Chapter 147

Chapter 147

Social bonds among star pirates are notoriously thin; once initiated, one is essentially bound to their ships for life. Consequently, the "pets"—who serve as both bedmates and emotional comfort tools—are managed with extreme strictness.

The pets' living quarters are situated deep within the starship, practically its most heavily guarded core. The name of their residence, "Paradise in the Sky," exudes a distinctly sleazy, nightclub-like ambiance. This choice of name reveals that even an elite organization like Skyhawk suffers from a concerning lack of cultural refinement among its members.

The overly tacky name instantly dispelled any lingering apprehension Eve felt, replacing it with a sense of bemused annoyance, as if she were reluctantly enduring a social engagement with middle-aged male superiors over drinks and boisterous conversation.

Evading the layers of guards posed no challenge for Eve and her companions. Aided by the Luna Butterfly, the trio deftly bypassed patrolling star pirates. The moment they stepped through the gilded doors of "Paradise in the Sky," a steaming, milky-white pool greeted their eyes. Thick, milk-like mist rose from the water, obscuring all but the faint silhouettes of a few slender figures submerged within.

No one spoke or laughed; only the gentle lapping of water could be heard, yet it created an unspoken undercurrent of ambiguity.

Eve felt the hand she was holding suddenly tense, its skin tightening, before gripping hers tightly in return, as if in extreme nervousness.

She had to divert some attention to the inexperienced youth beside her: "What’s wrong? Are you uncomfortable?"

"...I’m fine," Lorca mumbled, eyes fixed on the ground, his face slightly flushed, and his voice tinged with an unusual awkwardness. "It’s nothing, I’m just a bit nervous."

Despite his words, his grip on Eve’s hand only tightened.

Eve: "..."

After a moment’s consideration, she said, "You know, loosening your grip won’t affect the Spiritual State’s effectiveness. Also, my hand hurts a bit."

Lorca released her hand as if startled, apologizing sheepishly, "Sorry, I didn’t mean to squeeze so hard."

"Do you really think this is the right place to be bickering about hurting hands?" Eugene interjected, looking utterly unperturbed as she led them past the pool towards the inner changing rooms. "Come on, pick out something you like."

In space, time holds little meaning, but on the starship, work hours and off-hours are clearly delineated. It was currently work hours, so most pets were either already out performing their duties or still asleep.

A wild star pirate holiday had concluded just days prior, and many were still recovering. The changing rooms were well-stocked with unused outfits.

The mist was thickest only near the entrance, likely intended to create a deliberately steamy, suggestive atmosphere. Further inside, the fog thinned considerably. Eve turned to observe the figures soaking in the pool—men and women, all strikingly beautiful but with vacant, listless expressions, staring blankly at the rippling water.

They resembled beautiful, soulless puppets.

"Skyhawk doesn’t immediately put newly captured individuals to use," Eugene explained, her gaze also fixed on them, a rare hint of pity in her eyes. "They first undergo 'training,' though it’s really just beatings and indoctrination to break their spirits. Only then are they sent here."

"Younger ones escape the worst of it because they’re not needed immediately and aren’t as physically resilient. But after years of living here, witnessing everything and being treated as pets, they’re often mentally broken—sometimes even more so than the adults."

Eve frowned. "Aren’t there pleasure androids on the black market? Skyhawk isn’t short on funds. Why abduct real people?"

She recalled encountering members of the Venom Fang on Carol-123; they had ordered androids for entertainment. Given the scale of the nightlife industry, androids seemed quite popular.

"It’s about status distinction," Eugene replied flatly. "Skyhawk used androids in the past, but Zuo Qirong changed that after he took over. He said if everyone else settled for androids, Skyhawk must use real people to demonstrate their superiority. Besides, living people can reproduce. The men here have artificial wombs implanted, and the women... though pets aren’t seen as human by these pirates, Zuo Qirong actually encourages star pirates to father children with them. It produces a more loyal next generation."

"And it’s another way to control the pets," she added.

Eve understood—using blood ties to manipulate the parents, then brainwashing the children to strengthen control over the entire organization.

How sinister... She scratched her head. "Human trafficking is a serious crime, far worse than robbery. How has the Empire allowed this cancer to persist for so long?"

