Chapter 98: A Twist of Fate

Li Ping stepped off the spaceship, his heart brimming with excitement. Li Yu's concern for him had left him deeply moved, to the point where he wouldn't hesitate even if he were asked to lay down his life this very moment.

'I must complete this mission perfectly. I cannot betray Mr. Li Yu's trust!' Li Ping resolved silently, striding out of the metal corridor with his head held high.

Behind him, the spaceship slowly took off after his departure. It circled around to another location to retrieve the ten tons of Star Sand stored in a metal crate.

Truth be told, with such a massive metal crate resting in the open clearing of the shipyard, surprisingly no one entertained the thought of stealing it or even sneaking a peek inside.

This wasn't because the security in No Man's Land was particularly good, but rather because it was bad to an extreme degree.

There were far too many villains here. However, since No Man's Land was a place where dragons and snakes mixed, some marauders found it inconvenient to cause trouble out in the open, leading them to devise numerous despicable tricks.

For instance, they would place timed proximity bombs inside boxes, or smear lethal neurotoxins on Star Coins, and then casually toss them on the ground.

They would hide in the shadows, deriving sick pleasure from watching greedy opportunists get blown to pieces or die from poisoning right at the height of their excitement over a lucky find.

Over time, No Man's Land ironically became a paragon of virtue where no one dared to pick up lost items on the street!

It was designed as an observation crate. Upon pressing a button, the metal panels on both sides retracted layer by layer to reveal a glass panel, allowing for a clear view of the sand that looked like a miniature galaxy.

The magnificent Star Sand was formed over countless eons from the shattered remnants of various stars scattered across the universe. It possessed unique Stellar Energy that could slowly enhance the physical strength of a lifeform and aid in the development of the Gene Chain.

This was one of the reasons it was so incredibly valuable today.

Retrieving the Juvenile Sandworm sealed in amber from his System Space, Li Yu gently placed it inside. Whatever material the amber was made of remained a mystery.

As soon as it rested on the Star Sand, the amber liquefied and melted away, allowing the Sand Worm inside to dart directly into the sand.

Wisps of stellar radiance, like glowing tassels, wrapped around the Sand Worm's body as the Star Sand began to stream into its mandibles.

'I wonder how far this little thing will eventually grow...' Li Yu thought, a sense of anticipation welling up inside him.

Mo Duo and Hunter also stood before the crate, observing the frail larva.

"Where did you get such an ugly bug?" Hunter asked, a hint of disgust in his voice. Even as a mere decoration, no one would choose a worm like this.

"This little guy is far from simple," Li Yu replied, shaking his head.

"Not simple?" Hunter stared at Li Yu suspiciously. "Don't tell me it's the cub of some Cosmic Colossus?"

Cosmic Colossus... terrifying behemoths that wandered through interstellar space, and one of the absolute worst nightmares to encounter during space travel.

The most massive Cosmic Colossuses could rival the size of a Life Planet, their outer defenses so impenetrable that even a spaceship's main cannon couldn't leave a scratch.

"How could that be possible..." Before Li Yu could even answer, Hunter shook his head in self-denial. Cosmic Colossuses had always been subjects that major cosmic civilizations scrambled to study.

The Gene Chain within their bodies was so overwhelmingly powerful that almost no normal lifeform could merge with it.

Back when he served in Augu, they had specifically hunted down a Cosmic Colossus, and it had been an impossibly difficult ordeal.

Even the mighty Augu fleet spent a full half-year just to capture one, and it was already dead by the time they secured it.

As for a juvenile Cosmic Colossus, the entire universe combined couldn't capture even one over the span of several years.

Li Yu remained noncommittal, simply placing his palm flat against the glass panel. The Juvenile Sandworm seemed to sense something.

Pushing aside the surrounding sand, the Sand Worm curled up and leaned against the glass. It appeared to nuzzle Li Yu's palm through the transparent barrier, displaying an extreme fondness for him.

