by <unknown>
While shocked, Depressed Prince felt flattered for some reason.
The next moment, the lightning in Han Xiao’s eyes flashed, and an electric shockwave exploded from his body.
Boom!
The energy shockwave slammed everyone into the wall.
Han Xiao controlled the damage so this shockwave was not powerful. Its main purpose was to force the players into Combat Status so that they could not log off any time they liked.
“I won’t give up!” Depressed Prince clenched his teeth, made up his mind, and drew a long silver alloy sword. He then stabbed toward Han Xiao’s throat.
The players were not afraid of death, so they dared to fight anyone. No matter how strong the opponent was, they would never stop resisting. In fact, Depressed Prince would rather get killed by Black Star. He would be able to revive somewhere else then and would not be captured. However, this mindset was transparent in front of Han Xiao, who knew how the players thought.
He casually pinched the sword with his fingers, easily splitting it in half. He then grabbed onto Depressed Prince’s head and slammed it onto the ground, giving him a Stunned debuff.
Han Xiao carefully controlled his strength, worried he might accidentally kill him. Although the players were much stronger than before, they were still as fragile as paper in front of him.
Han Xiao did not let the others go either. There was no need to use any machinery; he could easily beat these players into a pulp with his fists and legs. He took out an electromagnetic restraining chain and tied them all up. The dynasty spaceships then approached and seized the spaceship. The dynasty soldiers boarded and searched it.
A ton of mechanical items piled up like a mountain. Han Xiao checked through and found a few communicators infected with the virus. He looked at the truly depressed Depressed Prince and the others and slowly said, “You’re suspected of smuggling the Virtual Mutiny Virus, risking the public’s safety and the universe’s laws. You’re now under arrest. Anything you’d like to say?”.
“No, I’m sinful. People like me don’t deserve to live in this world. I plead for the death penalty!” Depressed Prince said with a righteous tone.
Han Xiao rolled his eyes secretly.
This time, he suddenly paused, smiled, and said, “Are you guys very curious about how the dynasty found out you accepted the hire and set up a trap here?”
The Western Sword guild’s people finally realized something. This was a hire from the black market and should have been very secretive. How did it get leaked?
“You have always been monitoring our communications?” Depressed Prince asked carefully.
“Nope.” Han Xiao shook his head.
“Then… someone betrayed us?”
“Not that.”
“What then?” Depressed Prince wondered.
Han Xiao smiled and looked at them. “That’s because… the dynasty is the entity that hired you.”
Like a streak of lightning, Depressed Prince and the others shivered. Their chins almost fell onto the ground, and their eyes opened so wide they were going to pop out. “What?” Depressed Prince almost jumped up. He could not believe it.
“Our anonymous employer is the three Universal Civilizations? Impossible! What reason do you have to do that?”
Han Xiao chuckled and casually lied.
“What do you think? The three Universal Civilizations knew all long there’d be people who ignore the big picture and try to hide and smuggle the virus. Therefore, the three Universal Civilizations also sent people to put up missions in the black market so that capturing those who took the hire is much easier. Do you really think that in such a crucial time like this, the three Universal Civilizations would just let the black market be?”
Depressed Prince was stunned. Complicated emotions such as frustration from being toyed with, rage from being tricked, and regret from falling for it rushed into his head. At this point of time, he just wanted to roar.
This was a conspiracy all along! Looking at how furious they were, Han Xiao smiled even more.
Of course, the employer of these players was not the three Universal Civilizations, but he deliberately said that so the players would get the wrong idea.
As long as these people made posts on the forums and spread it, the chaotic evil players would calm down. After all, no one could tell for sure whether the hire they received on the black market was real or the three Universal Civilizations’ trap.
Capturing these people would set an example and make things much easier.
In fact, the Great Mechanic Han was not lying just for that. He really wanted to do something similar.
However, in order to do that, he first had to control the black market. Otherwise, in order to protect their own name, the black market would definitely not cooperate with this plan.
All kinds of thoughts flashed past. Han Xiao took out the Spacetime Amber and smiled kindly at them.
“Since the evidence is sufficient… you guys can now start serving your sentences.”
Depressed Prince was instantly horrified and started struggling with everything he had.
“No, no, no… I beg you, please don’t use the Spacetime Amber. I beg for the death penalty. Please let me die! D-don’t!”
However, Depressed Prince’s struggle was useless. Watched by the rest, his expression was fixed, and he was locked in the Spacetime Amber.
Using the same method, Han Xiao sealed all of the Western Sword guild members who were begging to die, wiping out the entire guild.
That’ll do. More than enough to intimidate the other players.
He had already tested the effects of the Spacetime Amber on the players. Of course, the players’ consciousness would still be able to log in and out, but their body would not disappear like usual. Instead, it would be sealed inside the Spacetime Amber. This meant that they could not change the location to log in to, and no matter how many times the players logged in and out, they would only ever return to their body that was sealed inside the Spacetime Amber.
