Staying Alive Cautiously in the Celestial Realm and Becoming the Strongest

TK043 Space Fortress, the Jiangyuan High-Speed Destroyer steadily docked at the spaceport berth.

To its right, the same type River Sun had already opened its landing hatch.

Behind the two destroyers, followed a lightly scarred escort ship—it was the Grey Fish.

This warship, originally belonging to the Star Pirates, was precisely the spoils of war from the Jiangyuan and River Sun's emergency rescue mission!

Although for the vast Holy Light Empire, and even the Seventh Rapid Response Fleet, such a retired escort ship of outdated model has no utility value and would cost money to be dismantled.

But seizing it allows for analyzing the devices and data on this Star Pirate warship, potentially snaring bigger prey or those connected to this band of Star Pirates.

However, returning to the base with his comrades, Wang Chen distinctly felt that the atmosphere within the base was very off.

Like something major had just occurred.

As facts proved Wang Chen was not imagining things, by evening he received the news.

It turns out besides the Jiangyuan and River Sun, the Seventh Rapid Response Fleet dispatched more warships to manage crises, as multiple routes under TK043's jurisdiction were attacked, with several cargo ships hijacked.

This means similar situations happened almost simultaneously in multiple cases!

The Seventh Rapid Response Fleet had to divert most of its forces, leading to a vulnerability inside TK043 Space Fortress.

As a result, TK043's interspace prison erupted into a large-scale riot, with several violent offenders escaping and causing heavy casualties among the guards!

At this point, anyone can see the Seventh Rapid Response Fleet fell for the enemy's diversion tactic.

As for who these violent offenders were, Wang Chen's authorization tier was not high enough to know much.

He just knew these prisoners were very important.

And their escape is undoubtedly a heavy slap to the Seventh Rapid Response Fleet's face.

Reportedly, fleet higher-ups were furious, already deploying forces to recapture the fugitives.

However, in the vast Star Sea, catching them back is evidently not easy.

The Imperial Army would probably also hold responsible parties accountable.

Overall it's a tangled mess.

But these matters have nothing to do with Wang Chen; regardless of the external tumult, without new missions, he stays at the base to train and study, leading a highly disciplined life.

A week later, Wang Chen received his rewards.

Since its founding, the Holy Light Empire has highly esteemed military achievements, so within the Imperial Army system, identity status can elevate very rapidly, like being on rockets.

Provided one has battle merits enough to match the honors.

In the rescue of the Safety, Wang Chen had two great achievements.

First was boarding the Grey Fish, capturing the Star Pirate warship, and killing plenty of foes.

Second was infiltrating the Safety merchant ship, turning the tide critically at the moment of crisis, ensuring the rescue mission's successful completion.

His battle merits ranked foremost among all colleagues!

Therefore, due to Wang Chen's achievements, the Imperial Military Department after verification promoted him exceptionally.

Wang Chen's rank was directly raised from Sergeant to Captain, equivalent to climbing a major tier!

A three-grade rise.

Though such a promotion is far from being unprecedented, not to mention legendary, it's still a notably brilliant honor.

Not only that, Wang Chen also received an Iron Dragon Badge.

This badge represents another kind of identity.

Imperial Dragon Cavalry!

This is a pilot's glory.

Wang Chen's original role was a Lancer in the Black Flag Squad, a role akin to a freelance hunter.

Now he moved further forward.

Imperial Dragon Cavalry are the elite among pilots, positioned uniquely and extremely important in the fleet.

A Dragon Cavalry's battlefield tasks include but are not limited to, assassinating enemy leaders and elite pilots, boarding ships for flag seizure, charging in the fray, and protecting allied commanders and warships, etc.

As a Dragon Cavalry, Wang Chen is no longer part of the Black Flag Squad but is directly affiliated with the Seventh Rapid Response Fleet's State Command!

Though he is still to fight alongside the fleet afterward, he has high freedom and autonomy in mission execution, even able to request the warship and mecha squads to cooperate with his actions.

His voice is as influential as a captain of medium-sized warships!

Additionally, Wang Chen's salary and benefits have exponentially increased.

Of course, all power and benefits require him to gamble with his life to earn them.

At the Seventh Rapid Response Fleet's base camp, representatives from the Imperial Military Department and fleet commanders held a simple yet grand promotion ceremony for Wang Chen.

"Well done!"

The representative from the Imperial Military Department was a gray-haired major general, personally adorned Wang Chen with the Iron Dragon Badge, then patted Wang Chen's shoulder and said: "Young man, your name has appeared on His Majesty the Emperor's desk."

Surrounding people instantly turned fiery focuses onto Wang Chen.

Promoting from Sergeant to Captain is fast as airlifting, but not excessively exaggerated.

A Lancer becoming a Dragon Knight is merely a change of identity, still belonging among frontline pilots.

But Wang Chen's name appearing on the Emperor's desk implies he's entered the Imperial upper echelon's sights—meteoric ascension awaits!

It must be known Wang Chen is of Imperial citizen origin, considering current trends if he accomplishes more acclaimed merits, ennoblement becomes a certainty.

Transitioning from a citizen into the nobility, that indeed is a destiny changer!

"Wish to serve His Majesty with my life!"

Wang Chen's response is impeccably standard, beyond reproach template.

"Excellent."

The military department major general chuckled saying: "Captain Wang Chen, now there is one more task needing your cooperation to complete."

After the promotion ceremony concluded, this Imperial Military Department representative led Wang Chen to a base conference room, introducing him to few special aura individuals.

"This is Professor Chen, this is Researcher Li…"

Altogether five people, three even wore glasses—knowing that vision correction surgery had been perfected hundreds of years ago.

Their identities are equally special, belonging to the Institute of Holy Light!

The Institute of Holy Light could bear the Empire's name, its high status undeniably, indeed among its initial founders was the Empire's founding Great Ancestor, its weight obvious.

Yet different from the Imperial Supreme Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Holy Light has always been low-profile in the civil domain, never recruits externally, nor appears in any science awards.

Thus extremely mysterious.

But Wang Chen knows that since the Holy Light Empire established, the Institute of Holy Light has made tremendous contributions for the Empire to reach the boundless Star Sea, numerous technological achievements from researchers profoundly changed human society.

However, it has always been hidden behind the scenes, silently advancing the world!