Volume 6: Stealing Is Robbing - Chapter 8: The Floating Cloud Wonderland (Part 1)

Back on the ship, Kuang Chi and Jinger remained silent for a long time, unable to find the words to express their thoughts. Duke Yelo, meanwhile, had left the auction house and wandered off to some lonely corner to brood, his face a mask of despondency.

The final hammer prices for the last two items were truly demoralizing. This was especially true for someone like Duke Yelo, who had previously felt relatively content, believing that his family’s only shortcoming was a lack of high-level experts. When those final figures were announced, he finally understood the true meaning of the gap in power and wealth.

Upon returning to the ship, Jinger had retreated to her private cabin as if she had lost her soul. Kuang Chi, equally dazed, had submerged himself beneath the ant blood in his bathing pool.

According to Duke Yelo, the total price for those two items could have purchased ten life-bearing planets or funded the creation of an entire interstellar legion. In Jinger’s words, "Where did they get that kind of money? That’s equivalent to the total tax revenue of the entire Piaofeng Empire for two whole years."

The next day, Jinger, looking resolute, called Kuang Chi up from the depths of the pool.

As Kuang Chi surfaced, Jinger demanded, "Fatty, tell me, where do you think they get their money?"

Hearing this, Kuang Chi nearly slipped back into the water. "You asked me that yesterday," he snapped, exasperated. "How would I know where their money comes from? Who am I supposed to ask?"

Jinger hummed, then continued, "Get up! We’re going to ask my uncle. He must investigate where they get their funds."

After searching for half the day and mobilizing countless people, they finally found Duke Yelo in a building, looking as though he had only just woken up.

After listening to Jinger’s question, Duke Yelo replied with a hint of bitterness in his voice, "How can you still not understand? It took me only three hours after returning to realize where their money comes from."

Jinger’s eyes widened, and just as she was about to speak, the Duke interrupted, "Tell me, who do you think handed those items over to the underground auction house?"

Jinger pondered this for a moment before asking, "Uncle, are you saying that those items were actually provided by the very families who were bidding on them?"

Duke Yelo shot her a sharp look. "Of course. Their money simply moves from one hand to another, and before long, it circulates to someone else. For these ancient families, money is merely a tool to trade for what they need. If they require a specific item, they take a piece from their own collection, sell it for cash, and then use that cash to acquire the object they desire."

He paused, let out a long sigh, and added, "No matter how you look at it, you must have experts. If you have experts, you can obtain more treasures."

Jinger suddenly looked at Kuang Chi and asked the Duke, "Uncle, that doesn't seem right. By that logic, the wealthiest sect or family should at least include the Kuang family. Why did you say last time that they were the poorest?"

Duke Yelo looked at Kuang Chi, and seeing the look of curiosity on his face, he continued, "How should I put this? If I may speak plainly, Young Master Kuang, to us, your family members are monsters. While you have many experts, your family has a bizarre tradition that we find completely baffling: any Kuang family member who reaches the level of Martial Master must leave the family’s management. Even worse, the family is still required to provide for all the needs of these Martial Masters who have left your control."

He looked at the bewildered Kuang Chi before going on, "It feels as if the ancestor who established this rule did so intentionally to hinder your family’s development. With your high number of Martial Masters, your large family size, and your abundance of experts, your family is like a machine that cannot move—stuck in place, or in many aspects, constantly regressing. This forces every successive head of the family to scramble and exhaust themselves just to cover the family's expenses, robbing Peter to pay Paul."

At this point, Duke Yelo smiled apologetically at Kuang Chi. "I am only stating the facts; please don't take offense if it sounds harsh."

Kuang Chi smiled and replied, "Duke, why would I be offended? If you hadn't told me, I truly wouldn't have known. Even though I am the heir, I was never aware of these circumstances, and no one has ever mentioned these things to me."

Just as Jinger was about to speak, the Duke’s personal communicator rang. He stepped aside to take the call and, upon returning, said to Jinger, "Jinger, your father the Emperor has ordered you to return to the palace immediately."

Jinger froze, glanced at Kuang Chi, and said, "Uncle, you aren't tricking me, are you? I haven't received any order from my father to return."

Duke Yelo shook his head. "I don't know the details, but I am certain the order came directly from the Emperor. Don't argue; your father wouldn't have you return so urgently unless there was a reason. Prepare yourself; I’ll go arrange a ship for your return to the palace."

Jinger refused, stating firmly, "No, I want to take the Ghost Pirate Ship back."

Kuang Chi was stunned. After a long silence, he said, "That’s impossible. Much of the ship's equipment hasn't been brought back yet, and we haven't even had the chance to deliver those two sets of shipboard AI to Forgotten Star."

Jinger thought for a moment, then looked at Duke Yelo before turning to Kuang Chi and acting coquettishly. "Fatty, don't you think it’s strange that I was attacked? The escort ships around me suddenly self-destructed. If you let me go back like this, aren't you worried about my safety? Do you really think those who plotted against me will just stop and let me go?"

Hearing this, both Kuang Chi and Duke Yelo frowned. The Duke looked at Kuang Chi and then said to Jinger, "Jinger, your father has already arranged a fleet of seven space warships at the border. They will escort you back to the palace."

Jinger glared at the Duke, then turned back to Kuang Chi with a pitiful expression. "Fatty, the last time I was escorted, it was by our Imperial Fleet. If they could betray the Empire and plot against me, how can I trust anyone from other legions?"

Seeing her attitude, Kuang Chi realized she was determined to drag him along to Piaofeng Star. However, he was genuinely worried about her safety; his heart was not made of iron.

