Mercenaries are very active in the Shattered Star Ring. Even in the peripheral region of Noriosse, there are many mercenary activities, mostly second- or third-rate mercenary groups. Han Xiao posted a recruitment notice through the Alliance's internal system, which quickly spread throughout the Noriosse mercenary circle.
Surprise, curiosity.
Most mercenaries would react in one of these two ways.
Throughout the past year, Han Xiao completed numerous missions. Due to his reputation as Dragon Calm, he accumulated a large network of connections, and his collaborators were mostly large mercenary groups. He even had good relationships with top legions such as Sky Ring, Blades, and Purple Gold.
Black Star's status in the Shattered Star Ring mercenary world isn't top-tier, but it's still a first-rate small team. Many mercenaries want to connect with Black Star and share this network to get better mercenary jobs. Because employers who don't lack money generally want the best mercenaries, the Alliance and the Tu Shu only share jobs with lower-ranking mercenaries if the large legions don't accept them. The higher-ups get the meat, and the lower-ranking mercenaries get the soup. This is basically how it works in all industries.
So Han Xiao raised his arm and called out, and countless people responded; at least half of the mercenaries from the Noriosse region came.
The gathering place was packed with people, a diverse mix of mercenaries chatting and waiting for the main character to appear.
Snap snap...
Clapping sounds rang out from the front of the crowd. Everyone turned to look and saw the legendary Black Star. The noisy crowd gradually quieted down from front to back, like ripples on water.
All eyes were fixed on Han Xiao, scrutinizing him from head to toe. They coveted Han Xiao's connections, but didn't pay much attention to Black Star's own strength. Most of the mercenaries were arrogant and unruly. In their view, Black Star's strength was only on par with their own, and he was just lucky to have won the favor of Dragon Emperor Ames. Most of the mercenaries present were only there for Black Star's connections.
Han Xiao remained unmoved, his expressionless face saying, "Gentlemen, I am the initiator of this recruitment. You should all recognize me, so I won't introduce myself. We're all mercenaries, so let's skip the formalities. I've received a job that's quite challenging but offers generous rewards. I need manpower, and I'm recruiting you all to find partners to complete this mission. You can think of me as an intermediary. The employer will explain the details in more detail."
Nagokin came on stage and explained the situation in detail.
Soon, the mercenaries below erupted in an uproar!
Many people were so frightened by the fact that there were two enemies at the Calamity Grade that their faces changed drastically, and they immediately backed down, looking at Han Xiao in disbelief as if he were a dead man.
You actually dared to accept a job from two A Tier enemies? Have you never seen how powerful Calamity Grade enemy is?!
If you miss, don't drag us down with you!
The conflict between Goddora and DarkStar was common knowledge in the Shattered Star Ring, and most mercenaries kept their distance, unwilling to get involved. Many immediately considered withdrawing.
Han Xiao said in a deep voice, "Our mission is not to fight the enemy, but it does involve some risks. If you are unwilling to accept this, you can leave now. Those who stay will sign a cooperation agreement with me after this mission and share my mercenary resources."
Upon hearing this, many people looked conflicted. If they could become partners with Black Star, they would have better employment opportunities. It's like starting a company; running around looking for projects is much easier than having a strategic partnership with a large corporation and easily sharing projects.
Many mercenaries, not daring to take the risk, took their leave one after another, and the crowd quickly thinned out. Han Xiao did not stop them.
In the end, only about a hundred people remained, and these mercenaries were willing to take the risk.
Phillip read their information, and Han Xiao glanced through it.
"Three mercenary groups, seventeen lone mercenaries, including four Grade B superhumans and the rest are Grade C. It's better than I expected." Han Xiao nodded. Because time was limited, he couldn't waste too much time, and it was already good that he could recruit this many people.
Han Xiao told the mercenaries to go and rest first. At this moment, Nagokin walked over.
"What are you planning to do?" Nagokin asked. He had just reunited with Han Xiao yesterday, and seeing him again made him feel somewhat embarrassed. As a powerful expert at the Calamity Grade, he actually had to rely on a group of mercenaries, which was a shameful record in his career.
However, he quickly shook off this useless emotion and focused on the mission. Although he didn't know much about Black Star, it didn't stop him from temporarily regarding Han Xiao as a comrade-in-arms.
Han Xiao pondered, "Right now, the most anxious ones are not us, but DarkStar. Anur and Ashes's ambush failed, and they must know that Goddora will send new reinforcements, so they must capture Owenn as soon as possible, while we do our best to hinder DarkStar's search operation."
