Chapter 199
er Joe Rebel Stratagem
Finished
Lyra nodded.
Still, she typed out a message on her device.
“Back there, the rebel ships were practically invisible. We couldn’t tell how many they had. If our escorts. hadn’t been out front, their shots would have hit this flagship p>
“This is near Core Prime,” Hadrien explained. “No matter how bold the rebels are, they dare not deploy their full fleet here.
“Besides, you underestimate the flagship’s defensive shielding. If a few laser blasts could cripple it, it would never be tasked with transporting a Guide p>
Lyra gradually calmed down.
That made sense.
She had only grown frightened after watching the escort frigates go dark the moment they took hits, and assumed the flagship shared the same vulnerability.
She asked another question.
“If that’s true, why would the rebels launch this ambush at all p>
“That’s simply how they operate,” Hadrien said. “No matter what the Federation does, the rebels will stage harassment and disruption. They strike and slip away before our main forces can mobilize p>
Lyra fell silent. It sounded just like roaming thugs out to cause trouble wherever they could.
Hadrien glanced down at his Star Brain.
“The fighting outside should wrap up in ten minutes at most p>
Lyra lapsed into silence again.
All that frantic fear, and she had even begun to prepare herself for the worst–it felt almost ridiculous.
A heavy, quiet tension hung in the air.
Hadrien kept holding her cold hand the whole time, while Lyra stared blankly, lost in her own thoughts.
Suddenly, she typed another question.
“What exactly are the rebels hoping to accomplish with these attacks? ”
Was it just meaningless harassment?
Playing the boy who cried wolf?
Hadrien thought for a moment.
“ They likely want to test our military strength. They may only have received intel that a Guide was being
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Chapter 196 Rebel Stratagem
transported here. But they don’t know exactly what tier the new Guide is. ”
Finished
The Federation adjusted the size of each escort contingent based on a Guide’s tier. A larger escort meant the Guide possessed a higher tier and was more important for both sides.
Ironically, rebel spies had failed to uncover accurate information. Even Zev, who administered Lyra’s assessment, did not know her true tier.
Tier–35 was merely an unconfirmed speculation
Lyra kept asking, “If these people are rebels, where do they source all their weaponry p>
“They maintain several hidden bases,” Hadrien replied. “At first, they captured weapons engineers and forced them to build arms. Once the engineers passed on their knowledge, the rebels began independent production p>
Captured engineers…
Lyra’s thoughts drifted to Wren, Jessa’s younger brother, who attended Luminis Military Academy.
After Jessa’s imprisonment, she lost all contact with the outside world and had no idea how Wren fared.
During their earlier conversation, Lyra had told Jessa that Hadrien had dispatched operatives to apprehend Wren.
But Wren was sharp and spotted the trap early, managing to escape.
That knowledge had eased Jessa’s worry, and she shared several secrets with Lyra afterward.
Now, Lyra mulled over the new information.
If the rebels manufactured weapons on their own, they would never test their firepower close to their bases. Any large–scale detonation would draw unwanted attention from nearby patrols.
She considered the pattern of these small, hit–and–run raids.
Lyra typed, “Could the rebels be using skirmishes like this to field–test their newly developed weapons against Hophrin’s fleet p>
They could gather performance data on their armaments while disrupting official operations, almost like live combat drills.
They only sent expendable cannon fodder to fight.
If Federation troops pursued, they risked walking into ambushes and taking unnecessary casualties.
If they held back, the public would grow furious, and the government would look weak.
It left them trapped with no good choice.
Hearing her words, Hadrien abruptly froze.
This guess was actually something Core Prime had already made long ago.
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Feral Sentinels Obey Only Her
Chapter 200 Clues of the Rebel Weapon Test
Finished
The rebels had pulled this trick before. Every time they finished developing new weaponry, they launched strikes against Federation military bases.
Each assault deployed a different type of attack. The bases suffered repeated losses at first, until they expanded patrol ranges and stabilized the situation.
He never imagined Lyra, a fragile woman not native to Hophrin, would pinpoint that possibility so sharply.
Through his reflective helmet, Hadrien’s gaze locked onto her, heavy and intense.
Lyra’s eyes flickered, and she tilted her head in confusion.
Hadrien’s voice came out slightly rough.
“How did you work that out p>
Lyra blinked calmly.
“Just a guess. ”
She noticed he still stared at her, then typed another line.
“I hit the mark, didn’t I p>
A faint smile laced Hadrien’s tone.
“ Yes.
“ Was it also just a guess on your side p>
Lyra typed, “No. If I were wrong, you would simply explain it to me p>
He wouldn’t ask how she worked that out.
Hadrien laughed at her logic.
