After about ten minutes, Shan Mengzhi, the notorious leader of the Black Hat Pirate Group, also known as “Black Hat” with a bounty of 25 million letter stars, was brought before Elinore by two assault team members in power armor.
This was a Kapo, a race with a bulky body, a carapace on its back, and four upper limbs, but no legs. At first glance, it looked like a combination of a slug and a turtle. In fact, he moved by crawling and wriggling with his caterpillar-like lower body, so his running ability was naturally limited. However, while this race's four slender arms weren't very strong, they were quite agile, making them skilled at operating weapons and tools.
Additionally, Kapo people had round heads and innocent large eyes, making them look quite endearing and harmless overall. The race's appearance generally wasn't off-putting.
Shan Mengzhi’s “Black Hat” actually referred to a layer of black carapace that grew on top of his head, a physiological characteristic of the Kapo people. Naturally, it evolved to protect the vital head area.
“Congratulations on your victory, Colonel…” Shan Mengzhi grinned, looking at Elinore, and said sincerely, “I know I am a villain, but I can swear to the universe spirit that since I started, I have not robbed any Earthling merchant ships, not a single one.”
Actually, he hadn't had the chance to rob any yet, but regardless, that was the fact.
“I am a soldier, not an avenger. This battle is to restore the normal trade route order of the New World. All pirates are my targets,” Elinore said grandly.
Your bounties combined are worth fifty to sixty million, plus the ships.
“Ten days from now, two Bakerville merchant ships will trade with Hongkuzi Wansha in the Targa star system. Of course, they are all contraband. As far as I know, your country and Bakerville don’t have a good relationship, do they?”
Of course not, after all, Bakerville people were staunch allies of the Kaitai people. The Blue Star Commonwealth didn’t rise up simply because they didn’t share a border with them. But during the Independent War era, those bird people were one of the experience packs and backdrops for Marshal Li and his comrades to achieve their heroic path.
“Furthermore, Hongkuzi Wansha’s bounty is much higher than mine.” He opened his large, dark eyes and stretched his wide mouth, actually managing to squeeze out a pitiful, harmless expression, saying, “I wonder if this information can buy me and my subordinates a way out?”
Kong Qinghai, who was nearby, scoffed and shouted, “Pirate, I can make up twenty pieces of such information in a minute.”
“These two Bakerville merchant ships are flying the flag of the Sea God Fleet, but they are actually affiliated with the Bakerville Red Feather Trading Company, named Alvi and Sabei, with hull numbers D⌢ and B#@7213 respectively. Their Commander is Qingling Saden! They entered the New World on January 14th, via Star Gate 4, controlled by the Toss Merchant Group Nation.”
The staff officer nearby quickly consulted some updated database from before their departure and then nodded to Elinore.
“You seem to know quite a lot. As far as I know, your relationship with Hongkuzi Wansha isn’t very good,” the Commander said with a smile.
“…Well, this transaction, by rights, we should also be Present. Those cunning Bakerville merchants seek out pirates like us, who have minor conflicts, then offer goods and make us bid against each other.” He paused, saying helplessly, “They are all weapons, ammunition, medicine, energy packs, and ship materials that we people need. Oh, right, and ship slaves… The precious metals, gemstones, and spices on my ship are the payment for this time.”
This time, Elinore believed about seventy to eighty percent, and couldn’t help but chuckle, “Heh, you’re selling out your peers like this? It seems you’re not planning to stay in the business anymore!”
“My life is more important; I’ll worry about the future later,” Black Hat sighed helplessly. In fact, he had long wanted to retire and had prepared a fallback plan for himself. If he could escape this time, taking this opportunity to live out his golden years anonymously might not be a bad thing after all.
Elinore continued to toy with her whip, deep in thought. But at this moment, Ina, who was observing nearby, suddenly said, “He should have more things.”
“Professor Jones III, Miss Anda Jones, said that if a black-headed Kapo can offer 1 million, it means there must be 10 million hidden under his skull!”
“Lieutenant Sirilka…” Kong Qinghai was a bit helpless. He thought this girl was very capable, but sometimes her thinking was hard to follow. But then, he heard Ina say again, “Also, my intuition tells me that this guy has more than just this much to offer. Yu Lian taught me that spiritual energy users should occasionally trust their intuition.”
“…” Although Elinore felt a bit awkward, she inexplicably felt that what the other party said made a lot of sense.
“You don’t need to call him Commander. Now, when you meet, he has to call you Commander.”
Although it should only be limited to before graduation.
