"Ahahahaha~"
Bai Ming's laughter echoed in the hallway.
"March, you're such a dummy!"
"H-how am I being dumb!" March 7th's face flushed red. "It's just that I didn't notice the key was inside the clothes!"
"That's plenty dumb!" Bai Ming looked at the card in March 7th's hand.
"Dummy March~"
Having had her tail stepped on by Bai Ming's words, March 7th really wanted to retort, but there was no way around it everything she said was true.
However, March 7th also remembered something she needed to ask Bai Ming for.
"Um, Bai Ming..."
"Hm, what's up?"
Bai Ming tossed her gray hair.
"You..." March 7th pointed to the key card in her hand, "You won't tell Mr. Dan Heng about this, right?"
"Oh—?"
Hearing this, a slight smile crept onto Bai Ming's lips.
"I could be persuaded not to."
"Really?!" March 7th was overjoyed.
"Mhm." Bai Ming nodded.
"However, Miss March 7th... you wouldn't want anyone else to find out about this, would you..."
"Y-yes, that's right."
"Then be my girlfriend!"
"Eh—?!"
March 7th quickly shook her head.
"No! That's absolutely out of the question!"
"We're both girls, how can you say something like that!"
"Rejected again..." Bai Ming clutched her chest. "This time you didn't even hesitate...My heart is bleeding. I feel my life is fading, I need..."
"I still won't agree to it!"
March 7th had already seen through Bai Ming's antics.
"And if you keep messing around like this, I'll ignore you."
"Eh—! Don't say that!"
Bai Ming quickly moved closer to March 7th's side.
"Okay, okay, I'll stop! No more games!"
"Since we found it, let's head back quickly."
"Yeah, I think so too."
After confirming they were on the same page, March 7th and Bai Ming hurriedly made their way back to the control room.
Inside the monitoring room.
Looking at the card in March 7th's hand, Dan Heng felt that something wasn't quite right.
"March, was this card really found at that scene?"
"Ah, well..."
March 7th was clearly not good at lying, and Bai Ming stepped in at that moment.
"Yes, it was found at that scene."
After saying this, she even winked at March 7th, making the latter blush.
"I see... alright then." Dan Heng didn't press further.
Meanwhile, Arlan looked at the key card in March 7th's hand and spoke up:
"...Since the key has been found, let's proceed quickly."
"Let's begin. You can unlock the elevator's permissions using the console over there."
"..."
Hearing this, Bai Ming suddenly pursed her lips and fell into thought.
Seeing her like this, Arlan asked:
"What's wrong? Is there still a problem?"
"No." Bai Ming grinned. "I'm mainly worried I might break something again later."
"Could you please activate it for us?"
"...That's a fair point."
Arlan took the card and began operating the console.
A sleek elevator car slowly rose into the elevator shaft in front of everyone and continued its ascent.
"Let's go," Dan Heng said.
"Wait a moment." Arlan stopped everyone. "I've only opened the elevator access on the topmost level. Proceed from there."
"Eh..."
Bai Ming looked up towards the top.
"So troublesome? It seems so far away."
"My apologies," Arlan said. "The Space Station is something Madam Herta entrusted to the Director Asta. I must prioritize the safety of the Master Control Zone and the staff."
"I have to trouble you all to take a bit of a detour... I'm truly sorry."
"What do you mean, 'you all'? Aren't you coming with us?" March 7th asked, puzzled.
Hearing this, Arlan touched his leg.
"I have limited mobility. I'd just hold you back. I'll stay here and reseal the elevator permissions once you successfully arrive."
"That won't do!"
Bai Ming spoke up directly.
"Leaving one person alone in a place like this, it totally feels like setting up a flag, doesn't it!"
"No way, Arlan, you have to come with us!"
"Eh?"
After hearing this, March 7th looked at Bai Ming with a bit more appreciation in her eyes.
Even if she seems a bit odd, she's actually a very kind person...
Dan Heng also spoke up at this point:
"You don't need to worry about holding us back. Sealing the elevator permissions can be done from the Master Control Zone as well, correct?"
"Exactly!"
March 7th chimed in agreement. Then, after a moment's hesitation, she pulled Bai Ming to her side, patted her shoulder, and said breezily: "We made it this far together! Adding Dan Heng to the mix, it's no problem at all~"
"Leave the Antimatter Legion to us. You, Arlan, just need to follow us and focus on keeping yourself safe."
"Mhm." Bai Ming also nodded in agreement. "When the time comes, I can even show you what it's like to fight with one arm while holding March 7th in the other!"
"Bai Ming! Stop thinking about those weird things!"
"You all..." Arlan's gaze swept over everyone present, and then he nodded. "...Thank you."
"Then no time to waste, let's hurry up and go!" Bai Ming grabbed March 7th's hand and ran outside.
At this point, Arlan couldn't help but ask: "Tell me, are they always like this?"
"Not really," Dan Heng shook his head. "March actually hasn't known her for very long."
"Wh-what?"
Arlan's purple eyes widened in surprise, his hands and feet which were injured, made him gasp sharply in pain. It took him a moment to recover.
"They look... anything but newly acquainted?"
"Talk of holding her, directly grabbing her hand and leaving... it has the vibe of people dating, doesn't it?"
"And now you're telling me they just met today... Sorry, I'm having a bit of trouble understanding that."
"Oh, that's normal."
Dan Heng said unhurriedly.
"Actually, before we even got to the control room, I already felt a bit superfluous around the two of them."
"Eh?!"
Arlan suddenly realized something.
"You didn't suggest I come along just to ease that awkwardness, did you?"
"..."
Dan Heng was silent for a moment before speaking.
"I'd advise that some things are better left unasked in too much detail."
"I, is that so..."
"What's taking so long?" Bai Ming's head popped out from the control room doorway.
She was leaning back in a contorted posture.
"If you don't come soon, I'm going to carry March onto the elevator and leave, you know?"
"I never said you could carry me!" March 7th's voice followed.
"Hey now, March, you'll definitely get tired from fighting, no need to be so polite with me~"
"I'm not being polite!"
"Let's go," Dan Heng said.
"O-okay."
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A/n: While I am a new translator, I have a Patreon! While it may be a bit empty right now both this and the other book on my page has advanced chapters posted on patreon. Set up for my web novel will be 2 chapters for every book a day and if you go to my patreon you'll see the set up there.
patreon.com/deadlygoober