Chapter 77: Holy Maiden of the Night

The crimson Dark Star main ship, which had been hovering over the Governor's Mansion all this time, finally began to move slowly.

Fissures opened along its rear, spewing blazing flames that propelled the cross-shaped hull forward at a leisurely pace.

Yet, it carried an indescribable sense of oppression. Frigates drifted around the main ship, their main cannons already charging with a brilliant, scarlet glow.

Many residents of Heavenly Desolation Star bravely pushed open their windows to look up at the sky, trembling like leaves at the terrifying sight.

Where was the Governor? Where was the Empire's rescue fleet? It had been so long, yet they had seen absolutely nothing.

In the center of the main ship, where the arms of the cross met, layers of the metallic hull peeled back to reveal a deep, abyssal muzzle. Rings of light began to pulse with energy.

Thrum... thrum... thrum!

Accompanied by a blazing pillar of red light, a rift was torn directly into the sky, revealing the bizarre and dazzling colors of subspace...

A black ship tightly bound by a net of purple light emerged. Like a trapped prey in a spider's web, it was slowly dragged out.

Inside the black ship, everyone wore grim expressions. The Princess of the Night's chest heaved erratically; they had been just one step away, but now all their previous preparations were rendered meaningless.

The enemy had absolutely no intention of negotiating. They had simply laid a trap right next to the spaceship.

"Your Highness... there is an incoming communication request," the Ten-Eyed Giant reported.

"How long will it take to break free from this trap?" The Princess of the Night sat on her metal throne, her expression freezing cold. Xia En discreetly opened his eyes, observing his surroundings.

"Your Highness... even if we enter a Super-Overload State, we will still need fifteen minutes..." The Ten-Eyed Giant sounded guilty. He was responsible for everything concerning the ship, yet he had failed to detect the blockade trap right under their noses.

"Engage it... and connect the call!" she spat out coldly.

On the surface of the black hull, ancient patterns began to flash violently. Deep within the unseen engine room, a massive Heart of a Dark Titan beat with a terrifying rhythm.

Countless tubes connected the heart to the rest of the ship, surging with torrential black energy.

A 3D projection flickered to life. It was a technology far more advanced than a standard holographic screen, similar to the Mental Power projections Li Yu had experienced, but facilitated through a network connection.

Three figures slowly materialized. The middle-aged man leading them made no attempt to hide his identity. He exuded no hostility, possessed greying temples, and wore a pristine suit with his hair meticulously combed.

Behind him stood two figures entirely encased in scarlet armor, their features completely concealed.

"Respected Her Highness Hel..." He actually offered a slight nod and bowed.

"Since when did Marauders become so polite?" Hel remarked with a hint of nonchalance, resting her chin on her hand as she sat upright on her metal throne.

The projection's line of sight was blocked by the Ten-Eyed Giant, keeping Xia En hidden in the corner.

"We are not Marauders. We are interstellar adventurers," the man emphasized.

"Heh..." Hel let out an ambiguous, breathy chuckle.

"Sir..." Hel paused before continuing, "Mr. Adventurer, what is the meaning of intercepting my spaceship?"

"You may call me Dark Star..." The man appeared quite refined, his tone gentle and cultured.

"As for why we intercepted you, you should already know the answer," he added.

"Stop speaking in riddles. I am leaving this place. Deactivate your blockade trap immediately!" Hel ordered, her brow furrowing as her tone grew colder.

"If you wish to leave... we naturally will not stop you. However, you cannot take away what does not belong to you." Dark Star remained unhurried.

"What do you mean?" Hel glared at him.

The deep lines on the man's face remained utterly devoid of emotion as he continued, "If you refuse to admit it, then please lower your defenses and allow us to board and search your ship to prove your innocence."

Li Yu sighed inwardly. All their previous schemes had been for nothing. The enemy had only one thought in mind: if they wanted to leave, they had to prove they hadn't taken the Imperial Noble.

It was a shameless tactic, but an incredibly effective one.

"Impossible!" Hel shouted coldly. "Allow you to board? Are you trying to insult me?"

"A filthy pack of Marauders... how could you possibly be worthy of stepping foot on my ship!"

Hel was clearly trying to provoke them on purpose.

"This ship of yours, the HMS Silence, must be powered by a Heart of a Dark Titan. By my estimates, it will take you fifteen minutes to break through the blockade." Dark Star stated the fact with an indifferent expression.

A Heart of a Dark Titan? Li Yu was somewhat surprised. It seemed that the Radiant Council's technological path differed vastly from that of the Star Glory Empire.

He recalled the Silver Holy Spear, which also utilized a completely different set of technologies. It wasn't a matter of which was superior; they simply each had their own unique strengths.

"In ten minutes, if you refuse to listen to reason, we will have no choice but to open fire."

"You dare attack me? Are you not afraid of sparking a war between the Council and the Emperor?!" Hel's expression was as cold as ice.

"You are mistaken... The one attacking you is Dark Star," he corrected smoothly.

Hel's complexion immediately worsened. If she was attacked, or even died here, a full-scale war was absolutely out of the question.

However, the Radiant Council would undoubtedly leverage the incident to extort concessions from the Star Glory Empire.

But... if it was Dark Star firing the cannons, what did that have to do with the Star Glory Empire? At most, they would issue a token humanitarian condemnation.

Dark Star's projection vanished. Hel looked downright furious. Xia En gazed at her, shaking his head ever so slightly; this situation was just too difficult.

"My beloved..." Hel suddenly stepped down from her metal throne. She walked over to Xia En, looking down at the former Imperial Noble.

Xia En turned his head away, but Hel forcefully grabbed his chin and yanked it back. Li Yu wore an incredibly bizarre expression, struck by an inexplicable sense of deja vu.

She crouched down, her pale thighs pressing together. Removing the gag from Xia En's mouth, she caressed his cheek. "You truly put me in a difficult position..."

Xia En forced himself to ignore how humiliating his posture was and said calmly, "Just hand me over to them."

Li Yu had no objections to this. As long as he was safe, he couldn't care less whose hands Xia En ended up in.

"Absolutely not!" Hel declared decisively. "I went through hell and high water to find you. I refuse to believe a mere Marauder ship can sink the HMS Silence!"

"If he wants a fight, we'll give him a fight!"

Li Yu's eyes twitched. 'Damn it, this stupid woman is insane,' he thought. 'Why is she so obsessively fixated on Xia En?'

"After all... you are my greatest asset in the race to become the Holy Maiden of the Night. My mother has far too many daughters... I have to find a way to stand out." Hel stroked Xia En's face, a hazy, obsessed look in her eyes.

Xia En let out a long sigh. He wanted to say something, but he merely pursed his lips and remained silent.

"Your Highness... let me give it a try," Li Yu stepped forward at that moment. He had zero intention of risking his life alongside this crazy woman.

The position of the Holy Maiden of the Night had absolutely nothing to do with him...