Chapter 152: The Terror of Xiulun (Part 2)

The envoy returned to the Great Vortex.

And delivered Xisi's exact words, in full, to Xiulun.

Yet Xiulun, who had still clung to a final sliver of hope, watched Xisi actually intend to lead his troops to Terra to clash with the Terran.

Disheartened, Xiulun shut himself completely inside the palace.

As Xisi drew nearer, Xisi's original words spread for various reasons, and the pirates who once roamed raiding fell into a strange silence.

The once‑busy shipping lanes vanished, countless pirate ships docked on the Orbit, some without even starting their engines.

The pirates gathered everywhere, discussing the current situation.

Unlike the Chaos Rebel Army's simple disregard for the Empire, the pirates are wholly utilitarian.

The Chaos Rebel Army fights not only the Empire but also the Alien Form, and regards the Great Expedition as the pinnacle of its glory.

The pirates, however, base all actions on profit.

For profit, they won't even balk at cooperating with the Alien Form; if the price is right, they can even be hired by it!

Thus, with no emotional resistance, the pirates silently await Xiulun's final decision and proceed step by step…

Their own preparations.

Not all pirates are willing to abandon their current holdings to join Xisi on the Terra expedition.

Yet most pirates know that joining Xisi may not profit them, but instead cost a lot.

Not joining Xisi, as surrounding forces sneer, is not a question of profit at all.

Amid the Great Vortex's turbulence, at the core red pirate homeworld, Xiulun's loyalists are both terrified by the increasingly hostile gazes of other pirates and anxiously keep looking toward Xiulun's palace.

Then sighs echo around Xiulun's palace, constantly coming from the few remaining loyalists.

Until another wave of scouting pirates returned with news that Xisi was only two jumps from the Great Vortex's edge; the impatient pirates dispatched envoys to Xiulun's homeworld.

Though at this moment Xisi hadn't even reached the Great Vortex's edge, the War General of Xisi spoke clearly: when the War General actually arrives at the gate and sees people, everyone should get ready to clean their throats!

The loyalists, seeing more and more pirate envoys gathering, could only grit their teeth and forcefully ram open Xiulun's gate.

Why not knock?

Because the loyalists had already knocked the red out of countless hands before!

Inside the room, waiting for the loyalists, was not an enraged Xiulun but Xiulun himself, slumped in the palace darkness, expressionless, watching his former subordinates break in.

The loyalists' faces were awkward, even evasive, but more pirate envoys lifted their heads, looking at Xiulun with discontent.

If they cannot continue to bring profit to these pirates, who will keep following?

Yet before the pirate envoys pressed for answers, Xiulun, who had waited long, looked at his subordinates' final answer and finally rose.

Xiulun is waiting; he is waiting for his subordinates' final choice.

When his pirate subordinates chose to ram open his gate and stood before him with questioning looks, Xiulun knew everything was settled.

After all, the pirates below are all utilitarian…

Xiulun is no different, is he?!

Since the arm can't twist the thigh, I'll change the method; I won't twist it.

I give up!!!

Xiulun's helplessness and resignation lasted only a fleeting instant; when he stood again, a long‑absent feral grin appeared, and the pirates below who had wanted to question him instantly bowed their heads.

Xiulun then stared at these pirates eager to defect to Xisi, his gaze sweeping the crowd as if sizing up prey.

Then…

Xiulun raised the Explosive Gun, and before anyone could react, blasted a pirate envoy's head.

As always, the pirates were fierce, but before they could rage and kill Xiulun, he produced the decree personally penned by Xisi that he held before him.

The pirates aren't afraid of Xiulun, but when Xisi's decree is held up, they instantly halt.

Then Xiulun, still grinning, stepped out of the shadows, bathing again in light.

"Lord Sisi, it's me!"

"Take you all out."

"Now, you can certainly kill me, but whoever kills me should go explain to Lord Sisi themselves."

"Why would a pirate lord appointed by him be killed by someone other than Lord Sisi!"

What is a dog relying on its master's power?

What is a fox borrowing a tiger's authority?

One moment Xiulun was ostracized, the next he dared, without hesitation, raise his hand and fire, killing his disobedient subordinates.

And all his confidence stemmed from a decree that even Xisi likely hadn't anticipated.

Because once this decree was issued, regardless of Xisi's plans, at least before Xisi formally objects, Xiulun is the nominal commander of the pirate forces within Xisi's legion.

He is also, after Fanluosi of the Empire and Bai'er of Chaos, one of Xisi's three closest lieutenants commanding the pirates.

With this status, throughout the galaxy, unless one aligns with Xisi's relentless forces, who could dare kill Xiulun? Who would dare?

The pirates below understood this; watching Xiulun hold Xisi's decree before him, they clenched their teeth for a long while, then forced themselves to slowly bow and retreat.

Then, as Xiulun kept pulling the trigger, they endured Xiulun, under Xisi's name, slaying these dissenters!

Fortunately, Xiulun knows his limits; although he could, under Xisi's name, kill all these pirates.

But the more he kills, Xisi might turn a blind eye to some.

Yet if he kills too many, even if Xisi doesn't punish him, any lingering resentment would greatly hinder Xiulun's future following of Xisi.

So killing just enough, Xiulun sheathed the Explosive Gun.

This scene was witnessed by other pirates equally versed in the matter, who then joked that Xiulun, the old fellow, truly lives up to the utilitarian pirate leader.

His front foot still hesitated, while his back foot already began pondering his future standing in Xisi's eyes!

Then, under the survivors' jokes and the loyalists' rekindled gazes, Xiulun finally looked up at the towering Four Gods beyond his palace, and after a moment, lowered his head again, his eyes fully resolute.

He waves, raising his ferocious Power Claw, facing the pirate ships watching from the Orbit, facing the boundless pirate army beneath his feet.

Xiulun's soaring voice echoed throughout the world:

"All Red Pirates, obey."

"I, Xiulun, in the capacity of the Third Vanguard of the Xisi Legion, formally issue the mobilization."

"Every ship in the Great Vortex! Every person! Every round of ammunition!"

"All must unconditionally begin assembling immediately."

"Three days later, I will be here before Lord Sisi arrives at the Great Vortex."

"The Red Pirates army, in the utmost respectful manner, will welcome......"

"Pirate Lord!"