Punklorde

The scouting starship traveled through the Star Sea.

Bai Heng sent Ruan Mei a message through the ship's communication system.

"The business trip is over. I'm on the way back."

About ten seconds passed.

Ruan Mei replied:

"You've worked hard. Would you like me to give you a physical examination when you get here, my dear assistant?"

"Cat pastry making a heart, jpg."

She even attached a photo.

In the image, Ruan Mei sat on a snow-white hotel bed, dressed in a thin white bathrobe. Her fair, jade-like legs were lightly crossed, and her long hair was still damp, as though she had just finished bathing.

Behind her stood a floor-to-ceiling one-way window, beyond which the nightscape revealed a corner of the city's prosperity.

Every kind of light pollution, rows of glass skyscrapers, massive data displays, holographic projections of celebrities, chaotic streets, and the red lights of drone swarms filled the night sky, linking together into lines.

The entire city, shrouded in neon lights, seemed to exist in an ecology that was chaotic yet orderly.

The city gave Bai Heng the feeling

of what his home planet, Earth, might look like after another hundred years of development.

He continued messaging Ruan Mei.

Bai Heng: "Where is this, A Ruan?"

Ruan Mei: "Punklorde, a planet famous for its information lifeforms and hacking technology. I came here to attend an academic event. It begins the day after tomorrow. If you have time, you can attend with me as my assistant, dear."

Punklorde?

Upon seeing that name, Bai Heng searched for information on the planet through the ship's computer.

The data showed that it was a planet with highly advanced information technology and data networks, as well as a planet filled with light pollution. The finest hackers in the universe all came from here.

Whether in high-end office buildings beneath the city's neon lights or in the dark basements of society's lowest strata, this planet had produced geniuses in the field of hacking.

Once, a super hacker from Punklorde had engaged Screwllum of the Genius Society in a data warfare battle.

Although that hacker's intrusion had ultimately ended in failure, Screwllum did not consider himself the victor either.

That hacker's true identity was one of the now-infamous Stellaron Hunters, code-named "Silver Wolf."

Her existence was worshipped by countless hackers across Punklorde. She could even be called Punklorde's invisible emperor.

"Xiao Si, determine our distance from Punklorde."

Bai Heng crossed his legs in the most comfortable position, sipping freshly brewed coffee as he asked:

"Got it, Brother Bai." The red-haired young man's fingers, adorned with all sorts of cheap rings, moved across the control interface before him.

Before long, the distance between the scouting starship's current location, the Xianzhou, and Punklorde was displayed.

"Brother Bai, there are several planets named Punklorde. Which one are you asking about?" Xiao Si turned and asked.

"The planet of hackers."

Upon hearing Bai Heng's answer, Xiao Si ran the coordinates again, then called over his shoulder:

"Brother Bai, that planet is very close to us. If I go at full speed, it'll only take half a day. This starship still has enough fuel for five days of travel, so making a trip there won't be a problem."

Xiao Si was actually quite sharp. The moment he heard Bai Heng ask about that planet, he knew Bai Heng intended to go there.

"Stand by for now." Bai Heng's fingers fell onto the ship's communication device as he continued messaging Ruan Mei.

Bai Heng: "Would my sudden visit disrupt your schedule?"

This time, there was a longer interval before Bai Heng sent another message.

Yet Ruan Mei still replied immediately. It seemed she had been waiting all along.

Ruan Mei: "It won't."

"Of course, if you don't wish to attend this event and are more interested in Punklorde itself, I can turn down the event and explore the planet with you."

Looking at the several messages Ruan Mei had sent, Bai Heng felt something indescribable stir within him.

He replied:

"I'm changing course now. It will only take twelve interstellar hours to reach Punklorde."

Ruan Mei: "It should be noon here by then. Do you need me to pick you up at the starport?"

Bai Heng: "No. You still have an important event to attend tomorrow. Just tell me the hotel's location, and I'll come find you."

Ruan Mei: "Mm."

His fingers left the ship's communication device.

Bai Heng said to Xiao Si:

"Change the work schedule."

"Change our destination to—Punklorde."

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