Chapter 10 Days Later, Somewhere in the Shattered Star Ring

A saucer flew through space, dragging a long tail of flame. In the cockpit, Ieso looked at the Shattered Star Ring star chart marked with countless red danger zones, his eyes extremely solemn.

The captain hesitated beside him, wanting to say something but stopping. After a moment, he said, "There aren't many routes left for us. We've almost entered a dead end. Given the current situation, I'm afraid we won't be able to get you out of the Shattered Star Ring. What are your plans?"

Ieso's face was ashen. He pressed his hands on the table, the veins on the back of his hands bulging. He whispered, "Aren't you supposed to be professionals? How did this happen?!"

The captain smiled bitterly, equally perplexed. "I don't know either. We didn't leave any clues, and we've been operating in secrecy, but the Black Star Army seems to know our whereabouts. They always manage to precisely set up an encirclement around us. I don't know where they're getting their information, but it's so accurate... Could this be the ability of a fortuneteller? Aren't you a fortuneteller? Why didn't you foresee this?"

Ieso gritted his teeth, speechless.

He hadn't refrained from using his abilities along the way. He had indeed avoided some pursuing forces, but the Black Star Army was like a persistent leech. No matter how many times he shook them off, they would catch up again before long. Even though the Mechanic Empire's affiliated forces had helped him change vehicles many times, it still didn't work.

Moreover, it wasn't Ieso himself controlling the body, but an aggregate consciousness of Modo's deathsworn souls, unable to unleash the full potential of his prophetic abilities. The secret stronghold he had deliberately revealed to the Black Star Army wasn't obtained through divination but was information they already knew, deliberately exposed to prevent others from suspecting his "fortuneteller" identity.

Originally, Ieso's navigation target was the edge of the Shattered Star Ring, but under the Black Star Army's relentless pursuit, he had no choice but to continue dodging and hiding. His route was forced to deviate, and he was still circling within the star field, making progress increasingly difficult.

"If it really doesn't work..." Ieso looked at the star chart, pointed to a nearby planet, and said through gritted teeth, "Then cancel the plan to leave the Shattered Star Ring. Send me to this planet."

The captain followed Ieso's finger and looked over, his expression slightly changing. "Ash Mountain Star? It's always been chaotic there. Are you sure you want to go?"

"That's right." Ieso nodded decisively.

This was a colony star currently under the jurisdiction of a local galaxy-level civilization, but due to a historical reason, sharp social contradictions existed on this planet.

Originally, Ash Mountain Star had a native intelligent race that had developed a surface civilization and was thriving. However, it was discovered by the local galaxy-level civilization while exploring the universe. Due to treaties against interfering with lower civilizations, the local galaxy-level civilization initially only observed and did not interfere too much, much like the relationship between the Godora civilization and Aquamarine Star.

However, Ash Mountain Star was located in the border area between two star systems. The local galaxy-level civilization had been engaged in armed conflicts with its neighbor, both wanting to expand their borders. Therefore, they hoped to completely control Ash Mountain Star—the unspoken rule of the *Peace Treaty* was that only galaxy-level civilizations could be truly guaranteed. Surface civilizations were nominally within the treaty's scope, but in reality, some advanced civilizations would always pay lip service and let things slide afterward.

The methods used by the local galaxy-level civilization were naturally not direct attacks. They mainly used two tricks. The first was to contact the Ash Mountain Star civilization under the guise of technological exchange, deliberately leaking some extra technology and later framing the Ash Mountain Star civilization for stealing technology outside the scope of the exchange. The second method was to secretly incite the division of the surface civilization, providing "war support" to some regimes at critical moments. Afterward, they used the excuse of suppressing rebellions and helping to the end to leave their troops on Ash Mountain Star and not withdraw them.

The huge gap in civilizational strength destined the surface civilization to be no match for the galaxy-level civilization. The local civilization used both methods, and Ash Mountain Star fell under their control without any suspense.

The sharp social contradictions came from the backlash of the Ash Mountain Star civilization. Various demonstrations and riots often occurred, so the local galaxy-level civilization adopted a policy of hard-line rule, sending official troops to suppress the civil activities of Ash Mountain Star from time to time, resulting in a chaotic planetary environment.

In the universe, planets like Ash Mountain Star were not uncommon. Order had forged the seemingly peaceful interstellar society of today, but beneath the flowery surface, the iron law of the strong preying on the weak was still practiced, just not so naked and bloody. Incidents like genocide rarely occurred anymore.

