312: Space Rescue and "Justice Through the Thieves"

Under Aila Xinghen - Deputy Captain's precise control, the hope cruised like a silver giant whale among the dense asteroids, quietly approaching the chaotic battle zone.

The closer they got, the clearer it became.

Those so-called "Wanderers Alliance" pirate ships were truly unique in their shabbiness. One ship simply hollowed out an entire meteorite to serve as a bridge, with a few thick steel cables binding some armor plates to the outside—done. Another was even more extreme; its thrusters were asymmetrical, spraying blue fire on one side and black smoke on the other, following the philosophy of "I may be lopsided, but I can fly."

The deep gray cargo ship they were surrounding was in a similarly dire situation. The hull was damaged in multiple places, the row of turrets on the port side was completely silenced, and only the bow and starboard side were offering sporadic return fire. The cargo ship was clearly trying to break through, but the pirate ships, relying on their numerical advantage, were always able to block its path in advance.

"This group of pirates... their tactics are quite proficient," Senior Brother Li observed, analyzing the battlefield situation. "Three in the front feigning attacks to draw fire, two circling to the flanks preparing to board, and the rest guarding the perimeter—these are veterans."

Wen Youyi narrowed his eyes. "Can you hear what they're saying?"

Wang Wu had already connected to the "Hidden Dragon's" monitoring channel. Soon, a burst of chaotic communication came through—using a common language with a heavy accent, mixed with plenty of profanity and jargon.

"Gray Rat! Stop struggling! Hand over the cargo, and I'll leave your corpse intact!"

"In your dreams! This cargo is for 'Old Limp'! If I give it to you, I'm a dead man when I get back!"

"Then don't blame the brothers for being ruthless! Aim for its engines! We'll play with it after we paralyze it!"

"Boss! It has good stuff on board! We just scanned a high-energy reaction! It's at least a Level 3 civilization relic!"

The communication went quiet for a moment, then erupted into even crazier shouting: "Level 3 relic?! We're rich! Brothers, put your backs into it! If we grab this, we won't need to work for half a year!"

Wen Youyi and Aila Xinghen - Deputy Captain exchanged a look.

"Level 3 civilization relic?" Aila Xinghen - Deputy Captain was thoughtful. [According to the general classification standards, civilization relics at the level of the 'Star People' start at at least Level 7. Level 3... that's just a technological product of an ordinary interstellar civilization. But even so, it's a rare treasure for the 'Wanderers Alliance'.]

"That cargo ship must be transporting some kind of 'black market goods'," Wen Youyi analyzed, "and it might involve some power behind it—it mentioned 'Old Limp' just now."

Zhao Iron Pillar rubbed his hands eagerly. "Boss, how are we going to do this? Blast the pirates away with cannons? Or go for a 'Justice from Above'?"

Wen Youyi rubbed his chin, suddenly revealing a smile typical of a programmer—a bit mischievous.

"Here is what we'll do—"

He quickly laid out the plan. After hearing it, the expressions of everyone on the bridge became colorful.

"This... this is too underhanded, isn't it?" Wang Wu was between laughter and tears.

"But it's effective!" Zhao Iron Pillar slapped his thigh. "Boss, your brain circuits, have they mutated after staying with an alien girl for so long?"

Aila Xinghen - Deputy Captain blinked her indigo eyes, seemingly digesting the plan, and finally nodded: [Although... it doesn't quite conform to the code of conduct of the 'Sky Patrol', in the current situation, it is indeed the optimal solution.]

"Then it's settled." Wen Youyi sat back in the captain's chair. "Execute."

In the center of the battlefield, on the bridge of the deep gray cargo ship "Anvil," Captain Raymond Graybeard was operating the console, sweating profusely.

He was a descendant of the Dwarf race—this race was not powerful in interstellar civilization, but was famous for its toughness, stubbornness, and exquisite mechanical technology. At this moment, his signature big beard was knotted from nervousness.

"Engine output down to 45%! Shield energy is only at 18%!" the first officer screamed. "Captain! We can't hold on! Should we... give them the cargo?"

"Give them a hammer!" Raymond roared. "That cargo was specifically requested by 'Old Limp'! If I give it to him, at most we lose money. If I give it to these space rats, they'll dismantle us, ship and all, and sell us for parts!"

Just as he was speaking, the radar operator suddenly shouted: "Captain! An unknown signal is connecting! It's not from the pirates!"

Raymond was stunned: "Patch it through!"

A calm, gentle, yet inexplicably chilling voice came through the communication channel:

"Cargo ship ahead, please note, we are the 'Starry Sky Road Safety Administration' patrol ship. We have detected that you are engaging in dangerous, unauthorized space combat, suspected of violating Article 38 of the 'Interstellar Navigation Safety Regulations.' Please cease fire immediately and submit to inspection."

