Silent

"Oh, Hanton, this plan of yours..."

Kolev looked at the projection screen filled with the Sherman Empire's language written by Yang Ming, his brow furrowed slightly before gradually relaxing.

"It seems quite feasible," the old man said.

Yang Ming squinted and chuckled.

Kolev quickly frowned, "But I'll have to pay a bill of at least several million for this."

"Are you short on money?" Yang Ming hooked his arm around Kolev's neck.

"No."

"Then can you live forever?" Yang Ming asked again.

Kolev snorted, "How is that possible! I'll be lucky to live another ten or twenty years, nowhere near the average lifespan of 120 years that those noble lords desperately strive for. I have too many old injuries. To heal them, I've had my cells divide faster a few times, and my telomeres are severely worn."

"Then what's the use of keeping your money? Will you still feel happy after you die?" Yang Ming's eyes were filled with compassion.

Kolev was taken aback by the question, still conflicted.

Yang Ming said seriously, "Kolev, your money is just accompanying you in another form; it becomes part of your assets. Besides, when you reclaim those six pirate ships, you can sell one or two. After all, you certainly won't have that many crew members to pilot them by then."

"Oh, that..."

Kolev fell into thought, staring at the projection screen.

Yes, Yang Ming's idea was brilliant. Although this plan had elements of risk, it was indeed more reliable and executable than his previous plans.

"Hanton," Kolev made his decision.

"Hmm?"

"Since meeting you, my wealth has been continuously shrinking. I don't know if it's luck or misfortune."

Kolev shook his head and sighed.

"Give me some time to prepare. The most crucial things are a small spaceship with powerful stealth capabilities and an expensive bionic robot. These aren't easy to get."

"Are we bringing Milili along for this job?" Yang Ming suggested.

"This is a man's war," Kolev said. "Let the women and children hide first."

"You'll be criticized for that, Kolev."

"I'm a pirate! A pirate!"

Kolev stomped off towards his lounge.

"Before the feminists have a chance to question me, the space patrol will shoot me first! I'm already bleeding heavily before I've even reclaimed my pirate crew! Oh, my heavens! I haven't spent this many credits in the last ten years!"

Yang Ming leaned against the star chart machine, gazing at his perfect plan, and raised an eyebrow slightly.

Judging by the old man's stinginess.

His net worth must be considerable!

After tedious and secretive procurement and preparation, Captain Yang Ming, with his First Mate, officially began to implement their plan.

A deep blue stealth assault boat quietly slid into the tranquil asteroid belt.

Yang Ming was piloting, with Molly Two assisting in the cockpit after entering the stealth boat's operating system. Kolev closely monitored the comprehensive detection instruments; if any data showed anomalies, they would immediately abandon the operation and turn back.

The turtle-shell-like ship, the "Feinan," was docked behind a small asteroid, in complete silence.

"Hanton, Milili seems to have been angered to tears. Molly told me... Milili is very unhappy that I forbade her from activating that pirate ship. What do you think we should do?"

An old man attempted to engage in casual conversation.

Yang Ming, however, had no time to deal with him.

He was completely focused on the auxiliary lines appearing on the front glass, calculating the subsequent winding course, his hands gripping the square helm as steady as a rock.

When they reached an area with a less congested flight path, Yang Ming couldn't help but complain, "Why did you choose to station the pirate base in an asteroid belt!"

Kolev chuckled, "There's a route I opened up in another direction. This is the best barrier. Even if we're tracked by patrol warships, we can easily find a place to hide."

Yang Ming said, "So, it's not like we've already infiltrated it, then?"

Kolev was somewhat speechless.

This slow navigation continued for over an hour. Under Kolev's guidance, the stealth boat easily crossed the lax security perimeter. Both forward and reverse engines outputted at minimum power, maintaining relative stillness with a nearby asteroid.

Behind this asteroid was a small spaceport with a metal structure, its brightly lit buildings protected by a shield.

Two 200-meter-class and one 300-meter-class pirate ships were docked in the shipyards, positioned just outside the shield.

Through the near-vacuum environment, Yang Ming could almost hear the lively sounds of people inside the shield.

"Release the spores," Yang Ming ordered in a low voice.

Molly Two's synthesized voice chimed in, "Repeat, release the spores."

Kolev's hands flew across the projection screen, "Alright, release the spores."

The smooth stealth boat opened its tail fins, and insect-like electronic devices floated outwards, quickly dispersing.

The stealth boat hovered motionlessly.

Kolev stared nervously at the screen in front of him, where tiny light spots appeared one by one, slowly approaching the three target ships.

A few minutes later, all three ships were enveloped by the light spots.

These tiny particles did not attract the slightest attention from the pirate patrol.

"That's enough, let's get out of here quickly."

Kolev said in a low voice.

Yang Ming skillfully pulled the helm and slowly steered back the way they came.

Exiting the enemy's patrol zone.

Exiting the enemy's radar detection zone.

As they flew out of this 'Starry Boulder Field', a bead of sweat appeared on Yang Ming's forehead. He complained, "This is much more tiring than teaching Milili swordsmanship."

