The Mastermind

Landing Pad 6 is located on Level 6 of Kor Port Prison.

Starting from Yang Ming's cell, one only needs to pass through two security corridors to reach that extended deck.

To any observer, without the interference of guards, this escape route appears almost perfect.

The only obstacles remaining for Yang Ming and his companion to solve seem to be two: a functional Small Shuttle and the Guard Cannons on the prison's perimeter.

In the narrow, empty corridor, two figures are pressing against the wall, moving rapidly forward while cameras relay the tracking of their movements.

Kolev follows behind Yang Ming, the old man having added a padded jacket over his prison uniform and swapped into leather boots, constantly whispering in a faint, breathy voice to persuade Yang Ming:

"Young First Mate, I have thought about it carefully; we should be finding a way to seize their Main Control Room, the Main Control Room! Not walking straight into the tiger's den when we know full well it's there!"

"We must walk slower," Yang Ming says, "only then can we give the Mastermind a little time to prepare, aged First Mate."

"My old scoundrel! Are you their inside man?" Kolev glares at Yang Ming's back. "Ahead is the landing pad; there must be several powerful Mechanical Guards waiting to shoot us down. We cannot engage the Mechanical Guards; we must find those guards who are easy to knock out and currently feeling sleepy."

Yang Ming scolds: "Keep your voice down! If you don't follow the script they've written, they will inevitably sound the alarm!"

"The script they wrote is for us to die on Landing Pad 6!" Kolev argues reasonably.

"We can only seek opportunity within what appears to be a desperate situation!"

"But this!"

"Shh!"

Yang Ming makes a gesture to crouch, and both of them drop down simultaneously.

Through a narrow window in the corridor, Yang Ming quietly observes the landing pad.

"Did you notice?" Yang Ming asks, "The two cameras above our heads are powered off."

"Oh, right," Kolev whispers, "they monitored us the whole way, yet chose not to monitor here. Ahead must be our execution ground."

The landing pad is the size of a football field, with a two-person Small Shuttle parked there; everything around it is quiet, appearing completely normal.

The several cameras installed on the landing pad are likewise powered off.

Yang Ming ponders slightly in his heart.

Assuming this is a trap, they have been under surveillance the entire way from their cell; their movements along the path already prove their crime of attempted escape. Leaving video footage of the 'execution ground' would only make it easier to reveal flaws.

"There must be an ambush ahead; we should find a way to sneak into the Main Control Room," the old man mutters.

Yang Ming smiles: "First Mate, use your rich experience to analyze this?"

"Analyze what?"

"There are three factions eyeing me right now. The only thing I can be certain of is that one faction wants me alive; the motives of the other two are unclear."

Yang Ming asks: "In this situation, what are the odds that this escape will send us away safely?"

"Zero."

Kolev's beard twitches: "Believe me, it is absolutely zero."

"Alright," Yang Ming says, "you stay here for a moment; it is safe here for now, okay?"

"We need a plan! We need a plan! I am not going to go die with you!"

"Don't worry, I have it under control."

Without waiting for Kolev to speak again, Yang Ming has already crouched and darted out.

He is as agile as a black cat, heading straight for the shuttle in the center of the landing pad.

"This! Oh my!"

Kolev had not expected this young man to suddenly bolt.

Just as the old man was about to stand up, the light of a Laser Gun firing appeared in the corner; a flash of red light grazed the rushing young man, who immediately crawled onto the ground.

Kolev quickly crouches down, breathing rapidly, his brow tightly furrowed.

This interesting young man has paid the price for his recklessness, and he has been dragged into a desperate situation along with him; this is truly...

Wait, something is not quite right?

Kolev, who was about to sneak away, continues to observe through the narrow window, keeping his eyes fixed on Yang Ming.

Several Mechanical Guards emerge from the corner, and behind the guards are two balding old men.

Gulipa, the Chief Guard leaning on his Walking Stick;

And that Old Bailin, who follows along with a humble, fawning expression.

Kolev cannot hear what they said, but Chief Guard Gulipa has already looked toward this small window, and two Mechanical Guards turn and walk in Kolev's direction.

