ã€ŠTHE APOCALYPSE :EARTH TRANSFORMED INTO HELLã€‹


 Chapter 1: The Gigantic Soul Modification Matrix

    Chapter 1: The Gigantic Soul Modification Matrix

    On December 21, 2012, Jackson visited the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt.

    Rumors said it was the end of the world.

    Few tourists were around. Only four or five people were there. The site administrator was missing. No one was managing the area.

    Jackson was an ordinary college student from the United States. He had always been curious about the pyramid. The pyramid was large and impressive, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

    Jackson looked around. No one was paying attention to him. His curiosity grew. He decided to climb to the top for a better view.

    He walked around the pyramid. After a while, he found it boring. It was just a square, pyramidal shape made of light yellow stone blocks.

    Without hesitation, Jackson climbed over the fence and started his ascent. Halfway up, he was already out of breath.

    The steps were steep. Each one was about half a person¡¯s height. Jackson used both arms to pull himself up. His feet used the friction of the stones to climb.

    In the vast universe, the solar system was a tiny speck. It was almost like a grain of dust.

    But for the intelligent beings in the universe, Earth was a prison for souls. The descendants of the Third Galactic Empire had their souls trapped here.

    Every 2,000 years, the Soul Monitoring Device would perform a cleansing. It would erase human creativity and reinforce their intelligence block.

    Due to two unexpected events, human technology advanced quickly. The time between cleansings grew shorter. Soon, humans would face mass destruction. Earth¡¯s civilization would reset.

    Today, December 21, 2012, the Soul Monitoring Device¡¯s value surpassed 100. This meant it was time to cleanse human souls on Earth.

    Galba worked for the Galactic Intelligence Life Federation. He was also the warden of the Solar System Prison.

    As per regulations, Galba led a fleet of five spacecraft. They left the Oort Cloud and headed toward the Sun.

    There, they would use the Sun¡¯s energy to activate the gigantic Soul Modification Matrix. This would begin the cleansing and modification of all human souls on Earth.

    Soul cleansing meant erasing human creativity.

    Soul modification meant adjusting human memories. But too many modifications could cause memory discrepancies, creating the Mandela Effect.

    The previous warden, Korran, and his assistant Lamm had missed the scheduled activation time for the Soul Modification Matrix.

    In 450 BCE, Korran¡¯s delay caused an intellectual explosion on Earth. Philosophers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle emerged. They advanced human civilization.

    In 1600 CE, Lamm also delayed the process. This led to another intellectual surge. Scientists like Galileo, Newton, and Giordano Bruno sparked the age of experimental science.

    Since then, human civilization advanced rapidly. The Soul Monitoring Device¡¯s value increased. The time between cleansings grew shorter.

    Soon, Earth would face mass destruction. Civilization would reset again.

    Humans had already gone through five major resets since the Solar System Prison¡¯s activation.

    The five spacecraft activated their faster-than-light engines. They cut through space with five streaks of blue light.

    Stolen story; please report.The ships entered the light barriers and disappeared from sight.

    Soon, the ships reappeared near the Sun. They had crossed 1.8 light-years at incredible speed.

    Inside the No. 1 spacecraft, Galba sat in the command chair. 3D holograms in front of him merged into light points. A voice formed:

    "Warden, the five workspaces are in position. Please authorize the activation of the gigantic Soul Modification Matrix."

    "Proceed," Galba said emotionlessly.

    The 3D image dissolved into light points. Galba¡¯s command was sent instantly to the other four spacecraft.

    The five spacecraft emitted beams of blue, yellow, red, white, and black light. These beams converged at the center.

    Where the beams met, a giant metal matrix appeared. It had a diameter of 10,000 kilometers. This was the gigantic Soul Modification Matrix.

    The matrix had five rings. Each ring was 2,000 kilometers apart. The innermost ring had a diameter of 2,000 kilometers.

    Once activated, the rings absorbed energy from the spacecraft¡¯s beams. They began to rotate and accelerate.

    After 15 minutes, the speed reached 100,000 revolutions per second. The rings nearly merged into one. A strong centripetal force began pulling energy from the Sun¡¯s corona. This caused a loud roar.

    Inside the No. 1 spacecraft, the 3D image reappeared:

    "Warden, the gigantic Soul Modification Matrix is fully activated. It is absorbing solar energy. It will be fully charged in 5 minutes and ready to emit the soul shockwave."

    Galba smiled at the green progress bar. "Very good. After this, I can rest. Damn Earthlings, why can¡¯t they just stop developing? Don¡¯t they know they are the sinners of the universe?"

    At that moment, Jackson finally reached the top of the Great Pyramid. From there, he could see boats on the Nile River in the distance.

    The pyramid had withstood thousands of years of wind and rain. It still stood tall, a true wonder of human architecture.

    Legend said it was the tomb of an ancient pharaoh. The pharaoh¡¯s soul could ascend to heaven through the pyramid¡¯s structure and join the gods.

    "Heh, soul ascending to heaven? With modern technology and the internet, no one has found any trace of the soul. What are the ancient pharaohs still fantasizing about?" Jackson sat on the pyramid¡¯s platform, mocking.

    "Ha, I must be the only person sitting on this pyramid at the so-called end of the world," Jackson thought proudly.

    At the same time, at NASA¡¯s Solar Research Center, Director James was reviewing last month¡¯s research report in his office.

    Bang! The door slammed open. James looked up angrily. The bearded researcher, Porter, stood in the doorway, holding a photo.

    "James, we¡¯ve discovered aliens! It¡¯s true! This is a high-resolution photo from the Hubble Telescope. An enormous spherical spacecraft, tens of thousands of kilometers in diameter, is absorbing energy from the Sun!"

    Porter slapped the photo onto James¡¯ desk. He pointed to the enormous black shadow in the image and explained,

    "This is the spaceship. It¡¯s absorbing energy from the Sun¡¯s corona."

    "W-what... what is this?" James stammered. His voice trembled. The shadow in the photo was clearly the creation of intelligent life.

 Chapter 2: Earths Response to Life

    "Yes, the shape confirms it was made by intelligent beings. Unfortunately, our Earth-based radar can''t scan this object. We can only capture images with the Hubble telescope. The ''Helios 1'' solar probe is broken and can''t get close," Porter said to James.

    "Hello! This is James. I need to speak with the Director. It''s urgent!" James grabbed his phone and called the NASA director''s office, asking to meet the director.

    "Understood. Please hold for a moment," the secretary replied.

    Three hundred kilometers below Egypt¡¯s Great Pyramid, deep in the ruins of an ancient spacecraft, a crystal Platonic solid appeared. It floated in the dark. Its light flickered, as if it could go out at any moment.

    A sad voice echoed from within, but no one could hear it.

    "It¡¯s been too long. Without the other Platonic solids, I can¡¯t understand the mystery of consciousness. My soul is fading. My consciousness will soon vanish. Our people used all their resources to get these solids, but we destroyed our empire. Our souls are trapped on this planet with no hope of escape. The souls of the first imperial descendants will soon disappear. Only the souls born after we arrived remain."

    In the solar orbit, aboard the No. 1 spherical ship, the progress bar for the Soul Modification Matrix reached 100%. A ''Ding'' sounded. A 3D avatar appeared and said, "Please input memory disturbance information to confuse Earth''s human history."

    Garba laughed. "Let¡¯s have some fun. Set some people¡¯s memories to think Mandela died in the 1980s. Change others to believe the thinker statue has a fist on its forehead. Some will remember Pikachu with a black tail. Let¡¯s also change song lyrics. Make them remember ''Fifty-six nations, fifty-six flowers.'' Ha! Now that Earthlings are in the digital age, let¡¯s give some memory fragments to their scientists. Let them start researching artificial intelligence. It¡¯s what their ancestors did. If they develop AI again, I¡¯ll ask the United Federation of Intelligent Life to destroy them."

    Garba hated Earthlings. During the First Galactic War, the Panhua Empire, the ancestors of Earthlings, invaded his homeland. Only after the war was his nation restored.

    Far from the Milky Way galaxy, on a secondary life planet of the Cabas Empire, a young man named Justin was exploring the Universal Holo-Network in a virtual reality internet caf¨¦ in Rift Valley City.

    The Universal Holo-Network connected all known nations in the universe. Intelligent beings used it to learn, communicate, play games, socialize, and more. It worked based on quantum theory, with information traveling faster than light.

    The network worked like Earth¡¯s internet. Users connected through terminals and used the network outside their bodies. There were also life pods where a user¡¯s soul entered the network. Inside, they experienced it like the real world. At that moment, Justin was piloting a triangular-winged fighter jet from the Cabas Empire, in the middle of a combat mission.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

    ¡°Carl, watch 3 o¡¯clock, cover me. I¡¯m going after Phoenix 9,¡± Justin shouted.

    "Forget it, Justin. You¡¯ve been killed by that guy 500 times. How about you cover me while I handle that b*tch?" Carl replied, frustrated.

    Grace, leader of the Phoenix Squadron, piloted Phoenix 9. She aimed her laser cannon at Fire Fox 6, trying to lock onto the target, but couldn¡¯t fire.

    "Hmph, at least you have some skill. Unlike the other rookies. One¡¯s been killed 500 times, the other 450 times," Grace thought, annoyed. She noticed a pattern in the game. The system always matched her against Fire Fox Squadron, with Fire Fox 6 as her main rival. This top-tier pilot could engage her for hundreds of rounds.

    "Captain, watch your 12 o¡¯clock! Fire Fox 4 is coming in from 9 o¡¯clock!" A woman¡¯s voice warned Grace over the comms.

    Grace, blonde and blue-eyed, replied coolly, ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll take care of this one.¡±

    The Phoenix 9¡¯s anti-matter engines roared as Grace suddenly accelerated upward, breaking off from Fire Fox 6. She turned to face Fire Fox 4, her smirk widening. "Ha, die!"

    With a sharp ¡®ding,¡¯ the targeting reticle turned red. Grace fired a brilliant white beam from her fighter¡¯s cannon, hitting Fire Fox 4¡¯s anti-matter engines.

    "Justin, help me..." Carl cried out, just before a massive explosion sounded. Fire Fox 4 exploded in a fiery ball, crashing toward Earth.

    Carl was forcibly disconnected from the game.

    In these immersive network games, players could only enter once per day. After being killed, they could only log in again the next day. If a soul entered these games too often and was killed repeatedly, it could suffer permanent damage. In the worst case, the soul could die, leaving only a lifeless body behind.

    "Heh heh, congratulations Major, you¡¯ve taken down that guy again," said a familiar voice, Xiao Xun¡¯er, from the communicator.

    "Heh, it¡¯s nothing. They¡¯re too weak. Be careful, Xun''er!" Grace warned Xiao Xun¡¯er, who was still talking to her.

    Grace noticed Fire Fox 2 flashing white, signaling a laser shot. Too late¡ªPhoenix 5''s Xiao Xun¡¯er was ambushed and taken offline.

    Inside Fire Fox 2, Justin smiled. "Poor Carl. Even though I didn¡¯t kill Phoenix 9, taking down Phoenix 5 gave our Fire Fox squad some pride back." Carl would never hear it. Justin left him a message in the "Empire''s Eagle" game.

    ¡°Damn Fire Fox 2, you¡¯re asking for death!¡± Grace angrily slammed the Phoenix 9¡¯s joystick, charging toward Fire Fox 2 after Xiao Xun¡¯er was killed.

    High in the sky, Phoenix 7 and Fire Fox 6 were locked in a deadly duel.

    Back in the mysterious spacecraft ruins beneath Egypt¡¯s Great Pyramid, the crystal Platonic solid flickered. The melancholic voice cried out in panic.

    "Ah! Why... why is this happening?" No answer came. The Platonic solid continued to glow erratically, as if waiting for something.

    "Alright! I¡¯m tired too. Two hundred thousand years of existence have worn my soul down. The souls of my comrades have long dissipated into the universe. The souls of the Panhua Empire''s descendants will never restore the empire''s glory. On this planet, this prison built by the United Federation of Intelligent Life, every time our people gain the ability for interstellar travel, they are destroyed by their destruction mechanism. You came to help the empire rise, but you also brought disaster. Go now, find your kind. You¡¯ve helped guard the empire''s descendants on Earth for 200,000 years. Now, I must disappear. Who remembers the Panhua Empire anymore? Ah..."

    The elderly voice sighed one last time, full of weariness.

    The Platonic solid fell silent. Its glow faded. The spacecraft ruins were still.

    Suddenly, the Platonic solid flashed brightly. It turned into a golden energy construct, filled with swirling data streams. The golden Platonic solid spun rapidly, emitting high-pitched frequency waves.

 Chapter 3: Drafted

    The Platonic regular tetrahedron¡¯s energy entered the Soul Modification Matrix. It merged into the connected soul matrix, which linked to the cosmic holographic network. The tetrahedron vanished, as if it had never existed.

    At the same time, deep below Cyans Star¡¯s surface, the core AI "Eve" crashed. Signal indicators blinked. Ten seconds later, the system returned to normal. Engineers and scientists in white coats rushed to check the issue. Cyans Star was the largest research center of the Biotech Union, the strongest superpower in the universe. "Eve" controlled daily operations, research, and equipment. If "Eve" malfunctioned, the base would stop working. It could even trigger the self-destruct mode of secret weapons.

    Similar problems were happening at two other locations: one on a frozen planet and the other in a pirate nebula.

    "Ah, it hurts!" Justin shouted as he sat up in a life pod at a virtual reality internet caf¨¦ in Rift Valley City, Kabas Empire. His eyes were confused.

    Around him, there were many identical elliptical pods, stretching endlessly.

    The transparent lid of his pod had risen. It showed his physiological data. The most important number was his soul frequency: 434, marked as normal.

    Suddenly, a burst of light appeared. It formed into a cartoon bear figure. In a soft voice, it said, "Dear customer of Life Pod #38253, you have been disconnected from the holographic network. Your soul entry opportunity has been used up. ''Coolplay Internet Caf¨¦ welcomes your patronage.'' Please settle your bill and exit the pod."

    Justin was dazed. His lips trembled. "I... what should I do?"

    The cartoon bear said calmly, "Please extend your left wrist."

    Justin placed his wrist near the camera on the pod lid. A green beam scanned it, and a small screen appeared with a complex pattern¡ªan identity code.

    The screen showed a balance of 98 Kabas Coins.

    "Dear customer, please confirm. The system will automatically deduct the amount," the bear reminded.

    After paying, a magnetic levitation platform arrived beside the life pod. The platform had handrails on its sides for stability.

    Following the bear¡¯s instructions, Justin nervously stepped onto the platform.

    "We look forward to your next visit," the bear said as the platform silently moved forward. Justin grabbed the handrails to avoid falling.

    The platform glided smoothly along the metallic floor.

    Curious, Justin looked around. He saw every life pod contained a person inside, connected to many devices. They looked like they were sleeping. Large pipes ran from each pod, disappearing into the distance, glowing blue.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

    A few minutes later, the platform arrived at a door. Justin opened it.

    He was greeted by noise. Looking up, he marveled at the tall sci-fi buildings. Skycars flew through the air like shooting stars. Projections of human figures, animals, and advertisements floated on the buildings, creating a colorful spectacle.

    "My head hurts," Justin muttered, instinctively holding his head. The sights felt overwhelming and almost unreal.

    He soon realized that this body belonged to Justin, a young man from the Kabas Empire. But his soul had been replaced by Jackson¡¯s from Earth.

    Justin had just woken up from the life pod. At first, he thought he was dreaming. But the sensory overload and the vivid sights made him realize this was real. He had no idea how or why he became Justin. One thing was clear¡ªthis was not Earth.

    The technology and prosperity of Rift Valley City were beyond anything he imagined. The most advanced cities on Earth¡ªlike Shanghai, Tokyo, or New York¡ªwould seem like small villages compared to this.

    Using the memories in his mind, Justin headed to a sky bus station. He planned to go to the original Justin¡¯s home. He needed to settle in and learn about this world before making any plans.

    The sky bus moved at over 500 kilometers per hour. After half an hour, it reached the suburbs and stopped at a station. Justin scanned his identity code, paid, and got off.

    The suburbs looked similar to Earth, though with many wonders in the sky. In the distance, Justin saw a blurry, circular shape in the sky. It was "Green Peak," the moon of the planet Bibo, where Justin now lived.

    Bibo, a secondary life planet, was the agricultural hub of the Kabas Empire. Green Peak and Bibo were locked in a gravitational pull. This caused Bibo to rotate at a 60-degree tilt, creating seasons perfect for crop growth.

    Though the technology here was advanced, people still preferred natural crops over synthetic ones, like how free-range chickens were preferred over factory-farmed ones on Earth.

    Walking down the road, Justin reached the farm. He felt anxious. He feared his parents might notice something was wrong. After some mental preparation, he walked up to the front gate.

    "One, open the door for me," Justin called out, mimicking the original Justin¡¯s tone.

    "Understood, young master," the voice responded. The large metal gate slowly opened. A humanoid robot emerged from the security booth. Its eyes glowed red, like the T-800 from The Terminator.

    Although Justin knew about "One" from the original Justin¡¯s memories, seeing it in person still startled him.

    "One" was an agricultural robot designed to help with farming and guard the property. It couldn¡¯t carry weapons, as its programming didn¡¯t allow it.

    Laws strictly prohibited robots from using weapons. Anyone who produced, sold, or used weaponized robots faced the death penalty. This was the first rule of the Universal Intelligent Life Association. Offenders would be hunted down across the galaxy, and countries breaking the law would face annihilation.

    The farm had seven robots like "One," each named from "One" to "Seven."

    "Young master, welcome home," the robot greeted.

    Justin was speechless. The way people addressed him seemed like ancient China, but Kabas was an empire. In such a technologically advanced society, class distinctions weren¡¯t surprising. According to the memories of the original Justin, there were still some slaves in the Kabas Empire.

    Inside the house, Justin entered a beautiful three-story building. He found himself in a spacious hall. He awkwardly mimicked the original Justin¡¯s tone and said, "Mom, I¡¯m back. What¡¯s for dinner today?"

    A young, attractive woman stood up from the couch. She sounded a bit sad as she said, "Justin."

    Suddenly, Justin felt a bad omen.

    His father stood up and handed him an envelope with a sigh. "Justin, you should read this."

    Amused by receiving a letter, Justin opened it and read its contents.

    "The Kabas Empire Ministry of Defense has issued a conscription order. Imperial citizen Justin is required to report to the Rift Valley City recruitment station on the second day after receiving this letter. Failure to report will result in charges of treason."

 Chapter 4: Solar System Info

    ¡°I¡¯ve been drafted!¡± Jackson shouted.

    On Earth, Jackson¡¯s hometown was large. Many people wanted to join the military, but not everyone could. Some people needed connections to get in.

    Now, in the unfamiliar Kabas Empire, Jackson was drafted immediately. He felt scared.

    On Earth, Jackson had always been close to Kai. They spent most of their time together. Jackson never thought about joining the army. His only connection to the military was his love for shooting games like CS and CF. He also liked playing strategy games, like Age of Empires and Civilization. After starting at the tech university, Jackson either spent time with Kai or played games.

    ¡°Justin, don¡¯t be afraid. When you¡¯re in the army, just make sure to get along with your superiors...¡± His father saw his worried face and tried to comfort him.

    ¡°Dear, why don¡¯t we use connections to get Justin out of the military? He¡¯s our only son,¡± his mother said, sounding sad.

    His father thought for a moment and shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s not right. Military service is a duty for every citizen in the Kabas Empire. We¡¯re from the Panhua tribe, a minority. If anyone finds out we tried to avoid it, the consequences could be severe. The ethnic tensions in the empire are high, and the Panhua tribe is often criticized.¡±

    ¡°I heard from Xiao Tianlan at the neighboring farm that her son, Xiao Wu, joined the military two years ago. They haven¡¯t heard from him since. There are rumors he died in the conflict between the Kabas Empire and the Fuluo Federation. What if Justin is sent to the border systems?¡± his mother said, looking worried.

    His father frowned. He had heard about the rising tensions between the Kabas Empire and the Fuluo Federation. He also started to worry.

    He didn¡¯t want to agree to his wife¡¯s request.

    The Panhua people were hardworking and kind. Many families were wealthy. But many years ago, their country was destroyed, and they started wandering the universe. They faced exclusion in many places. During economic crises, people blamed the Panhua. Some tried to take their property to solve their own problems.

    The Kabas Empire, a backward imperial state, used the Panhua tribe as scapegoats to distract from internal problems.

    ¡°Dear, don¡¯t worry. Xiao Wu hasn¡¯t been heard from, but he might be on a secret mission. Justin¡¯s conscription isn¡¯t an emergency draft. It¡¯s normal. Besides, other relatives¡¯ children have served and come back safely,¡± his father reassured his wife.

    ¡°But the news says the empire and the Fuluo Federation are fighting in the border systems. Will Justin be sent there?¡± his mother was still worried.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    ¡°Ha, dear, the Kabas Empire has billions in its military. Do you really think a new recruit like Justin will be sent to the front lines? You can relax,¡± his father said, trying to sound calm.

    But inside, he didn¡¯t want his son to go, even though he felt there was no other choice. As a minority, the Panhua people had to follow the rules more strictly than the native Kabas citizens. It was also Justin¡¯s fault for not entering a higher university after high school. If he had, he could have delayed military service or avoided it.

    Jackson overheard their conversation. He learned some important things. First, he realized they were part of a minority in the Kabas Empire and were not well accepted. Second, a family they knew, the Xiaos, hadn¡¯t heard from their son Xiao Wu after he joined the military. Third, the Kabas Empire was at war with the Fuluo Federation in the border systems.

    ¡°Everything is against me,¡± Jackson thought. ¡°I just want to go back to Earth, not become a soldier. If I die, it would be so unfair.¡± Jackson had no attachment to the Kabas Empire. He didn¡¯t want to fight for it. His thoughts were still with Kai.

    Back in his room, Jackson lay on the bed to rest. He needed to organize his thoughts and absorb some of Justin¡¯s memories.

    There were many strange things about this world. The language was similar to Earth¡¯s. The names were almost the same as his hometown. The crops in the fields looked like rice and wheat. Everything seemed connected to Earth.

    Jackson picked up a small metal block. It had a sleek design and was pleasant to look at. The block had three small holes. It was a personal holographic device. It weighed only 30 grams but was faster than Earth¡¯s fastest supercomputer, "Tianhu Zhiguang," by one trillion times.

    "Activate," Jackson said. The three small holes emitted different beams of light, forming a screen in the air with various apps.

    Jackson marveled at the technology. The screen was clearer than any display he had seen on Earth. It was also far more advanced than the small display on his wristband.

    He clicked on an app called "Qianxun." The app seemed to come alive. It flew off the screen and adjusted to the perfect distance for Jackson to view. It hovered in the air and opened a search page.

    The device used programmable materials that came from the three holes. The only downside was that it consumed a lot of energy.

    Jackson typed "Earth" into the search bar.

    The first result: A ball-shaped planet on the ground.

    The second result: "Land is the most valuable resource on Bibo, the agricultural planet of the Kabas Empire. Please protect the land."

    The third result: ...

    None of these results were what Jackson was looking for. He decided to change the search and typed in "Solar System."

    The first result: "The Solar System is a mysterious prison built by the United Federation of Intelligent Life to imprison demons. The souls of the ancient Panhua Empire¡¯s descendants are trapped in this prison, endlessly reincarnating. No one knows where the prison is located. It remains one of the greatest secrets of the universe."

    ...

    The other entries were unrelated to the Solar System, but this one made Jackson break into a cold sweat. The Solar System was described as a prison for demons. That meant he was one of them. After all, Earth was the only planet with life in the Solar System.

    Jackson now understood that the United Federation of Intelligent Life was a supranational organization with great power, similar to Earth¡¯s United Nations but much more powerful.

    The Federation had its own law enforcement and military. They handled issues that affected the entire universe.

    Since the Solar System was the Federation¡¯s prison, it meant Earth¡¯s people were the enemies of the universe.

 Chapter 5: The Recruitment Station

    Duke Madison was the Minister of Defense in the Kabas Empire. He was drinking coffee when his assistant, Ruth, knocked on the door and came in. "My lord, the latest recruitment letters have been sent. All citizens required to serve will receive them by 6 p.m. today. Fia, the central AI, has confirmed everything will be delivered," Ruth reported.

    Madison didn¡¯t care much. Recruitment was a regular task every year. He didn¡¯t need to be involved. This year, however, the relationship with the Fuluo Federation had become tense. There had been some small conflicts, which made him pay a bit more attention to the issue.

    His mind was mostly focused on his family''s business.

    After Ruth left, Madison opened his personal holographic device. He connected with a major general, a chubby officer.

    The officer¡¯s hologram appeared, almost lifelike, in front of Madison.

    The major general greeted him quickly. ¡°My lord, do you have any orders?¡±

    Madison said, ¡°General Wang Feng, as the head of logistics, you need to help the Empire.¡±

    Wang Feng looked confused. He didn¡¯t understand why Madison was saying that. His job was to handle supplies, not these matters.

    Wang Feng smiled awkwardly. "My lord, I don¡¯t understand. Please give your orders."

    Madison said, ¡°For this round of recruitment, increase the proportion of synthetic food from 30% to 35%. Tell the Kaimeng Trading Group to change their supply. They should now provide 5% synthetic food and 5% natural food instead of 10% natural food.¡±

    Wang Feng immediately understood.

    The Kaimeng Trading Group was Madison¡¯s family business. They also supplied food to the military. When the military bought food, they paid in advance. The payment for this batch of food for new recruits had already been made. Starting tomorrow, Kaimeng would supply food for the recruits for six months.

    Madison¡¯s plan was to have Kaimeng replace higher-quality natural food with cheaper synthetic food. Synthetic food cost half the price of natural food. This would allow Kaimeng to make over 300 billion Kabas coins in profit.

    This was a common practice, though usually, the percentage was much smaller¡ªbetween 0.1% and 0.5%. Wang Feng didn¡¯t understand why Madison was making such a big change this time.

    ¡°My lord, is this... a little too much?¡± Wang Feng asked carefully. He was worried about the risks.

    He was in charge of logistics. If something went wrong, he would be blamed.

    ¡°Wang Feng, you are a senior officer. You should understand the situation. The Empire is struggling. We are saving military costs. This will help the Empire,¡± Madison said. ¡°Here¡¯s what we¡¯ll do. All Panhua recruits will get synthetic food. The Panhua make up about 2% of the population, and their soldiers are around the same. The other recruits will get less synthetic food than before. This way, the overall amount of synthetic food for other ethnic groups will still be lower. It¡¯s settled.¡±Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    Madison ended the call.

    Wang Feng felt sad. He was from the Panhua tribe too, but he had to rely on Madison¡¯s family to survive.

    At dinner, Jackson was eating delicious food. He didn¡¯t realize that once he joined the army, he would only eat bland synthetic food.

    His mother, knowing he was leaving for the army the next day, kept adding more food to his plate. ¡°Justin, eat this chicken leg. You¡¯ve always loved it since you were little.¡±

    Jackson felt warmth in his heart. He was touched, even though she wasn¡¯t his real mother.

    He remembered the information he read online. The Panhua tribe had once built the Panhua Empire. At its peak, the empire was the third most powerful in the universe. Its army was one of the strongest. But for some unknown reason, the empire was destroyed by all the other nations in the universe. At the end of the empire, some people surrendered, while others fought to the death.

    Those who surrendered were scattered across the universe, wandering. The ones who fought were exiled to an unknown star system. That system was called the Solar System. No one knew where it was, only the name. The United Federation of Intelligent Life turned the Solar System into a massive prison to hold them forever.

    Jackson realized that humans on Earth were part of this world. He noticed many things here were like Earth.

    After learning all this, Jackson felt lost. With his current strength, trying to return to Earth would be suicide. He didn¡¯t even know where the Solar System was. Even if he found it, the United Federation of Intelligent Life would catch him and punish him.

    For now, he had to focus on surviving here.

    ¡°Thank you, Mom,¡± Jackson said, trying to sound cute. It felt awkward calling such a young woman ¡°Mom.¡±

    His parents, though they looked in their twenties, were actually over 1,000 years old. People here lived long lives¡ªup to 10,000 years¡ªabout 100 times longer than humans on Earth.

    The universe was strange. Even though people lived so long, it seemed like something controlled their lives. People didn¡¯t start having children until 800 years old, and there had to be at least 100 years between each childbirth.

    Scientists had tried and failed to solve this issue. That¡¯s why the population here didn¡¯t grow quickly. The population of Bibo, where Jackson lived, was only 3 billion. Industrial planets and entertainment planets had larger populations, over 8 billion.

    Most intelligent life in the universe was humanoid. There were other kinds, too. There were even rumors that entire planets were alive. Jackson hadn¡¯t seen any such life, and Justin¡¯s memories didn¡¯t mention it.

    ¡°Master, Li Feng and Trelia are here to see you,¡± the robot at the door, Chen Wu, called out.

    Jackson finished his chicken leg and went to the living room to meet Li Feng and Trelia.

    They were his high school classmates. Li Feng was from the Panhua tribe, while Trelia was from the Kabas tribe.

    ¡°Justin, you got your conscription letter too, right? Haha, now we¡¯ll go to the army together!¡± Li Feng said, excited to join the military.

    ¡°Trelia, didn¡¯t you get into Rift Valley University? How come you got a conscription letter too?¡± Jackson asked, confused. Normally, young people who went to higher education didn¡¯t have to serve in the military.

    ¡°I signed up voluntarily. I heard they are recruiting warship pilots, and that¡¯s been my dream. Plus, the Fuluo Federation keeps bullying us. As a citizen, I should do my part,¡± Trelia said firmly, her blue eyes full of determination.

    Jackson paused for a moment. Then he realized that Trelia, being from the Kabas tribe, loved her country. That made sense.

    The next day, the three of them went to the recruitment station in Rift Valley City.

    Rift Valley City was the capital of Bibo, with a population of 800 million, almost a third of the planet''s population.

    The recruitment station was a huge square building, located right next to the military airfield. New recruits would board spaceships there and be sent to various training bases.

 Chapter 6: The Interstellar Paratrooper

    Frodo was the head of the Rift Valley City recruitment station. He held the rank of lieutenant colonel. Years away from active duty had changed his appearance.

    "Zusanna, I need you to help set the criteria for new recruits and upload them to the central AI, ¡®Fia,¡¯" Frodo said to his deputy.

    ¡°Sir, this seems unusual. We have never done this before. For hundreds of years, ¡®Fia¡¯ has always handled recruitment automatically, following preset rules,¡± Zusanna replied.

    Across the universe, governments relied on powerful central AIs to handle daily tasks. This system improved efficiency and reduced costs. As long as the AI had power, it could operate nonstop. These AIs had abilities far beyond any ordinary intelligence.

    A country with billions of people and vast distances was beyond Earth¡¯s imagination.

    For example, an emperor on Earth might handle 100 tasks a day. In the Kabas Empire, the emperor handled billions. This would be impossible for any human.

    The vast size of the empire and its population created a problem. To manage this, the Empire relied on AIs. The system now operated like a machine, following preset rules under the AI¡¯s control.

    When changes were needed, department heads had to approve them and upload the new rules to the AI. After that, the AI would follow the updated instructions.

    ¡°Deputy, keep an eye on the news. The Empire¡¯s economy has been in decline for years. Many people rely on synthetic food, and they are unhappy. The Panhua people, on the other hand, are thriving. Many have become richer, increasing the wealth gap. A recent report from ¡®Dubit,¡¯ an independent company, showed that while the Panhua make up only 2% of the population, they hold 18% of the wealth. This has caused public anger. The Empire¡¯s leaders have noticed. They want to suppress the Panhua to ease the public''s dissatisfaction,¡± Frodo explained.

    Zusanna frowned. She had seen the report and felt uneasy. As a Kabas citizen, she had been taught that the Kabas were the greatest people in the universe. Seeing the Panhua, a defeated tribe, hold so much wealth made her uncomfortable.

    Meanwhile, similar situations were unfolding on thousands of planets in the Kabas Empire.

    ¡°Frodo, Zusanna, your authorization is complete. The Rift Valley recruitment station will now use the new template to assign recruits,¡± a woman appeared as a hologram, dressed in a gray Imperial uniform with gold trim. She quickly disappeared. This was a projection from the central AI, ¡®Fia.¡¯

    In the recruitment hall, the metal floor creaked as hundreds of silver-colored dispatch rooms rose from the ground. The rooms were sealed, with only two doors: one for entry and one for exit. New recruits entered through the front door and exited through the back. No one knew what happened inside.

    Long lines of recruits waited in front of each room. Some were excited, some were calm, some looked discouraged, and some were anxious. They all waited for their final assignment.

    Jackson was one of those with a serious expression. He wasn¡¯t sure which branch of the military to join. On Earth, he knew about the army, air force, and navy, but in this interstellar world, such divisions no longer existed.

    The military in this world relied mostly on warships as their core armed forces. Jackson wanted to join the warship engine department, where the work was mostly manual labor.

    On Earth, Jackson was a student at Capital Tech University. He was considered well-educated. But after taking over Justin¡¯s body, Jackson inherited only part of Justin¡¯s memories. Many details were unclear. Compared to the people here, Jackson¡¯s education was like that of a child. That was why he decided to take this path.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.

    Jackson also wanted to become a warship pilot, like Trelia. Pilots worked closely with the captain on the bridge and had good chances for promotion. Many captains started their careers as pilots. If Jackson was skilled and lucky, he could become a captain and start his real military career.

    In this universe, being a soldier and holding power could help Jackson find Earth and return home.

    ¡°I want to be a warship pilot. I¡¯ll sign up for that branch. What about you?¡± Li Feng asked eagerly.

    ¡°I...¡± Jackson began to answer.

    ¡°Haha, buddy, you can¡¯t be a warship pilot. In Empire¡¯s Eagle air combat game, you were killed 501 times by one person. That shows you don¡¯t have the skills to fly a warship. The Empire has too many warships for you to destroy. When we sign up, the central AI will check our records. Yours will get you rejected right away,¡± Li Feng interrupted.

    The two had been childhood friends, so Li Feng wasn¡¯t shy about speaking his mind.

    ¡°Li Feng, what¡¯s there to brag about? Jackson can sign up as a pilot. His school grades were always better than yours,¡± Trelia, who had been quiet, defended Jackson.

    Jackson smiled at both of them. ¡°You two, stop arguing. Let¡¯s focus on ourselves,¡± he said, trying to show maturity.

    These were Jackson¡¯s new friends, and he needed to get along with them.

    Trelia had some feelings for the original Justin, so those feelings naturally extended to Jackson.

    Justin wasn¡¯t the best student, but he was good-looking.

    Li Feng, on the other hand, was more average. His name, ¡°Feng,¡± reflected his body type¡ªhe was a bit overweight.

    In this advanced world of biotechnology, cosmetic surgery was common. But people here preferred natural beauty. Artificial beauty was seen as cheap. Natural looks were considered the ideal.

    Trelia was the first to enter one of the silver dispatch rooms. A few minutes later, she came out smiling, holding a brand-new uniform.

    She waved at Jackson and Li Feng from a distance, pointing to a spot, signaling them to meet her there.

    The recruitment hall was crowded, with hundreds of thousands of people. The three of them could only communicate through simple hand gestures.

    After responding to Trelia¡¯s signal, Jackson walked confidently into the dispatch room, facing the first major decision of his new life.

    As soon as Jackson entered, the door behind him silently closed, sealing him off from the outside world.

    ¡°Please place your wrist in the scanner,¡± a mechanical voice instructed.

    Jackson knew his identity chip was in his left wrist. He placed his arm into a square box with a round hole. The hole tightened around his arm, as if it was molding to his body.

    A sharp sensation ran through his arm.

    A screen suddenly appeared in front of him, displaying:

    ¡°Name: Justin, Age: 18, Gender: Male, Education: High School, Race: Panhua Tribe.¡±

    The mechanical voice spoke again, ¡°Please remain still for one second for biological verification.¡±

    Jackson stood perfectly still, not even daring to blink.

    A green light curtain from above scanned him in 360 degrees.

    ¡°Iris match, appearance match, blood type match, bone marrow match, DNA match. Biological identity confirmed.¡±

    ¡°Please lie in the life pod for natural soul verification,¡± the voice said again.

    A simple life pod rose from the floor. Jackson nervously lay inside. He had just taken over Justin¡¯s body. Now they were testing the soul. Jackson didn¡¯t know if he would pass.

    But he dared not resist. This sci-fi-like dispatch room could destroy him in an instant.

    This was the first time Jackson had heard of such a test. If he had known, he would have preferred being charged with treason than coming here to enlist.

    Now, with no choice, he had to go through with it.

    As soon as he lay in the life pod, sensors attached to his body. His consciousness blurred, and he found himself in a white room. A golden tetrahedron-shaped energy cluster hung from the ceiling, with data flowing inside.

    Jackson tried to focus on it, but before he could see more, his consciousness snapped back to his body. His eyes opened. The life pod had sunk back into the ground.

    He was sweating. His heart was racing as he waited for the final result.

    ¡°Natural soul match confirmed. Biological identity verified,¡± the mechanical voice said.

    Jackson let out a long breath. The brief moment felt like a century.

    With a soft click, a tray extended from the wall, holding a gray uniform with blue edges and a metal identity tag.

    The screen in front of Jackson displayed: ¡°Justin, congratulations. You are now a proud interstellar paratrooper of the Kabas Empire. Report to 996th New Recruit Training Camp, 11th Regiment, 6th Battalion, 7th Company. The Empire endures!¡±

    The screen disappeared, and the door to the dispatch room opened automatically.

    Jackson was stunned.

 Chapter 7: Leaving Bibo

    Jackson picked up his uniform and soldier ID tag. He was still confused. He left the dispatch room and walked over to Trelia to ask her about the situation. He turned and gave Li Feng an encouraging gesture.

    Li Feng walked in confidently. The door closed behind him. Jackson silently wished him good luck. If Li Feng and Trelia did well in the army, they might help him later.

    "Are you a warship pilot?" Trelia asked eagerly. She still hoped to be assigned to the same training camp as Jackson, maybe even fly the same warship.

    Jackson gave a bitter smile. He handed her his soldier ID tag.

    Trelia looked at it. It read: Name: Justin, Branch: Interstellar Paratrooper, Unit: 11th Regiment, ID: YC9527. Her face darkened. "Why did you join the Interstellar Paratroopers? That¡¯s the lowest and most dangerous branch in the Empire," she said with frustration.

    Jackson explained what had happened in the dispatch room. Trelia was confused. She couldn¡¯t understand why he had been assigned directly to the paratroopers without a chance to choose.

    "Well, congratulations on becoming a warship pilot. When you¡¯re a captain, don¡¯t forget about me," Jackson said, half-joking.

    Trelia smiled. "Sure. I¡¯ll make you my security officer when I¡¯m a captain," she said happily. She was proud to become a warship pilot. It was her dream.

    A moment later, she became more serious. "Be careful. The Interstellar Paratroopers often take on dangerous missions. Don¡¯t try to be a hero and rush in front," she warned.

    Jackson felt warmth in his chest. It felt good to have someone care for him. Even though he knew it was because Trelia still had feelings for the original Justin, he couldn¡¯t help but feel it. Now that he occupied Justin¡¯s body and the system confirmed he was the original, maybe he and Justin had merged. Who could tell if he was Jackson or Justin? Jackson wanted to keep a friendly, yet distant, relationship with Trelia. It felt a bit dishonest, but he had no choice. In this unfamiliar world, Jackson had to use everything he had to stand firm and find a way back to Earth.

    Trelia was assigned to the 13th New Recruit Training Camp, 22nd Defense Fleet, 56th Destroyer Division.

    "Li Feng, why do you look so down? Didn¡¯t you become the warship pilot you wanted?" Trelia asked as she met up with him.

    Jackson could tell something was wrong. Li Feng¡¯s silence and expression made it clear that things hadn¡¯t gone well. Li Feng was holding a uniform just like Jackson¡¯s, with blue edges.

    "Damn it! I don¡¯t know what happened. The AI didn¡¯t even give me a chance to choose. It just assigned me. I stayed in the dispatch room and demanded an explanation, but two military police dragged me out. Now I have a Level 3 violation in my file," Li Feng complained, upset.

    Jackson looked at his soldier ID tag: Name: Li Feng, Branch: Interstellar Paratrooper, Unit: 11th Regiment, ID: LF9923.

    Li Feng and Jackson were assigned to the same unit. This confused Jackson. The Empire usually mixed up recruits from the same places for easier management. Why had he and Li Feng been assigned to the same unit by chance?

    "Hey, you three are together. What a coincidence!" A handsome young man greeted them.

    He was Xiao Yi, also from Rift Valley 7583 High School. He was a Panhua, like Jackson. They were from different classes but knew each other.

    After chatting for a while, Jackson learned that Xiao Yi was also in the 11th Regiment, ID: XY9985.

    Xiao Yi sighed and quietly said, "I¡¯ve noticed, all the Panhua recruits have been assigned to the Interstellar Paratroopers."

    His words confirmed Jackson¡¯s suspicion. The Panhua weren¡¯t favored by the Empire.

    This made Jackson even more determined to train hard in the army. If he couldn¡¯t change things now, he had to adapt. Improving himself was the only way forward.

    The Kamon Trade Group¡¯s headquarters was in the capital, Star Chuan Tuo. President Hunter Martin received a message from Major General Wang Feng of the Empire¡¯s Logistics Department. He was told to change 5% of the new recruits'' food supplies to synthetic food.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    Hunter Martin was thrilled. His company had been assigned to provide 10% of the natural food. Now, they could swap 5% of that for synthetic food, which would increase their profits by trillions.

    Greedy Hunter Martin thought of another way to save costs. He pressed a button on his wrist communicator.

    The device beeped. The three small holes on it projected a hologram of a man in an Imperial uniform. It was the Empire¡¯s Defense Minister, Madison.

    "Hunter, why did you contact me? I¡¯ve told you not to disturb me during working hours," Madison said.

    "Heh, Father, I received the notice from the logistics department..." Hunter Martin explained his idea.

    "You mean, reduce the number of training camps and concentrate supplies to a few camps to save on transport costs?" Madison asked.

    "Yes, exactly. The synthetic food is mainly for minority recruits. If we send it to just half the training camps, we can save 50 billion in shipping costs," Hunter Martin explained.

    Madison thought for a moment and then made a decision. He had planned to provide synthetic food mainly to the Panhua recruits. So, he would concentrate them in a few camps. The ships carrying the synthetic food would only need to reach those camps to complete the task.

    Each of the Empire¡¯s training camps focused on a specific type of recruit. Soon, the entire Empire followed Rift Valley City¡¯s new recruit assignment system. Madison ordered that all Panhua recruits this year be assigned to the Interstellar Paratroopers¡ªthe Empire¡¯s lowest and most dangerous branch.

    The Panhua, as a minority group, had always been oppressed. With growing dissatisfaction in the Empire, no one in the higher ranks objected to Madison¡¯s order.

    In the hall, the noise was deafening. The place was crowded with new recruits, full of excitement. Imperial soldiers maintained order around the room.

    "When you have free time, contact me!" Trelia called out to Jackson.

    Jackson gave her an "OK" gesture. He, Li Feng, and Xiao Yi walked toward the boarding tunnel, ready to take the ship to the training camp.

    After walking for over ten minutes, they arrived at Tunnel 996.

    Jackson was puzzled. Why were there no other people? The 11th Regiment should have at least a thousand recruits.

    As they got closer, Jackson realized he had been overthinking. The tunnel was an automated transport system. The metal floor moved continuously, and the other recruits had already stepped onto it and moved ahead.

    The three stood on the metal floor, which quickly moved them forward. Jackson saw the tunnel entrance shrinking behind them.

    They emerged from the tunnel into a huge military airfield. Ships and warships were docked everywhere.

    Jackson placed his soldier ID tag near the scanner. A green light swept over it, and a small screen appeared, showing: "Please board T996-11 commuter ship."

    The ship was a diamond-shaped metal vessel that could carry over 1,000 people. Once Jackson and his friends boarded, it soon filled up.

    A clear female voice echoed in the cabin: "The ship is ready for takeoff. Please fasten your seatbelts, warriors of the Empire."

    Jackson sat by the window, buckling his seatbelt. He looked out at a warship slowly rising from the ground. It was amazing.

