Chapter 1 Approaching Dusk

The clouds were like burning fire, plating the reconstruction site of the shelter with a light yellow hue. The mercenary fleet array hovered silently in the sky above the base, and the people on the ground occasionally looked up at it, their eyes filled with reverence, envy, and other emotions.

What had happened in the past few months had subverted the worldview of the people of Aquamarine Star, like a dream. Sometimes, they would wake up in the morning in a daze, recalling the previous day in detail before they could come back to their senses.

The hovering spaceships were like flags, reminding the people at all times that this planet had entered a new era. It was not a span from the "old era" to the "new era" of the planet's history, but a completely new era after destruction and establishment, truly connecting with the interstellar world.

In the eyes of the Aquamarine Star government and people, the changes in the past few months were an unparalleled tidal wave of the times, subverting all old patterns and ideas. However, in the eyes of interstellar people, it was just another native planet that had received a baptism of worldviews. For the Black Star Mercenaries, it was just another mission.

In the eyes of the players, everything Aquamarine Star had suffered was a very normal plot event.

The players were more concerned about when they would enter the interstellar world.

All indications showed that the Black Star Army would be the faction to guide them, as well as a promising development faction with countless benefits. Now, hundreds of thousands of players had joined the Black Star Army, and new players were passing the assessments every day.

The base plaza.

After Herlous issued the call, players arrived one after another, a bustling crowd.

Han Xiao took out the mechanical throne he had used once during his return declaration. This thing was specifically used to increase his imposing manner. He hovered in the sky above the square to ensure that all players could see him.

When he returned, he gave a speech to improve his image in the players' minds. When he left, he planned to give a speech as well, to end the Aquamarine Star plot for the players while opening a new stage, bridging the past and the future, and raising the players' expectations. He felt that this would be more complete.

While thinking, Han Xiao said loudly:

"A few months ago, I returned from the Star Sea to fulfill my promise and accompany Aquamarine Star through the disaster. Now, I have fulfilled my promise. The disaster has ended, and the powerful enemies have retreated. Today is the day we leave."

The Alienization Disaster was resolved in advance by himself, and the civilization of Aquamarine Star was preserved, indirectly allowing hundreds of millions of living beings to survive.

Compared to his previous life, this result was much better.

It was time to continue the journey of conquering the interstellar world. The players in front of him were the best warriors.

Unsurprisingly, many players became excited, their eyes shining.

Finally, they could enter the interstellar world. They had been waiting for ages!

Han Xiao glanced around and continued:

"The Black Star Army will leave with me. Over the past few months, hundreds of thousands of people have passed the assessment and become members of the army. I will fight alongside you, stepping on every corner of the Star Sea!"

"As for those who have not joined the army, if you wish, I have left a base on Aquamarine Star. You can apply to join at the base. Regardless of your identity, as long as you pass the assessment, the Black Star Army will always welcome the strong. At that time, spaceships will pick up the newcomers and take them to our base in the interstellar world, becoming official members."

His recruitment target was not only players. Normal Aquamarine Star people could also join. There would always be people who yearned for a higher stage.

Hundreds of thousands of army players were overjoyed. As expected, only by joining the Black Star Army could they go to the interstellar world together. The selection process over the past few months was to determine the first batch of people to enter the interstellar world. This was the biggest benefit of the faction. They were ahead!

Other players were slightly depressed, but there was nothing they could do. Who told them they couldn't win the selection? However, they weren't too upset. They just failed to obtain the first batch of places to enter the interstellar world. The Black Star Army had left a channel for joining. As long as they kept trying the assessment, the second and third batches would eventually include them.

Moreover, Aquamarine Star needed a large number of people to carry out post-disaster reconstruction, and there were still many profits to be made by staying temporarily.

Currently, joining Black Star was the most cost-effective way to go to the interstellar world.

In the eyes of most players, so many hints had already shown that joining Black Star was actually a potential main storyline!

Or rather, this was a prerequisite for opening the interstellar main storyline!

