021 : A new day begins. Bianbian pulls open the metal curtains, knowing she won't see her uncle since he's already left, but this time she doesn't feel disappointed. Because she's certain her uncle will come back again. First, she tidies herself up, clumsily tying two little pigtails. Then Bianbian changes out of her lace dress—it was too prickly against her skin. Noticing the magic orb was still glowing, Bianbian turned it around in her arms. Seeing that the white side was slightly indented, she tentatively pressed it with her little finger, and the white light vanished. Next, she pressed each of the other colors one by one, unexpectedly discovering that every color could be depressed, emitting a corresponding hue of light—bright yet not glaring, and especially beautiful. As if she had received a novel toy, the little girl played with all the colors before carefully placing the magic orb in her bedroom, daring not to play with it further, afraid of draining its "power"

and causing it to stop glowing. She walked toward the kitchen, where Zhu Yuan had moved the stove down and placed it on a stool; given Bianbian's height, she could now use it. Bianbian picked up a small pot to boil water. Without overthinking, she poured the bottle of organic mineral water into the pot and carefully turned on the gas. Gas was dangerous, so Bianbian, clutching her teddy bear, squatted at a safe distance, keeping watch over the stove. Once the water boiled, she would immediately turn off the gas. It didn't take long for a bottle of water to boil. A few minutes later, the small pot began bubbling with a gurgling sound. Bianbian quickly stood up, turned off the gas, then returned to the living room to prepare opening the formula milk. After removing the lid of the formula tin, there was still an inner sealed foil layer.

Since Bianbian lacked strength to tear it open, she had to use a small knife to painstakingly poke holes along the seam, slowly cutting it open. Although her arms were sore and aching, the mere thought of getting to drink milk powder filled Bianbian with boundless energy. After more than ten minutes of effort, Bianbian finally pried open the metal sheet. Wiping away the beads of sweat on her forehead and inhaling the distinctive milky aroma of the powder, the little girl licked her petal-soft lips. Eagerly, she took out a baby bottle that hadn't been used in ages, carefully rinsed it with boiling water, and mixed herself a full bottle of neinei in one go! Cradling the bottle, she lay on the sofa drinking, her eyes curving into tiny crescent moons while her slender little legs kicked playfully in the air. She looked utterly content. When Nong Jiusi logged into the game, this was exactly the scene that greeted him: the little one happily guzzling from her bottle, her tiny feet kicking in the air with delight.

He glanced at the dining table and, from the milk powder clinging to the knife and the opened state of the formula can, concluded that the little one had used the knife to open a new can of formula herself and then boiled water to mix it. Nong Jiusi didn't wonder where the milk powder came from, just as Xiu Jin hadn't questioned how the mana sphere appeared; they had unconsciously overlooked these details. In fact, at this moment, Nong Jiusi was reflecting on why, at the start of a new day, he needed to enter the game via NR projection first thing in the morning. He was supposed to go out shortly to meet with the Third Prince, Xiu Yan, to discuss matters, so he should be getting ready instead. Watching the little one's joyful demeanor as she happily drank her milk, he offered his reasoning—he just wanted to see if there were any aftereffects once her high fever subsided.

It now seemed she was doing perfectly fine. The system chimed in: [Please increase your intimacy level with Bianbian as soon as possible; otherwise, you will be unable to purchase self-defense weapons for her in the mall.] [Note: Although the basic laser gun has immense power, it is a single-use weapon. Most importantly, it is far too heavy for Bianbian to lift or use given her current age and physical constitution.] [In the post-apocalyptic world, variables change constantly and danger can approach at any moment. As her father, you have an obligation to ensure Bianbian's safety.] Nong Jiusi remarked indifferently, "You talk too much."

System: … Automatic mute. Nong Jiusi glanced at the floating "0"

in the upper right corner, walked over to the sofa, and looked down at the little one. So tiny. A speaker button appeared above the little one's head; a slender finger gently tapped it.

"…What should I give Uncle? He's been so good to me, but I just don't know what to get. It's so troubling."

Nong Jiusi raised an eyebrow. Want to give him something? Bianbian let out a milky burp, rolled over to talk to her little bear, her small face filled with earnest worry. Nong Jiusi shifted his gaze to the little bear, his handsome brows knitting together once more before he forcibly looked away, unwilling to let the bear's filthy appearance pollute his eyes. He was curious to see what the little one would give him. As for having no intimacy points and being unable to purchase weapons from the shop, Nong Jiusi curled his lips into a faint, ambiguous smile. System: … A bad feeling. Unexpectedly, Nong Jiusi logged off himself. After breakfast, Nong Jiusi changed his clothes and walked out of the palace gates. Nong Tang had already parked the aircraft at the entrance and opened the door: "My lord."

Nong Jiusi bent down and seated himself inside. Half an hour later, the aircraft landed on a green lawn. Another aircraft was parked nearby, its top adorned with a long, ornate tail feather fluttering in the wind.

