Mecha and Sword

"Name."

"Ji Xinghe."

"Gender."

"Male."

"Age."

"65."

"Why on earth would you, a retiree of your age with a pension to boot, steal of all things? You could just enjoy yourself, you know. And you stole a Single Soldier Starship of all things. Do you even know how to operate one?"

"Yes."

"????"

The officer in charge of the interrogation was taken aback. Was this man a retired soldier from the federation? If so, he'd probably have to stop the investigation because federal courts would have jurisdiction.

A Single Soldier Starship can only be flown by servicemen in the Space Fleet or retired ones. There are people at the New Phoenix City Police Station who know how to operate one, as they are retired Space Fleet servicemen.

Even though Ji Xinghe was trying to steal a Single Soldier Starship from New Phoenix City Police Station, the matter of jurisdiction... wait, the age doesn't match up. The Space Fleet hasn't been established for long, and Single Soldier Starships haven't been around for long, so where would a 65-year-old retired serviceman come from?

His name, gender, age, fingerprints, and other details were input into a terminal in front of the officer. He was surprised not because Ji Xinghe had a particularly dazzling record, but because Ji Xinghe's profile was shockingly ordinary.

Born in an ordinary family in the Dragon Continent of the Federation on January 19, 2022, went to kindergarten at three, elementary school at six, junior high at twelve, high school at sixteen, and college at twenty, repeating a year in both middle and high school.

Attended a standard community college majoring in mechanical maintenance. After graduation, went back home and worked at a large auto repair factory. Married at 31, had a son at 33 (only child), his wife unexpectedly died when he was 55. His son, Ji Chenxing, was admitted to the Dragon Continent Star Military University (Mecha piloting) in the same year, and he retired in September of this year. He has no previous criminal record.

"But you work in car repairs, how can you know how to operate a Single Soldier Starship? Did your son secretly teach you?"

Upon hearing the question, Ji Xinghe, who had been emotionless so far, suddenly looked sad for a moment, but quickly regained his composure.

"I learned it while playing a game."

"????" The officer was taken aback again: "Don't tell me it's Star Glory?"

"Yes, Star Glory."

"..."

The officer clicked some more on the terminal in front of him, and more information about Ji Xinghe appeared. For example, his Federal Credit Score (739) which was normal but would probably plummet after today. He had only one phone number, one social account... all this information added to his overall mundanity.

But then, in Star Glory, the most popular competitive virtual reality game globally in terms of registered and concurrent users, Ji Xinghe had achieved the title of 'King of Glory' for 21 consecutive seasons, with more than 2200 points in 19 peak seasons, and twelve domestic in-game heroes.

What a pro, huh.

The officer marveled in his heart. As Star Glory had only been released for ten years and had a season every half-year, for 99% of players, there were only 20 seasons. Ji Xinghe's 21 consecutive seasons of 'King of Glory' suggested that he was in the game's internal testing group.

What an elite gamer.

"Old man, have you become obsessed with the game? No matter how realistic the Star Glory simulation is, it's just a consciousness-operated game in a virtual world after all. Can a real Single Soldier Starship be the same as the one in the game? And to be honest, your skill level is indeed excellent among amateur players, but any professional player, or even those game broadcasters, wouldn't all of them be better than you? With this in mind, how do you have the courage to say that you can pilot a Single Soldier Starship?"

Ji Xinghe fell silent again, making no point of how he started playing this game at the age of 55, while the peak of those professional players and broadcasters is around 20. This emphasis is meaningless. Now at 65, he couldn't possibly return to his peak at 18 and prove that he is better than those top professionals.

Moreover, what the police officer said is correct, a game is just a game, no matter how realistic it simulates, or else he should have already piloted a Single Soldier Starship and left Azure Star, instead of being handcuffed inside the interrogation room of the New Phoenix City Police Station.

"Alright, I won't harp on you anymore. You're... well, you're not getting any younger. Give me your son's contact information; it's not in your file."

After ruling out that Ji Xinghe was a retired veteran, the police officer was sure that this case belonged to the New Phoenix City Police Department. Everything had to follow due process and besides the investigation, the most important thing was to notify the family.

The file showed that Ji Xinghe's only living relative was his son, Ji Chenxing, who was serving in the Mecha Marine Corps of a Space Fleet in the Federation's Dragon Continent.

But Ji Xinghe fell silent once again.

"Old man? Let me tell you, this case is very serious. You're definitely going to jail. But the Federation grants every citizen the opportunity to seek legal aid. Before you are deprived of all rights, you can contact your relatives to find a defense lawyer for you. Spending one or two fewer years in jail should be quite important for someone of your age. Of course, if you don't get the right lawyer, you might spend a few more years in jail."

Ji Xinghe kept silent.

The police officer seemed to understand.

"Afraid of disgracing yourself? Fair enough. Your son is on the frontline, battling with the empire's Apes, bearing the weight and ensuring our federation's peace, while you're here causing trouble…"

Perhaps realizing his tone was a bit harsh, the police officer paused.

Even in the face of a criminal, the traditional virtue of respecting the old in the Dragon Continent hasn't been lost. Furthermore, although stealing a Single Soldier Starship is considered a grave crime, it doesn't count as extreme wickedness as no casualties were caused by it. The starships assigned to the New Phoenix City Police Department, and indeed all police departments throughout the Federation, are not equipped with weapons systems. They could be understood as patrol cars that can fly to space.

During Ji Xinghe's theft, no casualties were caused. Ji Xinghe inexplicably infiltrated the police station and crept into a Single Soldier Starship. As soon as it started, and before it could even take off, the anomaly was detected by the artificial intelligence system, which immediately shut down the starship and locked the hatch. The police came in and caught him like a turtle caught in a jar.

A 65-year-old turtle.

"If you're not going to talk, we'll just contact them directly."

After a long silence, Ji Xinghe finally spoke, his voice a little hoarse: "Young man, don't bother contacting them. I won't seek defense. Whatever punishment I get, be it life imprisonment or being sent to the Mining Stars to mine, I will accept. I deserve it; don't bother them."

"Well, isn't your consciousness high? What were you thinking previously? Think about it."

The police officer remained noncommittal. Notifying family is a necessary procedure. After the first round of questioning, Ji Xinghe was imprisoned, and the police started contacting the Dragon Continent military, while exploring other circumstances, looking for possible indications that Ji Xinghe might be part of a terrorist organization or an imperial spy.

Contacting the military was a bit complicated. After several transfers and authorization applications, the police in New Phoenix City finally got in touch with Ji Chenxing's unit. After a brief communication, they received shocking news.

"Ji Chenxing was killed in action half a month ago?"

"You notified Ji Xinghe about it just a week ago?"

"He said he wanted to join the army to fight on the frontline and you refused? Well, he is 65 after all."

"Ah, Ji Xinghe came to us wanting to steal a Single Soldier Starship six nights ago. It seems, according to system records, the flight destination he entered was the frontline. We've been investigating this, worried he might be an imperial spy."

"Ah? You officially rejected him going to the frontline in the afternoon six days ago? So this is…"

The police in New Phoenix City now understood. This was indeed a criminal incident, but it was also a story of acting impulsively to avenge a son.