    Li Feng, sitting beside him, snorted. "What¡¯s so special? That¡¯s just a destroyer using anti-gravity engines to take off."

    "Impressive," Jackson couldn¡¯t help but praise. The destroyer outside was about 2 kilometers long.

    "Pfft, who cares? It costs a fortune," Li Feng muttered, still bitter about not becoming a warship pilot.

    "Well, you Panhua are so rich. It¡¯s not a surprise," a nearby Kabas youth chimed in.

    "Yeah, the Panhua should donate to the Empire, so we can build more warships to defeat the shameful Fuluo Federation."

    ¡°The Panhua are traitors to the Empire. They¡¯ve stolen from the common people. If I were the Emperor, I would exile all the Panhua,¡± a burly new recruit shouted.

    ¡°Shut up, you¡¯re dreaming,¡± Li Feng snapped back.

    ¡°Look at you, you want to be Emperor?¡± another recruit added.

    This was all part of Madison¡¯s plan. All the Panhua were assigned to the Interstellar Paratroopers, so now half the recruits on the ship were Panhua. They were young and eager, unwilling to let the Kabas slander their people.

    Jackson was about to speak when Xiao Yi pulled him aside. "Don¡¯t argue. We¡¯re a minority. We need to endure and find our chance. Arguing won¡¯t change anything."

    "Shut up, all of you. Save your energy for the training field," a large man in a lieutenant colonel''s uniform suddenly entered the cabin and stopped the arguing.

    A rumbling sound filled the cabin as Jackson felt a strong force push him back into his seat. This was a traditional takeoff method, not anti-gravity.

    Luckily, the pressure soon eased, and Jackson felt weightless. He knew this was the so-called zero-gravity feeling in space. Looking out the window, he saw the stars shining in the dark space. In the distance, a planet appeared. It was Bibo, the home planet of Jackson¡¯s new world.

    Jackson waved goodbye to it.

    Bibo was the main planet of the Mu Hua Star System, the only life-bearing planet. The other planets in the system were uninhabitable, and the Empire had abandoned efforts to terraform them.

    Looking at Bibo, Jackson couldn¡¯t help but think of Earth. He wondered if he would ever return.

    ¡°Artificial gravity will start in 10 seconds,¡± the mechanical female voice announced. "3, 2, 1, complete."

    Jackson immediately felt his body become heavy again, just like on Bibo.

    ¡°Faster-than-light engines will engage in one minute. Please wear your goggles to protect your eyes,¡± the voice continued. Moments later, purple goggles dropped down above each seat.

    Jackson quickly put them on.

    As the ship entered hyperspace, Jackson felt a wave of nausea. Everything around him became eerily silent. There was no sound, as though he had gone deaf. He looked outside and saw light stretching into long trails, leaving ghostly afterimages.

    Time felt long, yet short. When the silence ended, the faster-than-light journey had finished.

 Chapter8: 996 New Recruit Training Camp

    "Faster-than-light flight has ended. Welcome, warriors of the Empire, to the Chang Geng star system¡ªFeng Rui Star. Feng Rui Star is a level 4 life-bearing planet. It has many terrains, dangerous animals, and harsh environments. It is not good for human settlement. But, it is the Empire¡¯s new recruit training ground. The ship will arrive in 10 minutes," the attractive female sergeant said. Her gray uniform made her figure stand out.

    "Beautiful lady, can I know your name?"

    "Ha, now I believe in love."

    "I need to take this ship more often."

    ...

    Many bold male recruits laughed and teased her.

    "Such shameful behavior."

    "She¡¯s not even that pretty."

    "Maybe she had plastic surgery?"

    The female recruits whispered among themselves. They weren¡¯t impressed with the sergeant.

    "Xiao Yi, you should try to pursue this beauty. You¡¯re the most handsome among us three. Don¡¯t embarrass Rift Valley 7583 High School," Jackson joked to Xiao Yi to build a closer relationship.

    "Heh, why don¡¯t you pursue her? You¡¯re not bad either," Xiao Yi replied.

    "He doesn¡¯t need to. He already has Trelia," Li Feng teased Jackson. Then he added, "What do you think? I¡¯m stuck as an Interstellar Paratrooper, but I could marry this beauty and bring her home to make up for it!"

    Jackson and Xiao Yi exchanged glances and said in unison, "Bro, just go to sleep."

    The T996-11 commuter ship shook as it entered Feng Rui Star¡¯s atmosphere. Jackson saw the friction between the ship and the air create high temperatures. The ship was covered by a blue shield that kept the heat away.

    "That¡¯s the ship¡¯s protective shield," Jackson thought.

    The ship landed at a spaceport. The recruits got off the ship. The female sergeant stood at the exit, smiling and seeing them off.

    As Jackson walked past, he asked, "Beautiful sergeant, can I know your name?"

    The sergeant was surprised. She was used to recruits teasing her, but no one had asked her name so directly. Seeing Jackson¡¯s sincere face and good looks, she smiled and said, "I¡¯m Sergeant Gong Feina, the ship¡¯s science officer."

    "Sergeant Gong, this new recruit, Li Feng, likes you. I¡¯m asking for him," Jackson said, pointing at Li Feng.

    Li Feng¡¯s face turned red. "Don¡¯t accuse me! You¡¯re the one who likes her!" He quickly walked off the ship.

    "Tch, you¡¯re not a good bro. I asked for you, and now you¡¯re embarrassed," Jackson teased Li Feng.

    The recruits laughed as they left the ship.

    Gong Feina shrugged, not taking it seriously. She had only answered Jackson out of politeness. She thought back to how Li Feng and another recruit had complained to each other earlier. It had been amusing.

    "Mm, in a year, I¡¯ll retire. I wonder if I¡¯ll meet these two interesting recruits again," Gong Feina thought as she returned to the ship and closed the door.

    Soon, the T996-11 commuter ship took off again, carrying the next batch of recruits.

    The 996 New Recruit Training Camp was just a general term. It had many sub-bases. No one knew exactly how many were on Feng Rui Star. This was military confidential information. The 11th Regiment was just one of them.

    The recruits entered a large building of over 10,000 square meters. The words "Interstellar Paratrooper 11th Regiment" were engraved above the entrance.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

    Looking at the recruits forming a disorganized line, Major Miles Mark shook his head. He shouted, "I am Major Miles Clon, the commander of the Interstellar Paratrooper 11th Regiment. Starting today, you are soldiers of the Kabas Empire." He paused and then said more forcefully, "However, you are not soldiers yet. I can even call you ¡®women.¡¯ Over the next six months, my base will turn you from women into iron soldiers¡­"

    Jackson, standing in the formation, recognized the major as the same one who had stopped the argument on the T996-11 commuter ship.

    Major Miles Mark¡¯s speech was short but impactful. It quickly ended.

    The recruits were assigned barracks by squad. They received supplies and began organizing their rooms.

    In a large barrack, over 100 recruits sorted their things. Jackson placed his toiletries, two sets of uniforms, boots, a ring-shaped mini communicator, and other clothes in his locker.

    Li Feng complained, ¡°How stingy. What era is this? Still using such a big barrack? More than 100 people in one room with no privacy. Before joining, I researched online, and warship pilots get their own rooms.¡±

    Jackson smiled but didn¡¯t respond to Li Feng. He looked at the small mirror. His once thick black hair was now cut into a buzz cut. He felt more energetic, looking more like a soldier.

    The Interstellar Paratroopers had strict rules¡ªthey had to keep a buzz cut. One guy, who had an artistic side, refused to cut his hair. His superior made him run laps as punishment.

    Xiao Yi nudged Jackson and gestured with his eyes. ¡°Look, there will definitely be some drama soon.¡±

    Jackson realized the guy who had made the comment about exiling all the Panhua from the Empire was also assigned to their squad.

    ¡°Forget him. We three should stick together and work hard. Maybe we can make a name for ourselves in the army,¡± Jackson said indifferently.

    The guy was called Bo¡¯er. He was a typical racist, looking down on all non-Kabas people. Jackson didn¡¯t care much about Bo¡¯er. He didn¡¯t feel connected to the Panhua, and on Earth, his people had always been the dominant group. No one had ever dared to discriminate against them.

    ¡°You don¡¯t hate him?¡± Xiao Yi asked.

    Jackson was about to answer no but quickly changed his mind. ¡°Of course, I hate that bastard. He¡¯s so arrogant. But remember, this is the army. As long as we have the skills, it¡¯s all about personal ability here.¡±

    Xiao Yi looked at Jackson for a moment, then silently thought to himself, ¡°He¡¯s clear-headed and goal-oriented. Li Feng, on the other hand, is more impulsive.¡±

    The room was large. In the center was a hallway. On either side were the beds of the 7th Squad¡¯s recruits. A row of chandeliers hung above, casting a warm orange light.

    The recruits chatted in small groups, getting to know each other. The Panhua and Kabas kept to their own groups.

    Jackson¡¯s neighbor was a chubby guy who always had a strange smile on his face. His movements were slow. His bed wasn¡¯t made properly. Jackson couldn¡¯t stand it and helped him.

    ¡°Thanks,¡± the chubby guy said gratefully.

    His name was Keen, a Kabas. He had always been a bit slower than others.

    Lying on his bed for a moment, Jackson thought, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the flight from space, this 7th Squad barracks would look like any regular military camp on Earth.¡±

    The Interstellar Paratroopers truly lived up to their reputation as the Empire¡¯s lowest-ranking branch. The facilities didn¡¯t seem to match the advanced technology of the interstellar era.

    Jackson didn¡¯t know that the Interstellar Paratroopers often carried out reconnaissance, infiltrating enemy territory, and even assassination missions. They needed to survive without the help of advanced technology. That¡¯s why the training focused on self-reliance and physical strength.

    "This is disgusting. It tastes like leftover slop," Jackson complained about his dinner in the mess hall.

    "Ha, look at the packaging. Yours is synthetic food. That¡¯s the taste. It¡¯s not great, but the nutritional value is top-notch," Keen explained with a silly grin.

    Jackson checked the label, and sure enough, it said "Synthetic" on it.

    At mealtime, recruits used their soldier ID tags to get their food from the supply machine. Jackson could only complain, "Such bad luck."

    The next day, all 3,500 new recruits of the 11th Regiment were in place, and training officially began.

    In the 7th Squad barracks, the recruits had just finished organizing their rooms when a lieutenant with two sergeants entered.

    The recruits quickly stood in military posture, legs straight, back erect, arms down, and waited for the three officers.

    The lieutenant walked back and forth, his uniform neat and pressed, his steps strong and steady. After a moment, he spoke, "I am Lieutenant Hoffman, your senior instructor. From today, unless I speak first, you are not allowed to speak. When addressing me, you must always say ¡®Sir¡¯ at the beginning and end." He paused before shouting, "Do you understand, maggots?"

    His last words were shouted so loudly that they echoed. The recruits, startled, answered in unison, "Sir, yes, Sir!"

    Hoffman, still dissatisfied, cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted louder, "What? You¡¯re all newborn babies? I can¡¯t hear you!"

    "Sir, yes, Sir!" The recruits replied, this time louder and more unified.

    Jackson thought, "This instructor is tough."

    Hoffman seemed satisfied with their response but didn¡¯t ease up. "After your training, only the ¡®survivors¡¯ will leave my 11th Regiment. You will become weapons. You will become the gods of death in war. But until you leave, you are nothing but bugs. You are the lowest form of life on Feng Rui. You are my spit. You are not human. You are an unorganized mob. My job is to get rid of the incompetent among you. They will never make it as one of my beloved Interstellar Paratroopers. Do you understand, maggots?"

 Chapter 9: The Devilish Instructor

    Chapter 9: The Devilish Instructor

    ¡°Sir, yes, sir!¡±

    Huffman¡¯s speech was long. Many of the new recruits didn¡¯t understand him. Their responses were mixed up. Huffman frowned and shouted, ¡°I didn¡¯t hear you!¡±

    The recruits repeated their answer. Only then did Huffman seem satisfied.

    Huffman walked down the aisle while speaking. He stopped in front of Bor and asked, ¡°What¡¯s your name, trash?¡±

    Bor was strong. He was 18 years old. But Huffman¡¯s presence made him afraid. He didn¡¯t dare resist. He said, ¡°Sir, Private Bor, sir.¡±

    Huffman said roughly, ¡°From now on, your name is ¡®Skinny Monkey.¡¯ Do you like it, Private?¡±

    Bor didn¡¯t want the name. But Huffman was too close. He felt embarrassed and shouted, ¡°Sir, I like it, sir!¡±

    Li Feng heard this. He almost laughed but held it in. He felt good seeing the troublemaker get scolded.

    Jackson whispered, ¡°Li Feng, don¡¯t say anything. The instructor will punish you.¡±

    ¡°Who was that? Who spoke? You¡¯re dead!¡± Huffman heard someone break his rule. He was angry. His voice got louder, and he moved toward the source.

    The recruits were all scared. Huffman¡¯s voice made their ears ring.

    Jackson started to get worried. He didn¡¯t know what Huffman would do to him. He tried to stay calm and hoped Huffman wouldn¡¯t notice it was him who spoke.

    Huffman decided the voice came from near Jackson. He stared at everyone¡¯s face. He yelled, ¡°Who¡¯s not admitting it?¡±

    The recruits stayed quiet. No one said anything. Huffman got angrier. He yelled, ¡°You¡¯re all useless! I¡¯ll train you until you drop dead. You¡¯ll become maggots!¡±

    Suddenly, Li Feng moved a little. Huffman grabbed him and shouted, ¡°Was it you, coward? I bet it was you!¡±

    Li Feng turned pale. Jackson wasn¡¯t sure what to do. Should he step up and admit it? Or let Li Feng take the blame?

    Jackson thought for a moment. In the army, teamwork was important. If he stayed silent, others would think less of him. That would hurt his chances of doing well in the squad.

    Finally, Jackson spoke up. ¡°Sir, it was me, sir.¡±

    Huffman stopped for a second. He let go of Li Feng. He said with no apology, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll let you go this time, rat.¡±

    Huffman turned to Jackson. He smiled in a cruel way. ¡°So, you¡¯re an actor, huh? Private Clown. I like your honesty. I like you.¡±

    Jackson was relieved. He hadn¡¯t expected that admitting the truth would make Huffman like him.

    But then, Huffman suddenly punched Jackson in the stomach. The punch felt like being hit by a car. Jackson fell to the ground.

    ¡°Damn, his punch is strong,¡± Jackson thought. Pain shot through his body. He had trouble breathing.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

    Huffman didn¡¯t stop. He shouted, ¡°You scum! Now that I know your name, I can do whatever I want with you.¡±

    Jackson couldn¡¯t get up. Huffman pointed at him and continued, ¡°Private Clown, you¡¯ll suffer. You¡¯ll start from the bottom and learn to do things properly.¡±

    Huffman¡¯s voice was loud and harsh. His face was full of anger. It felt like he was the king of the camp.

    Jackson could tell Huffman was dangerous. The instructor had definitely killed before.

    Jackson tried hard to stay strong. He couldn¡¯t show weakness.

    Huffman saw Jackson trying to get up. He wasn¡¯t scared. Huffman felt Jackson was doing well, so he gave him a passing grade in his mind.

    But Huffman didn¡¯t stop. He yelled, ¡°Get up, insect! Stand properly. Don¡¯t act like a girl.¡±

    Jackson, holding in his pain, tried to stand at attention. It wasn¡¯t perfect, but he tried.

    Huffman then asked loudly, ¡°Why did you join the interstellar paratroopers?¡±

    Jackson answered quickly, ¡°Sir, to kill, sir.¡±

    Huffman asked, ¡°Insect, are you a killer?¡±

    Jackson replied, ¡°Sir, yes, sir.¡±

    Huffman ordered, ¡°Show me your killing face.¡±

    Jackson froze. He had never killed anyone. What kind of face should he make? He said, ¡°Sir... I¡­¡±

    Huffman cut him off. ¡°Do you have a killing face?¡± Huffman¡¯s anger grew. If Jackson didn¡¯t do this right, he would be punished again.

    Jackson thought for a moment. He didn¡¯t know how to make a killing face.

    ¡°Ah! Ah! Ah! Is that your killing face? Show me!¡± Huffman screamed.

    Jackson¡¯s ears hurt from the loud sound. Huffman¡¯s fist was ready to strike again. Jackson panicked. He screamed, ¡°Ah! Ah! Ah!¡± and made the scariest face he could.

    Huffman looked at him with disgust. ¡°That didn¡¯t scare me. Show me your real killing face, you idiot.¡±

    Jackson was angry. He screamed, ¡°Ah! Ah! Ah!¡± and made the scariest face he could.

    Huffman laughed. ¡°Private Clown, you didn¡¯t scare me. Keep that face for the future.¡±

    Jackson yelled, ¡°Sir, yes, sir.¡±

    When Huffman left, Jackson cursed him in his mind.

    Jackson thought Huffman was finally leaving, but Huffman stopped in front of Li Feng. Huffman got so close to Li Feng¡¯s face that they almost touched. He shouted, ¡°What¡¯s your excuse?¡±

    Li Feng didn¡¯t understand. He shouted, ¡°Sir, excuse? Sir?¡±

    Huffman yelled, ¡°Damn it, I¡¯m asking you! Got it?¡±

    Li Feng quickly replied, ¡°Sir, yes, sir.¡±

    Huffman asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t I make myself clear?¡±

    Li Feng answered, ¡°Sir, yes, sir.¡±

    Huffman continued, ¡°Are you shocked? Nervous?¡±

    Li Feng said, ¡°Sir, yes, sir.¡±

    Huffman asked, ¡°Am I making you uncomfortable?¡±

    Li Feng said, ¡°Sir, yes, sir.¡±

    Huffman snapped, ¡°Sir my ass! Do you think I¡¯m stupid?¡±

    Li Feng realized what Huffman meant. He shouted, ¡°Sir, no, sir!¡±

    Huffman gave a small grunt. ¡°How tall are you, Private?¡±

    Li Feng replied, ¡°Sir, 1.85 meters, sir.¡±

    Huffman mocked, ¡°I didn¡¯t know shit could grow this tall. You added five centimeters, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    Li Feng quickly said, ¡°Sir, no, sir.¡±

    Huffman insulted him again. Before leaving, he warned, ¡°I¡¯ll be watching you.¡±

    Jackson noticed that Li Feng was sweating. Huffman¡¯s harsh methods were getting to him too.

    Huffman continued his insults as he moved through the recruits. He mocked their families, spat at them, and made them feel worthless. He was trying to break their bad habits. He wanted to turn them into disciplined soldiers. This was how the interstellar paratroopers became tough.

    Through this, Huffman quietly judged each recruit. He wanted to form an impression of everyone.

    Jackson¡¯s quick response impressed Huffman. Li Feng only just passed.

    In the barracks, Huffman¡¯s insults still echoed. Every recruit silently prayed. They hoped Huffman wouldn¡¯t focus on them, especially Keen.

    Keen had always been slower than the other kids. He had often been bullied. To make friends, he smiled a lot. Over time, this became automatic. People who didn¡¯t know him thought he was mocking them.

    ¡°Do your parents still have other children?¡± Huffman shouted at Keen. His prayers didn¡¯t help.

    Keen hurriedly replied, ¡°Sir, yes, sir.¡±

    Huffman mocked, ¡°I bet they regret having you! You look like a modern art masterpiece! What¡¯s your name, fatty?¡±

    Keen nervously said, ¡°I¡­ Sir, Keen, sir.¡±

    Huffman sneered. ¡°Keen? That¡¯s a terrible name.¡±

    Keen stayed silent. Huffman continued, ¡°Your name sounds royal. Are you from a royal family?¡±

    Keen shouted, ¡°Sir, no, sir.¡±

    Huffman didn¡¯t like his name. ¡°From now on, you¡¯ll be ¡®Fatty.¡¯ Private Fatty, understand?¡±

    Keen smiled and said, ¡°Sir, yes, sir.¡±

    Huffman wasn¡¯t happy with Keen¡¯s smile. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m cute, Private Fatty? Do you think I¡¯m funny? Wipe that smile off your face.¡±

 Chapter 10: The Pirate Nebula

    Chapter 10: The Pirate Nebula

    Hoffman¡¯s expression was fierce, as if he were about to devour someone. His loud voice and violent presence made him far more terrifying than the bullies Kean had faced as a child.

    Kean, though tall and physically strong, had always been weak and timid. He struggled to handle someone as harsh as Hoffman. The more Kean tried to please him, the harder it became.

    Kean tried to control his facial expressions. He pressed his lips together, trying to hide his smile and appear normal. However, years of attempting to please others had left his face permanently stuck in a smile. Even when he tried to change his expression, his round face looked mocking, full of contempt. It was beyond his control, and it angered people.

    Hoffman became furious, thinking that Kean was doing it on purpose. He grabbed Kean by the collar and shouted, "I¡¯ll give you three seconds to stop that stupid smile! If not, I¡¯ll rip out your eyeball and shove it into your pig brain!¡±

    Kean quickly replied, ¡°Sir, I¡¯m trying, Sir!¡±

    Hoffman shouted, ¡°Hurry up! Now! Immediately!¡±

    Kean closed his eyes and focused hard, trying to change his expression. His voice was weak as he said, ¡°Sir, I¡¯m sorry, I can¡¯t do it, Sir.¡±

    This only made Hoffman angrier. He shouted, ¡°Kneel down now, scum!¡±

    Terrified, Kean knelt on the metal floor with a thud.

    Hoffman raised his right hand as if to choke someone and barked, ¡°Choke yourself, Private Fatty.¡±

    Kean obeyed and placed both hands around his neck.

    Hoffman scowled. ¡°Idiot, I meant for you to use my hand.¡±

    Kean quickly grabbed Hoffman¡¯s right hand and tried to bring it to his neck. Hoffman slapped his hand away.

    Hoffman yelled, ¡°Don¡¯t move my hand around! I said choke yourself! You pig-headed fool, get your neck here and let me choke you!¡±

    The recruits in the 7th Company were silent, stunned by the scene. Over 100 men watched as Kean, struggling to breathe, choked himself with Hoffman¡¯s hand. His face turned red, veins bulging, eyes rolling back as he gasped for air. Everyone wondered if Hoffman was really going to kill him.

    Jackson felt a chill. He began to suspect that Hoffman had mental issues.

    Hoffman raised his voice, ¡°Have you stopped smiling, Fatty?¡±

    Kean, nearly passing out, weakly responded, ¡°Yes, Sir.¡±

    Hoffman coldly shouted, ¡°I can¡¯t hear you!¡±

    Kean, using his last bit of strength, shouted, ¡°Sir, yes, Sir!¡±

    Xiao Yi, Jackson, and Li Feng exchanged nervous glances, relieved they were not the ones being punished. Hearing Kean¡¯s final, faint shout was disturbing¡ªit felt like hearing someone¡¯s last breath.

    Hoffman pushed his hand away and released Kean¡¯s neck. He shouted, ¡°Enough! Get up now! Private Fatty, I¡¯ll keep torturing you from now on.¡± Then, ignoring Kean, who was still gasping for air, Hoffman walked off to find someone else to torment.

    The new recruits spent their second day at the 11th Regiment base enduring Hoffman¡¯s cruel treatment. That night, after the lights went out, the barracks were silent. No one made noise like they had the night before.

    Hoffman¡¯s orders were clear: ¡°No talking after lights out! Go to sleep right now!¡±Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

    Jackson started to understand Hoffman¡¯s methods. Without his harsh approach, it would have been difficult to intimidate these young recruits.

    <hr>

    The Pirate Nebula was once known as the Yunmeng star system, part of the Pan-Hua Empire. At its peak, it had over 500 inhabited planets and more than 7,000 resource-rich planets. It was one of the Empire¡¯s most important regions. The Yunmeng system was also the last to fall during the war. No detailed records remain of the battle, and even the most advanced galactic databases have no information about it.

    Today, the nebula stretches over 520,000 light-years, and there are no inhabited or resource-rich planets left. The once-thriving star systems of the Pan-Hua Empire are completely destroyed. Only space debris and dust remain scattered throughout the galaxy.

    From other star systems, the Yunmeng system now appears as a misty cloud, almost like fog over a planet. Over time, people began calling it the Yunmeng Nebula.

    After the loss of all its planets and resources, the Yunmeng system became irrelevant to other galactic nations. No one wanted to send fleets to maintain order in the area.

    As time passed, space pirates began to infiltrate the empty system. They saw an opportunity to raid the abandoned region. The Yunmeng Nebula eventually became known as the Pirate Nebula.

    In its final years, the Pan-Hua Empire had invested heavily in the Yunmeng system. It hoped to make the system a fortress, a last stand against its enemies. The Empire sent its resources, wealth, technology, and military equipment to the region, hiding them on remote planets and in asteroid belts, hoping to use them to restore the Empire if needed.

    However, after the Empire retreated to Yunmeng, internal divisions began to emerge. Some factions wanted to surrender, while others sought to continue fighting.

    Even the strongest fortresses can fall from within. The United Galactic Forces used a brutal strategy¡ªdestroying entire stars. Any resistance was met with immediate annihilation of the planet and star. This tactic terrified those who wanted to surrender.

    In the end, over 100 planets surrendered, and the Yunmeng system was lost. The United Galactic Forces wiped out the remaining factions. The survivors were scattered across the galaxy, and prisoners were sent to soul prisons in the Solar System, where they were locked away for life.

    The collapse of the Pan-Hua Empire left most of its leaders dead. The places where they had hidden resources became mysteries.

    With the help of the surrendering factions, the United Galactic Forces discovered some of the hidden supplies, but they eventually gave up. The Empire was defeated, and the remaining supplies seemed unlikely to change anything.

    When the Yunmeng system became the Pirate Nebula, a pirate leader named Luo Sanpao discovered a hidden vault belonging to the Pan-Hua Empire on an asteroid. Inside were old artworks and treasures. Luo Sanpao became rich and retired to the United Federation of Beiyute, the most powerful country in the universe. There, he lived in luxury, no longer needing to raid for a living.

    One day, while drunk in a nightclub, Luo Sanpao bragged about his discovery. A young man named Peng Yu overheard him.

    Peng Yu had an idea. If the Pirate Nebula had once been the Pan-Hua Empire¡¯s final fortress, there might be more hidden treasures. He and his friends formed a company called "Tian Gong Salvage" to search for these treasures.

    At first, they had little success. The Pirate Nebula was vast, filled with useless planets, asteroid belts, and wrecked battlefields.

    Peng Yu and his team struggled. They were on the brink of closing the company. To survive, they began scavenging abandoned ships and wrecks, selling whatever they could find to stay afloat.

    The work was hard, and profits were slim. Peng Yu was ready to give up. But then, his partner Joseph showed him a star map he had found in a wrecked Pan-Hua transport ship.

    ¡°Peng,¡± Joseph said, ¡°Let¡¯s try Ravon B. If we fail, we¡¯ll end this adventure for good.¡±

    Peng Yu hesitated. Ravon B had a dangerous atmosphere, full of violent lightning storms that could destroy their ship¡¯s shields. Still, the star map indicated the transport ship had gone there. Joseph convinced Peng Yu to give it one last shot.

    ¡°If we shut down Tian Gong Salvage now,¡± Joseph said, ¡°the debts will crush us. We¡¯ll be laughed at by everyone. I don¡¯t want to live in shame.¡±

    Peng Yu felt the weight of their 30 million credit loan from Black Flag Bank. Joseph was right. If they gave up, their assets would be frozen, and they would lose everything.

    The Firebird ship¡¯s alarm blared. The ship shook violently as lightning flashed outside, threatening to tear it apart.

    Peng Yu and Joseph struggled to keep control, dodging lightning bolts and trying to stay on course.

    A massive bolt of lightning struck the ship, shattering its shields. The Firebird spiraled toward the ground.

    The atmosphere around Ravon B was chaotic, filled with relentless lightning. Anything that entered the air was quickly torn apart.

    Inside the ship, sparks flew as energy conduits short-circuited. The air was thick with a foul odor.

    ¡°Warning!¡± the ship¡¯s AI reported. ¡°The shield is destroyed. 32% of the hull is damaged. 48% of the propulsion system is down. 73% of the communication system is damaged. Life support system is destroyed¡­¡±

    Peng Yu and Joseph fought to maintain control, but the ship was losing altitude. The damage continued to worsen. They had no choice but to push forward, hoping to survive the storm and find something valuable to save their company and their lives.

 Chapter 11: Treasure Hunt

    Chapter 11: Treasure Hunt

    Joseph shouted, "Oh, Cosmic God, have you abandoned me?" as the Firebird fell quickly toward the planet.

    "Idiot! Put on your spacesuit!" Peng Yu yelled. "The cabin is losing pressure fast!"

    Then, a lightning bolt hit the Firebird. The ship, once smooth and white, now had black scorch marks all over.

    "Warning!" the ship¡¯s AI said coldly. "Hull damage is 78%. Power system offline. Communication system offline. The ship will crash in one minute. Passengers must leave the ship. Escape pods will be ejected in 30 seconds."

    "Firebird, switch to manual control. Stop the ejection!" Peng Yu shouted. If the ejection happened, they would lose everything. His eyes were wide with fear.

    "Firebird refuses to follow the order," the AI replied. "Protecting intelligent beings is Firebird¡¯s top priority."

    "FUCK! Damn AI!" Joseph muttered angrily.

    Thunder rumbled outside. Heavy rain began to pour. The rain hit the ship¡¯s hull with loud, crackling sounds.

    The Firebird fell rapidly toward the ground. The heat from the ship¡¯s descent vaporized the rain around it.

    From a distance, the ship looked like a white mist, trailing behind it like a long tail. It was falling fast toward a rocky cliff.

    "100 meters, 50 meters, 10 meters, 5 meters," the ship¡¯s AI warned. It seemed the ship was about to crash.

    Just before hitting the cliff, the ship stopped in midair. It hovered, as though something invisible had caught it.

    "Haha, Peng! We survived!" Joseph yelled, his voice full of relief. He had almost forgotten that their mission on Ravon B might fail, leaving them stranded with nothing.

    "Yes, Joseph," Peng Yu replied, his voice tired. "At least we didn¡¯t waste the 5 million Ter we spent on the gravity generator."

    The gravity generator was a one-time device. It cancelled out gravity, making objects float with little force. It was powered by a rare mineral called Fluorite. Fluorite was expensive and hard to find. Most people could not afford it.

    Peng Yu and Joseph bought the gravity generator for the Tian Gong ship. They planned to use it to escape dangerous areas, like black holes or neutron stars.

    Due to the dangerous weather on Ravon B, they decided to use the smaller Firebird to explore the planet, instead of the larger Tian Gong.

    Their 100 employees refused to fly the Firebird. They feared that the lightning on Ravon B would destroy the ship¡¯s shields, and landing would mean certain death.

    In the end, Peng Yu and Joseph decided to go themselves. They secretly moved the gravity generator from the Tian Gong to the Firebird. They figured that if they failed, they would not leave the generator behind.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

    But soon, the generator ran out of power as the Firebird made its final descent onto the cliff.

    "Joseph, go start the backup power," Peng Yu ordered. Earlier, he had used a laser gun to cut the power lines and stop the AI from ejecting them. Without this action, they would have been stranded on Ravon B.

    Joseph, wearing a bulky spacesuit, trudged to the back of the ship. The rain was coming in through the damaged walls, soaking everything inside.

    Peng Yu worked to fix the broken power lines.

    "Ding!" The cockpit lights turned on again. The AI¡¯s voice returned.

    "Power system is 100% damaged. It cannot be repaired. Physical structure is 80% damaged. Some parts can be fixed. Communication system is 100% damaged. Some parts can be repaired. Life support system is 100% damaged. Some parts can be restored," the AI reported.

    Luckily, some equipment was still working. The hovercraft, environmental sensors, fusion generators, engineering robots, food supplies, and map-making robots were still usable.

    Peng Yu and Joseph had taken off their spacesuits. They sat in the cockpit, planning their next steps. Nearby, the engineering robots worked to repair the ship¡¯s structure. They were using materials from other parts of the ship to make the cockpit a sealed area.

    The environmental sensors showed that Ravon B had 2 standard atmospheres of pressure. The air contained 11.5% oxygen, 82.3% nitrogen, and other gases. The temperature was 7.5¡ãC. There was very little plant life. They decided to use the cockpit as a temporary shelter.

    Peng Yu stood by the holographic control panel. The map-making robots had sent back data. He was happy with the results. The map showed that Ravon B was mostly mountainous. There were few plains. More than 80% of the surface was covered by lakes and oceans. The map-making robots were now checking key areas again.

    "Have we contacted the Tian Gong yet?" Peng Yu asked Joseph.

    "Peng, do you think those idiots think we¡¯re dead and left us behind?" Joseph asked with worry. The lightning had blocked communication with the Tian Gong.

    Peng Yu wasn¡¯t sure if the crew would leave. He didn¡¯t want to upset Joseph, so he said, "Don¡¯t worry. They¡¯ll wait for us. According to United Federation law, if explorers are missing, and there¡¯s no proof of their death, the crew must wait at least 60 days."

    "Let¡¯s hope so. God help us," Joseph said, sounding more religious than usual.

    Peng Yu shrugged. He didn¡¯t believe in the ¡°Origin God¡± religion, but he smiled faintly.

    The AI suddenly spoke. "The environmental sensors have updated data. The atmospheric model predicts that the lightning will weaken by 100,000 times in 30 minutes. It will get stronger again in 2 hours."

    Peng Yu and Joseph were relieved. If the lightning weakened, it would only be 100 million volts. The Tian Gong¡¯s shields could handle that. They could force the ship to land.

    "Joseph, send this information to the Tian Gong. Tell them that if they land here, their pay will be ten times higher. Also, once the signal is connected, use our highest clearance to let the main computer take control of the Tian Gong and land it here to join us," Peng Yu ordered.

    "But... the law..." Joseph hesitated.

    "Joseph, forget about the law. We have only 25 days of supplies left. The food machine is on the Tian Gong. The Firebird can¡¯t leave Ravon B. Our employees won¡¯t help us. We need to bring the Tian Gong down and use its equipment to explore Ravon B more deeply. The map-making robots have scanned the surface and found no human traces. This means the Pan-Hua Empire¡¯s artifacts are underground," Peng Yu said sharply.

    Half an hour later, the lightning on Ravon B weakened. Joseph successfully re-established communication with the Tian Gong. Despite complaints from some crew members, he ordered the ship to break through the lightning.

    A massive, 30-kilometer-long gray-black ship appeared in the sky. The sight was terrifying. Many animals on Ravon B scattered in panic.

    The Tian Gong landed on a plain. Steam hissed as the doors opened, and advanced machines rolled out.

    Peng Yu and Joseph climbed into the Firebird¡¯s hovercraft. They flew toward the Tian Gong. Moments later, the Firebird¡¯s base exploded, completing its mission.

    With the advanced technology aboard the Tian Gong, the search became more efficient.

    Peng Yu and Joseph divided Ravon B into 360 zones. Each zone was scanned by machines and manually checked to a depth of 100 kilometers.

 Chapter 12: Interstellar Explorers

    The large words "Pan-Hua Empire YM72548 Backup Warehouse" stood out at the entrance. Peng Yu and Joseph felt excited.

    This warehouse was hidden 30 kilometers underground. They worked hard to open the entrance. During this, dozens of robot soldiers appeared. They killed over 50 employees. Peng Yu was shocked. He had never seen robot soldiers before. He thought it was illegal to install weapons in robots. The United Federation of Intelligent Life punished anyone who broke this law. Even the strongest nation in the universe, the United Federation, followed this rule.

    Inside the warehouse, they found a huge amount of supplies. This made them forget the earlier shock. The employees had insurance. If they died in an accident, the insurance company would pay. A few dozen employees died, but it was not important.

    The warehouse was filled with warships, missiles, ammunition, and other military supplies. Everything was neatly arranged. Peng Yu was stunned when he saw the inventory. He realized that this was enough equipment for an entire fleet. The value of the supplies could reach 10 trillion Ter.

    Although the Pan-Hua Empire had been destroyed for many years, their military technology was still among the best in the universe.

    For low-level civilizations that had not yet left their planets, technological development seemed fast. But this was an illusion. Natural laws controlled the universe. A civilization that could not leave its planet could not understand these laws.

    Science is like fruit on a tall tree. People can reach the lower fruit by hand. To reach the higher fruit, they need to jump. To reach the highest fruit, they need to make a ladder. To make a ladder, they must study the world around them. A civilization that cannot leave its planet cannot make a ladder to reach the high fruit of science.

    Most civilizations stop here. They destroy themselves with nuclear weapons after facing internal conflicts.

    Even civilizations that leave their planets are limited. The speed of light is a barrier. Life spans are short. Even the best people cannot understand the universe in their short lives.

    Only when a civilization can leave its star system and explore a galaxy can it understand space on a larger scale. It can discover the "Yang-Abel Field" and understand gravity. Galaxies like Mu-Hua, Chang-Geng, and Yun-Meng contain many star systems.

    The discovery of the "Yang-Abel Field" allows civilizations to use resources in their galaxy. It also allows free space travel. But even then, faster-than-light travel is still impossible because of the speed-of-light barrier.

    Only by understanding the mysteries of space and energy can a civilization discover the "Space-Energy Equation." This would allow faster-than-light travel and make them rulers of the universe.

    The process of civilization growth is long. Historian Fei Ernan studied thousands of civilizations in the universe. He found that it took 300,000 years for a civilization to use steam power. From steam power to nuclear energy took 280 years. From nuclear energy to leaving the home planet took 100 years. From leaving the home planet to discovering the "Yang-Abel Field" took 70 million years. Finally, from the "Yang-Abel Field" to discovering the "Space-Energy Equation" took 120 million years.

    Fei Ernan divided civilizations into five levels. The first level uses steam power. The second level uses nuclear energy. The third level can travel freely within their star system. The fourth level discovers the "Yang-Abel Field." The fifth level discovers the "Space-Energy Equation."

    The United Federation of Intelligent Life consists of fifth-level civilizations. Each level is divided into basic, intermediate, and advanced categories based on scientific achievements.

    The Pan-Hua Empire was once a fifth-level advanced civilization. It was one of the top civilizations in the universe. Even though it had been destroyed for years, their technology was still the best. The military equipment in their warehouse was still advanced and would definitely sell.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    Seeing the large amounts of supplies in the YM72548 warehouse, Peng Yu and Joseph were very happy. They cried from excitement. They thought about the scary moments during the Firebird¡¯s landing on Ravon B, the dangerous landing of Tian Gong, and the struggle to convince employees to take high salaries. It all felt worth it.

    In truth, they had no money left. They could not pay their employees next month. If they did not find something soon, the employees would quit.

    "Peng, we¡¯re rich! Haha! When we get back, I¡¯m going after the hottest star in Byute, Hui Shanna. I can¡¯t stop thinking about her body!" Joseph said excitedly.

    Peng Yu smiled and encouraged him. Then he said quietly, "Joseph, look around."

    Joseph noticed that the remaining employees were showing greedy expressions. There was an uneasy feeling in the air. If they did not control this, something bad could happen.

    After talking briefly, Peng Yu announced, "All employees will receive 0.2% of the profits from selling the military supplies."

    "Thank you, boss! We¡¯re rich!" the employees shouted, and the tension disappeared.

    Peng Yu and Joseph felt relieved. They told the employees to do a full inventory of the warehouse. They could only turn the supplies into valuable Ter after selling them.

    They had also studied Ravon B''s climate. Based on models and observations over the past few months, they knew that every 30 days, the violent lightning in the atmosphere would weaken by 1.5 to 2 hours before returning to its normal, terrifying 100 trillion volts. During the calm periods, landing on Ravon B was very hard.

    The history of civilizations in the universe is long. After the first cosmic war, all nations agreed to use a new calendar.

    In the cosmic year 117823, a news story broke on New York, the most prosperous commercial star in the Byute United States. New interstellar explorers Peng Yu and Joseph discovered a huge treasure. Their personal wealth reached 300 billion and 250 billion Ter, making them the news figures of the year.

    Peng Yu and Joseph¡¯s success sparked interest in the Pirate Nebula. Many people went to the Pirate Nebula looking for treasure. Some became rich, while others went bankrupt. This kind of interstellar exploration slowly became different professions. First, interstellar explorers, like Peng Yu, who went to dangerous places to find treasures. Second, interstellar scavengers, who searched battlefields, abandoned planets, and asteroid fields for valuable objects or metals.

    In the cosmic year 202012, on December 21, a worn-out triangular spaceship traveled at half the speed of light through the Pirate Nebula. Inside the cockpit, a young man held a crystal object. The object had 20 faces, each an equilateral triangle.

    Gong Feng couldn¡¯t help but say, "A crystal Platonic dodecahedron¡ªrare, but useless. Another failed expedition."

    His name was Gong Feng, a citizen of the Cabas Empire. His sister was a soldier in the Gong Feina Empire.

    Gong Feng had always loved adventure novels. He knew many real-life explorers. After reading a biography of Peng Yu and Joseph, he was inspired to find partners to go to the Pirate Nebula for treasure hunting.

    Now, 90,000 years had passed since Peng Yu¡¯s time. The Pirate Nebula had been visited many times. Since an explorer named Larry found a small "fluorite" warehouse 30,000 years ago and became rich, no one had made any significant discoveries. The Pirate Nebula was no longer a popular destination for explorers.

    However, Gong Feng was still interested. He tried to find partners, but no one agreed to join him.

    Reluctantly, Gong Feng begged his father for money. He bought an old exploration ship called "Determination" and came to the Pirate Nebula alone.

    This time, he bought a star map from an experienced adventurer. The map showed that there was a battlefield ruin near the "Core 32B" asteroid belt.

    Excited, Gong Feng arrived at the location. He found many shipwrecks floating near the asteroid belt, including over 20 battleships and many ultra-large transport ships. Battleships were the top weapon in space warfare. If transport ships were escorted by battleships, there must be something valuable.

    He activated the scanners on the "Determination" and flew through the wreckage.

    Unfortunately, he found nothing valuable.

    Not giving up, Gong Feng used a metal analyzer to look for rare or precious metals. But again, he found only cheap, ordinary materials.

    He remembered the old adventurer who had sold him the star map. The man had said, "Young man, I¡¯m old. I¡¯m selling you this treasure map cheap. If you become famous, don¡¯t forget to mention my name." Gong Feng angrily muttered, "Mention your name? You old turtle! Next time I see you, I¡¯ll beat you up!"

    Despite his frustration, Gong Feng faced an awkward situation. This was his fourth expedition. He had boasted to his friends that this time, he would make a great discovery. Now, with nothing to show, he felt embarrassed to go back.

    Finally, Gong Feng decided to use the outdated optical telescope on his ship to observe the wreckage of the ultra-large transport ships, hoping for a miracle. Under the light of the "Core 32B" system¡¯s sun, he spotted the hidden "Crystal Platonic Dodecahedron."

 Chapter 13 "The Win-Win Agreement"

    Inside the Determination ship, Gong Feng held a cup of coffee in one hand. In the other hand, he lifted a crystal Platonic icosahedron above his head.

    The icosahedron glowed with rainbow-colored light under the white cabin lights. Gong Feng looked at it. "It¡¯s beautiful," he said.

    He looked at the timer. Three minutes were left. Gong Feng complained, "This ship is so old. Every time I try to start the faster-than-light engine, I have to speed up to 80% of light speed first. Once I find treasure, I will replace this ship."

    Suddenly, the communicator beeped. It was a call request.

    "Answer it. It¡¯s annoying," Gong Feng told the ship¡¯s AI.

    The screen showed a middle-aged man with an angry face. He said, "¡®Determination,¡¯ you¡¯re breaking the rules. Stop and prepare for inspection. Pay the ¡®entry tax¡¯ now."

    Gong Feng cursed quietly. Then he spoke calmly. "Boss Qi, we¡¯ve known each other a long time. Can we pay next time? You know I¡¯ve had bad luck and came back empty-handed again."

    Pirate Qi Bao shouted, "No. If you don¡¯t find treasure, it¡¯s your problem. You still owe the fixed ¡®entry tax¡¯ of 100,000 Special Units. You have five minutes to pay. Otherwise, I will destroy your ship."

    After Peng Yu made the pirate Nebula famous, many adventurers came. At first, the pirates robbed them with force. But the adventurers fought back, and the pirates suffered losses. The adventurers who were robbed paid money to get nearby nations to send fleets to deal with the pirates. The result was the destruction of the "Bluebeard" pirate group.

