The Strongest Brain in the Interstellar

Even though he was still somewhat groggy, the flurry of activity around him ensured that Blade couldn’t help but be fully awake. By the time the medical team had gathered enough data and removed the monitors and sensors from him, his initial drowsiness had vanished, leaving his eyes sharp and clear.

He realized that he was now free from the strange, surreal dreams—this was… reality.

“Brother.” This time, he spoke with certainty. Adjusting his slightly slipping body with his hand for support, his gaze broadened, taking in the entire room and everyone in it.

His eyes traveled over Jiang Hui and Xierman, finally landing on his father, Lieutenant General Mace. A silence settled over the room, making Jiang Hui and the others feel slightly out of place, as if they were intruding on a private moment.

“You’re awake,” Lieutenant General Mace said, stepping to the bedside. He placed his left hand gently on the back of Brad’s neck, as if in reassurance.

“Father,” the young man murmured quietly. His usual strict, imposing demeanor when he faced cadets was gone; he seemed more like a child who had done something wrong. In front of his father, he was, in fact, always just a child.

“What’s with the bowed head—do you think you’ve done something wrong?” Lieutenant General Mace finally broke the silence.

Brad, of course, did not believe he’d done anything wrong.

Since he was young, he’d been taught that, as a soldier raised by the state and supported by the people of the Empire, he should defend the country and its people, even at the cost of his own life. So, he didn’t regret risking his life to save those kids in the slightest.

Upon waking, he even felt a flicker of joy that he could hardly believe—because he knew he’d made the right call. Both the kids and he were safe, and whatever price he’d have to pay now seemed trivial in comparison.

He moved his hands and feet, pleasantly surprised to find his limbs intact and no signs of paralysis, far better than he’d expected. But, maybe his excitement got the better of him; moving his arm too much pulled painfully at a large, not-yet-healed wound, and he froze immediately.

“Don’t move,” said Lieutenant General Mace, his earlier solemn tone quickly dissolving. “You just woke up, and you’re already moving around like this? Think you won’t be in the hospital long enough, huh? Behave, or I’ll be calling your mother,” he added, sounding more exasperated than angry.

In his daily life, Brad was stubborn, always fiercely independent. His transfer to this region was partly due to that schemer working behind the scenes, but Mace had also pushed for it, knowing full well that Brad’s family status could have easily prevented it if not for his intervention. Lieutenant General Mace certainly had plenty of solutions at hand—though some might not have been the most above-board.

Brad was tougher than both his older brother and sister, almost to the point of seeming reckless, which had long been a source of both pride and worry for the family patriarch. While he admired Brad’s capabilities, he was constantly anxious over his son’s stubborn idealism and naivety.

If there was anyone in the family who could get him to yield, it was his mother—the one person he wouldn’t dare talk back to.

It wasn’t that his mother was particularly formidable. In fact, she was a regular person, with a lifestyle entirely different from the family’s military career paths. Due to health issues, she hadn’t worked since getting married, occasionally taking freelance jobs online in the holographic zone.

Still, she was the one person Brad respected most, and the last person he’d want to go against. Lieutenant General Mace understood his son and knew that only his wife could make their stubborn child bend a little.

Mace had initially been angry, upset at his son’s defiance, which had led to a cold standoff between father and son. Now, he wanted to avoid further conflict and just bring this stubborn kid home, and he knew his wife would be key to that.

Sure enough, as soon as he mentioned his mother, Brad settled down immediately, his demeanor much more subdued than it had been when he first woke up, a sight that warmed Mace and his older son. Why was it that their proud youngest was only this well-behaved in front of his mother? If he could always be this compliant, they’d all be more than willing to spoil him.

“All right,” Lieutenant General Mace said calmly, “something this serious isn’t something I can hide from your mother. She’s not some sheltered housewife with no news from the outside. So, you won’t keep it from her long. If you don’t want her showing up to pull you back herself, I’d advise you to return home after you’re healed. Then we can discuss anything else.”

Brad clearly understood, and his posture softened, showing a hint of reluctant acceptance. Though he didn’t say anything, it was evident he’d already come to some kind of quiet agreement with himself.

“Alright, we still have guests here,” the lieutenant general said. “And speaking of which, you really ought to thank them. If it weren’t for these kids insisting, we might not be able to see you now.” He shifted slightly and waved for Jiang Hui and Xierman to come closer.

Under the watchful eyes of the three members of the Mace family, and with a confirming nod from Instructor Stark, the two approached hesitantly.

To be honest, they barely knew Instructor Mace at all. Saving him was one thing, but now that they were face-to-face, they weren’t sure what to say.

Jiang Hui had hoped her friend with the outgoing personality would take the lead and break the ice, but to her surprise, he had somehow managed to slip behind her, leaving her to speak.

“Instructor Mace, are you feeling better?” she said, awkwardly stringing a few polite words together. “We just…came by to check on you.” It wasn’t the most coherent greeting, but it seemed polite enough. Surely, he wouldn’t mind?

Jiang Hui could feel his gaze on her, quietly observing her, making her a little self-conscious. After a moment, he finally asked, “What’s your name?”

Jiang Hui: …??

Why was he so off-script? This was starting to feel strange, and she couldn’t keep up with the logic.

And didn’t his father just thank them for saving him? Asking such a question now made it seem like they barely knew each other at all! It felt a bit…awkward.

—Though, to be fair, it’s true. The three of us really aren’t close at all, but can’t we just keep it polite on the surface and leave it at that? Why did he have to bring it up?

Jiang Hui realized that if she stayed silent, the atmosphere would just get even more awkward. So, she took the plunge and answered his question directly, “I’m Jiang Hui, student ID 89983, from Combat Unit Training, Class 2.”

He listened carefully, confirming her full name in detail, then proceeded to ask Xierman the same way.

Jiang Hui: … He’s really being thorough.

————————————–

Jiang Hui: “So, what’s your name?”

Xierman: “It’s Er… Didn’t you know?”

Jiang Hui: “Buddy, you never told me.”

Brad: “And your names?”

Jiang Hui & Xierman: …