The Dù Empire was the sole advanced civilization in the A-Star System. Blessed with unique advantages, the Dù Empire could engage in land grabs with impunity, never fearing conflict with other major powers.

Compared to the situation in the Omi Galaxy, where three advanced civilizations vied for dominance, this was a case of one being in heaven while the other was on earth.

Since the commencement of "Operation Hunt," the Dù Empire's sphere of influence had expanded to cover nearly two entire galaxies, and the expansion was still accelerating.

Among the advanced civilizations, although the Dù Empire was merely in its first phase and relatively weak, it was currently the darling of diplomatic circles. This was because, in the foreseeable future, it posed virtually no threat of conflicting interests with any established power.

This newcomer on the galactic stage was currently dispatching envoys everywhere, enjoying considerable success.

The Freedom was tasked with the critical mission of forging an alliance with the Red Feather Federation.

The Dù Empire was one of the oldest extant nations, having existed since the era when the Four Great Super Empires ruled the cosmos. It had weathered countless storms, miraculously surviving the catastrophe that befell the Lansen Empire.

Unlike the Jialan, a genius race that vaulted from a primary to an advanced civilization in less than ten thousand years, the Dù Empire's development was decidedly unremarkable—a high civilization painstakingly constructed over one hundred thousand years.

In reality, Dù was an intensely conservative nation. Its pace of development had stalled after achieving advanced civilization status a millennium ago.

It wasn't until two centuries prior that a monarch of astonishing talent and immense resolve finally emerged, implementing sweeping reforms across the nation. This ruler carved a bloody path through thickets of thorns, fundamentally altering the ancient and colossal empire.

Two centuries later, Dù now exhibited a fresh vigor, having seized a rare opportunity unseen in tens of millennia to aggressively expand its power.

Despite these changes, the rigid class structure within the Dù Empire continued to operate according to the inherent inertia established over millennia.

Aboard the Freedom, the vessel was divided into five decks. The first naturally catered to those of the highest status. The second housed the personal assistants to these dignitaries. The third accommodated the rest of the accompanying personnel—lawyers and various domain specialists. The fourth floor was reserved for clerks handling unimportant minutiae and bodyguards. The fifth level was the crew quarters for ordinary staff.

Whether by oversight or design, Zhong Yun’s designation was that of a bodyguard, placing him on the fourth deck.

Zhong Yun knew Hong Yuting hadn't fully trusted him, given his obscure background. Even though the strength Zhong Yun had displayed was substantial, Hong Yuting would never entrust him with the role of personal bodyguard, preferring to rely on trusted individuals cultivated by his own family.

This suited Zhong Yun perfectly. Aside from his own women, no one in the world could command his personal protection; this arrangement was ideal.

The living conditions on the fourth deck could not compare to the first, but they were vastly superior to those on an ordinary starship, as this was a luxury cruiser exclusively for high-ranking officials and the elite.

Zhong Yun preferred eating in the mess hall, but he always sat entirely alone, radiating an air of detachment. Even Hong Yuting’s immediate entourage maintained a deliberate distance from him.

Initially, he found this odd, but after Hong San pointed it out once, he grasped the underlying mechanism: it was entirely because he was an outsider.

Despite its advanced technology, the Dù people were intensely conservative and highly exclusionary towards foreigners, rarely accepting an outsider into their core circles.

Later, he vaguely caught wind of a rumor: he had supposedly offended a major figure within the Royal Family. Considering the reigning Emperor, who had held the throne for two centuries, the Dù royalty currently possessed overwhelming authority. Offending royalty was tantamount to a death sentence.

Though just a rumor, the saying that three falsehoods make a truth held weight; the power of such whispers was formidable, especially when the subject could not refute them.

Upon hearing this gossip, a realization dawned on Zhong Yun: this isolation was likely the work of Young Master Hong, with a simple goal—to isolate him so thoroughly that he would have no choice but to rely solely on Hong Yuting.

Zhong Yun paid little mind to Hong Yuting’s petty maneuvers. He had no intention of staying in the Dù Empire for long anyway.

Despite the isolation, Zhong Yun continued to frequent the mess hall, not to forge alliances, but to gather intelligence.

