at the same time.
Central Galaxy, within the empire.
A small, unmarked fleet was anchored above a massive blue planet, one of the Crimson Dynasty's most famous interstellar cities, a prosperous and populous place.
This fleet came from the Black Star Army's branch in the Constellation Corridor. Since they would be staying in the Empire for an extended period, Han Xiao dispatched the local legion fleet as soon as he arrived in the Central Galaxy. The main purpose was to utilize the fleet's mechanical factory so that he could produce machinery at any time during his journey.
The Crimson Dynasty knew that Han Xiao had come to the Central Galaxy, and that this trip was just to avoid the limelight. Therefore, he did not need to report to Crimson Ring Star. Except for military-secret areas, he could move freely within the Empire, and the Empire's high command would not care about his whereabouts.
While practicing his Energy Training Method, Han Xiao was also searching for famous figures from his memories within the Empire. He came to this interstellar city specifically to visit one of them.
Advanced civilizations value the education of their descendants. Many important colonies within the Empire have official Imperial academies, which are basically top-tier institutions of higher learning in the universe, possessing the best educational resources. The annual enrollment season of the major Imperial Academy is a major event that the entire civilization pays close attention to.
Among them, the Superpower Academy is the school that more than 90% of interstellar citizens aspire to attend. Superpowered individuals and ordinary people are two different classes, as if they live in different worlds. Every ordinary person wants to master extraordinary power, and those without natural talent will pass on this aspiration to their descendants.
The Empire's Sixteenth Comprehensive Super Academy, a first-class institution of learning on this planet, is a renowned facility. Han Xiao's destination is this academy—in his memory, a future direct-lineage Beyond Grade A student of the Empire will graduate from this academy.
According to the data from the previous life, this direct descendant of Beyond Grade A was recruited into this academy between 709 and 712 in the Galaxy Calendar, which was during the early stages of the 3.0-4.0 version update, which is now.
Because the fleet was unmarked, Han Xiao's arrival did not cause a sensation on the planet. It was merely reported to the academy's higher-ups, and the principal immediately put aside all his affairs and came out personally to greet the important figure from the empire.
At this very moment, on one of the campuses of the Empire's Sixteenth Comprehensive Super Academy, Han Xiao led Aurora a tree-lined path. His face was disguised using virtual technology, so no one could detect his true identity. The principal followed closely beside them, accompanying the two on a tour of the academy.
Artificial trees blocked the artificial sun from the sky, and the sunlight filtering through the canopy was cut into golden fragments. A shimmering stream flowed beside the road, where several young students jumped and played on the surface, curiously testing their supernatural powers. In the distance, students of different races were whispering sweet nothings to each other on the meadow. Occasionally, a few students carrying books flew overhead on their flying vehicles to class. Everywhere was filled with the vibrant energy of youth.
"How wonderful..." Looking at this scene, Aurora's eyes revealed a hint of longing and envy.
Her childhood was like hell; she had never experienced the normal process of growing up.
A normal life is so far away from me now... Han Xiao glanced at the screen and suddenly felt a pang of melancholy.
Looking down, Aurora's profile seemed to be reflected in the Dawn, her long eyelashes trembling gently, and because of her supernatural abilities, her aura appeared pure and sacred.
"Lord Black Star, the Pugilist Class's teaching area is just ahead."
At this moment, the principal's voice rang in his ears. Han Xiao withdrew his gaze from Aurora and looked ahead. Before him was a continuous cluster of tall buildings, with visible spherical gravity training spaces suspended in the air, where many Pugilist Class students were practicing.
The three of them strolled around the teaching area for a while and came to a classroom where a class of new Pugilist Class students were having a cultural class. Han Xiao looked through the window and focused his gaze on an inconspicuous male student from the Cosmic Human in the middle. This plain and somewhat simple-minded face was very familiar to him.
Carrot, a later version of the Imperial direct line of Beyond Grade A, succeeded "Dark Emperor" Clottey after his death, and his strength also reached the level of Peak Beyond Grade A... Memories of his past life flashed through his mind, and a strange look flashed in Han Xiao's eyes.
Seeing Han Xiao stop and not leave, the principal was somewhat puzzled. Following his gaze, he stared intently at Carrot and hesitated before asking, "Lord Black Star, do you know this new student?"
Han Xiao shook his head. "I think he has a lot of potential."
