Chapter 813: Ames' Request
Translator: Atlas Studios
Editor: Atlas Studios
The Crimson Dynasty Military Shattered Star Ring Stargate Station, the Black Star Army transport ships rode out from the blue vortex stargate one after another, as the space energy covering their shields quickly dissipated.
"We're back." Inside the main ship's command room, Han Xiao exhaled.
Despite being prosperous and peaceful, the shadow of the universal civilizations always shrouded the Central Galaxy like a mountain, giving him an invisible sense of pressure. Although Shattered Star Ring was rural, he had been there for more than twenty years, and this was the army's headquarters; he felt calmer and secure there.
Ames walked to his side, looked out the universe outside the porthole, and said, "I've had quite a good time traveling with you guys for the past two months. Now we're home, I shall get going."
"What's the hurry? Come with us."
"Floating Dragon recently drifted to another Star Cluster. We're not on the way for you."
Han Xiao reluctantly nodded and said, "Alright then, I'll have my men prepare a spaceship for you. By the way, the preparations on the dynasty's side are almost complete, so I'll be departing very soon to explore the Flickering World. Do you want to come? There should be much new and interesting stuff there."
Ames waved and said, "That's the Crimson Dynasty's mission. I won't go."
Aesop rubbed his beard and interrupted them. "Yesterday, I had a new prophecy that's related to the Flickering World."
Another prophecy? Han Xiao's eyes sparkled and said with curiosity, "Old man, you've helped me with your prophecy ability again?"
"Er… let me explain. I did not help you particularly. It's just that those people who are close to me will have some kind of fate connection with me, and my ability can randomly sense what might happen to these people in the future. It's like a dream, very blurry, basically just a feeling.
"Yesterday, I sensed what might happen to you in the Flickering World…"
Then, Aesop paused and said in a very serious tone, "You'd better be careful about the Arcane Church."
The Arcane Church? Have they still not given up taking back the Evolution Cube? It does seem possible.
Han Xiao blinked and realized that Aesop did not continue. "Is that it? Don't you have any useful information like time and location or something?"
Aesop shrugged. "Things can change any time since the future is so far ahead. There's no accurate prophecy, just intuition."
"Got it. I'll keep a lookout and have people keep an eye on the movements of the Star Pupil Holy Race. If the Arcane Church wants to do something to me, Psyker will definitely be part of it."
Han Xiao nodded and patted Aesop's shoulder.
"Oh, by the way, one more thing." Aesop rubbed his beard. "I heard that some Ancient Ones members have been secretly asking around about you. A few of them seems to be interested in you."
Han Xiao looked at Aesop from head to toe and said with a doubtful tone, "Where did you hear that?"
"I used to be one of them. What's so weird about me having a few friends?" Aesop shrugged. "When I followed you to the dynasty's capital and met those dynasty allies, Ravenlaude told the other Ancient Ones about me. Now, those guys all know that a former member of the Ancient Ones is now with you and Ames, so some friends contacted me."
Han Xiao could not help but feel amazed. For someone this ancient like Aesop, both his connections and history were unfathomable. Somehow, Aesop could always obtain information that was extremely rare and inaccessible to most people.
"Who are the ones that are asking about me?"
"Manison, Sun Hunter, Void Overlord…" Aesop's voice suddenly got deeper and said with a soft voice, "And Thousand Shadows."
Other than Manison, Han Xiao did not have any contact with the first few Ancient Ones. Sun Hunter was a Cannon Master, and Void Overlord was a Void being, so Han Xiao had no idea why they were asking about him. However, when Aesop mentioned Thousand Shadows, Han Xiao's eyes narrowed immediately.
Back when they interrogated Thousand Shadows' Shadow Warriors, Aesop was the one who had helped. Aesop knew that Thousand Shadows had once had his eyes on Han Xiao, so he mentioned this to alert him.
"Maybe he still wants to capture me or something. He's in the Federation of Light's Star Field, so I can't do anything for the time being. I'll wait till I have the chance to deal with him." Han Xiao committed this matter to memory.
The mission [Prey] was still inactive. In the past, he did not know if Thousand Shadows had given up on him, but now, it seemed that this guy had yet to give up. However, he was no longer a Calamity Grade, so Thousand Shadows would not be able to capture him so easily.
