Chapter 221: What a sin, who let Bai Fu into the Starsea?
Under the command of fury, the Centurion punched the control console in front of him to bits.
Flying mechanical parts bounced off his forehead and came into intimate contact with the bulging veins twisted like old tree roots.
After bouncing a few times, the mechanical parts fell to the ground with a crisp sound, but that sound couldn’t cover his heavy breathing.
The Centurion was fuming.
His skin, originally light red, had darkened into a congested, swollen shade of crimson due to his overwhelming rage.
However, his cardiovascular health was far better than Yulia had imagined. Even in such a state of anger, he still stood firm and unshaken.
A few minutes later, the Centurion finally calmed down.
Watching as the spaceship flew farther and farther from its intended destination, he realized it was not the time to be angry. The most urgent matter was to immediately inform the others of what had happened here so they could be mentally prepared.
The Centurion immediately tried to contact the other teams sent by headquarters. Unfortunately, no matter how he used the communicator, he received no response.
With no other choice, he quickly contacted the Black Flute Pirate Crew. After some static, the call finally went through.
He promptly reported what had happened on his end to the crew leader of the Black Flute Pirate Crew, Daken, urging him to stay alert.
Then he urgently contacted the headquarters of the Secret Tower. The Master of the Secret Tower didn’t say much, merely cursed Bai Fu furiously at the top of his lungs, then said he would notify the other teams and told him to find a way to rendezvous with them quickly.
The Centurion’s response was indeed swift, but how could Bai Fu, who had used the Heart of Simulation to seize control of the spaceship, not have tampered with his communicator?
In reality, both “Daken” and the “Master of the Secret Tower” he spoke to were impersonated by Bai Fu. When she eavesdropped on Daken’s earlier conversations with Secret Tower Headquarters, she had already stolen their voices.
If the Centurion had been vigilant enough, he might have suspected that his communicator had been tampered with. But it didn’t matter. Bai Fu wasn’t worried in the slightest about him seeing through her trick.
And so what if he did?
Could the Centurion punch her through the communicator?
There were indeed some Espers in the Starsea who could do that, but the Centurion was clearly not one of them.
“As long as I can prevent the Centurion from properly communicating with others, that’s good enough. As for what’s next…”
Bai Fu’s gaze locked onto a small dot specially marked in red by the ship AI on the radar screen. These dots represented ships of the Black Flute Pirate Crew.
At this moment, the crew leader of the Black Flute Pirate Crew, Daken, was busy contacting the reinforcements sent by the Secret Tower.
He had only one simple question for each of them—
Are you here yet? Are you here yet? Are you here yet?
Narrowly escaping death didn’t bring Daken relief—it only made him more anxious and terrified.
A person’s name is like a tree’s shadow.
That was Bai Fu!
The woman reputed to be the toughest in the Sea Lion Galaxy, who had stirred up such chaos for the Secret Tower that even the Master of the Secret Tower couldn’t help but curse—Bai Fu!
Now she was hunting him down. How could he not be afraid? He was only an A-rank Esper! Expecting someone of his rank to participate in battles of this caliber was just too much.
Unless he boarded one of the Secret Tower’s reinforcement ships, Daken couldn’t feel at ease for even a moment.
Fortunately, everything had gone relatively smoothly so far. Everyone he had contacted told him, “Almost there, just hang on a bit longer.” Especially the Centurion, who pounded his chest and assured him that Bai Fu was nothing and he could take her out in one blow.
That was typical of Calamity-ranked Espers—always so arrogant.
“Then I look forward to witnessing your mighty figure in action, Centurion!”
“Gladly, gladly.”
Bai Fu turned off the communicator, ending her conversation with Daken.
Then she turned around and smiled at Yulia. “Alright, now we can head to the rendezvous point and wait for the Black Flute Pirate Crew to deliver themselves to us.”
The corner of Yulia’s mouth twitched. “I’m starting to feel grateful that we only fought twice before switching to cooperation. Otherwise, if you sold me out, I’d probably be happily counting the money for you.”
Bai Fu rolled her eyes.
As if you were some innocent little bunny—who was it again that used the excuse of conducting experiments to pester me with magic every day? Luckily I boosted my physique early on, or I’d have been squeezed dry like those mummified corpses back in the Goli Desert.
Don’t worry, once we help Scarlet Leaf ascend to Calamity rank, I’ll squeeze you dry in return. If you don’t push the Apostle’s Heart to the fifth tier, don’t even think about leaving the lab!
