Chapter 61: The Arrival of the New Commander

Lu Fei's warning to Tian Xiao was simple yet profound:

Be steady.

Everything must be approached with caution.

As long as Tian Xiao could adapt to the role of Security Team Leader, understand the rules of the base, and know what he could and couldn't do, he'd be able to challenge the base's leadership without breaking a sweat.

Lu Fei had walked this path before and had eventually pushed Commander Lin Xu into isolation, forcing him to retreat into seclusion and stop dealing with external affairs.

Tian Xiao nodded in understanding.

Lu Fei gave him a subtle nod of approval.

"Tian Xiao, you've always been steady. As long as you don't expose any critical weaknesses or fatal flaws… If you continue down your current path, the new commander won't be able to find any chinks in your armor. But the others, like Old Lu, they're more laid-back…"

"It's alright, I'll temporarily remove Old Lu from his position as team leader and assign it to Zhu Xiaotian. I'll have her keep an eye on him," Tian Xiao responded with confidence.

Lu Fei agreed with this solution.

He knew Old Lu all too well. His abilities had significantly declined, and he had long since stopped caring about his duties. All he wanted was to get by, and maybe save a little money for a future family.

Taking him out of the role and giving him a gentle push would be enough to resolve the situation.

"From now on, the security team will be under your care," Lu Fei officially handed over the reins of his group to Tian Xiao.

Tian Xiao stood up, his expression serious and respectful as he nodded.

"Don't worry, Boss Lu. I'll take care of these brothers. I'm looking forward to the day you join us aboard the ship and we can reunite."

Lu Fei looked around at his team with a complex expression.

After years of being here, it wasn't easy for him to say goodbye.

The company's email informing everyone of his departure left a heavy atmosphere hanging over the place.

A farewell party was held for him, a grand celebration for his departure.

The next day, Lu Fei left.

It wasn't until the day after that, when the new commander arrived and took his position, that Lu Fei officially departed.

The new commander disembarked from a Seahorse-class spacecraft, looking remarkably young—only around twenty-four or twenty-five. His figure was tall and slender, and as he walked down the ramp, four individuals who exuded a bodyguard-like presence followed closely behind, attracting the curiosity and speculation of everyone around.

People whispered in the crowd:

"He's so young…"

"When Commander Lin Xu was thirty-six, we all thought he was young, but this one looks like he just graduated."

"He must be about twenty-five. A G-level officer at such a young age—his future is limitless!"

The high-ranking officials from the base's command center, tower, and logistics couldn't help but stare in surprise.

"Are those four his bodyguards?"

"Look at that entourage—amazing…"

"I didn't think the company's top brass could afford this kind of display."

"Could he be one of the higher-ups from the group, sent here for some sort of 'golden management' role?"

"Huh…"

"Did you notice? Besides the security team's leader and deputy leader, no one else from the team is present."

"Is that so unusual? Only the leader and deputy are middle management. The rest are regular staff. They don't need to show up."

"But I remember when Commander Lin Xu arrived, the entire security team was on hand to greet him. Thirty-six Skybird drones lined up to welcome him—it was quite a show."

The people from the command center and tower were especially taken aback.

Tian Xiao and Chen Wuling stood at the front of the crowd, unaffected by the gossip behind them.

As the young new commander walked toward them, his gaze immediately landed on Tian Xiao.

"You're the leader of the security team, Tian Xiao?" His tone was distinctly condescending, as if testing Tian Xiao.

Tian Xiao smiled slightly and extended his hand.

"That's right, Commander Wang Yunfei. On behalf of the entire security team, I welcome your arrival."

Wang Yunfei's response was loaded with veiled sarcasm. "I've heard that the previous leader's departure was disappointing for the team. Are you all truly happy about my 'airdrop' into this position?"

The implication was clear to everyone around them—the new commander was trying to provoke the security team with a pointed remark.

No one dared to speak up.

Tian Xiao's smile never faltered. "There's a lot of misinformation going around, Commander. You shouldn't pay too much attention to rumors."

"Oh? I hope so," Wang Yunfei chuckled dismissively.

Instead of acknowledging Tian Xiao's handshake, Wang Yunfei motioned for one of his bodyguards to step forward. The bodyguard handed him a cigar, which he lit and took a slow drag from, letting the sharp smoke waft over Tian Xiao's face.

"Lead the way," Wang Yunfei barked, spraying his second-hand smoke with an air of command.

The entire crowd was taken aback by the sheer audacity of his actions.

Chen Wuling's face grew darker. He had never seen anyone treat the security team with such open disdain during Lu Fei's time.

Even the command center, tower, and logistics officers who typically worked with the new commander were surprised by his arrogance.

Tian Xiao remained unfazed, his expression unchanged.

He understood exactly what Wang Yunfei was doing—deliberately trying to provoke him into reacting, hoping to catch him off-guard and give him an excuse to take action.

It was a classic trick, one that was predictable yet effective for someone who was still young and full of fiery energy.

The problem was, Tian Xiao wasn't that easily rattled.

Chen Wuling, on the other hand, was visibly enraged, his fists clenched as he stepped forward, ready to challenge Wang Yunfei.

But Tian Xiao, quick to react, placed a hand on his shoulder, applying just enough force to hold him back.

With a mere 15.6 strength points, Tian Xiao had no trouble keeping Chen Wuling in check.

"The new commander is just getting settled in. Don't be too rash. Let's accompany him to the command center," Tian Xiao said, his voice calm and even, as he led the way for Wang Yunfei.

The smile never left his face, and he showed no sign of being affected by Wang Yunfei's superior attitude or his provocative behavior.

He knew exactly what was going on—Wang Yunfei was trying to push him into a confrontation, trying to rattle him into making a mistake.

It was a well-worn tactic, but one that was still effective against younger, less experienced individuals like Chen Wuling.

What Wang Yunfei didn't realize was that Tian Xiao was no naive rookie.

He wasn't just some hot-headed youngster. He was someone who had spent three years navigating a treacherous world, someone who had survived near-death experiences and had been forced to make tough decisions.

Tian Xiao had seen it all before—this kind of petty manipulation was nothing new.

"Fine," Tian Xiao said, his voice still composed as he led the way, his movements confident and unflinching.

Wang Yunfei's expression flickered for a moment as if surprised by Tian Xiao's composed response. Behind him, his four bodyguards slowly began to exchange glances, their expressions growing more serious.

Tian Xiao knew the game was far from over, but he wasn't worried. This was only the beginning.

English Translation of the Revised Chapter: