Pirate Nebula – Headquarters of the Yinglong Pirate Group.
In a room decorated in a simple Chinese Han-Tang style, Lei Hengbang slammed his teacup onto the zitan wood table. The sharp sound filled the room.
At that moment, a holographic TV broadcast showed an announcement from the Cabas Empire.
The three-dimensional image showed a luxury private spacecraft being hit by a large laser beam. The beam went through it, and the explosion of its faster-than-light engine created a ball of flames. The ship then disappeared into the cold, dark space.
Lei Hengbang saw the small spacecraft’s serial number: ZLPBD---518.
A satisfied smile appeared on his face. He said, “Zhang Lian, that old man, was killed by the Cabas Empire’s battleships as a terrorist. How great!”
The door opened, and his eldest son, Lei Tiandu, walked in.
“Father, what makes you so happy?” Lei Tiandu asked.
“Zhang Lian, that old man, was killed by the Cabas Empire’s military. How great!” Lei Hengbang picked up his teacup and took a sip, looking pleased.
Lei Tiandu looked at the holographic TV for a moment, and his eyes lit up. “Father, does this mean we can now take over the United Front Department? I heard Zhang Lian’s son, Zhang Gao, is just a useless playboy, wasting his time on women and luxury. The United Front Department must be in trouble under his rule.”
“Hmph, you’re not much better! How dare you criticize others!” Lei Hengbang scolded his son, then added, “But yes, it’s time to act!”
“If Zhang Gao is finished, their direct Zhang family line will be cut off. It will be easier for us to take over the United Front Department.”
“The United Front Department controls 40% of our Yinglong Pirate Group’s money. It has been in the hands of the Zhang family. That’s why Zhang Lian dared to act so arrogantly, not showing respect to me, the leader.”
“By the way, take care of the leader’s guard unit. If we want to slowly take control from the other eight factions, we need military power. Otherwise, they won’t give up their power easily.”
Lei Tiandu grinned. “Don’t worry, Father. Our main fleet now has 150 ships, and we have 130,000 soldiers. I’ve already told the Ligu Ghost Pirate Group to attack other star systems. Once we have enough money, we’ll keep growing the leader’s guard unit.”
Li Zifeng, Yinglong Pirate Group’s Intelligence Director, was also watching the Cabas Empire’s announcement at home. When he saw that the so-called terrorist who had been killed was Zhang Lian, his heart skipped a beat.
“This must be a plot!” Li Zifeng’s years of experience in intelligence made him suspect something immediately.
“It’s probably Lei Hengbang’s doing,” he thought.
At the meeting of the nine factions, Zhang Lian had fought with Lei Hengbang. Not long after, Zhang Lian was killed by the Cabas Empire’s military. The timing was too suspicious.
Li Zifeng, who ran the Intelligence Department, had gotten information from his subordinates saying that Lei Hengbang was secretly growing his guard unit.
“Lei Hengbang, you’ve gone too far!” Li Zifeng muttered to himself.
Shi Mo, the Director of the History Department, sighed after watching the Cabas Empire’s broadcast. He said, “For one general’s success, many people die.”
Based on historical records, Shi Mo guessed that Lei Hengbang was behind Zhang Lian’s death.
Han Li, the Director of the Dark Dragon Department, was a big supporter of Lei Hengbang. His Dark Dragon Department had grown stronger with Lei Hengbang’s full support. The department was now very influential across different cosmic nations. The Dark Dragon Department had also become a key force in stopping the United Front Department.
After seeing the broadcast from the Cabas Empire, Han Li thought that Zhang Lian had just been unlucky, and the Cabas Empire’s military had mistakenly killed him.
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The Director of the Justice Department, Tian Heng, and the Director of the Public Security Department, He Tiezou, had forces within the Yinglong Pirate Group, but they stayed neutral. They focused only on their own territories and did not interfere with the fights between the big factions.
The Vice Leader, Qi Mu, was also neutral. He was a man of honor from a low-profile family. Qi Mu had always worked hard to manage the Chiyou Fleet. Though other big factions had put loyal followers in the Chiyou Fleet, Qi Mu didn’t mind. He was seen as someone who always did what was best for the entire Yinglong Pirate Group.
“Shi Lao, with Zhang Lian’s sudden death, how should we report it in the Propaganda Department?” He Yiting, the head of the Propaganda Department, video-called Shi Mo.
Shi Mo, the Director of the History Department, handled education and research in the Yinglong Pirate Group. He was a well-educated man, older than the other big faction leaders. Out of respect, He Yiting always called him “Shi Lao.”
