The Hutt Civilization is located in the Skywalker Star System, where the Black Star Army has a branch. Three years ago, the Hutt Civilization set up a special diplomatic team to deal with the Black Star Army's branch. The team leader was an elite person transferred from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs named Volman.
The Black Star Army has an office for the Hutt Civilization in its satellite branch near the resource planet. This office is also the working area for the diplomatic team. Volman and his team members usually stay here to monitor the mining situation on the resource planet and communicate with the Black Star Army branch at any time.
The day was as leisurely as usual. Volman arrived at the office early, greeted his team members politely, sat down at his seat, admired the starry sky outside the window, and then took a book out of his bag and opened it on the table. It was a literary book written in Hutt script, with beautiful language. He decided to read chapters eight through eleven today, which would probably take him the whole morning.
He quickly finalized his reading plan for the day, deciding to save any more for tomorrow, and only consider reading one more article if he was in a good mood.
In the interstellar era, in order to save unnecessary manufacturing and transportation costs, almost all entertainment and art books are in electronic form. Physical books have become collectibles, and only a small number of people who pursue a refined and elegant lifestyle will actively buy physical versions of books.
As an elite member of the Hutt Foreign Ministry and a member of the upper class in society, Volman demanded of himself a refined lifestyle. He took out a decorative jar containing blue powder, scooped out exactly two spoonfuls and a third of it, poured it into a crystal glass, and then poured in cold water. The blue powder dissolved in the cold water, turning into a thick, bluish-green liquid that shimmered with fluorescence, as if tiny stars were rising and falling within it—a truly beautiful sight.
This is a refreshing and invigorating beverage made from powdered frosty bean, which is brewed with cold water. It is a favorite drink of the Hutts, and is icy cold and sweet. Volman's frosty bean powder is naturally not a mass-produced factory product, but a hand-ground premium product.
Volman returned to his seat with the crystal glass, took a sip of the blue beverage, then picked up the book on the table, adjusted his seat to a 45-degree angle with the window, and assumed a reading posture by the window, as if he had completed some kind of ritual, before finally starting to read with satisfaction.
He doesn't mind being transferred to this less demanding position, but he's not satisfied with his current job.
Volman preferred to be active on the political and diplomatic stage between civilizations, showcasing his diplomatic charm with an elegant demeanor—that was the style of an elite. The Black Star Army, on the other hand, was merely an armed force. Even if it was powerful, it was essentially a bunch of uncultured and rude mercenaries. Volman disliked dealing with the Black Star Army; in his view, it was an insult to him and a waste of his talents.
At that moment, a team member rushed into the room and shouted, "Team leader, the Black Star Army just sent a notification that their leader, Black Star, will be visiting the Skywalker Star System in seven days to personally meet with our Hutt Civilization. Here are the details."
Black Star personally came to his door. What was his purpose...? Volman was taken aback. Since taking office, he had only dealt with trivial matters. This was the first slightly more important diplomatic incident.
Taking the document and reading it carefully, Volman asked in surprise, "He wants to see Lothaire? Who is Lothaire?"
Han Xiao wrote down his goal in order to inform the Hutt Civilization in advance. If it was just a meeting, given his status, the Hutt Civilization should not refuse.
Volman immediately contacted higher-ups. After a ten-minute call, he finally hung up and breathed a sigh of relief. The higher-ups weren't planning to come out in person; they wanted him to be in charge of welcoming Black Star and handling all the reception.
Seven days later, Han Xiao piloted his spaceship to the Skywalker Star System and landed at a military port on a ruling planet of the Hutt Civilization. The Hutt Civilization had already received the notification and had basically emptied the port. Volman and his group were waiting at the dock early.
The hatch opened, and Han Xiao led Reynold down. Volman straightened his clothes, walked up with an elegant smile, and extended his hand to shake it.
"Your Excellency Black Star, I am Volman from the diplomatic team. On behalf of the Hutt Civilization, I welcome your arrival."
"Hey, hello." Han Xiao shook hands with him.
"Upon learning of your arrival, the higher-ups originally intended to accompany you personally, but unfortunately, your arrival was too sudden, and they couldn't spare the time. Therefore, I've taken charge of receiving you. Please don't take offense," Volman said politely.
