The Most Powerful Brain in the Interstellar Space

Chapter 355 Temporary Stay
To say that Zhou Yuanjing's decision to trust outsiders instead of his own people is bizarre... well, it needs to be analyzed in the context of the actual situation.

If Solsa had the time, Zhou Yuanjing would have asked his trusted confidant to personally bring the child back without hesitation. However, Solsa had just been transferred by Zhou Yuanjing from the competition to carry out a secret mission, and it was quite urgent, so he probably wouldn't be able to return in a short time.

While there were others who were credible, they all fell short of expectations, so Zhou Yuanjing thought of Zongting.

Zong Ting is a special operations soldier in the Third Army Corps and a promising candidate cultivated and favored by the central military's direct forces. Moreover, unlike other ordinary officers, he has an absolute stance that he would never betray the Empire.

Although Zhou Yuanjing was dissatisfied with the current atmosphere in the military and even the unhealthy tendencies stirred up by some high-ranking officials, and disgusted by this purge mission which was full of foolish ambitions even at the planning level, he still trusted the military quite a bit.

With such double direct guarantees, no one is more suitable to be the escort.

Furthermore, Zhou Yuanjing also needs to have a good talk with one of the mission executors about what happened today.

No one could refuse the Imperial Marshal's reasonable request, and since it was just a favor, the Imperial Court acquiesced.

So sending someone back to the Zhou residence is the same as sending them away, and sending them to another place is also the same. That's roughly what Zongting meant. The other party probably overheard their conversation.

However, Zhou Xiuwen still felt it was inappropriate. Firstly, he had participated in the meeting that day and knew that this Lieutenant Colonel Zong was likely there on a mission and was not free. While sending him back to the Zhou residence might be a convenient matter, it could be a bit of a hassle for others.

Zhou Xiuwen was unaware of the ban, as Zhou Yuanjing had not explained it to him, nor was he aware of the chaotic situation outside. Therefore, he dared not leave Jiang Hui and the others alone; it was better for them to return to the Zhou family home for the time being, which was currently the safest place on the entire planet.

Even though many military officers are currently gathered at the Zhou family's residence, it shouldn't be a problem to provide temporary lodging for a few young people.

Thinking about it this way, Zhou Xiuwen felt it was feasible, so he simply contacted Zhou Yuanjing. It turned out that the other party was probably waiting for him, and he replied immediately.

"Then why don't you stay at my place for the night? We'll see what happens tomorrow," Zhou Xiuwen explained to his friends.

Hillman wasn't surprised; he had already learned about the situation outside over the phone, and it was quite chaotic.

Although Hillman's father wanted to come and pick him up immediately, the current situation was complicated, and they had no choice. The couple could only instruct Hillman to stay carefully in the hospital for the night, since the military hospital was a safe place under the current circumstances.

Huan Xian nodded almost imperceptibly, because what followed was none of his business, and it wouldn't matter where he went.

Jiang Hui, however, looked slightly worried, not because she didn't want to stay at Zhou Xiuwen's house temporarily, but because she was thinking of something else. The outside world was in complete chaos, and perhaps due to a problem with the entire planet's signal, the quantum computer signal was intermittent. She had tried to connect to the quantum computer several times but failed to reconnect with Stark, and she didn't know why.

Although he thought it unlikely that Stark would hear the news and go to her house to look for her, and that she was more likely stuck somewhere due to the ban, Stark was probably worried about her being almost out of contact and then going to another place with Zhou Xiuwen. "Is there a problem?" Zhou Xiuwen glanced at her and asked.

Jiang Hui shook her head, not revealing her secret, thinking she would try contacting Stark again later, at least to let him know she was safe.

Zhou Xiuwen had already gone to explain the situation to Lieutenant Colonel Zong, and then signaled his comrades to follow.

He hadn't introduced the lieutenant colonel earlier because they were all still young students, quite far removed from the military, and there was no need for them to get involved in those matters. The adults, of course, didn't want the children to be too involved in these complicated affairs either, so they all tacitly separated without further introductions.

But things are different now. They'll need someone's help to take them back later, so they'll definitely need to get to know them and say hello.

Zhou Xiuwen, acting as their representative, introduced Lieutenant Colonel Zong Ting to his friends. The children all greeted the unfamiliar officer very politely, appearing extremely well-behaved.

Of course, they wouldn't admit that their obedience was genuine, because this Colonel Zong gave off an aura of sternness and severity. Even his handsome face couldn't diminish his imposing presence. He was stern and rarely smiled, appearing much stricter than their school's teachers, which made them instinctively restrain themselves when they saw him.

However, the other party actually nodded back to them quite earnestly, without being vague or perfunctory just because they were young. This officer was surprisingly approachable.

He then bid farewell to August Clarence, who was watching over them, as Clarence was also preparing to leave to go to the observation room to watch over the still unconscious Clarence.

He said to Zong Ting and the others, "That's all then. Please be careful on your journey. Goodbye." He glanced at everyone and finally landed on Jiang Hui, who was standing at the back. He gave her a barely perceptible nod and then turned and left.

Then, only Jiang Hui and his group, along with the unfamiliar officer, remained in the waiting area outside the emergency room. Without saying much, the officer led the children and the accompanying guards back to the orbital spacecraft.

The other party boarded the spaceship first to check the interior. After all, the current situation is so chaotic, and they have been away from the spaceship for quite some time. Although they left one person to guard the place, they still had to be careful. Zong Ting personally boarded the spaceship to conduct a brief inspection.

The remaining people waited for further instructions in the waiting area below.

As soon as the imposing officer left, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

"My God, Xiuwen, do you know this officer? His aura is so strong! I've met some military personnel with my father before, and few of them have such an imposing presence. Lieutenant Colonel Zong, surnamed Zong... Could he be from that family in the capital?" Hillman whispered to Zhou Xiuwen, his brows furrowed with curiosity about the officer.

Jiang Hui listened silently from the side, and upon hearing the address, she couldn't help but feel a mix of amusement and exasperation. No… Hillman was truly the "king" of overly familiar people. She remembered him calling her "Classmate Zhou" this morning, and now he was calling her by her full name, and doing it so naturally that even she, a grown woman, felt inferior.

(End of this chapter)