In the vacuum of space, situated upon a spiral arm at the southern edge of the Gamma System, lay an uncharted territory absent from any star chart. Shrouded in chaotic, disordered celestial undercurrents, it was a treacherous zone—a death trap where those who entered rarely returned.
This region was far removed from the primary trade routes of the Gamma System. Under normal circumstances, barring a catastrophic accident, no merchant vessel would ever wander into such a place. Even if a ship were to veer off course due to a navigational error, the intricate, dizzying distribution of nebulae would leave any pilot disoriented. A single misstep could see a vessel sucked into a nebulous vortex, resulting in total destruction and the loss of all hands.
Yet, this desolate, peril-strewn labyrinth was the most renowned "pleasure den" for the pirates of the Gamma System. It served as a sanctuary where these ruthless outlaws retreated to evade the pursuit of the Federation Military.
To an outsider, this was a disorienting graveyard of cosmic dust and hidden dangers. To the native pirates of the Gamma System, however, it was their backyard. They were so familiar with its reaches that they could navigate the shifting currents with their eyes closed.
Currently, the pirates were observing their customary "fishing moratorium." These marauders, who usually haunted the Gamma corridor, were mostly lying low. Aside from those hiding in secret personal lairs or the few insatiable souls still out raiding, the majority of the "law-abiding" pirates were huddled in various dens of vice, merrily squandering the spoils of a year’s hard labor.
After all, a shorn flock needs time to regrow its wool, and grazed grass needs time to sprout anew. These pirates, who prided themselves on a twisted sort of "honor among thieves," had hypocritically established this off-season. In essence, it was merely a way to pull back when they had pushed the civilian populations too far, avoiding the risk of truly enraging the Federation Military and bringing fire down upon their own heads.
Little did these pirates know, as they indulged in their revelry, that they had already succeeded in infuriating the Federation. Moreover, those who had been causing trouble during the "moratorium" had provoked the one person they should have feared most.
While the pirates were immersed in their hedonism, the air strike arrived. Above the star system housing the pleasure dens, a pitch-black fleet suddenly materialized, its massive silhouettes blotting out the stars.
The aggressive armada immediately blockaded the entire sector. The unmistakable insignia of the Federation Military emblazoned on the hulls struck terror into the hearts of every outlaw present.
"It’s the Federation! Which son of a bitch drew those black-skinned vultures here?!" Recognizing the military’s mark, the pirates erupted into a chorus of shocked curses even as they scrambled to flee.
In an instant, countless small spacecraft vied to launch. Spaceport capacity was limited, and the panicked pirates nearly came to blows in their desperation to escape.
However, the Federation fleet had already deployed atmospheric interdiction nets and established precision sniper points. Every pirate vessel that managed to claw its way into the first wave of escapees was ruthlessly picked off by the Federation ships.
Explosions blossomed one after another. The first swarm of fleeing pirates was annihilated, reduced to cosmic dust with not a single survivor.
For a moment, brilliant "fireworks" filled the sector—a sight of terrifying beauty that sent a chill straight from the soles of the pirates' feet to the crowns of their heads.
These black-skinned vultures were playing for keeps.
Only after completing this initial wave of deterrent strikes did the Federation fleet leisurely broadcast a message: *Life or death. The choice is yours.*
Faced with the Federation’s arrogance and overwhelming dominance, these cutthroats, who lived by the blade, couldn't help but hurl insults. A few skeptics even attempted to break through the blockade.
Yet, under the prepared defenses of the military, these "brave" pioneers merely became the next batch of cosmic dust. Each explosion was more spectacular than the last; their final destination had been pre-arranged with clinical efficiency.
Another round of fireworks bloomed in the void, exquisite and deadly.
Having sacrificed another group of pirates to "consecrate the colors," the military fleet offered no further chances. The entire armada powered up its weapon systems. Dark muzzles swiveled toward the pirate ships, and the blue rings of energy swirling around the cannons signaled that they were charging.
It was clear: if the pirates did not make the "correct" choice before the cannons finished charging, the fate of their "firework predecessors" served as a vivid demonstration of what would follow.
The remaining pirates fell into a heavy silence. For the first time, they tasted the desperate flavor of being the prey...
