Kill the Chicken to Scare the Monkey

"As you wish. I can contact the buyers right now."

"Wait. To get a good price, the buyer needs to see the product in action. What was the name of the faction that turned us down before?"

"The Void Concordat. A league of bold pirates scattered across the void of the Expansion Zone. They revere nothing sacred, sell anything, and see profit as the highest law. They'd even stand against Rogue Traders or the Imperial Navy."

"The Navy? They haven't wiped them out? Those pirate skiffs couldn't survive a single volley, could they?"

"The Void Concordat, as the name implies, is a loose organization. Crush one band, and another takes their place. Every merchant in the Expansion Zone—even the Navy—needs someone to handle the dirty work, buy or sell secret information. When you're strong enough, their tangled web can bring real profit. They dare what others won't. That's why the Dynasty chose them as our partners. But now these ingrates think we're finished—or they've found a new patron."

Just a bunch of pirates. Gao Yi had already decided to make an example of them.

"Veil, halt the crew's rest. Tell Damon to assemble two companies—two hundred men—in CMC suits and report to me. If they don't take me seriously, I'll use my fists to uphold a Rogue Trader's dignity."

"Exactly right! How dare these pirates insult the Dynasty's might! My lord, allow me to join this battle!" Veil had been itching for this. He was glad Gao Yi was taking a hard line.

Gao Yi didn't intend to annihilate the Void Concordat. He just needed to show everyone that the Mongert Dynasty was still strong—and use these pirates' lives to endorse his goods.

Upon receiving the order, Damon began mustering personnel. Several shuttles departed from the Golden Ram toward Landing Port.

"Commander! The soldiers are ready!"

Gao Yi noticed that many of the two hundred soldiers were Rangers who had warped in on their own.

He could sense them.

Ever since the riot was quelled, Damon had been reorganizing the troops, and the Barracks had never stopped production.

One company consisted of a hundred soldiers. Each company had ten Star Marines as the backbone for leadership and training.

For now, each company was composed of three Firebats, two Medics, five Marauders, and ninety Machine Gunners.

Gao Yi now had ten companies of Rangers under his command. These soldiers were veterans who had survived the riot—strong-willed and fiercely loyal to him.

Veil had also provided them with Chainswords to replace the C-14 rifle bayonets, compensating for their weakness in close combat.

Gao Yi believed his Rangers would soon make a name for themselves.

CMC suits were distributed to the soldiers. If not for the shortage of metal materials, production could have been higher. Besides the suits worn by the troops, about two hundred more were stacked in the warehouse.

From now on, only crew members who passed competition could earn the right to wear a CMC suit and join the Rangers.

Among the crew of the Golden Ram, joining the Rangers had already become a great honor.

"Target: Alfarroho Port. Forward!"

The formation marched in unison toward the destination. Gao Yi made no attempt to hide their movements, and such a grand display drew everyone's attention.

Word spread across Landing Port in no time. Anyone with sense knew something big was about to happen.

Landing Port guards tried to step forward and stop the column, demanding to know their intent—after all, normal trade required a relatively safe and stable environment. But when they spotted the Rogue Trader in the ranks, they wisely backed off.

Are you kidding? Here, if a Rogue Trader kills you, you just have to accept it. No one would seek justice for you.

But just as the column entered Alfarroho Port, a figure blocked their path.

Just as Gao Yi wondered who was so bold, he realized the person looked familiar...

Dark skin, ornate clothes, dazzling jewelry, and implants made of precious metals.

The woman before him stared at Gao Yi in the column with a smile full of amusement.

"Jeyd Hadaly?"

Gao Yi recognized her. She was one of the few sane characters in the Rogue Trader game—though her hands were a bit sticky... He'd even completed her romance line.

Compared to the other fanatics in the game, Jeyd was witty, humorous, and had high emotional intelligence. She got along with most people.

Of course, she was also a speculator, obsessed with profit—just not to an extreme.

It seemed the world he'd crossed into was still connected to the game on his computer. That meant he could use some information—like the Necron tomb here... and the C'tan Shard inside it...

"Noble Rogue Trader, Jeyd of the Kasbarika Group greets you."

"Oh? Kasbarika? So, what brings you to me?"

Gao Yi knew this organization from the game. They'd arrived in the Expansion Zone as soon as it was discovered. Their founders could be traced back to the earliest crime syndicates from the Sol Sector that came to the Calixis Sector.

They were the most powerful underground trading organization in the entire Expansion Zone, spanning multiple sectors. Unlike the pirates who scorned order, Kasbarika leaned toward lawfulness. They saw themselves as merchants. Their leaders liked to call themselves barons, dukes, and other noble titles—something true Imperial nobles treated as a joke.

They were eager to befriend Rogue Traders and strike deals. But because of their merchant nature, they insisted on taking a hefty cut from every transaction.

So cooperating with Kasbarika meant giving up a portion of the profits.

"I've heard of the Void Concordat pirates' disrespect toward you. Truly shortsighted fools. Compared to them, I believe you are a powerful Rogue Trader. Since those pirates don't know their place, I would very much like to become your new partner."

"So, are you speaking for yourself, or for Kasbarika in Landing Port?" Gao Yi asked with interest.

"I speak only for myself. I'm merely a spokesperson for Kasbarika, not a full member. To be honest, the Group is still watching you from a distance. But I trust my own judgment." Jeyd said this with unusual confidence.

"You really are a speculator."

"I'll take that as a compliment! Only this way can we maximize profit, right?"

"And what can you offer me?"

"I can help you find any goods you desire, or sell off those items that can't see the light of day. All I ask is a small commission—lower than any broker in the entire Landing Port. I can also reveal the pirates' true hideouts in the docks. Instead of wasting time on their public puppets, it'd be far more satisfying to take out their real leader here directly.

You know as well as I do that no organization like ours would ever put its true hideout on display. And I have my own intelligence channels. Don't let their pirate label fool you—they've got real backing to hold their ground in Landing Port."

"Sounds like a decent proposal. I accept, Jie Yi!"

"It is my honor to serve you."