"My lord, the Feathered Clan has arrived as well."

"I see."

Ahead on the lawn stood several connected high-rise buildings; this was the Empire's Military Command Center, where Xiu Yan worked whenever he wasn't out on missions. After walking forward for a while, soldiers in uniform who spotted Nong Jiusi all bowed deeply, saying, "Greetings, Lord Jiusi."

Nong Jiusi nodded in response. He was a regular here, holding the idle position of an untitled instructor within the military department. What exactly is an untitled instructor? It means he can teach anything. Combat, command, reconnaissance… any type he wished to teach was possible. He was also known by many graduated soldiers as the Devil Instructor. Just as he entered the hall, a lieutenant hurried over and respectfully said, "Lord Jiusi, the General is waiting for you in his office." Nong Jiusi asked,

"Who from the Feathered Clan has arrived?"

"The Lieutenant said, 'It's the Feather Emperor.'" Nong Jiusi asked no further, but Nong Tang grew curious:

"What brings the Feather Emperor here?"

Like the Dragon Clan, the Feather Clan had few members; most resided in the Illusionary Feather Forest designated by the Empire. They rarely ventured out even when idle, often not even assuming human form. The planet they once inhabited, adapted for the Yu race, was caught in the turmoil of war; a vast number of the Yu became infected, fell ill, and perished.

Later, the Yu Emperor joined the Imperial War Camp, forming an alliance to halt the invaders and achieve the unification of the empire. In the final stages of this endeavor, the former Feather Emperor tragically sacrificed his life. After the empire's unification, the Divine Emperor allotted a forest suited to the Winged Tribe's existence, naming it the Illusory Feather Forest, so that the surviving tribespeople might live there freely. As for Huan Tianjue, the son of the Feather Emperor, he was taken into the imperial palace by the Divine Emperor to be raised. Upon reaching adulthood, Huan Tianjue ascended as the new Feather Emperor. Having endured the great war of old, the remaining Winged Tribe yearned for a life of tranquility. Only a few spirited clansmen, fond of liveliness, chose to dwell among ordinary folk in the heart of the imperial capital; among them is the current Feather Emperor, Huan Tianjue.

…… The lieutenant replied, "His Majesty the Feather Emperor has come to request several fighter jets from the General."

"?"

Nong Tang expressed surprise.

"Who does he intend to fight with those fighter jets?"

The lieutenant shook his head and explained in detail, "By order of the Emperor, His Majesty the Feather Emperor is collaborating with His Highness the Seventh Prince to establish a charitable foundation aimed at aiding refugees on some remote planets; therefore, fighter jets are needed to transport supplies."

Nong Tang understood immediately. The barren planet suffers from a scarcity of resources, which inevitably leads to unstable order there; deploying fighter jets to deliver supplies also serves a protective function. The trio took the elevator up to the twenty-second floor. The lieutenant pushed open the door to Xiu Yan's office: "General, Lord Jiusi has arrived."

"Jiusi."

Xiu Yan smiled and waved.

"You're here so early? That's not like you." Nong Jiusi replied coolly,

"Are you saying I'm usually late?"

Xiu Yan's smile never wavered, completely unfazed by the pressure Nong Jiusi exuded.

"Aren't you?"

Nong Jiusi: "…"

"Lord Jiusi."

Huan Tianjue, who had been sitting in a chair nearby, stood up as Nong Jiusi entered. Today, Nong Jiusi wasn't even wearing a suit; dressed in simple casual attire, with black-rimmed glasses perched on his well-defined nose, he looked less like an imposing figure and more like a handsome, gentle university professor, devoid of any flamboyant embellishments. Nong Jiusi tilted his chin slightly toward Xiu Yan: "You came to ask him for a fighter jet?"

Huan Tianjue adjusted his glasses and sighed: "Yes, but Third Brother seems to have some reservations and isn't too keen on giving it to me."

"When did you become so stingy?"

Nong Jiusi glanced at Xiu Yan.

"He's partnering with your foolishly wealthy younger brother for charity; what's wrong with investing a few fighter jets?"

Huan Tianjue picked up the coffee beside him and took a sip, a fleeting smile passing through his eyes. It was said that Lord Jiusi, the eldest among them, had an eccentric temper; even though he and Xiu Yan were "friends across generations,"

he would turn on a dime at the slightest disagreement. Probably because Xiu Yan had just called him out for being late. Huan Tianjue set down his coffee cup, wisely choosing to remain silent. Xiu Yan cleared his throat, coming to his younger brother's defense: "In what way is Xiao Qi stupid?"

Nong Jiusi smiled, as if silently saying—stupid in every way. ……

"Achoo!"

Xiu Jin, riding in a car toward the Dark Market to find NR equipment, sneezed and wondered which bastard was cursing him behind his back. ※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※ Papa Xiu: …Nong Jiusi, just you wait.

Later— "Baby, save Papa!!!"