Starting as a Mechanical Hunter

Chapter 919: Chapter 25: The Plan Ahead (Part 2)

The star system in the cosmos belongs to the fourth level celestial system.

For instance, the renowned Galaxy is a kind of star system, categorized as a barred galaxy.

The Robert Star System, where Gao Gong resides, is a spiral galaxy composed of circles of Stellar Vortexes. According to Vervi, there are 125 circles of Stellar Vortexes, of which 45 have been detected, while the rest are yet to be explored. Each Stellar Vortex is an irregular ellipse with diameters ranging from tens of thousands of light years to several thousand light years, sequentially numbered from the First Stellar Vortex to the 125th Stellar Vortex.

Furthermore, every ten Stellar Vortexes are grouped into the same Star Zone, meaning the entire Robert Star System consists of twelve and a half Star Zones.

The Holt Inner Star Spin where Gao Gong is located should actually be called the Second Stellar Vortex.

And the black market he plans to visit is part of the Fourth Stellar Vortex.

Both belong to the First Star Zone.

Traveling from the Second Stellar Vortex to the Fourth Stellar Vortex involves piercing from one cross-section to another, covering approximately 300 light years.

At the speed of a light-speed spaceship, this means traveling for 300 years.

However, in reality, it won’t take that much time.

There is a type of interstellar construction called the ’Interstellar Space Station’.

The role of an ’Interstellar Space Station’ is similar to a service station on a highway.

With the assistance of an ’Interstellar Space Station’, spaceships can enter a warp speed state, also known as ’superluminal travel’.

Superluminal is twenty thousand times the speed of light, enabling the 300-year journey to be compressed into just a few tens of days.

Yet, it’s precisely because of the space station’s role that areas near space stations are frequented by Star Thieves, such as the small Star Thief Group where Vervi is, which loiters around several interstellar space stations in the Second Stellar Vortex, only to fall prey to the entrapment enforcement of the more flamboyant Gao Gong.

He believed he shouldn’t be the only one unfortunate.

Thus, he reached out to several of his peers.

On Vervi’s Star Thief Ship, four projections illuminated.

Two of these projections were humanoid creatures, one was a robot, and the other was a plant-based life form.

These four projections represented peers loitering in the Second Stellar Vortex, namely the Walter Star Thief Group, Lester Star Thief Group, Independent Traitor, and Co-prosperity Seeker.

”Vervi, are you sure there are fat sheep near the Atlantean System? That place isn’t somewhere typical folks can approach.” The Walter Star Thief Leader said in a deep voice.

”Rest assured, I’ve confirmed it. That advanced civilization’s Mechanical Army has retreated, and now the enterprise influence of the Mechanical Split Star is eagerly seeking to break out from the planet. They have substantial planetary resources. I guarantee with my personality that if we score this job, we won’t be worried about resources for at least 100 interstellar years.”

Vervi spoke with an earnest expression.

”If it’s so good, why involve us?” Lester Star Thief Group leader questioned.

”Cyber Test Field is just one planet, but its internal technology has reached Level 2 Civilization level. Its fleet is beyond my capability to handle,”

Vervi candidly stated:

”Think carefully, gentlemen. Even a trace from an advanced civilization is enough for us to be overwhelmed. The opportunity comes only once. Miss it, and when this planet’s influence connects and collaborates with external civilizations, we’ll never have a chance!”

Upon Vervi’s statement, the two humanoid leaders immediately showed expressions of being moved, especially the Lester Star Thief Group leader, whose red skin seemed to smoke, a sign of his intense emotions.

”Modified Human... Heresy... Exterminate,” the electronic voice of the robot leader sounded.

The last plant-type Star Thief leader showed no expression. Its vines were covered with black thorns, and inside its ten-meter-high body seemed trapped several humanoid lives. As the vines curled in, the screams of the humanoid lives grew weaker.

The Walter Star Thief Group leader finally made up his mind.

”I’ll confirm whether the advanced civilization has really retreated from the planet. If it’s true, we’ll make a big score!”

”...Let’s use the blood of the interstellar prey to bathe our Light Saber and Light Cannon!”

