143: Situation

Just as Zhang Huaiyuan used "phase weapons" to subdue the various major powers of the Free Star Alliance,

In the Star Dome Empire, Iron Dome Galaxy.

This was the territory of Duke Adolu, a powerful noble of the Empire.

At this moment, in a somewhat dilapidated base in the southeast corner of a Free Trade Star within the star system.

"This is too much! Absolutely too much!"

With a loud "bang," the door was pushed open, and two large men entered with faces full of rage.

"What happened, Reis, Saide?"

A middle-aged man in a black robe stood up, his brows furrowed tightly on his thin face.

"Lord Dark, these people have gone too far!"

Reis's face was flushed red as he said indignantly, "I just saw a C-rank mission at the Interstellar Hunters Association. The task was to escort an employer across two star sectors back to their hometown. I thought the price was right and the danger level was low, but just as I finished communicating and was about to accept the mission, members of the Kuangdian Mercenary Group jumped in to interfere!"

"That's right! That guy even openly threatened the employer, saying that if they chose 'Dark Annihilation,' there was no guarantee that raiders wouldn't appear on the road. It's simply lawless! I wish I could smash that guy's head with my elbow!"

Saide also cursed angrily, but his left hand, hidden under his black coat, couldn't stop trembling slightly.

A cold-faced man sitting nearby suddenly flickered and appeared beside him. He pulled back the coat, revealing a left arm wrapped in fast-acting bandages, with charred marks faintly visible beneath.

"Who did this?"

The man said coldly, his eyes filled with undisguised killing intent.

"Lord Mie... it's nothing, I just wasn't skilled enough..."

Saide lowered his head in shame.

"I asked, who did it?"

"The other side went too far. Brother Saide couldn't take it and went onto the Grievance Platform with them, and then..."

Reis couldn't help but interject.

"The Raging Lightning people?"

"Yes, Lord Mie."

"Understood."

Qin Mie nodded expressionlessly. A black combat suit spread from his feet to cover his whole body. He waved his hand to push open the door, preparing to leave.

"Old Qin, stop. Where are you going?"

"To kill."

Qin Mie spat out two words indifferently, making no effort to hide his icy killing intent.

"You're no match for them. Going there will only give them an excuse to kill you for nothing."

Lord Dark rubbed his brow, feeling a headache coming on.

It had been over ten years since they fled from the Blackstone Star System to this Iron Dome Galaxy.

In the beginning, Viscount Kane took good care of 'Dark Annihilation' out of gratitude to Zhang Huaiyuan, and they soon recovered to their peak state.

Until one day, Viscount Kane suddenly lost power, and his fief was reclaimed.

Originally, this didn't mean much to 'Dark Annihilation.'

After all, although many things were easier using Viscount Kane's name, overall, 'Dark Annihilation' mainly relied on its own mercenary group operations and had a solid foundation.

But for some reason, from that day on, long-term employers began to cancel their contracts one after another, and units out on missions were repeatedly targeted by other mercenary groups.

Their base, which originally occupied a small life-sustaining planet, was forcibly reclaimed due to various 'irregularities' in the paperwork.

It was as if they were being deliberately set up at every turn.

In less than a year, the scale of 'Dark Annihilation' had shrunk tenfold, and they were forced to reside in a cheap base on a trade planet.

It wasn't until later, when Viscount Kane sent a message through someone, that he learned the reason.

During the warp from the Black Stone Star mining area, two accompanying Master-level Star Mechanics had accidentally died during the transmission.

And the father of one of them had, whether through a sudden epiphany or long-term accumulation, leaped from an ordinary Grandmaster Star Mechanic to become the Vice President of the Imperial Star Mechanic Association.

After learning what happened, he became convinced that Zhang Huaiyuan, the only person who had ever had a conflict with his son, had secretly sabotaged the warp and deliberately killed him.

As a direct descendant of the Adolu Family, Viscount Kane couldn't be treated too harshly. 'Dark Annihilation,' which had a direct relationship with Zhang Huaiyuan but lacked any significant background, naturally became the scapegoat.

It was only because Viscount Kane repeatedly begged Duke Adolu to intervene that this struggling 'Dark Annihilation' was barely preserved.

However... that was the limit.

After all, in their eyes, Zhang Huaiyuan was dead, and a dead genius was naturally not worth Duke Adolu facing off against a powerful Vice President of the Star Mechanic Association.

These turbulent thoughts flashed by.

A trace of exhaustion flickered in Lord Dark's eyes as he spoke, "You should know that our opponent isn't just a mere Kuangdian Mercenary Group."

"We've backed down many times. And the result? Our brothers are either dead or scattered. Instead of being forced to death step by step like this, we might as well go all out."

Qin Mie didn't stop, the power of 'Annihilation' condensing around him.

"You'll feel better, but what about Xiao Yu?"

Lord Dark said helplessly.

The footsteps paused.

A look of struggle flashed across Qin Mie's cold face. After a long time, he turned back and said hoarsely:

"I will leave Dark Annihilation first before going. I won't involve you. I'll leave Xiao Yu to you..."

"That's not the point."

Lord Dark shook his head and interrupted, "You know it yourself. Ever since Zhang Huaiyuan sacrificed himself to help us escape more than ten years ago, Xiao Yu has been like crazy, wanting nothing but to return to the Blackstone Star System."

"I've barely managed to keep her here. If you die too, I won't be able to stop her anymore."

"Fine, if you must go, then let's die together. I've had enough of holding back; I'm too tired."

Lord Dark let out a long breath as he spoke, pulling off his black cloak and donning a combat suit as well.

He looked directly at Qin Mie with a calm gaze, clearly waiting for an answer.

"Boss Qin, forget it. We've endured for so many years. Once you and Lord Dark break through, and the Young Master grows up, everything will get better."

Reis and Saide glanced at each other and couldn't help but try to persuade him.

All of them were transcendents with high-tier talents, possessing the potential to reach S-rank.

"Damn it!"

Qin Mie's expression shifted at the door. After a long silence, he jerked his head around and flew off in a different direction, leaving behind four cold words:

"I'm going into seclusion."

Seeing this, Lord Dark sighed softly and looked at the two men.

"You brothers have been wronged."

"What are you saying, Lord? My life and Old Sai's were given to us by you. If you hadn't rescued us from the underground mines back then, we would have been dead long ago."

The two shook their heads repeatedly.

"Go to the supply depot and get some high-grade recovery potions."

Lord Dark said no more, only giving a quiet instruction before turning to return to his room to cultivate.

"Father, Uncle Qin!"

Just then, a crisp shout approached from the distance.

A beautiful short-haired girl burst into the room riding a gust of wind, her face flushed with excitement.

"Xiao Yu? What happened?"

Lord Dark was slightly stunned; he hadn't seen such an expression on his daughter's face in a long time.

"Eldest Miss."

Reis and Saide bowed slightly in greeting.

"Oh, you're here too. Perfect, look at this."

An Yu's lips curved into a beautiful arc as she tapped the integrated device on her wrist twice. A message pushed across all platforms projected into the air:

"On May 1st, Freedom Year 3647, His Excellency Zhang Huaiyuan, the former Chief Researcher of the Star Alliance Supreme Research Institute, will succeed to the position of Sovereign on Lihua Star in the Navigation Star System's Dawn Star Sector..."

Below the message, a photo was attached.

"This... this is!"

Lord Dark's pupils constricted suddenly.

Although the person in the photo looked more mature, steady, and high-spirited than before, and even his stature was much taller and more robust, his features were identical to the Researcher who was supposed to have died in the Blackstone Star System!

...