160. Space Pirates

Magistrar Ordoti is standing as she observed Clay play Mur Brung’s last message. She has no idea what Clay wants to achieve but this has already been 18th time the record had been replayed.

“And the reason I’m telling you this is because I don’t want you to become like me, alone and living in regret.

Today I’m retiring. I’ve lost my direction but I’ve decided to become a teacher. At least I could teach and guide a few younglings to not follow my path.

May you find meaning and contentment in life.

*Shhsssskkk

*ZZZZssskkkk

(End of recording. Please let me know if you want me to replay it.)

“No and I command you to stop playing it.” When the hologram ended, Ordoti interrupted before Clay was given another chance to replay the recording. “Captain promised to leave promptly. I hope he will keep his word.”

Clay’s eyes are almost dimming. Similar to what happened to Merea, there is this unknown pain coming out from the depths of his heart. He lost track how many times he had replayed the recording as he is hoping that Mur Brung had another hidden message like he did the first they meet at the academy.

*Exhale

He stood up and controlled his breathing so he could maintain his composure then stepped out of the room. This feeling of being dragged into desperation is making him loose his sense of reason once again.

“He’s already dead.” Clay reminded himself. Even if he goes berserk, Mur Brung is not coming back.

After a few minutes, the two reached outside.

“And by the way, S-Class 4 Star Captain Irkiruv wanted me to relay a message. He said that the Norkita family is within their protection.”

Clay paused and closed his as he looked towards the sky. When things are going south and someone still wants to add salt to the wound, he wanted to vent out. He originally did not want to exact vengeance yet today, he feels like he needed to uproot the Norkita clan to appease his anger.

*Exhale

“Tell Captain Irkiruv that I have a magnanimous heart.” Clay activated his wings and flew back to ship. He does not know how many more bad news can he take before he breaks like twig.

The truth, this feeling of helplessness is not cause by Mur Brung’s death or the people who killed him and in fact he did even feel guilty or indebted to Mur Brung even if his death is because of him.

The real reason of this desperation is because he is reminded of his life back on earth. This is already his fifth life and countless years have already passed yet these memories are coming back to haunt him like they happened yesterday. He does not know why his memories are intact every time he reincarnate yet why can’t he reincarnate to a world similar earth so he could relive his life and at least make amends of his past.

Clay clenched as his teeth and hold on to his sanity.

Right now, he needs to bury the matters of Mur Brung first before thinking about his next actions. It is a mystery he gets a chance to meet this man on this lifetime but Mur Brung does not seem to know him. Although they have only met two times, and especially for someone intelligent as him, Mur Brung should have hinted him if he knew or can remember about past life or other lives for that matter.

From the holographic recording, Mur said that he had always hoped to return the necklace back to Kei Lithe and while it is a long shot, this is the only way he can know for sure if Mur Brung has left him anything relevant.

“Alice?”

(Yes, Captain?)

“What’s required to visit the neighboring Galaxy?”

(Non-mission related visits requires the captain to pay 5,000 Merits. You currently have 4,957 points.)

“Do you have any recommendation to fill the missing points?”

(There are always passengers willing to pay but there is a limit. Since you’re required to drop by Emluar Tactical Base for clearance, I recommend we notify them in advance about your plans to guarantee passengers.)

“Do it. And set course to Emluar.”

(Aye, Captain.)

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Meanwhile, on one of the Terraformed Planets near Emluar Tactical Base, a competition is on going for aspiring Starship Engineers. Like every profession within Navarum Tri-Empire, Engineers must prove their worth and the easiest way to promote themselves is via competition.

After the first round of elimination, the remaining participants have been sent to their quarters and one room received a phone call.

“Young Master, I know this competition is important but I think I’ve found a better gift we can give your father on his birthday.”

“Are you sure it is a better than me having a placement during competition?”

“I swear in the name of our Clan, it will be three times better.”

“Then buy it and wrap it. How about our ride back home?”

“There is an S-Class ship that has posted its trip. I’ve already made arrangement with Emluar Base for clearance.”

“If I don’t get any placing, come pick me up.”

If regular person listens to the phone conversation, they will find nothing wrong but not for experience criminals as this can easily translate to them having caught a big target.

Three days later, Clay’s ship has arrived at Emluar Tactical Base. Unlike Base Zeros of Star Systems, this base has one of the tightest in terms of security that even he as a captain of an S-Class Ship can only be received at the edge of the solar system. For the first time in his life, Clay is looking at one massive Defensive Formation the size of a solar system.

His ship is currently docked at a floating satellite and he is currently outside waiting for the passengers that has been arranged by and received the same clearance. The information relayed to him a while back is that this group came to support their leader who unfortunately failed to get a placing during the competition for Starship Engineers.

