Chapter 1409
The Beauty Trap Is Here Again
Choi Myung has actually been having a tough time lately.
There are actually quite a few rumors circulating about him both within TPC and among the general public.
For example, aliens want to obtain Cui Ming's genes, so they keep using honey traps and the like.
Of course, ordinary people just listened to it as a joke.
After all, in everyone's mind, Storm One had that kind of temper.
He could shoot an alien or a traitor right there on the street.
A honey trap?
How ridiculous!
Those aliens must be out of their minds to dare to associate themselves with this scourge; they probably don't want to die soon enough.
There was even a betting pool online, with people betting on which alien race would send a female agent first. The comments below were all "mourning", "offering incense in advance", and "condolences to the family".
Everyone is right, the honey trap didn't work, but...
That's a honey trap from outside.
In TPC's archives, Cui Ming's "danger level" is followed by a series of plus signs, with the remarks column stating: Immune to enemy assassination methods, including but not limited to poisoning, explosions, mind control, and—seduction.
However, what no one knew was that this ruthless man who had berated the new recruits on the training field was now dressed casually, wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses, sitting on a bench in the shopping street, looking like a shut-in who was forced to go out and socialize.
On his left and right sat two girls with very different styles.
The blonde, blue-eyed girl on the left, who was holding a cotton candy and munching on it with her face covered in sugar stains, muttering, "There's so much more delicious food here than at EDF," was Angie.
The woman on the right, with waist-length silver hair, is holding a small notebook filled with notes about who to bring what gifts to, and her brows are furrowed as if she's studying a tactical diagram. That's Elsa.
Cui Ming sat between the two, but his aura was out of place with those around him.
A passing child wanted to come over and see what was going on, but after being glanced at by him, the child immediately started crying and looking for his mother.
“Hey Cui, smile.”
Anqi freed her sugar-powder-covered hands, pinched Cui Ming's cheeks and pulled them apart, forcing them into a stiff arc. "You look like a gangster collecting protection money right now. What if you scare the boss?"
"I just find it too annoying to have aliens around."
Cui Ming squeezed out these words through gritted teeth, his gaze sweeping over several seemingly normal passersby at the street corner.
He was too familiar with the aura of those guys; no matter how well they disguised themselves, they couldn't hide the smell of interstellar stowaways.
Since he made a name for himself at TPC, all sorts of strange "chance encounters" have been happening constantly.
Last week it was a self-proclaimed lost alien student; the day before yesterday it was a "weak" alien who fell to the ground; and yesterday it was even more outrageous, when a guy in the cafeteria bumped into him with a plate full of curry with added ingredients.
Choi immediately pinned the man to the dining table, smeared curry all over his face, and then dragged him out for three hours of interrogation.
It turned out that the guy really was an alien, a gene collector sent from some small planet.
"They're using their femininity as a trap; as long as they don't bother us, it's fine."
Elsa gently tapped Cui Ming's head, the force was light, but it carried a kind of intimacy unique to old comrades-in-arms.
She turned to a page in her notebook, where she had written down "Bring anti-fatigue essential oil for Lindis", "Bring calming herbal tea for Megumi", and "Bring teething bones for Spike"—the last one was crossed out, with a note next to it saying "Never mind, it's better for him to chew on metal pipes".
"Alright."
Cui Ming sighed and relaxed his shoulders a little.
He was naturally happy to go shopping with everyone.
Cui Ming wasn't born a maniac who kills aliens; he was simply tricked by those damned Star Guides. His nerves had been on edge for too long, so long that he had almost forgotten what a normal life felt like.
It's a good thing that I can go out with Angie and Elsa now.
Angie, who was born a princess from another world, was haggling with a vendor over a strawberry-flavored candied hawthorn, her attitude more serious than when she was fighting a monster.
"Five sticks! Buy five together! It'll be cheaper!"
"Miss, this is already the lowest price."
"My comrade-in-arms is Storm One! You know what I mean? Storm One! If he's standing here, how are you supposed to do business?"
The vendor glanced at the man on the bench, who was wearing sunglasses and exuded an aura of "don't mess with me," and silently stuffed another candied hawthorn into his mouth.
Thank you for your patronage.
Cui Ming buried his face in his hands, letting out a groan through his fingers.
"Anqi, can you please stop scaring me?"
"As long as it works!" Angie smugly twirled the six candied hawthorn skewers, gave two to Elsa, and stuffed one into Cui Ming's mouth. "Eat! It's sweet! It'll warm up your deadpan face."
