Abyss Solo

A handsome young man beside him came over carrying his skateboard, placed it next to him, calmly lay down in the adjacent deck chair, turned on the warming lamp that simulated sunbathing, and picked up the... high-precision military-grade ship telescope in his hand.

"Whoa!"

The young man exclaimed: "This is nice, these thighs are really white... hiss, is this a married woman? Why come to the pool if she's let herself go?"

Hua Moli turned his head to glance at the young man beside him, hesitating slightly to speak.

Forget it, forget it, don't stoop to the level of young people nowadays.

Unexpectedly, the young man became more enthusiastic, continuously shouting: "Seriously, why are there still these kinds of old ladies around."

Finally, he couldn't resist calling out: "Hey! Young man!"

"Huh?"

The young man turned his head to look over, his strong, flat chest muscles slightly flexing, his eight-pack abs distinctly outlined, speaking the Galaxy Universal Language with a somewhat remote accent:

"Old man, what's up?"

"Don't attack others," Hua Moli pointed at the water park, frowned, and said, "Everyone has the right and freedom to enjoy happiness. They come to the water park to play, enjoying this freedom. Your comments, full of comparison and insult, would taint this freedom and beauty."

"Oh, really?"

The young man, known as Yang Ming, couldn't help but laugh:

"Aren't you watching too? And yet you say I'm the one doing wrong?"

"I'm appreciating! Appreciating! That's also my freedom!"

Hua Moli said:

"When they play here, they become part of the scenery themselves!"

"Young man, I'm not criticizing your act of looking at beauties; who doesn't like watching them? But you can't openly comment on others' bodies, skin, complexion. That's wrong in our Guel Alliance, not allowed. This is a country that is open and inclusive!"

Yang Ming: "Okay, I admit I was a bit rude just now, but isn't your equipment a bit too shabby?"

"My equipment?"

Hua Moli looked at his small telescope, then glanced at the thing in Yang Ming's hand, puzzled: "Yours seems like something you can't buy on the civilian market?"

"Uh-huh," Yang Ming raised an eyebrow, pushed his military-grade telescope over, "This is a soldier's ship detection equipment, automatically enhancing light, automatically collecting information, can generate 3D images with one click, just from a few hundred meters away, looks like it's right in front of you, use this and you'll understand why I feel disheartened."

"Uh-huh."

Hua Moli accepted the item from Yang Ming, fiddled a bit, then carefully brought it to his eye, uttering in admiration:

"So clear!"

"Wow, it's my first time using a military product, can perfectly reproduce a person's skin condition. While a lot of the scenery is missing, I've discovered many unique sights."

"This is amazing, young man! You really shouldn't use such rude language to comment on others' bodies."

Without turning his head, Hua Moli couldn't help but scold:

"We must fully respect each individual, appreciate the various differences in gene expression within them. What's the most beautiful thing in this universe? It's the double helix structure of genes. They're the miracles nature has bestowed upon life, all definitions of beauty originate from their structure and subsequent expression."

"Look, those Guel over there, they have completely different physical traits from ordinary humans."

Yang Ming looked at the projection device in his hand, which was reflecting the old man's view in real-time.

"Yes, I came to Guel Alliance for vacation also because I heard there are many Guel here, wanted to broaden my horizons... but that person's head is too big."

"Hahahaha! You're commenting on others again!"

Hua Moli grinned:

"Don't use your standards to constrain others, kid. If I were younger, I'd probably engage you in a free fight."

Yang Ming said: "Strange, can't I express what I think directly? Isn't expressing also my freedom?"

"Your freedom shouldn't be based on hurting others."

"That's true," Yang Ming shook his head, lamenting, "I heard about it when I arrived, in Guel Alliance, you can't comment on others' appearances, or it's considered politically incorrect. I inwardly resist this to some extent."

"Oh, really?"

Hua Moli put down the telescope, looking satisfied.

He turned to Yang Ming, smiled, and said: "I also dislike so-called political correctness, but my defense of beauty and freedom is heartfelt. Young man, take this."