Raymond: "...What?"

The communication channel was silent for three seconds, then the pirate leader's furious roar came through: "What kind of wild outfit dares to impersonate the 'Administration'? I've been in this sector for thirty years and have never heard of any damn 'Starry Sky Road Safety Administration'! Get lost! Otherwise, I'll rob you too!"

The gentle voice continued: "Uncivilized language detected and recorded. According to Article 72 of the regulations, this is your first warning. Please disarm immediately and line up for inspection."

The pirate leader was clearly amused by anger: "Line up? Inspection? Do you think this is a toll booth? Brothers! Find this guy who's playing god—wait, where is it? Why isn't it showing on the radar?"

Just then, behind a huge meteorite at the edge of the battlefield, a ship slowly "floated" out.

No, it didn't "float out"—it was more like it "grew" out of the Void Realm. One second it was empty, the next second, a silver-white, streamlined starship that looked highly technologically Advanced appeared.

This ship was too beautiful, so beautiful that it looked out of place in the shabby surroundings. Its surface flowed with faint starlight, the lines of the hull were as elegant as a work of art, and although no one recognized the complex emblem on the bow, it clearly looked important.

Most importantly—its size.

The hope was deliberately suppressing its aura now, but its massive size, miles long, brought an inherent sense of oppression just by being there. Compared to it, the pirates' broken ships, which were at most three hundred meters long, were like toys.

The communication channel went silent instantly.

After several seconds, a pirate said weakly: "Bo-boss... this ship... seems a bit big?"

The pirate leader swallowed his saliva, but his words remained tough: "Bi-big, so what? Maybe it's just for show! It's a bluff!"

At this moment, the gentle voice sounded again: "Warning ineffective. Proceeding to the second warning—please disarm within thirty breaths, or we will take necessary measures."

Before the words faded, two ferocious cannon barrels slowly extended from the sides of the hope's bow—these were the newly installed "Gravity Distortion Cannons." The muzzles began to gather a deep blue light, and the surrounding starfield began to distort slightly.

At the same time, dozens of weapon platforms deployed all over the hull, with dense rows of muzzles aimed at the pirate fleet. Although they were all small-caliber "High-Frequency Purification Pulses," the sheer number of them was scary!

Cold sweat broke out on the pirate leader.

He had been wandering the starfield for so many years, he still had an eye for things. This silver-white giant ship was definitely not just for show—the steady energy fluctuations, the precise weapon arrays, and those two eerie main cannons on the bow that clearly weren't friendly, all indicated that this was a real warship, possibly from some Advanced civilization!

"Retreat! Retreat quickly!" The pirate leader decided instantly. "This job is a loss! We'll talk about it when we go back!"

A dozen pirate ships immediately turned around, spewing black smoke and blue fire, and fled into the depths of the Shattered Star Belt without looking back—the speed of their escape was more than three times faster than when they were attacking.

In the center of the battlefield, only the "Anvil" was left floating there alone.

Captain Raymond had not yet recovered from this dramatic turn of events when the gentle voice sounded again:

"Cargo ship 'Anvil', please report your identity, route, and cargo on board. Repeat, please cooperate with the inspection."

Raymond jumped, and quickly replied: "Ah, ah! We are the 'Anvil' of 'Graybeard Freight Company', departing from 'Rust Starport', heading to... uh, heading to 'Shattered Stone Bazaar'! We are carrying... ordinary mechanical parts and minerals!"

As he spoke, he signaled his first officer—hurry up and hide that "Level 3 relic" in the cargo hold!

But the gentle voice seemed to see through his thoughts: "Abnormal energy fluctuations detected. Please open Cargo Hold 3 and submit to a scan."

Raymond's heart sank. Cargo Hold 3... that was exactly where the relic was hidden!

He gritted his teeth and decided to take a gamble: "This... this officer! We really are just an ordinary cargo ship! Thanks for the help just now, a small token of appreciation, please don't mind..."

He hinted that he could offer a "bribe."

The communication channel was silent for a few seconds, then the voice became somewhat... playful?

"Bribing law enforcement officers is an additional crime. 'Anvil', are you sure you want to continue in this direction?"

Raymond's legs went soft.

Just then, the voice in the communication channel changed—this time it was a younger male voice, with a relaxed tone:

"Alright, alright, stop scaring them. Captain Raymond, right? We're just passing by, not some 'Administration'. That was just a joke, helping you out along the way."

Raymond: "...Ah?"

"But, since we helped, we should collect some 'hardship fee', right?" The young male voice continued. "How about this, we won't take your things for nothing. You tell us, what is that 'Level 3 relic' the pirates mentioned? Also, who are you shipping it to? In exchange, we can provide some latest intelligence about the 'Star Devourers' pursuers—if I'm not mistaken, you should be avoiding them too, right?"

