Chapter 1: Legacy

Ding Xie raised his hand and wiped the grease from his fingertips and palms onto his camouflage fatigues before picking up the electronic document in front of him. The lawyer’s polite yet formulaic words rang in his ears—

“Mr. Ding, please accept my condolences.”

“I regret to inform you that your fiancée—or rather, to be precise, your wife recognized and protected by ‘imperial law’—encountered an accident this morning. Although the rescue team arrived in time, the explosion was too violent, and they found nothing.”

“These are your wife’s personal effects.”

“According to ‘imperial law,’ you have the right to inherit them.”

As he spoke, the lawyer pushed a cardboard box in front of Ding Xie.

Then, his tone remaining unchanged, he continued.

“In addition to these items, given your wife’s improvements to the ‘Interstellar Train’ engine during her lifetime, as the sole legal beneficiary, you have not only been exempted from five years of compulsory military service but will also be discharged with the rank of Sergeant.”

“Of course, you will enjoy all the benefits pertaining to a retired Sergeant, as well as… that 500,000 bonus your wife was entitled to.”

At this point, the lawyer’s tone paused slightly as he looked at Ding Xie, who was flipping through the documents, a look of intense envy and jealousy appearing in his eyes.

Ding Xie ignored the lawyer’s burning gaze and read every single word of the documents in his hand.

It was basically as the lawyer had said.

Lin Wanzhi was dead just like that?

Ding Xie recalled the girl he had met on a blind date a week ago, a sense of surreal absurdity rising in his heart, much like when he had transmigrated to this world eighteen years ago.

This was a world completely different from his hometown, with a level of technology far beyond imagination.

It made the knowledge Ding Xie originally possessed seem like that of a primitive man.

Here, humanity had long since left their home planet and begun an interstellar crusade.

The once-exploding population had suddenly become spread thin.

Therefore, ‘imperial law’ stipulated that every imperial citizen who reached the age of eighteen must not only perform military service but must also marry—refusal would result in execution for treason.

To demonstrate the Empire’s humanity, every citizen could choose to match with a marriage partner three times on their eighteenth birthday.

Only if all three matches failed would they automatically enter the blind date market for unified distribution.

Ding Xie had succeeded on his first match.

Because to Ding Xie… it was all the same!

If it wasn’t Lin Wanzhi, it would have been Zhang Wanzhi, or Li Wanzhi.

As for why Lin Wanzhi had agreed to Ding Xie?

Probably because they both came from the ‘Imperial Welfare Home’?

The difference was that Lin Wanzhi came from Imperial Welfare Home No. 1789.

While Ding Xie grew up in Imperial Welfare Home No. 2567.

‘We’re both orphans, so we should… have something in common, right?’

Recalling the way the girl had shyly lowered her head during that brief video meeting, Ding Xie narrowed his eyes slightly.

Then, after confirming everything once more, he quickly signed his name on the document.

Seeing Ding Xie’s signature on the document, the lawyer, having finished his work, did not leave immediately but spoke again.

“What are your plans next, Mr. Ding?”

“If you’re thinking of remarrying, my three daughters are quite good. You’d only need to pay 388,000 Imperial Credits as a selection fee.”

“This shouldn’t be difficult for you now.”

“Wait!”

“Mr. Ding!”

“Let’s talk some more!”

Ding Xie ignored the lawyer’s sales pitch, picked up the cardboard box, and walked out of the reception area.

Outside the reception area was a ten-meter-long metal corridor.

At the end of the corridor were four elevators.

Three of the elevators led to different areas of the military camp, while the other led to the outside world.

Ding Xie chose the first elevator on the left and walked straight in—

Beep!

“Welcome back, Sergeant Ding Xie.”

“Would you like to return to the rest area?”

After a crisp electronic chime came a synthesized mechanical voice.

Ding Xie wasn’t surprised by the new title.

He had witnessed the Empire’s efficiency countless times over the past eighteen years.

The moment he signed his name on that electronic document, the Empire’s database had already been updated.

