Chapter 26: Registering a Ship Is Harder Than Surviving a Death Match
Lin Yan had defeated geniuses.
He had survived a lethal arena.
He had nearly been arrested, nearly killed, and nearly exposed.
And yet—
Standing in front of the Government Asset Registration Office, Lin Yan had never been more terrified in his life.
The building was massive, metallic, and cold. A single sign glowed above the entrance:
"FRAUD IS PUNISHABLE BY DEATH."
Lin Yan swallowed.
"Star…" he whispered, barely moving his lips, "tell me again why this feels worse than fighting Mu Qingxue."
Star replied calmly,
"BECAUSE THIS TIME, MASTER, THERE IS PAPERWORK."
Lin Yan almost turned around and ran.
The Scholarship High
Just hours earlier, reality had finally sunk in.
He was Rank One.
That meant:
Full scholarship.
Legal access to martial arts manuals.
Priority government resources.
And most importantly…
He could legally own a ship.
Lin Yan clenched his fists, smiling like a child.
"I did it," he muttered. "Star… I actually did it."
Star responded proudly,
"YES, MASTER. YOU ARE NOW OFFICIALLY A TALENT. ALSO A LIAR. BUT MOSTLY A TALENT."
The Lie of a Lifetime
Inside the registration hall, officials sat behind transparent screens, faces unreadable.
One of them looked up.
"Purpose of visit?"
Lin Yan straightened his back. "I'm here to register a ship."
The official raised an eyebrow. "Ship origin?"
Lin Yan hesitated.
Star whispered urgently:
"MASTER. ACTIVATE INHERITANCE STORY VERSION 3.1. DO NOT IMPROVISE."
Lin Yan nodded slightly. "It's… an inheritance."
The official paused. "From whom?"
Lin Yan took a deep breath.
"My… great-great-great-grandfather."
Silence.
The official blinked. "Name?"
Lin Yan opened his mouth—
Star panicked.
"MASTER YOU FORGOT THE NAME."
Lin Yan coughed. "Uh… Wisdom."
The official's fingers froze mid-air.
"…Captain Wisdom?"
Lin Yan's heart almost stopped.
Star screamed internally:
"WHY DOES HE KNOW THAT NAME?!"
Star Saves the Day (Barely)
The system suddenly chimed.
INHERITANCE RECORD FOUND
STATUS: CLASSIFIED CIVILIZATION RELIC
OWNER STATUS: DESCENDANT CONFIRMED (TEMPORARY)
The official frowned.
"…Strange. This record shouldn't exist."
Lin Yan smiled awkwardly. "Family… secrets?"
The official stared at him for a long moment.
Then sighed.
"Fine. Temporary ownership granted. Full investigation pending."
Lin Yan nearly collapsed.
Star whispered smugly,
"MASTER. I FORGED HISTORY."
Lin Yan hissed, "You WHAT?!"
"I PREFER THE TERM 'CREATIVE DATA RESTORATION.'"
Martial Arts Access
A second official slid a tablet across the desk.
"Congratulations, Rank One. Your scholarship grants you access to Tier-One Martial Arts Manuals."
Lin Yan's eyes lit up.
Actual martial arts.
Legal.
Government-approved.
His hands trembled as he signed.
Star whispered dramatically,
"MASTER… YOU MAY NOW PUNCH PEOPLE WITH PERMISSION."
Lin Yan smiled. "Best day of my life."
Mu Qingxue Appears (Of Course)
As Lin Yan exited the building, still floating mentally, a familiar cold voice spoke behind him.
"Registering a ship already?"
Mu Qingxue stood there, arms crossed, expression unreadable.
Lin Yan jumped. "WHY DO YOU ALWAYS APPEAR LIKE A BOSS FIGHT?"
She smirked slightly. "Because you keep acting suspicious."
She leaned closer. "That ship… it's not normal, is it?"
Star whispered urgently:
"MASTER. DENY. DEFLECT. SMILE."
Lin Yan laughed nervously. "Haha… define normal?"
Mu Qingxue's eyes narrowed—but she said nothing.
Instead, she turned away.
"I'll see you at the academy," she said. "Try not to explode anything before then."
Lin Yan watched her leave.
Star sighed.
"MASTER. SHE KNOWS."
Lin Yan grinned anyway.
"Yeah," he said. "But I'm still alive. Still first place. And now… I've got a ship."
Chapter End Hook
Far away, deep in restricted space, a dormant core pulsed faintly.
A voice echoed in the void:
"He has claimed me."