At this moment, Han Xiao changed the subject: "The scale of the Black Star Army has expanded many times. We have received our first large-scale commission to participate in a war. This is the first battle after the army's expansion. Let the universe see our strength."

As he spoke, he issued a faction mission to the player mercenaries through the faction interface. Hundreds of thousands of joined players received a prompt at the same time:

[You have triggered the faction mission [Black Star Army's First Battle]]

The mission prompted that this was the first large-scale commission for players joining Black Star. It would be the first battle in the interstellar world. Following the army in battle would reward 500 points of faction favorability.

The reward amount was limited, so Han Xiao only issued faction relationship rewards. However, this was only the first mission. When he joined up with the Godoran troops, he would naturally obtain official war commission missions.

At that time, players would also trigger sub-missions of the war commission, obtaining experience rewards and remuneration. That was the substantial benefit.

This was also Han Xiao's original intention in adopting the mercenary group model. His own reward amount was not enough, so he could just use the employer's mission to make up for it, getting something for nothing. It could basically be understood as a human resources intermediary, or even a pimp.

Only the first batch of players to join the group would be able to make it to this war.

"We're going to war as soon as we enter the interstellar world. This is going to be fun!"

"This is special treatment."

Everyone couldn't help but be excited and discussed animatedly.

Han Xiao finally glanced around.

Bennet stood beside him and nodded in greeting. He had decided to stay and continue managing the shelter.

Hella and Aurora had already decided to leave Aquamarine Star. After this incident, Han Xiao was going to send them to Longtan for further studies. He was leaving at the same time, and the two sisters had no luggage, traveling alone.

Yi Ye Qing also decided to join Black Star to see the interstellar world. She was different. She brought hundreds of boxes of reagent materials, and a group of Clockwork Island prisoners she had trained were helping her carry her luggage, almost being buried by the boxes.

Han Xiao paused and raised his tone:

"Then, let's set off!"

The hovering spaceships lowered their altitude one after another and unfolded their gangways.

Hundreds of thousands of player mercenaries stepped onto the spaceships one after another with excitement.

Basically, all the clubs, guilds, and professional players on Aquamarine Star were in the first batch of places, secretly rejoicing. When they entered the interstellar world, other clubs were still playing in the mud on the planet.

Everyone boarded the Blacklight Stealthers one after another. Han Xiao was the last to board.

The hatch closed. Led by the Blacklight Stealthers, more than twenty mercenary group spaceships quickly ascended into the sky, taking hundreds of thousands of players and disappearing into the sky of Aquamarine Star. The last ray of sunlight disappeared with the spaceships. Dusk ended, and night fell.

The people on the ground looked up, until the figures of the spaceships completely disappeared from their sight.

"Black Star Army…"

Countless people were surging with emotions.

It felt like they were witnessing the beginning of a legend.

…

Nagokin's spaceship had been waiting in outer space for a long time, leading the Black Star Army to join up with other mercenary groups, which would take several days.

Hundreds of thousands of players entered the interstellar world for the first time, and they were quite excited. They learned more about the interstellar structure through the interstellar channel in more detail. The transport spaceship had enough space and complete facilities. The players were familiar with the structure of the interstellar spaceship, basically repeating the actions of Mad Blade and the others back then.

However, on the forum, the effect of this incident was extremely sensational. The first batch of hundreds of thousands of players entered the interstellar world, forming a frenzy of spamming, and countless foreign players came to watch and envy.

These players were a key part of Han Xiao's plan. Bringing the players into the interstellar world in advance allowed him to quickly develop his power and fill his wallet. The Godoran war commission was an opportunity to let the mercenary industry and interstellar forces recognize the Black Star Army's ability, refresh their impressions, and improve their reputation.

The Black Star Army was no longer the small-scale team it used to be, but had been promoted to a large-scale army. As long as it could build a reputation, commission missions would continue to flow in.

This first battle would also allow these players to familiarize themselves with the interstellar combat mode and the business process of skydiving and kicking down doors.