Cui Ming chewed on the candied hawthorn, the sweet and sour taste melting on his tongue.
It is indeed quite sweet.
It is 10,000 times stronger than the nutritional paste provided by EDF.
Elsa chuckled softly beside her, her silver hair fluttering slightly in the wind.
She was quieter than Anqi, but she was no pushover either.
Back in the EDF, she was a communications soldier responsible for rear support, able to connect to air raid coordinates within three seconds even amidst heavy artillery fire. Now, however, she's struggling to decide which scarf to choose for Misato Katsuragi.
"Choi, how about this blue one? Miri said she was cold last time."
“That’s just an excuse,” Cui Ming said, chewing on a candied hawthorn, his voice muffled. “She just wanted to use the heat in my room.”
"So, will you let me join you?"
".Give."
Elsa and Angie exchanged a glance, both revealing an "I knew it" expression.
The three strolled slowly along the commercial street. Cui Ming remained vigilant, but his steps became much lighter.
The alien spies on the street corner were still there, but they dared not approach, only following from a distance, like a pack of wild dogs that smelled meat but dared not go forward. "They're still there," Cui Ming whispered.
“Let them follow.” Angie licked her candied hawthorn, nonchalantly. “Anyway, they won’t dare to make a move. Your name is more effective than any protective shield.”
“Exactly.” Elsa folded the scarf and put it in the bag, then casually took Cui Ming’s arm. “Today you belong to us, not to TPC, and not to those aliens.”
Cui Ming was stunned for a moment, and then the corners of his mouth actually curved into a smile.
It wasn't the stiff curve that Angie forced out; it came from the heart, and though it was shallow, it was genuine.
"Alright, I'm yours today."
As he said this, he casually pulled Angie closer to himself, blocking a stranger who was trying to approach.
The figure paused for a moment, then tactfully stepped back.
The surrounding crowd remained bustling, and no one noticed the little incident in this corner.
Children chased after balloons, couples laughed while holding milk tea, and vendors shouted out discounts.
Meanwhile, Cui Ming sat on a bench, with one person eating a candied hawthorn on his left, another on his right taking notes of a gift list, and a malevolent figure forced to work in the middle.
If this scene were posted on the TPC internal forum, it would probably make those people's eyes pop out.
Storm One?
shop?
And someone even pinched my cheek?
"Cui, there's a claw machine over there!" Angie suddenly pointed into the distance, her eyes lighting up. "I want that Pikachu!"
"That's a mouse, not Pikachu."
"I don't care! I want it!"
Elsa had already started taking out coins: "Let me try. Angel, you're too strong, you could take the machine apart."
"I have excellent self-control!"
"You said the same thing when you dismantled the vending machine last time."
As Cui Ming watched the two bickering, the corners of his mouth curved into a deeper smile.
He stood up, dusted off his pants, and walked towards the claw machine.
"Let's go, I'll catch it for you."
"Oh! With Cui in charge, it'll definitely work!"
"Don't get your hopes up too high. Last time I caught a bomb model."
"That works too!"
The sunlight fell on the three of them, casting long shadows.
The alien spies on the street corner exchanged glances, and one of them asked in a low voice, "Should we continue?"
"Follow my ass! Do you want to be turned into a candied hawthorn skewer?"
"Should we report it?"
"Report what? Report that Storm One is playing a claw machine? The leader would laugh us to death!"
The spies shrank back and silently disappeared into the crowd.
Cui Mingzheng stood in front of the claw machine, his brows furrowed, intently controlling the mechanical claw.
Angie cheered from the sidelines, while Elsa recorded the video on her phone.
"Left! Left! A little more to the left!"
"Don't make a sound."
"Oops! It's off course! Cui, are you even capable?!"
".Shut up."
The mechanical claw slowly descended, gripping the yellow electric mouse, and then—
It's gone.
"."
"Hahaha! Even you, Cui, have your moments of weakness!"
Angie laughed so hard she slapped her thigh. Elsa's phone recorded the whole thing, including Cui Ming's face, which was as black as the bottom of a pot.
"Again."
Cui Ming stuffed more coins into the machine, his eyes becoming as serious as when he was aiming at a monster's weak point.
"I don't believe it anymore."
"Go for it, Choi! For Pikachu!"
"For... never mind, for peace and quiet."
The commercial street remained bustling, and the aliens' spying continued, but at this moment, Cui Ming only had eyes for that yellow rat that he couldn't catch no matter what.
This kind of trouble is much easier than facing the Star Guide's fleet.
Really. (End of Chapter)