Cafe

After his rebirth, Wang Dong faced the War Axe's energy crisis all over again.

The War Axe currently had 2,072 units of energy in reserve.

Each standard energy block held one unit of energy.

Those reserves were still dwindling by more than thirty units a day.

In other words, if he didn't replenish them in time, the War Axe would run out of energy in less than seventy days at the latest.

A Kindling Warship that had run out of energy and lost its mobility and stealth capabilities was like a huge slab of meat left lying out in the open.

When that happened, Wang Dong would very likely lose it for good.

Unlike before his rebirth, Wang Dong was quite calm now, without a trace of anxiety.

A little trick.

Without standard energy blocks, Energy Crystals—aggregates of pure, high-energy material—could also serve as emergency fuel for a Kindling Warship.

The downside was that they were a bit costly and might damage the engine afterward.

<The Self-Cultivation of a Seasoned Interstellar Mercenary>.

Wang Dong currently had three units of low-grade Energy Crystals. In an emergency, they could provide the War Axe with 3,000 units of energy.

That would be enough to ease the War Axe's energy crisis to some extent.

So Wang Dong had no need to take any unnecessary action or risk.

Another potential risk, eliminated.

He set down his empty tray. To be honest, the nutritional meal didn't taste great.

He took a quick shower, changed into casual clothes, and headed out. At the nearby bus stop, he boarded a maglev bus bound for Meizu Internet Cafe.

The weather wasn't great today, so walking wasn't a good idea.

After a thirty-five-minute ride, he arrived at Meizu Internet Cafe in the central commercial district.

It was an uncommon eighteen-story building in a residential area, with a private parking lot, an entire floor dedicated to its own central kitchen, and a rooftop lounge.

Most importantly, it had as many as 160 "Star Domain Instant Communication Platform" access pods.

"What a strong scent of money."

Standing at the entrance, Wang Dong murmured with a smile.

"More like a strong scent of perfume."

A passerby, who had just pulled his gaze away from the row of uniformed young women standing by the internet cafe entrance, replied casually.

Wang Dong couldn't help laughing.

He nodded to the friendly stranger and walked into Meizu Internet Cafe.

A pretty customer service agent in a black-and-white uniform hurried over. "Hello, sir. Would you like an introduction?"

"No, thank you. Just set me up with a regular pod."

Wang Dong took out a black card and handed it to her.

"Certainly. Please wait a moment while I scan your membership card."

The agent smiled as she took Wang Dong's membership card and scanned it twice with the portable terminal on her wrist.

"All set, sir. Please go to access pod 412 on the fourth floor. Meizu Internet Cafe wishes you an enjoyable gaming session."

"Thanks."

The first-floor lobby had plenty of advertisements for virtual games.

"Star Sea Expedition: The Thousand-Ship Brawl mode is here."

Wang Dong chuckled, a look of nostalgia on his face.

It was the full-immersion, Star Domain real-time battlefield strategy game he'd mentioned to Yuan Shu back on the War Axe.

Players took on the role of a warship's Captain, commanding their own ship and battling others.

By Wang Dong's usual routine, he went to an internet cafe two or three times a month.

Each time, he spent more than ninety percent of his time playing Star Sea Expedition.

To avoid raising suspicion, Wang Dong went to Meizu Internet Cafe as he normally would.

He lay down in the black access pod, three meters long and one and a half meters wide, and pressed the start button on his right. The pod sealed shut, and a gentle female voice sounded beside his ear.

"Would you like to connect to the Star Domain Network?"

"Connect."

"Confirmed. Amethyst Kingdom Telecom is at your service."

When he opened his eyes again, Wang Dong was in outer space. Starlight shimmered in every direction, and a huge star overhead radiated light and heat. It was the star of the mining region's star system.

What was the star in the mining region's star system called?

Wang Dong had forgotten.

Was it KQH-1?

A nobody—who would care?

Just like Wang Dong before his rebirth, and Wang Dong now.

"Log in to Star Sea Expedition."

At his command, Wang Dong's view shifted at once, and the starlight around him gradually faded.

In its place appeared a steel behemoth, rapidly growing larger as it approached from the far end of his vision, until it finally stopped in front of him.

At the bow, a rugged-looking kinetic-energy cannon pointed into the distance.

Four smaller secondary cannons were positioned around the hull. Mounted on hemispherical moving turrets, they swiftly roamed the tracks along the outer hull, sweeping across the ship's sides.

The pale blue engine trails at the stern gradually faded. Then, from the underside of the ship, a tractor beam shot out and enveloped Wang Dong.

The next moment, Wang Dong was inside the warship's command cabin.

With practiced ease, he took the Captain's seat in the center of the cabin. Two safety belts sprang out from behind the seat and crossed over his body, securing him in place.

On the virtual screen above the cabin, the green indicator light showing that the Captain was in position came on. The Shipborne Optical Computer's standard male voice then sounded.