The scene on the virtual screen flickered. The starship opposite them was in shambles, with sparks flying and crackling sounds ringing out. It was badly damaged.
There was only one person on the screen, a man around forty or fifty years old, wearing a specialized combat suit now coated with dust.
Judging by his condition, though, he seemed close to death.
"Uh... sir..."
"Listen to me."
Feng Xiao hadn't finished speaking when the middle-aged man cut him off.
Feng Xiao stopped asking questions and watched the battered man curiously. Despite the extensive damage, the control room was large enough to suggest that the starship was at least elite-class. It might even be Star-Land Class.
How could the captain of such a powerful starship have ended up like this?
"I'm the captain of the Star-Land Class starship Atel Jones, part of the Atel Consortium's security division. I was ordered to investigate a leak of intelligence at the Morton branch.
"I never expected the Morton branch to be colluding with the Four Sacred Islands Shogunate, plotting to break away from the consortium. They tried to kill me to silence me.
"As you can see, they nearly succeeded.
"I'd like to ask you to deliver intelligence to the consortium headquarters in the Heavenly River Star Sector. In return, I'll give you the only Star Weapons and treasures left in my warehouse."
If a starship was directly destroyed, its Star Weapons had a 99% chance of being wrecked. They were much more likely to survive if the starship core dispersed on its own.
A sudden starship, a sudden character, and a sudden commission...
Feng Xiao and the other two stood there, stunned for several seconds before they reacted.
He hesitated. "Sir, we understand your situation, but we can't guarantee we'll complete the task.
"And we can't be sure that what you've told us isn't a trap."
"I can make an agreement under the Supreme Rules, swearing that everything I've said is true. I can also give you the reward in advance!
"A purple-quality talent-level enhancement treasure and a purple-quality medical Star Weapon!"
Feng Xiao had been about to refuse, unwilling to get involved in trouble, but he changed his tune the moment he heard the reward.
"No problem. Since those despicable traitors betrayed you, I, as a member of the righteous side, am duty-bound to help!
"Leave it to me!"
The Four Sacred Islands Shogunate?
It was only the second strongest country in the Morton Galaxy. Compared with a purple talent-enhancement item and a purple medical Star Weapon, it was nothing.
He'd have no problem delivering the intelligence. He'd even be fine blowing up the Four Sacred Islands Shogunate's home planet!
Besides, he already disliked the name.
"..."
The middle-aged man was silent for a moment. Then he drew up an agreement under the Supreme Rules with Feng Xiao, handed over the two items, and immediately left.
Watching the oval starship depart, Feng Xiao fell silent.
I can just be wandering around and still run into a great opportunity like this. Am I really the protagonist?
"By the way, there's a good chance he won't make it out of Qiansen Star Lake, right?" Wang Hao said with a sigh, watching the starship grow smaller in the distance.
"A good chance? He's being hunted by the Morton Galaxy's second strongest country and a major consortium branch. Even a Star-Land Class starship couldn't possibly escape. Besides, I suspect his ship was affected by some special weapon. Its effect was similar to Li-style Particles, but much stronger.
"Otherwise, there's no way he couldn't send out a single message."
Feng Xiao was perfectly calm, not worried in the slightest.
For one thing, Alliance Law forbade high-level starships from attacking newly awakened starships. And if he revealed his talent, the Four Sacred Islands would have to back down.
Don't ask why. The protection of the civilization's upper echelons was the reason.
Of course, that was only if he had no other choice. Normally, he preferred to outwit his opponents.
Like right now...
[Starship ahead, halt your advance. We have questions for you.]
Feng Xiao looked completely unruffled.
He watched two Star-Land Class starships, each four or five thousand meters long, approach and regarded them with disdain.
Other Star-Land Class starships had hulls nearly ten thousand meters long. These two Four Sacred Islands ships were clearly second- or third-generation models, with their starship cores hacked to pieces. Worthless junk.