What Ieso needed was precisely such a planet. If he could die at the hands of the galaxy-level civilization's suppression forces, it would enrage Dragon Emperor against the local galaxy-level civilization, and the plan would be a success!

"Alright, since you've decided, I'll find a way to sneak you in."

Seeing this, the captain didn't try to persuade him any further.

He was a grassroots member sent by the Mechanic Empire's affiliated forces and didn't know the full story. He was only responsible for carrying out the transportation task assigned from above. He would do whatever the client said, and he basically knew nothing else, not even that his direct superior was from the Mechanic Empire.

"Remember, it must be done discreetly."

Ieso instructed, zooming in on the image of Ash Mountain Star on the star chart, a complicated look flashing in his eyes.

'It seems this will be my burial ground...'

His mind wavered for a moment, but his expression became firm again.

As a soul aggregate of a group of deathsworn, he didn't fear death and was absolutely loyal to Modo.

Sacrificing himself, heroically dying for Modo civilization to buy a respite was the mission he kept in mind!

However, while he was feeling self-sacrificing, everyone on this ship didn't know that at this moment, not far behind them, dozens of advanced spaceships were quietly following.

It was the Black Star Army led by Han Xiao!

The fleet was equipped with the Logistics Department's top-of-the-line stealth devices, maintaining stealth mode. They had been tracking for half a day and hadn't been discovered by the saucer carrying Ieso.

...

"Where do you think he's going?"

In the command room of the main ship, Ames looked at the saucer rushing ahead, her tone doubtful.

Han Xiao stood with his arms crossed, glancing at the star chart. "Probably Ash Mountain Star."

"What's he going to do there?"

"How would I know?" Han Xiao shrugged.

By monitoring all the secret forces that the Mechanic Empire had planted in the Shattered Star Ring, the Black Star Army's search work had become much smoother. He had completely locked onto Ieso's trail yesterday and had been quietly tracking him, not immediately pouncing on him, because he wanted to see if the Mechanic Empire had any backup plans.

It was like someone trying to do something bad in secret, thinking that no one had noticed, but not knowing that tens of thousands of people were following behind him, watching him playfully, and seeing everything he was doing.

It was also a coincidence. If the Modo civilization had insisted on using its own troops to transport Ieso, Han Xiao might not have been able to catch up so easily. He didn't yet know that the real mastermind was the Modo civilization.

However, the Modo civilization thought that the Mechanic Empire's troops were more secretive and chose to borrow the Mechanic Empire's men, which backfired and jumped right into Han Xiao's knowledge zone—for him, most of the Mechanic Empire's affiliated forces in the Shattered Star Ring had no secrets, it was like having a full map hack.

"Should we go up and capture him now?" Ames turned to look at Han Xiao.

"There's no need for that much trouble. We'll let him come over obediently himself."

Han Xiao smiled, snapped his fingers, and sent out an invisible piece of data.

...

*Dong!*

Ieso was studying the star chart when he suddenly felt the ship shake. The saucer seemed to have stalled and stopped suddenly.

He couldn't help but look up at the captain, his face full of surprise and uncertainty.

"What's going on? Is there a problem with the ship?"

"I, I don't know."

The captain looked puzzled, demonstrating his superb home appliance repair skills, punching the operating table twice, but the ship's AI seemed to be dead, without any response.

*Chi—*

Just then, the hatch suddenly opened automatically.

Everyone was startled. The saucer was in space, and rashly opening the hatch would probably suck everyone inside out.

However, the expected strong suction didn't appear. The hatch was quiet, and everyone looked at the porthole in confusion, only to see that the scene outside the window was still a dark starry sky.

"What's going on?!"

Ieso and his party came to the hatch and peered outside. The moment he saw the real scene outside, Ieso froze in place, and panic instantly covered his face.

What they saw was a huge metal hull. Black Star and Dragon Emperor stood outside the hatch with a group of subordinates, staring at him with a half-smiling expression.

Ieso's eyes widened, and all that was left in his mind was confusion.

Where is this? Why am I here?!

Is it that my opening posture was wrong, leading to a hallucination?!

At this moment, Han Xiao chuckled and said,

"You're quite the runner, not even saying hello. That's a bit too much."

