Chapter 1

*Ding dang ding dang ding ding dang!*

Melos unleashed a flurry of old-school punches, leaving the space pirates battered and bruised, piled together into a human mountain, each emitting weak, mournful groans.

Dealing with this group of weak space pirates was effortless for Melos. The main difficulty in rescuing the hostages was locating the cloaked space pirate ship. So, Han Xiao had Sylvia pose as a hostage to be captured on board, carrying a locator. This way, they could track the ship's position and launch a boarding action. At this moment, Han Xiao borrowed a combat spacecraft from the employer and was shamefully plugging it into the rear of the pirate ship.

This was also Sylvia's first time participating in an operation, a kind of test. Han Xiao gave her a very full schedule every day. After she awakened her Supergene, in addition to studying knowledge, she had various combat skills training. Although Sylvia had only trained for two months, she had great potential, and progressed rapidly after getting started. She also had a knack for combat, and instead of being nervous during battle, she became increasingly calm. This surprised Sylvia; she never knew she had the ability to remain composed in the face of danger.

Of course, if Sylvia didn't have potential, Han Xiao wouldn't have bothered to spend the energy to train her.

"You guys release the hostages. I'll set the course to return this pirate ship and hand over the mission," Han Xiao instructed the others.

At this moment, Sylvia trotted up to Han Xiao, her face filled with an expectant expression, hoping to be praised, and asked, "How did I do?"

Han Xiao stroked his chin. "So-so, I'd say you passed. What, did you think there was something praiseworthy?"

Sylvia pouted and gave a disappointed "Oh."

"Black Star, be more lenient with young people," Melos interjected from the side, smiling at Sylvia. "You did a good job. When I was your age, I wasn't as... oh, wait, I was much better than you at that time."

Sylvia bared her teeth. "...You're so comforting."

Fording smiled gently. "Don't listen to them; you've improved quickly. We've all seen it."

"Shut up!" Upon hearing Fording speak, Sylvia immediately bristled, glaring at him with puffed-up cheeks. Every time she saw this guy, she felt unbalanced. She awakened her abilities earlier than him, yet Fording's growth rate was like a rocket, smoothly and easily soaring to Class C. He just sang songs and meditated every day, unlike her, who lived in a learning purgatory.

Comparing people is infuriating! As expected, those with squinty eyes are all monsters!

Fording wasn't annoyed and revealed a warm smile, his eyes narrowed with laughter, silent but smiling.

He had been following Han Xiao for two months. During this time, Morning Star launched several counterattacks, trying to regain control of the body, but they were all suppressed. As Fording's psychic powers rapidly grew, Morning Star's threat gradually diminished. Fording's idea was to use Morning Star's memory to give himself enough strength, and when he could completely suppress Morning Star, it might be time to leave.

However, Fording's personality was very gentle and he disliked conflict; he hardly ever got angry. He didn't want to use this method to make Morning Star experience the same ordeal as him, because he knew how terrible that feeling was. So, Fording had communicated with Morning Star many times in his mind, hoping she would give up her meaningless resistance, but Morning Star's attitude was tough and she refused to compromise. But Fording persevered and continued to communicate with Morning Star every day.

The Godoran boy stared blankly at Han Xiao and the others. When he thought he was at the end of his rope, this group of mercenaries descended from the sky and took down the space pirates with ease. It took him a while to come back to his senses. He glanced at Sylvia's back and mustered his courage to walk up, stammering, "M-My name is Naru. Thank you for saving me. Are you the mercenaries my father hired?"

The others stopped chatting and turned to look at him. Being stared at by Sylvia made Naru flustered, unsure of where to put his hands.

"I-I want to know everyone's names..."

Naru stammered.

Han Xiao rubbed Sylvia's head and chuckled, "This kid likes you."

"I don't!" Naru's secret was exposed, and he became flustered.

Han Xiao raised an eyebrow. "Oh, it seems he doesn't like you."

"N-No... it's not that. I don't dislike..." Naru was anxious and incoherent.

Sylvia glared at Han Xiao and extended her hand generously. "My name is Sylvia."

Naru hesitated for a moment, then carefully grasped Sylvia's fingertip. The moment their fingers touched, Naru's face turned orange—the color of a blushing face for the golden-skinned Godorans, very scientific, very reasonable.

Melos sighed, "It's good to be young."

Han Xiao took a smoked-flavored candy from Aroshia's snack bag and flicked it into his mouth. Recently, he was planning to quit smoking, so he had to eat snacks to relieve his boredom. He smacked his lips, pensive. "If I complain to the employer that his son harassed my beloved disciple, I should be able to extort some money."

"...Next time you think of such a plan, you don't have to say it out loud," Sylvia turned around angrily.

...

After rescuing all the hostages, Han Xiao set the course, and before long, the group returned to the planet where the employer was located. The security team and the hostages' families were already waiting at the dock. These hostages quickly disembarked and reunited with their families.

A police officer stepped forward to thank Han Xiao and the others for solving this kidnapping case. Because most of the people involved were from wealthy families, it was an important matter for them as well.

Han Xiao handed over the captured space pirates and the spacecraft to the police department as required, which would increase the completion rate of this mission. After the police officer left, Naru and a middle-aged man came to Han Xiao. The middle-aged man had the aura of a big shot, but when facing Han Xiao, he was very enthusiastic, thanking him profusely before paying the reward.

This middle-aged man was Naru's father, the head of a certain Godoran consortium, and he was naturally not stingy with the promised reward. He was also the one who posted the mission. After receiving eighty-five thousand Enas, the panel prompted that the mission was complete.

"Rescue all the hostages, capture the space pirates alive, and hand over the spaceship. Completion rate: 100%. Guaranteed to get a random reward."

Han Xiao thought to himself, scanning the information. It prompted that he had received a new chance for a [Random Reward]. He didn't use it immediately but stored it in the panel. He had already accumulated four random reward opportunities.

In the past two months, he had carried out more than a dozen missions, and eighty percent of them had earned him a random reward. At first, he would draw every time he got one, and he had drawn attribute points, experience, and potential points. Not only did he not get what he wanted, but they were all trash, which made Han Xiao very angry, so he started saving up random rewards.

Single draws are unreliable; only continuous draws can produce miracles.

After handing over the mission, Han Xiao didn't stay long and took everyone back to the ship. The thrusters surged with flames, and the ship disappeared into the sky.

Naru looked up, staring blankly at the direction in which the ship had left. He shook his father's arm and stammered, "Dad, I have something I want to ask you."

"What is it?"

"I... I want to hire this mercenary group to be our family's private guards," Naru said boldly. He couldn't forget Sylvia.

"That's impossible."

Naru was anxious. "Then give them more money. Being our guards is safer than being mercenaries, right? As long as the salary is high enough, they will definitely agree."

The middle-aged man smiled wryly and shook his head. "It's not about the money. Although Black Star is a mercenary, compared to his background, our family's industry is too small. There is no way to poach a corner of Ames the Dragon Emperor."