Counterfeit Hero

As the radar operator reported, the ship-mounted long-distance optical observation device quickly locked onto the cargo ship that was thirty-six thousand kilometers away.

As the image on the virtual screen of the main control station gradually became clearer with the adjustment of the lens, Fatty, who had just come down from the repair mecha and returned to the main control room, was stunned.

This old, pale-blue cargo ship named ”Apollo” was all too familiar to Fatty. It was the smuggling ship loaded with destroyer engines that he had taken to Gazalin during his runaway days. It was also the first space ship that sparked his obsession with retrofitting.

Back then, Fatty had put in quite a bit of effort to retrofit this old cargo ship. The entire control system, power system, and defense system of the vessel were optimized, not to mention the reinforcement of the ship’s hull, enhancing its attack resistance and adapting it for higher speed navigation.

More importantly, there was a ”field” mark protruding from inside to outside on the lower side of the bow of the light blue ”Apollo” cargo ship. This was a mark Fatty had secretly engraved in a moment of whimsy. It was the main reason he recognized the ship at first glance.

Fatty was still bitter about the female ship captain Audrey, who had inherited the smuggling ship but couldn’t control the situation, and eventually needed his help to handle the crew: ”If Master Fatty hadn’t dodged quickly, that little girl firing blindly could have riddled Master Fatty with holes!”

On the virtual screen, the condition of ”Apollo” looked grim. The energy shield had been reduced to a thin layer of red, and the civilian titanium alloy kinetic resistant armor on the hull was severely damaged, with burn marks left by energy cannon residual energy breaking through the shield.

”Send a directional communication request,” Chekov ordered. He had to be cautious about the appearance of an obviously assaulted cargo ship in this desolate star domain. It might be backed by a pack of fierce hounds!

Point-to-point directional communication was quickly established. As the colorful lights in the communication image dissipated, Audrey’s holographic image appeared on the screen.

”I am Audrey Gro, the captain of the cargo ship ’Audrey.’ It is a pleasure to speak with you, esteemed captain. Seeing you here is a great relief,” Audrey, appearing mature and graceful on the virtual screen, said calmly and elegantly compared to Fatty’s previous impressions.

”What happened? Were you attacked?” Chekov asked cautiously.

”Yes, Captain,” Audrey nodded. ”Two high-speed raider ships from the Redbeard Pirate Group have been trailing our fleet from the Saleria Federation to here. They might cross the jump point in about ten minutes. Of course, for you and your warship, they are just paper tigers.”

”Redbeard Pirate Group?” Fatty exclaimed in surprise, instinctively asking, ”They shouldn’t be able to outrun your smuggling ship!”

Fatty recalled that the pirate group had tried to raid Audrey’s smuggling ship when he went to Gazalin last time, but he had managed to shake them off.

This ”Audrey” ship was equipped with engines from an ”Admiral Kalof”-class lightweight destroyer. Though old, its speed was faster than the ”Phoenix” destroyer, not to mention the pirates’ modified civilian speed boats.

Audrey froze for a moment when Fatty spoke.

On the surface, ”Audrey” appeared as an unimpressive and even dilapidated cargo ship. Few knew it engaged in smuggling, and even fewer knew about its remarkable speed.

Now, suddenly having someone from a Leray destroyer expose her identity and the biggest secret of the ”Audrey,” Audrey felt a moment of panic.

Carefully examining the communication screen, she recognized the Fatty standing next to the destroyer captain.

”Zhang Yuan... Fatty...” Audrey exclaimed excitedly, ”What are you doing here...”

Since Fatty captured James and became heavily publicized by the Federation, Audrey already knew the true identity of the Fatty who had boarded her smuggling ship to Gazalin. Since then, she had been following every piece of news related to Fatty from the Leray Federation.

Furthermore, when Milan also boarded Audrey’s smuggling ship to Gazalin through the same line, she learned from chatting with Milan that he knew Fatty, instantly becoming good friends with Milan and learning a lot about Fatty.

Grateful though for this somewhat lecherous and slightly rogue Fatty, Audrey always felt indebted to him. If it weren’t for Fatty, she might have become prey to Chef Eric or Deputy Captain Anthony, her father’s smuggling ship lost, and the old comrades who had followed her father for decades would have been destitute and scattered.

Thanks to Fatty’s retrofitting, the old ”Apollo” managed to thrive in the increasingly dangerous interstellar smuggling business, gaining more fame and recognition.

Audrey dared to take on goods others wouldn’t and navigate routes others feared, relying on the speed of ”Audrey.” She escaped numerous times right under the pirates’ noses. The crew of the smuggling ship enjoyed better income, becoming more united and obedient.