[You're only a third-rate nation in the Morton Galaxy. Who gave you the right to inspect me?]
When they received the message, the three captains finally noticed that the starship in front of them was less than two thousand meters long, yet its energy level was that of an elite-class starship.
They were startled.
It was only a mid- to high-level starship, yet its energy level surpassed that of most elite-class ships. Even with the Four Sacred Islands' full support, they could only raise one such prodigy, couldn't they?
He had to be a genius from a powerful force in the civilization's inner domain.
After all, Star Weapons alone couldn't have much effect on a low-level starship. The only exception would be if it had a sufficiently powerful captain talent to support them.
[We're only carrying out a routine inspection. Since you're a young noble from a powerful force, you can't be the fugitive we're after.
"Please forgive us."]
Did everyone think Star-Land Class was powerful enough?
At a certain level of society, Star-Land Class ships were just cannon fodder!
Even the ordinary captains of powerful factions could make these small countries' second- and third-generation Star-Land Class captains nervous.
And that was before considering someone who was obviously a prodigy.
Without replying, the Star Origin continued flying forward at an unhurried pace, resuming its random wanderings through the inner region in search of resources.
The captains of the three starships watched the Star Origin leave, clicking their tongues enviously before continuing the hunt.
As for killing them and taking their treasures... forget it.
There were countless kinds of Star Weapons. Some could identify the killer, and even the most discreet methods carried risks.
"Boss, that was incredible!"
Wang Hao was full of admiration. If he hadn't known Feng Xiao's true identity, he might have been fooled too.
His expression, his tone, his whole demeanor—he'd nailed every detail.
Feng Xiao chuckled. "I was just trying it out. If it didn't work, I'd have run at top speed. Who knew they wouldn't even suspect a thing?
"I guess the powerful factions in the Star Sea Human Alliance really do have an intimidating reputation."
"All right, that's enough exploring Qiansen Star Lake for now. Apart from the scenery, Star Beasts, and plant resources, there's nothing else here.
"Even the best scenery gets old. Let's return to the Morton Galaxy and take a look at the Violet Kingdom."
Feng Xiao glanced at the warning signal on the screen for the core region, then turned around and said.
The Star Origin wasn't yet qualified to enter the core region.
Without sufficient defenses and speed, they couldn't even move freely through the inner region. Even now, there were probably areas inside it that posed a threat to the Star Origin.
Since they'd already visited everywhere they could go, it was time for an explorer to seek out better regions.
But before that, they needed to visit the Violet Kingdom to trade for supplies. Some things would come in handy; others needed to be sold.
"The Morton Galaxy's strongest country?"
Wang Hao and Ilde looked full of longing. The former longed to see every corner of interstellar society.
The latter had grown up in the Morton Galaxy, listening to people praise the Violet Kingdom.
Now that he could go there, of course he was excited.
Feng Xiao casually brought up the data on the purple medical Star Weapon.
[Tianyi Medical Chamber Quality: Purple (10% mutation) Level: lv0 (Leveling up this type of Star Weapon has little effect; it requires a substantial increase in level) Description: A special medical Star Weapon combining technology with nature and ecology. It was originally a medical chamber belonging to a country in an Eastern nation, but mutated for unknown reasons. Effects: 1: If an injury other than to the brain or heart isn't instantly fatal, it can remotely sustain the patient's life for five minutes. 2: The four treatment pods inside the medical chamber can heal ordinary serious injuries or anything less within two hours. 3: Can treat level-three or lower parasitic infections, microbial viruses, and similar conditions. 4: Can produce special medicine that restores moderate injuries and stamina. It can also independently develop medicine. Enhancement: +20% vitality for all crew members.]
Without hesitation, he tossed the old yellow medical Star Weapon into the warehouse and replaced it.
But the cabin remained silent. The three of them stared solemnly at the item that could raise a captain's talent level, their expressions serious.
A Legendary talent—how powerful would it become after an upgrade?
Before you continue