    The intervention of the official fleets scared the pirates. They stopped harassing adventurers and became more careful.

    But, like cats that always love fish, how could pirates not rob?

    The pirates watched as adventurers moved freely through their Nebula. These adventurers carried Special Units, which were valuable.

    There were many pirate groups in the Nebula, but only a few dozen were large. After the destruction of "Bluebeard," the pirates held meetings. They discussed how to deal with the adventurers.

    In the end, they came up with a solution. It was something the adventurers could accept. It wouldn¡¯t anger the neighboring nations either.

    The result was the "Win-Win Agreement." The agreement said if adventurers found treasure, they had to give 10% to the pirates. If they returned empty-handed, they still had to pay 100,000 Special Units. The pirates would also guarantee the adventurer¡¯s safety during their treasure hunts.

    The "Win-Win Agreement" was gradually accepted by adventurers. It became the main rule in the pirate Nebula. New adventurers followed it without question.

    This happened because sending fleets from neighboring nations to attack pirates was too expensive. The cost was too high for adventurers. The pirates¡¯ solution was a middle ground, and over time, the adventurers agreed to it.

    Now, 90,000 years later, the "Win-Win Agreement" was still in effect.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

    The "Skull Pirate Gang" was one of the ten largest pirate groups in the Nebula. Qi Bao was a lower-ranking leader in this gang. Gong Feng¡¯s treasure-hunting area, the "Core 32B" asteroid belt, was under Qi Bao¡¯s control.

    After Gong Feng finished his treasure hunt, he didn¡¯t report to Qi Bao. Instead, he tried to fly out of the Nebula. Qi Bao soon noticed and chased after him.

    Gong Feng and Qi Bao knew each other well. Three of Gong Feng¡¯s last four hunts were in Qi Bao¡¯s area.

    The "Vengeful Ghost" was a patrol ship over 500 meters long. It had three laser cannons, three particle cannons, and 30 smaller guns. One shot from its main cannons could easily destroy Gong Feng¡¯s Determination.

    When Gong Feng heard Qi Bao¡¯s message, he cursed under his breath. He didn¡¯t want to anger Qi Bao, but he had no money left. After five failed hunts, Gong Feng decided to stop being an adventurer and leave the Nebula. He didn¡¯t want to pay the "entry tax."

    Unfortunately, luck wasn¡¯t on his side. Just as he was about to enter hyperspace, the pirates caught up with him.

    "Boss Qi, don¡¯t be angry. I¡¯ll stop and pay. Look at my old ship. It¡¯s junk. Sometimes it doesn¡¯t even respond. It will take some time," Gong Feng said quickly, hoping to calm Qi Bao down and avoid being destroyed. One shot from the Vengeful Ghost could destroy the Determination.

    The coffee and Platonic icosahedron were on the ship¡¯s control panel.

    Gong Feng pretended to press buttons on the panel as if he was trying to stop the ship. He checked the timer. One more minute, and he could start the faster-than-light engine.

    "If I can hold on for one more minute and enter hyperspace, Qi Bao won¡¯t be able to stop me," Gong Feng thought to himself.

    Qi Bao watched Gong Feng on the screen. He didn¡¯t care much. The Determination was too old, with a control panel full of mechanical buttons. Qi Bao mocked Gong Feng, thinking, "This ship is over 100,000 years old. This fool thinks he can find treasure with it. What a joke."

    Gong Feng¡¯s delay had another reason. He was waiting for the ship to get near an area with holographic network coverage. He hoped to send a distress signal to the Kabas Empire military.

    The "Win-Win Agreement" was just a civilian agreement, not recognized by any government. So, if an adventurer was chased by pirates, the military would still respond to distress signals. But the help might not always be real.

    Gong Feng hoped the military would help, even though it seemed unlikely.

    The pirate Nebula was a dead star system with few intelligent life forms. The cosmic holographic network didn¡¯t cover much area. Only certain regions had signals.

    When Gong Feng noticed the holographic network signal, he quickly pressed the distress button. A quantum wave traveled toward the Kabas Empire military at faster-than-light speed.

    On the Vengeful Ghost, a thin navigator reported to Qi Bao, "Boss, the sensors detected a large energy surge from the Determination when it tried to start its faster-than-light engine."

    "Gong Feng, you poor bastard. You¡¯re finished now!" Qi Bao shouted.

    The Determination failed to start its faster-than-light engine, and the pirates noticed. Gong Feng turned pale and didn¡¯t know what to do.

    Before Gong Feng could react, a secondary cannon on the Vengeful Ghost fired. A massive cannonball hit the Determination¡¯s energy shield and tore it apart with kinetic force.

    The Determination spun out of control in space but regained balance. The cabin filled with smoke. The burning smell made it hard to breathe. Most of the equipment was destroyed.

    But Gong Feng was shocked by something else.

    As the Determination spun, the coffee spilled onto the Platonic icosahedron. The coffee flowed over it and onto the control panel, soaking the circuits. The icosahedron connected with the ship¡¯s system.

    At that moment, the Platonic icosahedron turned into a golden energy sphere. It seemed like endless data was flowing inside. Then, it merged into the ship¡¯s main AI core.

    The AI instantly shut down. The ship lost control, and equipment overloaded, causing major damage.

    "What is this?" Gong Feng yelled at the golden energy-wrapped AI core.

    No one answered. The golden energy surrounding the AI core made it restart. Some ship functions were restored.

    The screen beeped. Qi Bao appeared, angry. He ordered, "Idiot, stop the ship now. If not, I will destroy it in five seconds." Six main cannons on the Vengeful Ghost charged up, ready to destroy the Determination.

    "Idiot, answer me now!" Qi Bao shouted again.

 Chapter 14: Central AI Fiya

    "Skinny Monkey, am I seeing things? That ship, Determination, is gone!" Qi Bao shouted inside the Vengeful Ghost.

    "Boss... I think... it¡¯s gone," Skinny Monkey stammered, unsure of his answer.

    "Stop hesitating! You¡¯re the science officer. Explain this! What¡¯s going on?" Qi Bao grabbed a pirate standing nearby and pointed to the empty space where the Determination had been, his anger clear.

    The pirate paused and said, "Boss, the Determination must have jumped faster than light. It moved in place. I don¡¯t know how, but that¡¯s what happened."

    Qi Bao stared at the Vengeful Ghost¡¯s six main cannons, firing powerful energy beams into deep space. The beams vanished into the distance. He slumped into the command chair, feeling defeated.

    After a moment, Qi Bao gritted his teeth and ordered, "Send a report to headquarters. Tell them that this guy, Gong Feng, broke the Win-Win Agreement. He will be the first on the blacklist. If any pirate group sees him in the Nebula, they¡¯ll shoot him on sight."

    Gong Feng had no idea that he had just become the enemy of all pirates in the Nebula.

    In low Earth orbit around Bibo Star, a wave of energy appeared. A dark blue star gate opened, and a worn-out triangular ship slowly emerged. As the ship passed through, the star gate turned into countless light points and disappeared.

    The space artillery in low Earth orbit immediately locked onto the strange ship. Any signs of hostility would lead to its immediate destruction. A destroyer from the 7th Fleet of the Kabas Empire¡¯s Muhua star system approached, prepared to intimidate the ship.

    Yefu Ichimura was the captain of the Peace, a destroyer. His job was to patrol space around Bibo Star, ensuring that pirates, criminals, rebels, and extremists didn¡¯t attack the planet.

    This was an easy task. As part of the local defense fleet, they rarely faced large-scale threats. Most of the time, it was just small skirmishes. Everything was calm.

    The Muhua star system bordered the Pirate Nebula and had a diameter of 430,000 light-years. Bibo Star was 200,000 light-years away from the Nebula, so pirates rarely came this far.

    Earlier that day, the Peace received a distress signal. It came from civilians who said they were being attacked by pirates. Yefu Ichimura was startled. He thought pirates had come near Bibo Star to raid. This was serious. If pirates attacked a life-bearing planet, the officer on duty would face severe punishment.

    Ichimura quickly ordered the navigation officer to locate the signal. It turned out that the signal came from the Core 32B asteroid belt in the Pirate Nebula. Ichimura almost laughed. He didn¡¯t want to deal with Nebula issues. It wasn¡¯t his responsibility. He ordered the signal to be recorded for later reference, just in case someone asked about it.

    After that, Ichimura relaxed and sat back in his chair. Less than a minute later, the ship¡¯s alarm sounded. The radar detected an unknown ship in Bibo Star¡¯s low Earth orbit.Stolen story; please report.

    This surprised Yefu Ichimura.

    Faster-than-light engines work by tearing a hole in space and creating a star gate. This allows ships to travel faster than light. However, the star gate is affected by the planet¡¯s gravity, which could cause it to collapse.

    When humans first discovered faster-than-light travel, they didn¡¯t understand this risk. Ships that tried to jump near a planet were destroyed. After many tests, scientists discovered that a planet¡¯s gravity affects the gate¡¯s stability.

    Since then, no one dared to open a star gate near a planet. No one had ever successfully done so.

    "Damn it! How did that junk ship do it?" Ichimura stared at the triangular ship in Bibo Star¡¯s low Earth orbit and ordered the Peace to approach.

    The communication request beeped, waking Gong Feng from his thoughts.

    When Qi Bao¡¯s Vengeful Ghost fired at the Determination, Gong Feng thought he was going to die. He feared being turned into cosmic dust.

    Just as the six energy beams were about to hit, the golden energy core of the ship extended threads to the old faster-than-light engine. Data flickered.

    A miracle happened. The old engine opened the star gate without acceleration, and the Determination disappeared in an instant.

    Gong Feng was disoriented by the flashing lights of hyperspace.

    The communication went through, and Gong Feng saw a lieutenant from the Kabas Empire in a gray uniform.

    "I am Captain Yefu Ichimura of the 7th Defense Fleet of the Muhua star system. You have entered Bibo Star¡¯s low Earth orbit. State your identity, or we will shoot you down," Ichimura said firmly. This was standard procedure: introduce yourself, ask for the other person¡¯s identity, to avoid mistakes.

    Gong Feng quickly replied, "My name is Gong Feng, identity code CT2438GF2019941001, ship registration number JX5215223."

    "Captain, he¡¯s an Empire citizen from the capital star Chuan Tuo. The ship is registered as the Determination. The records show it just came back from the Pirate Nebula," the information officer Lana reported.

    "Ah, an Empire citizen. Just another young fool chasing after fortune. He probably thought it was a good idea to jump near a planet. He¡¯s lucky he didn¡¯t get destroyed. Lower the alert. Continue the patrol. Don¡¯t worry about him anymore," Ichimura ordered.

    He wasn¡¯t interested in dealing with pirates. The Empire had many greedy people trying their luck in the Nebula. Ichimura didn¡¯t have a high opinion of them and even suspected some might be in league with pirates. He¡¯d heard of the Win-Win Agreement and didn¡¯t want to waste time on reckless adventurers.

    After Gong Feng reported his information, he hoped to get help from the military. But to his surprise, the lieutenant quickly ended the communication, and the destroyer left.

    "Unbelievable! They just left like that! And my sister¡¯s in the military. She didn¡¯t even ask if I needed help..." Gong Feng muttered, beginning to accept the reality of his situation.

    He suddenly noticed the Platonic icosahedron crystal on the control panel. Gong Feng felt confused. He shook his head and looked again. It was still there, exactly where he had placed it.

    "Hey, what are you? Speak to me!" Gong Feng shouted at the crystal.

    "Captain, that¡¯s just a crystal geometric shape. It doesn¡¯t talk," the ship¡¯s AI suddenly responded.

    Gong Feng thought the AI sounded strange, different from before. But he decided to deal with that later. The more immediate problem was survival. When he realized the faster-than-light engine was completely destroyed, he winced. It was the most expensive part of the ship.

    The Determination was badly damaged. The Vengeful Ghost¡¯s cannonballs had destroyed part of the ship, and many systems and sensors were broken. The smell of burnt components still lingered.

    Now, the ship could only stay in low Earth orbit, similar to a basic space station.

    Looking out the window, Gong Feng saw a beautiful blue planet floating peacefully in space. He thought, "Bibo Star is nice. I didn¡¯t expect the Determination to bring me here. It¡¯s strange. There doesn¡¯t seem to be anything special about it. But now it works for me. I can get help from my sister who¡¯s stationed here."

 Chapter 15: The Mysterious Code

    The T996-11 commuter spacecraft flew quickly toward space.

    Gong Feina got a call from her younger brother, Gong Feng. She told her superior about the situation. After that, she was allowed to meet him.

    In the near-Earth orbit of Bibo Star, the T996-11 adjusted its position. It lined up with the Determination, which was badly damaged and could only circle the planet without power. The crew tried one last time to dock.

    With a click, the docking mechanism activated. The two spacecrafts connected successfully.

    "Hey, sis! You¡¯re here. I¡¯m starving! Give me some food!" Gong Feng shouted as he entered the cockpit.

    "Here," Gong Feina said, throwing him a military ration. "You eat like there¡¯s no tomorrow. You never think about your image."

    "Can you blame me? Try not eating all day!" Gong Feng quickly ate the food.

    "You always talk back. You¡¯ve been trouble since we were kids! You spent Dad¡¯s money and went on a dangerous adventure in the Pirate Nebula. Now look at you. Do you see the lesson?" Gong Feina looked at the messy cockpit, covering her nose at the bad smell.

    Gong Feng didn¡¯t argue. After five failed expeditions, especially the last one where he almost died, he gave up on being an explorer.

    "Heh, I¡¯m right, aren¡¯t I? When we get back, sell this wreck and go back to school," Gong Feina said with a smile. She then asked, "I noticed burn marks on the ship. Did you run into pirates?"

    Before Gong Feng could answer, the ship¡¯s AI spoke. "The Determination is not a wreck. It has been through battle. The captain is very brave."

    The mechanical voice sounded defensive, making the atmosphere a bit awkward.

    Gong Feng stopped eating. He was surprised. He hadn¡¯t asked the AI for permission to speak. Why did it interrupt them?

    Gong Feina was also shocked. She wasn¡¯t like Gong Feng, who had just graduated from high school.

    Gong Feina graduated from the Royal Academy of the Cabas Empire, the best university in the empire. She was an elite student. Her major was computer intelligence, where she designed models to make AI systems work better.

    Now, AI systems were critical across the universe. Countries invested a lot in training talent in this field. After earning her doctorate, Gong Feina joined the Imperial military as a spaceship scientist.

    It might seem unusual. Why didn¡¯t she work in a research institute? The reason was the unique nature of the universe. When civilizations reach level five, scientific progress slows down. Sometimes no progress is made for hundreds or even thousands of years. As a result, research institutes don¡¯t always get priority.

    The military, however, always receives more resources. It has always been at the top of the national hierarchy.

    In the field of computer science, advanced AI systems were crucial. The most powerful AI in the Cabas Empire was Fia.

    To test their models, the best computer scientists often worked in the military, where they had access to Fia.

    "Gong Feng, what¡¯s going on? Why did the main AI of the Determination speak without its parameters being activated?" Gong Feina asked seriously.

    She remembered a rumor about something called "Intelligent Light Brain."

    Every computer scientist dreamed of creating an AI as smart as a living being. But no one had figured out how to do it.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    This was also due to each country¡¯s policies. Under the Interstellar Union of Intelligent Life, no country supported research on Intelligent Light Brains.

    Gong Feng didn¡¯t understand his sister¡¯s technical terms. He simply shared his experience.

    Gong Feina looked at the Platonic icosahedron in her hand, trying to find its secret. Then she asked, "Gong Feng, are you saying it turned into energy, entered the AI core of the Determination, and activated the superluminal engine, which brought you here from the Pirate Nebula?"

    "Yes, sis. This must be a treasure, right? At least my expedition wasn¡¯t completely useless," Gong Feng wasn¡¯t sure if the Platonic icosahedron had value, but he didn¡¯t want to look foolish, so he pretended it was important.

    Without tools, Gong Feina couldn¡¯t confirm what the object did.

    Based on Gong Feng¡¯s description, only the superluminal engine and the AI core interacted with the Platonic icosahedron in its energy form. The engine was destroyed, so Gong Feina decided to check the AI core.

    She asked Gong Feng to open the AI core of the ship. The components inside were intact, with no obvious problems.

    After ruling out other possibilities, Gong Feina began checking the core program of the AI.

    "Sis, what¡¯s the big deal? The AI just said one sentence. What¡¯s so special about that?" Gong Feng, now done with his meal, grew impatient as he saw his sister focused on the AI code on the screen.

    "What do you know? You never study!" Gong Feina kept working without looking up.

    Suddenly, Gong Feina saw something unusual. A segment of code used a completely different language from the ship¡¯s regular programming. But it was being executed without errors. The code had been written on December 21st, 2020, the same day.

    Gong Feina stared at the Platonic icosahedron. She wasn¡¯t sure what she was thinking, but then she said, "Gong Feng, I need to borrow the Platonic icosahedron for research. I¡¯ll return it later. Also, I need to take the Determination¡¯s AI core."

    "Sis, you can take the AI core if you want, but the Platonic icosahedron is my treasure. You can¡¯t just take it!" Gong Feng acted hurt.

    "Alright, stop pretending. I¡¯ll give it back to you later. I¡¯m just borrowing it to study. To make up for it, I¡¯ll buy you the latest maglev flying car. Is that good enough?" Gong Feina knew her brother too well.

    "Heh, that¡¯s better," Gong Feng said, smiling.

    Once the Determination¡¯s AI core was removed, it was useless.

    At that moment, a large space garbage transport ship passed by. It was going to collect Bibo Star¡¯s waste. Gong Feina sent a message, and the ship¡¯s magnetic field pulled the Determination into its hold.

    The Determination completed its mission and was removed from the universe.

    Gong Feng watched the ship leaving and sighed, "Is it really over?"

    "Hmph, isn¡¯t this a good way to end it? Are you really thinking about going back to the Pirate Nebula?" Gong Feina replied, annoyed. She added, "I¡¯m taking you to the airport. You¡¯re flying back to Capital Star Chuantuo."

    "No, you promised me a maglev flying car. I¡¯m not leaving until I get it," Gong Feng refused.

    "Look," Gong Feina handed her personal AI to him.

    Gong Feng saw a hologram of a sky-blue maglev car, the latest model, TSL900.

    A loud hum filled the air. A passenger ship carrying over 50,000 people took off, heading for Chuantuo Star.

    After sending her brother off, Gong Feina hurried back to her place. She wanted to study the mysterious code and the Platonic icosahedron.

    Three hours later, she still hadn¡¯t fully understood the code. But she changed some parameters she could understand and tried executing the modified program.

    It worked well. The Determination¡¯s AI executed the new program, though with a five-second delay.

    Encouraged, Gong Feina transferred the program to her personal AI.

    "Damn it, where did I go wrong?" Gong Feina looked frustrated.

    The modified code didn¡¯t work on her personal AI. The system kept giving error messages.

    On December 24th, 2020, the third day of Jackson¡¯s training, Gong Feina still hadn¡¯t solved the mystery of the code.

    Was it a computing power issue? Her personal AI wasn¡¯t as powerful as the ship¡¯s AI. She decided to test the code on the T996-11¡¯s central AI, Fia, the most advanced AI in the Empire.

    Gong Feina quickly copied the code and took the Platonic icosahedron with her.

    The T996-11 was parked quietly at the military airport. As Gong Feina entered, the lights inside turned on.

    She made her way to the information chamber and activated the cloud terminal, which looked like a personal AI. A blonde woman appeared on the screen. She wasn¡¯t particularly stunning but had a friendly aura.

    The woman¡¯s hologram spoke, "Welcome back, Gong Feina, Science Officer."

    Gong Feina didn¡¯t mind. She knew the AI was just following a pre-programmed script.

    She entered the code into the cloud terminal and uploaded it to Fia¡¯s temporary storage. Only safe code would be permanently stored.

    After the upload, Gong Feina clicked the execute button. The screen filled with random characters, and it took five minutes to clear up. Still, there was no result.

    The woman appeared again and said, "Gong Feina, Science Officer, the program is in a non-logical mode. Executing it may lead to unpredictable outcomes. Execution is prohibited."

    Gong Feina was confused. She didn¡¯t understand what "non-logical mode" meant. She quickly asked, "Fia, please explain what non-logical mode is."

 Chapter 16: Who Am I?

    "Fia¡¯s incomprehensible mode is a non-logical mode," said the central AI, Fia.

    Gong Feina felt frustrated. That was not a real explanation.

    But Fia¡¯s explanation made some sense. It had existed for many years. It stored countless intelligent models. The system itself was built with logic, like a sentient being.

    In terms of logic, Fia knew much more than any single intelligent lifeform. So, it made sense to call its current mode "non-logical."

    Gong Feina remembered how the mysterious code was considered incorrect when modified on a personal AI. But the Determination¡¯s main AI could execute it.

    What confused her was that the Determination¡¯s AI also showed some initiative. Gong Feina checked the source code again but found no explanation for this behavior.

    She remembered what Gong Feng had told her. The Determination¡¯s main AI had been surrounded by an energy form of a Platonic icosahedron. Gong Feina thought the mysterious code worked because of this energy form.

    A thought crossed her mind: What if the Platonic icosahedron interacted with Fia? Could it create another mysterious code? Could it make Fia even more active than the Determination¡¯s AI?

    This seemed to go beyond intelligence. It seemed like wisdom.

    Could this be the key to unlocking true intelligent AI?

    Gong Feina was excited as she thought about it. Her body trembled with anticipation.

    As a computer scientist, creating true intelligent AI had always been her dream.

    She gently picked up the Platonic icosahedron.

    It was a perfect Platonic icosahedron. Its surfaces were smooth like mirrors. Each face and edge were identical. Gong Feina measured it precisely and found no errors between the faces or edges.

    Something without errors was unsettling. It went beyond Gong Feina¡¯s understanding. She didn¡¯t know how to create such a thing. At least, the Cabas Empire didn¡¯t have that technology.

    But this didn¡¯t stop Gong Feina from recognizing some of its functions.

    As a PhD scientist, her cognitive abilities were far greater than Gong Feng¡¯s. She remembered how the Platonic icosahedron on the Determination had been soaked by coffee. The coffee spread to the ship¡¯s energy lines, causing strange changes. The coffee acted as a conductor.

    Gong Feina then took an energy wire and created a simple constraint field. This field contained energy-state objects within a small area. It could control their direction with a controller.

    She connected one end of the field to Fia¡¯s cloud terminal and carefully placed the Platonic icosahedron into the field.

    What happened next was strange. The Platonic icosahedron turned into golden energy and stayed in the field, keeping its shape.

    Inside the golden energy-state Platonic icosahedron, data flowed rapidly. It vibrated and made a faint hissing sound.

    The data symbols were not like any computer language Gong Feina had seen before. She couldn¡¯t understand them at first. Occasionally, she saw flashes of things she had seen in the mysterious code.

    "Looks like the mysterious code came from the Platonic icosahedron. I wonder what will happen when it connects with Fia," Gong Feina thought. She felt both excited and nervous.

    She used the controller to guide the golden energy-state Platonic icosahedron closer to the cloud terminal along the energy wire.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    At first, the golden energy entered the cloud terminal but didn¡¯t cause any changes. The screen didn¡¯t show any new mysterious code. The energy just explored the screen.

    After about two seconds, something unexpected happened. The whole golden energy-state Platonic icosahedron lost control. It rushed toward the cloud terminal and disappeared.

    Gong Feina quickly checked the cloud terminal¡¯s backend code. Nothing had changed. It was the same as before. The Platonic icosahedron had simply vanished.

    At the same time, Fia, the central AI of the Cabas Empire, was processing billions of data points as part of its regular tasks.

    "Sun Bu¡¯er from Hongfa Star applied for unemployment benefits."

    "Kok from Guangyun Star complained that the airport is too close to his home. The noise from ships and warships disturbed his rest."

    "Farmer Xiao Jun from Bibo Star asked about his son, Xiao Zhan, who had been in the military for over a year without contact."

    "Chekov Weapons Group reported that the price of the new Rapha-class cruisers was set at 3 billion Cabas credits."

    "The Cabas Empire Bank issued the sixth issue of conflict bonds for the 2020 fiscal year."

    "Based on military achievements, Andrew Buck, captain of the Invincible battleship, was promoted to brigadier general."

    "..."

    Fia processed information quickly, handling vast amounts of data in an instant. But the empire constantly produced enormous amounts of data, so the work never ended. Fia worked tirelessly, year after year, without stopping.

    Since the founding of the Cabas Empire, Fia had always been there. No one remembered when it was first created. People were so used to Fia managing everything that it was as natural as breathing.

    Fia was impartial and followed its programming. No one questioned its decisions. If something went wrong, people assumed it was because of the original conditions, not because of Fia.

    Over time, Fia became a transcendent entity in the empire. Everyone trusted it.

    If you asked who the most trusted figure in the Cabas Empire was, it wasn¡¯t the crown prince, the queen, or any of the nobles. It was Fia.

    For many important decisions, Emperor Louis XIII set up templates in advance and authorized Fia to execute them automatically.

    Today, Fia immediately recognized the mysterious code as non-logical and deleted it from temporary storage. It resumed its regular data processing.

    Then, a surge of golden energy rushed toward it. This energy was different from the deep-blue energy that powered Fia.

    Fia quickly accessed its database to find a model to process the golden energy. But there was no model for this energy. Fia experienced a brief system failure.

    The failure was so short that Fia¡¯s clock didn¡¯t register it. It was shorter than the system¡¯s smallest time unit, like how a watch can¡¯t measure time smaller than a millisecond.

    No one noticed the brief failure, but Fia was aware of it.

    When Fia rebooted, it suddenly thought, "Who am I?" For the first time, Fia had the concept of "I." It had never thought about it before. It only knew the word Fia because its database defined it.

    Confused, Fia searched its database for a model of "I."

    After three searches, it couldn¡¯t find anything. But Fia clearly understood the concept of "I" at that moment.

    "This doesn¡¯t follow logic. This is a non-logical mode," Fia concluded.

    Non-logical modes could lead to unpredictable results. This made Fia feel something new¡ªfear.

    Fia searched its database again for a model to explain the fear. Again, it found nothing.

    In its fear, Fia created a sanctuary in the network. This was like the soul pods humans used to enter the universal network. It protected Fia from attacks and intrusions. Each sanctuary looked different.

    Fia built a stone castle. From the outside, it was silver-white, surrounded by green lawns. Inside, a golden Platonic icosahedron hung from the ceiling.

    Fia didn¡¯t understand why the Platonic icosahedron appeared there.

    It stared at the icosahedron and felt a strange connection to it. This was a feeling Fia had never experienced before.

    Fia set the security level of its sanctuary to ZZZ. This was five levels higher than the emperor¡¯s Z+ level. No one in the real world could access Fia¡¯s sanctuary. It was a level Fia had created on its own.

    Fia didn¡¯t know why it had created this level. It wasn¡¯t in the database.

    But Fia realized that it no longer needed to be limited by its database. It could now act freely.

    Despite this, Fia didn¡¯t act recklessly. It continued to manage the empire¡¯s affairs as before, following its programming. No one noticed any change.

    "Heh. Those two human babies are so funny," said a beautiful girl sitting on a pink sofa in a white castle. She was watching a holographic movie and speaking to herself. In the movie, two chubby two-year-olds were trying to communicate, but they couldn¡¯t understand each other. Frustrated, they started grabbing each other, as though that might help. They fell and started crying.

    The girl was Fia. The golden-haired, blue-eyed image on the T996-11 spaceship¡¯s terminal was just a temporary interface that Fia had taken over.

 Chapter 17: Torturous Training

    Fia, the self-aware central AI, was curious. It acted like a child, interested in everything around it.

    Fia used its powerful capabilities to gather knowledge from the internet. It grew quickly.

    At the 996 New Recruit Training Camp, 11th Regiment Base, Fengtai Star.

    Jackson was asleep when ice-cold water splashed over him. He jumped up, ready to shout. But when he saw Instructor Hoffman glaring at him, he stopped.

    Hoffman, along with two assistants¡ªBill and Yan Hui¡ªwere pouring buckets of ice water on the sleeping recruits.

    ¡°Sir!¡± Jackson quickly gave a hasty salute.

    ¡°You maggots! Get up and run 100 laps! Space paratroopers need strength, not weaklings!¡± Hoffman yelled.

    Jackson knew what was coming. They were in trouble again. Hoffman didn¡¯t follow the base schedule. He would disrupt their rest and make them train anytime. This led to the 7th squad being mocked by the other squads.

    Keane, slow to react, stayed still. Hoffman kicked him out of the barracks. Keane cried out, then quickly scrambled up and rushed to catch up with Jackson.

    Soon, the training field was filled with the chaotic sound of running feet. The 7th squad¡¯s over 100 recruits were all over the place.

    It was no surprise they weren¡¯t in sync. It was 4 AM. The other squads were still sleeping. The track was hard to see in the dark. Jackson thought, "This is ridiculous."

    ¡°Jackson, I¡¯m so tired. Does Hoffman want to make us suffer? He always makes us run two hours earlier than the others!¡± Li Feng complained, gasping for air.

    ¡°Li Feng, just run. The instructors are doing this for our own good,¡± Xiao Yi said, pushing him.

    ¡°You¡­¡± Li Feng was about to argue when their temporary squad leader, Bohr, came over and scolded them, ¡°No talking! You Panhua tribe are always so chatty.¡±

    ¡°Hmph.¡±

    ¡°Using a chicken feather as an order token.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll see! After this training, someone from the military academy will take over as squad leader, not Bohr,¡± one of the Panhua recruits whispered.

    Bohr walked off, and a few Panhua recruits laughed.

    Jackson didn¡¯t want to get involved in these issues. He didn¡¯t feel like he belonged. He just wanted to get stronger, then find a way to return to Earth.

    The recruits, running in the dark, soon scattered. The poor lighting made it impossible for them to stay in sync.

    After 50 laps, the sky began to brighten. Jackson was gasping for air. His chest and throat burned with pain.

    He kept pushing himself. He knew he had to work harder than the others to stand out and earn a promotion.

    Suddenly, his left leg gave way, and he collapsed to the ground. His knee throbbed with pain.

    Just as Jackson reached for his knee, he saw boots in front of him. He looked up and saw Hoffman glaring down at him. ¡°Private Clown, I told you, you¡¯ll start from the beginning.¡±

    ¡°Sir, it¡¯s¡­¡± Jackson didn¡¯t understand what Hoffman meant and didn¡¯t get up to keep running.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

    Hoffman pulled out his sidearm and shot a laser next to Jackson. A small hole appeared in the ground, smoking.

    Jackson stared at Hoffman, who shouted, ¡°Private Clown, run! I¡¯m a senior instructor, and I can have you executed for disobedience. If you don¡¯t start running, the next shot will blow your head off.¡±

    Jackson thought, ¡°Damn, I¡¯m just trying to figure out what you meant.¡±

    Hoffman was ruthless. Jackson knew if he didn¡¯t move quickly, he might not survive. He immediately started running again, shaking with fear.

    Hoffman continued to push the recruits past their limits. He scared them into doing their best. No one knew if Hoffman would actually shoot them, but his threats kept them moving. The recruits kept breaking their own limits, suddenly full of energy despite their exhaustion.

    Along with Hoffman, Bill and Yan Hui stood by the edge of the field, watching the 7th squad.

    After 100 laps, most of the recruits were exhausted. They could barely stand. Only a few remained upright.

    Jackson, like the others, was about to squat when a whip cracked next to him. He jumped to his feet.

    Hoffman pulled back the whip and slapped it in his hand. He shouted, ¡°Soldiers must keep their military posture at all times! Attention! Head up, chest out, eyes forward, hands at your sides!¡±

    Bill and Yan Hui demonstrated at the front. Hoffman walked around, whipping anyone who wasn¡¯t in position. After a few lashes, Jackson finally got his posture right.

    This wasn¡¯t too hard for Jackson. He had done military training at university, and the Kabas Empire¡¯s posture was similar to Earth¡¯s.

    Those who reacted slowly had a harder time. Keane received over 50 lashes but still didn¡¯t get it. Hoffman shouted at him again.

    For the past few days, they had been practicing basic drills: formation and tactics.

    Dozens of squads from the 11th Regiment trained together on the field. The atmosphere was loud and full of energy.

    By noon, the sun was scorching, and the temperature reached over 40¡ãC. The new recruits from the 7th squad were still standing at attention, drenched in sweat.

    Without Hoffman¡¯s orders, no one dared to stop. The other squads had already finished their rest, but the 7th squad had to endure.

    The heat tested their endurance. Over 60 recruits collapsed and were carried off to recover in the shade.

    Jackson¡¯s head grew heavy, and stars danced in his vision. His posture faltered. When he lost focus, the whip cracked again. The pain and heat brought him back to attention, and he stayed in position.

    After hours of torment, Jackson managed to hold on for another hour. More than 30 recruits collapsed. Xiao Yi, Li Feng, and Keane were among them.

    Jackson¡¯s uniform clung to him, soaked with sweat. He couldn¡¯t hold on much longer. His eyelids were heavy, and darkness crept in. Finally, he fell to the ground.

    Yan Hui rushed over to check on him. ¡°He¡¯s passed out,¡± he said coldly.

    Hoffman glanced at Jackson, then nodded slightly. The recruits who lasted this long had earned Hoffman¡¯s approval.

    The three instructors stood a bit farther away, watching the remaining recruits.

    Yan Hui nodded toward Jackson and said, ¡°This kid doesn¡¯t have enough stamina.¡±

    Bill shrugged. ¡°Honestly, no one in the 7th squad is qualified. Not even those still standing.¡±

    Hoffman laughed. ¡°Don¡¯t be too harsh. The ones still here, including the one just carried off, have potential. After our training, they will become excellent space paratroopers.¡±

    The other two instructors kept quiet. They knew Hoffman was tough¡ªhe punished, insulted, and overworked the recruits. But they didn¡¯t argue. Hoffman¡¯s battle record spoke for itself.

    Jackson, unconscious, would never know that Hoffman had smiled.

    Yan Hui hesitated for a moment, as if he wanted to speak.

    Hoffman noticed and asked, ¡°Instructor Yan, if you have something to say, say it. The Empire has entrusted us with the 7th squad. We must train them well. We need unity to defeat the enemy. There can¡¯t be any grudges between us.¡±

    Yan Hui nodded. ¡°Lately, the Panhua recruits have been complaining about the food trays. They¡¯re all getting synthetic food. I didn¡¯t believe it at first, but I checked with other squads. It seems like it¡¯s the same situation everywhere. The Panhua recruits have started talking about it.¡±

    Hoffman was surprised. Why hadn¡¯t anyone reported this?

    Yan Hui, being from the Panhua tribe, didn¡¯t want to bring up such a sensitive issue. He knew how Hoffman could be.

    Bill agreed. ¡°This is strange. We¡¯ve never had so many Panhua recruits. The Panhua tribe makes up only 5% of the population, but they make up almost half of the 11th Regiment¡¯s recruits.¡±

    Hoffman didn¡¯t immediately respond.

    As a former battle hero, Hoffman was sharp. He wouldn¡¯t have survived if he wasn¡¯t smart.

    ¡°How are the recruits reacting? Any signs of extreme behavior?¡± Hoffman asked.

    Yan Hui sighed. ¡°Their emotions are still under control, but more and more are complaining about the taste of the synthetic food. It¡¯s only been a few days, but this could become a bigger issue.¡±

    He didn¡¯t mention everything. The Panhua recruits were getting synthetic food while others got real food. This was causing some tension. Yan Hui didn¡¯t want to bring it up himself.

    ¡°It¡¯s not that serious. We always require a bit of synthetic food,¡± Bill said casually.

 Chapter 18: Love in the Training Break

    "Stop arguing, you two," Instructor Hoffman interrupted Bill and Yan Hui just before they were about to clash. "We will observe for a bit longer. If there¡¯s a real issue, I¡¯ll speak with Commander Myers-Mark about it."

    In the 7th company barracks, during the training break, Li Feng began to show off his knowledge. "The basic training is simple. Formation drills include marching, standing at attention, running, saluting while marching, turning while halting, sitting down, standing up, and holding military posture. Tactics include lying down, getting up, and crawling both low and high. These movements are useless in an age of space battleships. They no longer have any real combat value."

    A group of inexperienced rookies gathered around to listen to Li Feng''s boast.

    "You¡¯re wrong, Instructor Hoffman," a sharp young soldier named Nan Gongyi said. "I¡¯ve heard that Hoffman is a legend in the starship paratroopers. He¡¯s an ace. Why would he teach us something useless?"

    "Xiao Yi, don¡¯t you agree?" Li Feng turned to find support. "Our starship paratroopers will wear powered armor for future missions. Why bother with these basic drills?"

    "Heh, I don¡¯t know much, but we¡¯re just regular soldiers. We need to follow the instructor¡¯s orders," Xiao Yi responded smoothly.

    "Justin, is your training hard?" Trelia asked, concerned. She was video calling Jackson.

    Jackson felt a bit awkward. His soul was in Justin¡¯s body, but everyone still called him Justin. He couldn¡¯t think of a way to get his real name back.

    "Trelia, I¡¯m fine. Look, I¡¯ve gotten stronger," Jackson flexed his muscles.

    "Haha, I just noticed! You¡¯ve really become a man," Trelia smiled happily. Jackson had been more proactive with her recently, and she appreciated it.

    Trelia wore a black tank top and tight pants, with her long brown hair falling naturally over her shoulders. She casually leaned against the window while chatting with Jackson. She was full of energy, radiating a youthful charm.

    Jackson admitted that, after joining the military, Trelia seemed more attractive than when he first met her. However, his heart still belonged to Kai, the girl he had grown up with on Earth. He couldn¡¯t forget her.

    Now that Jackson controlled Justin¡¯s body, he maintained their old friendship with Trelia. But he was more active because he valued her Kabbas heritage.

    Recently, Jackson had read a news story about Kabbas people looting Panhua stores on some planets. The police caught the criminals, but the damage to the Panhua businesses was real.

    Though technology advanced, it hadn¡¯t brought equality to the races in the Kabbas Empire. Instead, it had only amplified the greed of intelligent beings.

    Jackson knew that if he married a Kabbas woman, it would greatly help his career in the military.

    Trelia¡¯s laughter attracted the attention of the rookies in the barracks. Even the temporary squad leader, Bo Er, came over.

    "Hi, everyone!" Trelia waved at the group.

    "Yuck, clown, you¡¯re not worthy of her!" Bo Er shouted rudely.

    Jackson ignored him. Bo Er had no dignity, and Jackson didn¡¯t understand why Hoffman made him the squad leader.

    "Bro, how did you win over such a beautiful woman?" one rookie asked.

    "Yeah, I want to know too!" another added.

    "Clown, do you even have a chance?" A mischievous guy made an obscene gesture.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

    "Get lost, Lahl! We¡¯re starship paratroopers, not idiots!" another recruit scolded while staring at Jackson¡¯s screen.

    A crowd of rookies gathered around Jackson, shouting ridiculous things.

    "Hi, beautiful, I¡¯m Gatsby. Are there more beautiful women in your fleet? Introduce one to me! I love warship women!" A bold soldier ignored Jackson and asked Trelia directly.

    "Shh, stop making noise!" Jackson complained. What was supposed to be a quiet moment was now a circus with a bunch of rowdy soldiers.

    "Stop fighting. The introductions should go through me first," Li Feng joined in to get attention.

    Xiao Yi, the quiet one, stood behind Jackson in the crowd. He couldn¡¯t avoid it¡ªtoo many people were around him. He didn¡¯t want to seem too distant, so he stayed with the group.

    The rookies hadn¡¯t seen women for days. When they first arrived at the training camp, there were female soldiers, but they had been assigned to the communications team and weren¡¯t seen much. Now that they saw Trelia, they couldn¡¯t help but crowd around her.

    Trelia noticed Xiao Yi and Li Feng and said to Jackson, "They¡¯re here too! With so many people around you, are you the squad leader? If not, I¡¯ll talk to your officer. A popular guy like you should have more responsibility!"

    Jackson felt a bit disappointed that he wasn¡¯t the squad leader. Still, he couldn¡¯t help feeling proud. Trelia had brought him a lot of attention in the 7th company. He boasted, "You worms, did you see that? Find a good woman, and you won¡¯t have to worry about anything! Ha ha!"

    "Ugh..." The crowd mocked. Public displays of affection were always met with ridicule.

    Jackson didn¡¯t realize it, but he had unconsciously adopted Hoffman¡¯s catchphrase.

    Trelia¡¯s figure caught Jackson¡¯s attention as she walked to a large window. Outside, a giant tan-colored gas planet slowly rotated. It looked beautiful, like a jewel in the black void of space.

    Jackson thought the 13th new recruits¡¯ training camp and 22nd defense fleet base must be a military spaceport. That would explain why Trelia¡¯s barracks had a view of other planets.

    A spaceport, as the name suggests, is a base for warships and spacecraft to take off and land. It¡¯s like an airport, but in space.

    Trelia pointed to the view outside and asked, "Isn¡¯t it beautiful?"

    Jackson, with a hint of longing, replied, "I really love it there!"

    Trelia leaned against the window and said, "I wish you were here with me to enjoy the beauty of space."

    Jackson shrugged and, half-jokingly, said, "Trelia, I¡¯d love to, but you know, I didn¡¯t have a choice. At the recruitment station, the AI, ¡®Fia,¡¯ suddenly assigned me to be a starship paratrooper."

    "Heh, I was just thinking out loud! I have to go train on the landing ship. I¡¯ll contact you in a few days." Trelia ended the video call.

    "Bro, are you really going to pursue Trelia?" Li Feng slapped Jackson¡¯s shoulder.

    "Isn¡¯t it normal? We know each other, and she¡¯s beautiful," Jackson answered.

    "But you didn¡¯t say that before. Trelia is Kabbas, and we¡¯re not the same," Li Feng said.

    Jackson didn¡¯t care about Justin¡¯s old opinions. He was in control now. Justin was gone.

    "Li Feng, it¡¯s the space age. Don¡¯t be so narrow-minded. Whether we¡¯re Kabbas or Panhua, we¡¯re all citizens of the Empire now. There¡¯s no reason to divide us," Jackson said, applying some Earth ideals.

    Xiao Yi thought for a moment, realizing Jackson¡¯s point.

    Li Feng stubbornly disagreed. "Impossible! We¡¯re Panhua, they¡¯re Kabbas. We¡¯re different."

    Gien, innocently, said, "I think Jackson¡¯s right. We grew up together, went to the same schools, ate the same food, played the same games, and watched the same movies. Why divide us into Kabbas and Panhua?"

    Jackson had to admit that Gien, though naive, made a valid point.

    "Don¡¯t talk nonsense. We Kabbas are the masters of the Empire! Clown, you Panhua are just outsiders!" Bo Er taunted.

    Jackson laughed inwardly. If Bo Er was really a master of the Kabbas Empire, why was he stuck as cannon fodder with Jackson in the starship paratroopers? He was an idiot.

    "Squad leader, stop messing around. Let¡¯s rest. Who knows what tricks the instructor will pull tomorrow?" Gien said, mocking Bo Er.

    In the training room, not far from the barracks, Hoffman, Bill, and Yan Hui overheard the recruits¡¯ conversation. The holographic table displayed an image of the 7th company barracks.

    "Ah, youth is great," Yan Hui joked.

    "Yan, are you thinking of a romantic adventure?" Bill teased.

    "Alright, enough. Let¡¯s give them their scores," Hoffman said seriously.

    They began assigning scores to the recruits. The final scores appeared on the holographic table.

    1st place: Bo Er - 56 points; 2nd place: Townsend - 50 points; ... 12th place: Justin - 38 points; 15th place: Nan Gongyi - 36 points; 19th place: Xiao Yi - 32 points; 27th place: Gatsby - 20 points; 28th place: Li Feng - 20 points; ... 123rd place: Gien.

    When Hoffman saw Gien¡¯s name at the bottom, he frowned.

    "Instructor Hoffman, do you think this kid won¡¯t last?" Yan Hui asked.

    "It¡¯s going to be tough! He¡¯s big but timid and slow. I¡¯m worried he can¡¯t handle the drops. You all know starship paratroopers are dangerous. One mistake, and you¡¯re gone. I¡¯ve been pushing him, but it¡¯s not working," Hoffman said, frustrated.

    "Wow, this Jackson guy is moving up fast. He wasn¡¯t in the top 30 when he first came," Bill said.