"Don't accelerate too quickly. Smooth acceleration is key to maximizing this small ship's stealth," Kolev reminded him. "There's a big shark cruising in this airspace, we have to be extremely careful."

"Don't worry, First Mate,"

Yang Ming said with a smile, "My luck has always been good."

Molly Two suddenly spoke, "Detecting a scanning frequency. A small scout ship has appeared. Its predicted course will intersect with ours."

Yang Ming's smile froze on his face.

Damn it, I jinxed it!

A blinking signal marker appeared on the radar display.

"Turn back," Kolev said immediately. "We have to turn back! This is highly likely to be a Guer Alliance scout ship!"

"No, Kolev, turning back too far means they're probably already watching this asteroid belt! If we find them, it means we're also within their scanning range, but our stealth capabilities have been working."

Yang Ming said in a low voice, raising his hand to quickly press a row of buttons in front of him.

"Molly, make the ship stationary relative to the asteroid belt first, then shut down the engines."

Kolev immediately understood what Yang Ming was planning. He turned to look at the asteroid belt, which was still within sight, quickly shut down a few instruments beside him, and fastened his seatbelt.

A dozen seconds later, the stealth boat synchronized with the asteroid belt.

"Engines off, residual heat cooling," Molly Two's report became soft and gentle.

Yang Ming said in a low voice, "Turn off the active radar."

"We'll be blind!" Kolev whispered.

Molly Two repeated Yang Ming's words: "Turn off the active radar."

A tiny light spot appeared in the distant depths of space.

The cockpit was completely dark.

Yang Ming leaned forward, his body pressed against the square mechanical helm, his eyes fixed on the approaching light spot.

The enemy's speed was not slow.

"Two, cut off encrypted communication with us. Maintain noise on the same frequency."

"Okay, cutting off encryption..."

Molly Two's voice abruptly stopped, leaving only two breaths, one light and one heavy.

Kolev's breathing was somewhat rapid.

"Kolev," Yang Ming asked in a low voice, "do the spores we scattered have antennas? How do they communicate with us?"

"They are components, like electronic viruses that infiltrate software systems. When the ship's outer hatch is opened, they will infiltrate the ship's hull gaps, look for opportunities to connect to the electrical system, and then use the ship's own antenna to communicate with us."

Kolev stared out the porthole and said quickly:

"The next drop point will be simpler. This is the most difficult part of the entire plan so far. Your little lover isn't waiting around there either."

Yang Ming chuckled, "Save it, Lina is just a great white shark. Right now, I just want to wash her clean—wash away her memories of me."

The light spot appeared at forty-five degrees to the front right.

Yang Ming calculated the enemy's speed, his finger hovering over a rather hidden button on his left, opening the safety cover first, and counting down mentally.

Main battery off.

Life support system off.

Yang Ming held his breath, his finger on the battery button, saving the remaining oxygen in the cabin for Kolev.

The light spot appeared at thirty degrees to the front right.

Twenty degrees.

Fifteen degrees.

Five degrees.

Directly ahead.

Five degrees to port.

Fifteen degrees to port.

"I'm... having a little trouble breathing..."

Kolev's face began to turn red, and the cabin temperature slowly dropped.

Still waiting.

Kolev raised his hand to cover his neck.

Yang Ming hesitated.

Although restoring power to the hull now was risky, he had to take a gamble. After all, it would take some time for the oxygen levels to return to normal, and he couldn't have the old man's brain suffering from a lack of oxygen.

Yang Ming pressed the main battery switch. The life support system activated, and the cabin's oxygen content rapidly increased.

Kolev slumped back in his seat, already breathing in less than he was breathing out.

Yang Ming glanced at him and asked with apparent sincerity, "Do you want me to give you CPR, First Mate? We should have prepared two cans of emergency oxygen or portable space suits beforehand."

Kolev waved his hand, coughed violently twice, and his lungs began to work intensely.

A point of light appeared sixty-five degrees to port ahead.

Yang Ming resumed normal breathing and slumped into his chair. He raised an eyebrow at Kolev and asked with a smile, "First Mate, what did that ship look like?"

"How did you do it, Hanton... you're still full of energy..."

Kolev wiped the sweat from his forehead, his eyes slightly unfocused, and said slowly:

"It was probably a steam-boat-shaped scout ship, a bulky behemoth, that's how they could fit more instruments inside. But what I can be sure of is that the Alliance technicians on board are probably drinking coffee and discussing which crew member has a motor butt... They haven't detected us yet."

"Let's go, they're probably on a timed patrol."

Yang Ming quickly operated a series of buttons in front of him. Molly Two's virtual image appeared between them, hovering silently.

"Captain, based on the current situation analysis, you have not been exposed."

"Two, you'll pilot," Yang Ming said. "Return to the mothership."

"Understood. Initiating return to mothership operation."

The projection interface in front of Kolev restored itself one by one. He looked at the real-time data of the three Pirate ships being fed back, and a relaxed smile gradually appeared on his lips.

"The show's starting, Hanton. From now on, no one can stop us! No one!"