Vervi concluded his speech with a flushed face and neck, then turned off the projection screen, instantly gathering his aura and ducking over to the projection’s opposite side, grinning ingratiatingly.

”General, how did I perform?”

”Not bad, though the expression was a bit exaggerated. Remember to tone it down next time,” Gao Gong nodded.

”Okay, no problem.”

Being a Star Thief Leader turned traitorous, Vervi naturally didn’t mind betraying his comrades to satisfy his new boss’s preferences.

These four Star Thief Groups are of similar size to the Vervi Star Thief Gang and their strength is comparable. Their intensity is just right as the player’s next phase opponent.

For Gao Gong, in the interstellar society, nothing raises the civilization’s goodwill better than striking against Star Thief Groups.

During the inspection of other Cyber Test Fields, becoming a widely recognized force of justice as an Interstellar Mercenary Corps is Gao Gong’s short-term goal.

”Are you sure they will come?” Gao Gong worriedly asked.

”They’ll surely come!” Vervi replied confidently. ”Lester is a fool who only knows robbing and killing. That band of robot drifters was defeated by the semi-mechanical legion, and hatred for modified humans is embedded in their core agreements. As for that Tree Demon Spirit, due to engaging in species massacres across different planets, it is highly wanted by three civilizations. Nothing attracts it more than abundant flesh.”

”What about Walter?” Gao Gong asked.

According to Vervi, the Walter Star Thief Group, among the four forces, is the strongest and has barely touched the edge of intermediate Star Thief influence.

The biggest hallmark of transitioning from small Star Thief influences to intermediate ones is occupying a resource planet.

According to Vervi, this resource planet was taken from a Level 2 Civilization.

This kind of Star Thief influence, known as ’King of Astrology’, can no longer be simply called bandits; they should be termed ’Outer Space Liangshan Heroes’.

Handling Star Thieves of this level, players likely cannot achieve alone, requiring the presence of Mecha Teams and Spark Mechanisms.

”He will come. According to my information, Walter plans to create a spaceport recently and turn the planet he controls into a burgeoning black market. He desperately needs funds.”

”Hmm.”

Assured, Gao Gong switched topics.

”Any moves from the civilization influences in the First Star Zone?”

”Well—”

On this matter, Vervi’s information wasn’t very reliable. He was familiar with smuggling routes, Star Thief influences, and black market locations in various places, but had no insight into internal civilization dynamics.

Especially since Gao Gong’s inquiry involved high-level matters, and heaven forbid, as a Star Thief Leader listed on many civilization blacklists, he hadn’t even entered a civilized planet before, so how could he know internal affairs?

”The Mirta Federation has reportedly found several resource planets, the Galen Republic has a new president, the Void Dwellers are sending exploration teams to unknown Stellar Vortexes again...”

Vervi pondered intensely to relay the civilization updates he knew.

Gao Gong shook his head, realizing reliance on this information was futile.

In the Robert Star System, there is no Level 3 Civilization, primarily due to the Level 7 Civilization, Cyber Test Field.

Level 3 Civilizations can already interfere with evolution experiments.

Hence, even if sufficient civilization accumulation is achieved, there’s no point in challenging the norm.

Nonetheless, the Level 7 Civilization’s Mechanical Army has left.

This also means some sufficiently accumulated civilizations are starting to evolve into the next phase.

The opportunities and benefits during this process are immense.

Level 1 Civilization is a Planet Civilization, Level 2 Civilization is a Planet System Civilization, and Level 3 Civilization is a Star Zone Level Civilization.

If Level 1 to Level 2 is marked by progress in aerospace technology, then the difference between Level 2 to Level 3 is planetary development and interstellar migration.

Ascending to Level 3 Civilization results in a massive expansion of its ruling domain!

Expansion by a hundred times is not an exaggeration.

During this phase, interstellar wars, resource contests, and civilization conflicts are most frequent.

While Star Thieves like Vervi still consider hijacking civilian ships, making small gains from intimidation and extortion, Gao Gong is contemplating taking a slice of the interstellar grand development surge.