…

A few days passed in the blink of an eye. The Black Star Army fleet followed Nagokin's spaceship to the meeting point. The joint fleet of large mercenary groups was in sight, slowly moving in the universe.

Han Xiao's spaceship was welcomed in, and he received a communication request as soon as possible. The other party was Guleja, the commander of the Heavenly Ring Army, with whom he had cooperated many times before and had a good relationship.

"Black Star, why are you here too?"

Guleja had a steel-needle-like beard and a surprised tone.

"Godora also hired me to participate in the war." Han Xiao smiled.

"Haha, I thought you were just acting as a broker. I didn't expect you to participate in person. It seems we'll be fighting side by side again this time."

Guleja laughed heartily. The last mission on Golden Gate Star was led by Han Xiao in secret, and he remembered the favor.

Han Xiao shrugged. "Godora can afford it, so I came."

"By the way, you're close to Godora. Do you know what this strategic action is supposed to do?" Guleja asked.

Godora prevented the leakage of information and only asked the mercenary groups to stand by without revealing that this battle was a general offensive against DarkStar. These large armies were kept in the dark.

"Since Godora won't say, I can't tell you either. It's confidential."

"Ha, you and Godora are definitely flirting." Guleja didn't force him and said, "All the leaders are having a meeting on the Heavenly Ring to assign tasks. Your arrival is just in time."

"Okay, I'll go over now."

After hanging up the communication, Han Xiao piloted the Blacklight Stealthers into the joint fleet and arrived at the Heavenly Ring Army's array. The Heavenly Ring was the flagship, and its volume was like a mountain range.

The spaceship hatch docked, and Han Xiao led the officers to board the Heavenly Ring. Heavenly Ring mercenaries were already waiting at the entrance of the passage to welcome them, and they led the group to the spaceship hall.

The hall was wide, and there was a circular sofa in the middle. More than a dozen large army leaders were sitting on the sofa, each occupying a position, and their mercenaries were either sitting or standing, waiting behind their respective army leaders.

As soon as Han Xiao and the others walked into the hall, the mercenaries present turned their heads to look over.

Aurora tugged on Hella's clothes and said carefully, "Sister, the life fluctuations of these people are so strong."

Present were well-known mercenary groups from various star systems and star regions, all of whom were leaders in their respective areas.

For example, the Heavenly Ring Army had Guleja and two other Calamity Grade individuals, and the other army leaders were basically Calamity Grade as well. The officers who were waiting beside the army leaders were all officers, and it could be said that there were experts everywhere.

Hella's eyes were solemn. The gazes of these mercenaries brought her great pressure, as if everyone here could easily defeat her.

At this moment, many army leaders laughed and greeted him warmly, and the atmosphere suddenly eased.

"Oh, Black Star's here."

"It's been a while."

"Brother, sit next to me."

More than half of the mercenary groups present had dealt with Han Xiao, and they had cooperative relationships with each other. They were all acquaintances and invited him to join the party.

Han Xiao put on a smile and responded one by one.

He felt very safe being in the middle of a group of powerful allies.

Herlous and the others also greeted the mercenaries they knew, while the two sisters didn't know anyone and didn't say a word.

Hella secretly observed this group of interstellar mercenaries of various races and dressed in different ways.

—These people are Han Xiao's colleagues? They all look very strong!

Han Xiao walked to the circular sofa. An army leader with the code name "Netherfeather" moved her butt and patted the seat next to her, indicating that he should sit next to her.

He was about to sit down when a short army leader suddenly spoke in a dissatisfied tone.

"Black Star, your mercenary group has so few people. What are you doing here?"

Everyone's laughter suddenly stopped.

Han Xiao paused and looked up. The army leader who was speaking was a stranger. He had never cooperated before. He should be a partner called by other mercenary groups.

So few people?

That's right, the expansion of his scale had only happened recently. It was only filed with the Mercenary Alliance and hadn't spread to these people's ears yet.

Han Xiao suddenly understood.

In other words, in the eyes of these large mercenary groups, he was still a small and medium-sized mercenary group with only a hundred or so members.