Raymond's pupils shrank.

"Star Devourers"... these three words in today's Star Domain are synonymous with disaster. His route was indeed deliberately avoiding the activity areas of the "Star Devourers", but how did the other party know?

He hesitated.

In the communication channel, the young male voice added another sentence: "By the way, we have a friend from the 'Sky Patrol' civilization on our ship. She might be a little interested in that 'relic' of yours—of course, just academically."

Raymond almost fell out of his chair.

"Sky Patrol"?! That legendary, technologically Advanced, and elusive Advanced civilization? They actually managed to get involved with such an existence?

He took a deep breath and made a decision.

"Okay... I'll tell you."

Ten minutes later, the hope bridge.

Wen Youyi turned off the communication, his expression a bit strange.

"So... that 'Level 3 relic' is a... vending machine from the 'Star People'?"

Aila Xinghen - Deputy Captain also rarely showed a look of being between laughter and tears: [To be precise, it is a small automatic manufacturing terminal used by the 'Star People' civilization in the early days to provide basic supplies in remote Star Domains. It can consume raw materials to produce some basic tools, parts, and even simple food. It might be worthless to the 'Star People', but to the current civilization... it is indeed a very valuable relic.]

"And who is 'Old Limp'?"

[I haven't heard of this code name.] Aila Xinghen - Deputy Captain shook her head. [But according to Raymond's description—dwelling in the 'Shattered Stone Bazaar' all year round, possessing a powerful intelligence network, specializing in acquiring various civilization relics... he might be some large-scale black market merchant.]

Wen Youyi rubbed his chin: "Interesting. This 'Old Limp' might know a lot about the 'Star People' ruins. And he can do this kind of business under the nose of the 'Star Devourers', he must have extraordinary skills."

He thought for a moment and said to the communications officer: "Tell Captain Raymond, we don't want that 'vending machine', let him continue to ship it to 'Old Limp'. But in exchange, he has to help us do three things."

"First, give us the latest version of the 'Shattered Star Belt' star map, especially the one marked with 'Star Devourers' patrol routes and safe routes."

"Second, help us contact 'Old Limp', just say there is a big deal about the 'star key' to talk about—of course, don't say specific details, just say there is important intelligence."

"Third, let him lend us one of the communication beacons on the 'Anvil', to facilitate contact later."

Soon, Raymond agreed—the terms were so lenient that he was overjoyed.

Soon, a detailed star map data was transmitted over. At the same time, a message that made Wen Youyi and the others look solemn was also transmitted:

"According to the news I heard in the 'Shattered Stone Bazaar', the 'Star Devourers' have recently been frantically searching for a silver-white starship holding a 'star key'. They have blockaded six main exits of the 'Shattered Star Belt' and are organizing a large-scale manhunt. Also... it is said that an ace hunting fleet of the 'Star Devourers' is rushing here, led by a terrifying existence called 'Star Crusher'—it once single-handedly destroyed the outposts of three civilizations."

Wen Youyi and Aila Xinghen - Deputy Captain exchanged a look.

"Ace fleet... 'Star Crusher'..." Wen Youyi muttered, "Looks like the trouble we caused is even bigger than imagined."

Aila Xinghen - Deputy Captain, however, had Battle Intent flashing in her eyes: [Then let it come and try. The modified 'hope' needs a worthy opponent to test its combat power.]

Wen Youyi laughed: "Well said. But before that..."

He called up the newly acquired star map, pointing to a winding route on it, almost sticking to the edge of the energy turbulence:

"Let's play a big one first. Take this route, pass through under the nose of the 'Star Devourers' blockade."

The route was so dangerous that it made one's scalp tingle—it had to pass through a dense meteor shower, squeeze through between two violent energy turbulences, and finally graze the edge of the gravity of a newly formed micro-black hole.

After reading it, Zhao Iron Pillar squeezed out a sentence: "Boss, are you going to lead us to perform a 'Starry Sky version of Fast and Furious'?"

"No," Wen Youyi grinned, "it's 'Starry Sky version of Temple Run'."

"Prepare to depart! Target—behind the 'Star Devourers' blockade, full speed ahead!"

The silver giant ship set sail again.

And at the other end of the "Shattered Star Belt", a dark golden fleet composed of three giant motherships and dozens of frigates had just completed the jump.

On the bridge of the most ferocious mothership in the center of the fleet, a figure made of pure energy, constantly changing its form, was "watching" the star map.

It had no facial features, but its cold intent echoed throughout the bridge:

["star key" holder... find it... crush it...]

[This Star Domain does not need a second "key".]

The hunt was about to reach its climax.

(End of Chapter)