Interstellar Pirates?!

Not long after completing the transaction, the Dog-Headed People bid farewell to the Interstellar Transaction Market, and surprisingly, the Interstellar Transaction Market did not stop him.

Leaving the Interstellar Transaction Market went exceptionally smoothly, to the point that the Dog-Headed People Commander almost thought his earlier threats were just an illusion.

Although he found it strange, the Dog-Headed People Commander didn't think much of it. It would be best to avoid conflict, since conflict would mean he wouldn't be able to complete the mission given to him by the humans.

Over this period of time, the Dog-Headed People Commander has determined that the civilization hosting the Interstellar Transaction Market is at least a Level 3 Civilization, and his own fleet is no match for it.

I'm thankful that I was able to leave safely now.

As the Interstellar Market had initially promised, they guaranteed the safety of the transactions and the safe departure of the interstellar civilizations that came to trade.

The Dog-Headed People did not encounter any other civilizations that came to trade. The high command of the Dog-Headed People Fleet thought this was normal. The starry sky was vast, and even if many civilizations were heading to the Interstellar Transaction Market at the same time, it would be difficult for them to meet at the same time.

However, sometimes seemingly coincidental events, or events with very low probability, can appear in this universe in an unexpected way.

Just like what happened to the Dog-Headed People Fleet had already embarked on its return journey.

After embarking on their return journey, the Dog-Headed People Fleet did not head directly towards the Star System where humans were stationed. Instead, they followed their original route, changing course several times along the way before returning to report. After setting sail, the Dog-Headed People Fleet relayed their observations and experiences to the Kuntai People Fleet in another direction.

After that, it entered the Inertial Navigation phase.

It was decades after entering this phase that their probes discovered a fleet undergoing a massive deceleration. The fleet consisted of only about a thousand warships, but judging from their size and shape, they were much larger than the Dog-Headed People warships.

Because humanity is already Level 3 Civilization, the Central Computer immediately determined that this was a Level 3 Civilization's fleet.

The probability of spotting the fleet midway through the voyage was very small, so as soon as the news came back, all the Dog-Headed People had been hibernating due to the voyage were immediately awakened and put on alert.

"Commander, the enemy fleet is rapidly decelerating from 50% of the speed of light and is expected to enter the range of our fleet's cannons in two days."

A report rang out from the warship where the Dog-Headed People Commander was located.

"Send Clear Code inquiry, order the fleet to adjust its attitude, and rudder to the right with maximum thrust. The mission is urgent; we should try to avoid them," the Dog-Headed People Commander decided.

At this moment, the 3,000 Lake-Class Warship of the Dog-Headed People Fleet were still traveling at 30% of the speed of light. Logically speaking, the opposing fleet, traveling towards each other at 50% of the speed of light, should have detected each other's speed as 80% of the speed of light. However, in reality, neither of them detected the other's speed as 80% of the speed of light.

For each fleet, regardless of whether the speed is 30% of the speed of light or the speed of light itself, the voyager is relatively stationary as long as the other ships in the fleet are used as the frame of reference.

Speed in the universe is relative; only the speed of light remains constant.

The statement that the speed of light is constant does not mean that the speed of light is always constant, but rather that the speed of light measured by a measurer is always the speed of light, regardless of the circumstances.

This is not a trivial statement. If the speed of light is measured as 300,000 kilometers per second on Earth, then when you board a spaceship traveling at 50% of the speed of light relative to Earth, the speed of light you measure on that spaceship will still be 300,000 kilometers per second.

At that moment, a communication message arrived. "Hand over all your supplies and all your technological data, and we may consider letting you live; otherwise, you will turn into cosmic dust."

Since the Dog-Headed People Fleet sent a message in Clear Code, the suddenly appearing fleet quickly translated it and replied with the same Clear Code message.

This news surprised the Dog-Headed People Commander.

Is this a robbery?

Could this be the legendary Interstellar Pirate? During the training, the Dog-Headed People Commander had heard humans talk about pirates, whose defining characteristic was raiding and plundering. He never expected to encounter them here.

"Hahaha, fleet from afar, please don't make such jokes. It's true that our Dog-Headed People Fleet just came from the Interstellar Transaction Market, but we don't have anything of value on board. As a fleet dedicated to combat missions, we certainly don't have the technological data you're looking for."

One more thing for you to note: the Interstellar Transaction Market has stated that they will protect the safety of any civilizations that come to trade when they open a trading market in this star system. Your actions are tantamount to disrupting their business environment.

"There's an old saying in our civilization: cutting off someone's money is like killing their parents. If news of Interstellar Pirate appearing gets out, you'll inevitably become the mortal enemies of the Interstellar Transaction Market. Moreover, since our Dog-Headed People Fleet dares to come to the Interstellar Transaction Market in the dangerous universe, do you really think we're just a helpless Level 2 Civilization?" the Dog-Headed People Commander said.

His reply contained a hint of bluff, because he really had no other choice when facing pirates whose fleet was clearly Level 3 Civilization.

However, their response was. "Let me reiterate, hand over all your supplies and all your technological data, and we may consider letting you live; otherwise, you will turn into cosmic dust."

At this moment, the pirate fleet had slowed down and reversed its speed, moving towards the Dog-Headed People Fleet that was changing direction.

The difference in speed and acceleration between the two sides meant that the two fleets quickly closed the distance to each other after they met.

What happened next caught the Dog-Headed People Commander completely off guard.

The Level 3 Civilization fleet, consisting of a thousand warships, made a turn in the dark Void, and then used its maneuverability to catch up with its own three thousand Lake-Class Warship from behind.

Immediately afterwards, he received news that one of his warships had been destroyed by Laser Energy Cannon.

The Level 3 Civilization fleet lacked the traditional bright exhaust plumes; instead, it moved like ghosts through the dark starry sky, approaching the Dog-Headed People Fleet and unleashing massive, unpredictable beams of high-energy Photon Beam, instantly drawing the Dog-Headed People Fleet into battle.

Or perhaps this wasn't a battle at all, since no matter how you look at it, it was a one-sided massacre.

Humanity's shipbuilding technology, which it takes pride in, is nothing in front of these Interstellar Pirate. A single laser cannon shot can take down a Lake-Class Warship.

Even if the Dog-Headed People's counterattacks hit with their laser cannons, they would be rendered ineffective once a Light Screen illuminated.