Chapter One: Finding a Guide with Zero Mental Power

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“Planet Lotu-9, located in the southwestern part of the star system, is a hundred million light-years from the main star. It was once a beautiful world, but after the invasion of the insectoids, it was left scarred and polluted, and has since been declared the foremost forbidden zone in the interstellar realm.

Yet just a few days ago, an imperial scientific research team journeyed to Lotu-9 and unexpectedly discovered an underage Guide. Some speculate this may be a ploy by the insectoids. That Guide is currently being examined at the First Military District Hospital. As for the truth, we must await the official report.”

Elk switched off his lightbrain and pinched the bridge of his nose. “What do you think?”

Sair, sitting nearby with his foot propped on a chair, looked completely at ease. “What else is there to think? The test results are all in: no contamination, no mental power, a...Guide?”

“I don’t believe she was sent by the insectoids. If that were the case, those Galero in the insectoid horde must have lost their minds and should be feeding Atas instead,” Elk replied.

Sending a Guide with zero mental power—unless the insectoids have lost their minds.

Elk agreed with him, but couldn’t help adding, “But if she wasn’t sent by the insectoids, how could she survive on highly polluted Lotu-9 without any contamination? It’s too strange.”

Sair shrugged. “Who knows. Did you notice anything unusual about her during your examination?”

Elk was silent. “No. We collected her blood. Everything was perfectly normal.”

So normal it was hard to believe—she appeared to be an utterly ordinary person. And the strangest thing was that she had no mental power, yet the tests detected a purification ability.

Otherwise, she would never have been classified as a Guide.

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The two men fell silent.

At that moment, the conference room’s light screen flickered, and a man in a white coat appeared on the display. “General, Director, that Guide has woken up.”

…

Lu Meng opened her eyes from darkness, only to be met by several enlarged faces.

“You’re awake.”

Lu Meng was momentarily bewildered, then instinctively pulled the blanket up to cover half her face, leaving only her eyes exposed. “Who are you?”

Her gaze darted around the room. “And where is this?”

A man in a black military uniform smiled. “Hello, I am Lieutenant General Resch of the Imperial First Army. This is the First Military District Hospital.”

He gestured to his side. “This is our General Sair, and that is Director Elk of our military district hospital.”

He added, “It was he who rescued you from Planet Lotu-9.”

Lu Meng felt her head buzz as she tried to make sense of the words. What generals? What planet?

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Everyone was waiting for her to speak, but the air was filled with silence, moment after moment.

The girl’s visible eyes were alert like a wary kitten’s, uneasy and afraid to make any rash move.

The men exchanged glances.

Sair gave Elk a meaningful look. Elk caught on, and his smile grew gentler as he looked at Lu Meng, his tone exceptionally soft. “Don’t be afraid. We won’t hurt you. We just want to ask you a few questions.”

Lu Meng still said nothing, but after a while, realizing they seemed to mean no harm, she finally sat up in bed.

Her hair was naturally wavy and slightly golden, her skin pale, her eyes large and clear, her features delicate—she looked like a porcelain doll.

Only now did they truly realize how frail and petite she was.

In the Empire, even twelve-year-old Guides looked healthier than she did.

Could it be that she wasn’t even twelve yet?