could be more humiliating…

He might as well have lost face all the way to the Arctic Ocean.

“Honestly, Serena’s usually not this violent. What got into her?”

Lin Yu muttered, still puzzled.

Sure, Serena always had that tough-girl vibe, even insisted her crew call her ‘Big Sis’.

But aside from that, Lin Yu had never seen this side of her before.

Something about this didn’t add up!

“Isn’t it obvious? It’s because I refused to marry her!”

“Wait, what?”

Lin Yu’s jaw dropped.

After hearing Andrei grumble his answer…

Lin Yu was left completely speechless.

Did he really just hear that right? Andrei got beaten up for not wanting to marry Serena?

“Hold on, aren’t you two siblings?”

“Yeah, but we’re not blood related. I was adopted by her family!”

“Okay but still, even if you’re not related, how did this turn into a marriage thing?”

“Because my parents want me to marry Serena! But she’s over ten years older than me. Back in ancient Huaxia, she could practically be my mom, you know?”

Lin Yu paused for a second.

How old was Serena anyway?

If he remembered right, she was about a year younger than Mu Qingxue.

So… thirty-one?

Yeah, back in old China, she really might have fit the age for Andrei’s mother.

Still…

“Andrei, this is the Federation era. Humans live well over 150 years now, and those of us with decent brain development—like around 20%—even make it past 200.”

“A thirteen-year age gap barely matters. Give it a few decades and you’ll practically be the same age!”

“Plus, these days, people in their thirties look the same as those in their twenties. Your sister’s a knockout, and that figure of hers should probably be classified as a weapon…”

“Picture this: in the future, she’s lying in bed, cuddled up with some other guy. You okay with that?”

Huh?

Lin Yu’s words seemed to echo.

Andrei couldn’t help but picture that scene in his mind.

His blood started to boil…

“No way! Not a chance!”

“See? Thirteen years—that’s barely more than four gold bars, and nobody in this era cares about that! Heck, even centuries ago in old Huaxia, this wouldn’t have been an issue!”

“Seriously?”

Andrei looked doubtful.

“Why would I lie to you?”

Lin Yu shot back, a little annoyed.

“So, there’s really no problem with me being with Serena?”

“None!”

“Then I’m gonna go talk to her!”

“Go on, hurry up!”

Lin Yu waved him off, all but shooing him out the door.

Whether Andrei and Serena would end up together, Lin Yu had no idea.

But…

Andrei’s particular talents were vital for Lin Yu’s future fleet command.

No way was he letting Andrei skip town just because he was scared of Serena.

So, he decided to give Big Sis a little help.

Ten minutes later.

There was another knock at the door.

Lin Yu opened it and saw…

A pig-headed figure so swollen you could barely see his eyes standing right outside.

“Uh, who the heck are you supposed to be?”

“Maybe hit up the medical bay first?”

——

Fifth Fleet Temporary Home Port.

Med Bay One.

Right now, Andrei was lying inside a recovery pod. Through the glass shell, Lin Yu could see his face already deflating, most of the swelling gone.

On the walk over, Lin Yu got the full story from Andrei.

After getting Serena’s room number from Lin Yu, he’d charged right over there.

But Andrei’s brain worked in mysterious ways.

He didn’t say a word after going in.

He just tried to drag Serena into the bedroom.

According to Andrei, he figured actions spoke louder than words—show Serena he agreed to marry her.

And what’s more direct than deepening the relationship in bed?

Lin Yu was speechless.

So, you barge into Serena’s room, say nothing, drag her into the bedroom, and try to undress her?

Wow…

Surviving that beating is a miracle!

Lin Yu sighed with feeling.

Just then Serena strode into the med bay.

“Uh… Big Sis!”

“How’s he doing?”

“He’ll be fine. Half an hour tops and he’ll be bouncing off the walls again!”

“Good, I’ll come back in half an hour to beat him up again!”

With that, Serena turned and marched out, not looking back.

Lin Yu was left dumbfounded.

Wait, she’s coming back for round two?

And she’s going to wait until Andrei is fully healed before pounding him again?

Casting a long look at Andrei, who seemed to be enjoying his time in the recovery pod, Lin Yu let out a sigh.

Bro… you gotta wise up.

——

The next day.

Qin Qiong, having finished his handover, arrived at the temporary port to report for duty with the Fifth Fleet.

Just like Andrei, he was awestruck when he saw Lin Yu.

But he quickly threw himself into his work.

After all…

In just over ten hours, the Zhulong warship would be arriving.

And he still had a mountain of tasks to finish before then.

“Andrei?”

“Yep, the very same Andrei you’re thinking of, Instructor Qin.”

Lin Yu grinned and nodded.

“Figured as much. That kid’s got his quirks, but when it comes to fleet coordination, he’s the best in the business.”

“Your command style is pretty wild, after all. Without someone who can keep up in fleet operations as your staff officer…”

“Your tactics would lose a ton of punch!”

Qin Qiong had been the lead instructor of the Command Department at the First Federation Advanced Military Academy. Lin Yu, George, and Andrei were all his students, so he knew every one of their strengths.

He was absolutely right.

A tactic is just a plan on paper.

To actually pull it off, it takes flawless teamwork from the staff officers.

No matter how good a commander is, he can’t micromanage every move in a battle.

If he tried, he’d just be a staff officer, not a commander.

That’s why a top-notch staff team is the key to turning strategy into reality.

And among all the staff, the one handling fleet coordination is absolutely critical.

For the whole fleet, every ship, knowing when and where to move, how to change formation, what pace to keep—that all comes down to the skill of that officer.

Andrei…

Lin Yu had picked him as the absolute best fit for the job.

“Colonel Lin Yu, please report to the combat briefing room on the Qiongxiao’s bridge immediately. An emergency meeting is about to begin.”

Just then—

The screen on the wall suddenly lit up.

A young comms officer from the Qiongxiao appeared and relayed Mu Qingxue’s orders.