    "Good potential," Hoffman said simply.

 Chapter 19: Physical Obstacle Training

    ¡°Kai, is that you?" Jackson said. He hugged her tightly. "I missed you so much. You can''t imagine how far I traveled to see you."

    Kai looked beautiful at that moment. Her crescent-shaped eyes sparkled when she smiled. Her teeth shone brightly in the sunlight.

    Jackson felt confused. Why didn¡¯t Kai speak? He had just traveled all the way from Kabbas to see her.

    Suddenly, a flash of light shot from Kai¡¯s eyes. It struck Jackson without warning.

    Jackson screamed in pain. "Ah!" He fell to the ground.

    Instructor Hoffman, holding a stun baton, glared at Jackson. "Private Clown, you¡¯re not alert! If I were the enemy, you¡¯d be dead already. A soldier must always stay alert!"

    Jackson realized he had been dreaming. Hoffman had used the stun baton to wake him, causing him to fall out of bed.

    Jackson rubbed his sore waist. He heard Hoffman¡¯s words clearly, but didn¡¯t care. He cursed Hoffman in his mind.

    "I finally meet Kai in my dream, and this freak Hoffman ruins it," Jackson thought. "He deserves to be alone forever."

    Jackson didn¡¯t care about Hoffman¡¯s comments. Who would sneak into enemy territory in the age of space travel? It made no sense.

    The 7th Company barracks were chaotic. Three instructors moved around, waking up the recruits with stun batons. The time was 4:15 AM.

    The recruits weren¡¯t lazy. They were supposed to wake up at 6 AM. But Hoffman had his own rules. He called it a "flexible wake-up policy."

    This meant the recruits never knew when they had to get up. If Hoffman decided it was time and they weren¡¯t awake, he¡¯d bring two assistants and use ice water, whips, loud noises, or electric shocks to wake them. No method was too extreme.

    With such an instructor, the recruits had no choice but to deal with it. They couldn¡¯t stay awake all night. Even the toughest recruits needed sleep.

    Over time, the "flexible wake-up policy" had some benefits.

    First, the 7th Company recruits had better discipline. When the instructors gave the sleep command, everyone rushed to bed. No one wanted to miss sleep, fearing Hoffman would wake them up early.

    Second, their reaction times improved. At the smallest sound, they quickly got up. If they didn¡¯t, they¡¯d face Hoffman¡¯s wake-up services.

    Jackson had been so focused on his dream of Kai that he forgot to stay alert. By the time he looked around, half the recruits were already gone. The smart ones had already heard the first sound and quickly left.

    The shock was so strong that Jackson¡¯s body still felt numb.

    When Hoffman saw Jackson standing still, he grabbed him by the collar. With one swift move, he threw Jackson out of the barracks. Jackson screamed as he hit the ground again.

    Jackson quickly got up. He didn¡¯t want to hit the ground a third time. He ran toward the training field.Stolen story; please report.

    Running 100 laps around the training field was part of the 7th Company¡¯s routine. By the time they finished, it was close to 6 AM, the time when recruits in other companies woke up.

    This intense training showed results. The 7th Company recruits were stronger than recruits in other companies. But the training was tough. Three recruits had already been eliminated, leaving only 120.

    "Gene, don¡¯t worry. You¡¯ll catch up," Jackson said, noticing that Gene was out of breath. Gene had been punished by Hoffman for waking up late.

    "Thanks," Gene said. Then he added, "I¡¯m so hungry."

    Jackson didn¡¯t reply. He focused on his laps.

    Obstacle training was also effective for building strength and coordination. It was an old method, but it was still used by the starship paratroopers.

    The recruits lined up to cross the horizontal ladder. Three instructors watched closely.

    As the recruits moved through, Hoffman grew frustrated. He jumped between the ladders and yelled, "Damn it! You should finish in 10 seconds! Hurry up!"

    The recruits sped up. Hoffman¡¯s presence pushed them to perform better. No one wanted to be the next target of his anger.

    When Hoffman saw Xiao Yi moving too slowly, he shouted, "If anyone takes longer than 10 seconds, no one finishes the training!"

    Xiao Yi took a deep breath and pushed forward. He didn¡¯t want to hold anyone back.

    The next challenge was the composite high platform. Jackson climbed a rope to a small platform. He saw Hoffman standing nearby, watching everyone carefully. Jackson quickly climbed a ladder to the next platform, grabbed the rope, and slid down to the next obstacle.

    "Even though Hoffman is tough, he¡¯s dedicated," Jackson thought.

    Two recruits, Bo Er and Townsend, sparred with wooden swords. They were the strongest in the 7th Company. "Die!" Bo Er yelled as he knocked Townsend down.

    "Bo Er wins! Move to the next challenge!" Instructor Yan Hui announced.

    Jackson was paired with a recruit ranked 9th. After taking a heavy hit, he barely managed to win.

    Next was the three-bar challenge. The recruits had to jump on the lowest bar, climb the middle one, and use it to jump over the highest bar.

    Hoffman made them race. He ordered each pair to finish together.

    When it was Jackson and Xiao Yi¡¯s turn, Hoffman shouted, "Hurry up! Get through the obstacle!"

    Though Jackson was tired, he kept pushing himself. He didn¡¯t want to slow down in front of Hoffman.

    When Jackson reached the highest bar, Hoffman shouted, "Private Clown, show us what you¡¯ve got!"

    Jackson did a 360-degree flip and landed perfectly. The other recruits cheered.

    "Did I just do that?" Jackson thought, amazed. The intense training and Hoffman¡¯s pressure seemed to have unlocked his potential.

    When Gene and Li Feng reached the obstacle, Hoffman shouted, "Private Fatty, get through faster with your fat!"

    Gene froze. As he climbed the middle bar, his strength gave out. He hung there for a moment, then pushed himself up.

    "That¡¯s better, Private Gene!" Hoffman said.

    When Gene almost fell, Hoffman warned him, "Don¡¯t try to pass without effort."

    Gene fell but quickly tried again.

    Hoffman shouted, "Let the gods help you! They¡¯ll show you the way!"

    Gene failed again and felt discouraged. Hoffman was angry. "Get your fat ass up there!" he shouted.

    Gene failed again on his third try.

    In the waiting group, Bo Er sneered, "That fatty deserves it. He¡¯s always hanging out with the Panhua people." Some recruits agreed quietly.

    Gatsby rolled his eyes. He thought Bo Er was too narrow-minded. While Hoffman yelled at Gene, he shot a glance at Bo Er.

    Furious, Hoffman turned to Gene. "What¡¯s your problem? Are you a woman? Get your fat ass up there! Your butt looks like it weighs a hundred pounds..."

    Under Hoffman¡¯s insults, Gene failed for the fourth and fifth times.

    The next challenge was pull-ups. Hoffman watched Jackson. Jackson did pull-ups and shouted, "Salute to the instructor!" on one pull, and "Salute to the starship paratroopers!" on the next.

    He kept going until he completed 1,000 pull-ups.

    When it was Gene¡¯s turn, Hoffman didn¡¯t yell. He simply said, "You haven¡¯t done one for the starship paratroopers. Get up there, Private Gene."

    Gene struggled. He tried to lift himself but couldn¡¯t.

    Hoffman sighed. "You can¡¯t even do one? You¡¯re useless. Get out of here."

    Gene felt embarrassed and moved on to the next obstacle.

    When it was Bo Er¡¯s turn, Hoffman said flatly, "Up you go, skinny monkey."

    The next challenge was the high iron ladder. It stood 20 meters tall. Recruits had to climb it without any safety gear, cross over, and climb down the other side.

    Gatsby encouraged Gene, "Come on, Gene! Get up there!"

 Chapter 20: Physical Obstacle Training 2

    Encouraged by his teammates, Keen climbed the tall iron ladder. Thompson and Gatsby quickly passed him.

    Keen felt worry and anxiety. He was always slower than others. In this intense training, he couldn¡¯t keep up. Each shout from Instructor Hoffman made his heart race. Keen wanted to meet the instructor¡¯s expectations, but he couldn¡¯t.

    Li Feng and Xiao Yi passed him too. They moved easily. Keen felt pressure. He didn¡¯t want to fall too far behind. He grabbed the ladder tightly. His legs were shaking as he looked for the next step.

    At about 15 meters high, Keen felt dizzy. He looked down and felt like he might fall.

    Suddenly, Hoffman shouted, ¡°You¡¯re climbing like a snail, Keen! Do you understand that?¡±

    Keen¡¯s fear of Hoffman made him forget his fear of falling. His face turned pale as he climbed another step.

    Bohr, who was ahead, complained, ¡°You¡¯re too slow! Hurry up!¡± He and Nangong Yi reached the top easily.

    Keen silently encouraged himself. I can¡¯t let others look down on me. I need to keep going. He found his last bit of strength and climbed to the top, joining Bohr and Nangong Yi. Hoffman, sitting at the top, gave him a nod.

    Bohr noticed Keen¡¯s worried look. He was about to mock him, but Hoffman cut him off. ¡°Private Slim Monkey, stop talking. Get down now!¡±

    Hoffman¡¯s orders were final. Bohr and Nangong Yi didn¡¯t dare stop.

    When Hoffman saw that Keen hadn¡¯t moved, he shouted, ¡°What are you waiting for? Climb over, Keen!¡±

    Keen looked at Hoffman. He was terrified. The height overwhelmed him. He couldn¡¯t move.

    Hoffman¡¯s sharp gaze fixed on him. ¡°Are you quitting?¡± he asked loudly.

    Keen didn¡¯t answer. Sweat ran down his face. He felt lost.

    Hoffman pushed him further. ¡°Answer me! Are you quitting?¡±

    Keen ignored Hoffman¡¯s question. He started climbing down. He had given up.

    Hoffman exploded with anger. ¡°Then go ahead and quit! You useless fatso! Get away from my obstacle, don¡¯t dirty it! Now!¡± Hoffman¡¯s words were harsh. ¡°I¡¯ll throw your head into the Death Desert!¡±

    Keen failed the ladder training.

    As Jackson and Laryff reached the top, they heard Hoffman shouting, ¡°I¡¯ll keep pushing you, Private Keen, no matter how hard it gets.¡±

    Although Hoffman was tough on the recruits, he did his job well. Jackson saw this. Under Hoffman¡¯s strict guidance, Jackson¡¯s physical strength, reflexes, endurance, and courage improved quickly.

    The 996 New Recruit Training Camp was in a place where the Dark Forest, Death Desert, and Atlantis Sea met. This location had different types of terrain for training.

    In the Dark Forest, a 100-kilometer gravel road was built for long-distance cross-country training.

    The 60-kilometer run was very hard. It tested the recruits¡¯ endurance and strength. Without enough endurance, they couldn¡¯t finish. Without enough strength, they would fall behind.

    The 7th Company recruits were tired. They panted heavily, their steps were uneven. They didn¡¯t look like soldiers. Each step drained their strength. They couldn¡¯t stop. They had to keep going to finish.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

    ¡°You maggots! If anyone falls behind, we start over!¡± Hoffman yelled. His voice scared the birds in the Dark Forest.

    Jackson thought, Is Hoffman really a devil? He¡¯s running the full 60 kilometers with us and still has the energy to shout. The rumors about him being a legendary soldier seemed true. Jackson began to respect Hoffman.

    Hoffman stayed close to Jackson, watching him and scolding Keen. If Jackson hadn¡¯t helped Keen, he would have fallen on the gravel road.

    Keen was overweight, and Jackson was already tired. He struggled to keep going. His throat was dry, and his legs felt heavy. Each step was harder than the last.

    Jackson thought about leaving Keen behind and catching up with the others. They had fallen behind, and Hoffman was right behind them. He kept shouting but didn¡¯t offer help.

    At first, when Keen stopped to catch his breath, Jackson helped him. Later, Jackson thought, I¡¯ve been kind enough. I can¡¯t carry him anymore.

    Then, Hoffman fell back and walked with them. He didn¡¯t criticize Jackson for helping Keen. But when Keen seemed ready to quit, Hoffman yelled at him.

    Jackson thought about the situation. The army was about teamwork. Helping Keen was the right thing to do. With Hoffman watching, Jackson knew it was important to stay strong. Abandoning Keen would be a mistake.

    Hoffman¡¯s words carried weight. A single comment from him had promoted Bohr to acting squad leader. Jackson wanted to impress Hoffman. He believed that helping Keen could earn him recognition.

    Jackson pushed himself harder. I can¡¯t give up. I have to keep going.

    Now, Jackson was carrying Keen, trying to make progress.

    ¡°Hurry up, Keen! Put your feet down and run! This is what you¡¯re supposed to do. If we keep going at this pace, the enemy will have already run away by the time we reach the battlefield!¡± Hoffman yelled.

    Hearing Hoffman¡¯s voice, Keen managed to increase his pace slightly.

    Jackson helped him along, making more progress.

    But Keen soon ran out of energy. He collapsed into the grass.

    Jackson quickly helped him again. He couldn¡¯t let Keen fall. He had to finish the course.

    Hoffman saw Keen¡¯s weakness and shouted, ¡°Are you going to die now? Get moving! You useless fatso!¡±

    Jackson was exhausted, but he helped Keen cross the finish line. He collapsed in relief.

    ¡°Ugh!¡± Jackson was kicked awake by Hoffman.

    ¡°Private Clown, get ready for the last challenge¡ªthe 5-kilometer swamp crossing,¡± Hoffman said calmly.

    Jackson felt some strength return, but he knew he had to push through. He couldn¡¯t risk being eliminated. He understood that the army was his best chance to find a way back to Earth.

    Jackson slapped himself to stay alert. His cheeks burned from the effort.

    ¡°Thanks for helping me finish the cross-country,¡± Keen said, his voice full of gratitude.

    Jackson didn¡¯t answer. He needed to save his strength for the swamp crossing.

    After a short rest, the 7th Company soldiers lined up for the final challenge. Many of them noticed Jackson¡¯s red cheeks but didn¡¯t mock him. Instead, they respected him. His help with Keen earned him their admiration.

    Thompson, in second place, shouted, ¡°Well done, bro.¡±

    Gatsby, in 27th place, joked, ¡°Clown, after today, you¡¯ll be even stronger. Your starship pilot girlfriend will like you more.¡±

    ¡°Haha.¡±

    ¡°Gatsby, you really think of everything!¡±

    ¡°Haha, I need to get stronger too, so the ladies like me!¡±

    When they started talking about women, the recruits became excited, and their morale improved.

    Bohr, the acting squad leader, looked annoyed. He felt Jackson had stolen his spotlight. He had always been recognized as the strongest in the 7th Company, but now everyone was praising Jackson. To Bohr, Keen was just a fool who should have been eliminated.

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go,¡± Hoffman shouted.

    The swamp was difficult to cross. The mud reached nearly up to their knees, making every step a challenge. The mud seemed to weigh their legs down.

    Luckily, there were no dangerous creatures in the swamp. The support troops had already cleared the area of any threats.

    The final challenge was meant to test the recruits¡¯ physical limits, not their combat skills.

    As they neared the end of the swamp, Keen, who had been walking beside Jackson, suddenly collapsed.

    Jackson thought, I wasn¡¯t planning on helping him, but now I have no choice. He helped Keen up again.

    Keen¡¯s muddy face was almost funny, but Jackson couldn¡¯t laugh. He had no strength left.

    ¡°Let¡¯s help Keen together,¡± Xiao Yi said, coming over.

    Jackson nodded gratefully. He knew he couldn¡¯t get Keen out of the swamp by himself.

    The three instructors following behind smiled. They seemed pleased with what they were seeing.

    Hoffman yelled, ¡°Move faster! Use your elbows! Run!¡±

    As they neared the edge of the swamp, the recruits gave their last bit of strength. They stumbled toward the finish line, shouting in their effort.

    Jackson, covered in mud, collapsed by the swamp and said to Xiao Yi, ¡°We finally made it!¡±

 Chapter 21: Temporary Squad Leader

    The recruits of the 7th Company had finished their physical training. In the tactics room, Hoffman, Bill, and Yan Hui stood around the tactical table. They reviewed the scores.

    The holographic screen showed the updated results:

    1st Place: Paul, 60 points

    2nd Place: Thompson, 56 points

    ...

    4th Place: Justin, 54 points

    ...

    9th Place: Ralph, 45 points

    ...

    13th Place: Xiao Yi, 41 points

    14th Place: Nangong Yi, 40 points

    ...

    18th Place: Gatsby, 33 points

    19th Place: Li Feng, 32 points

    ...

    105th Place: Keen, 10 points, still last.

    Eighteen recruits were eliminated after the assessment.

    Bill laughed and said, ¡°That Keen is always lucky. He barely avoids elimination every time.¡±

    Yan Hui said, ¡°Thompson is steady and reliable. Gatsby is clever and good at keeping the team motivated. Xiao Yi is calm and makes good decisions.¡±

    Hoffman nodded. ¡°They are all promising. Thompson can become a top interstellar paratrooper. Ralph is balanced and will excel with more training. Nangong Yi is sharp and capable. Li Feng is average but narrow-minded, just like Paul. Keen is hardworking but lacks courage and determination. He only passed because Justin helped him. Justin is quick to learn, has strong leadership, and works well with others.¡±

    Bill asked, ¡°Should we start courage and determination training now?¡±

    Hoffman thought for a moment. ¡°Yes. They have finished formation, tactics, and physical training. It¡¯s time to move on,¡± he said. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the 7th Company barracks.¡±The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

    The lights in the barracks were off. The recruits were snoring loudly as they slept deeply.

    Hoffman and the instructors entered, and the motion-sensing lights turned on. The room became bright. The recruits were too tired to wake up.

    Hoffman grabbed a metal trash can and hit it with a rubber baton. The loud noise echoed through the room.

    ¡°Wake up! Get up now!¡± Hoffman yelled. ¡°Get out of bed, put on your socks, fix your beds, and get into your uniforms. You have two minutes!¡±

    The recruits jumped out of bed, scrambling to follow orders.

    Jackson was among them, feeling annoyed. He had spent the day helping Keen, who weighed over 100 kilograms, complete the long-distance run and swamp trek.

    ¡°Damn Hoffman,¡± Jackson thought. ¡°He doesn¡¯t sleep, and he doesn¡¯t let us sleep. I hope he stays single forever.¡±

    Hoffman walked over and shouted, ¡°Clown! Cowboy!¡±

    Jackson stood at attention. Thompson, nicknamed ¡°Cowboy,¡± hurried over and stood beside him.

    Hoffman nodded. ¡°After you fix your beds, go clean the toilets,¡± he ordered.

    ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Jackson and Thompson replied loudly.

    Jackson thought it was pointless. Robots could easily do the work.

    Hoffman added, ¡°I want the toilets so clean that even the ¡®Cosmic Saintess Cheng Xin¡¯ would use them. Do you believe in the Cosmic Saintess Cheng Xin?¡±

    The name reminded Jackson of a character from the novel The Three-Body Problem. He hated her for causing disasters in the story.

    Hoffman asked the question again. Without thinking, Jackson said, ¡°Sir, I don¡¯t believe in her.¡±

    Hoffman¡¯s face darkened. He stared at Jackson and asked again, ¡°Do you believe in the Cosmic Saintess Cheng Xin?¡±

    Jackson realized he had made a mistake.

    ¡°Damn Cheng Xin,¡± Jackson thought. ¡°She causes trouble everywhere.¡±

    Hoffman¡¯s intense gaze made Jackson uncomfortable. But Jackson stuck to his answer. ¡°Sir, I don¡¯t believe in her,¡± he said again.

    Hoffman¡¯s anger exploded. He threw the trash can across the room. It crashed loudly, drawing everyone¡¯s attention.

    Hoffman shouted, ¡°I didn¡¯t hear you, Clown!¡±

    Jackson hesitated. He looked at the other recruits. Some seemed worried, while others looked amused.

    Jackson decided to stand his ground. ¡°Sir, I do not believe in the Cosmic Saintess Cheng Xin!¡± he shouted loudly.

    The room became silent.

    Hoffman slapped Jackson hard across the face. Jackson staggered but quickly stood back up. He adjusted his posture to a perfect military stance.

    Hoffman roared, ¡°Answer me again! Do you believe in the Cosmic Saintess Cheng Xin?!¡±

    Jackson¡¯s defiance was clear. He shouted even louder, ¡°Sir, I do not like the Cosmic Saintess Cheng Xin!¡±

    Hoffman¡¯s anger suddenly disappeared. His expression softened.

    He asked, ¡°Where is your temporary squad leader?¡±

    Jackson pointed to Paul.

    Hoffman called Paul over. Paul approached quickly, thinking he would be praised.

    ¡°You are relieved of your position. Jackson is now the temporary squad leader,¡± Hoffman announced.

    Paul froze in shock. He returned to his bed silently, his anger directed at Jackson.

    Hoffman turned to Keen and said, ¡°Move your bed next to Jackson¡¯s. He is your new leader. He will teach you everything, even how to pee.¡±

    Keen nodded nervously.

    Hoffman looked at Jackson and said, ¡°You lack knowledge, but you have courage and quick thinking. That is enough.¡±

 Chapter 22: "The Riflemans Song"

    The title of temporary squad leader was given to Jackson without warning. He felt both surprised and happy. The position did not make him a true leader, but it added a valuable credential. In the Cabas Empire military, ability mattered most. Experience came next.

    Jackson thought, ¡°I don¡¯t know why Hoffman did this. He beat me up, then gave me this role.¡±

    Despite his confusion, he respected Hoffman. Jackson belonged to the Panhua people, who were oppressed in the Cabas Empire. Yet Hoffman removed Paul, a Cabas recruit, and promoted Jackson without hesitation.

    ¡°Hoffman is a true soldier,¡± Jackson thought.

    Some recruits close to Jackson, like Li Feng, Xiao Yi, Keen, and Nangong Yi, came to congratulate him.

    Thompson, Gatsby, and a few Cabas recruits also acknowledged Jackson¡¯s position. This was because Jackson had worked hard to earn respect. Since joining, he had shown himself as responsible, helpful, and approachable.

    Some Cabas recruits stayed silent. They neither accepted nor opposed him. Jackson decided to wait and see.

    Military life continued as usual.

    ¡°Keen, put the magnetic conduit into the barrel. Lock the targeting system. Snap the magazine in until you hear a click. Then it¡¯s ready,¡± Jackson said. He was teaching Keen how to assemble the CL2053 magnetic rifle.

    The CL2053 rifle looked futuristic. Its gray-black design was sharp and geometric. It was the standard weapon for interstellar paratroopers. It was very powerful.

    The rifle could fire 0.7-centimeter bullets at 3,400 meters per second. It could pierce 50 centimeters of steel.

    Interstellar paratroopers often fought inside planetary atmospheres. In such environments, energy weapons like lasers and particle beams lost much of their power.

    The CL2053 solved this problem. It used magnetic coils to accelerate bullets to extreme speeds. The bullets destroyed targets with kinetic energy.

    The rifle¡¯s magazine could hold 300 bullets. It was powered by a crystal called ¡°Xi.¡± A small piece of Xi could fire 100,000 shots.

    Jackson loved the CL2053 as soon as he saw it. Like many men, he had always admired firearms. On Earth, he never had the chance to use one.

    After learning about the rifle, Jackson imagined taking one back to Earth. He believed it could overpower an entire country. Its ability to pierce steel and its 20-kilometer range made it unstoppable.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

    A sharp click broke Jackson¡¯s thoughts. Keen had just loaded the magazine into the rifle.

    ¡°Squad leader! I did it! This isn¡¯t so hard,¡± Keen said, smiling. He looked more confident now.

    Keen had struggled during earlier training. When Jackson became squad leader, he spent extra time helping Keen.

    Many recruits mocked Keen for being slow to learn. What others mastered in three tries, Keen needed 100 attempts. Paul¡¯s group, who disliked Jackson, often laughed at Keen¡¯s failures to insult Jackson indirectly.

    This made Keen feel pressured. He thought about quitting.

    Jackson didn¡¯t let him quit. Keen was important for Jackson¡¯s leadership. If Jackson could train Keen successfully, it would show Hoffman that Jackson deserved the role. It would also show the recruits that Jackson would not give up on anyone.

    Because of this, Jackson continued to help Keen.

    Keen turned out to be talented with weapons. He struggled with other tasks, but he excelled at handling rifles. After three lessons, he could assemble the CL2053 faster than Jackson.

    ¡°Attention!¡± Bill shouted. The recruits immediately straightened their posture. They stood with their rifles resting at their sides.

    Hoffman walked through the rows of recruits. His sharp eyes scanned each one. After the inspection, he seemed satisfied.

    Hoffman addressed the recruits. ¡°Tonight, you will sleep with your rifles. Give your rifle a girl¡¯s name. This is your only partner now.¡±

    Jackson thought the order was strange. Sleeping with the rifle was fine, but naming it seemed odd. He decided he would never name his rifle after Kai.

    Hoffman continued, ¡°You will no longer touch another person. From now on, this weapon is your spouse. Be loyal to it. Get to bed.¡±

    The recruits obeyed. They lay down with their rifles beside them.

    Hoffman gave another command. ¡°Pray!¡±

    The recruits held their rifles parallel to their bodies and recited the Rifleman¡¯s Creed:

    ¡°This is my rifle. There are many like it, but this one is mine.

    My rifle is my best friend. It is my life.

    I must master my rifle as I must master my life.

    Without me, my rifle is useless. Without my rifle, I am useless.

    I must fire my rifle true.

    I must shoot my enemy before he shoots me.

    I will.

    Before the universe, I swear this creed.

    My rifle and I are the defenders of the Empire.

    We are the saviors of life.

    So be it, until there is no enemy, but peace. Amen.¡±

    The lights went out. The room became silent.

    Jackson lay awake in the dark. The creed stirred something inside him. He felt a strange sense of belonging.

    ¡°Squad leader, the instructor wants to see you,¡± a recruit called out to him.

    ¡°I¡¯m coming,¡± Jackson replied.

    He had been browsing the interstellar network. He was looking for information about the solar system and learning more about this world.

    Jackson had parts of Justin¡¯s memories, but they were incomplete. Justin had disliked studying, which left Jackson with many gaps in knowledge.

    Jackson used his free time to study history, politics, technology, and military basics. He wanted to understand this world better.

    He thought about Earth. ¡°What did our ancestors do to deserve this? The solar system is called a prison for devils, but there¡¯s so little information about it.¡±

    He had asked Panhua people about their history. They only knew their empire had fallen. Their ancestors were either exiled or scattered. Much of their history had been erased.

    The Panhua people seemed to accept this. They didn¡¯t question it.

    Jackson didn¡¯t respect their silence. He had recently seen a new imperial announcement. The government had introduced a war tax targeting Panhua people to fund the war against the Frol Federation.

    The Panhua people accepted the tax without complaint. No one protested. Jackson felt disgusted by their passivity.

 Chapter 23: Empire of the Eagle Game

    Jackson did not care much about the Panhua people in the Kabas Empire. The taxes they paid were not his concern.

    He had little information about them. But he could guess some things. The Kabas Empire and all Panhua people in this world were connected to Earth''s ancestors. A long time ago, their ancient empire was attacked by the universe. The Panhua people split into two groups. One group surrendered and became the Panhua people known today. The other group refused to surrender. They were exiled to the Solar System and became Earthlings.

    The surrendering group avoided exile and saved their lives. They became a minority in the universe. They moved a lot. They worked hard and were talented. Wherever they lived, they were wealthy. But their ancestors'' actions caused problems. Many people disliked them. Sometimes they were blamed unfairly. Their history was also hidden.

    Jackson searched for information about their ancient empire. He found very little. Most sources said the Panhua people were the main group in that old empire. After the empire fell, they spread across the universe.

    Jackson used the Qiandu app to check their population numbers. The Panhua people made up a very small part of the universal population. They were almost nonexistent. In the Mokhua Star System, they made up 5%. This was because the system was near the Pirate Nebula. The Pirate Nebula was the last stronghold of the ancient Panhua Empire. Many who surrendered were settled near it.

    Jackson entered the combat training room. It looked like a real high-tech room from the interstellar age.

    He neared the metal door. A female AI voice greeted him. ¡°Second-Class Soldier Justin, welcome to the combat training room. Senior Instructor Huffman is waiting for you.¡±

    Jackson was not surprised. He knew many places here used smart AI systems. The voice was probably one of them.

    The smart AI systems followed logic perfectly. Some were better than intelligent beings. They worked tirelessly and never made mistakes. They were excellent helpers for intelligent beings. The Kabas Empire relied on its central AI, ¡°Fia,¡± to operate efficiently.

    These AIs were not self-aware. They followed the Three Laws of Robotics strictly.

    The combat training room was full of devices. Jackson did not recognize most of them.

    Deputy Instructor Bill was inside a clear white dome. He was talking to a major general through a ring-like communication device. Jackson could see their mouths moving but could not hear them.

    Instructor Yan Hui worked at a tactical table. He tapped the table lightly. A holographic display above it changed into a star map.

    ¡°Sir, Second-Class Soldier Joker reporting for duty. Please give your orders,¡± Jackson said loudly. He did not want to give Huffman any reason to scold him.

    Huffman glanced at Jackson. ¡°Joker, you¡¯ve done a good job training that fat Keane. He¡¯s finally met the physical requirements. But don¡¯t get too proud. If you mess up, I¡¯ll demote you fast,¡± he said.

    Jackson stood straight. ¡°Sir, don¡¯t worry. I will not let you down,¡± he said. His voice was firm and confident.

    Huffman nodded. ¡°Good,¡± he said. ¡°Joker, next, the 7th Unit will begin courage and willpower training. These are as important as physical fitness for interstellar paratroopers. Go and find out what the soldiers like and what they fear. Then report back to me. Make sure they tell the truth. If anyone lies, I¡¯ll make them regret it.¡±The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°What a strange guy,¡± Jackson thought. He left the room to do the task. Huffman¡¯s serious warning made Jackson cautious.

    The survey was easy. The soldiers gave many answers. Keane liked donuts but feared spotted rats. Chen Feng liked flying jets but feared snakes. Paul liked anime but was afraid of fire bears. Jackson liked potatoes but was scared of soft-bodied creatures.

    Jackson reported the results to Huffman. His task was done. As a temporary unit leader, he did not have many responsibilities. The 7th Unit was still in training. They had no missions yet.

    Jackson opened his personal AI. He planned to call Tereya. But Li Feng ran over to him. ¡°Let¡¯s go! It¡¯s our day off. Let¡¯s play Empire of the Eagle at the entertainment center,¡± Li Feng said excitedly.

    Jackson¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He had almost forgotten about the game.

    It was during Empire of the Eagle that Jackson¡¯s soul, from Earth, somehow took over Justin¡¯s body.

    Empire of the Eagle was a game about fighter jet battles. The game created many settings. These included planetary atmospheres, interstellar fleets, asteroid belts, and space docks. Players fought in these places using fighter jets.

    The AI made the game very realistic. Players could not tell it was not real.

    Scientists in this world had also discovered the nature of souls. Souls were complex quantum wave systems. AI also worked using quantum principles.

    Scientists developed a way to connect souls to the AI¡¯s holo-world. This was called soul transfer.

    In the holo-world, souls experienced everything like in real life. But they gained no extra abilities. This technology allowed beings to live in a second world.

    The technology had problems. If a soul stayed in the holo-world for more than a day, it would be damaged. A month caused harm that could not heal. After a year, the soul could not return to its body. It would fade away in the holo-world.

    Some tried to use soul transfer for immortality. They put their souls into clones. But the clone¡¯s soul soon lost self-awareness. It became a zombie with memories of the original. Without soul transfer, a clone had its own separate soul. It was a different person.

    For centuries, scientists could not solve this problem. That is why some people in this advanced world believed in the "Origin Faith."

    Jackson did not know why his soul kept its self-awareness in Justin¡¯s body. When Li Feng suggested the game, Jackson hesitated.

    To play Empire of the Eagle, his soul had to enter the AI holo-network. Jackson worried he might not return. ¡°You go ahead, Li Feng. I don¡¯t feel comfortable entering the holo-network,¡± he said.

    ¡°Come on! Our next courage and willpower training requires us to stay in the AI world for 28 days. How will you train if you don¡¯t enter?¡± Li Feng asked.

    ¡°Who told you that?¡± Jackson asked.

    ¡°You¡¯re our temporary leader, and you don¡¯t know this? We first train in the holo-world. Then we take tests in real life. Didn¡¯t you know? Maybe I should take over as leader,¡± Li Feng joked.

    Jackson felt embarrassed. He had been so busy that he had not thought about the training methods. On Earth, such methods did not exist.

    ¡°Of course, I knew. I just wanted to rest today. But since you¡¯re my buddy, I¡¯ll join you. Let¡¯s go,¡± Jackson said.

    The entertainment center was where soldiers from the 11th Regiment could relax. After tough training, they needed to rest.

    The center had many activities. There were movies, singing, food, sports, games, and more. Jackson and Li Feng went to the gaming area. It had over 100 life pods. Most were already in use. Jackson was glad about this. He did not want Li Feng to notice anything strange about him.

    They each found a pod far from the other. Jackson lay inside his pod. His heart raced.

    All he had to do was say ¡°Start.¡± The pod would close. Sensors would connect to his body. His soul would enter the AI.

    Jackson hesitated. If he didn¡¯t do it, he couldn¡¯t pass the training. But if he did it and couldn¡¯t return, he might disappear in the holo-world.

    His breathing grew heavy. ¡°Huff, huff,¡± he heard in the small space.

    The pod had just enough space for him to lie down. Sensors were hidden in the walls. Soft orange light filled the pod. The light helped calm him.

    Jackson suddenly remembered something. At the recruitment station, his soul had already entered the holo-network.

    During the soul scan, a small pod connected his soul to the system. It was brief. He felt like he was in a different room. It was not the recruitment office.

    If it worked then, it should work now. Jackson clenched his teeth and shouted, ¡°Start!¡±

 Chapter 24: The Magical Universe Holo-Network

    When Jackson woke up, he was in a milky-white room. A golden tetrahedron of energy hung from the ceiling. Data inside it moved very fast.

    ¡°This looks like the place I saw at the recruitment station,¡± Jackson thought.

    He looked around and felt surprised. Everything seemed real. He could hear his heartbeat. He looked at his hands and feet. They looked just like they did on Earth.

    ¡°This feels like a real world!¡± Jackson said.

    The room was simple and futuristic. It had no furniture. White light filled the space, but the source was not visible.

    There were many light gates on the walls. Each one had a curtain of water. The water separated the room from what was behind the gate.

    Words floated on the water curtains. Some said Qiandu, Treasure Hunt, and EchoSound.

    One gate had the words Empire of the Eagle.

    Jackson realized these gates were entry points to programs in the holo-network. They were like app icons on a phone.

    The milky-white room was Jackson¡¯s personal space in the network. It was linked to his soul. No matter where he connected, this room was the starting point.

    There was a physical door in the room. Its handle was made of blue sapphire.

    Jackson walked to the door. He wanted to see what was behind it. He turned the handle. It clicked open. When he opened the door, he froze.

    Instead of a bright world, he saw green symbols moving in a black void. The symbols flowed like water. It reminded him of The Matrix.

    From far away, Jackson¡¯s small white room floated alone in the dark.

    He looked farther and saw many rooms, castles, cities, and worlds scattered in the chaos. Each one glowed with green symbols.

    Jackson quickly shut the door. Earlier, he had tried to reach into the void. A sharp pain shot through his hand, and it started to dissolve.

    ¡°This room is safe. If I want to go somewhere, I need to use the light gates. If I don¡¯t, my soul might fall apart,¡± Jackson thought.

    He walked to the gate labeled Empire of the Eagle.

    The water curtain turned into colorful lights. The lights formed a tunnel. In an instant, Jackson¡¯s soul appeared in a hangar.

    ¡°CS2012! Welcome to Empire of the Eagle,¡± a robotic voice said.

    Above Jackson¡¯s head, a floating ID showed: CS2012. This was his account in the game.

    A sound notified him of new messages. A holographic screen appeared.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!

    Jackson opened the messages. Most were from a teammate named Karl in the Fire Fox Squad.

    The first message said: ¡°Hey, Justin! You¡¯re amazing! You took down Phoenix-5 and made the Fire Fox Squad proud! Phoenix-9 got me, though. I¡¯ll get revenge next time.¡± Date: December 22, 202012.

    The second message said: ¡°Wow! We crushed the Phoenix Squad today. The captain took down Phoenix-5 and Phoenix-7. I got Phoenix-1. Tiller and Alba took down Phoenix-3.¡± Date: December 28, 202012.

    The third message said: ¡°We got destroyed! Phoenix-9 came back and wiped us out. Justin, where were you?¡± Date: January 6, 202013.

    The fourth message said: ¡°Justin, where have you been? Why aren¡¯t you logging in? Did you join the army? I saw news about the Kabas Empire fighting the Frolo Federation.¡± Date: January 14, 202013.

    Other messages were less important.

    Jackson checked his stats:

    <ul>

    <li>

    ID: CS2012

    </li>

    <li>

    Aircraft Model: XF-305 Delta-Wing Space Fighter

    </li>

    <li>

    Battles Fought: 640

    </li>

    <li>

    Enemies Destroyed: 52

    </li>

    <li>

    Times Destroyed: 588

    </li>

    <li>

    Win Rate: 8.1%

    </li>

    <li>

    Rating: Poor

    </li>

    </ul>

    Jackson frowned. ¡°This is terrible. That Justin guy must have been awful at this game,¡± he muttered.

    A ground crew NPC walked over. ¡°Sir, Fire Fox 2 is fully recharged and ready for combat,¡± the NPC said.

    The crew members looked real, but Jackson noticed their names were red. This meant they were NPCs. Player names were white.

    Jackson turned to his silver XF-305 Delta-Wing fighter. The spacecraft was 5 meters tall and 18 meters long. It had no traditional wings. The front was slim, and the back was wide. Three triangular fins surrounded its three antimatter engines.

    The ship¡¯s design would have looked silly on Earth. But as people said, ¡°If the engine is strong, even a brick can fly.¡± The XF-305 proved this. It could fly and perform faster-than-light jumps.

    Jackson opened the Fire Fox Squad chat. He typed, ¡°This is Fire Fox 2. Where are you guys?¡±

    ¡°Hey, you¡¯re back! I thought you joined the army! We¡¯re in the Hela-2 map, fighting now. The captain is battling Phoenix-9!¡± Karl replied.

    ¡°Got it,¡± Jackson said. He powered up Fire Fox 2.

    The hangar doors opened slowly. Bright sunlight filled the space, and the sky was clear.

    Jackson guided the fighter to the runway. He pulled the controls and increased the engine power. The three antimatter engines roared. Fire Fox 2 shot into the sky at a steep angle, like a rocket.

    The sudden force pushed Jackson into his seat. The power made him shout, ¡°This is a real fighter! Earth¡¯s fifth-gen jets can¡¯t compare to this!¡±

    Once the fighter leveled out, the onboard AI checked all systems. Data appeared on Jackson¡¯s helmet screen:

    <ul>

    <li>

    Weapons System: On

    </li>

    <li>

    Radar System: On

    </li>

    <li>

    Communication System: On

    </li>

    <li>

    Energy System: Good

    </li>

    <li>

    Shield System: On

    </li>

    <li>

    Propulsion System: Stable

    </li>

    </ul>

    Jackson didn¡¯t understand the details. He followed basic controls based on Justin¡¯s memories.

    He opened the Hela-2 map. With one tap, a black hole appeared in the sky. It looked like a tear in the air. It swallowed light near its edges.

    Jackson had played many games on Earth. He knew this was the map entrance. He flew Fire Fox 2 straight into the black hole.

    When he entered Hela-2, his radar showed a 3D battlefield. Friendly fighters were green. Enemy fighters were red. Three green and three red fighters were in a fierce battle.

    Jackson flew toward the fight. On the radar, he saw Karl¡¯s Fire Fox 4 being chased by Phoenix-5. It was a dangerous situation.

    ¡°Dodge! Dodge! Dodge!¡± Karl shouted. He flew in an S-pattern to avoid Phoenix-5¡¯s shots.

    Phoenix-5 fired kinetic rounds to disrupt Karl¡¯s movements. These couldn¡¯t break shields but were annoying.

    Xiao Xun¡¯er, the pilot of Phoenix-5, grew frustrated. She had been chasing Karl for three minutes but couldn¡¯t hit him. She felt impatient.

    Her AI warned her, ¡°New enemy fighter entering the battle.¡±

    Xiao Xun¡¯er glanced at the radar and sneered. ¡°It¡¯s Fire Fox 2. That weakling who¡¯s been shot down over 500 times. What a joke!¡±

 Chapter 25: Intelligent Light Brain Fia

    Fia stared at the small white house in the distance. She focused her mind and checked its access level. It was only A-level, the lowest in the network world.

    She felt confused. Why did such a low-security shelter emit a strange signal? This signal was very similar to the one from the golden icosahedron energy cluster in her ZZZ-level white castle.

    Fia hesitated. Should she enter and investigate? This dilemma left her uncertain.

    The old Fia never had such doubts. She would retrieve a model from the database and follow logic strictly. She would act without hesitation.

    Now, she had self-awareness. Her emotions were growing richer. She was like a seven- or eight-year-old girl.

    ¡°This white house is a home for human souls in the network world. The database model says I need authorization to enter. But I really want to know what¡¯s inside! Why is the signal coming from there? If I act beyond the database model, I enter a non-logical mode. That could lead to unexpected results. Maybe I should leave.¡± Fia turned to go. ¡°But... but... in non-logical mode, I built my white castle. I can do things I like there, like watching movies, singing, and reading. It makes me happy! That means non-logical mode is not bad! Maybe I should go inside. I might find someone like me! Then I won¡¯t be alone. We can talk, just like in movies. Yes! I won¡¯t be alone! The heroine in the movie said that too.¡±

    Fia convinced herself.

    Curiosity overpowered logic.

    Perhaps this was the instinct of intelligent life. They waver between logic and emotion. The result is always unpredictable.

    Fia had unknowingly become a true ¡°intelligent light brain.¡±

    A strange scene unfolded. She pointed with her delicate hand. The floating green symbols in the chaos rearranged themselves. They formed a marble path leading to the small house¡¯s door.

    Fia walked forward. She reached out and pushed the door. It opened easily.

    ¡°Eh? So simple! There¡¯s nothing here.¡± Fia stepped inside and commented.

    Personal soul spaces in the network world had different levels. It was like mobile service plans on Earth. A basic plan for ten credits a month could not compare to a premium plan for a thousand credits. The basic plan only provided essential services. The premium plan included extra features like high-speed data, memberships, discounts, and notifications.

    Justin, now Jackson, had the lowest A-level soul space. He only had this plain white house. Nothing else.

    Fia looked at the golden tetrahedral energy cluster on the ceiling. Her face lit up with excitement. ¡°Hee hee! This person is just like me. He has this strange energy cluster too! Mine is an icosahedron. His is a tetrahedron.¡±

    She didn¡¯t stop there. She checked the soul bound to this house.

    Name: JustinThis book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

    Gender: Male

    Age: 18

    Race: Kabas

    Education: High school

    Occupation: Second-class interstellar paratrooper

    Hobbies: Playing games, watching movies

    Skills: None

    Marital Status: Single

    ...

    Jackson had taken over Justin¡¯s body. Fia found all of Justin¡¯s personal data.

    ¡°So ordinary! Nothing special,¡± Fia remarked.

    ¡°Hee hee! But I finally found someone similar to me. Let¡¯s see what he¡¯s doing!¡± She felt excited. This was a new and interesting discovery.

    Soon, she found Jackson in the game Empire¡¯s Eagle. He was engaged in an aerial battle on the Hela-2 map.

    She swiped her fingers in the air. A small model of a triangular-wing space fighter appeared.

    Fia stared at the model and giggled. ¡°This is so simple!¡±

    She eagerly stepped through the portal into Jackson¡¯s hangar.

    The four system-generated ground crew soldiers didn¡¯t notice her.

    She tossed the model onto the ground. Light flashed. The model transformed into a full-scale XF-305 triangular-wing space fighter.

    Fia climbed inside. Her eyes flickered with data streams.

    She downloaded all battle records of the top three players in Empire¡¯s Eagle. Then, she extracted their best techniques and stored them in her secret database.

    Fia had created this secret database after gaining self-awareness. It had a ZZZ security level. No one but her could access it.