Owenn's true form has been hiding, afraid to show himself, so it's impossible to bring him out of Noriosse. Moreover, who knows how many DarkStar warships are lurking around Noriosse, blocking routes and watching with predatory intent."
Given the current situation, it is necessary to contact Owenn first in order to formulate a plan. Nagokin took out an encrypted communicator to contact the other party.
"Nagokin? Didn't you lose?" Owenn's voice came through the communicator, but there was no video feed. To prevent others from knowing his location, Owenn did not turn on the video projector.
"Your clues are wrong. DarkStar sent two Calamity Grade this time, the Book and the Dark Star. I survived, and I found help. We will assist you in escaping DarkStar's Pursuit. New reinforcements are on their way. As long as we can buy you time, DarkStar will have no choice but to retreat. You will be safer under our protection. Where are you hiding?"
"I don't need your protection. My main body is safe; no one can find me. You've already failed once. If I hadn't been cautious, you would have been captured by now. I prefer to trust myself. I have three clones in DarkStar's hands; they can't return to my main body, and I suffer torture every day. Only one clone is free to move around. If you really want to help me, then protect my clone; he's being pursued..."
After hanging up the communication, Nagokin frowned deeply. He felt helpless, unable to protect his main body, and whether DarkStar would find him was entirely up to fate.
Han Xiao smiled and said, "DarkStar has obtained three clones. Once a clone goes too far, it will die. As long as the clones are moved as far away as possible in three directions, the edge of the range can be easily found, and the center point can be located with a simple algorithm. So Owenn won't be foolish enough to stay in the same position."
Nagokin said worriedly, "There's one more thing. We're openly recruiting mercenaries, DarkStar is likely to get wind of it. They won't stand idly by."
"Hmm... I roughly know what they're going to do. Looks like I'll have to take some risks."
Han Xiao stroked his chin, determined to disrupt this turmoil. Besides the generous rewards, this was also a good opportunity to open up the upper levels of Goddora. Now, he was tough and could hold his own against Grade A opponent for several rounds without any problem, so he wasn't as apprehensive as before his advancement. Moreover, he had the advantage of knowing his opponent's abilities, so he was confident and calm. If his opponent was Ashes, he felt he could last even longer.
Due to the disruption caused by the Grade A battle, the DarkStar forces moved to a new secret base to discuss their next move. Anur thought it was a pity they hadn't been able to kill Nagokin, as Nagokin must have already called for reinforcements, so they needed to hurry.
Meanwhile, the team tracking from the outside was monitoring Owenn's last clone. Without delay, Anur dispatched all his forces to take down the last clone in one fell swoop.
But before that, the DarkStar forces received intelligence that Nagokin had found new allies— the Black Star Mercenary Group.
"Nagokin is still not giving up. He wants to fight the two of us alone?" Anur's face darkened, and a cold smile appeared on his face. "Since he won't obediently hide, it's a good opportunity for us to kill him."
He had initially thought that Nagokin would not dare to show himself after being ambushed, but unexpectedly, he still had a chance to kill him. Anur was not surprised but delighted.
In fact, Nagokin wasn't seriously injured during his first attack in his previous life. However, he never gave up on his mission and fought against two superhumans from DarkStar single-handedly, even without reinforcements, before finally being crippled. At that time, the other Calamity Grade fighter was not Ashes. In this period of his previous life, Ashes was not forced into seclusion for training, and he entered Grade A much earlier than in his previous life.
A large part of this was influenced by Han Xiao's butterfly effect... or rather, spurred on by it.
"What good can a bunch of mercenaries do? They're just a rabble." Anur was dismissive. Only top-tier legions like Sky Ring or Blades would earn his attention.
Ashes's eyes turned cold.
"It's Black Star again... I gave him a chance."
Ashes no longer takes Han Xiao seriously, but since Black Star dares to interfere in their affairs, he must clear the obstacles in his path.
Even though Ashes hasn't decided whether to kill Black Star due to the threat from Dragon Calm, he at least wants to wipe out his companions to teach him that provoking DarkStar comes at a price.
Black Star might possess some kind of talent that grants immunity to his own abilities, but his companions are not. Ashes remembers that during the last battle, he seemed to have torn apart the arm of one of Han Xiao's companions. It seems they haven't learned their lesson yet.
Interfering in matters that are not their concern will only invite disaster.
Anur glanced at the intelligence report. "These mercenaries can't be kept alive. I don't want any unexpected complications."
"You take the men to capture the clone, I'll take care of the mercenaries by myself." Ashes stood up. "With my abilities, crushing them won't take a minute. I'll join you after that."