“Did you hear? Young Master Gu San and Viscount Lan nearly came to blows at the banquet yesterday,” a hushed voice carried from a nearby table.

“How could I not? I heard it was over Second Miss Qin…”

“How many factions have already fallen out over Second Miss Qin? Is she truly that captivating?” someone questioned.

“You haven't seen her. I saw her once, and the moment my eyes landed on her, I felt like I was soaring…”

……

Zhong Yun listened for a moment before shifting his attention to another table.

Second Miss Qin was the constant subject of these idle chats, a name that was grating on his ears. Zhong Yun certainly wasn't bored enough to eavesdrop on society gossip. He aimed to use their conversation to deduce the relationships among the high-ranking figures upstairs.

When it came to sensing shifts in the political climate, these attendants were the most perceptive. They would never speak ill of their masters; thus, their talk revealed their masters’ preferences and dislikes.

That particular table, openly discussing Gu San and Lan, indicated that their masters likely had some friction with those two. Otherwise, even with borrowed courage, they wouldn't dare gossip about such elevated figures in private.

Even among the powerful, there were hierarchies. Like billionaires—while utterly unattainable to ordinary people, someone with a net worth of one billion was undeniably on a different tier than someone with ten billion.

These subtle distinctions could be gleaned from the scraps of conversation.

The Dù imperial line was Gu, making Young Master Gu San clearly a member of the royal faction, definitely among the absolute top echelon. The fact that Viscount Lan dared to vie for favor with him suggested Lan’s standing was not significantly lighter than Gu San's.

In contrast, Young Master Hong Yuting seemed a rung lower. A few days prior, he overheard others discussing how Hong Yuting was courting Second Miss Qin when he was caught by Gu San, who proceeded to mock him several times on the spot. Hong Yuting hadn't dared retort.

As Zhong Yun analyzed these overheard discussions, a person sat down next to him. It was someone utterly devoid of distinguishing features—plain face, unremarkable physique. In short, a thoroughly insignificant-looking individual.

This was Hong San, the only personal bodyguard who survived when Hong Yuting was abducted by pirates. Zhong Yun saved Hong Yuting and, by extension, Hong San as well.

On the Freedom, apart from Hong Yuting, only Hong San ever initiated conversation with Zhong Yun.

Hong San was a man of few words, sitting in silence.

Zhong Yun ate slowly; he was quite particular about his food. Slow eating implied dissatisfaction with the fare. He set down his utensils, picked up his tea, and took a leisurely sip, closing his eyes as if savoring the flavor.

After a significant pause, he finally spoke, “You seek me out for something?”

Hong San seemed prepared, placing a small pouch before Zhong Yun. Zhong Yun glanced at it, judging by the sound it made against the table that it contained several small, solid objects.

“The Master requires your assistance.”

Zhong Yun shifted his gaze, slowly turning the teacup in his hand. “What is it?”

Hong San knew he had accepted the task. He placed another small item next to the pouch—an electronic file.

Zhong Yun tucked both items into his pocket, stood up, and prepared to leave. A single sentence floated back to Hong San’s ears: “Await my word.”

Hong San watched him exit the mess hall before standing himself, departing under the respectful gaze of the other occupants.

Zhong Yun returned to his cabin and performed a psychic sweep of the area. Once certain he was unobserved, he opened the electronic file Hong San had given him. The file was encrypted, accessible only by his fingerprint.

The file sprang open, displaying a detailed profile of a man.

“Hu Dong,” Zhong Yun murmured the man’s name.

The very first line boldly stated: “Former Level Four.”

Zhong Yun rested his chin in his hand, deep in thought, toying with the small pouch Hong San had handed him. It contained five bead-like orbs the size of peanuts.

He suddenly clenched his fist. Zhong Yun smiled—five raw stones. A profitable transaction.

Suddenly, his brow furrowed. He stowed the file and the small bag of rough stones, just as the door was flung open. Four men strode in swaggeringly, surveying the room as if Zhong Yun were invisible.

“Hm, not bad, not bad,” the leader, a young man, remarked as he circled the room, his expression one of satisfaction. He turned to a crew member stationed by the door. “This one is good; we’ll take this room.”