"For you," Yang Ming chuckled as he tossed the projection device over, "it's rare to see such a genuine old man."

"Genuine? Hahaha!"

Hua Moli laughed heartily, fiddling with the military-grade binoculars in his hands, noticing some special markings on them.

He said with a smile:

"Many people say I'm sleazy, but how can appreciation be considered sleazy? It's just a pure appreciation, not fantasizing. Admiring the beauty of the opposite sex is an instinct as living beings.

"Of course, if we have our own partners, we absolutely can't freely admire others.

"And we have to add some qualifiers, naturally defining the opposite sex, to avoid trouble from various meddling organizations."

Yang Ming wondered, "You seem very cautious... Have you been attacked before?"

"Uh-huh, I was even criticized in a magazine. A woman claimed I sexually harassed her with my gaze. It's an utter disgrace to me. Does she have wave-particle duality? Does she change form when glanced at?"

"Hahahaha! Talking with you is truly entertaining."

"Young man, are you a spy from some country?" Hua Moli suddenly asked, "Usually, the ones who know my identity and intentionally approach me are spies like that. There's no angle to work on with me; we have the tightest security measures."

Yang Ming thought for a moment: "A spy... I'm not, but I do serve in the military."

"Wind," Hua Moli murmured, "is it the Wind Alliance that's been making waves lately?"

Yang Ming flashed a confident smile, "You can take a picture and search for me online; my information should be public, and I'm something of a celebrity."

"Is that so?"

Hua Moli did as suggested, took a photo of Yang Ming, and then lowered his head to swipe on his network terminal's solid-state screen.

Soon, Hua Moli turned to Yang Ming: "I'm wondering if I should report this to the authorities?"

"Report?"

"Look," Hua Moli turned the network terminal towards him, "you're a wanted criminal by the New Federation, a general of the Luofeng Empire. You've been charged with a level-one war crime for initiating the battle of Ilando. Wow, your story is quite legendary, decisively ordering the attack on invaders in times of crisis. That's so cool!"

Yang Ming clicked his tongue, "Those New Federation bastards, can't handle losing? And they issue a warrant?"

"The warrant is unilateral; the International Court didn't support it," Hua Moli laughed, "so you're absolutely safe in our Guel Alliance. We're no lapdogs of the New Federation."

Hua Moli held his head slightly high, a look of pride gracing his face.

"In fact, if it weren't for our Guel Alliance's humanitarian aid and self-preservation, helping the New Federation, the New Federation would have long been annihilated by the Imperial Expeditionary Army.

"In that campaign, our alliance's fleet played a crucial role."

Yang Ming remarked: "Brother, I remember that you guys just ran fast, and most of the time, you didn't put in much effort, desperately ensuring your casualty rate didn't surpass the Free Federation."

Yang Ming laughed: "I also chose my vacation spot after a comprehensive consideration."

"You're probably not a spy," the old man concluded in his observation, as Yang Ming already took out props needed for the next conversation topic.

It was a book with the title:

"How to Successfully Attract a Wealthy Woman's Attention."

Because Yang Ming directly switched to a second identity, this plan progressed rapidly.

The chat between the old and the young in the corner of the pool got more and more interesting, achieving in one go what's supposed to need several meet-ups and encounters.

...

Inside a merchant ship bound for the Guel Alliance.

Kolev, with a darkened face, looked at Mimili in front of him and frowned: "Look at the state of you now!"

"What's wrong?" Mimili snorted, "I've already surpassed you by several times in my professional field achievements. Stop nagging."

"I'm talking about your outfit! What's supposed to be covered isn't, tattoos everywhere, and so many metal studs in your ears. It's simply...!"

Kolev rubbed his forehead and changed the subject:

"Do you think your man, uh, that uncle of yours, will like you that way?"

"Of course not," Mimili blinked, "there are still a few Galaxy times before we arrive there, I can change before then. Besides, our faces are fake right now, Dad, stop worrying."

Kolev took a deep breath of formula oxygen.

Impossible, his blood pressure was starting to rise.