Kolev frowns; he knows that this matter has been ruined by the young man before him, but his own odds of success were only a sliver to begin with, so he cannot blame the young man entirely—it is this Chief Guard who is too cunning.

At this moment, Kolev does not move his feet, waiting quietly for the arrival of the Mechanical Guards, still keeping his gaze on Yang Ming.

Kolev's premonition is becoming stronger and stronger.

Something might happen next... no, something will definitely happen next!

Suddenly!

Yang Ming, who had been lying on the ground, flew up almost sideways, his fists and feet smashing into the two Mechanical Guards at his sides simultaneously!

Two mechanical heads with blue-painted finishes were sent flying instantly.

Such immense muscular strength!

Such astonishing physical coordination!

Kolev stared at this scene, his mouth hanging open, unable to close it for a long moment.

It wasn't just Kolev; Chief Guard Gulipa and Old Bailin were also struck with immense terror. Before Gulipa could even draw his gun, all four Mechanical Guards had been incapacitated, their heads smashed clean off!

An iron-like hand clamped around Chief Guard Gulipa's throat, lifting him straight into the air.

Yang Ming's forehead was completely unblemished as he gazed calmly at Gulipa. Gulipa's left hand, which was reaching for his jacket pocket, was gently pinched by Yang Ming's other hand.

Yang Ming snatched the Emergency Alarm from the pocket first, then looked Gulipa up and down. The latter, along with Old Bailin nearby, tremblingly raised their hands.

"This... how is this possible..." Gulipa growled with great effort.

"Haha! Hahaha! This is a miracle!"

Kolev rushed out in excitement, dancing about, unable to find the right words to describe the scene.

Yang Ming paid no attention to the crazy old man.

He tossed the alarm away, snatched the gold-inlaid pistol from Gulipa's coat, threw the chief guard to the ground, and pinned his chest with his foot, pressing the muzzle against Old Bailin's forehead.

"Tell me what I want to know," Yang Ming said. "Ten seconds. Whoever speaks lives. Ten, nine, eight, seven..."

Old Bailin shouted with a trembling voice: "It was arranged by Chief Guard Gulipa! I don't know anything! Chief Guard Gulipa came to me right after you talked to me the first time, telling me to cooperate in sniping you and Kolev!"

Pew!

The pistol, lacking biometric locks, spat out a beam of energy. A bloody hole appeared in Old Bailin's forehead, and his body slumped to the ground.

"No intelligence, no value."

Yang Ming whispered to himself, then looked down at Gulipa.

Kolev's gaze toward Yang Ming shifted slightly.

The chief guard had lost his former elegance; his eyes reflected the charred, bloody hole in Old Bailin's head.

"Six, five, four..."

Yang Ming's voice sounded like the tolling of a midnight cathedral bell.

"Oh, don't do this! Hanton! I have intelligence!"

Gulipa shouted, trembling: "Eliminating you was... it was an order from the New Federation Intelligence Bureau. They didn't want you to appear in court again, and staging the prison break was their idea too."

Yang Ming asked: "Why bring Kolev into this?"

"Kolev is... someone gave me a price I couldn't refuse to have Kolev die in prison as soon as possible. I thought I'd put you two together so I could smear the Sherman Empire... their soldiers cooperating with notorious pirates..."

Yang Ming frowned: "Your purpose in killing me was just to smear the Sherman Empire?"

"Oh?" Kolev's brow furrowed deeper. "I've become the dirt used to smear this young man?"

Gulipa's voice continued to tremble, the foot pressing on his chest making it hard for him to breathe: "Yes, that's it. I've told you everything, don't kill me, I can send you away! Please! Lord Hanton!"

"Who wants Kolev dead?" Yang Ming asked softly.

Kolev shrugged from the side: "I have countless enemies."

Gulipa's Adam's apple bobbed as he whispered: "I don't know. Someone found me... they always manage to find me."

It seemed this was a frequent line of business for him.

"Chief Guard, you disabled the surveillance cameras in this area? And you didn't bring any hidden communication devices, right?" Yang Ming asked with a smile.