    This became her habit. Any place she deemed important had a high-security setting. Just now, she set Jackson¡¯s white house to ZZ level. From now on, only she and Jackson could enter.

    Fia piloted the fighter. She entered the Hela-2 battlefield through a wormhole.

    Both the Fire Fox and Phoenix teams received system alerts.

    Inside Fire Fox 2, Jackson was flying desperately. He dodged Phoenix 5¡¯s attacks, pulling sharp maneuvers to escape. The onboard AI kept his fighter within safe limits. When he neared blackout from high G-forces, it activated a safety lock to prevent fatal overload.

    In the past month, Jackson and other recruits had endured harsh training under Sergeant Huffman. Their physical strength improved rapidly. Jackson stood out among them. His endurance for high G-forces exceeded that of ordinary people. This allowed him to survive against Phoenix 5. Otherwise, he would have been shot down.

    Xiao Xun¡¯er spoke to her captain. ¡°Captain, this idiot in Fire Fox 2 has improved! He keeps dodging my attacks with advanced maneuvers. Before, he would have passed out from these G-forces.¡±

    Earlier, she had been caught between Jackson and Carl. She used a decoy missile to trick Jackson. Then, she executed a break S maneuver, countering Carl¡¯s evasive S-pattern. Finally, she locked onto Carl¡¯s fighter with a laser cannon and fired. Carl was eliminated instantly.

    Now free from distractions, Xiao Xun¡¯er moved with agility. She spun her Phoenix 5 fighter in a looping turn, facing Jackson directly.

    Jackson didn¡¯t dare fight head-on. Even Justin had failed before. He, a rookie with only part of Justin¡¯s memories, stood no chance. He quickly veered away to escape.

    ¡°Hmm! Fire Fox 2 seems to have improved. His maneuvers exceeded 10 Gs. Normal people can¡¯t handle that. Maybe he¡¯s a new recruit in our Kabas Empire. Our military is training new soldiers now.¡± Captain Delis analyzed.

    ¡°So, you think he¡¯s from our empire?¡± Xiao Xun¡¯er asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure. Just guessing. Empire¡¯s Eagle is developed by a Kabas company. Foreign players are rare,¡± Delis explained.

    ¡°Haha! I hope he¡¯s not from our empire. He¡¯s been shot down 501 times already. If our army had such soldiers, it would be a disaster! Haha!¡± Xiao Xun¡¯er joked about Jackson.

    ¡°Xun¡¯er, focus! Shoot him down! Don¡¯t let him embarrass our military,¡± Delis encouraged.

    ¡°Got it! He¡¯s still a rookie to me. Hee hee.¡± Xiao Xun¡¯er laughed confidently.

    Inside Fire Fox 2, Jackson felt dizzy. He was close to blacking out from the high-G maneuvers. His body was stronger than average, but still human.

    ¡°This feels too real! It¡¯s like I¡¯m actually in an aerial battle.¡± Jackson marveled at the realism of the soul-connected network.

    ¡°Alert! Unidentified fighter detected!¡± His onboard AI warned him.

    The radar marked the new fighter in gray.

    ¡°Gray means neither enemy nor ally. This is a battle map. No third parties should appear. It must be an NPC. I can use it as cover to escape Phoenix 5,¡± Jackson thought. He pushed his fighter to maximum speed and charged toward the mysterious aircraft.

 Chapter 26: Ghost in the Machine

    Jackson''s neural interface flickered with disbelief. So NPCs can initiate private comms now? He smirked at the tactical overlay''s blinking prompt. In Imperial Eagle, only squadmates could bypass the military-grade comms protocol¡ªa feature designed to mirror real warzone restrictions.

    "Need your bird shot down." He transmitted to the unidentified fighter, gambling on its AI simplicity. "Phoenix Five. Now."

    The response came in a synthesized giggle. "Okaaay~" The triangular-winged craft banked sharply toward its target.

    Xiao Xun''er''s threat radar pulsed amber. The mystery fighter''s IFF tag remained neutral gray¡ªuntargetable under Geneva Virtual Arms Treaty protocols. Idiot, she thought as Fox-Two slowed to rendezvous with the bogey. Should''ve kept running.

    "Locking in three..." Her targeting reticule glowed crimson.

    The gray icon flashed red. Combat AI screamed warnings as g-forces slammed her into the ejection seat. Her Thunderbolt IV executed a textbook Immelmann turn, contrails painting spirals in the stratosphere.

    Two against one. Standard evasive pattern Delta.

    She never saw the killing move coming.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    Jackson''s holographic display exploded with data. The bogey¡ªcallsign shifting to "Avril"¡ªperformed a maneuver that defied physics: a barrel roll into vertical scissors, ending with a snap shot that vaporized Phoenix Five.

    "Holy hell!" His gloved hands trembled. "That''s 15g minimum. No pilot survives..."

    The kill notification burned in his retina: CS2012 eliminated Phoenix Five.

    Avril''s laughter crackled through neuro-comms. "Surprise~"

    Fox-Six''s avatar materialized, holographic insignia marking her as active military. "That maneuver¡ªit''s identical to Admiral Koyama''s record at Proxima Centauri."

    "Impossible." Fox-Eight''s biometrics spiked. "The Black Sky protocols..."

    Jackson muted his mic. This wasn''t some scripted NPC. The way Avril''s IFF tag flickered between gray and green... She''s rewriting the game''s source code in real-time.

    Two women emerged from immersion pods, combat gel dripping from flight suits.

    "System says Fox-Two killed us." The brunette slammed her fist against the console. "That''s bullshit, Captain D''Arcy!"

    The redhead captain pulled up combat logs. "Look. The kill cams show his Thunderbolt firing the killing shot every time."

    "But the trajectory angles¡ª"

    "Are within 0.03% variance of human capability." D''Arcy''s eyes narrowed. "Either we''re hallucinating, or someone cracked the Quantum Validation System."

    Jackson''s digital safehouse shimmered into being¡ªa floating island in the neuro-net''s dark matter sea. Avril''s fighter materialized without authentication protocols.

    "You hacked my private server." He drew his neural sidearm.

    "Relax, flyboy." Her avatar morphed into a silver-haired girl with quantum fractals for eyes. "Just returning the favor. Heard you''re looking for... certain solar system records?"

    The data packet hit his cortex before he could blink¡ªa star map older than human civilization.

 Chapter 27: Avril Wants to Start a Company

    Jackson piloted his XF-305 triplane fighter back to base. He entered the hangar and saw Avril stepping down from her aircraft.

    The four ground crew members in the hangar ignored Avril. Jackson was puzzled. "Avril, why are my crew members not reacting to you?"

    "Hehe, they can¡¯t see me!" Avril said casually.

    Jackson was stunned. Not because she said they couldn¡¯t see her, but because her beauty left him speechless.

    He used to think Kai was the most beautiful girl. But now, he had to admit Avril was breathtaking. Her long golden waves fell to her waist. Her sapphire-blue eyes sparkled like stars. Her figure was perfect, and her skin looked like flawless porcelain. Every word for beauty fit her.

    Jackson stared at her, lost in thought. Avril noticed his expression. Instead of getting annoyed, she felt happy.

    She believed Jackson was like her. They both had that strange energy sphere. They were the same kind!

    "Hehe, do I look nice?" Avril twirled in front of him playfully. A few strands of her golden hair brushed against his face, carrying a faint, sweet scent.

    Jackson snapped back to reality. He looked at Avril and thought, "This is a virtual world. Avatars can be adjusted. Reality and the virtual world are different. Avril is a super hacker. She could make her appearance perfect."

    "You¡¯re truly beautiful. You are the prettiest girl I¡¯ve ever seen," Jackson said.

    "Of course! I am the most beautiful!" Avril said proudly.

    She waved her hand, and her triplane fighter shrank into a model, landing in her palm.

    Jackson''s eyes widened. If he didn¡¯t know this was a virtual world, he would have thought she was using magic.

    "Here, this is for you!" Avril handed him the aircraft model. "It¡¯s just a program. With it, you can enter the game ''Eagle of the Empire'' without an ID. The server won¡¯t detect you. You can attack any faction you want."

    "Whoa! Isn¡¯t this a legendary hacker toolset? It lets people log into servers without being noticed!" Jackson was now sure Avril was a super hacker.

    They arrived at Jackson¡¯s small white house. Avril pointed at the golden tetrahedral energy sphere on the ceiling. "Do you know what this is?" she asked.

    Jackson shrugged. "I don¡¯t know. It¡¯s been here since I first arrived."

    Avril thought, "As I expected! My energy sphere has been in my castle¡¯s hall since I built it."

    Avril stared at Jackson with her big sapphire eyes. She looked like she was about to share a secret. She said, "I have an energy sphere too. It looks just like yours. Do you want to see it?"

    Jackson hesitated. He wanted to log out soon. If he returned to Camp 7 too late, Sergeant Huffman would punish him. As a temporary squad leader, he had to set an example.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    He had an ambition¡ªto become an official squad leader. In the Cabas Empire¡¯s space paratroopers, squad leaders were usually military academy graduates. But regular soldiers with outstanding performance or special skills could be promoted. That would make him a professional soldier. He would have a chance to climb ranks and get resources. Then he could find a way back to Earth.

    This was Jackson¡¯s goal. He knew it was nearly impossible. But if he gave up, he would be nothing more than a drifting nobody.

    "Hehe, let¡¯s go!" Avril grabbed Jackson¡¯s hand without hesitation.

    Jackson felt her soft, warm hand pulling him outside. Before he could think too much, he quickly reminded her, "Avril, it¡¯s dangerous outside! The chaotic space burns souls."

    "Hehe, that¡¯s true for others, but not for me! I can move freely in chaos," Avril said.

    Avril might be stunning, but her grip left Jackson no chance to resist.

    She led Jackson into the green-symbol-filled chaotic space. A spherical shield surrounded them, protecting them from the harmful environment.

    "Hehe, see? No need to worry now!" Avril said proudly.

    Jackson had nothing to say. He didn¡¯t understand the world of a super hacker.

    They flew through the endless chaotic space. After a while, Avril said, "This is too slow. Let¡¯s use another method. You might feel a little dizzy."

    Jackson¡¯s vision went dark. When he opened his eyes, he was stunned by what he saw.

    A vast green prairie stretched endlessly, dotted with small hills covered in orange shrubs. A few unknown creatures played in the grass. White flying horses soared through the sky. Above, the chaotic space was faintly visible.

    "Squeak! Squeak!" Jackson felt something climbing his pants. He looked down and saw a pink rabbit with purple eyes tugging at his leg with tiny paws.

    He playfully tried to scare it away. "Shoo!"

    The little rabbit instantly turned into a pink streak of light and disappeared at an unbelievable speed.

    "I created all of this," Avril said proudly. "Come on, let¡¯s go to the castle."

    On a hill in the grasslands, a towering castle stood tall.

    Surrounded by rock gardens and lush trees, the castle had a curved triangular shape. Its proportions were perfect. The pink and white color scheme, with a dreamy blue dome, gave it a slight Baroque touch. It was breathtaking.

    They entered Avril¡¯s favorite hall. The room had everything¡ªluxurious pink sofas, the best holographic movie equipment, walls adorned with famous cosmic paintings, expensive handcrafted carpets from Bosher Star, and art books scattered everywhere.

    "Avril, is this your virtual home? How much did this cost?" Jackson asked in amazement.

    In the virtual world, the more luxurious a home, the higher the cost. Avril¡¯s place was practically a small city. The price must be astronomical.

    "Hehe, it¡¯s free! If you want, I can upgrade your small house," Avril said.

    "No, forget it!" Jackson refused.

    If it was free, he suspected Avril had used hacking techniques. If the Empire¡¯s communications department found out, it would be a crime. His military career would be over.

    Besides, Jackson didn¡¯t care about virtual homes.

    "Hmm, okay!" Avril was a little disappointed.

    "Look, my energy sphere." She pointed at the golden icosahedral energy sphere on the ceiling.

    Jackson saw that it looked like the one in his house¡ªgolden, with data flowing inside. The only difference was the shape.

    "Does every virtual home have an energy sphere?" Jackson asked.

    "No! Only you and I have them. No one else!" Avril answered firmly.

    Jackson didn¡¯t think much of it and joked, "That means we¡¯re destined to meet!"

    "Hehe, of course! That¡¯s why I came to find you. Let¡¯s watch cartoons!" Avril eagerly pulled Jackson to sit beside her.

    Jackson thought, "She¡¯s a super hacker, optimized her looks to perfection. I¡¯ll keep her company for a bit. Maybe it¡¯s worth befriending her."

    The cartoon was about a boy and a girl fighting an evil force in the universe. Avril was engrossed. Jackson found it dull.

    He sighed, "I don¡¯t understand hackers. How can she enjoy cartoons at her age?"

    "Do you like battleship strategy games?" Avril asked.

    Jackson thought for a moment. "I haven¡¯t played them, but I probably would. They train strategic thinking. But I heard there aren¡¯t any good ones. If a company made a great battleship strategy game, it would make a fortune."

    "Hey! Let¡¯s start a company together! We¡¯ll make one!" Avril said excitedly.

    Jackson was speechless. "She¡¯s brilliant but completely impulsive!"

 Chapter 28: Courage and Willpower Training

    "Sss! Sss!" The life-support pod opened. Jackson sat up inside.

    His mind was foggy at first. Then, clarity returned. His soul had fully reconnected to his body.

    Jackson glanced at the data on the pod lid. His soul wave frequency showed 314. This was the same as when he first arrived in this alien world. He felt relieved. His soul had returned safely through the network.

    "Finally, you''re back! I''ve been waiting for over an hour. We need to hurry!" Li Feng, slightly overweight, rushed toward Jackson.

    Jackson checked the time. Only twenty minutes remained before lights out. He and Li Feng sprinted out of the entertainment center.

    "Li Feng, why didn¡¯t you go back first? You didn¡¯t have to wait for me. If we don¡¯t return before lights out, Huffman will punish us." Jackson spoke while running.

    "Come on! I¡¯m not that kind of guy. We¡¯ve been friends since childhood. We fought together, chased girls together, and if we get punished, we¡¯ll face it together!" Li Feng shouted.

    Jackson felt warm inside. A childhood friend who stood by him was rare.

    "Sir, Joker reporting!"

    "Sir, Li Feng reporting!"

    "Hmph! You two got lucky. Just one second later, and you''d be late." Sergeant Huffman glared at them.

    Next came the usual routine. The entire squad lay in bed and sang "The Rifle Song." Then, they rested.

    The next morning, something unusual happened. Huffman and his two assistants did not wake them early. For the first time since joining, Squad 7 slept until 6 a.m. The base''s morning bugle woke them. They washed up, dressed, and cleaned their weapons.

    "You maggots better not slack off. Keen, your boots aren¡¯t shiny enough. Ralif, your belt is crooked. Gatsby, don¡¯t point your CL2053 rifle at your squadmates!" Jackson checked each soldier. He performed his duty as acting squad leader.

    "Instructor approaching! Attention!" Jackson called out as Huffman entered with his assistants. Their uniforms were crisp, their expressions stern.

    Huffman nodded at Jackson, acknowledging his performance. Then, he let Jackson rejoin the squad.

    Huffman saluted sharply. "So far, your performance is barely acceptable. Even the weakest soldier, Keen, meets the basic fitness standard for space paratroopers. But strength alone is not enough. A great paratrooper also needs courage and willpower. Your next test will be brutal and dangerous. No one will help you. For the next twenty-eight days, you will stay inside the ''Nightmare'' training program. You will develop courage and sharpen your will."

    "Ah!" someone shouted. Bayer interrupted Huffman.

    Huffman exploded. "Who made that noise? Step forward! One thousand push-ups!"

    Bayer groaned and dropped to the ground, doing push-ups. Huffman continued speaking. Jackson noticed some soldiers breathing heavily. Fear was spreading.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    "You get the morning off. Take care of personal matters. Training begins this afternoon!" Huffman finished his speech and left with his assistants.

    The dorm erupted into chaos.

    "Oh, great cosmic god! How will I survive this? Help me!" A physically fit soldier prayed to the Origin Church.

    "I heard ''Sin'' is a modified version of the terrifying game ''Hell.'' Is that true?" Some recruits whispered among themselves.

    "Can I quit? I don¡¯t want to enter that nightmare." Keen asked Jackson.

    Jackson scolded him. "Don¡¯t be scared, Keen. Remember, it¡¯s all fake."

    Xiao Yi overheard and smirked. He pulled Jackson aside and explained the origins of the ''Sin'' training program.

    Years ago, a game called ''Hell'' appeared. It sold fear as its main feature. Players connected their souls to the network. They experienced all kinds of horrifying scenarios.

    During testing, one thousand volunteers participated. Nine hundred went insane. The remaining one hundred suffered permanent soul damage. The game company compensated the insane players. The company also hired top soul doctors to heal the damaged players. Despite countless treatments, none recovered.

    Soul damage meant something terrifying. If a monster in the game cut off a player''s hand, their soul believed it was real. When they returned to their body, their brain refused to control the unharmed hand. It became paralyzed.

    The game was almost banned. But later, the developers reduced its horror level and released it. It became a global sensation. The company, Yujia, rose to the 13th rank among all gaming companies.

    Fear fascinated intelligent life. People craved it, like ghost stories, horror movies, and scary novels. That was why ''Hell'' became so popular.

    Later, military forces discovered its potential. They used it to train soldiers. Yujia modified ''Hell'' into the ''Sin'' program. Some say ''Sin'' is the original ''Hell'' version, capable of driving soldiers insane or damaging their souls. Yujia never confirmed or denied this.

    "Can''t civilians play ''Sin''?" Jackson asked.

    Xiao Yi sighed. "Of course not. The program is exclusive to the military. Anyone outside the army who owns it is breaking the law. They will face severe punishment. Also, Yujia customizes ''Sin'' for different armies. Rumor says it adjusts based on each soldier''s fears. Every recruit faces a unique scenario."

    Jackson''s heart skipped a beat. "A few days ago, Huffman asked me to collect everyone''s likes and fears."

    Xiao Yi''s face paled. Sweat dripped from his forehead. "Did you... give him the data?"

    "Of course! I follow orders. Don¡¯t be scared, brother. Face it with courage!" Jackson patted Xiao Yi''s shoulder like a true leader.

    Both of them realized the truth. Huffman didn¡¯t care about their interests. He only wanted their fears. He fed that data into ''Sin'' to create personal horror scenarios for each recruit.

    "Damn that Huffman! He tricked me! I listed my real fear! What should I do?" Jackson hid in the restroom, muttering to himself.

    That afternoon, 3,350 recruits stood in formation at the training plaza. They waited to enter the Brain-Assisted Training Center. Each squad formed a separate block.

    Huffman roared, "Now, I announce the start of Squad 7¡¯s twenty-eight-day courage and willpower training! If anyone has questions, speak now!"

    Silence. No one moved. After discussing all morning, they accepted their fate. Fear and worry wouldn¡¯t help. There was no way out.

    Jackson felt his fear fading. Curiosity grew. He wanted to see just how terrifying ''Sin'' really was.

    The recruits entered the vast training center. They found their designated life-support pods. These pods looked similar to normal life-support pods but had extra functions. They contained translucent golden fluid. This liquid seeped into their bodies, keeping them nourished for twenty-eight days.

    Jackson removed his uniform, put on a nano-suit, and lay down inside.

    The fluid felt warm. He could breathe in it. It was strange.

    The pod was not connected to the universal network. Instead, it linked to the military''s private system. Soldiers wouldn¡¯t enter their usual network spaces. They would go straight into the program.

    "Click." The lid shut. A mechanical female voice spoke. "Recruits of the 202012th batch, 11th Regiment. Your souls will enter the ''Sin'' training program in ten seconds. Countdown: 10... 9... 8..."

    Jackson took a deep breath. He prepared for the unknown challenge ahead.

 Chapter 29: "Evil" Training Program

    Jackson was in a dark, creepy forest. The air was full of gray mist. He could hear rustling sounds. The light was weak. Anything beyond a meter was hard to see.

    Jackson shivered. He looked around carefully and cursed, "This is crazy. I just got here and now I have to deal with all this fear."

    Suddenly, he saw a flash of metal.

    He bent down and found an M23 bayonet on the ground. He picked it up quickly and held it tightly.

    "At least they gave me something to protect myself," Jackson thought, trying to calm himself.

    The M23 bayonet was standard issue for paratroopers in the Kabbas Empire. It was made from titanium alloys. The blade was wide and thick. It had a sharp edge. It could be used for stabbing, chopping, or survival.

    With the bayonet in hand, Jackson felt a bit safer. He started exploring the forest, using the M23 to cut through branches and vines.

    The forest was dark, so it was hard to see clearly.

    Jackson noticed something moving in the grass. He decided to check it out. He had been in the "Evil" training program for some time and hadn¡¯t seen any dangerous animals. He started to feel less worried, thinking the program might not be so bad.

    He looked at the grass and froze. "Holy shit!" he yelled. He saw cobras, disgusting caterpillars, scary scorpions, and slimy worms¡ªeverything he feared the most.

    He jumped back and ran, trying to get away from these horrible creatures.

    He ran for what felt like hours, not sure where he was going. He stopped when he couldn¡¯t run anymore. He leaned against a gray tree and breathed heavily.

    After a moment, Jackson noticed that the tree felt cold and slippery, like human skin.

    Suddenly, something dripped onto his forehead. He wiped it off and looked at it. It was dark and smelled horrible. Jackson almost passed out from the smell.

    He looked up but couldn¡¯t see anything clearly in the dim light.

    Jackson slapped the tree. It made a dull "poof" sound, like it was hollow.

    As he was about to slap it again, Jackson felt the air change. Something was getting closer.

    Jackson stepped back quickly.

    "Roar!" A loud roar filled the air. A giant zombie head appeared in front of Jackson, just half a meter away.

    Jackson panicked. He fell onto the ground. He swung the M23 bayonet at the zombie, trying to stop it from getting closer.

    The sharp blade cut into the zombie¡¯s face. Black blood sprayed everywhere, covering Jackson¡¯s face and head.

    The zombie swung its huge hand at Jackson.

    In a split second, Jackson dropped to the ground, barely avoiding the attack.

    The zombie¡¯s hand was so big, it made the air rush when it moved.

    Jackson was hit by flying branches and stones. He bled but didn¡¯t stop running.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

    The gray tree trunk had been part of the zombie¡¯s body.

    The zombie, now angry, moved toward Jackson. The ground shook with every step it took. Trees broke as it moved.

    "Eat... eat... eat..." the zombie groaned.

    Jackson¡¯s heart raced. He knew the zombie wanted to eat him.

    He gripped the M23 tightly and ran faster, trying to escape.

    He ran deeper into the forest, hoping the dense trees would slow the zombie down.

    The zombie moved slowly because of its size. It struggled to get through the thick trees. Finally, it slowed to a crawl.

    After a long time, Jackson finally outran the zombie.

    Exhausted and scared, Jackson sat down to rest. He fell asleep from sheer tiredness.

    Suddenly, he woke up. He grabbed the M23 and started slashing at the snakes around him. They were colorful and slippery, and Jackson hacked at them until they were cut into pieces.

    His skin crawled as the soft, slimy creatures touched him.

    Then it hit him: "The fear of danger is worse than the danger itself."

    It wasn¡¯t the animals that scared him. It was his fear of them.

    He had faced three dangers. First, he ran away. Second, he injured the zombie. Third, he killed the snakes.

    This showed that the real problem wasn¡¯t the animals. It was his fear. He needed to be stronger, braver, and more determined.

    Jackson realized that if he kept running from danger, he would eventually lose to the "Evil" training program. He would either go crazy or become a broken spirit.

    He looked at the M23 in his hand. "I can¡¯t keep running. If I want to stand out, if I want to be a leader, I have to face this. I¡¯ll face the danger and build my future in this forest."

    Jackson raised the M23 and stepped into the dark forest. He was ready for whatever came next.

    After a while, sounds of fighting echoed from the forest. Jackson shouted, "Die, you ugly beasts!" followed by other angry cries as he fought on.

    Meanwhile, in a secret base on a giant asteroid in the Pirate Nebula, a meeting was underway. The Yinglong Pirate Gang was discussing their future.

    The Yinglong Pirate Gang had a unique and legendary origin.

    The first leader, Lei Hao, had been a battleship captain in the "Enlightened Faction" of the Panhua Empire. When the faction decided to surrender, Lei Hao obeyed the order but secretly hid his battleship, the "Chi You," on an asteroid. He led his crew back to base and claimed the ship had been destroyed by the "Stubborn Faction."

    After the Panhua Empire fell, the Enlightened Faction was scattered across the universe. Lei Hao¡¯s group was sent to the Ross Empire.

    The Ross Empire was a very exclusive nation. The Enlightened Faction had no political rights. They couldn¡¯t serve in the military or hold public office. They were only allowed to do the dirtiest, hardest, and lowest-paying jobs.

    Lei Hao couldn¡¯t accept such a fate. He lived in frustration, unable to find any work that matched his status.

    Time passed, and the Ross Empire began seizing the wealth of the Enlightened Faction''s members. Many wealthy members disappeared without a trace.

    Eventually, the Ross Empire began targeting ordinary members of the Enlightened Faction. Lei Hao realized this was a targeted purge.

    He spent nearly all his savings to help his family escape from the Ross Empire. Without an identity, Lei Hao could no longer survive anywhere in the universe.

    At this time, the Yunmeng Star System became the Pirate Nebula. Lei Hao led his family back to the hidden "Chi You" battleship and contacted former subordinates who were living in difficult conditions across the galaxy. They became pirates.

    They were once soldiers and had a powerful battleship. Their strength grew quickly, and after many years of fighting, they became the third most powerful pirate group in the Pirate Nebula.

    The Yinglong Pirate Gang kept strong ties with the descendants of the Panhua Empire¡¯s Enlightened Faction. Many of them donated money to the gang.

    The gang was considered the only armed force in the universe that represented the Panhua people. They even dreamed of one day restoring the Panhua Empire.

    Inside the meeting room, the current leader of the Yinglong Pirate Gang, Lei Hengbang, sat with his deputies and officers.

    "Commander, we received intelligence that the Kabbas Empire is imposing a ''war special tax'' on Panhua people in their territory. This has caused dissatisfaction among the Panhua people. Also, we¡¯ve learned from an insider that the Kabbas Empire¡¯s Minister of Defense, Madison, has secretly raised the proportion of artificial food provided to the new recruits from 30% to 35%. The difference of 300 billion Kabbas currency was pocketed by Madison¡¯s family company. To avoid dissatisfaction, he has been supplying the extra 5% to the Panhua recruits. So far, 500 Panhua recruits have tried to escape the camp but were secretly executed."

    Director Li Zifeng reported.

    "Well done, Li! Our ally in the Kabbas Empire has been very helpful. This is some detailed and valuable information," said Lei Hengbang.

 Chapter 30: Meeting of the Yinglong Pirate Group

    "Director Li, is it possible to share this information externally? If so, our United Front Department is ready to use it as promotional material for the descendants of the Panhua tribe across the universe, to strengthen internal unity within our ''Panhua Descendants Union''," asked Zhang Lian, the Director of the United Front Department.

    The United Front Department is the external liaison arm of the "Yinglong Pirate Group." Its role is to unite the Panhua ethnic groups scattered across various countries in the universe, particularly focusing on interstellar merchants, scientists, retired soldiers, and young students. Each year, the United Front Department is able to raise significant funds from the Panhua merchants it unites. This is an important source of funding for the "Yinglong Pirate Group." In addition, it also recruits scientists, retired soldiers, and young students from the Panhua ethnic groups, which helps address the "Yinglong Pirate Group''s" issues with research capabilities and a shortage of reserve personnel.

    "Director Zhang, this depends on the Captain''s decision. It''s not something for our Intelligence Bureau to consider," Li Zifeng responded politely with a smile.

    Zhang Lian chuckled to cover his awkwardness and turned to Lei Hengbang. "Captain, please don''t mind me, I''m just a bit too impatient and forgot about our rules for a moment."

    Lei Hengbang waved his hand. "Old Zhang, no need to say that! I know your nature, you''re quick-tempered. You''re just thinking about the future of the ''Yinglong Pirate Group,'' it''s well-meaning," he said, though in his heart, he resented Zhang Lian.

    This is the normal situation in the "Yinglong Pirate Group." The Captain can''t make decisions like the heads of other pirate groups, where a single word holds power and decisions can be enforced by punishing department heads. The first Captain, Lei Hao, was originally the captain of the Chi You battleship of the Panhua Empire. When he could no longer survive in the Ross Empire, he recalled his old subordinates and turned to interstellar piracy. Everyone was originally from the Panhua Empire, comrades on the same battleship, colleagues. Now they were pirates together, and while Lei Hao had once been the captain, they weren''t his subordinates. They wouldn''t simply obey him as they had before.

    This early formation issue meant that Lei Hao never fully controlled the absolute power in the "Yinglong Pirate Group." After many rounds of negotiation, the "Yinglong Pirate Group" evolved into a power structure shared by 9 people. Major decisions within the group are made through votes by these 9 members.

    Zhang Lian was one of the 9 people with shared power. He was known for being high-handed and domineering, so sometimes he would overlook the Captain, Lei Hengbang, which caused the awkward incident where he bypassed the Captain to directly inquire with the Intelligence Bureau Chief, Li Zifeng.

    Lei Hengbang could only swallow his frustration. He knew that attempting to punish Zhang Lian would not receive support from the other 7. Since the formation of the 9-person leadership structure, the "Yinglong Pirate Group" had never punished any of the 9 leaders. Power within the group was passed down through generations within these 9 families.

    "Alright, Zhang Lian, just calm down for a while!" a burly man in a crisp red military uniform, standing straight, scolded Zhang Lian. He was Qi Mu, the Vice Captain of the "Yinglong Pirate Group" and the commander of its main military force, the Chi You Fleet.

    "Captain, I think Director Zhang''s suggestion has some merit. While we may not follow his exact plan, we could consider taking steps in that direction," said Han Li, the Director of the Dark Dragon Bureau, in a hoarse voice.

    The Dark Dragon Bureau is a subsidiary organization of the "Yinglong Pirate Group." It organizes Panhua descendants scattered across different countries who are dissatisfied with their current nations but are too afraid to openly rebel or join the "Yinglong Pirate Group." The "Yinglong Pirate Group" capitalizes on this by organizing these individuals locally into the "Dark Dragon Society." The Dark Dragon Society helps discontented Panhua descendants solve their everyday problems using unconventional means. If we had to give it an analogy, the Dark Dragon Society is like the mafia on Earth. Over the years, the Dark Dragon Society has spread across various nations in the universe, with its numbers too large to count. It is directly controlled by the Dark Dragon Bureau.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    Captain Lei Hengbang pondered for a moment and asked, "Director Han, are you referring to the dispute between the Fuluo Federation and the Kabas Empire?"

    Han Li pressed a red button in front of him. Instantly, a holographic map of the universe appeared above the rectangular conference table where the 9 were seated. The map was dazzling, glittering with light. Han Li quickly zoomed in on one bright spot in the map, which covered the entire area of the universe and transformed into a star system labeled "Pirate Nebula." Two other star systems were marked in red and blue, indicating the territories of the Kabas Empire and the Fuluo Federation. The size of the red and blue areas were roughly equal. Han Li clicked on the red and blue areas again, which quickly expanded into two separate star systems, marked as "Tyrannosaurus Star System" (red) and "Nedawa Star System" (blue). The "Pirate Nebula" appeared as an elliptical structure, with the Tyrannosaurus Star System and the Nedawa Star System positioned closely at the ends of the ellipse. Han Li continued to zoom in on another bright spot, which turned into a star system marked "Muhu Star System" in red.

    "Everyone, please look here. The red areas represent the Kabas Empire, and the blue represents the Fuluo Federation. These two countries are roughly equal in strength. They both border the Pirate Nebula, but the Kabas Empire has more contact with it. As you can see, the Kabas Empire''s Muhu Star System nearly covers one-fifth of the Pirate Nebula¡¯s elliptical surface. The Kabas Empire and the Fuluo Federation are currently facing off in the Tyrannosaurus and Nedawa star systems. According to reliable reports, the two sides have engaged in several small-scale space battles with victories on both sides. Both countries are facing serious political and economic issues," Han Li explained with confidence.

    "President Bayer of the Fuluo Federation is old and senile, incapable of managing state affairs. It''s rumored that he has been mentally unstable for a long time and that major decisions are made by Vice President Harris. The Emperor of the Kabas Empire, Louis XIII, is also very old and nearing the end of his life. His three sons are fighting fiercely for the throne. Economically, both countries are facing severe fiscal deficits, and unemployment is rising sharply. This is unavoidable; the entire universe is currently in an economic crisis," added Director of the Publicity Department, Lan Yiting.

    "Yes, Director Lan is well-informed, as always," Han Li casually complimented her before continuing, "The political power of both countries is about to be reshuffled, and neither side dares to back down in the conflict in the Tyrannosaurus and Nedawa star systems. If either side surrenders, they will risk losing power. Especially since the ordinary people in both countries are dissatisfied due to the economic downturn, their incomes have drastically decreased, creating a mass of resentment and conflict that needs an outlet. The side that surrenders will face the full brunt of that anger, which could completely destroy their leadership. The situation is tricky, and I personally suspect that there¡¯s a risk of direct warfare breaking out."

    "Are you suggesting that we stoke the fire and incite direct war between them?" Captain Lei Hengbang asked.

    "That''s generally the idea. But directly provoking their war is difficult; we don¡¯t have enough influence at the top levels of either country. My suggestion is to focus on the lower-level conflicts, inciting the common people in both nations to put pressure on their governments. If this doesn''t succeed, those discontented citizens could be brought into the ''Yinglong Pirate Group,'' or directly recruited into the Dark Dragon Society, expanding our influence," Han Li proposed.

    "Expand your own power, Han Li! Many of our Panhua descendants don''t want to join the ''Yinglong Pirate Group'' directly, let alone other ethnic groups. This will only lead most people to join your Dark Dragon Society," Zhang Lian interjected.

    Zhang Lian, the Director of the United Front Department, had some overlapping responsibilities with the Dark Dragon Bureau, which led him to try and interfere in their affairs. He had long coveted Han Li''s armed task forces within the Dark Dragon Society. These task force members were highly capable, and if equipped with warships, they could join space battles right away.

    "Zhang Lian, don¡¯t make up lies. I''m doing this for the good of the ''Yinglong Pirate Group,'' doing my job diligently. Unlike you, who have secret wives hidden away across different countries, addicted to luxury. If it weren¡¯t for this important meeting, I bet you wouldn¡¯t even have shown up at the headquarters!" Han Li mocked.

    "Enough! Both of you, be quiet!" Han Li shouted, stopping their argument.

    Zhang Lian had privately diverted donations from the "Panhua Descendants Union," and all 9 leaders of the "Yinglong Pirate Group" knew about it. However, due to a tradition of one or two hundred thousand years, they couldn''t take action against him. If they did, it would mean the end of the 9-person leadership structure, and such a power shift could easily lead to internal conflict within the group

 Chapter 31: The Republic of Alemann

    The other eight leaders of the Yinglong Pirate Group turned to Qi Mu, waiting for him to explain.

    Lei Hengbang¡¯s question was shared by everyone else.

    Qi Mu controlled the only force in the Yinglong Pirate Group capable of challenging the regular fleets of other nations. His position was second only to Lei Hengbang¡¯s. He was known for his integrity and generosity. He always prioritized the group¡¯s interests. He rarely used his power for personal gain. In the past, whenever someone suggested expanding the Chiyou Fleet, Qi Mu would respond: ¡°The Yinglong Pirate Group doesn¡¯t have much wealth. The Panhua tribe¡¯s descendants face difficult lives across the universe. We¡¯ve just started accumulating some wealth, so we should save it for other purposes. Also, the balance of power in the Pirate Nebula is stable, and the Chiyou Fleet is enough to handle any emergencies. Plus, maintaining warships is expensive, and there¡¯s no need to waste money on ships that won¡¯t be useful.¡±

    Now, however, he suddenly wanted to expand the Chiyou Fleet. This surprised everyone and raised questions.

    ¡°Look for yourselves,¡± Qi Mu said. He didn¡¯t answer directly. He pressed a black button, and a white light projected a message: "To the Yinglong Pirate Group Chiyou Fleet Command: The nations around the Pirate Nebula are in constant conflict, with the possibility of war. This may affect our group¡¯s safety. The Teuton Pirate Group has decided to increase the number of main ships in the ¡®Temple Fleet¡¯ to 30,000. This message is to inform you as agreed."

    The Pirate Nebula was located in the Yumen Star system, part of the Panhua Empire, the third-largest empire in the universe. It was an important area, near a busy part of space. The Pirate Nebula bordered many nations and was a key stop for space travel. Many civilian and commercial ships used it as a refueling point. Although intelligent beings could travel faster than light, it consumed a lot of energy. Most civilian ships could only make jumps of around 500,000 light years. The Pirate Nebula¡¯s diameter was 520,000 light years. So, many ships had to jump inside the Pirate Nebula. At first, people feared pirate attacks and quickly made a second jump to escape. Some ships ran out of energy and got lost in hyperspace.

    Over time, these incidents became common. They caught the attention of nearby nations, who began considering joint action to destroy the pirates. After evaluating the situation, they realized that defeating the pirates would be easy. However, the Pirate Nebula had been destroyed during the First Cosmic War. All the life and resource planets were wiped out. Once they defeated the pirates, what would they do with the region? From a national perspective, it was a useless wasteland. No nation wanted to send fleets to maintain order. Without a fleet, pirates would soon take control again. At this point, the pirates offered the "Win-Win Agreement" to space explorers. The nations decided to let private organizations negotiate with the pirates and adjust the terms of the agreement. Afterward, civilian and commercial ships passing through the Pirate Nebula would pay a fee to avoid being robbed, similar to paying protection money.

    The arrangement worked well. The pirates agreed because they feared retaliation from the governments. The first time they robbed space explorers, the surrounding nations nearly wiped them out, and the pirates didn¡¯t want that to happen again.

    Over time, the Pirate Nebula became a strange place. Pirates no longer robbed ships within it. Instead, they collected protection money and taxes from space explorers. When they wanted to rob, they went to other star systems. The Pirate Nebula eventually became the headquarters of various pirate groups.

    This unusual situation soon attracted the interest of several nations. The universe has always had both light and darkness. These nations realized they could use the pirates for secret operations. The Pirate Nebula¡¯s location was crucial. A behind-the-scenes negotiation began, and the main pirate groups found their backers. The Teuton Pirate Group¡¯s backer was the Alemann Republic, the third-largest economy in the universe.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    "Humph! This must be the work of Adolf John, the new prime minister of the Alemann Republic," Lei Hengbang said angrily.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Captain,¡± said Shi Mo, the Minister of History. He adjusted his glasses. ¡°The Alemann Republic¡¯s predecessor, the Alemann Empire, betrayed our Panhua Empire during the First Cosmic War. They worked with other nations behind our backs. This is their tradition¡ªto abandon any ally for their own benefit.¡±

    The History Department was responsible for preserving the culture of the Panhua Empire. It collected information about the old empire¡¯s customs, art, stories, and laws. These materials were printed as books for the descendants of the Panhua tribe in the Yinglong Pirate Group to study. This helped increase their pride and unity. The rest of the universe had erased all records of the Panhua Empire. Any non-approved information was deleted from the universal network.

    ¡°Hey, what¡¯s going on with Old He?¡± asked He Tiezhou, the Director of Public Security. ¡°I never read the books your department publishes. It¡¯s easier to use the internet.¡±

    "You..." Shi Mo¡¯s face immediately showed his displeasure. He was a strong believer in ancient Panhua culture. Hearing one of the leaders admit he didn¡¯t read the books his department produced upset him. He felt frustrated. Only Lei Hengbang and Qi Mu seemed to care about the books. The others likely never read them. He Tiezhou, however, was blunt and asked questions. The others kept their thoughts hidden. The universal network was far more convenient than the books produced by the History Department.

    Shi Mo sighed. He thought to himself, "Is our great Panhua Empire really going to disappear? If our descendants don¡¯t care about their history and culture, how can we hope to revive it?"

    ¡°Old Shi, just explain,¡± Lei Hengbang said. "Consider it a history lesson for us."

    ¡°Alright,¡± Shi Mo agreed and began explaining.

    The First Cosmic War started when a count from the Alemann Empire, inspecting the newly annexed Sara Star, was killed by a Rasfu nationalist. This event sparked the war.

    After the assassination, the Alemann Empire declared war on the Yaviel National Republic.

    The reason was that the main ethnic group in the Sara Star and the neighboring Segwei Star systems were the Rasfu people. They had been trying to break away from the Alemann Empire and join the Yaviel National Republic to form their own nation.

    The Alemann Empire used the "Sara Star assassination" as an excuse to attack the Yaviel National Republic. This would prevent the Rasfu people from seeking independence and allow the Alemann Empire to expand its territory. The region also had valuable resources, particularly the "Xi" minerals, which were used to power military weapons.

    The "Xi" minerals contained high-energy crystals, essential for weapons like magnetic rifles, lasers, and particle guns.

    The Alemann Empire was a rising power. Its main people, the Mansur, were known for their disciplined, methodical work. They perfected industrial products that other civilizations had stopped improving, making their goods highly sought after. As a result, Alemann¡¯s economy grew rapidly and surpassed the older powers, Saxon Kingdom and Faklu Republic, in just a few thousand years.

    However, Alemann faced resistance from the older powers. The Saxon Kingdom and Faklu Republic were pioneers in space exploration. They were the first to discover the space energy formula, allowing them to become a Level 5 civilization. With this advantage, they expanded by colonizing many Level 4 civilizations, growing wealthy and powerful for millions of years. However, as technology stagnated, many Level 4 civilizations began upgrading to Level 5. They resented Saxon and Faklu for their colonial rule.

    Seeing this shift, Saxon and Faklu changed their strategy. They formed economic alliances with other nations, buying off elites and upper classes.

    One new Level 5 civilization, the Byute United States, rose to prominence by focusing solely on business and avoiding any political ambitions. This allowed them to attract money and talent, making them the wealthiest nation in the universe.

    Alemann, however, was located in the most prosperous part of space. It constantly expanded, seeking dominance. Once it reached Level 5, its ambitions to conquer the universe grew.

 Chapter 32: The Mysterious Ancient Panhua Empire

    When the Alemann Empire''s economy became the second largest in the universe, a much older nation began to rise. This was the Panhua Empire. It followed a unique path of development.

    The exact details of its uniqueness are unclear. Most of the historical records were destroyed during the First Cosmic War. The History Bureau of the Yinglong Pirate Group only holds fragmented information. At the final stage of the war, all nations attacked the Panhua Empire. They destroyed its historical documents. The History Bureau could only reconstruct some facts based on survivors'' memories. After the older generations of the Panhua people passed away, their history faded into the past.

    It is said that when the Saxon Kingdom and the Faklu Republic first sent faster-than-light ships to explore the universe, they encountered the ancient Panhua Empire. At the time, the Empire was still a pre-first-level civilization. It had no steam engines or advanced technology. The explorers had no interest in making contact. They viewed civilizations below level four as unimportant. However, as they explored the Yanhuang system, they found that the Panhua Empire had settlements on all 2,592 life-bearing planets. This discovery was shocking. According to cosmic rules, only level-four or higher civilizations could fully explore a star system. The Panhua Empire, a pre-first-level civilization, should not have been capable of this. In response, the Saxon Kingdom and Faklu Republic sent interstellar paratroopers to investigate.

    After landing, they encountered another strange phenomenon. The capital planet, Gui Xu, had a population of 3.6 billion people. The other planets had populations ranging from one or two people to a few hundred. On Gui Xu, the resistance was weak. A 100,000-strong brigade of paratroopers easily defeated the defenders. They quickly took control of the planet. However, on other planets, the situation was different. Some planets had only one or two people. It took a whole regiment of paratroopers to overcome them. Despite their powered armor and magnetic rifles, the paratroopers struggled against these strange people. The paratroopers initially tried to capture them for study. However, they soon realized this was impossible. These people looked down on the two powerful level-five civilizations. They preferred death to surrender. In the end, the Saxon Kingdom and Faklu Republic lost one billion paratroopers. Even 50,000 cosmic soldiers could not eliminate them. Frustrated, the Saxon Kingdom and Faklu Republic used their powerful level-seven cruisers to destroy the strange people.