"Grow up quickly, little guy," Li Yu murmured, unable to hold back a smile.

'Then I can draw your blood and create Gene Chains.'

Meanwhile, in another part of No Man's Land lay the Slave Exchange, situated within the Perimeter District.

No Man's Land was vast, divided into the Perimeter District and the Inner District. The Perimeter District served as the chaotic outskirts near the shipyards, functioning much like a massive slum.

It was predominantly a gathering place for common marauders, wanderers, and adventurers.

The Slave Trade was inherently the most prevalent commerce across the interstellar realms. Civilizations that completely banned it were practically non-existent—or rather, it was impossible to enforce.

The biggest slave trader in the entire galaxy was the Star Glory Empire, which used the Slave Trade as a primary method to maintain control over its colonies.

The threat of turning every living being on an entire planet into slaves served as a terrifying deterrent, ensuring that almost no one in their subjugated territories dared to rebel.

In stark contrast to the chaotic mess outside, this particular establishment was kept immaculately clean. Upon entering, slaves were not immediately visible.

Instead, customers were greeted by smiling Envilles who would first politely inquire about their preferences before offering tailored recommendations.

Viewing the merchandise was reserved for the final stage of the process.

Keri arrived feeling nervous. The Envilles, true to their professional reputation, didn't let a client's appearance or demeanor affect their flawless service.

Even though Keri was just a teenager dressed in rags, reeking of anxiety, apprehension, and simmering indignation, he was treated with courtesy.

"May I ask what kind of slave you are looking for? We have..." The Enville young lady smiled warmly, launching into her standard, rehearsed introduction.

"I... I want to buy Slave Number 17," Keri interrupted, his goal unwavering.

"Slave Number 17?" The attendant paused for a split second before her polite smile returned. "Please wait a moment."

She signaled another staff member to serve him a beverage, while she turned and walked through a heavy metal door at the back.

Beyond the door lay a long, straight metal corridor lined with solitary cells on both sides. The interiors were a sterile, gleaming metallic white, securely holding a variety of different biological specimens.

She ignored the captive beings, continuing straight ahead.

Deep inside a secluded room...

"Damn it, who leaked the information?!" an angry growl echoed, accompanied by the heavy thud of a fist slamming against metal.

A rotund man dressed in lavish clothing sported a furious expression. A thick gold chain hung around his neck, and gemstone rings adorned all five fingers of his hand.

"Hall, keep it down," spoke the woman sitting opposite him. Clad in a simple linen robe, her face was perfectly calm, her eyes as tranquil and undisturbed as the silent starry sky.

"Cree, how can I stay quiet? Little Martha was taken, Gu Jue was taken too, and the key has already fallen into the hands of the Green-Clad Knights! If they..."

Hall glared at the composed Cree, but his voice naturally trailed off, eventually falling silent. It was as if this woman naturally emanated an aura that forced composure upon others.

"If the Green-Clad Knights had truly obtained the key, they wouldn't have returned to the Wandering Butterfly Bar," Cree reasoned, shaking her head slowly.

Hall's expression brightened slightly. "You mean they didn't get it?"

Cree remained noncommittal, shifting the subject instead. "There shouldn't be more than ten people who knew the rendezvous point was the Wandering Butterfly. Investigate it thoroughly; we have a mole in our ranks. Suspend all operations for now."

"Alright," Hall nodded, rubbing his temples. His tone carried a heavy sigh. "It hasn't even been that long, yet someone has already forgotten our disgrace and our oaths."

Just then, a gentle knock echoed on the door, followed by a soft, polite voice. "Your Excellency Hall, someone is here to purchase Slave Number 17."

"Who?!" Hall's expression shifted sharply. He casually swiped a hand across the metal desk, bringing up a holographic projection that magnified Keri's anxious, fidgeting figure.

"It is a young boy... dressed in ordinary clothes..." the woman outside continued her report. Hall shot a very strange look at Cree before shouting back:

"Alright, I got it. You can return to your post."