Both the History and Propaganda Departments worked on culture, and they had a good relationship.
“Ah, Yiting! You know how things went when the nine of us met. Zhang Lian’s sudden passing really makes me sad.”
“We need to stay united, or the Yinglong Pirate Group will have no future!”
“I never thought the leader would... well, let’s not talk about that.”
“Zhang Lian was proud, but since he took over the United Front Department, the department’s funding grew a lot.”
“He made a lot of contributions to the Yinglong Pirate Group.”
“I think your department should focus on Zhang Lian’s achievements…”
Shi Mo talked for a long time.
After the call ended, He Yiting kept a neutral look. But inside, she understood Shi Mo’s thoughts.
As the head of the Propaganda Department, He Yiting usually worked with the other eight faction leaders on major announcements. She now knew their different opinions.
At that moment, she realized the Intelligence Department, History Department, and her own Propaganda Department would all see Lei Hengbang as the killer of Zhang Lian. With the United Front Department, influenced by Tong Hao, on her side, four major factions now supported her.
A few days later, the nine big faction leaders of the Yinglong Pirate Group met again to welcome Zhang Gao as the new head of the United Front Department and to pay respects for Zhang Lian’s death.
Zhang Gao, not wanting to come to the Yinglong Pirate Group headquarters, was busy and, influenced by Tong Hao, thought the headquarters was behind Zhang Lian’s death.
There was a virtual community in the universal holographic network called “Yinglong Home,” where members of the Yinglong Pirate Group interacted and relaxed.
The Yinglong Pirate Group had over two billion members in many bases in the Pirate Nebula and other secret parts of the galaxy. Though they were pirates, their structure and organization made them act like a small country inside.
Because the bases were small and far apart, the group created “Yinglong Home” online to help members communicate.
Once members’ minds connected to the holographic network, Yinglong Home served as a virtual nation for the group.
Recently, the Propaganda Department had been promoting Zhang Lian’s achievements, making many people talk and praise him in the Yinglong Home community.
Pirate A: “Director Zhang was really a great person! He raised so much money for us. He was the best United Front Director in history. It’s so sad he left us so soon.”
Pirate B: “Good people don’t live long! We pirates risk our lives every day and we’re fine. But Director Zhang, sitting in his office, was killed by a battleship. If only he had stayed in his office and not gone out.”
Pirate C, speaking in a mysterious tone: “Pirate B, you’re wrong. If someone wants to hurt you, you’re not safe, even if you hide. You won’t live long.”
Pirate D, interested: “Pirate C, what do you mean? What’s going on? Speak up, or I’ll beat you!”
Pirate C, reluctantly: “Haven’t you heard? Zhang Lian had a big fight with our leader Lei Hengbang at the meeting and quickly left the Yinglong Pirate Group headquarters. Then, he was suddenly killed by a battleship in the Cabas Empire.”
Pirate E quickly added: “So you mean, Leader Lei used a knife to kill Zhang Lian?”
Pirate C, angrily: “Damn you, Pirate E, don’t make up things!”
At that moment, a crowd of people gathered, exchanging knowing looks.
Gossip and rumors spread easily anywhere.
The chat in the Yinglong Home community quickly spread, with many twists and turns.
Soon, many rumors and speculations about Zhang Lian’s death spread across the entire community.
A few days later, the trending topics in Yinglong Home were:
1. Why were Zhang Lian and Lei Hengbang not getting along?
2. The fight between Zhang Lian and Lei Hengbang at the last meeting.
3. Strange things about Zhang Lian’s death.
4. The sudden growth of Lei Hengbang’s personal guard unit.
5. Lei Hengbang’s seventh son beating a man over a young woman.
6. We need to ask the Cabas Empire for justice for Zhang Lian’s death.
The top ten trending topics were all about Zhang Lian and Lei Hengbang, including bad reports about Lei Hengbang’s family.
In particular, an article analyzing Zhang Lian’s death asked two important questions:
1. Zhang Lian, the brave United Front Director, died without any explanation. Why did the Cabas Empire shoot him down so quickly and carelessly?
2. Did the mysterious disappearance of the spaceship have anything to do with the growing tension between Zhang Lian and Lei Hengbang?
The ninth faction, the Gai family, quickly released a statement. They said that Zhang Lian’s death needed more investigation. Because of this, the mood in the Yinglong Pirate Group became more tense.
At the same time, rumors about Lei Hengbang’s fast-growing guard unit spread even more, and his faction’s goals began to get more attention.