Chapter 201: Gold Member

"Yo, I'm so scared!" Luo He exaggeratedly shivered, his face full of mockery, "Come on, try to move me! I want to see whether you dare to move even a single finger of mine today!"

"You…" Duo Yun trembled with anger, yet was helpless against Luo He.

"Alright, Luo He, stop messing around," Ao Gu frowned slightly, whispering, "Let's hurry inside, don't delay the main business."

Luo He shrugged, turned to Duo Yun, a teasing smile curling his mouth, "Did you hear that? Even Brother Ao Gu said it. Aren't you going to step aside? Do you think you can cut in line?"

"Hmph, cutting in line?" Duo Yun sneered, pulling a black card from his coat and flashing it before Luo He, "Open those dog eyes and see what this is!"

Luo He stared, his complexion instantly changing; the black card bore a golden "S", surrounded by countless tiny diamonds that radiated dazzling light.

"Black… Black Gold Membership Card?!" Luo He exclaimed, disbelief in his voice.

The Black Gold Membership Card is the highest‑tier card of the Cosmic Bank, granting its holder an unparalleled noble status and various privileges, including the right to cut in line anywhere.

"Now, do you still think I'm cutting in line?" Duo Yun stared coldly at Luo He, his eyes full of mockery.

Luo He's face flushed pale, yet he couldn't utter a single word.

Duo Yun snorted coldly, tossing the Black Gold Membership Card to the nearby Guard Commander, "I want to go in; clear the area immediately!"

The Guard Commander took the Black Gold Membership Card, his complexion instantly turning sour… He had been stationed at the teleportation gate for years, so he fully understood the weight of that black card. It wasn't something that could be ignored by sheer authority; the forces behind the Cosmic Bank even the Lord of Ke Laiyin Xing must respect it to some degree.

He examined the card closely; its surface was cold, the material unlike any common Earth metal, more like a creature's scale. On the back, beneath the golden "S", a line of small characters was clearly etched—"Duo Yun·Ke Lis".

The Guard Commander's hand trembled slightly, fine beads of sweat forming on his forehead. The Ke Lis family—rulers of the Cosmic Horror Tribunal, wielding power over the universe, turning clouds with a flick, rain with a wave! He had dared to slight a member of the Ke Lis family!

He jerked his head up, his gaze at Duo Yun filled with fear and awe, daring no further negligence. Meanwhile, the shouting Luo He appeared to him like a leaping clown, utterly insignificant.

"Young Master Duo Yun, my sincere apologies! I failed to recognize your greatness and collided with you; please, my lord, overlook my rudeness and forgive me!" the Guard Commander bowed, his tone exceedingly respectful, showing no trace of earlier arrogance.

Duo Yun stared coldly at the Guard Commander, saying nothing. He took in Luo He's expression fully, a cold sneer forming within him.

"What's the holdup? Go report to the Lord immediately, say that a distinguished guest of the Ke Lis family has arrived!" the Guard Commander barked at the nearby soldiers.

"Yes!" the soldier, unwilling to delay, quickly turned and ran toward the castle beyond the teleportation gate.

"Young Master Duo Yun, please wait a moment; the Lord will soon emerge to receive you," the Guard Commander said respectfully.

Duo Yun gave a slight nod, ignored the Guard Commander, and headed straight for the teleportation gate.

"Wait! You can't go in!" Luo He, seeing this, lunged to block Duo Yun, his face full of resentment and anger, "Guard Commander, what does that mean? On what authority do you let him in but not us?"

The Guard Commander coldly glanced at Luo He, shouting sternly, "How dare you! Do you know who you're speaking to? This person is…"

"Enough!" Duo Yun impatiently cut off the Guard Commander, coldly staring at Luo He, "What are you, that you dare to shout in front of me?"

Luo He, cowed by Duo Yun's aura, involuntarily stepped back a few paces, his face turning deathly pale.

Duo Yun ignored Luo He, marching straight toward the teleportation gate, with the Guard Commander hurrying after him.

"Stop! Stay where you are!" Luo He shouted hysterically, but no one heeded him. He stared in disbelief as a wave of turmoil rose within him… Duo Yun, how could he be… Luo He stood frozen as if struck by lightning, his mind blank. He watched Duo Yun and the Guard Commander disappear, his heart a storm. Duo Yun, the henchman he always saw as a lowly follower, how could he be a member of the Cosmic Horror Tribunal? And holding the Black Gold Membership Card, a top‑tier VIP!