"You..." Cree stared intently at the boy on the screen, her brows furrowing. "What price tag did you put on me?"

"Two hundred thousand Star Coins," Hall answered, then hastily added, "That's considered a fairly standard rate for an interstellar human, perhaps even slightly on the high side."

"Any higher, and it might have drawn unwanted attention."

"He actually scraped together two hundred thousand?" Cree asked, clearly perplexed.

"Impossible," Hall stated firmly. "He shouldn't have more than fifty thousand Star Coins on him. My plan was to wait until he saved up one hundred thousand, and then send someone to rob him."

Cree shot Hall a speechless look. She gazed back at the anxious teenager on the screen and let out a soft sigh. Half a year... fifty thousand Star Coins... for a boy his age, the struggle he had endured was simply too harsh.

"I'm heading back," Cree announced, rising to her feet. She approached a solid metal wall, which silently split open to reveal a narrow metal corridor.

"Try to treat him... a little nicer," Cree urged softly.

"I treat him like a younger brother too. It's just... you refuse to..." Hall shook his head, hesitating to speak further.

"He's far too young," Cree stated with absolute finality.

Hall didn't press the issue. He roughly rubbed his fleshy face, forcing his features into a thoroughly treacherous, greedy grin, and walked out.

"Hehe... little brother... it's you again."

Keri glared at the damned fat man with absolute revulsion. The guy's flabby face practically screamed treachery, and his sickening smile was enough to make anyone gag.

This was the very bastard who had bought his sister when he was deathly ill, exchanging her freedom for the money that saved his life.

"I want to buy back my sister," Keri demanded coldly.

"Of course, of course," Hall replied, rubbing his hands together greedily. "However, the price..."

"I've saved enough!" Keri shouted. He proudly displayed his digital balance, which hovered just a bit over two hundred thousand Star Coins.

Hall's pupils shrank in sheer disbelief. 'What the hell? Where did this kid get two hundred thousand?'

"Hurry up and take me to see my sister!" Keri barked. He who holds the money is the boss; he had learned this harsh truth intimately over the past six months.

"Well... alright," Hall agreed without too much hesitation, though his mind was racing to find a solution. 'Should I suddenly raise the price?'

'No... if this brat makes a scene, it'll definitely draw a lot of unwanted attention.'

Trembling with excitement, Keri followed Hall to the back. Inside Cell Number 17, he finally laid eyes on his sister. She wore a coarse linen robe that barely covered her body, leaving large expanses of pale skin exposed.

He knew this sick tactic perfectly well; it was exactly how slave traders enticed potential buyers.

Instantly, his loathing for the fat man swelled even further.

"Sister!" he cried out, his eyes inevitably brimming with tears.

"Keri..." Cree feigned overwhelming surprise, rushing to the bars of the cell and clutching Keri's hands tightly.

"Sister... I've saved enough money! I'm taking you away from here!" Keri exclaimed emotionally.

"Really? Keri..." Cree kept up the act, her voice thick with fake amazement. "How did you save up so much so quickly?"

Bursting with pride, Keri explained, "I'm very popular! Everyone wants to hire me to run errands..."

As Keri recounted his experiences, Cree's body trembled slightly, but she remained completely silent.

"...Especially today. I met a great good person at the Wandering Butterfly Bar..."

"Wait... where did you say?" Cree was instantly highly sensitive to the mention of the Wandering Butterfly Bar.

"At Wandering Butterfly... Sister, you don't know, but that good person..." Keri hid nothing from his sister, entirely failing to notice her expression shifting drastically multiple times.

"Are you saying you were brought to the second floor of the Wandering Butterfly Bar? And quite a few people saw you?" Her pupils contracted sharply, a sudden, dreadful premonition washing over her.

"Yeah? What's wrong?" Keri blinked in confusion. Why was his sister so concerned about these trivial details?

Boom!

A deafening explosion roared from outside, violently shaking the entire Slave Exchange.