"This is Dennis, the leader of the Wildfire Mercenary Group," Isaac introduced as he led Yang Ying towards a thin, middle-aged man.

"A pleasure," Yang Ying extended his hand to shake Dennis's.

The Wildfire Mercenary Group was one of the two major mid-sized mercenary outfits in Gray Port, commanding an armed force of over three thousand personnel. They were a significant power in Gray Port; compared to their ground control, the role of their few mid-sized warships was secondary.

"The pleasure is all mine. I hear the Trant Mercenary Group is essentially the security detail for the Trant Corporation. And I hear the Trant Corporation has set up an office here in Gray Port. We'll have plenty of opportunities to cooperate in the future. If you ever need anything, don't hesitate to call on me," Dennis said with a smile, though his eyes flickered constantly—clearly the mark of an old fox.

If the Trant Corporation needed assistance in Gray Port, what need would there be for the Trant Mercenary Group?

"Today, at this reception, we aren't discussing business; it's purely about camaraderie. We are all peers; we must support one another," Yang Ying replied with equal amounts of platitude.

As the saying goes, competitors are natural enemies, especially out in the asteroid belt. Simply not sabotaging each other was already considered friendly conduct.

"Commander Yang Ying speaks the truth. No business today—let's all enjoy ourselves thoroughly!" Dennis's smile widened, effectively masking his true intentions.

After bidding farewell to Dennis, Isaac introduced Yang Ying to the leaders of several smaller mercenary outfits, as well as some of the mercenaries’ business partners. After this round of introductions, Isaac bid Yang Ying farewell and retreated to a corner of the ballroom, joining a circle of other figures from the mercenary world.

Yang Ying took this opportunity to introduce himself to those Isaac hadn't mentioned, including the leader of the other major mid-sized mercenary group in Gray Port, whose surname was Xie.

Sharing the same black hair, dark eyes, and yellow skin created a greater common ground between Yang Ying and Commander Xie.

Having spoken with virtually all the leading figures in Gray Port, Yang Ying moved to another corner of the hall to observe the attendees.

Before long, the Master of Ceremonies announced over the podium that it was time for dancing. To liven up the affair, the Crown Hotel had hired a relatively well-known band to perform for the guests in the ballroom.

As the music began, pairs of men and women made their way onto the dance floor, beginning to move gracefully.

Several young women, clad in exquisite evening gowns, approached Yang Ying and invited him to dance.

Yang Ying considered the offers for a moment, then accepted one of them as his partner. He took her arm and led her onto the floor, moving with the rhythm of the music.

Just yesterday, he knew nothing of formal dancing. But with his experience learning swordsmanship, picking up dance steps became remarkably easy.

Yang Ying moved his feet through the steps, his arm around the young woman’s slender waist, his other hand holding hers. They moved close enough on the floor for Yang Ying to register the gentle curves of her body.

The young woman kept a bright smile fixed on her face, seemingly unconcerned by the physical proximity. In fact, she used the closeness to whisper her name and contact number into Yang Ying's ear.

Unfortunately for her, Yang Ying paid little attention to remembering. After today, their paths would likely never cross again.

Yang Ying’s schedule was tightly packed. Each day, aside from fulfilling the routine duties of a mercenary commander, his spare time was devoted to practicing his mental energy, honing his swordsmanship, and studying data on various advanced technologies.

He still recalled his original goal: to become an engineer and construct a massive solar power plant. But this was the 27th century; solar power was ubiquitous, and that goal could now be achieved with minimal effort.

For Yang Ying, learning was never a chore; it was his passion. He reveled in it and could not spare any time for romantic entanglements.

After the song concluded, Yang Ying returned to the edge of the dance floor, taking a glass of brandy from a passing waiter’s tray. When other young women invited him to dance, he politely declined them all. Kalia and Robin remained within a ten-meter radius, close enough to be summoned instantly.

A little later, Isaac approached again. "Commander Yang, why are you drinking alone here in a funk? Haven't you found a single pretty girl here to catch your eye?"

Yang Ying looked up at him. "Commander Isaac, you are in the same position. I'm sure there are plenty of ladies here hoping to dance with you as well."

Isaac laughed heartily. "What's there for an old man like me to dance about? It's you young fellows who should be embracing romance."

Just then, a sudden gasp echoed from the entrance, drawing the attention of both men.

A distinguished elderly man in a tailored suit, flanked by several burly bodyguards, strode in from outside. The attendant at the door looked torn between stopping him and holding his tongue. The old man wore an approachable smile as he moved deeper into the hall. Those around him instinctively stepped back, clearing a path, as if the elder were a beast in human skin.

"It's that one!" Yang Ying frowned. He had read the relevant files; this old man was the chief spokesperson for the pirate factions in Gray Port, representing the interests of at least three of the top ten pirate groups, including the most powerful, the Caribbean Pirates, and the Shark Pirates, with whom Yang Ying already had history.

"Did you invite him?" Isaac asked Yang Ying, his tone laced with accusation.

"Certainly not," Yang Ying instantly and firmly distanced himself from the newcomer.

In the asteroid belt, faction lines were often blurry; pirates and mercenaries frequently colluded secretly, and many who wore the mercenary guise were actually pirates. However, at least openly, the two factions maintained a strict separation.

Although Gray Port was a neutral city, Yang Ying had firmly aligned himself with the mercenary faction. To avoid being perceived as two-faced, no individual with known pirate ties had been invited to this reception.

The old man surveyed the ballroom, spotted Yang Ying, and then approached with an easy stride, acting as if Isaac, who was standing beside Yang Ying and glaring at him, did not exist.

"This must be Commander Yang Ying, who has been making quite a stir recently. My name is Herman; I imagine you’ve heard of me." Herman made no move to shake hands, seemingly having already anticipated that Yang Ying would not offer one.

"I have indeed heard of you, but I don't recall extending an invitation to Mr. Herman. Security, escort Mr. Herman out!" Yang Ying called out deliberately loud to make his position clear.

The Crown Hotel possessed seven-star credentials and a formidable background, yet even they would hesitate to move against Herman.

If nothing else, his notorious association with the Caribbean Pirates alone was enough to make the hotel staff uneasy.

Over a dozen security personnel had gathered at the entrance, whispering amongst themselves just outside the ballroom, daring not to enter. Furthermore, Herman’s bodyguards stood ready, their imposing frames bulky beneath their clothes, clearly armed.