Chapter 63: Business Is Always Business

The place where Xisi fell.

Kailuo's caravan crew is continuously clearing the mountain‑piled Subspace Ash.

On the other side of the crowd, Kailuo, trembling with excitement, even his speech a little halting, holds a Communicator and contacts the merchant warship:

"What do you mean 'selected some'?"

"At a time like this, why is all you can think of business?"

"Pack the warehouse!"

"Right! Pack everything! I said!"

He lowers the Communicator with a trembling, shaky motion, and only after that does his gaze relax a little.

But facing the Subspace Ash behind him that he has seen many times, Kailuo can't help glancing at it again.

As the only person present who knows what these ashes truly mean, Kailuo simply cannot imagine the story behind them.

Kailuo can only stare at the ash that is being cleared, its last traces gradually erased from the ground, and his eyes become excited again.

Seeing his teacher so excited that he loses composure, the apprentice serves while unable to hide his doubt.

Staring at the ash that is about to vanish completely, the apprentice musters the courage to interrupt Kailuo's constant muttering of "getting rich".

"Teacher, since this... thing is so valuable, why do we still have to clear it away?"

The apprentice is cautious, while Kailuo shows obvious displeasure, somewhat blaming the apprentice he chose.

But the other truly doesn't know what the ash means, so Kailuo can only suppress his displeasure and skirt the issue:

"Nonsense—if everyone could come here for a look, how could I sell this information for money?!"

The apprentice doesn't ask about the ash's information, but knows Kailuo doesn't want to speak; asking again would waste words, so he honestly retreats.

At the same time, looking toward the distant Nest City, his gaze turns inward as he ponders any information related to Oumia No. 3.

Previously he treated it as a world that could be swallowed by Terra at any moment, so the apprentice didn't pay much attention.

But not only Fami'er was mentally blown up; even his own teacher was shocked by a bunch of strange grains and trembled for half a day, so the apprentice had to take it seriously.

And quickly, with his memory, it truly reminded him of something.

He hurriedly looks up, the apprentice with a hint of self‑praise:

"Teacher, I remember—could Oumia No. 3 be the world we previously sought a navigator from?"

Kailuo, still trembling with excitement, was startled by the words, withdrew his gaze from the completely cleared ash in the distance, and looked at the apprentice in bewilderment.

Then, as a Merchant Ronin, he quickly links the navigator, warship, Subspace prophecy, ash and other data, and a more terrifying piece of information begins to emerge!

Unlike Fami'er, whose heart ached to the point of breathlessness, Kailuo at this moment is utterly disbelief‑struck, unable to breathe.

After all, while the galaxy‑wide prophecy has everyone racking their brains to locate the prophesied hero, in an uncared‑for corner, his ordinary "business activity" actually encountered the main target???

Such a surprise, comparable to being struck on the forehead by a ton of throne coins, leaves even the world‑wise Kailuo utterly stupefied.

The apprentice, who thought he had merely identified a target client's need, did not expect his teacher, upon learning the news, not to be pleased but to become even more excited.

This time, instead of the protective numbness after extreme emotional swings, he completely forgets even to breathe.

Until his complexion turns ashen from holding his breath and his body begins to send distress signals, Kailuo finally, like a drowning person surfacing, gasps a sharp breath of cold air.

He finally, with difficulty, regains his gaze; Kailuo suppresses his mind, does not immediately contemplate the next steps, but gets up himself to reconfirm that all traces of the information have been completely erased.

Realizing that now only he can sell this information across the galaxy, he sits back down.

He waves his hand to have his attendants keep their distance, granting himself enough privacy and quiet; Kailuo inhales deeply again, even closes his eyes to steady his mind, then reopens them.

"Right, Oumia No. 3 needs a navigator."

The apprentice, prompted by the confirmation, looks up with doubt, because he is sure there are no ships on the orbit besides his own.

"No ship, what navigator for?"

"If there were, without a navigator, how could the ship Leap?"

"It can't be that everyone on the ship died; the Divine Emperor must have sent them here personally, right?"

The apprentice is puzzled and offers his perspective, but Kailuo ignores his apprentice's behavior entirely, merely pondering, and even when the apprentice drags on for half a day, Kailuo reaches out in displeasure to cut him off.

The apprentice quickly shuts his mouth, daring not to speak further, while Kailuo continues to think for a while before finally looking up again.

Ignoring the apprentice, Kailuo turns to the transport ship, first picks up the Communicator that connects to his merchant ship, but after a thought, he puts it down again.

Then, as if muttering to himself or questioning the apprentice, Kailuo, still deep in thought, speaks:

"I recall that over at the Judgment Court, Lord Fanluosi is assembling a task force preparing to delve into Oukta Rius?"

Although he doesn't look at him, the apprentice quickly nods in agreement.

Whether Kailuo saw the apprentice's response is unclear; after finishing his mutter, Kailuo thinks for a moment and silently puts the Communicator down.

"Then the navigator can't be sent, at least not now."

The apprentice doesn't know what Kailuo is thinking, why Xisi clearly needs it, yet he won't send it, and not even for now.

Kailuo's eyes dart around as his mind races to figure out how to maximize his own benefit, and after a long while he finally looks up again.

Without retrieving the Communicator for his warship, Kailuo mutters "what's missing" while picking up another Alien Form Communicator marked entirely black.

After opening the communicator, his gaze finally brightens gradually.

Seeing his teacher actually pick up that communicator, the apprentice's face shows even greater respect, though the respect is directed not at the teacher himself but at the communicator in his hand.

Precisely, it's the person on the other end of the communicator who is about to answer the call.

As the signal passes through a series of Super‑Urgent Star Language Court relays, it reaches a bustling world in the distant Empire core, the "Solar Star Region".

Luxurious, sleek buildings cover the globe; there is no crowded Nest City nor poisonous clouds overhead, and under a gentle breeze the atmosphere is clear. In a top‑floor room of the world, a communicator rings.

A black glove of ancient silk, gilded and engraved, lifts the receiver, while the left hand casually taps a long pine table cultivated by Terra.

A steady male voice sounds continuously:

"Um, um, good, continue..."

"You have done well; the family will not forget your contribution."

"Besides, regarding your proposal......"

"I think we can start with a destroyer, then add four light escort ships and a...... cruiser."

"As for this Xisi, since our Falomoer Family is going to invest......"

"We must invest the maximum!"