In reality, this was just a pretext. The higher-ups of the Hutt Civilization deliberately avoided showing themselves because the Hutt Civilization had secretly cooperated with DarkStar during the DarkStar's rebellion. Now, hearing that Black Star had come to visit them, they felt guilty and decided to send an insignificant minor official to receive Black Star's attitude and see why Black Star wanted to see Lothaire.
But Volman was unaware of these inside stories. In his view, the fact that the higher-ups did not come forward represented the Hutt Civilization's attitude towards Black Star. Although they had followed suit and invited Black Star to establish a branch base three years ago, they had not actually paid much attention to this upstart and still maintained the reserve that a star system civilization should have. Volman was very satisfied with this attitude.
In Volman's eyes, Black Star was nothing more than a nouveau riche.
Black Star may be powerful, but it's not yet the only Beyond Grade A force. It's just that the Black Star Army took off in a wave thanks to the media storm and the book three years ago. In his view, it exudes the air of a nouveau riche. Black Star is essentially just a native of a backward planet. As an elite member of an old star system civilization, Volman carries a sense of superiority from his background and doesn't really look down on the Black Star Army.
However, as a Well-Trained diplomat, he perfectly concealed this slight and maintained a facade of respect.
"No need to be so polite," Han Xiao waved his hand.
Volman nodded. "We have received your notification. Lothaire is being held in a secret prison on this planet. We can meet at any time. Would you like to rest first, or see her now?"
"Go see her in prison first."
"Okay, please follow me."
A hovercar with official license plates was parked outside the port. Han Xiao and Reynold followed Volman into the car and headed to the prison where Lothaire was located.
The hovercar traveled smoothly without any vibration, and the scenery outside the window rushed by. Inside the car, Han Xiao chatted casually with Volman, while Reynold sat upright and serious to the side, seemingly lost in thought.
Laifer gave him an extremely long vacation, giving Han Xiao ample time to handle personal matters. Seven days ago, he received Reynold's mission and, upon discovering that Lothaire was an acquaintance, he immediately put aside all other arrangements and made rescuing Lothaire his top priority.
Considering Lothaire's identity, Han Xiao brought Reynold along as well, ostensibly to reunite the siblings, but actually to lower Lothaire's guard.
Although Han Xiao valued Reynold, he didn't consider him a person of importance. But after seeing Reynold's sister, he knew he was determined to befriend this guy!
"You're about to see your long-lost sister, are you nervous?" Han Xiao didn't hide his nervousness and asked Reynold in a voice that everyone else in the car could hear.
"I'm not nervous." Reynold shook his head. "My impression of her has faded. Even if we met, I wouldn't have much to say to her. We'd just go our separate ways."
"You asked me to help you rescue Lothaire, but you don't ask for anything in return? It seems your feelings for Lothaire aren't as indifferent as you say." Han Xiao chuckled.
"Family members should take care of each other. Even though she abandoned me, I should still lend a helping hand when she's in trouble." Reynold said seriously.
Volman listened with a smile, secretly noting down the information. It seemed that Lothaire was a family member of one of Black Star's generals? Perhaps this was Black Star's purpose in coming; he would have to report this to the higher-ups later.
More than two hours later, the hovercar drove into a military base, entered an underground passage, and stopped at the entrance of an underground prison. The heavy alloy door was open, and the warden and guards were already waiting there.
"Lord Black Star, we have arrived. Please allow me to show you the way."
Volman got out of the car, opened the door for Han Xiao, then exchanged a few words with the warden before respectfully leading the way.
This prison is very advanced, employing various interstellar technologies for confinement. It is extremely quiet, with only the buzzing of various mechanical guards passing by. The ceiling is equipped with various automated weapons that automatically target any heat-sensitive targets, making the security extremely tight.
Han Xiao walked and admired the scenery, gaining a lot from the experience. He decided that after finishing this matter, he would go back and renovate the Happy Hut as well.
After passing through several prison blocks, they arrived at the deepest solitary confinement cell, where they stopped in front of an alloy cell door.
"The person you want to see is inside." Volman nodded.
The warden opened the cell door, and everyone filed in. The space inside was not cramped; it was divided into two areas by a semi-transparent, high-strength synthetic glass panel. Inside the glass panel was Lothaire's cell.