“But…” the crewman rubbed his hands nervously. “But this room is already occupied.”

“Occupied?” The young man seemed to notice Zhong Yun’s presence for the first time, booming loudly, “You! Clear out immediately, I want this room.” The young man’s face was etched with arrogance, refusing to spare Zhong Yun even a glance.

Zhong Yun watched impassively. Hearing the demand, he scoffed internally.

This room was the finest on the fourth deck—spacious and luxuriously appointed, rivaling the chambers on the second floor. Hong Yuting had arranged it specifically for Zhong Yun, showing great regard even if he wouldn't accept him as a personal bodyguard.

He hadn't expected to witness a room-snatching drama unfold today.

The arrogant youth was about to order his subordinates to start moving things when his peripheral vision caught Zhong Yun still standing there like a pillar, showing no inclination to leave. His temper immediately flared. “What, are you deaf? I told you to scram, didn’t you hear me?”

Having been demoted to the fourth deck, he was already fuming. Seeing this man’s blatant disrespect, particularly that faint smile on his face, ignited a perverse rage. He raised his hand, intending to slap Zhong Yun across the face.

This blow was delivered without reservation; if it connected, it would surely knock out several of Zhong Yun’s teeth. Just as the palm neared its target, the young man thought, First this slap, then a backhand. At that moment, his hand veered sideways, inexplicably missing its mark.

While momentarily stunned, a palm silhouette materialized before his eyes. Smack! A solid slap landed squarely on his face, causing him to stagger and crash onto the floor.

The young man was dazed, clutching his stinging cheek. Half his face felt numb, and a high-pitched ringing echoed in his ears, reverberating deep into his skull. He couldn't collect himself for a long moment.

The crewman standing by the door had witnessed everything clearly: as the youth reached out to strike the occupant, the occupant simply deflected the incoming hand and instantly retaliated with a strike that sent the arrogant young man sprawling.

The crewman clamped a hand over his mouth, staring at Zhong Yun in horror. That young man had been personally assigned to him by the Vice Captain, with orders to select a room on the fourth deck. He had personally seen the Vice Captain bowing and scraping obsequiously to curry favor with this youth, indicating the young man’s immense status.

Now, this occupant had dared to strike such a figure, committing a grave offense. The crewman feared he wouldn't escape implication either. Growing increasingly panicked, he suddenly spun around and fled.

Seeing their young master struck, the three bodyguards reacted swiftly. One pulled the youth up, while the other two charged toward Zhong Yun.

The young man finally snapped out of his shock, his face throbbing with agonizing pain. When had he ever been struck in his life? He pushed away the bodyguard helping him, screaming maniacally, “Hit him! Beat him to death! How dare he touch me? I want your life, I want the lives of your entire family…”

Before the words fully left his mouth, his vision blurred. Zhong Yun’s cold face suddenly materialized before him. Startled, he instinctively took a step back, but Zhong Yun’s hand clamped around his throat.

“Tell me, whose life do you want?” Zhong Yun’s voice was laced with lethal intent, his face so cold it seemed capable of dripping ice. No one threatened his family.

“Ghk… ghkk…” The young man’s face instantly flushed crimson as he struggled violently. But the hand around his throat was like an iron vise, holding fast, tightening its grip relentlessly.

The bodyguard the youth had shoved aside was shocked and moved to rescue his master. As he rushed forward, a fierce gust of wind struck him, blowing him away. Amidst a brief, choked scream, there was a heavy thud as he smashed against the wall, blood splattering.

The other two bodyguards were already sprawled on the floor, blood still trickling from their throats.

The young man felt his breath growing increasingly ragged. Infinite terror bloomed in his heart. He understood with chilling clarity the killing intent radiating from the man before him. He truly meant to kill him.

Death was drawing near. He bitterly regretted provoking this terrifying man over something as trivial as a room. It was deeply ironic.

He desperately did not want to die; he hadn’t enjoyed life enough yet. He was still so young…

Sister, save me…

As his consciousness faded, he heard the sound of rapid footsteps approaching from a distance…

P: Seeking monthly tickets and recommendation votes. First published.