164: First ally

"We're already bankrupt. What are we going to use to mass-produce it?"

Su Li's question was like an icicle, piercing everyone's heart. After the initial euphoria, a bone-chilling cold set in.

Everyone's gaze instinctively focused on Chen Feng, as if waiting for him to conjure another miracle from this double dead-end.

Chen Feng didn't look at the glaring financial report; his gaze fell upon the massive electronic star map in the corner of the conference room.

"Su Li, mark out all of Giant Star Mining's sales networks, routes, and military outposts in this sector."

There wasn't a hint of panic in his voice; instead, it held the cold composure of a hunter locking onto his prey.

Although Su Li was puzzled, she immediately carried out the order.

Soon, a dense red web lit up on the star map, tightly locking down dozens of star systems around Ashen Earth Star. Every point of light represented Giant Star Mining's absolute dominance.

"Their network seems impenetrable." Chen Feng walked to the star map, his finger slowly tracing over the red points of light. "But any web has edges that it ignores."

His finger stopped, pointing at some dim, almost negligible thin grey lines between the main red routes.

"These are independent transport caravans. They don't belong to Giant Star Mining, but they must rely on their routes and ports to survive. They're like lice on a lion—sucked dry, exploited, yet unable to leave."

"You mean..." Su Li's eyes flickered, seemingly understanding something.

"In a head-on collision, we'd be crushed to dust. But what if we start from the edges and light a fire?" A cold arc curled at the corner of Chen Feng's mouth. "Let's find the weakest, hungriest, and most resentful 'louse' among them."

His finger finally locked onto a route that was nearly vanishing from the star map.

"'Sharphead' Caravan. The leader, Old Knife. According to our database, last quarter, Giant Star Mining forcibly seized 70% of their profits under the guise of 'route maintenance fees.' They're on the brink of collapse."

Ashen Earth Star, Spaceport No. 7, the office of the "Sharphead Caravan."

Calling it an office was a stretch; it was more like a tin box converted from a shipping container, the air thick with the smell of cheap engine oil and sweat.

A pot-bellied port steward in a Giant Star Mining uniform was tapping his toe on the ground, his face full of undisguised contempt.

"Old Knife, I'll give you three more days. If you can't hand over this month's 'route maintenance fee,' all your caravan's ships can stay in the port and rot."

After speaking, the steward gave a contemptuous laugh and turned to leave.

"Bang!"

The caravan leader, Old Knife, a middle-aged man with a face weathered by time, slammed his fist onto the rusted tin table. The table let out a groan, and the muscles on his face twitched violently with anger and humiliation.

Just then, the office door was pushed open.

Chen Feng and Su Li walked in.

Old Knife looked up sharply, his eyes instantly becoming wary and hostile, like a trapped beast cornered in a wall.

"Did Giant Star Mining send you as lobbyists again?" His voice was hoarse and low, one hand already resting on the hilt of the gun at his waist. "Get out!"

Chen Feng didn't explain, nor did he waste words.

He simply walked to the table and gently placed the shimmering "Hanhai" energy block in front of Old Knife.

"We aren't here as lobbyists."

Chen Feng looked into his eyes and spoke calmly.

"We're here to give you a weapon."

In the spaceport's rowdiest bar, the "Rusted Gear," a greasy robot bartender was wiping a glass that would never be clean.

In the most remote corner of the bar, Old Knife stared intently at the virtual contract before him, too shocked to say a word for a long time.

"You're giving me the stock for free?" he asked repeatedly, his voice distorted by disbelief. "Zero cost, zero risk? And I get thirty percent of the sales? You'll cover any losses during transport?"

"That's right." Chen Feng picked up his glass and took a sip of the low-grade synthetic alcohol. "The contract is right in front of you."

"This... this is a trap, isn't it?" Old Knife said instinctively. "There's no such thing as a free lunch! What's in it for you?"

"Do you think we're after the profits from those few broken ships of yours?" Su Li spoke coldly, enlarging the clauses regarding rights and obligations in the contract. Every point was clear and straightforward, with no word games. "Mr. Old Knife, given your caravan's current financial situation, what do you think you have that's worth us setting such a huge trap for?"

The words were hurtful, but they were undeniably true.

Old Knife's face instantly flushed red, but he couldn't refute it.

"What I'm showing you isn't this contract," Chen Feng's voice sounded again, pulling Old Knife's attention back. He pointed at the energy block lying quietly on the table. "I'm showing you it."

"It can increase your ship's energy efficiency by at least 20%, and it'll allow your crew to sell it on the black market for twice the price of Giant Star Mining's. Giant Star Mining uses their products and rules to suffocate you, but I'm giving you something that can flip their table."

Chen Feng leaned forward slightly, staring into Old Knife's eyes, and said word by word:

"What I'm giving you isn't profit, it's the right to flip over this old table. Do you want this right, or not?"

Old Knife fell silent.

He picked up his glass and downed the strong liquor in one gulp. The pungent liquid burned his throat and ignited the fire that had been suppressed in his heart for far too long.

"Flip the table..." He chewed on the words, a flash of madness glinting in his eyes.

On the landing pad of Spaceport No. 7, Old Knife looked at his few old cargo ships and the tired, numb faces of his crew.

He hadn't seen them smile in a very long time.

He turned and extended his calloused hand to Chen Feng.

"I'll do it!"

"I don't need your insurance. The cargo is on my ship; if something happens, I, Old Knife, will take responsibility!"

He gripped Chen Feng's hand tightly and said in a heavy voice, "Give me one shipload first to try. If this thing is really as good as you say... then my life, and the lives of my brothers, are all on the line for you!"

After leaving the bar, Su Li finally couldn't help but ask, "Do you really trust him?"

"I don't trust him," Chen Feng shook his head. "But I believe that people pushed to their limits will explode with the greatest power for the sake of dignity and survival. He's not our ally; he's the first spark we've used to set the prairie ablaze."

Meanwhile, in the corner of the "Rusted Gear" bar.

One of Old Knife's trusted subordinates was looking at his boss with concern.

"Boss, could this be a plot by Giant Star Mining? Intentionally letting us sell their 'contraband' just to round us all up at once?"

Old Knife took another large gulp of the strong liquor, his gaze falling on the faint light emitted by the Hanhai energy block on the table. In his cloudy eyes, that light reflected a small cluster of stars.

He said in a low voice, "If it's a plot, we die whether we're kneeling or standing. There's no difference."

"But if..."

"If this is an opportunity, we might just live."

And in the shadows even further behind them, an unremarkable patron sat with his head down, his fingertips flying across his personal terminal.

Silently, he sent out the recording of the meeting between Chen Feng and Old Knife, along with a set of coordinates.

The recipient's name was none other than—[Giant Star Mining - Market Director - Hoffman].