Compared to Reynold's photo, Lothaire's long hair had been shaved into a buzz cut, and she was wearing a tattered prison uniform. She still looked young, without any signs of aging. Instead, she had a more pitiful and endearing quality. Just one glance was enough for Han Xiao to know that this woman's greatest attribute was probably charm, perhaps even comparable to Fording's.
The cell was dimly lit, but the bright light from outside shone in, and Lothaire squinted uncomfortably as she looked at the people in front of the glass. Although she was a prisoner, her aura was calm and composed, and her face was serene.
"Hmm, it's been 147 days since you last contacted me. What do you want from me this time?"
Reynold spoke up, "Do you still recognize me?"
Upon hearing this, Lothaire turned her gaze to Reynold's face, squinted for a moment, and then looked surprised.
"Could you be... my long-dead father?"
"I am Reynold!!"
"Oh, brother, so you're still alive." Lothaire sighed in disappointment, seemingly unsurprised by Reynold's presence. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm here to save you," Reynold said in a deep voice.
"Decades have passed, and you're still as stupid as ever." Lothaire gestured towards the warden beside her. "Do you think he's deaf?"
"Lord Black Star will try to get you out of here."
"Black Star?" She raised an eyebrow. "I don't know him."
Han Xiao stood silently to the side, his expression strange. The scene of the siblings reuniting was not quite what he had imagined. Shouldn't they be deeply affectionate, embracing and crying their hearts out, creating a melodramatic spectacle?
He looked at Lothaire in the cell, clicking his tongue in amazement.
Unexpectedly, a key member of the future Silver Revolutionary Army turned out to be a family member of one of his officers.
The Silver Revolutionary Army is a major storyline in this expansion, rebelling against not some insignificant figures, but against three cosmic-level civilizations. Since they're launching a revolution, they naturally need to win over the hearts and minds of the people, and Lothaire is an indispensable and crucial member, AKA "Missionary".
Even if I don't come, someone else will eventually take notice of Lothaire's abilities and rescue her. It's better to strike first.
Lothaire is a key figure in the main storyline, so Han Xiao pays special attention to her. Perhaps he can use this clue to get involved in the Silver Revolutionary Army's plot. Judging from the timeline, the Silver Revolutionary Army should not have been formed yet.
Putting aside her identity, Lothaire is also a promising talent. Although her superpowers don't provide much combat ability, she is an irreplaceable expert in persuading and inciting people.
At first glance, her ability seems quite ordinary, but in reality, the ultimate form of this superpower is enough to be listed on the "Extremely Dangerous Esper Ability Restriction List," possessing a terrifying Thought Contagion —not conquest by force, but cultural conquest!
Although it has no actual killing power, it is a powerful weapon to overthrow any ruling class!
Lothaire was born to start revolutions and establish sectarian groups!
Of course, it's also very useful if it's used to consolidate the position of the ruling class.
The group left the cell, and the warden closed the cell door again.
"Now that you've met the person, Lord Black Star, do you have any further requests?" Volman asked.
Han Xiao glanced at Reynold, then stroked his chin and said, "Indeed, I have another request. I hope to bail out Lothaire. As you can see, she is a family member of one of my cadres. As far as I know, she has not violated the laws of the Hutt Civilization. You are only detaining her on behalf of the Cecil Civilization. If you are willing to release her, I can talk to the Cecilis myself."
"Hehe, this matter is beyond my jurisdiction. I need to report it to higher-ups. Please wait a moment."
Volman wasn't surprised at all; he had already guessed Black Star's intentions. He stepped aside, took out his communicator, dialed a higher-up's number, and after a brief conversation, hung up and returned to Han Xiao, looking apologetic.
"I'm sorry, this is an internal matter of our civilization. Lothaire is an important prisoner and will not be granted bail."
Although galactic-level civilizations value Han Xiao and want to cultivate a good relationship with him, they will not become overly demanding because of this. If it were an ordinary prisoner, it might be easier to deal with, but in the eyes of the Hutt Civilization, Lothaire is also an important pawn, so naturally they would not hand her over just because of a word from Han Xiao.
"Oh, never mind then." Han Xiao shook his head in disappointment.
Thank you for your understanding.
Volman wore a polite smile and gave official remarks, but inwardly he sneered and couldn't help but mutter to himself:
You're not even Beyond Grade A yet, and you're trying to drag someone down with just one sentence?
Does he really think he's something special?