Chapter 21

Chapter 21

"Hahaha! The kid didn't lie to me!" Taber roared with laughter.

Under the horrified gazes of the crowd, the berserk alpha brandished his weapon wildly, its cold, gleaming steel spikes sending everyone scrambling away from him. Some even stumbled and crawled dozens of meters in panic!

Gasping for breath as they sprawled on the ground, their eyes filled with terror, those who had been slightly closer could still feel the razor-sharp sting on their faces. The spikes on that thing were freezing cold—one accidental touch would probably take a chunk of flesh with it!

Under the perpetually gloomy skies of Kersby Star, Taber’s weapon only grew more ferocious as he swung it, and he was just warming up!

"He’s really something..."

"Damn it, we’ll have to stay even farther away from him now..."

"Hahahaha! Now this is living!" Taber, who had just stopped, held the several-meter-long weapon like a child with a new toy. His eyes flickered, spotting Beiler not far away. Grinning, he began winding up to swing again.

"Beiler! Wanted to see it, huh? How about I bring it right to your face!"

In the blink of an eye, Taber tightened his grip on the handle, his psychic energy surging wildly as he activated the energy stone hidden within the weapon. A dazzling red light, webbing like veins, flared to life. At a glance, it looked as though the Morning Star had been superheated and was about to explode.

"Here it comes! Catch it if you can!" The moment the club left his hand, blood-black flames erupted, surging with explosive heat as they streaked toward Beiler like lightning.

"What?!" Amid the crowd’s gasps, Beiler’s head buzzed, his feet frozen to the spot. Faced with the oncoming weapon, he couldn’t even think to move out of the way.

"Taber! Stop!" At the critical moment, an azure greatsword suddenly descended from above, firmly blocking the path in front of Beiler. It was Bruchi, one of Beiler’s longtime customers and a rival of Taber’s, a man of considerable reputation on Kersby Star.

It was precisely because of figures like him that Beiler dared to act so arrogantly.

Seeing someone intervene, Beiler collapsed like a beached fish, gasping for air!

But it was useless. A shoddy 4-star Rune was no match for Huainan’s handiwork. After just a few seconds of resistance, the blood-red weapon surged forward, overwhelming the blue barrier and shattering it under the crimson flames’ relentless erosion!

"5-star?!" Bruchi went pale with shock. "How is that possible?!"

Fortunately, Taber hadn’t truly intended to kill Beiler. At the last moment, he grabbed the club’s tail, stopping the scorching red light just inches from Bruchi’s nose.

Kersby Star was a remote and lawless place. If he’d actually smashed Beiler to death, half the planet would probably plot to off him in retaliation.

Glancing at his defeated opponent, Taber snorted and strutted off without a backward glance. He wasn’t about to stick around and be gawked at like some spectacle!

Bruchi, however, showed no anger at Taber’s smug demeanor. Instead, his gaze remained fixed on the weapon, as though completely entranced by it.

After the Federation’s interstellar war with the Zerg, resources had been severely depleted, and the government now strictly controlled mechs. Heavy ordnance like this was rare, and even those that slipped through were mostly secondhand.

Merchant fleets traveling the stars relied on starship artillery and exoskeleton armor, making a reliable weapon all the more valuable.

"Taber, where’d you get this?" Bruchi ignored his cracked greatsword on the ground, stepping forward to press for answers. Their merchant fleets, neither fully legitimate nor outright Star pirates, lived dangerously, always one step away from disaster.

Taber swayed his head without turning back, continuing forward. "Wanna know? Stand me a drink, and I’ll tell you!"

He then added emphatically, "Two rounds minimum!!"

Bruchi brightened. That was it?

He strode forward eagerly, throwing an arm around the other man’s shoulders. "Let’s go! Back out, and you’re a coward!"

Bruchi’s subordinates watched their boss leave, unsure what to do. Weren’t they here to stop a fight? Taber just smashed your prized sword, and now you’re running off with him?!

"Hey, let me see that thing again..."

"Buzz off..."

"Damn it!"

And so, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the two burly men didn’t come to blows—instead, they went off drinking together! Abandoned on the ground was the pale-faced Beiler, unconscious and ignored, his pristine white pants now soaked through.

***

Huainan knew nothing of the drama on Kersby Star. All she knew was that she was drowning in money!

After learning of the school’s frenzy over her work, she immediately set up a credit threshold on the dark web—no business with anyone below Level 5! Since dark web commissions took a 20% vig, she had no patience for unreliable clients.

Because of this, Huainan spent the next few days sneezing up a storm, wondering just how many people on the dark web were cursing her under their breaths.

But did Huainan care? Let them curse. They were cursing Long Aotian—what did she care?

Besides, she was swamped. Through Taber, she’d connected with a dark web data broker called Blue Rabbit, who claimed to have answers to anything—though with the caveat of attitude problems and premium rates.

Early the next morning, right after seeing Thor off, Huainan reached out.

Blue Rabbit: Apothecary?

Long Aotian: Yes. Can you connect me? I submitted a commission request but never got a reply.

The Apothecary was a name she’d heard on her very first day on the dark web. Research revealed that this figure was legendary across both the star network and the dark web, unimpeachable for decades, with a reputation that inspired awe.

Blue Rabbit: Possible. The Apothecary is too busy to check those.

Blue Rabbit: Budget? Note: Figures in 10k increments.

What?

