Chapter 10: Pirate Alliance? Section 7

The journey through the cosmic storm was not as smooth as Black Hair had imagined. The Treasure Hunter encountered some trouble—specifically, trouble caused by the Blue Lily. Although two of the four damaged engine nozzles were repaired, two remained completely unusable. In the vast universe with no spare parts or fully equipped workshops, repair became an impossible task. Unluckily, those two engine nozzles were located on one side of the warship.

It was obvious what this meant.

In simple terms, the Thrasher warship could no longer maintain stable power output. With uneven power distribution on both sides, slight drift would occur during navigation. This wouldn’t be a major issue during normal space travel or jumps. But against the current cosmic storm, it could be fatal.

Even if all auxiliary engines were activated to correct the course, the Thrasher’s chances of successfully passing through the storm were less than a pitiful 17.34%.

By God, when they heard this terrifying figure, all the pirates on the ship were stunned. They stood there like wooden statues, stopping whatever they were doing, their faces filled with despair.

The Thrasher was no match for the Stormbreaker that Black Hair once owned. It lacked proper supply factories and resource regeneration systems. The ship’s resources were dwindling rapidly. After a long journey, its storage compartments could be described as completely empty. If they couldn’t make it through this storm to the Alibaba Star Cluster, within a week, all the pirates would have to eat their own belts to survive.

Here, they should thank one person—a genius who always stayed hidden behind them, never willing to step forward, yet referred to as a genius by Jinli. If it weren’t for his simple yet bold suggestion, everyone on this ship, destined to become a floating coffin, would have died.

That person was Jack, the greatest genius mechanic among the Treasure Hunters.

And his suggestion was to destroy the other two engines, located opposite the damaged ones.

It’s simple, isn’t it? Since the pirates can’t strengthen the engine on the side with reduced power, causing imbalance in the warship, they might as well destroy the other engine as well. Although this will greatly reduce the warship’s power output and cost them two valuable engine nozzles, there’s really no better solution to this dilemma. Even Black Hair couldn’t help but laugh when he heard this suggestion.

Those who dare to break free from conventional thinking patterns and unleash their imagination truly deserve to be called geniuses.

Unfortunately, even such a genius mechanic doesn’t enjoy a high status or treatment on warships. In this world, there are three professions closest to mechs: technicians, mana instillers, and mechanics. Yet their statuses differ vastly. Technicians hold the highest status because they operate the mechs in battle. Mana instillers are usually those who inherit ancient magic and possess extensive knowledge, equally powerful. As for mechanics, most of them are from the lowest strata of society, lacking the ability to operate mechs at all—so their status is, naturally, low.

Under normal circumstances, these hardworking individuals work in various workshops to make a living. Those lucky enough can join a mercenary group and earn a steady salary. But compared to their efforts, their rewards are shockingly small. Even the best mechanic’s annual income rarely exceeds fifty crystals.

It’s a perfect irony.

And the victim of this irony—mechanic Jack, who had made great contributions this time—is precisely the kind of person who earns fifty crystals a year.

He’s a towering man nearly two meters tall, with muscles as hard as steel all over his body. His bronze-colored skin reflects health and strength. He has a shaved head. From his appearance, he looks like a berserker from a medieval knight novel.

If only he didn’t wear that almost idiotic smile every day.

Black Hair really liked this guy’s simplicity and had once observed him at work when no one was around. In the end, he had to admit that this big man really had his own skills. Though he was still somewhat conventional when it came to assembling mechs, he was an expert in mechanical principles, maintenance, and detailed modifications. Notably, the TG-73 assault mech model used by Black Hair and Blue Lily in battle was modified by him to be suitable for space use, showing his solid skills in modification.

But then again, the chance to observe a cosmic storm up close through the ship’s portholes is truly rare. Watching those constantly jumping arcs and the hazy white light formed by high-speed particles, almost all pirates held their breath. Their clenched fists were soaked with sweat. Some even started shouting. They all knew that even the slightest deviation from the ship’s course, just one minute, would turn them into blurred shapes impossible to recognize, only to be completely erased by those invincible particle streams.

Following that miraculous route, the treasure hunters spent a whole week before finally breaking through the storm zone known as the Death Barrier, arriving at the heart of the infamous Alibaba Star Cluster, the stronghold in the eyes of all pirates.

There was a small episode here—about the Blue Lily.

