A biting arctic wind swept across the ice sheet, causing a few polar bears to look up curiously at the sky. (Read the full novel at )

Suddenly, something massive tore through the inky black clouds overhead. The electronic count in the air spiked violently. The long white fur on the polar bears stood on end, and fine sparks of electricity began to dance across their bodies. The ice beneath them started to tremble, and a massive fissure spread across the ice cap horizontally. The bears bolted in terror, scattering as a perfectly straight, pitch-black tunnel opening appeared in the ground below.

A bizarrely shaped spacecraft began its slow descent. The entire hull, gleaming like burnished gold, resembled a slightly flattened cigar, measuring over fifty meters long, six meters high, and eight meters wide, intricately carved with complex and beautiful patterns. Brilliant, ghostly blue plasma fire erupted fiercely from the rear thrusters and the underside vents, causing the ice below to rapidly melt and vaporize, sending vast plumes of steam surging high into the sky.

The exquisite craft, truly a work of art, slid slowly into the tunnel mouth that had opened in the ice. Two thick metal portals swung shut behind the vessel as it vanished. The gale immediately whipped up snow and ice, re-covering the entire scene in a vast expanse of white.

Gu Xiechen, having just showered and changed into fresh clothes, stood with his hands clasped behind his back near the base’s largest landing field. As the entirely golden ship drifted down, Gu Xiechen spat forcefully onto the ground. Only Rm (Roman) people would deface their hulls with so many useless carvings. A golden ship? In space, that was nothing more than the perfect target.

Boreas, who had also changed into a coarse cloth robe, frowned deeply. "Damn it, Rm (Romans)? They're my most despised clientele!"

The bearded Captain whirled around with a snarl. He cursed under his breath, "Shut your flapping beak! Damn it, money makes the man. Money makes the boss. We are mercenaries! Not some high-class courtesans sitting in opulent villas, lightly strumming a zither or singing a little tune, who get to pick and choose their customers!"

After muttering a few curses directed at Boreas, the Captain also let loose a thick glob of phlegm, grumbling to himself, "Still, I hate these Rm (Romans) too!"

The vast landing field was empty save for Gu Xiechen and his small party; all other extraneous personnel had been cleared out.

The ship settled onto the tarmac with a gentle hissing sound. A gracefully shaped boarding ramp slowly lowered from the central hatch.

Twenty warriors, encased head-to-toe in full energy armor, marched down the ramp in perfect synchronization. These Rm (Romans) stood well over 2.70 meters tall. Their brilliant golden hair floated weightlessly behind them, unmoving by the wind, like a cascade of radiant flame. Every one of them had skin as white as snow, and each face was as handsome as a sculpted statue. Faint, ghostly blue light flickered in their golden eyes. With their energy shields activated, rings of faint blue luminescence circled them, making these twenty Rm (Roman) warriors appear divinely imposing and extraordinary.

The Captain turned back to Gu Xiechen and whispered lowly, "The stinking pomp of the Rm (Romans). Ignore them!"

Gu Xiechen merely smiled. This was not his first encounter with the Rm (Romans). As the young master of the Gu Group, he had dealt with them several times and knew exactly what kind of arrogant scum they were.

The Rm (Roman) warriors formed a line beside the ramp. A burst of ghostly blue light suddenly illuminated the ship’s open hatch, and a handsome young man draped in a long, purple-black robe drifted out, entirely enveloped in a fierce blue aura. This youth was a good ten centimeters taller than the other Rm (Roman) warriors—tall, breathtakingly handsome, with golden hair nearly two meters long undulating behind him as if it possessed a life of its own. After emerging, he hung suspended a meter above the ground, gazing down condescendingly upon Gu Xiechen and his group.

The Captain took a deep breath and slowly approached the youth hovering in the air.

"Honored sir, I am the leader of the Hell's Angels Mercenary Group, Big Beard," the Captain introduced himself formally.

"Porphyres. You only need to know my name is Porphyres," the handsome youth nodded coldly.

"Mr. Porphyres, please come this way!" The Captain gestured toward the meeting room for a detailed discussion of the commission.

Porphyres frowned in disgust. The Hell's Angels landing field was stained with traces of machine oil, and the air carried a strange odor. The blue radiance surrounding Porphyres intensified. He pulled out a white handkerchief and covered his nose.