This meant that as long as they were sealed by the Spacetime Amber, the players could not use their own specialties to escape by logging in and out. It would be like their accounts were frozen due to them using cheats; they would never be able to escape.
One reason these players were still confident despite knowing the consequences of being captured was that they could revive somewhere else after dying, so the chance of them getting captured was very low. The other reason was they all thought they would be lucky enough, till disaster really arrived.
Han Xiao was not surprised about this. Just like some people who still used cheats despite knowing their accounts would be banned, they basically asked for it.
He did not plan to release the Western Sword guild easily. This was how he wanted to intimidate the other players. He wanted to show the others that their account could effectively be banned, so he could ease the tilted mindset of the players on the forums. This was like applying insecticide to his leek field so that his good leeks would not be spoiled.
He was not worried about these players making posts on the forums. After all, what else could they do?
Furthermore, given the characteristics of the players, these people would most likely take revenge. As long as they believed what they said, the only way they could take revenge would be to expose the so-called conspiracy and mess with the three Universal Civilizations’ plan.
The situation was all within his control.
Han Xiao shook his head and smiled. He summoned Phillip to hack into the artificial intelligence of this spaceship and flipped through all the communication records.The true identity of this anonymous employer was also a target he was going to go after. Phillip was very efficient. Through the quantum network, he quickly found a clue leading to the anonymous employer. “Master, hum… I’ve found it. This hire was published under a broker organization as the intermediate guarantor. This broker organization is one of the black market’s managers. It has both a good
name and reputation. It’s trusted by countless black market mercenaries and employers. Basically, it’s the Mercenary Alliance of the black market. Therefore, they should have information on this employer. However, this broker organization has been the black market manager for many years. As a very old intermediate guarantor, they won’t leak their employers’ names, hum…”
Han Xiao nodded. He had also heard about the name of this broker organization. Many hires on the black market came from them. It could be said that although this kind of organization called themselves neutral, without their approval, those anonymous hires regarding the virus would never have appeared on the black market.
They were undoubtedly responsible for this.
Looks like I’ll have to start with this black market manager…
Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled. He turned and tapped on the captain’s shoulders.
“Depart. Destination, the headquarters of this broker organization in the Ancient Star Desert.”
As the dynasty fleet was heading toward the next destination, filled with rage, Depressed Prince, who was sealed inside the Spacetime Amber, logged on to the forums and started making a post.
Just as Han Xiao expected, with the tone of a victim and the intention of warning the others as well as taking revenge on the three Universal Civilizations, Depressed Prince exposed the three Universal Civilizations’ ‘conspiracy’…
Chapter 1106. Intimidation |
“The Painful Truth! The Mastermind Behind the Intelligent Plague Conspiracy!
“Emergency announcement! Those black market hires to transport the virus are a trap! They’re very likely the three Universal Civilizations’ bait!
“I’m a player who previously shared the job I accepted to transport the virus on the forums. An hour ago, along with my guild, we moved into the edge area of the Ancient Star Desert. Suddenly, we were ambushed by the three Universal Civilizations. Black Star personally wiped out our guild. Now we’re all sealed in the Spacetime Amber, not knowing when we’ll get out. I’m probably done for.
“At the start, I had no idea how the message got out. Luckily, Black Star thought we had nowhere to run and felt that there was no way we would leak the information, so he told me about the three Universal Civilizations’ plan. I was totally appalled. Guess what, those among those anonymous employers on the black market, there are some who work for the three Universal Civilizations! Their goal is to lure out those who dare accept the mission and catch them one by one!
“It’s horrifying. Currently, other than the people of our guild, no one else knows about this secret. I’m making this post because I can’t bear to see other brothers get tricked by the three Universal Civilizations like we did. Therefore, I hereby am warning all of you not to fall into that old rascal Black Star’s tricks!”
To prove that what he said was true, Depressed Prince even posted screenshots and videos of Black Star speaking.
As soon as the post was uploaded, like a lit match landing in a pool of oil, the emotion of all the players was ignited.
Immoral Trilogy: What a shock, so those hires in the black market are conspiracies?
Important Things Need to Be Said Three Times: I knew it. It’s not possible for those lawful factions to leave such a huge flaw. Turns out they had other plans. The three Universal Civilizations are really wise (cunning) in this kind of thing. Well played.
Military Chief: Black Star is Black Star. After all, like his name, he really does have a black heart.
Green Dot: Haha, I can’t stop laughing. Where are those kids who were envying the Ancient Star Desert players? Why are they so quiet?
Human Slasher: If this is the case, the faction difference of this main storyline will be very clear. There are those of us who oppose the disaster, stand on the lawful side, and clean out the evil. If you support the disaster, you’ll have to become an enemy of the three Universal Civilizations. I really envy the bravery of those players who choose the latter.
The lawful faction players all started to gloat, while those players who had supported spreading the disaster earlier all went silent and had nothing to say.
