Chapter 417

Wang Yu first heard of the Kleri from a white-robed elder in the game "Star River," who taught Star Mind Force.

When he first saw the white-robed elder, the man explained that Star Mind Art, also called Heart Energy Art, was a martial cultivation method developed over thirty years by the Blue Star Alliance government, based on the Kleri Empire's royal Xinlingmishu, and exclusively for mech pilots.

At the time, he deduced that the Kleri were most likely not from Blue Star—how could humans possibly create such an astonishing spiritual art in such a short time?

Now, upon hearing the black-haired boy's self-introduction, he blurted out, "Alien."

"Alien? By your Blue Star definition, that's not inaccurate."

"But in truth, our Empire has no concept of planets—we divide regions by crystal walls. And in a certain sense, the Kleri and your Blue Star people share the same origin of life, merely evolving into different races due to environmental differences." The black-haired boy spoke words that sent shockwaves through Wang Yu.

"Crystal walls? Shared origin? Could Lord Baron please elaborate?" Wang Yu murmured twice, then, as if recalling something, asked with deep eyes.

"I'm truly sorry, but though you are a Four-Star Mind Force Master, as a special envoy, I am forbidden from revealing too much to anyone not recognized by our fleet as a Blue Star native."

"The only thing I can tell you is that the Kleri are not enemies of Blue Star, and my arrival here was at the invitation of your Blue Star leader."

"Invited? The Blue Star leader?" Wang Yu paused, stunned.

Had the Blue Star elite long known of the Kleri's existence? And who exactly was this "Blue Star leader"? A current major nation's ruler? Or a high-ranking official in the future "Blue Star Alliance"?

"I've already revealed much. I cannot say more. But with your status as a Four-Star Mind Force Master, you will surely have opportunities to learn of the Kleri in time. I hope you will become our friend." As he finished, the black-haired boy raised his wrist—the large yellow gem on his ring suddenly emitted a beam of yellow light, striking the black metal puppet beside him.

A startling sight appeared.

The two-meter-tall puppet shrank rapidly upon contact with the yellow light, shrinking to a speck the size of a melon seed, then pulled upward by the beam and swallowed whole into the yellow gem on the boy's ring.

Wang Yu's expression flickered, but he made no move to interfere.

The Kleri Empire, it seemed, also possessed space storage technology akin to the cultivation world's storage bags.

The black-haired boy lightly shook his ring and smiled on.

"To cultivate a Four-Star Mind Force Master in such a short time reveals Blue Star's potential. It gives me some confidence that you will survive this calamity. Next time we meet, I hope we are true friends."

"I hope so," Wang Yu replied coolly.

"Kelly, come. When we return, you'll meditate for a year—no leaving your quarters." The black-haired boy ordered the man beside him.

"Yes, Grandfather, but the stolen Jenny Magic Ring hasn't been recovered. It was a gift from Master Doug—if it's gone, I won't dare face him again." The silver-haired woman whispered to the black-haired boy.

"You lost the Jenny Magic Ring?" The black-haired boy frowned, his gaze shifting to the silver ring on Wang Yu's hand.

Wang Yu's eyes flickered—this ring on his hand seemed to have a deeper origin.

"Sir, this ring on your hand was a birthday gift from a friend of mine to Kelly, but she lost it accidentally on Blue Star. Though it holds little material value, it carries great meaning. I'm willing to trade it for a magic stone much larger than the one on it." The black-haired boy spoke gently, touched his ring, and a ripple passed—his palm now held a black crystal the size of an egg.

Wang Yu's heart jolted at the sight of such a large crystal. After a flurry of thoughts, he spoke calmly.

"Agreed. But I must first examine this magic stone, and I hope Lord Baron can answer two small questions about it."

"If it's about the magic stone, I can answer." The black-haired boy hesitated slightly, then agreed, flicking his wrist and tossing the black crystal toward Wang Yu.

Wang Yu raised his hand, summoning a wave of mind force that drew the crystal firmly into his palm. After infusing a trace of cultivation energy, he confirmed it was identical to the black crystal on the ring.

So the reason he wanted to trade wasn't the magic stone on the ring—but the ring itself.

As Wang Yu pondered this, silver light curled across his brow—the black crystal vanished from his hand.

To trade the tiny magic stone on his ring for one this large? He was more than willing.

The black-haired boy watched this, a flicker of unusual expression crossing his face.

"Lord Baron, my first question: what kind of energy is inside this magic stone? I found the same substance inside your black knight puppet earlier."

"The energy within is magic power. Simply put, think of it as a high-purity energy source—like your Blue Star's oil or electricity—but purer and more singular. It's also essential for daily Kleri cultivation. Your black knight puppet was powered by magic stones."

"I see. Then my second question: how can I drain the magic power from it?"

"Drain the magic stone?"

For the first time, the black-haired boy showed surprise. After a moment's thought, he replied.

"We Kleri have two methods. One: find someone with magic power to directly absorb it, or use a magic-powered machine to consume it."

"Two: expose the magic stone to sunlight for a long time, allowing the magic power to slowly dissipate."

"The first works immediately; the second takes much longer and risks magic contamination."

"Magic contamination?" Wang Yu frowned.

"Magic contamination is an unpredictable mutation. In our Empire, it often causes plants and animals to mutate, renders land infertile, and induces trace radiation in rivers. But on Blue Star, such contamination would be far milder—perhaps negligible."

"Oh? Why is that?" Wang Yu asked, still thinking.

"I'm sorry—I cannot answer that. But I've answered your two questions. Now, will you give me the ring?"

Wang Yu hesitated only briefly, then flicked his wrist and tossed the silver ring toward him.

The black-haired boy caught it with a single hand, drawing it in with mind force, bowed slightly to Wang Yu, then turned and walked out the door with Kelly.

"Rest assured, sir—I will temporarily erase the memories of everyone nearby. You need only leave alone. The rest will be handled by Kelly's puppet." As Wang Yu stared at the door, lost in thought, the black-haired boy's voice echoed again in his ear.

"Puppet"

Wang Yu's eyes snapped wide—he stared at the fat man who had sat motionless in his chair since the black-haired boy arrived.