Chapter 27: New Nobles – Section 10

Hei Fa was in a poor mood when he returned to the inn. Although he had gained a very important opportunity this time, Miss Wei Li’s last words weighed heavily on his heart like a boulder.
Would the Dark Hand Duke’s fleet also show up? What did that mean? Hei Fa knew that the Moor Empire prohibited attacks on each other during wartime. But the problem was that he had offended the Dark Hand Duke too severely last time. Anyone with even a hint of courage would surely seize this chance. If they really encountered the Dark Hand Duke’s direct fleet, Hei Fa doubted they would refrain from turning on him in the chaos.
No, there was no need to doubt it anymore. It was almost certain. If the Dark Hand Duke’s fleet didn’t turn on him from behind, that would be strange. It seemed this mission wouldn’t be easy after all.
War, though seemingly complex, was actually extremely simple. For those without power or nations, it required long time to accumulate strength and find legitimate reasons to convince others. But for the immensely powerful Moor Empire… it was just a game!!
“I want what’s yours, so you must give it. If not, I’ll fight. War is nothing but this simple logic of bandits!”
Hei Fa narrowed his eyes slightly, leaning back on the huge sofa in his room, sinking deep into it.
“What exactly does this Rock Race possess that has captivated the Moor Empire’s elite?”
“They’re also a stone-based civilization. Boss, do you think it might be some kind of stone—a material that could make the Moor Empire even stronger?” Blood-eyed interjected, handing Hei Fa a glass of red wine.
The smooth taste of the rich red wine refreshed him, and he realized it was already dawn. The entire night had passed unnoticed. He shook his head.
“It’s very important! Wei Li said it was very important! It can’t just be a material—nothing that serious.”
“Heh, boss, you’re overthinking it. With an empire as large as theirs, they probably want countless things. The term ‘very important’ is normal no matter where it’s used. Once we take control of those planets, everything will become clear.”
“Become the Moor Empire’s executioners?” Hei Fa sneered, finishing the wine in his glass.

“What else can we do?” Blood-Pupil shrugged indifferently. “We’re now in their camp. Until our Death Star is fully prepared, we can only play the role of executioners. By the way, Head, I received news today—our Thor is completed.”
“What? That’s the best news I’ve heard today.” Black-Hair’s eyes lit up, and a faint smile appeared on his face. He raised his empty glass, and Blood-Pupil immediately understood and filled it for him.
“Has the combat power been assessed?”
“Yes! It’s roughly on par with that of a large fleet. Of course, in terms of flexibility and focused firepower, it’s much more agile than a fleet made up of many warships. And most importantly, it seems those guys from Black Prison have upgraded the black hole cannon too!”
“What’s the result?” Black-Hair asked with a smile.
“The stability has increased by 25%, and now it can achieve about half success rate. But the coverage area has decreased. It can no longer launch compressed attacks over large areas.” Blood-Pupil was clearly very excited about this new weapon. However, he showed clear dissatisfaction over the reduced coverage of the black hole cannon.
The black hole cannon was Death Star’s ultimate trump card—a terrifying, almost invincible strategic weapon. From the moment its design parameters were established, Blood-Pupil knew the impact this weapon could have. It was like when China first acquired atomic bombs—something that brought a sense of pride.
But if its coverage area was reduced, its threat to enemies would undoubtedly diminish greatly. How could this make Blood-Pupil happy?
Theoretically, the originally designed black hole cannon could launch compressed attacks on all targets within the range of a large planet at once. Its terrifying spatial disruption energy would create a simulated black hole, compressing and attracting targets inside it. With current technology, there was no possibility of defense.
But now? Blood-Pupil smiled bitterly. He tapped his glass, producing a clear clinking sound.
“The coverage area of the black hole cannon has been reduced to just 100 kilometers. But its range has increased by one-third.”
“Just 100 kilometers?” Black-Hair was also stunned. This figure seemed far too small for a fleet. If facing massive Moor giants, it might only cover two ships!
Still, Black-Hair had confidence in the Black Prison people’s ability to develop technology and upgrade equipment. He didn’t want to suppress them with his own will, so he could only reluctantly accept this fact.