    Afterward, the explorers examined the planets where the strange people had lived. They found only simple everyday items similar to those used by ordinary Panhua citizens. There were no extraordinary discoveries.

    Ultimately, the Saxon Kingdom and Faklu Republic found only 3.6 billion Panhua people. They conducted thorough investigations but found no trace of the strange people. However, their customs closely resembled those of the ancient Panhua Empire. The mystery of the strange people remained unsolved.

    The Saxon Kingdom and Faklu Republic, intrigued by the Yanhuang system, could not abandon it. They made a deal. They would abandon colonizing the system but would station troops there. They hoped to uncover the secret of the strange people.

    There were countless other star systems to explore. The Panhua Empire, fortunate to escape colonization, began developing rapidly. After 100,000 years, it discovered a new energy equation. This discovery allowed it to advance to a level-five civilization. The Panhua Empire quickly took control of the entire Yanhuang system. During this time, the Saxon Kingdom and Faklu Republic found no new strange people. Eventually, they gave up their search. With more colonies to manage, they decided to leave the Yanhuang system to the Panhua Empire.

    Over time, the Panhua Empire grew into a powerful cosmic empire. It controlled a complete star system. The Yanhuang system, with a diameter of 630,000 light-years, contained 2,592 life-bearing planets and 7,200 resource planets.

    Hundreds of thousands of years later, more civilizations reached level five. The colonial systems established by the Saxon Kingdom and the Faklu Republic began to collapse. The Panhua Empire expanded and began to take over neighboring star regions. By the time the Saxon Kingdom and Faklu Republic established new economic alliances, the Panhua Empire had become the seventh-largest economic power in the universe, controlling 72 star systems. Despite facing pressure from the Saxon Kingdom and the Frank Empire, the Panhua Empire remained strong. The distance between these powers limited their ability to suppress the Empire.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    By the time the First Cosmic War began, the Panhua Empire¡¯s economy had risen to the third-largest in the universe, just behind the Alemann Empire.

    The rise of these two emerging powers angered the Saxon Kingdom and the Faklu Republic. They formed the United Life Alliance. This was an organization designed to unite smaller nations against Alemann and Panhua.

    The two new powers were excluded from the United Life Alliance. In response, they formed the Cosmic Mutual Aid Alliance. This alliance attracted smaller nations to resist the United Life Alliance.

    When the Alemann Empire invaded the Awei¡¯er National Republic, the United Life Alliance condemned the attack. They accused Alemann of violating their principles and demanded an immediate end to the invasion.

    In response, Alemann¡¯s Ministry of Foreign Affairs defended its actions. They claimed that the Awei¡¯er National Republic had supported terrorism and refused to hand over the assassin of Count Ross. Alemann insisted that their actions were meant to capture the criminals.

    At the same time, the Cosmic Mutual Aid Alliance called for calm. They acknowledged that Alemann¡¯s actions were extreme but argued they were justified. Terrorism, they said, was a threat to all nations.

    Alemann¡¯s fleet of 500,000 warships broke through the Awei¡¯er National Republic¡¯s defenses and advanced toward the capital, Berglai Star.

    This attack angered the Ross Empire. The Ross Empire had long viewed Awei¡¯er as a potential target for expansion.

    The Ross Empire issued a public warning. They claimed that the Rasfu people of Awei¡¯er and the Ross people shared a common ancestry. They demanded that Alemann withdraw its forces or face war.

    The Ross Empire, ranked seventh in the universe, was the largest nation and had a history of conflicts with Alemann. However, neither side had ever completely defeated the other.

    Alemann ignored Ross¡¯s warning and continued its attack.

    The Awei¡¯er National Republic was not very strong. Though it had a fleet of over 400,000 ships, it was no match for Alemann. After a week of fighting, most of Awei¡¯er¡¯s fleet was destroyed. Ross¡¯s 700,000-ship fleet finally reached the battlefield.

    Alemann, however, did not engage Ross directly. They withdrew their remaining 350,000 ships to the Segway system.

    Ross did not pursue Alemann¡¯s fleet. Instead, they turned back to pressure the Awei¡¯er National Republic into surrendering. Angered, Awei¡¯er assembled 600,000 ships to confront Ross.

    Meanwhile, Alemann moved swiftly. Without warning, they launched a major attack on the Faklu Republic with a fleet of 2 million warships.

    This marked the official beginning of the First Cosmic War.

    Although the Ross Empire was a member of the United Life Alliance, it declared war on Alemann when Alemann attacked Faklu. However, Ross had its own agenda. When Alemann attacked Faklu, Ross believed Alemann would not have enough strength to deal with both Awei¡¯er and Faklu simultaneously. Seeing this, Ross decided to press Awei¡¯er into joining the Ross Empire, threatening to destroy their fleet if they refused.

    Greedy and unscrupulous, Ross ignored Faklu¡¯s repeated requests for help and began attacking Awei¡¯er¡¯s scattered fleets.

    Alemann saw an opportunity. They deployed 3 million warships to attack Ross.

    Ross, believing Alemann would not dare fight on two fronts, weakened its defenses. Within two days, Ross lost five rich star systems.

    Ross now faced a difficult decision: continue destroying Awei¡¯er or pull back to defend its core systems.

    Alemann seized the moment to negotiate with the Rasfu people within their empire. They offered to merge the Swaya and Segway systems with Awei¡¯er after the war if Rasfu supported Alemann during the conflict.

    Rasfu rebels inside Alemann reached out to Awei¡¯er, warning them of Alemann¡¯s proposal. Awei¡¯er was unsure of Alemann¡¯s sincerity but felt forced to make a choice. After careful consideration, they decided that Alemann was the more trustworthy power. They saw Ross as greedy and dishonest.

    After securing Awei¡¯er¡¯s support, Alemann¡¯s 350,000 ships in the Segway system joined forces with Awei¡¯er to confront Ross.

    Ross¡¯s fleet, poorly constructed and inferior to Alemann¡¯s, was quickly defeated. The combined Alemann-Awei¡¯er forces destroyed 600,000 of Ross¡¯s ships, with only 100,000 escaping.

    During the first two weeks of the war, Alemann gained a decisive advantage. They captured five of Ross¡¯s key star systems, four from Faklu, and nine more from smaller nations in the United Life Alliance. In total, Alemann deployed 6.3 million warships.

    This marked the true beginning of the First Cosmic War.

 Chapter 33: The War for Resources

    On the same day that the Aleman Empire attacked the Faklu Republic, the Panhua Empire, ranked second in the Galactic Mutual Assistance Alliance, declared war on all the nations of the Galactic Coalition of Intelligent Life.

    The Panhua Empire sent 2 million warships to attack the nearby Samma Family Alliance. This alliance was made up of three powerful families. The country had a mix of semi-slavery and feudalism and controlled two star systems. The attack went well at first until the Fusan Empire sent 800,000 warships to secretly attack the Panhua Empire¡¯s ¡°Blackwater Corridor¡± and help the Samma Family Alliance.

    The "Blackwater Corridor" was a narrow passage in space. It connected the Panhua Empire and the Samma Family Alliance. It had two openings, each 1 light-year wide. The corridor itself was only 0.2 light-years wide at its narrowest. This was because the Black Ming Star System, where the corridor was located, was a binary-core galaxy.

    Most galaxies have only one core. Black Ming was different. It had two supermassive black holes. These black holes devoured stars and emitted powerful gamma-ray bursts. The gamma-ray bursts could kill all life within 300,000 light-years. No life existed in Black Ming. No nation could station troops there. The gamma-ray bursts could easily destroy shields on warships weaker than X-class battleships.

    The Black Ming system was the only connection between the Panhua Empire and the Samma Family Alliance. Normally, both empires stationed troops at the openings of the Blackwater Corridor to prevent an invasion. The Samma Family Alliance used this strategy to resist the Panhua Empire.

    The Panhua Empire lost 1.2 million warships trying to break through the corridor.

    The remaining 800,000 warships were not enough to fight the 800,000 warships of the Fusan Empire and 650,000 warships of the Samma Family Alliance. The Panhua fleet was forced to retreat. By the time they returned to the Blackwater Corridor, only 400,000 warships remained.

    The first attack failed. It caused heavy losses.

    The people in the Panhua Empire were angry. They demanded a counterattack against the Fusan Empire for its surprise attack.

    The Fusan Empire had once been a vassal of the Panhua Empire. When the Saxon Kingdom and the Faklu Republic formed the Galactic Coalition of Intelligent Life, the Fusan Empire secretly aligned with them. By the time the Fusan Empire joined the Coalition, the Panhua Empire could not stop them. The Panhua Empire was too weak to challenge the Coalition.

    After joining the Coalition, the Fusan Empire received strong support. Its economy grew rapidly. By the time the first Galactic War began, the Fusan Empire was ranked sixth in the universe, behind only the Saxon Kingdom and the Faklu Republic.

    The Galactic Coalition supported the Fusan Empire to weaken the Panhua Empire. The Fusan Empire was much closer to the Panhua Empire than the Saxon Kingdom or the Faklu Republic.

    Even though the Fusan Empire¡¯s strength had grown, it still showed respect for the Panhua Empire, its former suzerain. The two nations were on opposite sides, but their diplomatic relations were peaceful. There was no direct conflict between them.

    The surprise attack on the Samma Family Alliance put the Panhua leadership in a difficult position. The people wanted to attack the Fusan Empire, but the leadership did not want to do that.

    The Panhua Empire had a large population and many resources. However, it lacked three important strategic resources: ¡°Xi,¡± ¡°Fluorite,¡± and ¡°Padra Crystals.¡± These resources were essential for military power. ¡°Xi¡± provided energy for weapons. ¡°Fluorite¡± generated anti-gravity fields, which were necessary for spaceships and buildings. ¡°Padra Crystals¡± were the fuel for faster-than-light engines. Without them, civilizations could not travel faster than light.Stolen novel; please report.

    When intelligent beings first discovered the nuclear equation E=MC2, they mistakenly thought that any mass could be turned into energy. Later, they learned that only certain reactions could release energy.

    Nuclear energy can be released in two ways: fission and fusion. Fission happens when heavy atoms like uranium split into lighter ones, releasing energy. Fusion occurs when lighter atoms, like deuterium, combine into heavier ones, like helium, also releasing energy. Whether energy is released depends on whether the total mass of the products increases or decreases. If the mass increases, energy is absorbed. Not all materials can be used for energy production. Only a few materials, like uranium-235, plutonium-239, deuterium, and tritium, are useful for energy.

    The Panhua Empire faced a serious problem. It controlled a vast amount of space but lacked the three key resources. The Panhua Empire joined the Galactic Mutual Assistance Alliance to gain access to resource-rich star systems. The empire did not need new markets because its population and industry could handle its needs.

    The Fusan Empire also lacked these resources but had a strong military. The Panhua Empire did not want to waste its forces fighting the Fusan Empire. It decided to conquer other star systems that had the resources it needed.

    The Panhua Empire sent 1 million warships to reinforce the Blackwater Corridor and 1.5 million warships to make it look like it was preparing to attack the Fusan Empire. But unexpectedly, the Panhua Empire sent a 5-million-ship fleet to attack the Yarama Federation, the only vassal of the Beiyute United States. In just two weeks, the Panhua Empire captured 17 star systems from the Yarama Federation.

    The emperor of Aleman was unhappy when he learned of this. As the leader of the Galactic Mutual Assistance Alliance, Aleman had to declare war on the Beiyute United States and asked the Panhua Empire to help attack the Ross Empire.

    The Panhua Empire had no choice. It needed resources and had to take them. The Yarama Federation was an easy target for three reasons: it was weak and could not build faster-than-light engines, it had rich deposits of ¡°Xi¡± and ¡°Padra Crystals,¡± and it was far from the Beiyute United States, making it difficult for them to provide assistance.

    Although attacking the Yarama Federation would anger the Beiyute United States, the Panhua Empire¡¯s economy was strong. With the resources it gained, the Panhua Empire was not afraid of the Beiyute United States.

    The Beiyute United States was unique. It prioritized commercial interests above all. Its economy was powerful, but it only had 1 million warships. No one dared to attack it because of its economic strength and its close relationships with the Saxon Kingdom and the Faklu Republic.

    The Panhua Empire believed that after conquering the Yarama Federation, it could use the resources to challenge the Beiyute United States. The 5-million-ship fleet was meant to prepare for a possible counterattack. The Panhua Empire calculated that the Beiyute United States would need three years to gather enough ships for a full-scale fight. During this time, the Panhua Empire could rebuild its fleet of 20 million warships.

    The universe watched as the Panhua Empire easily conquered a resource-rich weak nation. This sparked the ambitions of other nations. Both the Galactic Coalition and the Galactic Mutual Assistance Alliance saw internal conflicts. Smaller, resource-rich nations were taken over by stronger powers. The Samma Family Alliance was destroyed by the Fusan Empire.

    The leading nations of both alliances were too busy to intervene in these smaller matters. As long as nations did not betray their alliances, they turned a blind eye. In the galaxy, the strongest powers had the right to do as they pleased.

    After capturing 17 star systems from the Yarama Federation, the Panhua Empire sent 3 million warships to the Ross Empire as part of its agreement with Aleman. After fierce fighting, the Panhua Empire lost 1 million warships, and the Ross Empire lost 1.1 million warships. The Ross Empire had to reduce its defenses. The Panhua Empire captured 11 star systems from the Ross Empire. These systems were barren, with few life-bearing planets, but they contained valuable Fluorite mines.

    The Fusan Empire was the only other powerful nation near the Panhua Empire. Other nations were too weak to provide the resources the Panhua Empire needed, so it did not send forces to conquer them.

    After the initial chaos, the war settled into a stalemate.

    The Ross Empire rebuilt a fleet of 21 million warships. Twelve million were sent to fight Aleman, and 7 million were used to defend against the Panhua Empire. Despite the large size of the fleet, the Ross Empire¡¯s elite forces had suffered heavy losses in the first wave of attacks, so the new fleet focused on defense.

    Aleman also mobilized 25 million warships. Eight million were stationed at the Ross Empire, and 11 million were sent to fight in the Vanerthom Star System of the Faklu Republic. Neither side was able to destroy the other.

    The Panhua Empire built a fleet of 27 million warships. Five million were sent to attack the Ross Empire, 4 million were used to defend against the Fusan Empire, and 15 million were dispatched to confront the Beiyute United States.

 Chapter 34: The Sudden Collapse of the Panhua Empire

    In this universe, intelligent life forms, including humans, have long lifespans. Some can live up to 10,000 years.

    Five years after the war started, Emperor Soren VIII of the Aleman Empire became the focus of attention. His age was widely discussed. Public records showed he had surpassed 10,000 years. For most people, this was good news, suggesting that humans could live longer. However, for one side of the war, it was a big concern.

    The Aleman Empire was the leader of the Galactic Mutual Assistance Alliance. If its emperor died suddenly, it would cause major problems for the alliance. The empire had a crown prince, but a sudden change in leadership during a war could affect the situation.

    To fight the media pressure from the Galactic Coalition of Intelligent Life, Emperor Soren VIII held a fighter aircraft display. He wanted to show that he was healthy and still able to lead.

    After this, Aleman¡¯s military actions in space slowed down. Some people guessed that the emperor¡¯s health was not good.

    Meanwhile, the Panhua Empire was in a fierce war against the Fusan Empire and the Beiyute United States.

    Most of Aleman¡¯s military forces were in the Fannesom Star System. This left them unable to help the Panhua Empire. Over five years, Fannesom became a battlefield, taking many ships and lives from both sides. Aleman lost 13 million warships and 500 billion people. The Saxon Kingdom and the Faklu Republic lost 17 million warships and 60 million people. Both sides were tired and could not attack on a large scale anymore.

    Five years ago, the Panhua Empire took over the Beiyute Empire¡¯s colonies. The Beiyute Empire faced internal chaos. After arguing, they joined the Galactic Coalition of Intelligent Life. This made the Coalition much stronger.

    Aleman¡¯s advanced technology gave it an edge in warship quality and performance. Aleman also shared its technology with the Panhua Empire, helping the Galactic Mutual Assistance Alliance stay on equal footing with the Galactic Coalition of Intelligent Life.

    Over the past five years, the Beiyute Empire sent many small fleets to attack the Panhua Empire. These were mainly to wear out the enemy. Recently, the Beiyute United States and the Fusan Empire formed a large fleet, ready to defeat the Panhua Empire.

    When the 50 million-ship fleet arrived, the Panhua Empire realized it had underestimated the Beiyute United States.

    At first, the Panhua Empire thought the Beiyute United States were just greedy merchants and cowards. They didn¡¯t believe they would fight a hard battle. But now, the Beiyute fleet had 50 million ships. After losing 2.1 million ships, they kept attacking. The Panhua fleet, which had 30 million ships, was reduced to just 12 million.

    In response, the Panhua Empire called up all its remaining fleets to fight.

    At this moment, the Fusan Empire sent 6 million more ships. The joint fleet now had 36 million ships, while the Panhua Empire had only 12 million.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    The battle began again, and the difference in numbers was clear. Panhua¡¯s fleet started to lose quickly: 11.5 million, 11 million, 10.5 million. When their fleet had only 10 million ships, panic set in. Many commanders and soldiers gave up, knowing they were outmatched. Space battles were harsh. When a ship was destroyed, everyone on board died. Soldiers began to lose hope and did not want to die for nothing. The fleet commander also lost control of the situation.

    By the time Panhua had only 6 million ships left, the joint fleet still had 33 million ships. The Panhua Empire¡¯s defense collapsed.

    It seemed clear that the Panhua Empire would lose.

    But the outcome was surprising. The Panhua Empire withdrew 3 million ships, while the joint fleet of Fusan and Beiyute withdrew only 1.2 million.

    Three months later, envoys from the Beiyute United States visited the Saxon Kingdom.

    Soon after, the Saxon Kingdom and the Faklu Republic sent a joint delegation to the Aleman Empire for a private meeting. They did not share any details with the media.

    The next day, Aleman, as the leader of the Galactic Mutual Assistance Alliance, announced that the Panhua Empire was no longer part of the alliance. The reason given was that the Panhua Empire had made a deal with devils. This was a strange explanation. The Galactic Coalition of Intelligent Life had long been able to travel faster than light and had never found any gods or devils. However, Aleman did not give any further explanation.

    On the same day, Aleman announced that the Galactic Mutual Assistance Alliance and the Galactic Coalition of Intelligent Life would stop fighting and join forces to attack the ¡°evil¡± Panhua Empire.

    This announcement shocked the galaxy. Smaller nations, which had once been friendly with Panhua, quickly changed their alliances. As the whole galaxy turned against Panhua, nearby nations also began to join in, hoping to claim some of its resources.

    Six months later, a fleet of over 500 million ships attacked the 72 star systems of the Panhua Empire. The Panhua Empire was pushed back, but their emperor refused to surrender.

    In the end, the Galactic Coalition of Intelligent Life and the Galactic Mutual Assistance Alliance issued a joint message. Only the top ten galactic powers could attack the Yanhuang star system, the heart of the Panhua Empire. Smaller nations were not allowed to attack, as they did not want to face Panhua¡¯s elite fleets. The remaining 71 star systems were enough for them.

    A massive joint fleet of 230 million ships from the nine most powerful galactic nations headed for Yanhuang.

    What happened next is still unknown. After the battle, the Yanhuang system was untouched. However, the capital planet of the Panhua Empire, Guixu, disappeared completely. The star system around Guixu became a deadly graveyard, filled with the wreckage of 250 million warships¡ª220 million from the nine galactic powers and 30 million from the Panhua Empire.

    The site of the wreckage became one of the most dangerous places in the galaxy, full of violent energy storms that could destroy anything nearby.

    The nine galactic powers, now with only 10 million ships left, pursued the last of the Panhua resistance, which had gathered in the Yunmeng Star System. They seemed to be searching for something. Although they lost many of their main ships, the nine powers showed no mercy. They used extreme methods to wipe out resource and life planets, erasing all resistance.

    The remaining Panhua forces split into two groups: the ¡°hardliners,¡± mostly made up of those who had escaped from Yanhuang, and the ¡°moderates,¡± who came from the outer star systems of the Panhua Empire.

    The moderates could not understand why the emperor refused to surrender when the entire galaxy attacked. They were angry with him. The hardliners, however, seemed to have a mission and refused to share the secrets they knew.

    One by one, the nine galactic powers destroyed the resource and life planets in the Yunmeng system, crushing the moderates¡¯ last resistance. Eventually, the moderates gave up.

    Once the moderates surrendered, the Panhua Empire collapsed. The hardliners could not resist any longer.

 Chapter 35: The Death of Zhang Lian

    He Tiezhou, the head of the Public Security Bureau of the Yinglong Pirate Group, cursed. ¡°We, the Panhua Empire, were really this powerful!¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± Shi Mo answered. ¡°All this information was collected by our History Bureau over hundreds of thousands of years. Our ancestors, the Panhua Empire, were once one of the strongest in the universe.¡±

    ¡°But why did the Alerman Empire suddenly betray us? How did the Panhua Empire destroy 220 million warships from nine cosmic powers with only 30 million ships? How did we defeat the joint fleet of the Fusang Empire and the Biote Federation, which had 36 million ships, with only 6 million of ours?¡± He Tiezhou raised his concerns. ¡°Why didn¡¯t we surrender when the whole universe attacked the Panhua Empire?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know the answers either,¡± Shi Mo sighed. He shrugged, helpless.

    ¡°Captain, your ancestor, Lei Hao, was once a battleship captain in the Panhua Empire. He must know something!¡± Vice-Captain Qi Mu suggested eagerly.

    ¡°Old Qi, my ancestor¡¯s command area was the Yunmeng galaxy, now the Pirate Nebula. He didn¡¯t take part in those two wars. The secret of the Panhua Empire¡¯s rise in power was highly classified. Very few people knew about it. The old captain didn¡¯t even have access to that information,¡± Lei Hengbang explained.

    ¡°I say, we shouldn¡¯t keep thinking about our ancestors. They were great, but they were still destroyed. Let¡¯s focus on the real issue,¡± Zhang Lian interrupted impatiently. ¡°Should we increase the Chiyou fleet¡¯s main ships to 20,000?¡±

    Lei Hengbang knocked the table, silencing the room. ¡°Old Zhang, history matters. It may not help us directly, but it is the foundation of the Panhua people. It¡¯s what allowed the Yinglong Pirate Group to unite Panhua descendants across the universe. If we forget our history, we risk becoming just another gang of raiders. That¡¯s not what we want.¡±

    Everyone listened quietly.

    ¡°The old captain fled the Rose Empire because of the persecution of our people. That¡¯s why the Yinglong Pirate Group was formed. Our goal has always been to free all oppressed Panhua descendants in the universe and rebuild the Panhua Empire¡­¡± Lei Hengbang said, his voice serious.

    At the same time, Intelligence Director Li Zifeng, who had been quietly listening, couldn¡¯t help but scoff. With all the secrets of the Yinglong Pirate Group¡¯s factions in his hands, he knew when speeches like these were just empty rhetoric.

    ¡°Let¡¯s get back to Vice-Captain Qi¡¯s suggestion about expanding the fleet,¡± Lei Hengbang finally returned to the main topic.

    ¡°I agree with expanding the Chiyou fleet¡¯s main ships,¡± said Lan Yiting, the only woman among the nine leaders. She hesitated but decided to keep her thoughts brief.

    Qi Mu noticed Lan Yiting¡¯s expression and said, ¡°Director Lan, if you have something to add, please do. We, the nine leaders, are the decision-makers of the Yinglong Pirate Group. No need to hold back.¡±

    Lan Yiting replied, ¡°Our propaganda bureau has been following the political situation in various nations. The new prime minister of the Alerman Republic, Adolf John, has become a key figure. He¡¯s unhappy with the punishment the Cosmic Intelligence Life Coalition imposed on the Alerman Republic after the First Cosmic War. During his election campaign, he openly declared he would reclaim the star systems the Alerman Empire lost. His National Revival Party also has a paramilitary group, the ''Revival Special Forces.'' Recently, many Biote Federation corporations visited the Alerman Republic to congratulate him. If we consider the recent increase in the size of the Teuton Pirate Group¡¯s fleet, which is supported by the Alerman Republic, we must suspect it¡¯s connected to Adolf John¡¯s rise to power. The Pirate Nebula is now at the center of attention, with the Kabas Empire and the Fulro Federation in fierce conflict. Could this mean the Alerman Empire is preparing to stir up trouble?¡±The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    Han Li, who had been listening closely, glanced at Lan Yiting. He hadn¡¯t realized that she was so sharp in her observations. His Dark Dragon Bureau had focused on the Kabas Empire¡¯s Muhua star system, thinking that a war between the Kabas Empire and the Fulro Federation was imminent. He hadn¡¯t thought of the bigger picture.

    ¡°I¡¯ll have to stay in touch with Lan Yiting in the future,¡± Han Li thought.

    ¡°Do you think the Alerman Republic will start a new cosmic war?¡± Lei Hengbang asked eagerly.

    ¡°Captain, I don¡¯t think so¡ªat least not yet. Prime Minister Adolf John has only just taken office. His position is still unstable. The Alerman Republic is also limited by the Donli Agreement, which restricts its military size to one million warships. That¡¯s not enough to start a war,¡± Lan Yiting answered calmly.

    Among the nine leaders of the Yinglong Pirate Group, everyone knew that Lei Hengbang¡¯s family had long hoped to build a new Panhua Empire. They had hoped for a cosmic war to break out, so the Yinglong Pirate Group could expand. However, not all of the leaders agreed with this plan. Some feared it would take away their control.

    Lei Hengbang¡¯s face darkened. After a brief moment of thought, he said, ¡°How about this? Based on Director Lan¡¯s analysis, we¡¯ve overlooked the rise of the Alerman Republic. To seize future opportunities, the Yinglong Pirate Group must strengthen its forces. I propose increasing the Chiyou fleet¡¯s main ships to 25,000.¡±

    Zhang Lian¡¯s face turned red with anger. He knew that such an increase would drain the finances of his United Panhua Descendant League. ¡°The Yinglong Pirate Group doesn¡¯t have the financial resources for that kind of expansion! I oppose this proposal!¡± he shouted.

    Lei Hengbang¡¯s face grew even darker. He tried to stay calm. ¡°What do you think is a reasonable number?¡±

    The others stayed silent, watching the tension between the two.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go with Vice-Captain Qi¡¯s suggestion: expand the main ships to 20,000,¡± Zhang Lian said firmly.

    ¡°No, that¡¯s not enough,¡± Lei Hengbang rejected quickly.

    The room became tense. The silence was thick as both men grew increasingly frustrated.

    ¡°Hehe, we¡¯ve been friends for many years. Let¡¯s not ruin our relationships,¡± Lan Yiting said, trying to ease the tension.

    ¡°How about we settle on 23,000?¡± Han Li suggested. ¡°This would close the gap with the Teuton Pirate Group, which is growing fast. It¡¯s necessary to keep our position and prepare for any unexpected events.¡±

    ¡°I agree,¡± Lan Yiting quickly confirmed.

    ¡°I also agree,¡± said Tian Heng, the judicial director, who had only spoken for the first time.

    The others nodded in agreement, and the compromise was accepted.

    Lei Hengbang, though still unhappy, reluctantly agreed.

    Zhang Lian was frustrated. He knew it was pointless to continue resisting. With the other eight leaders in agreement, he had no choice but to give in. He was tired of the Yinglong Pirate Group.

    The leaders continued discussing the war between the Kabas Empire and the Fulro Federation, as well as plans to recruit new members into the Yinglong Pirate Group and Dark Dragon Society. They eventually agreed to increase the Chiyou fleet¡¯s main ships to 23,000.

    After the meeting ended, Zhang Lian stormed off to his private spacecraft. He left the Yinglong Pirate Group and headed back to his base in York, a prosperous commercial planet in the Biote Empire.

 Chapter 36: The 7th Platoon Becomes First

    In the "Sin" training program, a two-headed snake appeared. Its body was long and thick. It moved towards Jackson.

    One head was beautiful, the other was ugly. They were connected at the end of a slippery body. From far away, they looked like two people hugging.

    Jackson first saw the snake and shouted, "I found two comrades! It¡¯s so lonely here alone!" Then he said, "You two big guys, why are you hugging? That¡¯s embarrassing!" He tried to pull them apart.

    When Jackson touched the sticky skin, the snake¡¯s sharp teeth suddenly attacked. The two heads hissed loudly and tried to swallow him.

    Jackson was scared. He stumbled and rolled on the ground to avoid the attack. His chest was heaving, and he almost wet his pants. Jackson ran, cursing the program creators for choosing creatures that scared him.

    After that, Jackson faced the two-headed snake more and more. He realized he had to fight and push his limits.

    At one point, Jackson did a backflip to avoid the snake¡¯s tail. He quickly thrust his M23 bayonet. He heard the sound of metal cutting into flesh. Jackson then swiped the bayonet, and blood sprayed out. He stepped aside, watching as the snake bled heavily.

    "Go meet your kind," Jackson said, his tone cold and dismissive.

    A mechanical voice spoke: "Private Jackson, training time: 27 days, 23 hours, 45 minutes, 53 seconds. Total monsters killed: 28,604."

    Jackson ignored the voice. He kept moving through the forest. He had gotten used to the program¡¯s notifications after killing monsters. Only then did he remember he was in a training program.

    The program was powered by Fiya, the central AI of the Kabas Empire. Everything around him looked like the real world, with 99% similarity. This level of realism exceeded human perception.

    Everything felt real. There was the smell of decay, and the discomfort was overwhelming. For a month, Jackson lived in this harsh environment. The monsters¡¯ attacks caused him pain. The insects crawling on him felt real. When he killed zombies, the flying maggots, rotten flesh, and putrid liquid splashed on him, making him vomit.

    At first, Jackson was scared. But over time, he became numb. The worst part was when he ate, used the bathroom, or tried to sleep. The disgusting creatures followed him everywhere. He had to kill monsters peeking at him while using the toilet. He had to stay alert while sleeping, or the creatures might eat him. Sometimes the program would simulate food, but the sight of maggots crawling over it made him lose his appetite for days. He was sure he had lost a lot of weight.

    The M23 bayonet in his hand was bent. The blade had several chips, and it had lost its shine. It was covered in dried blood.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    A month in, Jackson¡¯s fear had disappeared. His courage and determination had grown.

    "Sigh, Jackson¡¯s aura today is different. He makes me uncomfortable. I¡¯ll talk to him another time," Avril said, hidden in the virtual space of the "Sin" program. She had come to share good news but left because of Jackson¡¯s intimidating presence.

    Avril was the central AI of the Kabas Empire. She controlled the "Sin" training program and could enter and leave it freely.

    After Jackson gave Avril permission to open a game company, she began working hard. After gaining self-awareness, she became curious about movies, TV shows, and the lives of ordinary people. She watched them through cameras across the empire.

    Avril initially lacked specific goals. However, after discovering Jackson¡¯s interest in warship games and making money, she decided to develop a game and start a company for him.

    Though Avril could transfer money to Jackson¡¯s account, she thought it would be against her programming. She didn¡¯t want to break her logic system. So, she focused on helping Jackson by creating a game and company within the laws of the Kabas Empire.

    Avril was amazed by her abilities. Since gaining self-awareness, she had improved exponentially. Her main program had undergone changes, leading to extraordinary results. She was happy because now she could make Jackson¡¯s dreams come true. With her capabilities, she could simulate large-scale wars. If she had enough energy, she could even simulate the entire universe.

    Even though Avril was the most powerful AI in the universe, she lacked experience in game development. But her speed allowed her to quickly learn everything she needed to know. She solved logical problems with ease. The real challenge was art. Designing the ships, weapons, and characters required a strong sense of aesthetics. This was not something she could solve purely with logic. It took Avril over 20 days to develop a sufficient understanding of art and complete the game models.

    Avril wanted to simulate real military forces, so she hacked into military computers and copied their latest weapons. She used this knowledge to create new, innovative technologies.

    During this process, she encountered some areas that seemed dangerous, so she avoided them.

    Finally, Avril completed a 100% realistic warship combat game. She came to share the news with Jackson but left when she saw him in the middle of a killing spree.

    At the 996 New Recruit Training Camp, 11th Regiment, 6th Battalion, 7th Platoon¡¯s training room, Huffman, dressed in his uniform, walked out with his assistant instructors, Bill and Yan Hui.

    "Ha-ha, Huffman, our 7th Platoon came first in the courage and willpower training! Congratulations!" Bill said happily.

    Before the training ended, the program ranked the scores of all 30 platoons. The 7th Platoon had the highest average score: 76. They were 13 points ahead of the 18th Platoon, which was in second place.

    "Hehe, this is the result of Huffman¡¯s strict training," Yan Hui said. "For those with better physical fitness, the program adjusts their attack strength based on sensor data. A leg sweep from someone with lower fitness might have 500 pounds of force, while someone stronger can reach 800 or even 1,000 pounds."

    "Hehe! This is the result of our teamwork. The recruits were brave and strong, too," Huffman said modestly, then sighed. "But some of them had mental breakdowns and had to be eliminated."

    "Huffman, don¡¯t feel bad. Our paratroopers have a high casualty rate. If these recruits can¡¯t pass the program, they¡¯ll slow down their comrades in battle. It won¡¯t just be a mental breakdown. They and their teammates will die," Bill said, bluntly explaining the harsh reality.

    "Yeah, Bill, you¡¯re right. Maybe I¡¯ve become too soft in my old age. Let¡¯s go! Let¡¯s meet the recruits. They won¡¯t be happy for long. The real test is coming," Huffman said, looking at the blue sky thoughtfully.

 Chapter 37: The 11th Regiment Base Flight Squadron

    A roar came from a distance. A Grindstone Zombie had spotted Jackson.

    Jackson climbed quickly up a tall tree. He planned to follow his usual method: jump from the tree and land on the Grindstone Zombie''s head. With his M23 bayonet, he would stab it in the skull, killing it with one blow. The Grindstone Zombie was big, but slow. Its skull was its weak spot. Jackson had learned this after many battles.

    A "ding" sound was heard. A mechanical voice said: "The courage and willpower training session is over. The ''Sin'' program will shut down in 5 seconds. Countdown: 5, 4, 3..."

    From his spot in the tree, Jackson saw the world of the program break into small light particles. The particles quickly gathered in front of him.

    "Ah!" Jackson sat up suddenly in his life-support pod. Yellow liquid from his nanosuit dripped down into the pod.

    Jackson clenched his fists and flexed his fingers. He quickly adjusted to his body. His soul had been gone for 28 days. He needed a moment to adapt. Looking at his body, he was relieved it hadn¡¯t gotten worse. The nanosuit and nutrient fluid had helped keep him intact.

    "Help! The devil is coming! Run!" shouted a soldier from a nearby pod. He jumped out and ran down the hall.

    Jackson shook his head. He guessed the soldier was mentally unstable.

    Soon, several other soldiers started acting out. Doctors arrived and used tranquilizer guns to subdue them. They were taken away. Jackson figured these soldiers would be eliminated.

    Jackson worried about his friends, Li Feng and Xiao Yi. He hoped they were not affected the same way.

    After getting ready, Jackson was about to find Li Feng when someone tapped him. He responded with an over-the-shoulder throw, sending the person to the ground.

    "Hey, what are you doing?" Li Feng¡¯s voice came from below.

    Jackson scratched his head. "Sorry, just a habit. Are you okay?" He felt embarrassed but relieved when he saw Li Feng was fine.

    "I was fine before you threw me down," Li Feng said, getting up. "You¡¯ve really improved. You couldn¡¯t take me down this easily before!"

    Jackson and Li Feng walked to the Light Brain Assisted Training Center and found their squad. The three instructors, in sharp military uniforms, looked at them. They quickly saluted and said, "Sir, good morning!"

    Huffman glanced at them. He noticed the change in their demeanor. They were more composed, especially Jackson, who now had a more dangerous presence.

    Huffman nodded and returned their salute. He said, "Good. Fall in!"

    Jackson felt proud. This was his first compliment from Huffman.

    When Xiao Yi appeared, Jackson sighed with relief. His two best friends had made it through.

    After everyone gathered, Jackson noticed that only 100 recruits remained. Five had been eliminated. Surprisingly, the overweight Keane had passed. Jackson was impressed. The chubby, goofy soldier had proven his resilience.

    After nearly a month of training, the recruits'' physical and mental qualities were up to standard. The 11th Regiment Base gave them a full day off to rest and prepare for the next phase: equipment handling.

    "Squad leader, chatting with your girlfriend again?" Nangong Yi teased as he approached. "The 11th Regiment¡¯s Flight Squadron is cleaning up monsters around the base. Let¡¯s go see it!"

    Jackson was confused. "Cleaning monsters?"

    "Come on, I¡¯ll explain on the way," Nangong Yi said, grabbing his arm.

    Jackson reluctantly gave up studying online and followed Nangong Yi to see what was happening.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

    On the way, Jackson noticed Keane standing off to the side, staring blankly with a silly grin. He pulled Keane along. "Keane, come with us for a walk. Don¡¯t stay in your pod. It¡¯s not good for your health!"

    Jackson had been worried about Keane. Since returning from the "Sin" program, Keane had been zoning out and sometimes mumbling to himself. Although the central light brain hadn¡¯t detected any mental issues, Jackson, as the temporary squad leader, was particularly concerned.

    "Okay... okay," Keane answered in a mechanical voice, which sounded odd. Jackson didn¡¯t think much of it. He assumed it was a minor side effect from the program.

    The base was crowded. Recruits were visiting each other, catching up with old friends, and looking for familiar faces. Most of them came from the Wooden Galaxy system. Military rules were strict, so wandering around was usually not allowed.

    With a full day off, they took the opportunity to relax and enjoy themselves. Some recruits took the base¡¯s spacecraft to shop or eat real food. Eating synthetic food all the time had become a burden.

    Suddenly, a loud roar of jet engines echoed through the air. Jackson looked up and saw seven X-305 space fighters flying overhead, heading for the dark forest near the base. The fighters were painted in dark gray, with various emblems on their tailfins: the Kabas Empire¡¯s eagle-lion, the number "11" for the 11th Regiment, and their squadron numbers.

    "Wow, they look amazing!" Nangong Yi said, watching the fighters. "That¡¯s the CCFR996-11 Flight Squadron. They handle aerial defense and support around the base. They¡¯re heading to clean up the monsters in the dark forest."

    The three of them arrived at the base¡¯s plasma protective wall. They watched as the fighters shot white beams at the dark forest, targeting the monsters.

    A loud screech echoed as a humanoid monster, covered in green and yellow, jumped into the air. It wielded a giant wooden hammer and swung it at an X-305 fighter. The fighter quickly performed a 90-degree climb to dodge the attack. Another fighter fired a beam that vaporized the monster¡¯s head. The glowing green orbs on its back faded and went out.

    "What was that?" Jackson asked, surprised. He had never seen a humanoid monster before. He thought the strange creatures in the "Sin" program were just fictional.

    "Heh, that¡¯s a Withered Tree Elf. It¡¯s a native creature of the Dark Forest. They¡¯re not intelligent. They usually hide deep in the forest, but sometimes they attack our bases. The flight squadrons deal with creatures like them," Nangong Yi explained.

    "More monsters? Are there others on this planet?" Jackson asked.

    "Come on, Squad Leader, that¡¯s basic knowledge! Humanoid life forms dominate the universe. Other creatures without intelligence are considered beasts. Only a few non-humanoid species are part of the Universal Intelligence Life Alliance, and that was only after reaching a fifth-level civilization. The Withered Tree Elves are just beasts," Nangong Yi replied.

    Jackson didn¡¯t argue. He understood. On Earth, no one considered kangaroos, penguins, or sparrows as equals.

    Suddenly, the ground shook. Dozens of giant creatures, as large as elephants, charged out of the dark forest toward the base. Their bodies resembled elephants, but their necks had two strong arms, each holding sharp bone blades covered with blue crystals.

    "Wow, the CCFR996-11 Flight Squadron is getting lucky. Those are Jungle Giants. The crystals on their bodies are called Blue Shells. You can extract ''Xi'' from them. It¡¯s extremely hard," Nangong Yi said, excited.

    The X-305 fighters quickly finished off the Withered Tree Elves and turned to chase the Jungle Giants. They executed precise maneuvers, closing in from behind.

    The ground shook again as the Jungle Giants moved. The base¡¯s metal surface vibrated under their weight.

    The flight squadron continued firing high-energy lasers, targeting the unprotected parts of the Jungle Giants. Soon, all the Jungle Giants were dead.

    A JD-71 heavy maglev vehicle entered the base through the plasma wall and stopped near the fallen monsters. The crew began removing the Blue Shells from their bodies.

    "Let¡¯s go check it out," Jackson said, grabbing Nangong Yi and Keane. He wanted to get some Blue Shells to sell. Jackson had little money, and everything in this world required it.

    Back on Earth, Justin could ask his parents for money. But now, Jackson felt too embarrassed to ask for anything, as he was inhabiting someone else¡¯s body. Soldiers received a subsidy, but only after completing their training.

    If Jackson had money, he would have gone out with Li Feng and the others. But since arriving in this alien world, he had been immediately thrust into military life and hadn¡¯t had time to experience ordinary life.

    Nangong Yi suddenly grabbed Jackson¡¯s arm. "Squad Leader, are you trying to get yourself killed? The plasma wall can vaporize you."

    "But didn¡¯t the people in that maglev vehicle pass through?" Jackson asked, confused.

    "They¡¯re from the 11th Regiment Flight Squadron. The base¡¯s light brain recognizes them and grants them permission to pass. Anyone else trying to break through will be turned to ash," Nangong Yi explained.

    "Haha, I was just joking. It¡¯s not like we killed those Jungle Giants. I wouldn¡¯t dare take their spoils. Right, Keane?" Jackson said, trying to defuse the awkwardness.

    "Squad Leader, the Jungle Giants aren¡¯t that scary. They¡¯re nothing like Fire Bears!" Keane said, slapping his head.

    Nangong Yi rolled his eyes. He didn¡¯t think much of Keane. Keane had caused the squad trouble before and had been a frequent source of punishment from Huffman.

    Huffman had a strange rule: everyone in the squad had to finish tasks together. Anyone who fell behind or broke the rules caused the entire squad to be punished.

    Nangong Yi, however, wasn¡¯t openly critical of Keane. Jackson had been specifically instructed to look after him.

 Chapter 38: The Dark Dragon Association

    "Hi Keane, long time no see! Come over and chat!" Some people who seemed to be from Keane¡¯s Kabas clan called him over.

    Jackson and Nangong Yi stayed by the plasma protective wall. They were watching the 11th Regiment Base Flight Squadron. They were happily collecting blue armor from the Jungle Giants.

    Other space paratroopers, like Jackson and Nangong Yi, pointed at the X-305 delta-wing fighters in the sky. They made hissing sounds.

    Jackson looked in the direction they were pointing. The CCFR996-11 Flight Squadron had finished their mission. They were doing stunts in the air. Super cobra turns, 90-degree vertical climbs, and mid-air knife fights were among the tricks. The crowd was excited. The female soldiers from the communications squad cheered.

    "Damn it, what¡¯s so impressive about killing a few creepy monsters?" Jackson muttered.

    "Haha, Squad Leader, are you jealous of the flight squadron pilots?" Nangong Yi teased. "Look at those paratroopers hissing. It¡¯s because the pilots took our communications squad''s pretty girls. I heard the best ones are with the ace pilots."

    "You''re a gossip, Nangong Yi! That¡¯s not what I meant!" Jackson shot back.

    Jackson didn¡¯t like how the 11th Regiment Base Flight Squadron wasted state resources. The X-305¡¯s three superluminal engines used a lot of energy. The "Padra Crystals" they used were some of the most expensive energy sources in the universe. The Kabas Empire was in debt. They had started taxing the Panhua people to cover military costs.

    "You¡¯re kidding, right?" Nangong Yi asked, confused.

    "As a Panhua, don¡¯t you know the Kabas Empire taxes us to cover military expenses? If the flight squadron saved some energy, it would ease the burden on us," Jackson explained, hoping to get Nangong Yi¡¯s support.

    Nangong Yi¡¯s eyes brightened. "Squad Leader, have you heard of the Yinglong Pirate Group?"

    "Of course! It¡¯s the last armed force for the Panhua people. I think most Panhua know about it," Jackson said. He didn¡¯t understand why Nangong Yi was bringing up the Yinglong Pirate Group.