Clay observed the incoming figures. Six of which have strength between 4TH and 5TH Ascendance, Two being Rank 7TH and one who is at the 1ST Level. As for their races, three of them have bluish skin but and the rest all Elvens.

“Greetings, Captain. My name is Drumi of Dorani Star. Thank you for allowing us to board our ship.”

“There is no need for formalities. I’m just a captain serving as your driver.”

Clay was about to levitate back to the ship but one of the 7TH Rank Ascendants asked a question.

“Is Captain in need of manpower? I heard your ship is being managed solely by Automatic Doll Mode. As you can see, my subordinates are unordinary.”

“It would be improper of me to use your service without compensation.”

“Captain does not need to be polite. I just feel that the Merits we paid is quite lacking for a hard working Captain such as yourself.”

“There is no need to concern yourselves. I will most certainly not be polite if I need everyone’s hand during this trip.” Clay feels oddly uncomfortable being complimented by superior races so he turned around and flew towards the entrance and went back to the bridge.

(Captain, everyone’s onboard and we’ve received required clearance.)

“Good. Our destination is Gar Wahger Star System and don’t forget to plot course to closest base of Dorani of our passengers. Ready for lift off.”

“Aye, Captain.”

Clay closed his eyes as the ship goes into warp.

Although Ordoti suddenly turned hostile, he was still planning on leaving her a Heaven Qi Vein after confirming that she is a descendant Fara. The people he had real interactions with 100 thousand years ago can be counted and they had all passed away now and the least he could do is help their future generations however, thinking back on Mur Brung’s message, if those Spiritual Veins is the reason the Sleepers invaded, then leaving Ordoti with a Heaven Qi Veins is the same as ensuring their demise.

He has a long future ahead of him so this debt of gratitude can be paid anytime. As of now, he needs to take care of Mur Brung’s last wish.

From time to time, his ship will resurface then goes back to warp again however on the second day, an accident occurred.

(Captain, I’ve detected forceful and unauthorized intrusions on multiple aspects of this ship especially on power supply and my brain. I’m getting us out of warp. Please evacuate the ship.)

“Alice, show me what’s going on? Who’s attacking us?”

Two seconds after the ship stopped multiple images had been uploaded on the screen, the followed by an explosion that seem to shake the entire ship.

“Alice?”

“Alice respond?”

“Tell me what’s going on Alice”

Clay continued to ask but there was no answer. He then turned to see the images uploaded on the screen and was surprised see Drumi and his subordinates wrecked havoc inside the ship.

“Hello Captain. Let me reintroduce myself. I am Drumi. I am part of Trojan Pirates. This is my ship now and if you value your life, please proceed to hangar one and take one of the escape pods. I don’t doubt your ability to fight but let me tell you that three warbirds will be arriving in 5 minutes.”

Clay looked at the video at the center of the screen. Drumi is currently holding a crawbar looking metal as he stood behind the primary power generators of the ship.

*Clish

The door opened and without his permission one of the Rank 7 Ascendant entered the bridge.

“I don’t wish to fight as our leader gave you a chance to escape. Choose wisely. I’m a Rank 7 Ascendant.”

Clay turned to see his guest. If he knew this kind of risk when taking in passengers, then he would rather complete another mission. Seeing that they have taken control of the ship without being noticed by Alice means that they are not your regular pirates. They even got clearance from Emluar Tactical Base which further proves their abilities.

“Tell me, Drumi. What make you think you can kill me?”

“Remember Captain. I gave you chance.”

*Weng!

Clay smirked and his aura burst forth and imbued it with his Dao. He did not hesitate to pour all his Dao Powers that the Rank 7 Ascendant within the bridge immediately froze and collapsed with his eyes rolling

*Argghh!!!

*Argghh!!!

Clay noticed that all the doors within his ship were opened so he pulled everyone’s unconscious bodies over to the control room including Drumi.

Clay did not have time to be impressed by his strength. He wanted to negotiate and have them repair back the ship but seeing Drumi’s reaction earlier, he already knew there is no talking to these types of people.

Clay extended his aura again to extract their circulation circuits. He does not plan on leaving their corpses intact. As he extracted their circuits, he searched their bodies for all their spatial rings.

*Exhale

Clay exhaled in exasperation. He stored all their corpses and walked towards hangar one. Any minute now, Drumi’s reinforcement ships will be showing up.

Ever since his plans did not go like he envisioned, he had been doing his best to keep his composure but today, he had been pushed to his limits.

As soon as he stood at the hanger, he saw twenty approaching Mecha suits and not far are three gigantic ships moving closer to his location.

*Sigh

Clay closed his eyes as today, he’ll become a mass murderer again.