194: Falling victim to a pig butchering scam, unable to resist despite all efforts.

The meeting was not arranged at the Legion's headquarters,

but was instead set at the Node Space Station of Tianjin Seat 5.

This location was ideal; it was situated right at the exit of the Void Channel.

One could enter the meeting venue almost immediately after leaving the Void Channel, which would greatly reduce the time those fellows had to think on the way, maximizing the chance of preventing them from sensing something was amiss and fleeing.

Preparations for this operation were already thorough; both the Marine Corps responsible for capturing the personnel on-site and the fleet responsible for cleaning up those absent had arrived at their designated standby positions.

After confirming one last time that the other action teams were in place, Xi Hai turned and boarded the prepared flagship—a reconnaissance-type FG300.

"Let's set off."

"Let me go and see just what kind of confidence those fellows have to dare make such demands of us."

The silver-white Warship left the Starport and headed toward deep space—

"Activating Warp Drive Module."

...Meanwhile, at the Node Space Station of Tianjin Seat V89.05,

hundreds of starships of various shapes had already entered the Starport for docking. The leaders of various organizations and factions, large and small, had gathered in this space station that already looked slightly dilapidated.

Those fellows were like maggots breeding on rotting meat.

They didn't care at all how disgusting they were, constantly twisting, crawling, and fighting for their own interests.

The venue was arranged in a relatively open hall, where the representatives who had already arrived were chatting with each other.

Every one of them wore the smile of a victor, their every gesture full of arrogance, and they were dressed in formal wear that looked grand but was actually gaudy and mismatched.

It was quite laughable.

"Beep beep!"

Just as the people in the hall were chatting happily, a person looking like a waiter suddenly walked respectfully to the center of the room and turned on a holographic projector.

Following a flash of blue light, an old man with a white beard was projected in the very center of the hall.

Immediately, the people in the hall looked toward him, and after recognizing the fellow, they all quieted down.

That man was, in their eyes, one of the most powerful people in Tianjin Seat V89 at present—the President of the Tianjin Seat Central Mutual Aid Association.

After the hall fell silent, the old man nodded with satisfaction.

Not bad, these fellows knew how to read the room.

Thus, he cleared his throat and spoke:

"Everyone, I am very glad to meet you here."

"Our struggle against the Legion has undoubtedly been an immense success."

"It seems these iron-blooded warriors also have a wise understanding—"

"Which is that they only fight to protect us."

"When the war ends, reconstruction requires resources, connections, and—us."

"Otherwise, they will only get an endlessly chaotic society and a bit of meaningless power."

"As for their new Supreme Director—"

"Rest assured, my family still has quite some influence within the Empire."

"That so-called Grand Duke Chu Xiluo, his surname has never appeared in the Empire before."

"He is either an unacknowledged bastard or just a fool blinded by power."

"Being sent to this place that is practically exile, how could he possibly have any influence?"

"And that frontier Legion, which has been nearly crippled by the Aliens—what strength could it possibly have?"

Saying this, he raised the wine glass in his hand and gestured to everyone present:

"Remember, no matter what proposal that Grand Duke who comes to the meeting makes later, we will all firmly oppose it in unison until he agrees to our demands—"

"Rest assured, if he wants to sit securely in this place, we are the only ones he can rely on."

"I will first wish everyone success here."

Immediately, thunderous applause rang out in the hall:

"The President's insight is profound!"

"The President's insight is profound!"

After that speech, which was practically a declaration of victory, the hall suddenly became lively.

Instantly, the entire hall was filled with a cheerful atmosphere:

"Barbarians must eventually return to order, after all. We foresaw this day long ago—and because of that, we have been preparing for today for a long time."

At this time, the representative of Orland Industrial Group remarked with emotion.

"Fortunately, several hundred years ago, when the Great Restoration was winding down,"

"we acquired all the industrial facilities here at ultra-low prices—"

"By now, the revenue generated by those industrial facilities we leased out is no small amount."

A representative next to him nudged him and said with a smile:

"That's not necessarily true."

"What if that Supreme Director uses force to refuse payment? What can you do?"

"Hahaha!!!" The representative of Orland Industrial Group burst out laughing upon hearing this.

"Are you telling me a joke?"

"We've bought up all the industrial facilities here at rock-bottom prices; how could we not have any stock on hand?"

"The Warships in our hands alone already amount to the size of two mobile fleets."

"If worst comes to worst—me, the families behind you all, plus the Central Federation,"

"we'll first cut off all information here and then start an armed uprising,"

"first wipe out that small fleet that was already battered by the Aliens, and then tie up that Supreme Director to talk some sense into him."

"Anyway—the Imperial Tax Administration Department here is on our side."

But after he said this, someone suddenly asked:

"Speaking of which, have any of your families contacted the people from the Taxation Department lately?"

"Why do I feel like their recent actions have been a bit too low-key?"

Hearing this question, the large group of people in the hall was actually stunned—

"Isn't this kind of thing usually handled by the subordinates?"

"Those guys do seem to have not mentioned the tax zones to us for quite a while..."

"Could it be that they've had some relatively large personnel changes recently?"

"Quickly, go check if the people our families inserted are still there..."

"Bang!"

Suddenly, the door to the hall opened.

Outside the door, Xi Hai was sneering as he looked at these vermin.

The night lamp had already summarized the recording of their conversation for him once.

Colluding with Aliens, withholding supplies,

and even profiting from national misfortune during a time of crisis?

Originally, he had called these fellows here just to give them a misleading indication—that he and the Legion might be willing to negotiate with them.

Anyway, now the action fleets in every star system were in position.

And after hearing those remarks of theirs, he was in no mood to play along with these fellows anymore.

He directly waved his right hand forward, and two teams of Marines wearing black powered armor walked in—

They were the newly formed Tribunal Action Department.

Before the crowd of people in strange formal wear could react, they were kicked to the ground, followed by a barrage of twelve strikes per second enhanced by powered armor.

A large number of people who hadn't been knocked down yet ran toward the interior of the hall, shouting as they ran,

"You damned soldier brutes! Do you know what you're doing right now!"

"You will pay the price for your actions!"

But soon, they couldn't shout anymore—

Almost at the same time, all six doors of the hall opened, and a group of soldiers wielding steel clubs rushed in from behind each door.

Once they started, it was a strike to the head, a strike to the mouth, and then a strike to the leg, followed by a flurry of random blows.

Xi Hai slowly walked into the hall filled with wails.

He looked at those fellows who were high and mighty just a moment ago and were now lying on the ground like stray dogs, and said in a slow and deliberate manner:

"As for the matter of the Taxation Department, there's no need to check."

"Colluding with Aliens, withholding military supplies—"

"They've already gone to hell long ago."

Saying this, Xi Hai tapped his earpiece and softly said "Action."

He then looked at the still-wailing crowd—

"As for you?"

"You'll be joining them soon."

"Leave a few with high status; they'll be useful later!"

"Yes!"

...(Soldier A: This one still has the strength to shout? It must be because I'm not using enough force!)

(Take this!)

(Soldier B: This one can actually hold back from shouting? This is a provocation!)

(Take this!)

(Soldier C: This one... is shouting? Now he seems to have stopped?)

(Whatever! I'll just keep hitting, hitting, hitting!!!)