This scene was his doing. He had easily invaded the saucer, taking control without anyone noticing, directly turning the saucer around and actively driving it into the main ship's hull, throwing itself into the net.

He left a misleading image in the porthole, and the people on the ship were kept in the dark, not knowing what had happened at all.

Ames took two steps forward, narrowed her eyes, and said in a displeased tone, "Hmph, you've made us search for you for so many days! Don't you have anything to say to me?"

Seeing this, Ieso's face turned ashen.

It's over! The plan has failed!

Damn it, it was so close!

So close, yet so far!

He was extremely unwilling in his heart.

...No, there should still be a chance! Black Star and Dragon Emperor think I'm the real one. I can continue to pretend!

Ieso hadn't completely given up and wanted to try again. He suppressed the shock in his heart, quickly forced a smile, and put on a embarrassed expression. "So you found me... Black Star, didn't we agree to let me go? Why did you go back on your word?"

Han Xiao ignored him and instead turned to look at Ames, smiling in a "I knew it" tone.

"See, I was right, wasn't I?"

Hearing this, Ames looked Ieso up and down, nodded heavily, and looked approving.

"You're right, he's not smiling lecherously enough. He must be a fake!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Ieso froze in place.

His mind went blank, and he was completely dumbfounded.

What, they can see through my identity with such a detail!

...Pah! What a ridiculous reason! No one would believe it!

Ieso's smile became more and more stiff, and he had a bad feeling in his heart. He forced himself to say,

"What are you joking about... Alright, I admit that sneaking away was my fault. I'll accept whatever you want to do to me..."

Before he could finish speaking, Han Xiao suddenly roared like a thunderclap, "Still pretending?!"

Ieso was startled, stunned for a moment, and then horrified. All that was left in his heart was despair.

At this point, he knew that he had been seen through long ago. Black Star was playing cat and mouse, teasing him!

The next moment, he gritted his teeth and suddenly pulled out a weapon, aimed it at his head, and pulled the trigger without any hesitation.

The plan had already failed. He had no way out. He chose to commit suicide decisively to prevent Black Star from following the clues and also eliminate the fortuneteller Ieso, making a final contribution to Modo!

*Bang!!*

However, just as he raised the gun, a beam of light flashed before his eyes. Nero, who had been prepared, raised his hand and fired a shot, directly knocking the gun out of Ieso's hand.

Immediately afterward, the surrounding army soldiers swarmed up and pinned Ieso to the ground, unable to move.

Seeing this, Ames breathed a sigh of relief and dispelled the force field she had been holding in her hand, looking at Ieso, who was struggling desperately, with a complex expression. She then turned to Han Xiao and nodded her thanks.

"Thanks, things would have been troublesome without your help."

"It's nothing. Ieso is also my friend. It's only right to help him."

Han Xiao waved his hand, not taking it to heart.

Ames' eyes curved into a smile, and she gently punched Han Xiao's chest, not saying anything more.

She knew very well that without Han Xiao's unreserved help, she wouldn't have been able to find Ieso so easily, and things might have become irreparable in the end. Ieso was an incredibly important person to her, and she couldn't imagine what she would do.

At this moment, words couldn't express her inner gratitude. Looking at Han Xiao's tall and sturdy figure, Ames only felt very reliable and reassuring.

At this time, the trembling captain carefully opened his mouth, "Um... Your Excellency Black Star, you've already found the person. Can we leave?"

Han Xiao glanced at him, snorted, and said, "Still want to leave? Stay here obediently. I'll let you go when you've confessed all the information you know."

Although these people were under the Mechanic Empire, he guessed that they didn't know anything. Han Xiao didn't plan to make things difficult for them. He had recorded this debt on the Mechanic Empire's head. This matter wasn't over.

With that, Han Xiao came to Ieso on his own, squatted down, and his eyes sparkled with curiosity.

"Alright, now let me see what's wrong with you, you old geezer..."

Han Xiao had the surrounding soldiers hold Ieso down firmly. Nanoparticles slid out of his sleeve and condensed into a thin, black needle, which he held in his hand.

He aimed it at Ieso's buttock and stabbed it in hard, like a nurse giving an injection.

"Mmm~~"

A strange cry immediately rang out.

Han Xiao pulled out the black needle, looked at the battle information on the panel, and quickly browsed Ieso's status. His expression suddenly became strange.

"Soul Transference Instrument? What the hell is this?"