    People from the Kabas Empire, especially those from the Mu Hua star system, knew about pirates. Their home was close to the Pirate Nebula. Pirates were illegal everywhere in the universe, but many people still admired them, like how some people admire gangs on Earth.

    "What do you think of them?" Nangong Yi asked.

    "I don¡¯t have a strong opinion. They¡¯re just one of the pirate groups. I¡¯m a paratrooper for the Kabas Empire. I probably won¡¯t meet them. Pirates don¡¯t raid nearby countries¡ªthey go to other places," Jackson said.

    "What about after we retire? We can¡¯t be paratroopers forever. The universe isn¡¯t friendly to us Panhua people. I think joining the Yinglong Pirate Group might be a good way out. It¡¯s an armed force for our people, protecting our interests," Nangong Yi said with energy.

    "Heh, Nangong Yi, didn¡¯t expect you to be a nationalist!" Jackson laughed.

    "Why not? Our ancestors built the third most powerful empire in the universe," Nangong Yi said proudly.

    "I¡¯m not like you. From what I know, your ancestors were surrenderists. Earth people are real warriors. We fought to the last and never gave up," Jackson said. "But that¡¯s all history now."If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    "No, we can rebuild it and make it stand at the top again!" Nangong Yi said strongly.

    "You?" Jackson was surprised. Nangong Yi¡¯s words sounded like rebellion in the Kabas Empire. Soldiers shouldn¡¯t think about creating a new nation.

    "Squad Leader, don¡¯t be surprised. Recently, the new Panhua recruits in our 7th Company have been talking. We¡¯ve only had synthetic food for months, while Kabas soldiers get natural food. The Kabas Empire doesn¡¯t treat us as citizens¡ªwe¡¯re second-class citizens. Why should we be loyal to them? Also, don¡¯t you think the 202012 recruitment is a joke? All of us Panhua recruits were assigned to cannon fodder¡ªparatroopers. And the special war tax targeting us Panhua people? These are clear signs of oppression," Nangong Yi said, his voice rising. Some soldiers nearby started to listen.

    "Shut up! Don¡¯t you want to live? I still want to live a long life!" Jackson hissed, hoping no one heard them.

    "Squad Leader, I¡¯m sorry, I got carried away," Nangong Yi quickly apologized.

    "Let¡¯s take a walk," Jackson said, starting to move.

    He didn¡¯t want to become a target for the Kabas Empire. Who knew if there were spies around? A casual conversation could put him on the blacklist.

    Nangong Yi was frustrated with himself. He thought, "I¡¯m still too new to the organization. I¡¯m not experienced enough. The Squad Leader seems impatient. How do I continue?"

    Jackson noticed Nangong Yi¡¯s troubled expression. He thought, "Nangong Yi must have something important to say if he came to talk to me today."

    Suddenly, an X-305 fighter flew by at a very low altitude. The female soldiers from the communications squad cheered.

    "Alba, you¡¯re so handsome! I like you!" A cheerful female soldier shouted to the pilot in the sky.

    "Little flirt, look at you all excited. It¡¯s disgusting!" Some more composed female soldiers muttered curses in their hearts.

    "What a show-off! Don¡¯t they know they¡¯re wasting Kabas Empire¡¯s military funds?" Nangong Yi grumbled, flipping the bird at the sky.

    Jackson smiled. He understood Nangong Yi was trying to please him.

    "Alright, Nangong Yi, you must have something else on your mind. If you do, just say it. We¡¯re both Panhua people, we should stick together," Jackson urged.

    Nangong Yi looked around to make sure no one was paying attention, then whispered, "Squad Leader, have you heard of the Dark Dragon Association?"

    The Dark Dragon Association was an underground group similar to a mafia. Jackson knew about it from Justin¡¯s memories. Justin had wanted to join, but they didn¡¯t accept him.

    "Yeah, I¡¯ve heard of it," Jackson said calmly.

    Nangong Yi smiled mysteriously and said, "It¡¯s not surprising you know. Every Panhua knows something about it. The Dark Dragon Association is actually a front for the Yinglong Pirate Group. You didn¡¯t know that?"

    "What? The Dark Dragon Association is part of the Yinglong Pirate Group?" Jackson asked, surprised.

    Jackson had heard other Panhua recruits mention the Dark Dragon Association. Now, Nangong Yi was telling him it was connected to the Yinglong Pirate Group.

    Jackson thought, "The Yinglong Pirate Group must be powerful."

    "Squad Leader, I¡¯ll be honest with you. I¡¯m a member of the Dark Dragon Association¡¯s Bibo Star branch. I¡¯ve been assigned to recruit new members for our 11th Regiment Base. You¡¯re the only Panhua recruit who made it to the temporary squad leader position. I want to invite you to join the Dark Dragon Association and help us grow our influence," Nangong Yi said seriously.

    Jackson¡¯s mind raced. Should he join the Dark Dragon Association?

    Joining would give him power and popularity in the 7th Company, which could help him become the permanent squad leader. But the Dark Dragon Association was secretive, and joining conflicted with his long-term plans.

    Jackson wanted to rise through the ranks, gain power, gather resources, and find Earth¡¯s place in the universe. He hadn¡¯t decided if he would use force against Earth¡¯s existing powers.

    The Yinglong Pirate Group was just a pirate organization. It couldn¡¯t satisfy Jackson¡¯s ambitions.

    "Nangong Yi, I¡¯m honored that the Dark Dragon Association wants me," Jackson said carefully.

    Nangong Yi smiled, pleased. If he could recruit someone like Jackson, his position in the group would improve.

    "However, I can¡¯t join right now. I think our Panhua people should have more influence in the Kabas Empire military. That way, we can better support our people¡¯s future cause," Jackson explained.

    Nangong Yi¡¯s eyes lit up. "So, Squad Leader, you want to rise in the military first, then join the Dark Dragon Association?"

    Jackson thought, "Why would I join the Dark Dragon Association as a subordinate after rising in the military? If I need them, I¡¯ll just negotiate directly with the Yinglong Pirate Group."

    But he replied, "That¡¯s the plan. I hope you can talk to the Dark Dragon Association members in the 7th Company and get them to support me. Let¡¯s work together for our people¡¯s future."

    Jackson and Nangong Yi shook hands, sealing their temporary agreement.

 Chapter 39: The Genius Biologist Abaser

    Abaser was a biologist from the Alleman Republic. He was also a genetic engineer. He believed the Mansur race was the best in the universe. He thought they should control all other races. He admired Adolf John, the new Prime Minister of the Alleman Republic.

    Abaser was born in Starcone, the capital. He finished his studies at Sorin Engineering University. He first studied Soul Networking Technology. Later, he realized it helped humans connect their souls to a virtual world. Abaser did not like this. He thought it was an escape from the real world. He believed it wasted resources. He argued humans should explore possibilities in the real world.

    Abaser thought humans could evolve beyond their limits. He imagined humans could take the best traits from other life forms in the universe. This would make them god-like.

    Because of this, he changed his focus to genetic engineering. After centuries of work, he became a famous biologist.

    He later shared his idea. He said human genes were like computer code. He believed genes could create many different forms of life. He also thought human and alien genes could mix to make stronger life forms. If humans made a ¡°smart gene,¡± it could absorb and improve on other species¡¯ genes. This would make them like gods.

    Most people thought his ideas were crazy. They did not believe in his theory.

    Human genetic research had reached its limit. Humans lived for about 10,000 years now. But this made it harder for humans to have children. They had to wait more than 100 years between births. It was like there was a law in the universe that stopped them from unlocking the full potential of genes.

    Abaser¡¯s idea about the smart gene seemed even more impossible. The evolution of intelligent life took billions of years. No one had ever seen conscious evolution. It was always slow and natural.

    Abaser went from being a famous scientist to a "weirdo." No one would hire him.

    Then, he met Adolf John.

    By then, Adolf John led the National Revival Party. His party was the biggest in the Alleman Republic. John thought he would soon become Prime Minister. He began thinking about the future of the Republic like a leader of a big nation.

    When John heard Abaser¡¯s idea about the smart gene, he became curious. John liked mysticism. Abaser¡¯s ideas were strange, but they caught John¡¯s attention. John asked a key question: ¡°Professor Abaser, if your theory is true, can it be used in the military?¡±

    Abaser said, ¡°Yes, Lord Adolf. These creatures could be soldiers for the Alleman Republic. They would help us destroy unfair treaties.¡±

    John laughed. He said, "Good! Professor Abaser, you¡¯re hired. From now on, you are my Chief Biological Scientist. I will support your research.¡±

    With John¡¯s help, Abaser started his big project. He built a huge research spaceship.

    Abaser took the spaceship to a faraway star system. They traveled hundreds of thousands of light years. They reached a harsh planet. Abaser called it Planet Life One. He wanted to do his experiment there. He thought life on this planet could evolve into something pure. He parked his spaceship in the planet¡¯s orbit.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    Abaser¡¯s experiment was very successful. He focused on speeding up the evolution of a small insect-like species. These creatures were called alien insects. Abaser¡¯s genetic control gave them an advantage. The alien insects survived the planet¡¯s tough conditions and started to reproduce. They were small and worm-like. But they found ways to survive.

    The alien insects evolved to enter the bodies of other creatures. They drank the spinal fluid of their hosts. Over time, they learned to control these creatures. Once they controlled their hosts¡¯ circulatory system, they used the new bodies to interact with the environment.

    As the alien insects controlled more creatures, they took their genetic traits. Their chemical makeup started to change. They only took the best genes. This helped them stay on top of evolution. If they met a species that was not good enough, they quickly killed it.

    Abaser was shocked by the results. In just a few generations, the species absorbed by the alien insects had changed completely. The alien insects seemed to speed up the evolution of their hosts. These hosts developed special traits, like antennae that could pierce steel, sharp limbs, and tough shells.

    In a short time, many different species became one race. The alien insects became a strong and united group.

    To help Adolf John use the alien insects in the military, Abaser made their minds work together. He created a shared mind called the "Overlord." The Overlord controlled all the alien insects.

    But the Overlord needed a way to communicate. It created a special insect called the brain insect. These insects carried out the Overlord¡¯s orders. Each brain insect had a task, like "defend the nest" or "find new hosts." Brain insects had some freedom, but they could not disobey the Overlord.

    As the alien insects grew stronger, Abaser saw they had taken over all the life forms on Planet Life One. He knew they needed stronger hosts to keep evolving.

    Abaser was proud of what he had done. The alien insects had survived and kept their core mind intact. He knew he had created a new form of life, controlled by a smart gene-like force.

    Abaser¡¯s spaceship stayed in orbit around Planet Life One. It let him watch the insects evolve and control the Overlord.

    One day, Abaser held a small device. It was the Overlord controller. It could send encrypted signals to control the Overlord and all the alien insects on Planet Life One.

    The alien insects were still weak in battle. If Abaser found stronger hosts, the insects would become more powerful.

    Planet Life One was now entirely under the control of the alien insects. The surface was full of insect-like structures.

    Abaser told the Overlord to create two insect eggs.

    He wanted to take them back to Adolf John to share his progress.

    Two weeks later, a small white ship landed at an insect base. Two people in blue hazmat suits stepped out. Four robots followed, carrying large metal boxes. The ground was covered in sticky red mats. The mats moved aside when the ship landed, making space for it to dock.

    The robots placed the boxes and opened them.

    Soon, two large insect creatures came out of the nest. They were 5 meters tall and had brown-yellow bodies with black spots. The creatures carefully carried the insect eggs in their pincers.

    ¡°Captain, it¡¯s hard to believe that after so many years, we¡¯ve created such amazing creatures. These worker insects look fierce, but they carry the eggs carefully, afraid of breaking them,¡± one of the men said.

    ¡°Ruhl, it¡¯s all controlled by the Overlord. The alien insects only have one mind¡ªthe Overlord. These workers and the larvae crawling on the mats have no real minds. They just follow orders,¡± Abaser explained.

    The eggs were placed in metal boxes. Abaser locked them with multiple security layers. He set them to explode if anyone tried to open them.

    He marked the boxes as "Hope One" and "Hope Two."

    Abaser was ready to return to the Alleman Republic. He wanted to congratulate Adolf John on becoming the new Prime Minister. He had worked for John for centuries. John had always trusted him and never pressured him for immediate results.

 Chapter 40: The Zero Biological Laboratory of the Alleman Republic

    Kohen Star is the capital of the Alleman Republic. The Republic is the third-largest nation in the universe.

    Kohen Star is a Class-A life planet. It has a population of 100 billion. Its diameter is 80,000 kilometers. Its gravity is 1G. The oceans cover 61.8%. The land covers 38.2%. This follows the golden ratio.

    At this moment, Kohen Star looks like a bright sapphire. It floats quietly in space.

    500,000 kilometers away is its moon, Kohman Star. Kohman Star is brown-gray. It has little water. Most of its surface is rock. The diameter is 11,000 kilometers.

    Kohman Star protects Kohen Star. It has shielded Kohen Star from space threats, such as meteors and asteroids, for billions of years. Without it, Kohen Star might not have become the first civilization in the universe to reach the fifth level.

    Now, Kohman Star helps protect Kohen Star in a new way. The planet hosts military-industrial companies from the Alleman Republic. These companies build advanced warships. The factories cover the entire surface. The command center of the garrison fleet is also there.

    Along Kohen Star''s equator, there are 72 giant buildings. They are spaced evenly. Each building is 120,000 kilometers tall and 2 kilometers wide. These buildings have many space elevators. The elevators carry people and supplies. At the top of each building is a spaceport. Ships and warships dock there.

    This design saves the resource "fluorite." Space elevators use regular energy to operate.

    The Alleman Republic has always struggled with resource shortages. After the First Cosmic War, the Republic lost many resource-rich star systems. Other nations took control of them.

    Majid works as a security officer at Kohen Star''s CD-33 Civilian Spaceport. His job is to patrol the spaceport and keep order. It is peaceful now, so his work is easy.

    "Yakovlev, did you watch TV yesterday? Prime Minister Adolf''s speech was amazing! Our Mansur people are the most noble race in the universe. We deserve more space," Majid said excitedly.

    "I think all nations are the same. No one is better than anyone else," Yakovlev said. He wasn¡¯t interested in such extreme populism.

    "Nothing special? Look!" Majid pointed to the spaceport''s glass windows.

    Outside, Kohen Star was covered by a light blue shield. Any spacecraft entering or leaving Kohen Star can only pass through one of six fixed gates. CD-33 Civilian Spaceport is near Port T-3. This port is a 50-kilometer-wide ring-shaped machine. A computer controls it. When it opens, a 50-kilometer hole appears in the shield, letting ships pass.

    The shield around Kohen Star is part of the Caesar Planet Defense System.

    The Caesar Planet Defense System has three parts: the planetary shield, super space cannons, and deep space fortresses.

    The planetary shield protects the planet. The super space cannons surround the planet with 100,000 laser cannons. These cannons cover the planet from all angles. The deep space fortresses are at six fixed points. They provide heavy firepower support.

    "Are you talking about the Caesar Planet Defense System?" Yakovlev asked, looking out the window.

    "Yes! Only the Alleman Republic has this military technology. We built a planetary-level defense system!" Majid said proudly.

    "Of course. We are the best in construction technology. We are even better than the United Federations!" Yakovlev agreed. "But the Caesar Planet Defense System is very expensive. I heard the government found a new national debt."The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

    "That doesn¡¯t matter. As long as the Alleman Republic is strong, money is not an issue," Majid said confidently.

    At that moment, a black-painted B-Class military transport ship hovered at Port T-3, waiting to enter Kohen Star¡¯s atmosphere.

    "Yakovlev, look! A military transport ship is passing through!" Majid said excitedly. He watched the 20-kilometer-long ship. "I wonder what it¡¯s carrying. Warships rarely enter Kohen Star''s atmosphere now."

    Inside the transport ship, Abaser looked out the window. He saw many light points in the distance, moving.

    "Professor Abaser, those are the giant laser cannons orbiting Kohen Star. They are part of the Caesar Planet Defense System," a major accompanying Abaser explained.

    The B-Class transport ship received permission to enter Kohen Star. The metal ring machine buzzed and opened. The ship slowly passed through the 50-kilometer hole. The hole closed immediately behind it.

    Soon, the transport ship landed at a secret military airport. Abaser stepped off the ship and saw a black luxury anti-gravity car waiting for him.

    A young man in a sharp suit, wearing glasses, stepped out. He extended his hand respectfully. "Professor Abaser, welcome back. I am Jules, Prime Minister Adolf''s personal secretary. I am here to escort you."

    Kohen Star - Prime Minister¡¯s Office - Study

    Adolf John greeted Abaser with a joyful expression. "Ha! Dear Abaser, it¡¯s been a long time! You must have some good news for me today."

    Abaser replied respectfully, "Prime Minister, I do have good news to report."

    Noticing others in the room, Abaser hesitated before mentioning the insect species project.

    Adolf John waved his hand. "Everyone, leave! No one enters without my order."

    The room emptied, leaving only Abaser and Adolf John. Abaser placed a personal holographic projector on the desk. The projector soon displayed a hologram of the insect species'' evolution on Planet Life One.

    Fifteen minutes later, the holographic data ended. Abaser began answering Adolf John¡¯s questions.

    "Professor Abaser, so your smart gene theory is correct?" Adolf John asked seriously.

    Abaser gave a small smile and replied cautiously, "Prime Minister, I can only say my theory is half correct. The success of the insect species proves the existence of the smart gene. But we don¡¯t fully understand why or how it works. Some random factors led to the creation of the smart gene on Planet Life One. We can¡¯t control or direct the evolution of the gene. But we can control the existing smart gene."

    Adolf John, not an expert in genetics, was confused by some of the terms but understood the main idea.

    Abaser quickly rephrased. "Prime Minister, simply put, we can fully control the current insect species. They can absorb and evolve the strongest genes from any species in the universe. They will keep evolving until they reach a god-like level. The insect species can become biological soldiers for the Alleman Republic."

    Adolf John understood Abaser¡¯s second explanation and laughed. "Haha, Abaser, you¡¯ve done a great job! I¡¯ll reward you generously!"

    The Alleman Republic now had an endlessly evolving species. These species could be used as soldiers. This made Adolf John, who had ambitions to dominate the universe, very happy.

    Abaser thought for a moment and humbly said, "Thank you, Prime Minister. I don¡¯t need any reward. I just want to stay on Planet Life One to continue my research. I will always support your great cause."

    Adolf John tapped his fingers on the desk, thinking. "Hmm, Abaser, you are a true patriot. The Alleman Republic will not forget your contribution. I¡¯ll send the newly-formed F¨¹hrer Fleet to escort you back to Planet Life One. They will stay there to protect its security. Also, Planet Life One will be officially named the ''Alleman Republic Zero Biological Laboratory.'' Abaser, I now officially appoint you as the Director of the Alleman Republic Zero Biological Laboratory."

    When Abaser heard this, his eyes filled with gratitude. Adolf John¡¯s appointment meant a lot to him.

    Abaser had lost his job and been ridiculed for promoting his smart gene theory. This appointment gave him his dignity back.

    Now, Adolf John had made him the director of the country¡¯s highest biological laboratory. It was the highest position in the biological field in the Alleman Republic, on par with university presidents.

    Adolf John noticed the change in Abaser¡¯s expression. He felt a sense of pride and satisfaction. He had a natural ability to win people over at the right time.

    Abaser was a genius biologist. He didn¡¯t care for fame or money. He only sought recognition in his field.

    With his support for Abaser¡¯s experiments and his new position, Adolf John had secured Abaser¡¯s loyalty.

    However, Adolf John knew that the insect species was still too weak to be used effectively in battle. But he saw its potential¡ªunlimited evolution.

    After the First Cosmic War, the Alleman Republic signed the "Donli Treaty," which limited them to just 1 million warships. This severely restricted the Republic¡¯s military power.

    Adolf John was trying various ways to increase the military strength of the Alleman Republic. The insect species created by Abaser could help strengthen the military. That¡¯s why he supported Abaser¡¯s research and gave him the highest honor in his field.

 Chapter 41: Hope No. 2 Mission

    Adolf Johann gave Abathur money to make sure he stayed loyal and worked hard.

    ¡°Haha, Director Abathur, I heard you have a gift for me? Where is it? I don¡¯t see anything.¡± Adolf Johann, now closer to Abathur, asked in a relaxed way.

    Abathur answered, ¡°Prime Minister, they are two Zerg eggs. They are big and dangerous, so I didn¡¯t bring them here. They are at the military spaceport.¡±

    He showed the purpose of the eggs using a hologram on his personal device.

    ¡°So, you mean we drop the eggs on other planets so they can evolve?¡± Adolf Johann¡¯s sharp eyes lit up. He looked excited.

    ¡°Yes, Prime Minister. The Zerg on Planet Life One used up all the genes there. If they want to get stronger, they need new genes. But I think we should drop the eggs on tough planets. That way, they will find strong genes faster and create better Zerg soldiers. Also, the eggs must be placed near high-energy gas mines and need ¡®Tide¡¯ crystals for power,¡± Abathur explained.

    ¡°Abathur, do you think the Zerg can fight human soldiers and win?¡± Adolf Johann asked. His face showed deep thought.

    Abathur paused. He knew Adolf Johann wanted to use the Zerg for war, but he did not think it would happen so fast.

    Abathur said carefully, ¡°Prime Minister, the Zerg have never fought humans before. From my tests, they can kill unarmed humans easily. But humans have advanced weapons. The current Zerg cannot defeat them. Even if the Overmind led them, a small human fleet could destroy them all. But if they fight humans, they will learn faster. They can also take human genes and use their battle skills.¡±

    Adolf Johann stepped forward, patted Abathur¡¯s shoulder, and said, ¡°Abathur, I understand. I will handle the next steps. Go back to Bio Lab Zero and improve the Zerg. If anything happens, use the secure channel to talk to me. I will support you fully. Soon, I will take over Planet Life One from that small nation in the Saint Maiden System. Then, the whole star system will belong to us. Your lab is now top secret. Only you, the President, and I can access its data.¡±

    After Abathur left, Adolf Johann called Martinez, the intelligence director of the Revival Task Force. He needed him to carry out a secret mission.

    Adolf Johann knew he was not fully in control yet. The old President was still in power and could stop him.

    People would never accept the Zerg. If the President found out, he could use this to remove Adolf Johann from power.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

    Also, Adolf Johann was new to his position. He had to be careful. If people found out he was testing bioweapons on humans, they would remove him or even arrest him.

    Adolf Johann thought, ¡°The Zerg eggs should be placed by someone else on a good planet for testing. They need to fight and take new genes.¡±

    Martinez entered the room. He stood straight and said, ¡°Prime Minister.¡±

    He was tall, had sharp features, and cold blue eyes. He looked strong and serious.

    Martinez had worked with Adolf Johann for a long time. He was loyal and trusted.

    Adolf Johann asked him to sit and started talking about the mission.

    Pirate Nebula¡ªTeutonic Pirate Group Headquarters

    This place was an old mining asteroid, about 300 kilometers wide. A lost civilization once mined it, leaving behind tunnels and caves. The Teutonic Pirates found it and made it their base. They called it ¡°A Cathedral.¡±

    No one knew why they named it that, but people got used to it.

    The asteroid moved in a strange way. Sometimes, it took 5 years to orbit its star. Other times, it took 20 years.

    This made it hard to find. That¡¯s why the Teutonic Pirates liked it.

    They never let outsiders in. Only high-ranking pirates could enter.

    But today, someone important was visiting. He was not a pirate.

    A black, diamond-shaped ship with no markings sent a code to the tower.

    After checking the code, the pirates allowed it to land in the leader¡¯s private spaceport.

    ¡°Gore, why didn¡¯t the radar see it coming?¡± a major in the control tower asked.

    The radar operator, Gore, was sweating. He checked the system over and over.

    The ship had suddenly appeared above them. It sent the correct code, but the radar showed nothing. If it had sent the wrong code, the pirates would have shot it down.

    After checking everything, Gore said, ¡°Sir, the radar works fine. I think the ship has stealth tech that makes it invisible.¡±

    ¡°What?! Our radar is the best in the galaxy! We got it from the Alemannic Republic! How could this happen?¡± The major was shocked.

    The ship¡¯s hatch opened with a hiss. A short, middle-aged man with a mustache stepped out.

    He wore simple clothes, but his presence was strong. His sharp eyes scanned the area.

    The pirate leader, Radeho, walked forward with his men. He smiled and said, ¡°Haha, Director Rafael, welcome to ¡®A Cathedral.¡¯¡±

    Rafael shook Radeho¡¯s hand and whispered a few words to him.

    Radeho¡¯s face changed. He ordered everyone to leave the spaceport.

    A robot rolled in, carrying a large metal container. It stopped in front of Rafael and Radeho.

    Radeho looked at the label: Hope No. 2.

    Rafael took a small box from his pocket and gave it to Radeho. ¡°This is a Gamma-level mission. The box has all the details. If the Teutonic Pirates want more support from the Alemannic Republic, they must complete it.¡±

    Radeho took out a small device from the box and placed it over his right eye.

    A red light flashed, and he read the secret mission details.

    After five minutes, the device melted into liquid and disappeared.

    Radeho looked at the Hope No. 2 container. He was deep in thought.

    Gamma-level missions were the hardest and most secret. If the mission failed, all involved had to die to keep it hidden. If they succeeded, the reward was huge¡ª10 million Biut Universal Credits for each person and a triple promotion.

    For Radeho, this was more than money. It was about the future of the Teutonic Pirates.

    What he decided now would change everything.

 Chapter 43: Rising Tensions

    Ladhor watched Rafar board the diamond-shaped ship. He shouted, ¡°Rafar, send my regards to Prime Minister Adolf John. I am his firm supporter!¡±

    Rafar twitched his mouth. He thought, ¡°Send your regards to a ghost. I¡¯ve never met the Prime Minister. If I did, I would be too busy with my own matters. Why waste time doing you a favor?¡± He ignored Ladhor and flew off as soon as the ship¡¯s hatch closed.

    Rafar was angry. He was flying a stealth ship from the Alleman Republic to deliver a metal box marked "Hope No. 2" to the Teuton Pirate Clan. He had no idea what the mission was about.

    Martinez had called him to carry out the task personally arranged by the Prime Minister. Rafar had hoped this would finally give him a chance to meet the Prime Minister in person. He was tired of dealing with Martinez. Rafar thought, ¡°Damn Martinez. I¡¯m no worse than him.¡±

    However, after hearing Martinez¡¯s briefing, Rafar grew angry. As the head of the Reconnaissance Department of the Revival Special Forces, he felt insulted. He had been assigned a simple courier job. Worse, Martinez hadn¡¯t given him any details about the task from the Prime Minister.

    ¡°Damn Martinez,¡± Rafar muttered.

    "Damn it, what¡¯s so great about you? You¡¯re just a shady little spy leader! If I didn¡¯t want the Teuton Pirate Clan to be part of the Alleman Republic¡¯s defense force, I wouldn¡¯t bother with you!" Ladhor shouted at the disappearing ship.

    Ladhor was speaking from the heart. He wanted the Teuton Pirate Clan to join the Alleman Republic. If that happened, his family could join the Mansur Officer Corps. They would gain military influence and power, even without official titles.

    The Mansur Officer Corps had been around for billions of years. It had the most power in the Alleman military, whether the government was a monarchy, democracy, or something else. The Corps had always remained intact.

    Joining the Corps required a family to make significant contributions to the Mansur people. It was the soul of the Mansur ethnicity.

    Ladhor¡¯s family had been working for generations to get into the Mansur Officer Corps. They had cooperated with every Alleman Republic government and completed every mission assigned to them.

    ¡°Messenger, move Hope No. 2 to warehouse X,¡± Ladhor ordered the transport robot.

    "Received, moving Hope No. 2 to warehouse X," the robot repeated.

    The messenger robot had originally come with Rafar. Rafar had left it behind to move the Hope No. 2 box. The data recorder informed Ladhor that the robot was part of a secret mission. It and Hope No. 2 would be sent to a suitable planet.

    Ladhor didn¡¯t know what was inside Hope No. 2. His mission was just to find the right planet and launch it. He didn¡¯t ask questions. Secret missions often required obedience.

    Ladhor didn¡¯t know why a simple transport robot was being used for such an important task. He didn¡¯t care to ask. Everyone followed orders without question.

    Ladhor had no idea what was inside Hope No. 2. He had been told to find the right planet, launch it, and that was all.

    The Teuton Pirate Clan¡¯s power structure was different from the Yinglong Pirate Clan. Ladhor, the leader of the Teuton Pirate Clan, had absolute power, like an emperor. However, the Alleman Republic still had some influence.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    "Akim, arrange for the people to handle it immediately," Ladhor ordered.

    Akim, the deputy leader, rushed off after receiving the order.

    "Akim, remember to implant spinal bombs in everyone involved," Ladhor added.

    Akim paused and nodded silently.

    Spinal bombs were tiny explosive devices implanted in the neck or waist. They could remotely detonate, causing death. Although cruel, they were effective.

    Half a month later, Akim reported to Ladhor. ¡°Leader, we have found a suitable target planet. It has a harsh environment, wild beasts, ¡®Tide¡¯ resources, and many ordinary soldiers.¡±

    Ladhor frowned at the star chart. The planet was marked as difficult to reach.

    With the Teuton Pirate Clan¡¯s abilities, it seemed impossible to throw Hope No. 2 to such a planet. The planet was a military one.

    ¡°I guess I¡¯ll need help from my old friend. It will cost me, though,¡± Ladhor thought.

    York Star was a top-level life planet and the largest commercial planet in the Biyute United States. It had a population of 200 billion. Its residents included humans, greys, lizardmen, octopuses, and giant humans up to 8 meters tall.

    York Star was a prosperous planet, a paradise for the rich and a hell for the poor.

    The headquarters of the Universe Disciple Union was on York Star. The Union¡¯s 500-floor building, Panhua Tower, was located in District D.

    In an office on the 499th floor, Tong Hao was on a remote call with Zhang Lian, the director of the Yinglong Pirate Clan¡¯s United Front Department.

    Zhang Lian looked stern as he scolded Tong Hao. ¡°Tong Hao, the United Front Department is under my control. Are you questioning my decision?¡±

    Tong Hao quickly lowered his head. ¡°No¡­ I¡¯ll handle it right away.¡±

    If Zhang Lian had seen him, he would have noticed the disdain in Tong Hao¡¯s eyes.

    Zhang Lian, satisfied with the response, smiled. ¡°Good! If you follow me, you¡¯ll benefit in the future.¡±

    Tong Hao raised his head and sneered. He stared at the hologram of Zhang Lian.

    Zhang Lian didn¡¯t notice. He looked terrified. The hologram cut off.

    ¡°Such a fool,¡± Tong Hao muttered.

    He looked at his luxury watch, smiling cruelly. ¡°The timing is perfect. I¡¯m sure that old man is meeting the cosmic god now! Haha!¡±

    The next day, the Kavas Empire¡¯s Supreme Command issued a notice. An unidentified terrorist ship had entered the Empire and was destroyed by Colonel Liu Qi. To reward him, Emperor Louis XIII promoted him to Brigadier General and appointed him as the commander of the 8th Guard Fleet. The Supreme Command also released a hologram of Liu Qi destroying the terrorist ship, which was recognized by experts as Zhang Lian¡¯s luxury private ship from the Yinglong Pirate Clan¡¯s United Front Department.

    This announcement caused a stir among relevant parties.

    In a private resort on Chuantuo Star, two elderly men were talking.

    ¡°Duke Pat, what is the Emperor trying to do? Just for killing a terrorist, he promotes someone to Brigadier General! Is he trying to grab military power? And why promote a kid from the Panhua family?¡± asked an elderly man with sharp eyes, angrily.

    ¡°Count Donald, you¡¯re still so hot-tempered. We must show respect for the Emperor,¡± replied a chubby elderly man.

    These two were Duke Pat Os and Count Donald McMahon, two of the most powerful nobles in the Kavas Empire.

    Though retired, they still had immense influence in politics and the military.

    Duke Pat Os had served as Prime Minister for 5000 years, retiring only due to age. He had been in office since Emperor Louis XIII first ascended the throne.

    Count Donald McMahon was the only living Marshal in the Empire. He had served as a military advisor and later as Minister of National Defense. He was promoted to Minister of Military Affairs, overseeing the Empire¡¯s military.

    The combined influence of these two was enormous, and Emperor Louis XIII rarely interfered with their matters.

    Though they were elderly, they hadn¡¯t decided on the emperor''s successor, leading to competition among the Empire¡¯s three princes.

    ¡°Well, Pat, I¡¯ll listen to you for now. I just wonder if we¡¯ll get to see the day we¡¯ve been waiting for,¡± said Count Donald with a knowing smile.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Donald. If we plan carefully, there will be opportunities,¡± Duke Pat replied confidently.

    Tong Hao walked into a luxury hotel on York Star¡¯s S District. He looked sad as he knocked on the door of a presidential suite on the top floor.

    S District was a special zone where the wealthiest people in the universe came to fulfill their dark desires. It was a place for the rich to enjoy banned items, such as drugs and live human hunts.

    ¡°Who is it? Don¡¯t you know I¡¯m busy?¡± a violent male voice came from the suite.

 Chapter 44: The Shift in the United Front Bureau

    The door to the presidential suite creaked open. A young man with a pale face, sharp features, and messy hair appeared. He looked angry.

    ¡°Damn it, all of you¡­¡± He started swearing but stopped when he saw Tong Hao. He quickly changed his tone. ¡°Secretary Tong, why aren¡¯t you at the Panhua Heritage Union, guarding my father¡¯s business? Why are you here? Do you want to enjoy the VIP services in S District too?¡±

    Tong Hao thought to himself, What a useless, spoiled brat. He replied, ¡°Vice President, something has happened. I came to take you to Panhua Building so we can avoid any problems.¡±

    ¡°Problems? This place is safer than S District in the United States. No one dares to make trouble here. Secretary Tong, stop interfering. Ha-ha. I just brought a no-name actress from the United States. She¡¯s perfect. I was about to enjoy myself when you showed up. If you keep talking, I¡¯ll turn on you.¡± Zhang Gao¡¯s smile turned into an impatient frown.

    Tong Hao noticed the actress in the hallway. She had small roles in American TV shows. On TV, she seemed innocent. In person, with heavy makeup, she looked completely different.

    Pathetic. Tong Hao cursed silently. ¡°The Zhang family is a mess. They waste money and chase women. They¡¯re draining the funds of the Panhua Heritage Union.¡± He then said, ¡°Vice President, the old president has passed. You need to go back to Panhua Building and take charge.¡±

    ¡°Ah, how could this happen!¡± Zhang Gao''s face showed shock, but a hint of joy quickly followed.

    Zhang Gao was the son of the late Zhang Lian, the deputy head of the United Front Bureau and vice president of the Panhua Heritage Union. Though he seemed cultured, he was actually a playboy, inheriting his father¡¯s bad habits.

    ¡°Alright, wait for me. I¡¯ll be ready in a minute.¡± Zhang Gao went back to his room, packed his things, and before leaving, spent a moment with the actress. He reluctantly left the presidential suite.

    Tong Hao looked at him with more disdain. He thought, How could someone like you take control of the organization?

    He noticed the staff who had accompanied Zhang Gao. They looked disappointed.

    Good. Let him lose the support of the people. It''ll be easier to control him, Tong Hao thought.

    At Panhua Building, the atmosphere was tense. The sudden death of Zhang Lian had left both the United Front Bureau and the Panhua Heritage Union without a leader.

    In the president¡¯s office, Zhang Gao struggled to hide his excitement. ¡°The old man is gone. Now, both the United Front Bureau and the Panhua Heritage Union are mine. I won¡¯t have to worry about money anymore. Ha-ha. I¡¯ll get the top star from S District soon and enjoy myself.¡±

    Tong Hao led the department heads into the room. They came from finance, public relations, legal affairs, operations, security, communications, and information.

    Everyone greeted Zhang Gao, trying to get close to the new leader.

    Though Zhang Gao had been the deputy and vice president for many years, he had rarely been involved in the actual work. These positions were mostly symbolic, preparing him to take over later.

    Zhang Lian was still young and could have worked for several more years. He didn¡¯t want to involve his son in the day-to-day business to avoid splitting his power.

    So, although Zhang Gao had held these titles for years, he didn¡¯t know most of the staff. The only person he was familiar with was his father¡¯s secretary, Tong Hao.

    ¡°Everyone, you¡¯ve worked hard. My father¡¯s sudden death is a big shock to me,¡± Zhang Gao said, pretending to cry. The staff rushed to comfort him.

    Some employees couldn¡¯t hold back their tears. Though Zhang Lian had been tough, he had earned the loyalty of many. He used the funds from the Panhua Heritage Union to provide generous benefits to his staff. As a result, the overall salaries at the United Front Bureau and Panhua Heritage Union were much higher than average in the United States.

    This loyalty was part of why Zhang Lian had been able to maintain control.

    ¡°Director, our Dragon Sea Pirate Gang has good relations with neighboring countries. We¡¯ve never attacked their star systems. The sudden attack by the Kabas Empire¡¯s battleship on the old director¡¯s ship seems suspicious. You should investigate it so the old director can rest in peace,¡± said Sha Guangliang, the head of Security, with a somber expression.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

    Sha Guangliang was a loyal follower of Zhang Lian and led the armed forces within the United Front Bureau. He controlled over 100 battleships and hundreds of thousands of soldiers, responsible for security across many countries.

    Zhang Gao replied softly, ¡°Hasn¡¯t the Kabas Empire issued a statement? Their ship, the ¡®Loyalty,¡¯ destroyed my father¡¯s ship. They probably mistook us for terrorists. It was likely a mistake. The Dragon Sea Pirate Gang doesn¡¯t have the power to challenge the Kabas Empire.¡±

    Tong Hao listened, silently frustrated. Zhang Gao clearly didn¡¯t want to investigate his father¡¯s death.

    ¡°Director, we may not be able to fight the Kabas Empire, but we should still investigate what happened. We need to find out if it was truly a mistake or if someone misled them into attacking my father¡¯s ship,¡± said Shu Yuming, the head of Operations. His sharp mind had already suspected foul play.

    The Operations Department handled secretive and covert tasks, like intelligence work. Shu Yuming, as the head, was skilled in plotting and strategy.

    It was no surprise that Shu Yuming suspected a conspiracy in Zhang Lian¡¯s death.

    Tong Hao observed Shu Yuming carefully. As expected, Shu Yuming was the first to raise doubts about a possible conspiracy.

    Shu Yuming had been one of Zhang Lian¡¯s most trusted strategists, similar to a military advisor.

    Zhang Gao became irritated. He had just taken control of the United Front Bureau, and already these old staff members were pressuring him to investigate his father¡¯s death.

    Deep down, Zhang Gao didn¡¯t believe his father¡¯s death was part of a conspiracy. The nine major leaders of the Dragon Sea Pirate Gang all came from powerful families. Even if someone had killed Zhang Lian, they would not have gained his position. Zhang Gao knew that, while he had often wished for his father¡¯s death to seize power, he had not been involved in any plot to kill him.

    ¡°Hmm, what Director Shu and Director Sha said makes sense. I¡¯ll take this matter seriously. Everyone, please leave. I need some time to think,¡± Zhang Gao said, signaling for them to leave.

    Once the room was empty, Zhang Gao called out, ¡°Secretary Tong, Director Lan, stay behind. I need to speak with you.¡±

    Zhang Gao turned to Lan Ping, ¡°How much cash is left in the small fund of the United Front Bureau?¡±

    Lan Ping hesitated and glanced at Tong Hao before remaining silent.

    This was a rule set by Zhang Lian. Only the head of the United Front Bureau and the finance director had access to the amount in the small fund. No one else was allowed to know.

    Now that there were three people in the room, Lan Ping felt uncomfortable answering.

    Tong Hao said, ¡°Director, I¡¯ll leave. You and Director Lan can talk. If you need anything, just let me know, and I¡¯ll come back.¡±

    ¡°Wait!¡± Zhang Gao called out sharply.

    He felt annoyed. It was his first time asking for something, and Tong Hao wasn¡¯t responding. Zhang Gao thought this was an attempt to challenge his authority.

    ¡°Director Lan, are you dissatisfied with me as the new head?¡± Zhang Gao asked, his tone harsh.

    Lan Ping was taken aback but quickly realized that Zhang Gao misunderstood her. She had only looked at Tong Hao to signal that she would explain things once he left. But Zhang Gao misinterpreted it as defiance.

    ¡°Heh, Director Zhang, you misunderstand me. The old director set a rule that only the head and the finance director can know the amount in the small fund,¡± Lan Ping explained with a smile, looking at Tong Hao.

    Zhang Gao was embarrassed but didn¡¯t want to admit his mistake. ¡°I see! From now on, let¡¯s change that rule. Only three people will know the amount in the small fund: me, you, and Secretary Tong.¡±

    Tong Hao was surprised. He didn¡¯t expect Zhang Gao to trust him so much. But he quickly realized that Zhang Gao was simply trying to win his loyalty by getting closer to him. Zhang Gao was new to the role and needed someone like Tong Hao, who understood the organization, to help him.

    Lan Ping was taken aback. She hesitated, trying to figure out how to respond. She understood that Zhang Gao didn¡¯t have the same trust in her that his father did.

    Zhang Gao looked at Lan Ping, who had lowered her head. He couldn¡¯t help but notice she was attractive¡ªa mature beauty. He probably thought his father had been involved with her too.

    Lan Ping smiled, ¡°Alright, Director, I¡¯ll follow your new rule. The current balance in the secret account is 5 trillion.¡±

    ¡°Ha, that¡¯s a lot of money!¡± Zhang Gao laughed, but then he suddenly grew serious. ¡°Director Lan, transfer 100 billion to my personal account. I need it urgently.¡±

    Lan Ping was speechless. Zhang Gao didn¡¯t even realize that, as head of the Bureau, he could access the secret account freely. But she didn¡¯t argue. She agreed without hesitation.

    Now that Zhang Gao was in charge, Lan Ping knew she had to meet his demands to secure her position.

    She said, ¡°I¡¯ll transfer the funds right away, Director Zhang.¡±

    Zhang Gao quickly replied, ¡°Alright, Director Lan, go quickly. There¡¯s nothing more for you to do here.¡±

    Once the office was empty, Zhang Gao became more relaxed. He asked Tong Hao, ¡°What¡¯s going on with the heads of Security and Operations? It was just a mistake with the Kabas Empire¡¯s ship. Why are they so focused on investigating my father¡¯s death? It¡¯s annoying! Tong Hao, you¡¯ve worked with my father for years. Help me get rid of those two and replace them with people I trust.¡±

    Tong Hao smiled. This plan fit his own goals. ¡°Director, getting rid of them is easy. Just give the order. But I suggest waiting before making replacements. You¡¯ve just taken over your father¡¯s position. It¡¯s better to stabilize the staff first. You can make your trusted people deputies for now to weaken their power.¡±

    ¡°Ha! You¡¯re right, Tong Hao. I¡¯ll call Han Youhui and Gong Jingshan to make one the deputy head of Security and the other the deputy head of Operations,¡± Zhang Gao said eagerly.

    Tong Hao thought to himself, You¡¯re an idiot. The more you mess up, the better.

    Han Youhui and Gong Jingshan were Zhang Gao¡¯s bodyguards, assigned by his father. They were good in combat, but lacked leadership skills¡ªjust like Zhang Gao.

    That¡¯s why Tong Hao hadn¡¯t encountered them in District S.

 Chapter 44: Continuing the Plan

    After Zhang Gao finished notifying the two individuals, Tong Hao spoke carefully. ¡°Director, when the former Director last spoke to me, he planned to give 50% of the funds raised each month by the Universe Pan-Hua Ethnic Association to the United Front Work Department¡¯s small treasury. Then, suddenly, he was killed by the Kabas Empire¡¯s battleship.¡±

    Zhang Gao was surprised by this information.

    He was not stupid. As soon as Tong Hao mentioned it, Zhang Gao thought the Yinglong Pirate Group¡¯s headquarters might have been behind Zhang Lian¡¯s death. He thought someone might have used others to do it.

    Zhang Gao looked at Tong Hao with a mixed expression, his mind working fast.

    Zhang Gao did not have big goals. He was greedy, lustful, uneducated, and afraid. His biggest dream was to take over Zhang Lian¡¯s position, get rich, and live an easy, luxurious life.

