The Silver System.
This was one of the core regions of Rock's domain, so it had been lucky enough to escape the last pirate disaster unscathed.
But it could only dodge trouble for so long.
When the pirates' raiding fleets returned and began attacking the outlying systems in force, the people here finally caught wind of it.
A massive wave of pirates was coming, yet the Locke Conglomerate had chosen to cut its losses and abandon the region. That left the Silver System directly exposed to the pirates' advance. Its fall was only a matter of time.
The cities immediately descended into chaos. Citizens flocked to the spaceports with their families in tow, hoping to flee to the Rock System or even farther into the Empire's interior.
A young married couple, loaded down with bags of luggage, was hurriedly preparing to drive away when they looked up and saw a hovercar slowly descending onto the parking pad next door.
"Huh? Wang, weren't you going to stay with relatives in the Rock System? Why are you back?" the husband asked in surprise, bags in hand, as he watched a middle-aged man step out of the car.
"Hey! Haven't you heard?"
"Uh... heard what?"
"This is why you should watch the news more! Even if you don't watch the news, you could at least scroll through Douyin in your spare time!" As he spoke, Wang brought up his Personal Terminal and opened a short video.
["Gentlemen, this is all the money we have at home. Please, treat yourselves to some tea."
"..."
"You own the Bassanio Interstellar Transport Company, with remaining liquid assets of 3.76 million Imperial Credits. Those inside should be your wife and children. Am I right?"
"..."
"Don't be afraid. We won't hurt you. According to the tiered protection-fee