Thus, Ding Xie did not return to the armory to check those oil drums but went straight back to the military camp’s rest area.

“Heading to rest area Barracks 10-24. Confirmed.”

“Please note, Sergeant Ding Xie, you have retired. According to ‘imperial law,’ as a Sergeant, you still have an eleven-day recuperation period.”

“After eleven days, you will need to leave the barracks.”

“If you need to extend your recuperation period, you will be charged one-tenth of your total net worth as a ‘Military Tithe’ for the duration.”

“This fee will allow you to obtain another eleven-day recuperation period.”

The mechanical voice in his ear didn’t stop until Ding Xie walked into the barracks.

Barracks 10-24 was Ding Xie’s private room.

It wasn’t any kind of special treatment.

Rather, every imperial recruit could get a 13-square-meter room with a private washroom.

However, hot water was only supplied from 8 PM to 10 PM.

Aside from that, the facilities in the room were minimalist; other than the simplest of beds, there was only a table and a chair.

After placing the box containing Lin Wanzhi’s personal effects on the table, Ding Xie stood there, his brow furrowing slightly again.

In Ding Xie’s original plan, he was supposed to hold a simple wedding with Lin Wanzhi during this year’s leave, and then follow the routine: have two children, retire, find a neighborhood that wasn’t too expensive but stable, and use his discharge pension and his decent culinary skills to open a restaurant to support the family until he retired at age 100. Then, he’d enjoy 20 years of retirement before passing away before Lin Wanzhi and being peacefully buried in the Imperial Cemetery.

It wasn’t that Ding Xie lacked ambition; it was just that the world before him left him with no other options.

The imperial laws had locked away any path for upward mobility for orphans.

And now?

It only seemed different.

He had become a Sergeant.

But he, this Sergeant, had already been discharged early!

However, it wasn’t without its benefits.

At least that 500,000 windfall, combined with a monthly Sergeant’s pension of 2,000 and a housing allowance of 800, was enough for Ding Xie to live a fairly decent retired life locally ahead of schedule.

When he officially retired at 100, the Empire would still provide a retirement subsidy based on the average annual income of the planet where Sergeant Ding Xie resided.

Simply put, as long as he didn’t spend recklessly, Ding Xie could just “lie flat” right now.

‘It should be considered pretty good, right?’

Ding Xie comforted himself, beginning to dispel that sense of unwillingness as he usually did.

But today was different.

Stimulated by today’s changes, that unwillingness was like a young beast in a cage smelling blood, beginning to bare its fangs.

‘I can’t be insatiable!’

Ding Xie warned himself of the cruelty of imperial law in his heart.

Then, he walked straight into the washroom.

A cold shower was the best way to clear one’s head.

Having finished washing up, Ding Xie changed out of his grease-stained fatigues and walked out wearing bright red pajamas—this was a gift sent by the Empire after he and Lin Wanzhi had mutually agreed to marry.

Accompanying gifts included red bedding, a washbasin with the “Double Happiness” character, a kettle, water cups, and so on.

The materials were all good, especially these pajamas which were very skin-friendly; Ding Xie liked them a lot.

The imperial laws were always so meticulous.

Therefore, he certainly couldn’t continue living in the camp.

He had to find a safe zone to settle in before the ‘Military Tithe’ was deducted.

Otherwise, losing a tenth of his net worth all at once would be painful for Ding Xie.

‘According to reports, “Talin District” and “Shuangye District” are both good safe zones.’

While washing up just now, Ding Xie had already made a choice.

Because the planet where he was stationed was affected by the rebellion that broke out on the home planet, there were post-war reconstruction sites everywhere. Moreover, although those rebels had been suppressed by the imperial army, they hadn’t been completely wiped out. As a retired imperial Sergeant, if he didn’t want to lose his life carelessly, staying in a safe zone and not running around was the first choice.

However, there were differences between safe zones.

Districts like ‘Talin District’ and’Shuangye District’ were both newly built mid-range communities.