Since her defeat in the gambling battle, the woman whom Bloodshot had once feared had truly become a black-haired slave. She stayed by Blackhair’s side everywhere he went, even… well, that was an exception.

A very determined woman. Blackhair felt he had discovered another virtue in the Blue Lily—her strong will and refusal to admit defeat. Even in his own past world, she would have been a true heroine. No wonder she seemed somewhat unusual in this world, where the concept of male superiority was deeply rooted. Even a real princess would be as submissive as a sheep when facing her husband.

Unfortunately, the more determined she became, the stronger the evil growing in Blackhair’s heart. Somehow, in just one week, the once proud Lily had been turned into someone even more obedient than a sheep. Even when seeing Bloodshot, her beautiful face would flush with shyness. This amazed Bloodshot greatly.

Only Blackhair knew that beneath the Blue Lily’s tight combat suit, some evil little things were at work, turning the proud Lily into such a pitiful figure. That blush on her face was less due to shyness and more to excitement… As for how evil those little things were?

Well, I won’t tell you. I really won’t.

The pirates’ cheers were deafening. The destination of this voyage, the stronghold in the hearts of all pirates—the mysterious center of the Alibaba Star Cluster—had finally arrived. The moment he stepped off the gangplank, Blackhair took in a deep breath of fresh air, a satisfied smile appearing on his face.

Someone once said, “Pirates have no country.” So these men, seen by the world as terrifying demons, were actually just pitiful creatures. They drifted through the vast starfields day after day, scanning the horizon for any sign of prey to satisfy their hunger. Yet those who could truly become rich through plunder were extremely rare. The vast wealth usually only belonged to their captains or leaders.

But no matter how miserable these pirates’ lives might be, whenever the Alibaba Star Cluster was mentioned, everyone’s face would light up with happiness. Because it was simply too beautiful…

It was nothing like the decadent city Blackhair had imagined. This small planet at the heart of the star cluster resembled a pastoral village. As far as the eye could see, there was nothing but greenery. The oxygen concentration in the air was surprisingly high—so high that it could be used as oxygen without any purification, and it was even green and pollution-free. The sky here had two suns, providing ample light, yet the temperature remained moderate due to the distance, staying between 18 and 24 degrees year-round. Oceans covered an astonishing 87% of the planet’s surface, offering abundant water resources. Although the air was slightly humid, it was extremely beneficial to human skin. In short, this place was an ideal paradise for vacationing.

Such a beautiful planet was something even the most ruthless pirates wouldn’t dare to destroy. So here, you wouldn’t see factories spewing black smoke, nor frequent fluctuations in magical devices, or any massive steel structures. Almost all buildings were made of eco-friendly wooden materials, including the huge spaceports where airships docked.

So almost as soon as he stepped off the gangplank, Blackhair felt as though he was falling in love with this place.

It was enough for him, an outsider, to feel this way—let alone the pirates who considered it their home. Almost everyone rushed down the gangplank at full speed, jumping and shouting in excitement. Precious loot, usually worth fighting over, was scattered everywhere, yet no one paid it a second glance. Everyone seemed mad. Blackhair even saw a group of such men by the roadside desperately digging at the soil in their arms, crying at the same time.

Despite the pirates being so wild, none of those present showed any signs of mockery. Instead, there were only understanding smiles. Even the pirate receptionists who had always worked here were fine, and Jinli, the pirate leader known for his temper, merely smiled slightly, allowing his subordinates to act as they pleased.
It felt like home… truly wonderful.
After a bumpy journey, the pirates finally settled temporarily in a hotel on this small planet. Since other pirate groups hadn’t arrived yet, they had to wait for a while. Only after all groups arrived could they set off in their fleet to another planet not far from there.
That was where the real gladiatorial battles took place.
“Huh, this place is really nice,” said the black-haired man, downing the red wine in his glass in one gulp before letting out a satisfied sigh. He raised his head and gazed once again at the beautifully fairy-tale-like room.
It was actually a quite ordinary guest room. Such rooms were extremely common on this small planet, and their prices were shockingly low—just ten Kari would allow one to stay peacefully for a night. The only special thing about this room was that it was independent, with complete facilities. In other words, it was like a small villa. The building materials used in the room were simply wood. The furniture was simple yet complete. Perhaps because the environment on this planet was so favorable, the wood used to build houses regained its vitality. New buds could be seen everywhere on the ceiling and walls. The fresh sense of life made one feel as if they were in an ancient fairy tale tribe.
“Yes, master. It’s truly beautiful here,” came a clear voice from beneath the black-haired man. For some reason, the voice sounded a bit muffled.
“Hmm, Lily, I didn’t expect you to be so skilled. You saw me find a treasure,” said the black-haired man, reaching over to pick up a wine bottle from the coffee table and filling his glass again, then teasingly laughing.
“That’s nothing… um… but shouldn’t you give her some reward?” As soon as those words were spoken, a beautiful face suddenly appeared between the black-haired man’s legs—it was none other than Blue Lily. Her golden hair, as beautiful as a waterfall, hung loosely, exuding a captivating allure. As she looked at the black-haired man, her tiny tongue flicked over her lips, where there seemed to be some shiny residue.

