Chapter 74: A Twist of Fate

It was not until night fell that Li Yu slowly emerged from the gene fusion phase. He could clearly feel the amplification of power within his body, signifying yet another increase in his potential's upper limit.

Only through the development of his Gene Chain could he reach the D+ Grade and prepare to fuse with a C-grade Gene Chain. This so-called development simply meant using it more frequently.

The only exception was having a special developmental method, like the Stabilized T-Virus Strengthening Agent he used before, which allowed his physical body to reach its absolute potential limit first.

Feeling a slight sensation of strangeness within his corporeal form, Li Yu made a gentle movement. A streak of purple lightning instantly flashed across the void, accompanied by an acrid burning smell.

With a flash, his figure appeared in front of Mo Duo in the blink of an eye, moving so fast he became little more than a phantom. His speed had increased by at least two to three times compared to before. If he stimulated his body with the lightning element, he could move even faster.

Compared to Gene Chains containing fire, water, or earth elements, the lightning element was much more precious. This was because electrical energy could directly stimulate the lifeform itself, temporarily boosting its overall strength.

"Master... Agent Seven is requesting communication..." Claptrap announced as the Smart Terminal projected a black holographic screen.

"Her Royal Highness has already made a move seven times, capturing three native residents of Heavenly Desolation Star. However, two of them were intercepted by Dark Star..."

The voice belonged to the Ten-Eyed Giant, possessing a highly recognizable tone.

No wonder Dark Star's spaceships had been flying back and forth all day. It seemed they had been thoroughly played.

"Dark Star actually has the capability to go against you all?" What surprised Li Yu even more was Dark Star's sheer strength.

"The Star Glory Empire is backing Dark Star..." the Ten-Eyed Giant revealed, a statement that caused both Hunter and Mo Duo to widen their eyes in shock.

"Mmph... mmph... mmph..."

Something else was clumsily trying to interrupt...

"That explains it..." Li Yu muttered in deep thought. No wonder no one from the Star Glory Empire had openly entered the fray; they had secretly occupied this place long ago.

"Wait..." Li Yu's expression shifted slightly. "What was Dark Star's original objective?"

"To blow up Heavenly Desolation Star, thereby creating an excuse to intervene in the No Man's Land System. This is a crucial part of their grand strategy." The Ten-Eyed Giant was incredibly generous with this level of intelligence, perfectly willing to share it with anyone who would listen.

"Mmph... mmph... mmph..." Xia En shook his head vigorously.

"What about the members of Ghost Squad? Who do they answer to?"

"We cannot find any information on that..." the Ten-Eyed Giant gave a rare non-answer. "We are quite curious ourselves. This squad is like an isolated island; all their connective ties have been severed."

"All of their data has completely vanished..."

Li Yu pondered for a moment before speaking. "Tell Her Royal Highness not to cause such a massive stir. At the same time, secretly launch a few spaceships to make them think you are providing cover for an escape vessel."

"A clever method..." the Ten-Eyed Giant praised.

The Ten-Eyed Giant ended the call. Li Yu removed Xia En's gag, and the prince immediately erupted in outrage.

"Impossible! The Star Glory Empire would never blow up Heavenly Desolation Star..."

"I only have one question. If you can't answer it, the gag goes back in." Li Yu completely ignored his outburst.

"Do you know the origins of Ghost Squad? They seem to be searching for you as well..."

"This..." Xia En immediately hesitated. Seeing Li Yu stepping forward with the gag ready, he hastily blurted out, "I will answer you, but you can't put that thing back in my mouth!"

"Deal," Li Yu agreed decisively.

"Ghost Squad... was sent by... my sister..." Xia En said with clear reluctance.

"Your sister?" Li Yu was somewhat surprised. "They're that pathetic?"

She was an Imperial Noble, after all. Were the people she dispatched really this useless? Ghost Squad had no proper weapons and severely lacked any real strength.

"My situation implicated her, leaving her with very few resources at her disposal. Ghost Squad was put together a few years ago, and I haven't heard from her in a long time."

Xia En sighed, his voice tinged with a great deal of regret...

"If you hadn't let your lower half do the thinking, you wouldn't be in this mess." Li Yu mercilessly rubbed salt in the wound.

"That's not it. Desire cannot control me..." Xia En's voice grew smaller and smaller until his final words were entirely inaudible.

Li Yu didn't bother listening to his muttering. "Then why didn't you make contact with them?"

"As long as no one knew of my existence, I was safest..." Xia En stopped abruptly mid-sentence. He had genuinely believed that once.

That was, until this absolute fiend had barged in and exposed his identity with absolute certainty.

The intricate web of connections was gradually becoming clear. The origins and objectives of most factions were basically confirmed. However, one question remained—what exactly was the Tyron Chamber of Commerce doing?

Did they also want their hands on the Imperial Noble? As a colossal commercial juggernaut within the Star Glory Empire, they naturally had a group of top-tier aristocrats backing them.

The Tyron Chamber of Commerce was attempting to muddy the waters by sending out their own fighters. Li Yu guessed they were likely trying to cover the tracks of a specific group of people—their own people.

But the crucial question was... what were they trying to achieve? If they wanted to snatch Xia En, their current manpower wasn't even enough to make Dark Star waste bullets.

'I should just make a call and ask...' he thought. There was no shame in asking someone else if he couldn't figure it out himself.

"Beep... beep... beep..."

"Hello, Manager Tu..." On the Holographic Screen, the lighting was quite dim. It seemed the manager was hiding somewhere.

"Are you here to mock me?" Tu Rui's eyes were filled with burning rage. Cast in the gloomy light, his face twisted like a demon's.

Li Yu looked mildly surprised. "Manager Tu, where is this coming from? Weren't you the one who ambushed me first last time?"

Tu Rui's momentum stalled for a second before he replied coldly, "I admit that I tripped up this time."

"The Tyron Chamber of Commerce has already fired me, and my clan has condemned me. Your methods... are exceptionally ruthless!"

"Huh?" Li Yu was genuinely confused. He hadn't handed the evidence over to Siege. This matter clearly had nothing to do with him.

"Actually..." Li Yu was about to explain, but suddenly stopped. His expression turned incredibly strange, as if he had just remembered something crucial. "Manager Tu... take care of yourself."

On the other end of the line, in a pitch-black room, Tu Rui slammed his fists viciously against the wall, his face looking incomparably dark and grim.

Li Yu had suddenly remembered that he still had a Troll Heart sitting in Tyron Tower that he hadn't retrieved. It was the one Widow had delivered, which he had originally intended to use to threaten Tu Rui.

'Don't tell me Siege found that Troll Heart?' he thought.

Given Siege's capabilities, it was entirely possible for him to directly pin the blame on Tu Rui. The more Li Yu thought about it, the more plausible it seemed.

"I didn't kill him, but he died because of me..." Li Yu let out a long sigh. Well, it was for the best anyway; it saved him the trouble of doing it himself.

Hunter and Mo Duo watched Li Yu sighing and groaning. A specific phrase inexplicably surfaced in their minds—crocodile tears.

There was no point in saying anything more to Tu Rui now. It wasn't as if he could just tell him, 'I didn't actually sell you out, I just forgot to pick up that Troll Heart.'

Wouldn't that just piss Tu Rui off to the point of dying from anger? Wait... hmm... Li Yu pondered for a moment. 'Actually, that doesn't sound like a bad idea...'

Immediately, he drafted a message and sent it over to Tu Rui...

(La la la la...)