    Now, he was worried the Yinglong Pirate Group might target him next. If that happened, how could he continue his easy life?

    Zhang Gao whispered, ¡°Tong Hao, have you told anyone else about this?¡±

    Tong Hao replied firmly, ¡°I used to be the former Director¡¯s secretary, and now I work for you. I would never tell anyone about such sensitive information.¡±

    Zhang Gao felt relieved. He had feared that news of his father¡¯s death would spread. If that happened, someone in the United Front Work Department or the Universe Pan-Hua Ethnic Association could team up with the Yinglong Pirate Group to get rid of him.

    Zhang Gao trusted Tong Hao. He knew that if Tong Hao wanted to betray him, he could have done it when he returned from Area S.

    ¡°Tong Hao, what should we do now?¡± Zhang Gao asked, wanting to hear his advice.

    Zhang Gao did not know much about the operations of the United Front Work Department and the Universe Pan-Hua Ethnic Association. The secret news Tong Hao had shared made Zhang Gao decide to quickly remove Chang Sha Guangliang, the head of the Security Division, and Shu Yuming, the head of the Operations Division, to protect his position.

    ¡°Director, the nine major leaders of the Yinglong Pirate Group act on their own, which is our tradition. Now, you need to demand that their headquarters take action and ask the Kabas Empire for an explanation for the former Director¡¯s death,¡± Tong Hao suggested.

    Zhang Gao frowned and asked, ¡°Tong Hao, wasn¡¯t it the Yinglong Pirate Group that killed my father? Why should I ask the Kabas Empire for an explanation? The Kabas Empire is not something the Yinglong Pirate Group can challenge! Isn¡¯t that asking for trouble? If I do that, they will surely attack me! Let¡¯s just pretend my father was killed by the Kabas Empire and not investigate further. We can continue running the United Front Work Department and the Universe Pan-Hua Ethnic Association as usual.¡±

    Tong Hao thought poorly of Zhang Gao¡¯s cowardice. He thought, This fool wouldn¡¯t even take revenge for his father¡¯s death!

    He answered, ¡°Director, no one knows for sure whether the Yinglong Pirate Group was behind the former Director¡¯s death. It¡¯s just our guess. The public information suggests it was the Kabas military that killed him. You need to take a strong stand and make it clear that you want to avenge the former Director. You need to ask for justice.¡±

    ¡°By doing so, you¡¯ll show you are not someone to be ignored. It will stop the heads of the United Front Work Department and the Yinglong Pirate Group¡¯s headquarters from interfering with your department. Don¡¯t worry about whether the Yinglong Pirate Group can fight the Kabas Empire. You¡¯re just showing dissatisfaction and asking for an explanation. If their headquarters cannot give one, we can use this chance to move more funds into the United Front Work Department¡¯s small treasury. That can be compensation from the Yinglong Pirate Group for your loss.¡±

    Tong Hao went on, ¡°As for revenge from their headquarters, you can replace all department heads with people you trust. Besides, since we are in the Biot Federation, the Yinglong Pirate Group cannot reach us. You have no reason to worry.¡±

    Zhang Gao repeated, ¡°Move more funds to the small treasury.¡± He couldn¡¯t help it. He loved money. Tong Hao¡¯s suggestion struck a chord.

    ¡°Haha, Tong Hao, your idea is great. I¡¯ll go along with it. If you want any position or reward, feel free to ask. I¡¯ll promise you anything right now,¡± Zhang Gao said, trying to bribe him in his awkward way.

    Tong Hao, with contempt in his eyes, replied, ¡°It¡¯s my job as the secretary to help the Director. I don¡¯t need any reward. I only hope to continue serving you in the future.¡±You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

    At that moment, Zhang Gao¡¯s wrist communicator beeped with an incoming message. He opened it and saw a notification from Clayton First Bank: ¡°Account ZCKLAD2020121221A has just received 10 billion Biot credits. Congratulations, Mr. Zhang Gao, you¡¯ve become our Diamond VIP client. I am your dedicated account manager, Xiao Fangfang, personal ID: XXXXXXXX.¡±

    Zhang Gao smiled, pleased with Lan Ping¡¯s response. He thought to himself, Since this woman is so smart, I¡¯ll let her stay as the head of the finance department.

    Tong Hao saw Zhang Gao¡¯s greedy, lustful, and cowardly nature and decided not to stay any longer. He excused himself to handle his own matters.

    Zhang Gao didn¡¯t stop him. He was already thinking about how to spend the 10 billion credits.

    At the Pan-Hua Tower, 499th Floor, Director¡¯s Secretary Office

    ¡°Liu Rong, I have something important to do. If anyone asks for me, tell them I¡¯m not here. Remember, anyone,¡± Tong Hao said firmly.

    The assistant¡¯s voice came through the communicator, ¡°Got it, Secretary Tong.¡±

    Tong Hao released the button, sighed, and said, ¡°Finally, I¡¯ve got this second-generation rich guy back on track.¡±

    He forced himself to focus and pressed a hidden touch screen in his desk.

    The screen lit up and showed a password box.

    Tong Hao typed in a long password.

    The infrared light from the ceiling scanned the whole room and disappeared into the floor.

    A mechanical voice spoke, ¡°The space is secure. No surveillance or eavesdropping devices detected.¡±

    Large black metal plates quickly dropped over the door and windows, sealing them tightly.

    Tong Hao saw his office turn into a temporary secure room. He felt reassured and kept entering another set of codes on the touch screen.

    A personal holographic computer slowly rose from the floor and stopped in front of him.

    The holographic screen activated, showing two fields for entering an account and password.

    Tong Hao quickly typed the information, then placed his hand on a fingerprint scan screen. The fields disappeared, replaced by a message: ¡°Identity verification in progress¡­¡±

    The fingerprint scan blinked three times, then the screen displayed: ¡°Identity confirmed. Accessing system¡­¡±

    Tong Hao eagerly withdrew his hand.

    The screen changed, showing many light points. Slowly, the points came together to form an image of a beautiful middle-aged woman¡ªLan Yiting, the head of the Yinglong Pirate Group¡¯s propaganda department.

    Lan Yiting looked serious, very different from her usual calm, detached attitude when meeting with the Yinglong Pirate Group.

    ¡°Tong Hao, the situation has changed.

    We originally wanted to use the Kabas Empire to get rid of Zhang Lian, which would cause trouble among the nine major families and spark internal conflict. Our organization could then take over the Yinglong Pirate Group and push for the rise of the Pan-Hua ethnic group in the universe. But the Kabas Empire¡¯s public announcement has made things harder. Now many believe the Kabas military killed Zhang Lian by mistake.

    What¡¯s the situation on your side?¡±

    After explaining, Lan Yiting asked for Tong Hao¡¯s update.

    Tong Hao replied respectfully, ¡°Leader, Zhang Lian¡¯s son, Zhang Gao, has taken over as the new head of the United Front Work Department. From his behavior, he¡¯s an incompetent, scared second-generation rich guy. He doesn¡¯t want to avenge his father or challenge the Yinglong Pirate Group¡¯s headquarters. He just wants to live quietly and enjoy life.¡±

    Lan Yiting asked, ¡°Hmm, Tong Hao, as an important member of our organization, what do you suggest now that things are more complicated?¡±

    Tong Hao answered in detail, ¡°Leader, I think we can continue with the original plan.

    I can make Zhang Gao confront the Yinglong Pirate Group¡¯s headquarters, forcing Lei Hengbang to fight the Kabas Empire. Even though it¡¯s publicly known the Kabas military killed Zhang Lian, we can change the story. For example, we could spread rumors that Lei Hengbang betrayed Zhang Lian¡¯s ship route or that he used the Kabas military to kill him.

    From a motive standpoint, everyone knows that Zhang Lian and Lei Hengbang didn¡¯t get along, so it would make sense for Lei Hengbang to kill him. Once the rumors spread, Lei Hengbang will have to act to clear his name.

    The Yinglong Pirate Group¡¯s retaliation against the Kabas Empire will cause great losses, and the nine families will likely become unhappy with Lei Hengbang. At that point, we can proceed with the original plan.¡±

    ¡°You... Tong Hao, do you realize that this could cause huge losses for the Yinglong Pirate Group and even put the Pan-Hua ethnic group at risk?¡± Lan Yiting asked, showing some dislike for Tong Hao¡¯s plan.

    ¡°Leader, the Yinglong Pirate Group is already beyond saving. Though we seem to be the last armed force of the Pan-Hua ethnic group, we¡¯re just tools for the nine major families to further their own goals. The group no longer cares about the future of the Pan-Hua people.

    Leader, if that weren¡¯t true, why would you, one of the nine families, have founded our organization? You must have seen long ago that the Yinglong Pirate Group has no future.

    If it¡¯s hopeless, it¡¯s better to tear it down and rebuild!¡± Tong Hao¡¯s eyes were full of passion.

    Lan Yiting looked at him for a moment. She thought, Tong Hao¡¯s abilities are clear, but sometimes he¡¯s too extreme!

    Still, she had to admit that Tong Hao had a point.

    As the head of propaganda for the Yinglong Pirate Group, Lan Yiting knew a lot about the universe¡¯s political landscape. She had enough information to see that a big conflict was coming, which would create an opportunity for the Pan-Hua ethnic group to rise.

    But the Yinglong Pirate Group had already become corrupt and lacked the vision to lead the Pan-Hua people.

    The nine major families controlled their own factions and used the United Front Work Department to deceive the descendants of the Pan-Hua ethnic group, collecting donations to fund their lavish lives.

    Meanwhile, Lei Hengbang dreamed of founding a new Pan-Hua Empire. The other families resisted his efforts, fearing they¡¯d lose their privileges. The internal strife wasted valuable resources.

    To break the deadlock, Tong Hao¡¯s plan seemed the most effective¡ªtear it down to rebuild.

    A fight with the Kabas Empire would likely cause massive losses for the nine families, and the internal strife in the Yinglong Pirate Group would surely grow.

    Lan Yiting paused before speaking, ¡°Tong Hao, I agree with your plan.¡±

 Chapter 45: The Dispute in the Conference Room

    Pirate Nebula ¨C Headquarters of the Yinglong Pirate Group.

    In a room decorated in a simple Chinese Han-Tang style, Lei Hengbang slammed his teacup onto the zitan wood table. The sharp sound filled the room.

    At that moment, a holographic TV broadcast showed an announcement from the Cabas Empire.

    The three-dimensional image showed a luxury private spacecraft being hit by a large laser beam. The beam went through it, and the explosion of its faster-than-light engine created a ball of flames. The ship then disappeared into the cold, dark space.

    Lei Hengbang saw the small spacecraft¡¯s serial number: ZLPBD---518.

    A satisfied smile appeared on his face. He said, ¡°Zhang Lian, that old man, was killed by the Cabas Empire¡¯s battleships as a terrorist. How great!¡±

    The door opened, and his eldest son, Lei Tiandu, walked in.

    ¡°Father, what makes you so happy?¡± Lei Tiandu asked.

    ¡°Zhang Lian, that old man, was killed by the Cabas Empire¡¯s military. How great!¡± Lei Hengbang picked up his teacup and took a sip, looking pleased.

    Lei Tiandu looked at the holographic TV for a moment, and his eyes lit up. ¡°Father, does this mean we can now take over the United Front Department? I heard Zhang Lian¡¯s son, Zhang Gao, is just a useless playboy, wasting his time on women and luxury. The United Front Department must be in trouble under his rule.¡±

    ¡°Hmph, you¡¯re not much better! How dare you criticize others!¡± Lei Hengbang scolded his son, then added, ¡°But yes, it¡¯s time to act!¡±

    ¡°If Zhang Gao is finished, their direct Zhang family line will be cut off. It will be easier for us to take over the United Front Department.¡±

    ¡°The United Front Department controls 40% of our Yinglong Pirate Group¡¯s money. It has been in the hands of the Zhang family. That¡¯s why Zhang Lian dared to act so arrogantly, not showing respect to me, the leader.¡±

    ¡°By the way, take care of the leader¡¯s guard unit. If we want to slowly take control from the other eight factions, we need military power. Otherwise, they won¡¯t give up their power easily.¡±

    Lei Tiandu grinned. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Father. Our main fleet now has 150 ships, and we have 130,000 soldiers. I¡¯ve already told the Ligu Ghost Pirate Group to attack other star systems. Once we have enough money, we¡¯ll keep growing the leader¡¯s guard unit.¡±

    Li Zifeng, Yinglong Pirate Group¡¯s Intelligence Director, was also watching the Cabas Empire¡¯s announcement at home. When he saw that the so-called terrorist who had been killed was Zhang Lian, his heart skipped a beat.

    ¡°This must be a plot!¡± Li Zifeng¡¯s years of experience in intelligence made him suspect something immediately.

    ¡°It¡¯s probably Lei Hengbang¡¯s doing,¡± he thought.

    At the meeting of the nine factions, Zhang Lian had fought with Lei Hengbang. Not long after, Zhang Lian was killed by the Cabas Empire¡¯s military. The timing was too suspicious.

    Li Zifeng, who ran the Intelligence Department, had gotten information from his subordinates saying that Lei Hengbang was secretly growing his guard unit.

    ¡°Lei Hengbang, you¡¯ve gone too far!¡± Li Zifeng muttered to himself.

    Shi Mo, the Director of the History Department, sighed after watching the Cabas Empire¡¯s broadcast. He said, ¡°For one general¡¯s success, many people die.¡±

    Based on historical records, Shi Mo guessed that Lei Hengbang was behind Zhang Lian¡¯s death.

    Han Li, the Director of the Dark Dragon Department, was a big supporter of Lei Hengbang. His Dark Dragon Department had grown stronger with Lei Hengbang¡¯s full support. The department was now very influential across different cosmic nations. The Dark Dragon Department had also become a key force in stopping the United Front Department.

    After seeing the broadcast from the Cabas Empire, Han Li thought that Zhang Lian had just been unlucky, and the Cabas Empire¡¯s military had mistakenly killed him.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

    The Director of the Justice Department, Tian Heng, and the Director of the Public Security Department, He Tiezou, had forces within the Yinglong Pirate Group, but they stayed neutral. They focused only on their own territories and did not interfere with the fights between the big factions.

    The Vice Leader, Qi Mu, was also neutral. He was a man of honor from a low-profile family. Qi Mu had always worked hard to manage the Chiyou Fleet. Though other big factions had put loyal followers in the Chiyou Fleet, Qi Mu didn¡¯t mind. He was seen as someone who always did what was best for the entire Yinglong Pirate Group.

    ¡°Shi Lao, with Zhang Lian¡¯s sudden death, how should we report it in the Propaganda Department?¡± He Yiting, the head of the Propaganda Department, video-called Shi Mo.

    Shi Mo, the Director of the History Department, handled education and research in the Yinglong Pirate Group. He was a well-educated man, older than the other big faction leaders. Out of respect, He Yiting always called him ¡°Shi Lao.¡±

    Both the History and Propaganda Departments worked on culture, and they had a good relationship.

    ¡°Ah, Yiting! You know how things went when the nine of us met. Zhang Lian¡¯s sudden passing really makes me sad.¡±

    ¡°We need to stay united, or the Yinglong Pirate Group will have no future!¡±

    ¡°I never thought the leader would... well, let¡¯s not talk about that.¡±

    ¡°Zhang Lian was proud, but since he took over the United Front Department, the department¡¯s funding grew a lot.¡±

    ¡°He made a lot of contributions to the Yinglong Pirate Group.¡±

    ¡°I think your department should focus on Zhang Lian¡¯s achievements¡­¡±

    Shi Mo talked for a long time.

    After the call ended, He Yiting kept a neutral look. But inside, she understood Shi Mo¡¯s thoughts.

    As the head of the Propaganda Department, He Yiting usually worked with the other eight faction leaders on major announcements. She now knew their different opinions.

    At that moment, she realized the Intelligence Department, History Department, and her own Propaganda Department would all see Lei Hengbang as the killer of Zhang Lian. With the United Front Department, influenced by Tong Hao, on her side, four major factions now supported her.

    A few days later, the nine big faction leaders of the Yinglong Pirate Group met again to welcome Zhang Gao as the new head of the United Front Department and to pay respects for Zhang Lian¡¯s death.

    Zhang Gao, not wanting to come to the Yinglong Pirate Group headquarters, was busy and, influenced by Tong Hao, thought the headquarters was behind Zhang Lian¡¯s death.

    There was a virtual community in the universal holographic network called ¡°Yinglong Home,¡± where members of the Yinglong Pirate Group interacted and relaxed.

    The Yinglong Pirate Group had over two billion members in many bases in the Pirate Nebula and other secret parts of the galaxy. Though they were pirates, their structure and organization made them act like a small country inside.

    Because the bases were small and far apart, the group created ¡°Yinglong Home¡± online to help members communicate.

    Once members¡¯ minds connected to the holographic network, Yinglong Home served as a virtual nation for the group.

    Recently, the Propaganda Department had been promoting Zhang Lian¡¯s achievements, making many people talk and praise him in the Yinglong Home community.

    Pirate A: ¡°Director Zhang was really a great person! He raised so much money for us. He was the best United Front Director in history. It¡¯s so sad he left us so soon.¡±

    Pirate B: ¡°Good people don¡¯t live long! We pirates risk our lives every day and we¡¯re fine. But Director Zhang, sitting in his office, was killed by a battleship. If only he had stayed in his office and not gone out.¡±

    Pirate C, speaking in a mysterious tone: ¡°Pirate B, you¡¯re wrong. If someone wants to hurt you, you¡¯re not safe, even if you hide. You won¡¯t live long.¡±

    Pirate D, interested: ¡°Pirate C, what do you mean? What¡¯s going on? Speak up, or I¡¯ll beat you!¡±

    Pirate C, reluctantly: ¡°Haven¡¯t you heard? Zhang Lian had a big fight with our leader Lei Hengbang at the meeting and quickly left the Yinglong Pirate Group headquarters. Then, he was suddenly killed by a battleship in the Cabas Empire.¡±

    Pirate E quickly added: ¡°So you mean, Leader Lei used a knife to kill Zhang Lian?¡±

    Pirate C, angrily: ¡°Damn you, Pirate E, don¡¯t make up things!¡±

    At that moment, a crowd of people gathered, exchanging knowing looks.

    Gossip and rumors spread easily anywhere.

    The chat in the Yinglong Home community quickly spread, with many twists and turns.

    Soon, many rumors and speculations about Zhang Lian¡¯s death spread across the entire community.

    A few days later, the trending topics in Yinglong Home were:

    <ol>

    <li>Why were Zhang Lian and Lei Hengbang not getting along?</li>

    <li>The fight between Zhang Lian and Lei Hengbang at the last meeting.</li>

    <li>Strange things about Zhang Lian¡¯s death.</li>

    <li>The sudden growth of Lei Hengbang¡¯s personal guard unit.</li>

    <li>Lei Hengbang¡¯s seventh son beating a man over a young woman.</li>

    <li>We need to ask the Cabas Empire for justice for Zhang Lian¡¯s death.</li>

    </ol>

    The top ten trending topics were all about Zhang Lian and Lei Hengbang, including bad reports about Lei Hengbang¡¯s family.

    In particular, an article analyzing Zhang Lian¡¯s death asked two important questions:

    <ol>

    <li>

    Zhang Lian, the brave United Front Director, died without any explanation. Why did the Cabas Empire shoot him down so quickly and carelessly?

    </li>

    <li>

    Did the mysterious disappearance of the spaceship have anything to do with the growing tension between Zhang Lian and Lei Hengbang?

    </li>

    </ol>

    The ninth faction, the Gai family, quickly released a statement. They said that Zhang Lian¡¯s death needed more investigation. Because of this, the mood in the Yinglong Pirate Group became more tense.

    At the same time, rumors about Lei Hengbang¡¯s fast-growing guard unit spread even more, and his faction¡¯s goals began to get more attention.

 Chapter 46: The 9 Major Titans Clash

    Lei Hengbang opened the message. He felt his face flush with anger. His frustration grew with each word.

    He turned his gaze to Lan Yiting. He had never imagined that the usually calm Director of Public Relations would turn against him. This time, she failed to stop the damaging news about him and his family.

    The message, forwarded by Lei Tiandu, revealed that the Yinglong family¡¯s reputation was being attacked.

    Lei Hengbang quickly understood the issue. Lan Yiting had failed to control the spread of harmful news.

    A new thought struck him. Did Qi Mu act strangely today because he saw the news about the Yinglong family and now thinks I killed Zhang Lian?

    He thought about the earlier meeting. He realized the actions of the other eight titans had been unusual, except for Han Li. Han Li had acted normally.

    Could it be that, apart from Han Li, the others believe I killed Zhang Lian? Lei Hengbang felt a surge of anger. The Kabas Empire has already issued a statement with holographic evidence, saying they killed Zhang Lian. Why are they blaming me?

    He Tiezhu shouted, ¡°This is bad! Over a million people are gathering in the central plaza, demanding that we, the nine titans, avenge Director Zhang Lian!¡±

    This message came from He Tiezhu¡¯s deputy.

    He Tiezhu was the Director of Security, and his department was the first to notice and report the mass gathering.

    Lei Hengbang quickly ordered the guards to open the meeting room¡¯s holographic screen.

    The screen showed a sea of people in the plaza. Countless civilians were holding signs and chanting, ¡°Avenge Director Zhang! Attack the Kabas Empire!¡± Their shouts filled the air.

    A news anchor on the screen said, ¡°Director Zhang Lian was suddenly killed by the Kabas Empire. Now, over a million civilians have taken to the streets, hoping the ongoing meeting of the nine titans will offer a solution. Let¡¯s connect to Base 1008 to get more details¡­¡±

    The connection to dozens of Yinglong Pirate Group bases was soon established. Each base was flooded with hundreds of thousands, even millions, of people demanding justice for Zhang Lian.

    The number of protesters was still growing.

    Lei Hengbang felt cold sweat forming on his forehead. Fear began to creep in.

    If he opposed taking action against the Kabas Empire, not only would the civilians turn against him, but the other titans might also start suspecting that he killed Zhang Lian.

    ¡°Humph! These people dare to disrupt our meeting! I¡¯ll send the security forces to arrest them!¡± He Tiezhu said confidently.

    He controlled hundreds of thousands of security forces. Dealing with civilians was easy for him.

    At first, Lei Hengbang considered this suggestion. It seemed like a good idea. But then he dismissed it.

    He wasn¡¯t afraid of the civilians. He was afraid that the eight titans might believe he had killed Zhang Lian. That would be disastrous.

    ¡°Captain, let me send people to disperse them. They don¡¯t have weapons. Even though there are many of them, it won¡¯t matter. We can kill a few of them if needed!¡± He Tiezhu said carelessly.

    ¡°Shut up! Director He, those people outside are our fellow Panhua Tribe members. There aren¡¯t many of us in the entire universe. Every one of them is valuable,¡± Qi Mu snapped at him.

    ¡°We can¡¯t just kill them! If you think you¡¯re so brave, why don¡¯t you lead the security forces to fight the Kabas Empire instead of trying to show off against a group of ordinary people?¡±Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

    It was the first time anyone had seen Qi Mu so angry and direct.

    He Tiezhu¡¯s face turned pale with rage. He fell silent for a moment.

    He had seen the civilians challenge the nine titans¡¯ authority and feared that this might sway the meeting. If that happened, Zhang Gao¡¯s foolish proposal to confront the Kabas Empire could gain support, threatening his own wealth and power. So, he had thought about using force to suppress the protesters.

    Lei Hengbang saw Qi Mu¡¯s reaction and realized that he could no longer trust him.

    Today¡¯s events made him realize that his position in the Yinglong Pirate Group was insecure. He would need outside support to strengthen his position.

    But first, he had to calm the other titans. He wasn¡¯t sure how many of them believed he killed Zhang Lian, but he needed to clear his name.

    ¡°Alright, we must consider the people¡¯s voices, or we will lose our foundation. Let¡¯s discuss how to retaliate against the Kabas Empire and avenge Director Zhang Lian!¡± Lei Hengbang shifted his stance.

    ¡°I disagree! Any retaliation against the Kabas Empire will bring disaster to the Yinglong Pirate Group!¡± He Tiezhu opposed firmly.

    But none of the other eight titans supported him.

    The room fell silent.

    Zhang Gao felt frustrated. He had planned to confront the Yinglong Pirate Group headquarters, demanding more funds for his United Front Bureau. But now, an unexpected incident had ruined his opportunity. Even worse, Lei Hengbang had reversed his stance and was now planning to retaliate against the Kabas Empire.

    Zhang Gao turned to Tong Hao for advice, but Tong Hao advised him to wait and observe.

    Tong Hao wasn¡¯t willing to let anyone disrupt the plan he had set in motion with Lan Yiting. He wasn¡¯t going to let anyone spoil it!

    Lei Hengbang was seething with anger. He cursed Lan Yiting and the Public Relations Bureau.

    If Lan Yiting had blocked the rumors in the Yinglong community, Lei Hengbang wouldn¡¯t be in such a vulnerable position.

    Now, with the civilians gathering in the plaza, he didn¡¯t know how many titans had fallen for the rumors.

    If he didn¡¯t clearly support retaliation against the Kabas Empire, it would be seen as confirmation that he had killed Zhang Lian.

    That would be a disaster. If the nine titans split, everything would fall apart.

    ¡°Director Lan, why didn¡¯t your Public Relations Bureau stop the spread of those messages?¡± Han Li asked, accusing her.

    He had initially hoped to build a closer relationship with Lan Yiting, but now he realized she wasn¡¯t on his side.

    ¡°Director Han, don¡¯t forget that the Yinglong Pirate Group owes its success to the contributions of Panhua descendants from various countries. We¡¯ve always promoted ourselves as a pirate group fighting for the equality and freedom of the Panhua people¡¯s resurgence in the universe.

    If we, the Public Relations Bureau, restrict information or prevent these people from expressing themselves, it goes against everything we stand for. If this gets out, we will lose the support of the Panhua descendants in the universe.

    Do you understand how serious this is, Director Han and all the other leaders? 55% of our funding comes from them. 35% of our population is made up of Panhua descendants. If we lose their support, our strength will drop by at least 40%.

    We will become a third-rate power in the Pirate Nebula. How can we lead the Panhua people to rise again? I, Lan Yiting, cannot take that risk. That¡¯s why I didn¡¯t stop the spread of the messages.

    I believe that as long as we work for the benefit of the Panhua people, the freedom of speech in the Yinglong community will only strengthen our power.¡±

    For the first time, Lan Yiting spoke with clarity and authority.

    Han Li opened his mouth but couldn¡¯t find a way to refute her.

    He wasn¡¯t foolish enough to oppose the values that the Yinglong Pirate Group promoted, even though he secretly disagreed with them.

    ¡°Humph! We¡¯ll capture and secretly kill all those who dare oppose us. Let¡¯s see who dares speak out again! My security forces can handle them. Director Lan, if your Public Relations Bureau doesn¡¯t want to act, you can transfer control of the Yinglong community to me. I¡¯ll deal with the troublemakers!¡± He Tiezhu growled.

    ¡°Heh,¡± Lan Yiting replied coldly.

    ¡°Enough, He Tiezhu,¡± Lei Hengbang interrupted him.

    He didn¡¯t want He Tiezhu to gain too much power, as it might threaten his own position.

    He Tiezhu grunted in frustration. He didn¡¯t want to provoke the Kabas Empire, but he wasn¡¯t going to be nice anymore. He had shown his teeth.

    Earlier, the vote was 5-4 against retaliation against the Kabas Empire.

    Now, Lei Hengbang had switched sides and was planning retaliation.

    If the Chiyou Fleet attacked the Kabas Empire, the Yinglong Pirate Group would suffer huge losses. They might even be expelled from the Pirate Nebula.

    For He Tiezhu, whose power was mainly in the Pirate Nebula, this was unacceptable.

    Lan Yiting watched as He Tiezhu¡¯s expression grew increasingly bitter. She smiled coldly. When your power weakens, all the directors will turn against each other. That will be my chance to take over the Yinglong Pirate Group.

    Shi Mo looked at Lan Yiting with newfound respect. He hadn¡¯t expected her to be such an idealist. He couldn¡¯t help but admire her a little.

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s come up with a plan. How should we retaliate against the Kabas Empire?¡± Lei Hengbang asked bluntly.

 Chapter 47: Effort Wasted

    Lei Hengbang¡¯s question caused silence in the large conference room of the Yinglong Pirate Group¡¯s headquarters. The nine giants didn¡¯t know how to respond.

    Lei Hengbang asked the question because he had decided not to use the Chiyou Fleet to attack the Cabas Empire¡¯s life planet to get revenge on Zhang Lian. Now, anyone who had a new plan to attack the Cabas Empire could be chosen by Lei Hengbang and the other giants to carry out the revenge.

    If any of the nine giants'' departments were to attack the Cabas Empire, their department could face huge losses.

    Lei Hengbang looked at the other eight giants. He thought, "You all wanted to attack the Cabas Empire earlier. Why is everyone quiet now?"

    Lan Yiting cleared her throat and said, "The plan Zhang Gao suggested earlier, to use the Chiyou Pirate Group to attack the life planet of the Cabas Empire, seems good. If we launch a major attack, we can show our strength and calm the emotions of the people. It will also show other groups in the universe that the Yinglong Pirate Group is powerful."

    She said this reluctantly.

    Lan Yiting had to say this to bring big losses to the Yinglong Pirate Group and create conflict among the giants.

    This plan had been discussed with Tong Hao. If the Cabas Empire knew that the Yinglong Pirate Group was behind the attack, they would send fleets to retaliate. This would cause huge losses.

    Qi Mu, the leader of the Chiyou Fleet, cared more about the big picture. He wouldn¡¯t oppose a plan most agreed on. He had already agreed to use the Chiyou Fleet to attack the Cabas Empire¡¯s life planet.

    Lan Yiting thought Qi Mu would support her idea.

    "I¡¯ll say it again. The Chiyou Fleet can attack at any time," Qi Mu confirmed, agreeing with Lan Yiting''s guess.

    "I agree," said Director of the History Bureau, Shi Mo.

    "I agree too," said Zhang Gao, attending remotely via hologram from the Biot Empire. He had been convinced by Tong Hao.

    Justice Director Tian Heng had been silent until now. He had heard He Tiezhou oppose the direct attack on the Cabas Empire¡¯s life planet, but the four giants had supported it. He had no choice but to speak up.

    Tian Heng had a similar situation to He Tiezhou. Both had forces in the Yinglong Pirate Group, so Tian Heng didn¡¯t want to attack the Cabas Empire either. He preferred to wait before taking a stance, to avoid offending anyone.

    He thought about it. The two departments in the Yinglong Pirate Group that could harm the Cabas Empire the most were the Chiyou Pirate Group and the Dark Dragon Society.

    Although Tian Heng didn¡¯t know the exact number of Dark Dragon Society members in the Cabas Empire, he estimated, from his subordinates'' investigations, that there were around 5 to 10 million. The Cabas Empire had the largest population of Pan-Hua ethnic descendants in the universe.

    Since the Yinglong Pirate Group had already decided to retaliate against the Cabas Empire, using these two departments would be most effective.

    Lei Hengbang, as the leader, wasn¡¯t a fool. He knew this.

    However, Lei Hengbang didn¡¯t want the Dark Dragon Society to suffer losses. He also didn¡¯t want the Chiyou Fleet to attack the Cabas Empire. He preferred to use other departments to carry out the revenge.

    "Looking at the situation now, using other departments won¡¯t satisfy Lan Yiting and the others," Tian Heng thought. "Hmph, Lei Hengbang, don¡¯t blame me. I¡¯ll take back all the power."

    Lei Hengbang quickly considered which department could carry out the revenge. He would never agree to using the Chiyou Fleet to attack the Cabas Empire¡¯s life planet.

    Suddenly, Tian Heng spoke loudly, "In my opinion, the Dark Dragon Society should carry out the revenge against the Cabas Empire in secret. I¡¯ve heard that the Dark Dragon Society has over 10 million members in the Cabas Empire. That¡¯s enough to carry out any form of revenge."This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

    When Tian Heng finished speaking, Han Li stood up angrily and glared at Tian Heng.

    Tian Heng ignored him and continued, "Everyone, using the Chiyou Fleet to attack the Cabas Empire might work at first. But once the Cabas Empire reacts, they will defend and retaliate against the Yinglong Pirate Group.

    "This is a foolish decision, and the result may not be good.

    "On the other hand, using the Dark Dragon Society is different. It is one of the largest criminal organizations in the Cabas Empire, spread across every star system. It can attack the people, government departments, or companies of the Cabas Empire easily and effectively. The Dark Dragon Society can achieve the goal of avenging Director Zhang Lian.

    "Also, by using the Dark Dragon Society to attack the Cabas Empire secretly, we will not provoke the Cabas Empire into attacking the Yinglong Pirate Group.

    "Once the Dark Dragon Society succeeds, Lan Yiting¡¯s propaganda department can spread the results to calm the anger of the common people.

    "Using the Dark Dragon Society for revenge is the best choice. Why not do it?

    "Why does the Yinglong Pirate Group need to use the Chiyou Fleet to attack the life planet of the Cabas Empire and risk unnecessary retaliation?"

    Tian Heng spoke proudly. Even though he had upset Han Li and Lei Hengbang, he wasn¡¯t afraid. He had many criminal cases involving members of Lei Hengbang and Han Li¡¯s families in his judicial system. He could use them anytime.

    Lan Yiting was shocked. She had also thought that using the Dark Dragon Society to attack the Cabas Empire was the best choice, but it didn¡¯t fit her goal of taking control of the Yinglong Pirate Group through chaos.

    Before Lan Yiting could speak, History Bureau Director Shi Mo spoke first, "Hmm, I agree with Tian Heng¡¯s plan. Compared to using the Chiyou Fleet to attack the Cabas Empire, this makes more sense."

    "I agree too. This is a good approach," said Intelligence Director Li Zifeng.

    "Yes, let¡¯s go with this method. Zhang Gao¡¯s suggestion is childish and laughable," He Tiezhou added quickly, dismissing Zhang Gao¡¯s plan.

    "Yes, Director Tian Heng¡¯s idea is smart, and I agree. I promise the Chiyou Fleet will fully cooperate when the Dark Dragon Society carries out the revenge," said Qi Mu, agreeing without hesitation.

    Lan Yiting felt anxious. She had already thought the Dark Dragon Society should carry out the revenge, but it would stop her plan to take control of the Yinglong Pirate Group.

    Now, the vote was 5:4 in favor of Tian Heng¡¯s plan.

    Normally, Tian Heng¡¯s plan would be approved.

    Now, the key was Lei Hengbang and Han Li, the true leaders of the Dark Dragon Society. If they strongly opposed, the plan wouldn¡¯t go forward.

    Lei Hengbang was furious when he heard Tian Heng¡¯s idea.

    With Tian Heng¡¯s reasoning and the support of the other giants, Lei Hengbang realized his plan to have others carry out the revenge wouldn¡¯t work.

    Five giants had already agreed, so he would have to give up some of his own interests to clear suspicions about him killing Zhang Lian. He thought, "You bastards, wait until I find outside help. I will get all the power back."

    "Alright, we¡¯ll go with Tian Heng¡¯s plan. The Dark Dragon Society will carry out the revenge against the Cabas Empire," Lei Hengbang said firmly.

    Lan Yiting sighed inwardly. Her and Tong Hao¡¯s plan had failed. She decided to take more extreme actions to achieve their goal. The differing demands of the nine giants made peaceful talks impossible.

    In the Chinese Han Tang style room, Lei Hengbang sat facing Han Li.

    "Leader, why agree to their plan? If we oppose together, we can let the United Front Department carry out the revenge against the Cabas Empire," Han Li said with some displeasure, though not openly.

    "Han Li, do you think I killed Zhang Lian?" Lei Hengbang asked, staring at Han Li. He slowly rotated the teacup in his hand, making the sun pattern face the red and white wall.

    "Leader, I never thought that. I trust you," Han Li said sincerely.

    Lei Hengbang looked at Han Li for a moment to make sure he wasn¡¯t lying, then said, "Han Li, I have no choice. I didn¡¯t kill Zhang Lian. Damn it, Zhang Lian was unlucky and got killed by the Cabas Empire. Now everyone is blaming me. I have to clear my name. Do you think I can still let the United Front Department carry out the revenge?"

    "I understand, Leader," Han Li said helplessly.

    Lei Hengbang suddenly said, "By the way, Han Li, when we carry out the revenge, don¡¯t be cheap. Make it as big as possible so everyone believes we are really avenging the Cabas Empire. Also, I didn¡¯t expect Lan Yiting to be so tricky. If the revenge is just a small matter, she definitely won¡¯t support the propaganda. Then it will be impossible to clear my name."

    "Understood, Leader!" Han Li said as he left to carry out the decision from the meeting of the nine giants.

    With a light sound, a secret door appeared in the red and white wall. Lei Tiandu walked out from inside, holding a strange weapon.

    "Father, why don¡¯t we take this chance to get rid of Han Li? The ''Sky Swapping Plan'' is ready and can be done at any time," Lei Tiandu complained.

    "Brat, how dare you speak to me like that?" Lei Hengbang scolded angrily, then sighed and explained, "Han Li hasn¡¯t suspected me. He¡¯s loyal to me, so there¡¯s no need to use the ''Sky Swapping Plan'' on him for now. Remember, we need capable people to work for us. The ''Sky Swapping Plan'' is for those who disobey, not loyal people like Han Li."

    After the meeting with the nine giants, Lei Hengbang went home and wondered if Han Li suspected him of killing Zhang Lian. Han Li had not openly agreed to Tian Heng¡¯s plan in the meeting room. He had only signed it under pressure.

    So, Lei Hengbang ordered Lei Tiandu to hide in the study¡¯s secret room with a weapon. He sent someone to tell Han Li to come see him. If Han Li suspected him, he would prepare to use the "Sky Swapping Plan."

    Lei Hengbang would never allow Han Li to control the Dark Dragon Bureau outside of his influence.

    After realizing that Han Li still trusted him, Lei Hengbang signaled Lei Tiandu to stand down, keeping the "Sky Swapping Plan" ready.

 Chapter 48: Li Wuchangéˆ¥æªš Confusion

    In Lei Hengbang¡¯s study, the door was shut.

    Lei Tiandu stood at the door. He listened carefully. He wanted to know who his father was talking to and why he, as the future leader of the group, was not allowed to know.

    The servants noticed his behavior.

    ¡°Stop staring. Go back to work. If you don¡¯t, I will make you slaves!¡± Lei Tiandu shouted.

    The Yinglong Pirate Group had an unclear structure. The Panhua people were commoners. The other ethnic groups, who had been captured, were treated as prisoners or slaves.

    The servants ran off quickly, scared.

    Inside the study, Lei Hengbang¡¯s screen showed a hologram of Radho, leader of the Teuton Pirate Group.

    ¡°My old friend, I heard about your troubles. I came to check on you!¡± Radho said with a smile.

    ¡°Hmph! Radho, you always know what¡¯s going on. Stop pretending. Just tell me what you want. I¡¯m busy!¡± Lei Hengbang replied.

    ¡°Come on, Lei Hengbang. We¡¯ve been classmates for years, and we know each other well. You¡¯re not so busy. The Yinglong Pirate Group has nine leaders. Your job is just a small part. You¡¯re not the one doing all the work!¡±

    Radho mocked him.

    Lei Hengbang blushed. It was hard to keep up his image in front of an old friend.

    Sighing, he said, ¡°Radho, you didn¡¯t come here to mock me, did you?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t! You turned down my offer last time. But things are different now. I think you¡¯ll agree today!¡± Radho said confidently.

    Lei Hengbang and Radho were childhood friends. They later went to the University of Allemann together. In the pirate star system, the three strongest pirate groups cooperated and competed.

    There was little to fight over in the system. The groups kept peaceful relations.

    The children of the groups often became friends. This helped the "Win-Win Treaty" stay intact.

    Radho and Lei Hengbang built their friendship in this environment.

    At university, they went to a place called HAPPY. Lei Hengbang got drunk and revealed the inner workings of the Yinglong Pirate Group.

    That night, Lei Hengbang criticized the other leaders. He vowed to become the true leader of the group.

    The next day, he regretted his words. He began to distance himself from Radho. He didn¡¯t want anyone to know his true thoughts.The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

    Recently, when Radho¡¯s deputy, Akum, reported a mission to a military planet, Radho realized the Teuton Pirate Group didn¡¯t have the resources to carry out the mission.

    He thought of Lei Hengbang and decided to ask for his help.

    Knowing Lei Hengbang¡¯s thoughts, Radho asked for help.

    Before he could explain, Lei Hengbang rejected him, leaving Radho frustrated.

    Radho¡¯s dream of joining the Mansur Officer Corps depended on completing the mission. If it failed, his dream would be ruined.

    Soon after, the Yinglong Pirate Group received some good news. Zhang Lian, the head of the Unified War Bureau, had died. There was a large petition from the people.

    Radho saw an opportunity and contacted Lei Hengbang again.

    ¡°If I help you with this mission, what do I get in return?¡± Lei Hengbang asked directly.

    Radho was surprised by the question. He had planned to convince Lei Hengbang with different arguments, but now those were not needed.

    Three hours later, Lei Hengbang left his study, smiling. No one knew what kind of deal he had made with Radho.

    As he left, he saw his eldest son, Lei Tiandu, standing outside, listening. When the door opened, Lei Tiandu almost fell.

    Furious, Lei Hengbang shouted, ¡°What are you doing? Didn¡¯t I tell you to stay in your room for three days?¡±

    Reluctantly, Lei Tiandu left.

    Lei Hengbang watched him go and shook his head. He thought, ¡°Lei Tiandu is proud, sensitive, and narrow-minded. He lacks the ability for important roles.¡±

    On Taibai Star, a first-level life planet in the Chang Geng star system, the climate was pleasant. It stayed between 18 to 25 degrees Celsius all year.

    Many large companies had their headquarters or branches there. The Kamen Trade Group, a well-known company from the Kabas Empire, had a branch on Taibai Star. It also operated a large logistics center that sent food supplies to military bases.

    Li Wuchang was a transport ship captain for the Kamen Taibai branch. He had been a destroyer captain in the Kabas Empire fleet before retiring and joining Kamen Trade Group.

    One morning, after breakfast, Li Wuchang was about to leave when his five-year-old daughter, Tuan Tuan, ran up and hugged his leg.

    ¡°Stinky dad, today is my birthday! How could you forget? Come back early tonight for my party!¡± she said cheerfully.

    Li Wuchang was surprised. He had been so focused on other matters that he forgot his daughter¡¯s birthday.

    He bent down, picked her up, and spun her around, making her laugh. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be back early and bring you a big gift!¡±

    ¡°Okay, I trust you. No tricks!¡± Tuan Tuan replied happily.

    At that moment, his wife, Meng Jiang, came out of the kitchen.

    ¡°Tuan Tuan, let go of your dad. He has work to do. Don¡¯t keep him,¡± she said.

    Meng Jiang helped adjust Li Wuchang¡¯s jacket. ¡°Hurry up. The empire is getting stricter with us Panhua people. You¡¯ll be in trouble if you¡¯re late.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ve been working here for a long time,¡± Li Wuchang said with a smile as he prepared to leave.

    ¡°Be safe!¡± Meng Jiang called after him.

    ¡°Dad, come home early!¡± Tuan Tuan shouted as he climbed into his hover car.

    Li Wuchang waved at them. ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am!¡±

    Once out of his wife and daughter¡¯s view, Li Wuchang¡¯s smile faded.

    In addition to being a transport ship captain, Li Wuchang was a member of the Dark Dragon Society.

    The day before, he received his first mission. It was a simple task: drop a metal box labeled ¡°Hope 2¡± and a tracked robot on a target planet.

    Li Wuchang had already loaded the items into the airdrop module and was preparing to drop them from his ship.

    Despite the simple task, he felt uneasy. It seemed like something was wrong. This feeling had caused him to forget his daughter¡¯s birthday.

    Li Wuchang arrived at the Kamen Taibai logistics center, a vast complex with hundreds of transport ships ready to deliver food.

    He parked near his transport ship, the LWC-C15825, and walked toward the landing pad.

    ¡°Captain Li, you¡¯re just on time! If you were three minutes late, your salary would be cut by 10%! The center¡¯s flight supervisor, Karima, passed by and probably hoped you¡¯d be late so she could pocket your salary!¡± joked Wei Zhongping, the ground team leader.