This time, Ames suddenly said, "Black Star, I've been thinking about something recently, and I want to discuss it with you."
Han Xiao turned to look at Ames and captured a tint of hesitation on her face. This was very rare for Ames, so Han Xiao said curiously, "What do you want to discuss with me? Do you want to borrow money? Is fifty million Enas enough?"
"Who's borrowing money from you? Do you think I'm that poor?" Ames's brow twitched slightly. "Actually… I've been thinking about Floating Dragon's development plan recently…"
Both Aesop and Han Xiao's eyes widened immediately. Their faces were filled with complete shock.
"What happened to you? Is that something you should be thinking about?"
"Am I this unreliable to you?" Ames said with resignation. "I'm Floating Dragon's leader. What's so strange about me thinking for my organization occasionally?"
"It wouldn't be strange for others, but for you… it is indeed strange! Who doesn't know how laz… ahem, carefree you are?"
Han Xiao changed his words at the last minute and hid his giggle. Ames had never thought about developing her faction, and her slacker image was already deeply rooted in everyone's heart. God only knew why she suddenly changed her mind.
"Stop kidding, I'm serious this time." Ames gave Han Xiao a glare.
She had never been passionate about growing her organization, but that had lasted for too long, and she felt like it was time to make a change—especially after how she witnessed Han Xiao leading the rise of the Black Star Army for the past ten or so years with her own eyes. With such a positive example, it made her feel a tiny bit interested in growing her own forces. She wanted to imitate Han Xiao and operate Floating Dragon Island better. It had nothing to do with her ambition or anything of that sort; Ames mainly saw it as an interesting thing to do.
However, Ames was never going to admit to Han Xiao that the things he did were what piqued her interest.
"Alright then, I'll pretend it's serious…" Seeing the not so friendly glint in Ames' eyes, Han Xiao tried his best not to laugh and waved his hands. "Okay, okay. It's serious. So, you want to develop Floating Dragon. What do you want to discuss with me?"
Ames stayed silent for a while before slowly saying, "Floating Dragon has been drifting in the universe for a very long time. I want to make it stay in one place."
Han Xiao pondered for a while before nodding.
"Yo, that's quite a good idea. With a fixed location for the headquarters, it'll be easier for people to feel confident about Floating Dragon. As a Beyond Grade A, you have an extraordinary amount of appeal. As long as you can turn the image that the Shattered Star Ring Supers have about you around and show that you're serious about expanding, the number of people who are willing to work for you will definitely be tens and hundreds of times more than now.
Han Xiao caressed his chin, sized Ames up, and joked, "Plus, you're pretty, so your appeal might be even stronger than mine."
Ames' expression became odd. She stared at Han Xiao and said in a shocked and doubtful tone, "You actually think I'm pretty‽"
"What's so strange about that?" Han Xiao was confused. He had no idea why Ames had such an exaggerated response.
Han Xiao shook his head and got back to the topic. "Have you decided on where Floating Dragon should stay?"
"That's what I wanted to discuss with you…" Ames calmed her emotions. She seemed to hesitate for half a second before slowly saying, "I'm planning to have Floating Dragon stay at Planet Aquamarine. What do you think?"
Han Xiao was stunned in place.
"No?" Ames raised her brows and gave a faint smile. "More than ten years ago, your mother planet faced a disaster. Through the galactic media channels, you announced that Floating Dragon was interested in Planet Aquamarine. Using Floating Dragon's name, Planet Aquamarine has received a lot of investments and funding from a ton of financial groups and has been developing very well. Even Godora allowed Floating Dragon's control over Planet Aquamarine… You're not going to go back on your word, are you?"
Han Xiao shook his head with resignation. During that time, the Black Star Mercenary Group had still been a tiny organization that belonged to Floating Dragon. Only through using Floating Dragon Island's name had he been able to give Planet Aquamarine the opportunity to so quickly step into the galaxy.
After he left Floating Dragon, the Black Star Army had taken over the management of Planet Aquamarine. Floating Dragon did not say anything about it, so he thought Ames did not mind. Unexpectedly, Ames suddenly brought it up.