“Shan Mengzhi, you heard it all, right? Compared to a heinous pirate, I’d rather trust my own people’s intuition,” Elinore said with a smile. “Of course, I’m regular military, not some secret police. If you don’t speak now, I’ll have to hand you over to the relevant departments who will make you talk.”
The great pirate’s smooth skin suddenly twitched and showed a crease, which was a physiological sign of fear for Kapo people. His wide mouth twitched, and he slowly said, “…I, uh, this, I have a hidden treasure. This is the fleet’s savings, and I’m willing to hand it all over! Please, I beg for your forgiveness!”
Elinore felt more like a pirate herself, but this feeling wasn't bad at all, so she said with a mischievous tone, “Alright! But it can only buy one person’s life, you know.”
“That’s even better!” The other party’s eyes lit up, revealing an expression close to gratitude for the first time: “You truly are a Star Spirit Angel who saves from suffering, surely sent by the universe spirit to rescue my soul. If, if I can escape, I will certainly set up a longevity tablet for you and pray day and night, wishing for happiness!”
Elinore looked at the other party with an expression close to admiration. Facing such a straightforward, submissive fellow, she genuinely felt a bit reluctant to kill him at that moment.
“This guy should still have something to say,” Ina whispered to Elinore.
“I know. Yuli told me that Shan Mengzhi studied archaeology at Red Mountain University in the Alliance, making him a rare scholar among pirates. He’s been lingering in this unprofitable, uninhabited star system for the past two or three years, so he must have discovered something. Otherwise, why would I be fishing for him?” Elinore smiled. “But there’s no rush. I only said I’d spare his life, nothing else. We’ll just take our time asking.”
Ina nodded in agreement, but then suddenly realized: in that case, Commander Elinore Bonaparte bringing an entire security fleet with such a grand display, wasn’t it all instigated by someone behind the scenes?
“Commander, so you really are that kind of person!” Ina looked at the glowing-eyed Elinore, once again conveying clear disdain to a certain person millions of light-years away in the Milky Way Galaxy.
Subsequently, Elinore ordered all pirates to be temporarily detained and then summoned all officers for a meeting. After everyone had gathered, Elinore quickly explained the current situation and then asked, “What is the fleet’s current status?”
“Ammunition and energy are still sufficient, enough for three to four battles, and then we can return to New Lushun headquarters. As for food and fresh water, including what we seized from the pirate ships, we have enough for half a month,” Kong Qinghai replied.
“…Commander, why do you ask that? Are you not planning to return?” The speaker was Captain Lapeng, the fleet’s Navigator, an old man over sixty, and the oldest person in this small fleet.
The old man had a very rich life experience. He served in the military when he was young, and later held various positions on scientific research ships and merchant ships, rising to the rank of First Mate in the Sea God Fleet. After retirement, unable to bear the loneliness, he impulsively decided not to live out his golden years peacefully and surprisingly joined the colonial garrison fleet.
Of course, although his life experience was complex, having spent his entire life struggling on ships, his skills were certainly genuine. This might also be one of the protections Elinore’s family left for her.
“With such a large piece of meat in front of us, if we don’t eat it, even the universe spirit will punish us,” Elinore told the old man. “Moreover, once this deal is done, we’ll do a little accounting, and everyone’s spoils of war will be a huge share! Major Lapeng, for an important officer like you, it will be at least tens of millions.”
Major Lapeng was immediately convinced. If it weren’t for quick money, he wouldn’t have bothered to join the military in the New World at his age. Otherwise, with his abilities, he could still work on a large merchant ship for another ten years, earning millions annually.
Lieutenant Colonel Kong Qinghai raised a concern, “Commander, even if we don’t consider the possibility of this being a trap. However, Hongkuzi has more ships and subordinates than Shan Mengzhi, not to mention those Bakerville people. If we really want to intercept them, shouldn’t we request reinforcements?”
“This is not the Galaxy Native Land; communication isn’t that fast. Time waits for no one! The creed of humanity is the creed of courage! The purpose of the Commonwealth Navy is to annihilate upon discovery!” Elinore exclaimed.
Of course, what she was thinking was: such great merit, so many spoils of war, if I can have it all, why share it with others? After this deal, I’ll order two more Rangers and then start recruiting new soldiers. I’ll go to Gibraltar and Tulon to recruit people! Oh, right, I also need to hire some mercenaries to be instructors!
Alright, that’s decided.
Elinore said to everyone, “Don’t worry, I’m not some villain who sacrifices soldiers’ lives for Merits! Shan Mengzhi’s words just now reminded me. So, I have a bold plan!”