"Impossible, this can't be…" Luo He muttered, shaking his head frantically, trying to deny the absurd reality. He had always treated Duo Yun as a pawn to toy with, never truly looking at him. Now that pawn had transformed into the one controlling his fate.

A massive sense of disparity and humiliation surged like a tide, nearly suffocating Luo He. His fists clenched, nails digging into his flesh without notice. He stared at Duo Yun's retreating back with venomous envy and hatred.

"Why? Why him?" Luo He let out a resentful roar, powerless to change anything.

At that moment, Xiao Dian and Zhang Cheng exchanged glances, each seeing shock and a hint of understanding in the other's eyes. It seemed Duo Yun's true identity was far more complex than it appeared.

"This guy, so hidden…" Xiao Dian stroked his chin, saying meaningfully.

Duo Yun seemed to notice their gazes, turned, and gave them a helpless wry smile, spreading his hands, saying in a tone of "I'm also desperate," "There's no way around it; being forced into this corner, I can only put on a bit of a act. You both know I'm usually low‑key and dislike showing off."

Seeing Duo Yun's punch‑able demeanor, Xiao Dian's mouth twitched, wanting to punch that knock‑knock face. This guy, even his pretentiousness is so refreshingly unpretentious, truly astonishing.

Zhang Cheng said nothing, merely watching Duo Yun's performance quietly, a hint of playful smile flashing in his eyes. He could tell Duo Yun wasn't truly helpless, but enjoying it.

"Alright, that's enough, I'll be right back," Duo Yun waved his hand, turning to enter the teleportation gate.

"Young Master Duo Yun, please wait a moment; I'll have someone inform the Lord," the Guard Commander said attentively, pulling out a communicator to make contact.

"Not necessary," Duo Yun raised his hand to stop him, "Everyone's time is precious; if we wait for them, who knows how long the delay will be."

He paused, looked at the Guard Commander, a knowing smile curling his lips, "You agree, right?"

The Guard Commander was momentarily stunned, then recovered, his face plastered with a sycophantic grin, "Yes, yes, Young Master Duo Yun, that's what you said; I was thoughtless. Right this way, I'll take you to the exclusive passage."

Duo Yun nodded approvingly and stepped forward. Passing Luo He, he paused deliberately, glanced down contemptuously, let out a derisive hum, then left without looking back.

Luo He at this very moment seemed to be struck harshly.

slapped across the face, a burning pain spreading through his whole body. He clenched his teeth, his eyes blood‑red, his heart ablaze with fury.

"Duo Yun, wait for me! One day I'll make you kneel before me, begging for my mercy!" Luo He snarled, his voice full of venom and hatred.

Duo Yun was unfazed, as if he hadn't heard Luo He's threat at all, and walked straight toward the teleportation gate. Xiao Dian and Zhang Cheng exchanged a glance, both seeing the gravity in the other's eyes. It seemed this Greedy Star party was destined for turbulence.

"Let's go too," Xiao Dian patted Zhang Cheng's shoulder, leading the way.

The three, led by the Guard Commander, arrived at a private passage. The passage was lavishly decorated, starkly contrasting with the queue they had previously waited in.

"Young Master Duo Yun, this is the exclusive passage prepared for you; please proceed," the Guard Commander said respectfully, gesturing a "please."

Duo Yun gave a slight nod, stepping into the passage. Xiao Dian and Zhang Cheng followed closely, and the three soon vanished at the far end.

Guard Commander watched the three leave, a complex expression flashing in his eyes. He turned back, glanced at the still‑waiting long line of contestants behind him, feeling a flood of emotions.

"The Cosmic Horror Tribunal, that's a force that even the five major star systems fear… What on earth is Duo Yun's background?" the Guard Commander muttered, puzzled.

At that moment, he suddenly recalled that Duo Yun might have said something before leaving, so he hurried after him, shouting toward Duo Yun's back, "Young Master Duo Yun, do you have any further orders?"

