Space Odyssey from Abandoned Mining Space Station

Li Weiqi received some information from his subordinates that could be found in the government’s archives and began to read it to Liang Fei.

”An Wuping, a Bounty Hunter who recently appeared in the Edge Star Realm.”

”He used to be a security guard at a security company and disappeared during a mission a few years ago, only to reappear recently.”

”Upon his return, he already had the achievements of defeating two Pirate Fleets, all acquired solo, although the rumors seem to say he relied on an outdated military Power Armor.”

Liang Fei confirmed, ”Military?”

”Yes, a military model, Flying Locust Power Armor. However, the model is somewhat outdated, and he indeed has a military background.”

Liang Fei nodded and said, ”Be more detailed.”

”Alright, let me start from the beginning.”

”An Wuping was born in the Oga Star Realm, specifically the Oga-2 Star Zone, adjacent to our Audan Star Realm.”

”Before the age of five, he had a happy family, but in his fifth year, his parents disappeared after being brainwashed by Zuo Jing, basically presumed dead.”

”At the age of five, he became an orphan and was sent to an orphanage by the local women’s and children’s protection organization.”

”Zuo Jing...”

Liang Fei mumbled instinctively, then gestured for Li Weiqi to continue.

”He lived in the orphanage until the age of sixteen, coinciding with the period when the Mechanical Race was active.”

”He originally couldn’t join the army because of his Zuo Jing background, but during that period, the recruitment standards were loosened, and because he had been estranged from his parents from an early age, he was included in the expanded list and successfully participated in the local mandatory military service, joining the army.”

”He served in the military for almost ten years before retiring. Presumably, he had served as a junior officer and, after retiring, joined a security company with some military background that operated under a militarized management style.”

”After working there for several years, he became the field team leader of the security company and was sent abroad.”

”He went to an independent colony on a Planet outside the Empire’s territory, and then, all the personnel, including him, disappeared.”

”No information can be found about this independent colony planet, and the intelligence before he disappeared ends here.”

Liang Fei rubbed the stubble on his chin, pondering, ”Independent colony, a name I haven’t heard in a long time.”

”So, what’s the point of these colonies benefiting from the Empire but not under its jurisdiction? They’re more troublesome than a Pirate Space Station. At least a Pirate Space Station can still be kept in check. These places are the best breeding grounds for rebellion and chaos.”

”No one dares to rebel,” Li Weiqi stated confidently. ”The development laws were set many years ago, and there are always loopholes. But the laws have been continuously amended over the years, and now the number of such independent colonies is indeed dwindling.”

”Yes, I understand. Continue speaking, from his disappearance to his reappearance period, the intelligence is untraceable. What about after that?”

Li Weiqi glanced at the terminal again, summarizing what his subordinates had investigated: ”The first time he reappeared was at a Pirate Space Station in the Oga Star Realm next door, where he captured a small Pirate Fleet.”

”According to the information those surviving pirates sold to local intelligence dealers, An Wuping was hiding in a hibernation pod, utilizing a distress signal to lure them over.”

”When they salvaged the hibernation pod, An Wuping, wearing Power Armor, launched a solo assault, killed the leader, seized the flagship, and took command. He singlehandedly commanded the flagship and forced the other ships to surrender.”

”I have no problem with him capturing a ship solo; the Power Armor is just a facade. He has the ability to directly destroy those Pirate Ships.”

”But being able to command a group of pirates he just captured to defeat another group of pirates, that’s what I don’t understand.”

Liang Fei didn’t share Li Weiqi’s view and said, ”Someone who served in the military for ten years and continued in related work for so many years afterward should have this capability.”

”And pirates are just a rabble, fools who serve whoever pays them more. Rebellion is as easy as pie when their lives are at stake.”

”You’ll understand once you witness it often enough.”

Li Weiqi lowered his head and continued talking about An Wuping’s subsequent actions.

”After taking the captured fleet to the nearest Pirate Space Station, he sold all the Pirate Ships and bought a heavily modified, single-pilot ship.”

”He left the Space Station with a significant number of pirate corpses, and soon another Pirate Fleet set its sights on him.”

”It was mainly for the pirate corpses on his ship, which could earn a bounty, and that suit of Power Armor.”

Liang Fei suddenly gestured for Li Weiqi to stop, saying, ”I’ve already guessed the outcome. Don’t mention the useless parts; focus on the important details.”

”Alright.”

Li Weiqi agreed and continued, ”After taking care of the pirates, An Wuping stayed on the Space Station for half a day, then returned directly to his hometown.”

”Hometown?”

”Yes, when An Wuping’s parents disappeared, they left behind property. When he entered the orphanage, the property left by his parents was also in his name. There were dedicated people in charge of handling it during his enlistment and discharge.”

”When he started working, An Wuping exchanged his old house for a new one, which he lived in until he disappeared. His residence was conveniently demolished during his absence over the years.”