Aboard the flagship, Captain Xu listened to his subordinate's report and nodded. Against absolute power, the pirates' strength was negligible. Evidently, they had chosen life over death.
*A wise choice,* Xu Yi thought.
"However, the detection systems have scanned several hidden pirates," the subordinate reported.
Xu Yi wasn't surprised in the least. He waved a hand dismissively. "There are always rats who think they can outsmart the cat. If they won't seize the chance they've been given, so be it." He didn't have the patience to play games with them.
"Understood." The subordinate took his leave.
With the orders issued, Xu Yi watched the capture progress on the ship's holographic display while his thoughts drifted to the other fleet.
He wondered what kind of surprise those two brats would bring him. He had specifically assigned the youngsters to the other task force; he hoped they wouldn't disappoint his expectations.
Filled with anticipation, Captain Xu felt the giddy excitement of opening a mystery box.
What Captain Xu didn't know was that the two "youngsters" he had sent away were currently being very well-behaved. Literally.
***
At another pirate gathering point, far removed from Captain Xu’s fleet, the large-scale combat had already concluded. Disarmed pirates were being herded onto specialized containment vessels by capture robots, their heads hanging in dejection.
Everything was proceeding in an orderly fashion. Feng Zhixi and Ji Yeran, who had been assigned here by Captain Xu, were working alongside the other soldiers to perform mopping-up duties.
Since boarding this fleet, Feng Zhixi had been the picture of obedience. Currently, as he carried out the cleanup mission with Ji Yeran, his movements seemed no different from those of the regular soldiers at first glance. However, his "cleaning" was exceptionally thorough.
For instance, he was particularly diligent with rare materials, energy ores, and interesting gadgets. To Feng Zhixi, "mopping up" didn't just mean clearing out pirates; seizing the pirates' hidden stockpiles was the true priority.
Ji Yeran watched in silence as Feng Zhixi operated a small robot, skillfully bypassing the locks of yet another concealed pirate warehouse. Feng Zhixi picked through the contents with a discerning eye, tucking any "trinkets" that caught his fancy into the robot’s internal storage compartment.
Because the robot’s storage was limited, Feng Zhixi was highly selective, taking only the highest-value, rarest, and most compact items. When his own robot was full, he casually shoved the rest toward Ji Yeran to hold for him.
Observing Feng Zhixi’s practiced and efficient maneuvers, Ji Yeran couldn't help but wonder: where on earth had Feng Zhixi learned such a sophisticated method of robbery—no, "salvaging"?
Feng Zhixi, meanwhile, was happily surveying his loot. When it came to the art of stripping a pirate den bare, he was far more proficient than these regular army troops.
After all, in his past life, he had been a professional at plundering these outlaws.
As he swept through the area, Feng Zhixi mentally inventoried his gains. Most of the items he had brought out from the Lanli Research Institute had been used for the construction of his small planet. Now, he happened to need a replenishment of materials. He hadn't expected these pirates to have such a substantial hoard; it had saved him a fortune.
Having plowed through the pirate nest with the meticulousness of a fine-toothed comb, Feng Zhixi counted his collection with a hint of lingering regret. The robot’s storage was maxed out; he couldn't fit another thing.
However, having already scoured the place once, he knew there wasn't much left that met his standards anyway. It wasn't a great loss.
Satisfied, Feng Zhixi mentally labeled Xu Yi as a "great guy."
Looking at the items in the robot's storage, Ji Yeran, who had silently become an accomplice, could only remain speechless.
Far away, Captain Xu, who was still thinking about the "kids," suddenly sneezed for no apparent reason.
Rubbing his nose, the Captain looked around suspiciously. Who was talking behind his back?
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| γ星系 | Gamma System | The star system where the action takes place. |
| 销金窝 | Pleasure den / Den of vice | Literally "gold-melting pit," a place for extravagant spending and debauchery. |
| 休渔期 | Fishing moratorium | A metaphor used by the pirates for their off-season/rest period. |
| 黑皮秃鹫 | Black-skinned vultures | Derogatory pirate slang for the Federation Military. |
| 清尾任务 | Mopping-up mission / Cleanup operation | The task of securing an area after the main battle is over. |
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