“Time to get to work.”
Bai Fu shouted in the internal channel of the Dark Moon Tide.
…
Half an hour later.
Asteroid belt, near asteroid E3-X012.
Daken’s eyes darted between the radar screen and communicator. His subordinates, seeing his tense demeanor, didn’t dare say a word. The whole ship was so oppressive it felt like a morgue.
Who knows how long had passed when a small blue dot suddenly appeared on the radar, and the communicator lit up at the same time.
“We’re here. Where are you? Hurry over.”
Daken recognized the voice—it was Rolf, the S+ rank Esper from the Secret Tower.
Thank the heavens!
Reinforcements had finally arrived!
If his crew hadn’t been present, Daken might have burst into tears. Only he knew the pressure he had endured these past few hours.
Once he met up with the Secret Tower people, even if Bai Fu caught up, it wouldn’t be his problem anymore. As soon as he handed over the Dissociative Agent Base Sample, he could sit back and watch Bai Fu and the Secret Tower tear each other apart.
The Secret Tower had sent a Calamity-ranked Esper this time. Bai Fu might be able to resist ship’s cannons, but could she withstand an attack from someone at Calamity rank?
Right now, Daken could only hope Bai Fu was foolish enough to crash headfirst into the Centurion’s ambush. Then the Centurion could rid the Gateway Cluster of this massive threat once and for all.
All the evildoers of the Gateway Cluster, lend your strength to the Centurion—today is the day to exterminate the scourge and shoot down the sun!
Daken prayed sincerely, then gave his crew the order.
“Full speed to the target point. We’re linking up with Rolf.”
Upon hearing they were meeting up with the Secret Tower’s people, Daken’s crew broke into smiles.
Hooray, we’re saved. Hooray, finally saved!
About two minutes later, a spaceship came into view. It was of typical Secret Tower design, over 400 meters long, about the size of a standard frigate.
Daken saw nothing suspicious. After speaking with the operator on the other ship, he slowed down, disarmed the ship, and initiated docking procedures.
With a series of clunks, the docking passage of the two ships connected.
“Lord Rolf, I truly can’t thank you enough. If you hadn’t come all this way to save me, I’d be done for. From now on, my life is yours. If you tell me to go east, I’ll never go west!”
While declaring his loyalty through the communicator, Daken anxiously awaited the opening of the airlock.
“Oh, since you said that, I won’t hold back then.”
“Hold back? No need, whatever you command—”
Daken’s voice cut off mid-sentence. The airlock in front of him had opened, and the person behind it came into view.
He knew this person all too well.
Wasn’t that Bai Fu?
The problem was—why was Bai Fu here?
Daken’s brain instantly froze. The subordinates behind him were in the same state. No one screamed, no one looked terrified. They all stood frozen in place, as if a time-stop button had been pressed.
The crisp sound of shoes striking the floor approached.
When the sound stopped, Bai Fu was standing right in front of Daken.
“Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to personally deliver the Dissociative Agent Base Sample to me.”
Bai Fu nodded at Daken, flashing a gentle and refreshing smile.
As she spoke, she extended her right hand and took the box containing the base sample from Daken’s hands.
“You you you you you…”
Daken stuttered endlessly but couldn’t form a complete sentence.
He had considered every possibility—except this one.
Why was Bai Fu aboard a Secret Tower ship? Did Rolf betray them? Or did Bai Fu take him out and hijack the Secret Tower’s ship?
Daken tried to figure it out but couldn’t. His head felt like it was about to explode.
What he could never have imagined was that Bai Fu had long since taken control of his flagship, and even made the ship’s AI simulate a false image, tricking him into thinking her ship was a Secret Tower ship.
At this moment, Daken only wanted to curse.
What a sin!
Why did he ever agree to safeguard the Dissociative Agent Base Sample for the Secret Tower to curry favor with them? That damned thing barely enhanced mental strength. Now look—he was being hunted by Bai Fu.
What a sin!
Who the hell created a freak like Bai Fu and sent her into the Starsea to torment them?
No, now wasn’t the time to curse—surrendering was the only option left.
“I…”
As soon as Daken opened his mouth, Bai Fu activated the Mind Lock pendant hanging on her chest.
An invisible psionic shockwave surged forward like a tidal wave. In the very next second, all those caught in the wave had their eyes turn vacant. A new status appeared uniformly behind their names—
【Descent of the Deity】
Under the brainwashing effect of Descent of the Deity, every member of the Black Flute Pirate Crew, led by Daken, became Bai Fu’s loyal hounds.