They not only had complete facilities but also had imperial mechanical enforcers patrolling 24 hours a day.

Of course, the price was significantly higher than in other communities.

But for the current Ding Xie, it was entirely affordable.

Of course, Ding Xie hadn’t forgotten the person most responsible for him being able to live in such a mid-range community—

‘Thank you.’

Ding Xie looked at Lin Wanzhi’s personal effects and gave a sincere thanks.

Then, he walked straight over.

Although Lin Wanzhi was also an orphan, there was no guarantee she didn’t have any unfulfilled last wishes.

If there were, having received such a great favor from her, Ding Xie felt he should fulfill them on her behalf.

The items in the box were very simple.

Aside from some personal toiletries, there was only a book and a box.

The toiletries were the same model as his, all red.

The book was “The Greatness of the Empire.”

This was also a gift from the Empire.

Every imperial citizen would receive it when learning the Imperial Common Language.

The box was a wooden slide-top box.

In Ding Xie’s mind, this should be Lin Wanzhi’s jewelry box, containing rings, earrings, and the like that couldn’t be worn during military service.

As well as some little secrets belonging only to her.

The latter was what Ding Xie cared about.

But in the next moment, as Ding Xie pulled open the box, he froze.

Then, his breathing began to quicken.

Because the thing inside the box was—

A smartphone!

Something that absolutely should not exist in the Empire.

According to imperial history, smartphones had been phased out as early as the last millennium.

Even if they existed, they would only be in museums or in the hands of certain collectors.

And it couldn’t possibly be this new.

‘This?!’

Instantly, Ding Xie became filled with shock and uncertainty.

But before Ding Xie could think further—

Boom!

A deafening explosion suddenly occurred.

On one side of the room, the wall near the corridor was blown apart.

Amidst the flying bricks and stones, the defenseless Ding Xie was buried within.

Step, step-step!

Amidst heavy footsteps.

A squad of figures in black combat gear passed through the corridor.

They didn’t even spare a glance at the buried Ding Xie.

Their time was limited; they wouldn’t waste it on a dying man.

Being caught in an explosion of that magnitude, a soldier not wearing combat gear was certain to die.

They ignored Ding Xie.

Without stopping, these people disappeared at the end of the corridor.

Under the rubble, Ding Xie’s eyes were wide open.

‘Rebels!’

Ding Xie was absolutely certain of their identity.

He had participated in three relevant battles.

He didn’t know how these rebels had entered the camp.

Nor did he care about their purpose.

He only knew that he was going to die.

It was a very clear feeling.

He could feel his life slipping away.

It was the suffocation and daze that followed the incessant flow of blood.

What followed was… unwillingness!

How could Ding Xie be willing?

The unease of leaving his hometown, the trepidation of facing the world before him, the helplessness after several struggles, and the feigned calm acceptance—all merged into one in the face of death.

Nourishing that unwillingness.

It was like a seed taking root and sprouting.

Finally, it bore a fruit named ‘Resentment.’

That fruit was crimson.

Just like Ding Xie’s pajamas.

Only now, the pajamas had long since lost their usual festive air.

In the gloom, the pajamas, stained with blood mixed with bricks and soil, became filthy and… hideous!

More blood seeped out from under the rubble.

Ding Xie’s breathing was already barely audible.

A chill that repelled the living was being born from within Ding Xie’s body.

At the moment this chill appeared, the screen of the smartphone tightly gripped in Ding Xie’s blood-covered right hand suddenly lit up.

Buzz!

Amidst a slight vibration.

The blood on Ding Xie’s right hand was rapidly absorbed by the phone.

Then, a large character appeared in the center of the phone screen—

【Sacrifice】!

…The handwriting was scrawled, the font a deep crimson.

After only a brief pause, more text followed.

【Welcome, new player, to’Sacrifice’!】

【Determining new player’s identity…】

【Determination passed!】

【Will the new player inherit the legacy of the original player ‘Xiao Lin’? Yes/No】

【3】

【2】

【1】

…