“100 kilometers is 100 kilometers then. But a 50% success rate is good news. At least, the Black Hole Cannon remains the most intimidating weapon on the battlefield. I think even a powerful empire like the Moor Empire would be terrified upon seeing such a groundbreaking weapon.”
“That’s exactly right,” said Blood Pupil with a laugh. He clinked his glass against Black Hair’s. “Now that Coco is in charge of the Twin Stars, commerce has become even more prosperous. Our resources can almost fill all the subspace warehouses. Sulei sent word asking if you want to increase military spending and build another fortress.”
“Of course not,” Black Hair shook his head. “After seeing the Moor Empire’s military arsenal, do you still think fortresses are very useful?”
Hearing this, the brightness in Blood Pupil’s eyes dimmed instantly.
Indeed, in the past, the Thor Fortress had indeed been the most terrifying war machine he had ever seen. But after arriving in the Moor Empire, he realized that what he once thought was invincibility was merely a beautiful dream.
Every single Moor giant ship here was a monstrous vessel spanning dozens of kilometers in length. Even compared to the Thor Fortress, it was only twice as large—there was no possibility of it serving as a deterrent. As for advanced weapons, the Moor Empire, due to its constant wars, was astonishingly strong, especially in energy weapons, which had reached an almost perfect level. In comparison, Blood Pupil really couldn’t see any reason to build another fortress.
After all, the Thor Fortress required an enormous amount of resources and time. The time it took to build such a fortress could be enough to rebuild two, or even more, Thunderbolt Attack Fleets! And the Thunderbolt Attack Fleet was the type of ship Blood Pupil had seen as the most suitable for fighting against the Moor Empire—both in speed and practical combat value, it far surpassed the untested Thor Fortress!
If it weren’t for the terrifying strategic weapon, the Black Hole Cannon, on board the Thor Fortress, Blood Pupil would almost think Black Hair had done unnecessary work. But the problem was that strategic weapons remained strategic weapons—they couldn’t be used as conventional weapons. If a huge fortress roamed the universe, using the Black Hole Cannon recklessly, Blood Pupil couldn’t help but shudder…
That would be a disaster.

But… if we don’t build the Thor Fortress, are we going to fight relying solely on those Thunderbolt Assault Ships? Though they do possess almost miraculous defense capabilities against the Moors’ energy weapons, they are still just small warships… Even the so-called ultimate defenses will reach their limit when faced with overwhelming high-compression energy beams. And the Moors’ giant ships are by no means vulnerable to ordinary energy beams.

Those Death Lights I’ve seen before—high-frequency energy pulses, fusion-based multi-energy hybrid weapons. Isn’t any of these a deadly threat to the Thunderbolt Assault Ships?

When it comes to the Death Star’s armament, although Blood-Pupil is proud, it doesn’t mean he’s blind. In comparison, silence is his only choice.

“Develop mechs!” Suddenly, the black-haired man spoke in the silence.

“What?” Blood-Pupil was stunned. It seemed he hadn’t heard what the black-haired man said.

“Develop large-scale mechs, breaking free from the constraints of current mech size and design. Create mechs as powerful as the Emperor of Destruction. Even if we can’t match its omnipotence, we should focus on one aspect and make breakthroughs,” the black-haired man repeated firmly, a cold glint appearing in his eyes.

“Compared to the massive Moors’ giant ships, the conventional tactics of fleet battles are becoming outdated. But have you noticed? Mechs, which used to be mere supporting roles in wars, are playing an increasingly important role now. Recent battles have also shown that mechs—with their high flexibility, wide adaptability, and diverse attack methods—are the trend for future development. While the Moor Empire is still focused on sturdy ships and heavy cannons, why can’t we think further ahead?”

“You mean…” Blood-Pupil’s eyes lit up. He suddenly remembered several of his recent battles—the agile mechs of the Blood Wolf Pirates evading the seemingly powerful but highly inaccurate cannon fire of the warships and engaging in close combat with the enemy. Against the massive Moors’ giant ships, mechs were like mosquitoes, rendering even the strongest enemies helpless. On the contrary, the weapons carried by mechs could easily pierce through a warship’s armor at close range, causing damage that might not be large in appearance but had a direct impact on the overall structure!

While it might not be practical for ordinary mechs to use such tactics, for the elite mech units unique to the Death Star, it’s an ideal strategy. And against such tactics, the enormous yet extremely cumbersome Moors’ giant ships are simply the perfect targets.

“To create mechs as powerful as the Killing Emperor’s! Those words were like a bright light that instantly illuminated Blood Pupil’s heart, filling him with excitement.”
“I heard that the Prisoners of Darkness call those mechs ‘Demonic Machines’?”
“A great name, isn’t it?” The black-haired man stood up and stretched widely. “Then let’s do that. For now, you and I will go check out our third fleet first to gather more information. Before our Demonic Machines appear…”
“Let’s have some fun while we do it,” Blood Pupil added with a smile.