699: Chapter 699 Yu Ling Le

She rubbed her temples, her voice tinged with a hint of helplessness.

Not long ago, the Empire's comprehensive inspection swept through like a storm, making the Lese Star Cluster—already prone to chaos due to its booming entertainment industry—a primary target for rectification.

The Inspection Team had arrested a large number of mid-to-high-level Officials suspected of power-for-sex trades and tax evasion, effectively purging the entire administrative system.

As the Speaker, although Yu Lingyue had avoided the investigation thanks to her clear boundaries and solid performance, she still received a formal criticism from the General Commission for Discipline Inspection for "mismanagement."

This wasn't the most troublesome part; what truly gave her a headache were the new Officials transferred from various industrial and energy Galaxies across the Empire to fill the vacancies after the Inspection Team left.

Most of these people came from traditional industrial Domains and knew nothing about the core development logic of the Lese Star Cluster, which was "built on entertainment," even harboring deep-seated prejudices.

In recent administrative meetings, more than one newly appointed minister or director had proposed cutting support for the entertainment industry and shifting the focus to resource extraction and heavy industrial construction, under the guise of "strengthening the Empire's Foundation."

"They don't understand our needs at all..."

Yu Lingyue muttered to herself, her fingertips sliding across the ridiculous proposals on the light screen, feeling a massive headache coming on.

The resource endowment of the Lese Star Cluster was inherently poor; abandoning the entertainment industry they had cultivated for years to follow the trend of heavy industry was undoubtedly neglecting the fundamental for the incidental.

However, these new Officials were the basis for the future development of the Lese Star Cluster. If she wanted to reject their proposals and change their perceptions, it would require an immense amount of energy.

Just as she was feeling at a loss regarding this mess, three crisp knocks suddenly came from the office door, interrupting her thoughts.

"Enter."

Yu Lingyue hid the weariness on her Face, regained the composure befitting a Speaker, and spoke calmly.

The door was pushed open, and her Chief Secretary walked in quickly.

This secretary was usually steady, but now his steps were hurried, his Face carrying a rare sense of panic and gravity, and he clutched an encrypted data pad as if it were a hot potato.

"Speaker, there is a piece of news that you must handle personally. The subordinates didn't dare make a decision on their own."

The secretary walked to the desk and handed over the data pad with both hands, his tone carrying a trace of imperceptible tension.

Yu Lingyue's heart stirred, and she took the data pad with some curiosity.

As the Speaker of the Galaxy Cluster, she had tens of thousands of administrative messages to handle every day. Most routine matters were processed in stages by subordinate departments; anything that required her personal attention had to be a major event involving the entire Galaxy Cluster.

She activated the data pad, and a pale blue light screen instantly unfolded in her palm.

When she saw the few lines of important text, the female Speaker, who was usually unshakeable, had her pupils contract sharply, and the coldness on her Face was instantly replaced by shock.

The light screen clearly displayed:

The Nineteenth Division of the Xili Empire Homeland Security Force, a full-strength starship fleet, will arrive at the Lese Star Cluster in three days for a collective period of rest and recuperation lasting from one week to one month.

Yu Lingyue suddenly looked up, her gaze sharp as she looked at the secretary, her voice filled with unbelievable shock as she repeated word for word.

"What? The entire personnel of a full-strength division are coming to our Galaxy Cluster for a collective vacation?"

One must know that although the Lese Star Cluster was famous for its entertainment industry, it was precisely because of this that the local environment was not very stable; otherwise, so many Officials wouldn't have fallen during the previous comprehensive inspection.

But the sudden appearance of a full military division, if they moved around freely in her jurisdiction—even just as ordinary tourists—would be enough to strain the security nerves of the entire Galaxy.

If any public order incident occurred, or even just a minor friction, as the Speaker, she would have to step in immediately to take responsibility. At that time, she would not only lose Face but would also be deemed by her superiors as having failed in her management duties—a consequence she absolutely could not afford.

"Imperial Homeland Security Force..."

Yu Lingyue's fingertips tapped quickly on the light screen, then she locked her gaze on the "Unit Affiliation" column and quickly retrieved the background files of the unit.

For a Galaxy Cluster Speaker, querying the public records of the Empire's regular army was within her authority. Although she couldn't touch core secrets, the general organization, scope of duties, and historical background were enough for her to make a basic judgment.

As the information unfolded line by line, her brow furrowed tighter and tighter, and her expression became increasingly grave.

"It's a unit directly under the Empire..."

When she saw the label "Directly under the Imperial Center," Yu Lingyue secretly cried out that things were bad.

Directly-controlled units were completely different from ordinary units; they were strategic forces directly controlled by the Imperial Center, well-equipped, well-trained, and strictly disciplined. They also possessed high operational autonomy and authority, making them far harder to deal with than general units.

If such a force entered the Lese Star Cluster, even if it was just for a simple vacation, it would be enough to make the local security forces' nerves tense to the limit.

Just as Yu Lingyue was feeling a massive headache and unease because of this sudden imperial directly-controlled division, her gaze suddenly froze on a line of core text, and her breathing hitched.

"Wait... Nineteenth Division? Division Commander... Li Yang?!"

Yu Lingyue's pupils shrank sharply, and then the gravity and anxiety on her Face actually melted away like snow, quickly replaced by a surge of undisguisable surprise and relief.

Li Yang!

She didn't just know this name; it was like a clap of thunder to her ears, having already spread to every corner of the Empire's entire military and political system.

In that comprehensive inspection that shook the entire Empire, Li Yang, as the Head of The 33rd Inspection Team, had been impartial and swift in his cases. He led his team to achieve the most dazzling record in the country, was personally awarded the honor of Best Inspection Team by the General Commission for Discipline Inspection, and was even publicly commended by name by the Supreme Political Council.

Add to that his previous stationing at the border, where he repeatedly performed outstanding feats and rose through the ranks at an incredible speed with exceptional promotions. Young as he was, he already held high positions in both the military and political spheres. His resume was clean and beautiful, his achievements were impeccable, and his style of action was steady and decisive with strict military discipline—he was a model figure among the Empire's younger generation.

"Phew... So it's Li Yang leading the team. Then I can rest much easier."

Yu Lingyue let out a long breath of turbid Qi that had been stuck in her chest, leaned back in her large Speaker's chair, her tense shoulders completely relaxing, and a look of genuine relief appeared on her Face.