Upon hearing this, the principal scrutinized Carrot for a while longer, but still couldn't see anything special about him. He was somewhat dismissive, but he couldn't ignore the opinion of Beyond Grade A. He took out his communicator and secretly checked Carrot's file, only to find that this freshman had not yet awakened his Esper Gene, and his physical fitness test score was among the lowest in his year.
Most of the new students at the Superpower Academy are ordinary people. The academy conducts tests to select promising students and provides them with education for a period of one and a half years. If they fail to awaken superpowers during this period, they will be asked to leave.
"I hope to talk to him later," Han Xiao said.
"Well... alright." The principal hesitated for a moment, then agreed.
Han Xiao casually went to an empty classroom and waited for a while. The bell rang, and it became noisy outside. At this moment, the classroom door opened, and the principal walked in with Carrot.
"Have a seat," Han Xiao said with a smile.
"Why are you looking for me? I... I didn't do anything wrong." Carrot stood there blankly, looking flustered, and spoke somewhat awkwardly.
His family were ordinary people who ran a small business. His parents hoped that he would become a superhuman so that their business could receive the social welfare benefits unique to superhumans. So they made him apply to the Super Academy. Carrot had always been honest and simple-minded and had no opinions of his own. So he took the entrance exam without thinking and was lucky enough to pass. His family was overjoyed, so he cherished the student spot.
As a freshman who had never been exposed to the world of superhumans, Carrot had only seen the principal once, at the opening ceremony. Today, the principal came to see him specifically, which made Carrot uneasy, wondering if he had violated some school rules.
"Haha, you didn't do anything wrong, I just wanted to see you." Han Xiao laughed upon hearing this.
Carrot breathed a sigh of relief, staring at Han Xiao's unfamiliar face, and asked curiously, "You... who are you? I don't know you, why do you want to see me?"
"Hmm, I am Black Star. You may have heard of me. I am Beyond Grade A ally of the Crimson Dynasty. I believe you have potential. Would you like to join the Black Star Army?" Han Xiao asked with a half-smile.
Although the purpose of this trip was to visit a future renowned powerhouse, Carrot's current status was too low, and it wouldn't be appropriate for Han Xiao to win him over. If he could poach a potential talent, Han Xiao wouldn't hesitate to use his hoe.
Seeing this, the principal began to doubt his own judgment again. It was impolite to poach someone in person, but he didn't dare to make a scene. He was more surprised at what Carrot had that made Black Star personally speak up for him.
"What is the Black Star Army?" Carrot stared wide-eyed, looking puzzled. He had never paid attention to interstellar events before, and all he knew was the name of the Imperial leader; he knew nothing else.
Han Xiao's lips twitched, and he gave Aurora a wink. Aurora had no choice but to patiently explain again.
Carrot was still confused. "So you're mercenaries?"
"... Let's just assume that's the case for now," Han Xiao said helplessly. "If you join the legion, you'll receive better training and more benefits, I..."
Before Han Xiao could finish speaking, Carrot shook his head repeatedly like a rattle-drum, "I'm not going. Dad only wants me to become a superhuman to improve our family's life. He forbids me from going out to fight and kill. If he finds out, I'll definitely get a beating."
Hearing this, Han Xiao was both amused and exasperated; this reason was quite novel to him.
There are indeed many people in the universe who only covet the benefits and privileges of superhumans, but once they possess power, their mindset will change on its own. Carrot thinks this way, and Carrot can understand it.
In his previous life, Carrot was a late-blooming protagonist like Great Hero Guo, honest and simple, somewhat clumsy, and slow to grow, but in the end, he took one step at a time and stood at the peak of power. At his peak, he could beat ordinary Beyond Grade A enemies to death without even breaking a sweat.
After graduating from the official Super Academy, the military and some government departments would come to recruit. If you didn't choose to pursue further studies or join the military, you would graduate normally. It was at that time that Carrot developed his own opinions and, for the first time, went against his family's wishes and chose to join the military, thus beginning his legendary career. In Han Xiao's eyes, Carrot is still just an innocent child.
Every Beyond Grade A is unique. If we rashly change Carrot's experiences, it's uncertain whether he can grow up like he did in his previous life. After all, people like Carrot don't have the same potential for superpowers as Hila.
Seeing that no one spoke, Carrot scratched his head and hesitated before asking, "If there's nothing else, then... then I'll be going?"