Duo Yun turned, a mysterious smile curling his lips, and said slowly, "I suggest you modify the operating model of this teleportation gate…"

The Guard Commander was taken aback, asking puzzled, "Young Master Duo Yun, what do you mean?"

Duo Yun didn't answer directly, but said meaningfully, "Look, this exclusive passage sits empty; why not put it to use? You could make it a paid lane, charging based on queue time—the longer the wait, the higher the fee. I believe many contestants, eager to save time, would gladly pay."

The Guard Commander's eyes lit up. Duo Yun's proposal undeniably opened a door to a new world for him, revealing huge business potential. He quickly bowed and said, "Young Master Duo Yun is truly brilliant! I'll dispatch people to handle it right away!"

Duo Yun nodded with satisfaction, turned and continued forward, with Xiao Dian and Zhang Cheng following closely.

Passing through the teleportation gate, the three entered a bizarre, kaleidoscopic corridor. On both sides, multicolored lights flickered, making it feel like a dreamlike world.

"Never thought you'd be from the Cosmic Horror Tribunal, and even a Black Gold Member!" Zhang Cheng said, surprised as he looked at Duo Yun.

Duo Yun chuckled lightly, replying calmly, "What's so strange? My father is the director of the Cosmic Horror Tribunal; I've grown up accompanying him to all sorts of events, so having a Black Gold Membership Card is nothing remarkable."

"So this time you joined the Galactic War for…?" Zhang Cheng began to speak but stopped; he always felt that Duo Yun had another purpose for this trip.

Duo Yun seemed to see through his thoughts and smiled, "What, you think I came to the Galactic War just to punish that Luo He?"

Zhang Cheng said nothing, but his expression said it all.

Duo Yun sighed helplessly and explained, "I admit, I really can't stand Luo He's arrogant, overbearing demeanor, but…"

He suddenly halted, his gaze deep as he looked ahead, and said meaningfully, "My true purpose is far more complicated than you imagine…"

Zhang Cheng didn't reply, just quietly watched Duo Yun, waiting for him to continue. The atmosphere grew a bit stagnant, and the lights along the corridor seemed to dim a few degrees.

Duo Yun was silent for a moment, as if gathering his words, and after a while said, "I admit, when I first heard that Luo He also joined the Galactic War, I indeed thought of giving him a lesson. But these years of observations at the Cosmic Horror Tribunal have made me understand many things, and have changed many of my thoughts."

He paused, his eyes becoming a bit hazy, as if lost in memory, "You know, the Cosmic Horror Tribunal deals with the darkest, most cruel cases in the universe. Those extremely vicious criminals, their deeds are simply unspeakable, beyond description."

Duo Yun clenched his fist, his tone carrying a hint of uncontainable anger, "I once saw a planet plunge into war because of the Greedy Star's plot, countless innocent lives were lost. I also heard victims' accusations; their tearful testimonies chilled me and made me loathe the Greedy Star!"

Zhang Cheng could feel Duo Yun's anger and sorrow at that moment; he knew that over the years Duo Yun must have witnessed many dark things unimaginable to ordinary people and borne huge psychological pressure.

"So, you joined the Galactic War for…" Zhang Cheng asked tentatively.

"To stop the Greedy Star's scheme, to uphold justice in the universe!" Duo Yun's eyes were firm, his tone filled with undeniable power, "I can no longer stand by idly; I will use my strength to change all this!"

Zhang Cheng looked at the young man full of a sense of justice and couldn't help feeling admiration. He finally understood that Duo Yun's participation in the Galactic War was not for personal grudges but to shoulder a greater responsibility, to protect the peace of the universe.

"Do you know what scheme the Greedy Star has?" Zhang Cheng asked, knowing that the Cosmic Horror Tribunal's intelligence network spans the whole universe, perhaps Duo Yun knows something.

Duo Yun shook his head, "I don't know the specific plan, but based on the intelligence we have, the Greedy Star seems to be secretly plotting a massive scheme, and the Galactic War may well be part of their plan."

"The Galactic War? How could that be?" Zhang Cheng could not believe, "The Galactic War is the grandest contest in the universe; how could it be linked to the Greedy Star's scheme?"

"I also hope I'm overthinking, but the stakes are high, I must be cautious." Duo Yun's face showed a hint of solemnity, "This Galactic War is probably not as simple as we think…"