Without a second thought, Kuang Chi nodded. "Fine. We will depart immediately. We'll drop off the supplies for Forgotten Star first. Duke Yelo, please urge the suppliers to speed up the delivery of the equipment. Once we return from Forgotten Star and install the equipment, we will head straight for Piaofeng Star."

Duke Yelo looked at the beaming Jinger and agreed it was a decent plan, though he asked with some difficulty, "What about the fleet arranged to escort Jinger back?"

Kuang Chi looked at Jinger and smiled. "Leave them where they are. It will attract the attention of those who want to harm Jinger, while we return to Piaofeng Star secretly on the Ghost Pirate Ship."

Jinger nodded happily, leaning toward Kuang Chi affectionately. "Fatty, you’re so smart! That’s a great idea." She looked like a sweet, devoted wife.

Soon after, Kuang Chi and Jinger set sail, piloting the Ghost Pirate Ship—now equipped with most of its gear—back to Forgotten Star.

The city lords and the three major factions on Forgotten Star, who had been waiting anxiously, clearly did not expect Kuang Chi to return so soon. The hundreds of people waiting in Nostalgia City rushed to the surface, staring in silence as Kuang Chi and the others slowly emerged from the hatch of the Ghost Pirate Ship at the makeshift spaceport.

When they reached the crowd, City Lord Siqing of Nostalgia City asked with a look of disappointment, "Young Master Kuang, did you fail to find the wormhole?"

Kuang Chi and his group were taken aback, and Jinger burst into laughter. She grabbed Siqing’s arm and said, "Who said we didn't find it? We’ve been on Qingye Star for quite a while!"

The disappointed crowd erupted into cheers of joy.

As the supplies purchased from Qingye Star were slowly unloaded by the experts of Tyrannosaurus Peak under the direction of Ah San and the others, the makeshift spaceport was filled with further jubilation.

Jinger pulled City Lord Siqing aside to discuss something. Given her recent obsession with money and her expression, Kuang Chi could roughly guess the content of their conversation.

Before long, Old Tuo approached, accompanied by Anna, who was trembling with excitement, her face streaked with tears.

Kuang Chi ignored Jinger’s strange expression and pulled the weeping Anna into his arms. The people around them looked back and forth between Jinger and the pair, creating a very awkward scene.

Finally, Kuang Chi turned to everyone and said, "Now I can take Anna with me, right?"

The people around them nodded repeatedly, apologizing.

The Great Elders of the three factions emerged, and after the initial pleasantries, Kuang Chi turned to the Great Elder of Tyrannosaurus Peak. "Great Elder, how many people does Tyrannosaurus Peak have here now?"

The Great Elder was stunned for a moment before replying, "Less than three hundred. Does the Young Master lack personnel?"

Suddenly, another wave of exclamations broke out as Ah San and his group showed off their "Divine Martial Beasts." All eyes were drawn to the winged bears.

The three Great Elders quickly regained their composure. The Great Elder of Tyrannosaurus Peak looked at the other two elders before asking Kuang Chi, "How many more men does the Young Master need?"

Kuang Chi had already calculated the number. "The ship is short 536 people for a full crew. I need 536 experts."

The three Great Elders gasped. The Great Elder of Tyrannosaurus Peak pondered for a moment. "Young Master, the entire Kuang family lineage on Tyrannosaurus Peak doesn't even total a thousand people. You can't take all the experts from the peak." He glanced at the other two elders as he spoke.

The Great Elder of Qingyan Pavilion then smiled, as if they had discussed this beforehand. "Young Master Kuang, how about this? We and the Magic Valley still have some capable members. If you don't mind, we two factions can pool together two or three hundred people for you to take. What do you think?"

Kuang Chi looked at the three of them. He thought for a long time before saying, "What is the meaning of this? Explain yourselves. Also, I never said I only wanted Kuang family members. Doesn't the Nianzhu Peak of Tyrannosaurus Peak have experts? As long as they are obedient, I want them too."

The Great Elder of Tyrannosaurus Peak laughed dryly. "Young Master, it’s like this: Magic Valley and Qingyan Pavilion have no confidence in being recognized by the Magic Sect and the Sword Sect. Even if they were acknowledged as branches, it would be uncomfortable for them. After all, they are different from us—we are family, while they..."

He trailed off.

Kuang Chi understood. He had considered this issue himself. Tyrannosaurus Peak had blood ties, which made their relationship different. The other two factions originated from sects, and gaining recognition from two ancient and traditional sects was indeed difficult.

Kuang Chi then asked, "What is your intention, then?"

The Great Elder of Magic Valley suddenly spoke up. "Our Valley Master has said that from now on, the entire Magic Valley will follow your lead, Young Master."

The Great Elder of Qingyan Pavilion added, "Our Pavilion Master shares the same sentiment. From now on, in external affairs, you, Young Master, represent our Forgotten Star."

Kuang Chi rubbed his chin, pondered for a while, and then looked at the Great Elder of Tyrannosaurus Peak.

The Great Elder quickly said, "Young Master, we on Forgotten Star intend to establish a joint government. From today on, Forgotten Star is a unified whole."

Kuang Chi asked, puzzled, "You're not immigrating anymore?"

"Immigration is still the plan," the Great Elder replied quickly. "But the people of Forgotten Star cannot simply abandon this place; it is our root. Besides, many people don't want to leave or relocate; they only want to go out and see the world."

The Great Elder of Qingyan Pavilion suddenly added, "Young Master Kuang, do you also intend to abandon Forgotten Star? Although it is very poor, according to what our exiles have said, the value of this planet is absolutely immeasurable."