"Alright." Han Xiao put aside his thoughts, smiled and nodded, deciding not to make a move on Carrot for the time being; he wasn't worth digging into right now.
However, I have indirectly helped Carrot. Given my status, by showing respect to a student, the principal will definitely try to cultivate him. I can stay here a little longer, get to know him better, and try to make Carrot owe me a favor, thus forming a closer relationship.
After watching Carrot leave, Han Xiao also bid farewell to the principal and returned to his spaceship in outer space.
As soon as Han Xiao entered the cabin, his communicator rang; it was a message from Sylvia.
"Teacher, there's something going on with the Infinite Financial Group!"
Han Xiao's eyes flashed. "Tell me in detail."
Sylvia quickly recounted the Infinite Financial Group's actions in the Shattered Star Ring. Han Xiao frowned, and the image of his conversation with Sorokin flashed through his mind, and he suddenly understood.
"The advance into the Shattered Star Ring is a pretense; their real intention is to deal with me."
"Teacher, you mean...?"
Han Xiao pondered, "On the surface, the Infinite Financial Group is just conducting business activities, but in reality, it's supporting the War Realm to act as our competitors, directly restricting our development. I've been waiting for the pressure from the Evolutionary Totem, and it turns out it takes this form. There must be someone behind the Infinite Financial Group, most likely related to Glory and Arcane."
He had always been perceptive, and the current situation made him suddenly understand, allowing him to guess the whole story.
"Then what should we do? There's no way to counter this!" Sylvia's expression was grave.
Han Xiao was somewhat troubled. Everyone has their own expertise, and in business activities, the Infinite Financial Group is a dominant force. The Legion's core business remains unaffected, but it cannot stop Sorokin from targeting the Legion's partners. Moreover, this will have a negative effect: some business partners may proactively terminate their partnerships to avoid being targeted by the Infinite Financial Group, willing to earn less in exchange for their own safety.
This is a perfectly legitimate strategy of using one's strengths to attack the enemy's weaknesses.
"Well, the Infinite Financial Group is a unified entity. To counter it, we must also consolidate our dispersed capital. It's not entirely without benefits for us; external pressure facilitates internal cohesion. Perhaps we can use this opportunity to turn some partners into staunch allies. Inform them and try to encourage them to unite, forming something like a chamber of commerce alliance, helping each other to resist the Infinite Financial Group's hostile takeover."
"That's a good idea." Sylvia thought for a moment and nodded in agreement.
"Sigh, there's no way to counter the Infinite Financial Group's tactics; this is just stopping the bleeding." A cold glint flashed in Han Xiao's eyes. "In a while, I'll have the mechanical bodies left at headquarters go to the War Realm to find Heber... to have a good talk!"
After discussing their strategy, Han Xiao hung up the call, his face quickly darkening.
Sorokin's move was a deliberate attempt to undermine the Black Star Legion's development. By doing this while the Black Star Army was rapidly expanding and seizing the opportunity presented by the Shattered World, he was deliberately hindering the Legion's progress and preventing Sorokin from focusing on his own development.
The alliance of interests had been working on its plan for several years and had finally taken shape, Sorokin was going to destroy all the legion's achievements of the past few years!
Ostensibly operating under the guise of commercial activities, and also using the shell of the War Realm, the empire had no grounds to intervene, leaving them unable to fight back or resolve the issue by force.
Although Sorokin's methods could not shake the core of the Legion, they were extremely insidious and disgusting, and they were strangling the Legion's future!
He had initially considered contacting Sorokin to ask, but then changed his mind and abandoned the idea. Given Sorokin's cunning nature, he would surely try to fob him off with excuses like normal business activities. Since Sorokin was already doing that, he had nothing to fear from his dissatisfaction.
Given Sorokin's reaction, Han Xiao decided not to bother calling him and putting up with his antics.
' Heber agreed to cooperate, most likely with the intention of using the opportunity to expand his power. He doesn't seem to mind hurting me. Once I reach level 300 and advance, I'll go find him and have a good talk.'
Han Xiao clenched his fists, his face grim.
They might not be able to deal with Sorokin, but they could certainly cause trouble for Heber.
Little Tyrant, you're so concerned about your reputation, aren't you? You think this deal is a steal? Well, don't blame me for taking a hit on your prestige!