Chapter Thirty-Eight

Ha, reading through the many messages left by brothers, I often feel the urge to highlight them, but unfortunately, I've already used up all my highlights this week! Sweat~~ Please continue to support Fang Xiang!

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No one knows what material this pirate ship is made of; even with a laser sword, Ye Chong finds it quite taxing. Sweat beads uncontrollably on his forehead as the laser sword emits a dazzling glow, highly conspicuous in the dark night sky. If he doesn't hurry, being discovered would spell disaster!

With his other hand, Ye Chong grips the alloy rope attached to the Scorpion Tail Suction Pad, searching for a foothold to leverage his strength. Now, he fervently hopes the suction pad's grip is strong enough and won't rip him down.

Bit by bit, the laser sword sinks into the bottom of the pirate ship. The armor is thick! Even when the blade reaches the hilt, it doesn't feel like it's pierced through. Helpless, Ye Chong resorts to digging out chunks, but the laser sword is poorly suited for such work. If only he had a laser shovel, it would be far more convenient. At this moment, he even jokes with himself to ease his taut nerves, having sensed how tension is causing his muscles to stiffen.

On the Garbage Planet, countless times on the edge of life and death, Ye Chong has relied on this method to bring himself luck!

Right now, Ye Chong looks very much like a nano robot working in space, typically employed for grunt labor.

Suddenly, the laser sword in his hand lightens, and Ye Chong can't help but rejoice—he's finally pierced through! Carefully, he carves out a hole large enough to fit through, then stores the Wind Sand Worm into subspace; its mission is complete.

Ye Chong squeezes cautiously into the pirate ship. As soon as he enters, he feels his body grow heavy, stumbles, and nearly drops the laser sword. He remembers now that he's within the ship's gravity matrix.

By the glow of his laser sword, Ye Chong surveys his surroundings with care.

In the command room, the one-eyed boss lounges lazily in a plush command chair, a cigar clamped between his teeth, looking thoroughly content. The gaunt strategist stands respectfully, hands folded, behind him.

The one-eyed boss laughs heartily, “Those brats fought well, they really know what they're doing! Tsk tsk, that Iron is ferocious, ha, truly one of my tiger generals! But this fat sheep is quite tricky. Pity for them, they've run into us—heh heh, we're about to make a fortune…” Greedily, he gazes at the massive merchant ship, his eyes filled with flying diamonds.

The gaunt strategist nods repeatedly, deeply agreeing. His pale, fleshless face is flushed as if drunk; clearly, this unexpected encounter with a rare and lucrative prize has even lifted his usual gloom into dizzying delight.

Fortunately, even in such a state, he hasn't forgotten to flatter the boss: “It's all thanks to your wisdom, Boss! This time we'll be eating well and living large for months! But, Boss, according to what I've heard from the Black Horn, lately all sorts of goods are unusually scarce, and those old fellows have declared, whoever delivers goods inside will not only receive a high price but also earn plenty of Black Horn Points. I figure, shouldn't we ship these goods to the Black Horn and sell to those old men? We'd hardly lose anything, plus those points are extremely valuable to us!”

At the sudden mention of Black Horn, the one-eyed boss shudders all over. Then, hearing about Black Horn Points, his lone eye lights up.

Black Horn—a mysterious place, the absolute center of the dark powers. It is also a consumer paradise: the most beautiful women, the finest wines, the most splendid clothing, the most attentive service, the most advanced mecha... Anything you can imagine exists here; even the unimaginable is here. Beasts you've never seen, bizarre wonders that will astound you.

Currency from all five star systems is accepted here, but that's only for the outer district. To access the unique and secret inner district, you must use Black Horn's own currency: Black Horn Points. The five star systems' currencies cannot be exchanged for Black Horn Points unless someone is willing to make the trade. On the market, a single point fetches a sky-high price, yet no one parts with theirs. For pirates like the one-eyed boss, every Black Horn Point is precious.

Periodically, the Black Horn Elder Council announces commissions. Completing one earns you the corresponding reward: Black Horn Points. Likewise, those who work in the inner district are paid in Black Horn Points. But whether it's a council commission or a job in the inner district, neither is easily obtained.

The commissions are so difficult that even someone as powerful as the one-eyed boss, with countless subordinates, can only stare helplessly. If you secure a job in the inner district, congratulations—you've reached master level in your field. As long as your skills are high enough, whatever issues you have won't bar your entry; here, ability is everything.

There’s also an unconventional way to earn Black Horn Points: exchanging valuable information or intelligence. Specialists evaluate your contribution and grant points accordingly.

The one-eyed boss asks urgently, “Is your information reliable?”

The gaunt strategist replies respectfully, “I heard it from Jason, and I've vaguely heard others mention it as well!”

“Jason!” the one-eyed boss muses. Jason is a formidable figure among the pirates. Unlike the Red Falcon Pirate Group, whose strength lies in numbers, Jason always works alone. Yet no pirate dares underestimate him, and no one ever tries to rob his goods. Strangely, no one can say exactly why he mustn't be provoked, but everyone obeys this unwritten rule.

“If it's Jason, it's probably true,” the one-eyed boss declares. “But we're far from Black Horn, and carrying such a huge cargo, someone is bound to covet it and want a share!”

The gaunt strategist persuades, “But Boss, opportunities to earn Black Horn Points are rare! I think it's worth the risk. Besides, even if someone tries to ambush us, we're not pushovers, and with you personally in command, I doubt they'd dare challenge the tiger. If we pull this off, they'll flee at the mere sight of us in the future!”

The one-eyed boss decides firmly, “Right, you're correct. Such a good opportunity can't be missed! Some risk is worth it. Black Horn Points are what I've dreamed of! Just a few more and I can trade in this heap of scrap for something better—hmph, then the outside world will be mine to roam!”

The gaunt strategist flatters, “Boss, your wisdom is unparalleled!”

The one-eyed boss proudly pats the strategist’s shoulder, “Ha ha, relax, when I eat meat, I won't forget to let you drink soup!”

The strategist’s face blooms like a flower, nodding and bowing repeatedly.

The two, lost in their endless fantasies, fail to notice the fleeting figure on the holographic screen!