Ying Chang pressed for details regarding the Mercenary Guild. With a delicate wave of her hand, Cinnidy produced a data chip out of thin air and offered it to Yang Ying. "Here is an introductory file on the Hunter's Arm Mercenary Guild. Please accept it."

"I thank you."

Yang Ying extended his right index finger and tapped the data chip. Immediately, a palm-sized green data frame materialized above it, displaying in silver Gexing script: "Accept data?" Below were the options "Yes" and "No."

Yang Ying tapped "Yes." The entire data chip instantly dissolved into a beam of light and merged into his palm. Yang Ying swept his hand through the void, conjuring several light-screens before him. Tides of data—a torrent of images and text—flowed across them; it was the file Cinnidy had just transmitted.

Yang Ying absorbed the contents with a glance, committing everything to memory. Even while multitasking, he had the leisure to utter a soft remark: this advanced technology blurred the line between the virtual and the real. The data chip Cinnidy held was not physical, but merely a phantom representation of the data package, a placeholder.

This phantom could manifest as a data chip, or it could be a sheet of paper, a stylus, a flower, a stone—even the sun, the moon, the green mountains, and the trees. Ultimately, what mattered was the intangible data packet; giving it a tangible illusion was merely to make the transmission process easier to handle.

For Yang Ying, Cinnidy's suggestion was a pillow delivered just when he was sleepy. It pointed him toward a viable path. Being a mercenary was his old trade, something he knew inside and out; it meant battles, status, and access to intelligence channels.

Having rapidly scanned the document, Yang Ying dismissed all the light-screens and said to Cinnidy, "Master Cinnidy, your proposal is incredibly useful to me. I truly don't know how to thank you enough."

While Yang Ying was reviewing the file, Cinnidy had remained quietly by his side, showing immense patience without rushing him. Hearing his expression of gratitude, she immediately waved her hand. "Not at all, it was merely a simple favor."

Although it was indeed a minor gesture for her, the fact that she offered such a small courtesy must have had a reason. There is no love or hatred in the world that comes without cause, nor is there help extended without motive.

Yang Ying paused to consider, guessing that the reason she offered the Guild information was likely because she believed him to be a "True Human." He sighed internally and asked, "Right, Master Cinnidy, why did you assume my ambitions lay beyond the Sol System?"

Cinnidy gently touched her chest and smiled slightly. "Just a feeling."

"A feeling? Truly worthy of a peak Master," Yang Ying complimented, then added, "I accept this debt. In the future, if you ever require my assistance, please do not hesitate to ask. Within my capabilities, I will do my utmost."

Cinnidy's smile blossomed even wider. Obtaining a promise from a "True Human" delighted her beyond measure. Even if Yang Ying hadn't said so, she wouldn't have minded; she offered the file simply to foster goodwill.

Yang Ying made the promise because he believed goodwill was always reciprocal. Extending kindness was a form of investment; unilateral goodwill that garnered no return could not last—maternal love being the sole exception, as it asked for nothing. By offering a promise today, Cinnidy would think of him next time something good happened. Who knew what better opportunities might arise down the line? A tight-fisted miser gets nowhere.

Afterward, Yang Ying consulted Cinnidy on several issues he encountered in the file, and she patiently answered each one.

Fortunately, the file was comprehensive, leaving Yang Ying with only two or three questions. Once those were addressed, Yang Ying smiled. "Master Cinnidy, I thank you again for this invaluable intelligence. It's getting late, and I have certainly taken up much of your precious time. Perhaps I should take my leave for now and we can connect again later."

Cinnidy replied, "It's a good time, as I need to arrange the details for the assault on the Kusta forward outpost. We shall speak again."

"Farewell." Yang Ying snapped his fingers, and his virtual projection vanished instantly.

In the central castle of Manor City, within Yang Ying's study, Ying Chang shut down the virtual equipment. He retrieved a blank, physical data chip and connected it to the device, transferring the file temporarily stored in the system onto the tangible chip.

Then, he summoned Kalia.

"This file is an introduction to the Hunter's Arm Mercenary Guild, provided by Cinnidy. Discuss it with the General Staff and then report the outcome to me." Yang Ying handed the data chip to Kalia.

"Yes, Officer." Kalia accepted the chip, and Yang Ying dismissed him.

The Gexing people’s efficiency was impressive. The fleet set sail that very day, catching the Kusta people completely off guard; their forward outpost wasn't even finished construction. Although they had been alerted to exposure after the battle cruiser under Yang Ying’s command had escaped previously, and they had requested reinforcements from the rear, they hadn't anticipated the Gexing response being so swift. Their reinforcements were still en route.