"What can the Empire do? Zuo Qirong is cunning enough to use his own children as bargaining chips. He even has a grandson with Medici family blood. Who knows how many high-ranking officials have unusually close ties to him?"

If even a star pirate group insisted on "superiority" by rejecting androids, the arrogant, self-important nobles in the Empire’s upper echelons likely harbored similar sentiments. Judging by this "Paradise in the Sky"—which was essentially a glorified brothel—Eve suspected Skyhawk also ran an underground flesh trade alongside its piracy.

With connections at the top, the lower ranks operated with impunity. That was partly why Skyhawk hadn’t been eradicated but had instead grown more powerful over the years. Zuo Qirong truly was a master of exploitation—extracting three uses from the same group: pleasure for his men, loyalty from subordinates, and favors from powerful allies. It was exploitation in its purest, most visceral form.

"...How despicable," Eve muttered, closing her eyes in frustration. "Let’s hope Skyhawk still has records of their influential contacts."

Anyone shielding this vicious star pirate organization would answer for it in the Imperial courts!

Since it wasn’t a holiday, the outfits in the changing room were relatively normal—variations of server uniforms, differing only in subtle details like collars, cuffs, or minor decorations.

Despite the inherent debauchery of the place, the changing rooms were segregated by gender, likely to maintain some semblance of order. Eve watched Lorca enter the men’s room with visible trepidation before turning to the women’s side.

She wasn’t particular about clothes and randomly selected one, but Eugene stopped her.

"Choose one with feathers or gold beads," Eugene advised. "Gems are for adult pets. Feathers and beads are for minors. Not that star pirates have much morality, but this is Zuo Qirong’s flagship. With him here, the lower ranks won’t push boundaries too far."

"Alright."

Eve complied and used an Alchemical Tool to privately relay the same advice to Lorca, avoiding the group chat to prevent unnecessary worry for Frank.

The uniform’s skirt ended just above her knees, revealing her slender, lightly muscled calves. Eugene studied her for a moment before hesitantly adding, "Switch to men’s pants. Long-term pets don’t have such defined leg muscles. The star pirates would notice immediately."

Eve: "...Oh."

How troublesome. Fortunately, to cater to certain star pirates’ specific preferences, the women’s changing room also stocked men’s attire, saving her a trip.

By the time she finished, Lorca had also changed. The boys’ outfits emphasized slender figures with gender-ambiguous designs. With their striking looks, both blended seamlessly among the pets, their beauty drawing no extra attention.

Eugene adjusted their clothes and said, "Go out as you are. A supervisor will assign you to your posts. With your looks, even if you’re not assigned to Zuo Qirong, you’ll likely serve other high-ranking star pirates in Skyhawk."

"What about you?" Lorca asked, noticing Eugene hadn’t changed.

Eugene glanced at him. "I have other matters to attend to. Aside from the eldest young lady, a few other young masters and mistresses might still be trustworthy. It’s been years since I left Skyhawk. I need to see if any of them still want out."

"Be careful," Eve said. "People can be more dangerous than obvious threats."

Wise words, though coming from her, they felt oddly ironic.

Eugene raised an eyebrow and offered her first genuinely kind words since reuniting with Eve: "You two take care as well. This Skyhawk situation is ultimately Frank’s personal affair. Don’t sacrifice too much for it."

"......" Eve felt awkward. "Uh, okay."

She noticed Lorca had subconsciously grabbed her sleeve again, the fabric pulling uncomfortably at her shoulder.

Following Eugene’s instructions, they headed out. On their way, Eve saw the same figures still soaking in the pool, as if they’d been there so long they might dissolve. Their beautiful faces were lifeless, like precious seeds oversoaked in water—no amount of care could ever make them sprout again.

A complex mix of emotions stirred within her. She lingered, watching them, until Lorca gently called her back.

"Don’t blame yourself. This isn’t your fault—you’re just witnessing it," Lorca whispered. "The only way to free them is to destroy Skyhawk."

"Skyhawk will be destroyed," Eve declared firmly, turning to him. "Everyone will return to where they belong. The pets will become people again, and the scum will return to hell."

"—Let’s go. We have much to do."

Lorca watched her intently for a long moment before softly replying, "Okay. Together."