Bai Fu wasn’t in a hurry to eliminate the Black Flute Pirate Crew. She still intended to lure and kill the reinforcements from the Secret Tower one by one. Since she planned to deceive them, how could she do without these extras from the Black Flute Pirate Crew?
"Hurry, hurry, hurry."
Before the reinforcements from the Secret Tower could arrive, Bai Fu quickly directed Yulia, Scarlet Leaf, and Cecia to transfer into the Black Flute Pirate Crew’s spaceship. As for the ship they had originally arrived in, she simply parked it on a nearby larger asteroid.
Once everything was ready, Bai Fu hauled out the Dark Domain Insect Queen and handed her the four additional Original Samples of the Dissociative Agent she had collected.
"Don't forget your previous promise."
"You really underestimate me. I am a queen! A queen has her dignity. Don’t you know the saying—‘a queen’s word is final!’"
The Dark Domain Insect Queen snorted and rolled toward the base sample.
As before, the Original Sample began fusing with her.
Unlike last time, this time cracks appeared clearly on the Insect Egg after the fusion was complete.
Was she about to crawl out of the egg?
Bai Fu watched the Insect Egg with great interest, curious to see what the Dark Domain Insect Queen looked like. Ordinary Dark Domain Insects weren’t exactly ugly, but at the very least, each had their own bizarre look.
Not only her—Yulia and the others were also staring at the Insect Egg without blinking.
Being watched didn’t make the Dark Domain Insect Queen the least bit bashful; instead, she became even more excited.
Haha! You commoners, take a good look at the magnificent form of your queen!
Soft blue light spilled from the cracks in the Insect Egg. As the cracks widened, the blue light completely flooded the entire room.
As the light gradually faded, what appeared in Bai Fu’s field of vision was a creature roughly forty centimeters long.
She floated in mid-air, looking much like a butterfly at first glance. Four pale blue, translucent wings fluttered lightly like chiffon caught in the wind, dreamy and ethereal. Her upper body had already mostly turned humanoid, and compared to the usual Cosmic Humanoids, only the details differed.
For instance, she had a blue rhombus-shaped mark at the center of her forehead, like an embedded matte gemstone.
For instance, feathers sprouted upward behind her temples, adorably resembling ahoge strands.
For instance, her teeth were serrated—clearly she had a good appetite.
For instance, her fingers looked segmented like carapace, rather than normal flesh and bone, exuding a chill and sharpness.
But regardless, by Bai Fu’s aesthetic, this half-human, half-insect lifeform was extremely cute—no less than Anya.
"This is a form I evolved myself. How is it? Have you fallen for me yet?"
The Dark Domain Insect Queen proudly shook the large tail of her lower half.
"You may call me Queen Cypris! Whew~ I finally crawled out of that cramped Insect Egg. I was suffocating in there. Once I’ve fully recovered my strength, I’ll even be able to turn my lower body human too—it’ll be even prettier then."
Bai Fu curled her lips. You're so smug, but still not as pretty as me.
"Alright, alright, enough of the narcissism. Hurry up and help Scarlet Leaf boost her willpower."
"Huh? You're not planning to boost your own willpower?"
Cypris was surprised. She had been planning to leave her mark on Bai Fu while boosting her willpower.
She was very satisfied with Bai Fu—a woman qualified to be her queen, in both power and looks.
"I don’t need it. I have my own method. Help Scarlet Leaf first. The urgent task now is getting her to advance to Calamity as soon as possible."
Urged by Bai Fu, Cypris reluctantly extracted her Mental Origin to help Scarlet Leaf improve her mental attributes. It was at this moment that Bai Fu received the mission completion prompt.
【You have completed the main storyline mission [Dark Domain Insect Swarm Conflict (1)], and earned 24 million experience points and the Mental Origin of the Dark Domain Insect Queen】
Wrapped in the Mental Origin, Scarlet Leaf’s mental attributes began to increase at an unbelievable rate.
+1, +1, +1...
Good grief, even those repetitive responders in chat groups don’t hit +1 this fast, right?
But the state didn’t last long.
After some time, the growth rate slowed, and eventually stopped at 271.
This number wasn’t especially outrageous—after all, Scarlet Leaf had absorbed a single Mental Origin from Cypris, who in her prime possessed Domination-level power.
Bai Fu walked to the closed-eyed Scarlet Leaf. "How do you feel?"