Gulipa hurried to say: "Yes, this isn't exactly glorious work. Spare me, and I'll send you out right now."

Yang Ming curled his lip slightly: "Hypocritical Federation."

Pew!

Gulipa's head was blown open, his wide-eyed gaze filled with unwillingness.

Kolev frowned: "Hey, didn't you say whoever speaks lives?"

"Why would I hold principles with an enemy?"

Yang Ming asked back calmly.

Kolev blinked, then shrugged with a light laugh as he crouched down alongside Yang Ming.

Yang Ming lowered his head to search, pulling a wallet from Gulipa. He flipped through it, but there was nothing of value—just a few useless cards.

Kolev fished the square piece of glass—the Personal Network Terminal—from Gulipa's body.

The pirate leader began his performance.

He first rummaged through his bushy beard, pulled out a metallic whisker, and stuck it onto the glass. Immediately after, he pried two false teeth from his mouth; hidden inside were several tiny discs, which he then attached to the metallic whisker.

The square glass started up on its own, and a simple operating interface flashed onto the screen.

A hint of surprise flickered in the depths of Yang Ming's eyes.

"Tools of the trade must always be kept close at hand. Because of the influence of the Humanity Association, they don't bother with thorough searches of prisoners."

Kolev shrugged, his fingers tapping rapidly as he couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

"Fantastic. Gulipa's terminal has high performance and is even connected to the Main Control Room, which makes things much easier. I'll start by planting a virus. Oh, this prison still uses the control system of its predecessor—that Transport Ship. Hijacking a ship is child's play for me, but we must wait for the right moment."

Yang Ming asked, "Can we use this aircraft to leave?"

Kolev shook his head immediately. "Military hardware usually has remote-control backdoors, and we wouldn't be able to pass through the energy shield outside Kor Port anyway. Gulipa's terminal can only infiltrate this prison from the inside; there are too many firewalls on the outside."

Yang Ming nodded. This old pirate was indeed a professional.

"You're a cyborg, right? One of the Sherman Empire's powerful Gene Modification cyborgs?" Kolev asked, his eyes gleaming. "I've never seen a soldier take down four Mechanical Guards with his bare hands!"

Yang Ming had already stripped Gulipa of his clothes and tossed them, along with his wallet, to Kolev.

"Can you contact your daughter now, First Mate Kolev?"

"I need to get to their control room, First Mate Hanton!"

Kolev responded, refusing to be outdone:

"We need a ship capable of evading pursuit, one that must have jump capabilities. We can escape this prison first and hide within Kor Port, then I'll contact my ship. It will take about four hours for them to jump and arrive in this vicinity!"

"Four hours?" Yang Ming rubbed his forehead.

That was far too long.

Kolev said quickly:

"Yes, three hours at the very least. I've already run through a plan in my head.

"We need a mutiny to buy time, using a prison riot to draw the attention of the Kor Port Defense Force.

"Young First Mate, you need to help me take out a few more guards. We need to seize the Main Control Room located on Level 4. Once we take the Main Control Room, you can leave the rest to me. You've proven your strength, so it's time for this captain to prove his own worth!"

Just as Yang Ming was about to correct the title Kolev used, Kolev added:

"Oh, and First Mate, we also need to destroy all video recording devices here. If your identity can remain hidden, it will be a trump card.

"I can't wait to see you running wild across the stars!"

Yang Ming glanced at Kolev. "You will keep this secret for me, won't you, First Mate?"

It was strange; he had just displayed a sliver of his strength, yet it hadn't managed to intimidate this old guy.

"Of course," Kolev's voice trembled with excitement, "you will become a legendary pirate! And a pirate I cultivated at that! Hahaha! Let's pull off something big! By the way, First Mate, I haven't asked yet—what is your name?"

"You can call me Captain Hanton."

"That name is far too ordinary."

"Yang Ming."

"Understood, First Mate Hanton."

The little old man casually draped Gulipa's tailcoat over his shoulders and picked up the Walking Stick, looking quite the part as he held it.

"Time to wake up, you little brats."