Gazing at her terminal, Huainan hesitated. Remembering Taber’s order, she hesitantly keyed in a figure.

Long Aotian: 5M.

The reply came swiftly.

Blue Rabbit: Doable.

Blue Rabbit: 500K for a consultation. 1M for a no-questions-asked job. 3M for burner contact. 5M for standing access.

"Heavens!" Huainan sighed to the heavens, thinking she’d finally achieved financial freedom, only to realize it was still peanuts.

After racking her brain, she had inquired and learned that the auction would require buying nutrient solutions and an Advanced Repair Pod, which would run over 10 million. With barely over 10 million to her name now, it was cutting it close.

Long Aotian: What does 3 million get me?

Blue Rabbit: However many you like, sir.

Long Aotian: What if he’s displeased?

Blue Rabbit: You’re toast.

Long Aotian: ...

Long Aotian: Do you offer customer support?

Blue Rabbit: ?

Long Aotian: Scratch that...

In the end, Huainan reluctantly coughed up the steep 5 million for the premium communication option. Staring at the lavish, gold-trimmed name, she tentatively sent a message.

Long Aotian: Pharmacist? Are you there?

Long Aotian: I’d like to consult about whether a collapsing spiritual domain can be saved.

Long Aotian: ...

The cold glow of the screen cast on her face as Huainan waited like an idiot, the attitude just like those crappy customer service bots from her past life.

"Sigh..." She flopped onto the bed, cocooning herself in blankets for comfort. Probably some big-shot Pharmacist was too busy—after all, he was a renowned figure with a long-standing reputation. What else did she expect?

She slapped her cheeks to snap out of it and decided to brush up on some Runes to distract herself, but she was interrupted almost immediately.

Her terminal pinged just as someone started hammering on her door.

"Huainan! Open the door!"

[Senior Ansel is in trouble! My sister sent me to find you!]

Ansel?

Huainan’s stomach dropped. She rushed to open the door still half in her slippers, and nearly got decked by the alpha’s next pounding knock.

An iron grip clamped on her wrist. Outside the dorm, Arthur scanned the black-haired, black-eyed female alpha and recalled his sister’s words—

The least aggressive alpha you see is Huainan!

Doe-like eyes, a deer-in-headlights look, and a gentle, reserved demeanor. After a quick once-over, Arthur made a grab for Huainan’s arm to drag her out.

Feeling the strong grip, Huainan wrenched her arm free.

"Who are you? Got any ID?" She scanned the orange-haired, blue-eyed alpha, planting her feet. "Why didn’t Senior Ansel or Senior Bernard contact me themselves?"

Arthur was bouncing with urgency! He flipped open his terminal and shoved a stream of photos in her face.

"I’m Arthur Furnal!"

"Senior Bernard went to the military corps—I couldn’t reach him!"

"These are all my childhood photos with Senior Ansel! We grew up together! Look!"

Arthur? Bombarded with photo proof, Huainan’s brow furrowed. Had she heard this name somewhere before? "Bernard is your guide?"

"Yes, yes! Bernard is also my cousin!"

"My father’s sister is Bernard’s mother! My father’s elder is Ansel’s uncle!"

"Senior Ansel was injected with an inducer—he’s in no condition to function!"

"An inducer?!" Huainan’s face went stony.

Seeing the kid vibrating with panic, Huainan’s pulse kicked up. She quickly yanked on her clothes and double-checked. "I heard Arthur is S-rank. Show me your Spirit Beast!"

"Demon!" Arthur was extremely obedient. The moment Huainan finished speaking, he summoned his Spirit Beast. In a shimmer of light, a massive brown bear appeared in their vision.

"Grr?" The bear, draped in golden-brown fur with a round head and broad snout, sat on the ground, ears twitching as it let out a confused growl at Arthur, the picture of dopey confusion.

Satisfied, Huainan immediately followed Arthur out.

After they left, the door next to Huainan’s room quietly cracked open. A pair of serene eyes peered through the gap, blinking as they stared at the main door for a long moment before slowly retreating.

Huainan and Arthur’s mad dash across campus turned heads. Only when they boarded a hovercar did the gazes gradually fade.

Once seated, Arthur slammed a red button. Weightlessness hit as their hovercar shot upward at breakneck speed.

[Beep—]

[Emergency channel activated. Passengers, please fasten safety restraints.]

A soft click locked the hovercar onto the track. The moment the alarm ceased, the vehicle shot forward, the school vanishing behind them in a heartbeat.

"This is emergency mode—we can speed. We’ll be there soon!" Arthur explained with a stern baby face, eyes glued to his terminal as he monitored the route.

Watching the silver buildings blur past outside, Huainan nodded, her mind drifting to the recent awkwardness between her and Ansel.

Since their last parting, they hadn’t met again—even their guide registration was done separately. Ansel had asked for her personal clothing at one point. Though uncomfortable, Huainan had sent over the cleaned garments and even asked if he needed help.

Ansel refused. In their sporadic exchanges, he shared the results of his investigations and tests on the trash planet—Tor was indeed his brother, the young master of the Theodore Niler family.

The revelation left her with mixed feelings, but given the precise test results, she had to accept it. As for her senior, though they messaged daily, there was always an undercurrent of restraint in his words.

Now, with this sudden crisis, her heart grew even heavier.

Author's Note:

Thank you all so much for your support! I’ll keep working hard!