"Since Planet Aquamarine is a planet ruled by my Floating Dragon on paper…" Ames' smiled brightly. Han Xiao's troubled expression made her very delighted. She smiled and said, "It should be justifiable for me to choose Planet Aquamarine as the location of my headquarters, shouldn't it?"
"Are you going to chase my people away from my mother planet?" Han Xiao was surprised. Planet Aquamarine was the foundation of his seat in the Shattered Star Ring Civilization Conference. There was no way he would give it to anyone else.
"Am I such a horrible person to you?" Ames said with a displeased tone. "Don't worry, just like your army's headquarters, Floating Dragon Island will just be parked outside the planet's atmosphere and will not interfere with Planet Aquamarine's government. That's why I'm discussing it with you."
Han Xiao's eyes spun around. If that was the case, not only would it not be a bad thing—it would be a great thing.
In the time that the army headquarters had stayed around Planet Golden Gate, it had brought Planet Golden Gate an almost unparalleled chance for development. Its economy, security, and many other aspects had improved tremendously since then, and it had become a beyond top tier colonial planet of Godora.
If Ames did the same, Planet Aquamarine's development speed would rocket instantly as well and indirectly receive tons of resources. Furthermore, with a Beyond Grade A as its neighbor, Planet Aquamarine would be massively safer, which would free Han Xiao of many worries.
With some thoughts flashing through Han Xiao's mind, he understood what Ames was thinking—the reason for her choosing Planet Aquamarine as the headquarters of the Floating Dragon was much more than it just being 'justifiable'. He sighed and said, "Looks like I'm going to owe you another favor."
"Good that you know." Ames smiled.
"Alright, I agree. I'll have the army subdivision at Planet Aquamarine work with you. Sylvia and the others will take care of the details…"
"Hmm, I'll let Jenny settle it…"
Speaking of Jenny, Han Xiao suddenly thought of something. "By the way, about this, have you told Jenny yet?"
"No."
The two of them stared at each other and stayed silent for a moment.
So, this is indeed a sudden idea… Han Xiao sighed. He really thought that Ames had seriously considered this, but as it turned out, this was exactly her style.
"Ahem, now that that's settle, I shall get going." Ames coughed with her fist covering her lips to hide her awkwardness before turning around and leaving.
Han Xiao watched as Ames and Aesop boarded the small spaceship and split off from the fleet, turning into a stream of light. He then ordered the fleet to continue advancing back to the army's headquarters.
The task of traveling across Star Fields was completed. Han Xiao opened the forums to see what the players' responses were.
When they just passed through the stargate, the more than seven hundred thousand players inside the fleet did not really react to it much, but instead, the Shattered Star Ring players had bigger responses. It was because the players from another Star Field had come to their territory, and they could not wait to meet them.
The first example of players crossing to another Star Field had extraordinary significance. The players from the various Star Fields recorded this moment in their Chronicle posts.
"Galaxy Calendar: Year 705, March 18th.
"Led by the Black Star Army, more than seven hundred thousand players left Constellation Corridor and arrived in the Shattered Star Ring. This was the first example of players successfully traveling to another Star Field in the entire Galaxy."
The recruitment of players in the Constellation Corridor this time went quite smoothly, and Han Xiao knew exactly why—there were not many factions that the players could choose in Version 3.0, and he knew what the players needed. Therefore, the Black Star Army was a top-notch faction in this stage and had excellent appeal.
As the players' level increased, the number of powerful factions they would be able to choose would increase, including the three universal civilizations and beyond Star Cluster civilizations. By then, the army would not be able to recruit players as easily. This was unavoidable; there would always be people who wanted to try out new factions for a new experience.
This was also one of the reasons Han Xiao kept expanding his army and increasing its competitiveness. From a certain perspective, it was a good thing to have chosen the rural Shattered Star Ring as his headquarters as there were fewer direct competitors there.
…
After traveling for more than ten days, the fleet finally returned to the army's headquarters.
Millions of Shattered Star Ring players were gathered in the army headquarters, looking forward to meeting the foreign Constellation Corridor players. The majority of them were there to rubberneck.
The seven hundred thousand Constellation Corridor players looked at the army headquarters satellite outside the porthole, their hearts filled with excitement.
After staying on the ships with anticipation for so many days, they had finally arrived.