Especially those players who were lured by the high reward and had already accepted hires on the black market, they were all terrified. Most of them hastily gave up the mission, worried that they might be baited by the three Universal Civilizations too.
I
Calf: Let me see who’s causing problems (Black Star looking out from the bush.jpg).
Army Commander’s PP Big: Black Star: There, your account’s gone! Long Live the Boot Lickers: Alas, if not for OP, we’d still have no idea and end up getting wiped out… I won’t say much, thank you, OP, for saving our lives. Cheers, bottoms up.
Adult Site Senior Member: In order to get this information, OP has made a huge sacrifice. Here’s to all kind people having a good life. Ps: If OP decides to create a new account, I’ll kindly sponsor 100 Enas.
Feidin’s Fan Group – Dual Cannons: A moment of silence for OP.
Fishes Don’t Pee: A moment of silence +1.
There were people who doubted the authenticity of the post, but after seeing the screenshots and videos Depressed Prince posted along with it, they all had to admit it was the truth.
The Depressed Prince’s post alarmed the players. Many people were indeed shocked and became much warier of things.
He thought he successfully broke the three Universal Civilizations’ baiting plan, when his actions were actually all part of Han Xiao’s plan.
Seeing that so many players believed this ‘conspiracy’ and gave up missions to transport the virus, Han Xiao knew that this measure of his worked. He smiled in satisfaction.
Depressed Prince was of great help, so he was thinking about taking a few minutes off his sentence. Although, this guy had no idea.
In the Ancient Star Desert, Planet Strange Gold did not belong to any civilization. It had been taken over by a few financial groups many years ago and modified into a neutral galactic port. Afterward, the Galactic Black Market had taken over and made it into a transit supply station for gray organizations. It was quite famous in the Ancient Star Desert.
Tracks of tons of gray organizations and wanted criminals could be seen there. Some gray organizations even had their headquarters or subdivisions set up there. Due to some sort of unspoken agreement and deals, the Galactic Civilization silently approved of the existence of gray transit stations like this and did not send out soldiers to wipe it out. Although places like this were extremely chaotic, it was not completely lawless. The big organizations in the black market would usually set the laws.
The organization stationed in Planet Strange Gold was a member of the black market managers-Black Index, a broker organization.
There were many kinds of black market manager organizations, such as mercenaries, armed dealers, miners, and so on. Among them, the ones who had the biggest power were the brokers. They took the high-class path, swinging between different civilizations and building very complicated connection networks. They provided protection and assurance for the other black market organizations.
The Black Index was one of them, and their business range was even wider. Using the name they had built for themselves over the years, they provided assurance for the hires and biddings done in the black market. At the same time, they also functioned as the intermediate exchange. They were basically the bank of the black market.
Safety of funds was always a problem for the gray organizations, and the Black Index provided security and confidentiality for all funds transferred through them. An outrageous amount of money passed through them every single day and spread through the entire Galactic Black Market. Their power was reflected clearly just from this. Of course, this much power required an equivalent amount of strength to maintain, which was even truer in the gray world, where only the law of the jungle applied. The Black Index had plenty of funds, so they used a lot of it on building a powerful military force. At the same time, they also had a Beyond
Grade A protector behind them. These factors made sure the Black Index maintained its superior position among the black market managers.
The upper echelons of the organization were called Indexers. Their leader was called the Chief Indexer, and below this leader were the Second Indexer, Third Indexer, and so on. There was a total of five vice-leaders, all the way to the Sixth Indexer, each in charge of a certain area.
Inside the Planet Strange Gold subdivision of the Black Index organization, the Third Indexer stood before the floor-to-ceiling window of his office and looked up at the starlight in the dark sky. He was frowning.
His aide-de-camp who was wearing an elegant silver-black uniform walked into the room, saw him like this, and asked curiously, “Third Indexer, what are you thinking about?”
“Nothing… I just suddenly don’t feel at peace.”
The Third Indexer massaged the bridge of his nose. His mind was wandering off a little. As a hybrid Eternal, the Third Indexer had the special talent of having a very sensitive six sense. He could occasionally roughly sense certain bits of the future.
Since a few days ago, he had started to often lose focus and feel uneasy, like something bad was about to happen.
“I shall bring you some medicine to calm you down,” the aide-de-camp said and was about to turn around to leave the room.
“No need, I’m fine.”
The Third Indexer called him back, turned around, and asked casually, “Tell me, do you have anything to report to me?”
“Well…” The aide-de-camp took out a report and said seriously, “I’ve noticed some rumors, saying that the three Universal Civilizations have been secretly putting up hires on the black market as bait to capture black market mercenaries.”
“Where did you hear that from? Rumors on the net?” The Third Indexer frowned.
“No, no, there are no such rumors on the network of the Ancient Star Desert. I heard about it privately from some people, so I did some investigations and realized that this rumor got spread out from nowhere. I feel that this might cause problems, so I came to report it to you…”