If someone suddenly barged in at this moment, they would surely not believe their eyes. For the once proud beauty was now clad only in something made of woven belts. The tight belts constricted her body, highlighting her sensual form completely. The black belts contrasted sharply with her fair skin, creating a dazzling effect. What was even more astonishing was that, as she moved slightly, it seemed there was something hidden in her private parts.

At this moment, she was lying like a kitten between those black-haired legs, her soft body displaying tempting curves. Her smooth back, reflected by the sunlight outside, resembled jade.

“Want it?” The black-haired woman smirked wickedly, staring at the beauty before her. The crystal glass filled with red wine in her hand swayed slightly, like a bright red gem.

“Ugh… it’s all your fault… teasing me with those scoundrels for so long, leaving me in this awkward position… Even if I’ve offended you before, you can’t do this… Good master… please let me be happy once, okay?” Her clear voice had turned into a slight pant. Such a contradictory temptation would drive any normal man crazy.

Unfortunately, the man she faced was no ordinary man. Even in the face of such explicit demands, the faint smile on the black-haired woman’s face didn’t change at all. Though her gaze continued to wander over her body, for some reason, Lily felt it lacked any emotion—as if she were looking at a lump of dead flesh.

“Get up. Let me take a good look.” Stretching out her foot, the black-haired woman gave the woman below her a gentle kick.

Feeling pain, the blond beauty glared at her. Slowly, she stood up, revealing her graceful figure completely to the black-haired woman. The two rosy spots on her chest resembled two fresh cherries, showing a soft pink hue under the sunlight.

The black-haired woman’s gaze finally changed. It seemed to grow hotter, and her undisguised aggression immediately excited the blond beauty, making her breath quicken. Her chest rose and fell violently as she slowly licked her lips, letting out a low moan.

“Slap!!”

A crisp sound. The woman’s eyes widened in disbelief. On her pale right cheek, a handprint gradually became visible. Her beautiful large eyes stared in panic at the figure standing before her, unable to say a word. The bold and charming woman from before now resembled a frightened little rabbit—pitifully so.
“Do you know why I’m hitting you?” The dark-haired man still wore a sinister smile. He gently raised the glass in his hand and brought it to the woman’s prominent breasts.
She shook her head slowly, her blue eyes filled with confusion and resentment. Tears even appeared at the corners of her eyes.
“Because you deserve it.” The dark-haired man suddenly yawned. The glass tilted, and the crimson wine flowed down along the woman’s deep cleavage, spreading across her skin. The contrast between the bright red wine and her pale skin created a cruelly beautiful sight.
“Do you remember our bet? You’re just a plaything. Since you’re a plaything, you must fulfill your role. How dare you ask your master for pleasure? I don’t care about your soul—your body belongs to me. Until you defeat me, I can do whatever I want. Why should I listen to you?” His smile remained, but his words were icy cold. Even though the room was comfortably warm, the blond woman still felt a bone-chilling coldness and shivered.
“It seems you still don’t understand, little slave. Then let me give you a lesson today.” His smile grew even more sinister as he reached out.
“Do you see that table? Go, lie on it. Lift your ass up—like a dog. Don’t move unless I order you to. Heard me? Go!!”
His voice suddenly became extremely harsh. The poor Lily could only look at him helplessly before obediently following his orders. On the table, her snow-white body displayed its curves, her round buttocks lifted high, as if… as if waiting for something.
For a moment, even Lily herself felt that lewd atmosphere, her face turning red.
“Click.” The door closed…