Lyra could not see his expression, yet after all their time together, a warm, gentle aura washed over her, and she instinctively knew he was smiling.
Hadrien stayed half–squatted before her, tilting his head to gaze unblinkingly at her quiet, innocent face.
Shielded inside the safehouse from the battle outside and distracted by their conversation, all panic and helplessness had faded from her clear eyes. Only pure curiosity lingered there, making her look like a skittish, endearing young beast.
He could not tear his eyes away, drinking in the sight for a long moment.
How could his Guide be so sharp?
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Chapter 208 Cluce of the Rebel Weapon Test
Finished
slowly, her translucent eyes darted aside. Long lashes fluttered like delicate curtains, shyly attempting to evade his stare.
Soft pink bloomed across her smooth cheeks, spreading outward like peach blossoms waking to spring
warmth.
Lyra turned her head away.
Hadrien snapped out of his daze.
He had nearly forgotten–his Guide blushed so easily.
Beautiful as the sight was, he forced himself not to linger.
He softened his voice, smooth as quiet mountain streams.
“ Are you still cold p>
Lyra shook her head.
She shifted slightly and pulled her hand back, yet her heart hammered wildly, as if its thunder echoed right beside her ears.
Up close, Hadrien watched pink creep down her jawline, staining the curve of her delicate ear.
The air inside his helmet felt suddenly thin. Dryness prickled his throat, and he rose to his feet.
“Would you like some water p>
Lyra blinked and nodded.
Hadrien walked toward the bar to fetch drinks.
Lyra’s lashes trembled, her eyes tracking his movement from the corner of her vision.
When he reached the lounge bar, he filled a cup and brought straight to her first, without tending to his
own thirst.
Lyra wrapped both hands around the glass and nodded to show her gratitude,
Hadrien turned back to pour water for himself.
He lifted his helmet and drained the whole cup in one gulp.
The cool water brought brief relief, yet it failed to extinguish the restless heat simmering inside him.
Knock, knock.
Just then, there was a knock at the door outside.
Lyra twisted her head instantly.
Hadrien set down his cup, slid his helmet back into place, and stepped to answer.
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Chapter 208 Clues of the Rebel Weapon Test
Finished
Zev stood outside, his gaze landing first on Lyra.
Relief crossed his features when he saw that the panic and helplessness from earlier were gone from her face.
“The enemy forces have retreated. Four new task forces dispatched from Core Prime will reinforce our escort. You have nothing more to fear, Ms. Kaelin p>
Lyra glanced at her Star Brain. The timeline matched exactly what Hadrien had predicted.
“Would you like to return to the upper deck now p>
Zev stepped aside, revealing Yannis, Lior, and the others behind him, all waiting to check on the Guide.
Lyra modded. She took a small sip of water and stood, following the group back upstairs once more.
No one looked as if they had just experienced a dangerous surprise attack.
Aside from the few escort ships outside that had suffered cannon fire, been damaged, and abandoned in the starry cosmos, drifting alone, everything else looked unchanged.
Lyra wandered to a viewport and pressed close, trying to spot any trace of the retreating rebels.
Hadrien watched her clumsy attempt with quiet amusement.
“You won’t see them p>
Lyra scanned space left and right, yet found no sign of the cloaked warships that blended seamlessly with starlight.
In such a short time, they had already vanished?
“They would sweep the battlefield and erase all traces before calling you back up. They won’t leave anything you shouldn’t see p>
Lyra turned to face him.
She almost asked how he knew every detail, then quickly realized the truth.
He had once served within this fleet. That explained how he operated the safehouse’s escape pods with such familiarity and understood every protocol aboard the flagship.
Hadrien gestured toward the distance.
“They’re here p>
Lyra followed his line of sight. The task forces Zev had mentioned arrived, dozens of fighters streaking forward in a V formation.
Once they neared the flagship, the dark gray craft slid smoothly into position alongside the remaining frigates, forming a steady protective escort on both sides.
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Chapter 208 Clues of the Rebel Weapon Test
Finished
Lyra studied the new fighters. Their hulls were coated in adaptive camouflage that melted them into the surrounding space, nearly invisible to the untrained eye.
The technology shared striking similarities with the rebels‘ stealth ships.
Further ahead, a faint silvery glow belonging to Core Prime glimmered into view.
Their destination drew near.
The thought of everything awaiting her made her heart race all over again.
Clink.
A tiny, crisp chime sounded.
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Ruby Walker
Ruby Walker is a rising voice in the world of romance and spicy fiction. With a gift for weaving deep emotions, sizzling chemistry, and unexpected twists, her stories are a blend of passion and drama that captivate readers from start to finish. Ruby’s writing style is bold and irresistible—perfect for those who crave intense, addictive love stories.