Just as the Jile Hao was about to leave the asteroid field, a new crisis suddenly descended.
Three viciously shaped pirate ships shot out from the shadows of the asteroid field, skull emblems painted on their hulls, their gun barrels aimed directly at the Jile Hao.
"Lay down your weapons and hand over all valuables! Men, squat down with your hands over your heads! Women, stand to one side! Children... Otherwise, don't blame us for getting rough!"
A hoarse, arrogant voice came through the communicator.
Charles Heides gave a cold laugh and said into the communicator, "You think the likes of you dare stop my ship? You're an old birthday boy eating arsenic—you're tired of living!"
"Open fire!"
At his command, two rows of Secondary Guns suddenly unfolded along the Jile Hao's sides, dense energy shells raining down upon the pirate ships like a torrential storm.
"Fuck! Return fire!"
The pirates were not about to be outdone and immediately fired back. Black energy cannons collided with blue energy shells in space, erupting in blinding flashes.
However, as Heavenly Palace's most advanced cruiser, further modified and upgraded afterward, the Jile Hao far surpassed the pirate ships in both firepower and defense.
The first pirate ship had just tried to circle around for an attack when the Jile Hao's main cannon struck its engines. It instantly burst into roaring flames and careened out of control into a nearby asteroid.
Under the dense barrage from the Secondary Guns, the second pirate ship's Energy Shield quickly began to crack. Then an energy shell pierced its hull, and waves of explosions sounded from within.
Seeing that things had gone badly, the third pirate ship tried to turn around and flee, only to be locked onto by the Jile Hao's rear cannons. A massive hole was