"I think that won't be necessary. Let's settle things right here," Porphyres's golden eyes swept over Gu Xiechen with disdain. He dismissed Gu Xiechen entirely. However, when his gaze landed on Boreas, Porphyres immediately recoiled several paces in revulsion. "Very well, let's be efficient. I will brief you now on the details of this commission."

Boreas retreated a few steps, his face grim. He understood the Rm (Roman) view of mixed-bloods. To certain Rm (Romans), a half-breed was the most defiling original sin in existence.

Gu Xiechen stepped forward a few paces, curious as to why the Rm (Romans) were seeking out the Hell's Angels. Humans and Rm (Romans) were perpetually at war; a commission from them was extremely rare.

"In three days, a smuggling vessel will launch from a location in Africa. Your mission is to shoot down that ship, eliminate everyone aboard, and either destroy or seize all cargo."

Porphyres reached into his voluminous sleeve and produced a data chip. He tossed it toward the Captain from a distance.

"The party trading with this ship is the Earth Federation's number one mercenary corps, the Holy Unicorn. We know you have existing friction with the Holy Unicorn, and we are aware that you are one of the few groups capable of genuinely threatening them. That is why we came here."

"The chip contains detailed intelligence regarding this transaction. There may be minor discrepancies, but the error margin won't be significant. A smuggling ship is just that—they won't deploy heavy protection."

Porphyres pursed his lips and smiled thinly at the Captain. "This is a very lucrative commission, wouldn't you agree?"

The Captain turned the chip over in his hand, pondered for a moment with a furrowed brow, then nodded. "Alright, we accept. What about the payment?"

"Hmph." Porphyres waved his hand. Dozens of thin, wispy tendrils of blue light shot out from the aura surrounding him. These seemingly weak filaments quickly snaked back, returning from the ship carrying a large pile of glittering crystals. "Ten standard cubic meters of Zakkla energy crystals. I consider this a fair remuneration. We have complete faith in the Hell's Angels' reputation, so the entire payment is rendered upfront."

A flicker of blue light crossed Boreas’s eyes—this Porphyres possessed astonishing spiritual power! Zakkla energy crystals were twice as dense as steel, yet Porphyres had effortlessly manipulated ten cubic meters of them using only his psychic abilities. This man was incredibly strong!

Gu Xiechen gave a cold laugh. He suddenly called out loudly, "Which family owns that ship? Esteemed Lord Porphyres, surely noble Rm (Romans) do not stoop to falsehoods!"

Porphyres looked at Gu Xiechen, surprised. He lowered the white handkerchief covering his nose. After studying Gu Xiechen intently for a moment, Porphyres stated flatly, "The Holsom family. That vessel belongs to the Holsom family. More precisely, it belongs to the second Electoral Family of the Rm (Romans)."

Gu Xiechen lowered his head, saying no more. The Captain would make the decision that best served the interests of the mercenary group.

The Captain tucked the chip into his pocket and smiled broadly at Porphyres. "Very well. As stated, we will give the Holy Unicorn a lesson. Ten cubic meters of Zakkla crystals? Mr. Porphyres is truly generous. Uh, are we truly permitted to keep the cargo on that vessel?"

Porphyres turned and drifted back toward his ship, saying in a low voice, "Whatever you wish. Just ensure everyone aboard is dead, and that the cargo does not fall into Holsom hands."

Standing at the hatch, Porphyres looked back to issue a final warning. "If the mission fails, we will not demand repayment. However, every branch team of the Hell's Angels operating outside will face targeted countermeasures." With a strange smile, Porphyres sighed casually, "That's the high risk that comes with high reward, Captain Big Beard, wouldn't you agree?"

Porphyres’s small ship ascended into the clouds and vanished. Gu Xiechen stared up at the slowly closing metal portals and shouted loudly, "May you be shot down by the Federation Patrol!"

The Captain, however, bellowed back, "Alright, Evil Dragon, stop worrying about those bastards in the Federation Patrol. Let's see what's on this chip. We need to look closely at this job."

Half an hour later, shouts of astonishment erupted from the Captain's office.

Gu Xiechen stared blankly at the data displayed on the screen and managed a wry smile. "This mission is truly high-risk!"

To be assigned such a dangerous task right after joining the Hell's Angels, Gu Xiechen felt his current run of luck was decidedly poor.

"The Holsom family—truly worthy of being the second Electoral Family of the Rm (Romans)!"

Gu Xiechen sighed inwardly.

××××××××××××××××××××××××××××× Right then... some necessary chatter still needs to be gotten out of the way. Regarding clicks and recommendations... bricks and spamming... the more the better!