Everyone looked at Scarlet Leaf, awaiting her response.
Scarlet Leaf’s body trembled uncontrollably.
The feeling...
Since the day her sister passed away, a heavy burden had weighed on her shoulders. But today, she finally felt that burden lifted. She could now control the Void power within her through her own will. Never before had her body felt so light. Never before had she wanted to express her gratitude so... intensely.
"Bai Fu."
Scarlet Leaf suddenly opened her eyes and hugged Bai Fu tightly.
If that had been all, things might still be manageable. But the moment she embraced Bai Fu, Scarlet Leaf threw herself into a passionate kiss.
"???"
Just a second ago, Cecia had been feeling envious that Scarlet Leaf had finally broken free of the Void’s shackles while she was still trapped in the spider’s torment.
The next second, Cecia’s hair started dancing in rage on the spot.
What are you doing?!
Kill you, kill you, kill you, kill you...
Luckily, Yulia was right beside her. Otherwise, Cecia might really have made a move.
Cypris, on the other hand, wasn’t nearly as restrained.
Hey hey hey! You commoner, how dare you lay your hands on my woman! Have you no shame?!
She flapped her wings furiously and tried to pull Scarlet Leaf off, but even after metamorphosis, she was only level 50—moving Scarlet Leaf was a pipe dream.
Eventually, Scarlet Leaf realized what she had done and let go of Bai Fu with an awkward expression.
"I... I got too excited. I’m going to calm down. Once I evolve my race into a Prophet, I’ll be able to ascend to Calamity. You all... see you later."
For the first time ever, the usually brash Scarlet Leaf showed a shy expression.
As she turned and ran, she didn’t forget to glance back at Bai Fu one more time. When she reached a secluded corner, she even licked her lips to savor Bai Fu’s taste.
Bai Fu cleared her throat.
Ahem.
Scarlet Leaf would probably need at least half a day before reaching Calamity. Meanwhile, they still had the Secret Tower to deal with!
They’d already stolen the Black Flute Pirate Crew’s spaceship—wouldn’t it be a waste not to scam a few members of the Secret Tower with it?
Seeing Bai Fu get back to business, the others quickly shelved thoughts of Scarlet Leaf. They held their breath and focused, waiting for Bai Fu to contact the reinforcements from the Secret Tower.
"Lord Rolf, it’s me, Daken. I’ve arrived at the rendezvous point. Oh? You’re almost here? Wonderful!"
A dozen minutes later, Rolf piloted his ship to the rendezvous point.
Just like before, the two ships docked.
Rolf never dreamed that when the hatch opened, he would be greeted not by Daken, but by a surprise attack of Dark Burn unleashed by both Hei Fu and Bai Fu, and a full-force Life Drain from Cecia.
He didn’t even have time to scream before collapsing to the floor.
After casually finishing off the rest of the crew aboard the ship, Bai Fu used Daken’s communicator to call the next wave of Secret Tower personnel.
"Lord Sorel, it’s me, Daken. Lord Rolf and I have arrived at the rendezvous point, you..."
Another twenty-odd minutes passed.
"Lord Garrett, it’s me, Daken. I, Lord Rolf, and Lord Sorel have already..."
This time, Bai Fu couldn’t take down Garrett because mid-fight, the rest of the Secret Tower members arrived.
Fine.
If we can’t keep up the act, then let’s drop it!
So what if it’s a Starry Behemoth and two S+ rank Psionicists? She didn’t fear one-on-one fights—and she had Cecia fighting alongside her.
Bai Fu tore off her disguise. She first sent the brainwashed Daken to pilot the ship toward Centurion, then took Cecia with her to confront the Secret Tower’s spaceship and the Abyss Stalker.
"If you’ve got guts, come face me one-on-one!"
Bai Fu shouted across the Interstellar Common Language broadcast channel.
The Secret Tower members had already been seething from her antics. Now that she stepped up openly, they all smiled.
A duel?
"Activate the main cannon. Once we engage Bai Fu, use the main cannon to ambush her. She may have survived Reynolds’ ship cannon, but I don’t believe she can withstand mine!"
S+ rank Psionicist Mosin, who had come to support Garrett, wore a cruel expression.
Bai Fu tricked them before—now it was their turn to strike back!
After issuing the order, Mosin, Garrett, and the Abyss Stalker all charged toward Bai Fu and Cecia.
Confident and full of zeal—they had no idea the control of their spaceship had long since fallen into Bai Fu’s hands.