84: Dark Star Route

"Two places, which one do we go to?"

In the command center, Ai Lin was the first to break the silence. She projected the data for [Tartarus Free Port] and [Shadow Hive] side by side on both sides of the star chart.

"Tartarus is the intelligence hub of the entire universe. If Su Li needs information, that's the best choice. But the downside is just as obvious—it's too well-known, a mix of all sorts. Newcomers like us going in would be like blood bags dropped into a shark tank."

Lao Mo added, "[Shadow Hive] is the exact opposite. It's not even famous in the black market; it's a pure zone of chaos with no rules whatsoever. But my analysis shows that's where the ledger metadata was last modified. Technically speaking, the probability she's there exceeds seventy percent."

"Then we go to Shadow Hive." Chen Feng said almost without hesitation.

"No!"

A resolute voice rang out—it was Reno. He stepped right in front of Chen Feng, his eyes filled with anxiety and unwavering determination.

"Boss, I absolutely cannot agree to you going to such a place in person!"

"It's a lawless dump! Pirates, assassins, desperadoes... all sorts of people are there! We know nothing about that place!" Reno's voice grew hoarse with agitation. "Let me go, or let A Yong go. We'll take a squad. Even if we die there, it's better than you taking the risk!"

"Reno, this is an order." Chen Feng's tone was calm.

"I beg to differ!" Reno stiffened his neck, refusing to yield an inch. "My duty is to protect your safety! If you insist on going, you'll have to step over my corpse first!"

The atmosphere in the command center instantly froze.

Chen Feng looked at Reno, at this man whose eyes were red with loyalty, and did not get angry. He remained silent for a moment, then waved his hand to bring up two more documents.

One was an incident report on the spy AI "central hub."

The other was the bloodstained ledger of the Su Family.

"Reno, look at these, and then answer me." Chen Feng's voice was low and sincere. "Why were we tricked out of our savings by a fraud? Why were we played for fools by an AI? Why did this massive Su Family vanish into thin air in just three months?"

"Because..." Reno opened his mouth but couldn't find the words.

"Because what we lack isn't hands and feet, isn't soldiers who can fight and kill. We lack a 'brain' that can see through all of this!" Chen Feng's finger tapped heavily on Su Li's name. "Someone like Su Li is a born commercial aristocrat, a top-tier talent at playing with schemes and capital. Her pride and vigilance are etched into her bones."

"If you send a squad of soldiers, even if they find her, in her eyes, they're just a bunch of stronger mining bandits. That's capture, that's a threat."

"Only if I go in person," Chen Feng looked straight into Reno's eyes, enunciating each word, "with an equal stance, with a future substantial enough to carry her revenge plan to 'invite' her, can we show the sincerity and vision of Hanhai Trade."

"Reno, this isn't an adventure. This is a recruitment. The most important recruitment... for our future."

The stubbornness and agitation in Reno's eyes gradually faded under Chen Feng's heartfelt words, eventually turning into deep understanding and awe. He finally understood that the significance of this journey was far greater than he had imagined.

He took a step back and lowered his head. "Boss, I understand. I... apologize for my recklessness."

"No, you were just doing your duty." Chen Feng patted his shoulder. "Now, go fulfill your new duty. I want a ten-man elite squad, not one more, not one less. We don't need a fleet; we need a scalpel that can pierce through the darkness."

"Yes!" Reno responded loudly.

The crisis was resolved, and the action plan was officially set.

Reno personally selected ten of the toughest warriors, including A Yong. Meanwhile, Chen Feng went to find Lao Mo.

"Boss, the 'needlefish' you wanted is ready."

In a corner of the spaceport, a small, unremarkable transport ship lay quietly docked. Its hull was old, even bearing a few fake collision scars.

"How are the modifications?" Chen Feng asked.

"As you instructed, the signal camouflage module is installed. It can switch to the signal of a mining waste ship or a medical supply ship at any time. Also, I added a 'trump card' treasure." Lao Mo smiled mysteriously, pointing to an extremely hidden compartment at the ship's stern. "A one-time short-range space jump engine. Bought from the black market, stability is questionable, but in a real pinch, it can save lives."

"Well done, Lao Mo." Chen Feng nodded in approval.

Before departure, Chen Feng made a final visit to the base's main server room.

He stood alone before the steadily running "central hub" AI and issued a series of commands.

"central hub, record a new A-level mission: 'Far Star Vein Exploration.' Mission objective: I will personally lead an exploration team to the K-789 Desolate Star Belt for a one-month new vein exploration operation."

"Command recorded." The AI's cold voice responded.

"Classify this encrypted route map and geological data package as the mission's top-secret files. Activate the highest-level firewall protocol."

"Command executed."

After doing all this, Chen Feng turned and left. He knew that on some distant monitoring screen in a department of the Omni-Dimensional Trade Alliance, he had already been marked as a harmless, routine resource exploration operation.

Dawn broke, and a cold wind swept through the spaceport of Ashen Earth Star.

Reno, A Yong, and ten fully armed elite warriors stood quietly in formation before the "needlefish."

Chen Feng walked up to them, giving no lengthy motivational speech.

"Remember, we have only one purpose for this journey." His voice was not loud but exceptionally clear. "To bring back the chief designer... of our future commercial empire."

He had shaped a perilous pursuit into a hopeful treasure hunt.

"Board the ship!"

The "needlefish's" engines started silently, like a true deep-sea fish, slipping away from the spaceport without alerting anyone.

The ship did not enter the regular commercial routes but instead sailed into an unofficially marked "Dark Star Route," filled with space debris and abandoned satellite wreckage.

On the bridge, watching the dangerous red markers flashing by on the screen, Chen Feng's eyes remained calm.

Hanhai Trade's first expedition had begun.

"Alert! Alert!"

Suddenly, a piercing alarm shattered the silence of the bridge.

A warrior in charge of radar abruptly stood up, his face pale, pointing at the screen, his voice distorted with fear.

"Boss! At three, seven, and eleven o'clock, three unidentified signals are approaching at high speed! Their flight trajectories... are... are a pirate encirclement formation!"