Consequently, the garrisoned forces at the forward outpost were no match for the superior numbers brought by the Gexing. After a night of fierce fighting, the entire outpost was razed, and few of their warships managed to escape.

The Gexing fleet returned victorious early the next morning. However, the returning force still sustained the loss of over one hundred warships, with several hundred more damaged—a considerable casualty count.

Yang Ying immediately contacted the Gexing Embassy to offer congratulations and condolences, inquiring about the battle results.

The response came from Cinnidy again: "Fortunately, we struck early enough that their reinforcements hadn't arrived, giving us ample time and force to completely encircle the Kusta forces at the entire forward outpost and inflict maximum damage. By the time we annihilated the fleet guarding the outpost, their reinforcements arrived. Then another major battle ensued. The Kusta reinforcements were fewer in number than our total fleet, and only in conjunction with the outpost could they have posed a threat to us. But since we wiped out the outpost first, their arrival only provided us with opportunities to defeat them piecemeal."

"I imagine that was a resounding, exhilarating victory," Yang Ying remarked.

"Indeed." Cinnidy sounded genuinely delighted when discussing the spoils. "We sank or heavily damaged twelve hundred Kusta warships—ten times our own losses. Keep in mind we deployed a force of only two thousand vessels in total. Such a massive victory is exceedingly rare; perhaps one in a year. We will certainly receive accolades upon our return."

"Then allow me to congratulate you first."

"In truth, this victory is inseparable from you," Cinnidy said with sincere earnestness. "Had you not discovered the forward outpost, we would never have had this grand opportunity."

"I appreciate the sentiment, but it is best this matter does not appear in any official documentation."

"Naturally. From start to finish, this matter will be handled solely by the Gexing people; Earth will not be mentioned once."

"That is for the best."

Following this battle, the issue of the forward outpost—no matter how much the Gexing and Kusta engaged in verbal or even actual conflict—ceased to be a concern for the Solar System. However, the Kusta people clearly weren't ready to let Earth off the hook so easily, occasionally using diplomatic channels to needle the Terrans.

It was much like the situation back on Earth when the United States accused Iran of attempting to develop nuclear weapons, then slandered Iraq for possessing WMDs, using it as justification for war. In the end, nothing was found, yet Saddam Hussein was hanged, and they constantly stirred up trouble. If not for the lingering mystery surrounding Hardeck's death, which gave the Kusta pause, one could only imagine the extent of their arrogance.

Under Kusta pressure, the Solar System's defense network continued to be built at a steady pace. Meanwhile, Yang Ying's territory began expanding beyond the Solar System, starting with eight mineral-rich worlds.

Originally, the planet in the Thirteenth Star System where the Kusta built their forward base could have been converted into a mineral world, but Yang Ying had no intention of dabbling in that system for the time being. He decided to delay action until the current turbulence subsided.

Over the next week, Yang Ying visited each of the eight mineral worlds sequentially, establishing Human mining bases on them one by one. Fortunately, the structures on the Floating Continent were capable of flight. Yang Ying could summon hundreds or thousands of them with a single action, making the process even more convenient than the Protoss teleporting cities. The only drawback was that this task required his direct involvement: he had to summon the Human architecture wherever he went, whereas the Protoss could delegate the work to Probes.

For every suitable vein he located, Yang Ying unleashed a flash of golden light, releasing numerous Human structures. The number released varied according to the size of the vein. They hovered in the air, each finding an empty spot to root itself.

Of course, Yang Ying did not neglect to establish Protoss Warp Gates in concealed locations around the mining areas for efficient ore transport and inter-base communication.

Within seven days, across the eight mineral worlds, Yang Ying successfully opened one thousand six hundred and forty-eight mining veins, deployed over one hundred thousand Human structures, and left behind one million six hundred thousand Zhen, plus several mining protection units.

This was essentially the maximum number of personnel the Humans could spare. This massive migration left even the territories on the Floating Continent looking considerably sparser.

Nevertheless, many mineral veins remained unused on the eight worlds. Yang Ying only selected those with the highest value and most immediate need for initial development, amounting to less than one-thousandth of all exploitable veins on the planets.

With such abundant resources fueling his endeavors, Yang Ying was filled with confidence in the future. He envisioned himself laughing triumphantly across the sea of stars, leading tens of thousands of battlecruisers.

However, things had to be done step by step. After setting up the preliminary framework for the mining operations on the eight worlds, Yang Ying began preparing for his next departure from the Solar System—a long journey. The General Staff had finished analyzing the Mercenary Guild data and deemed joining the Guild feasible. Therefore, Yang Ying decided he would visit this Mercenary Guild in the near future.