IMAO Chapter 6

After Ji Rong shot one of the men inside, the others unleashed a barrage of gunfire at the doorway. The shooting went on for a long time, with Jiang Yuan and Ji Rong pressed against the wall. Jiang Yuan even picked up a gun from the floor.

When the gunfire ceased, low curses could be heard from inside. Jiang Yuan couldn’t make out the words clearly, but he caught the faint sound of fabric rustling against objects.

The men inside could pinpoint Jiang Yuan and Ji Rong’s positions, but the special alloy of the ship’s walls was impenetrable to bullets. With the two guarding the entrance without exposing themselves, the men inside had no way to attack.

Jiang Yuan noticed the men inside had wisened up and were no longer showing themselves.

Both sides remained at an impasse for quite some time.

After ambushing the guards and seizing their weapons earlier, Falcon Squad’s captain, Jason, had led his team to the Destiny’s command center. They took control of the entire room in just minutes of fighting. But he never expected someone to suddenly appear and intervene!

Who could it be?

Federation soldiers?

Had the Federation known all along about their plan to hijack the Destiny and take hostages in exchange for General Ferdinand Berkeley, who’d been captured by Ji Chong?

Jason couldn’t help but think: No, that’s impossible. If the Federation truly knew about their plan beforehand, they never would have let them board the Destiny in the first place. The Federation government wouldn’t dare risk civilian lives to lure them in.

Falcon Squad was an elite Imperial unit. Only eleven of their finest had infiltrated the Destiny for this mission. But now six were dead, and one of the remaining five had been wounded in the earlier firefight with the ship’s security team. They were at a disadvantage!

Damn it!

Where did that team outside come from? Their marksmanship was terrifyingly accurate!

“Well, it seems your plan has failed,” sneered the old man with Jason’s gun pressed against his temple.

Hearing Captain Dirk Archer’s mocking words, Jason’s face turned ashen. He pressed the gun harder against the captain’s forehead. “Shut up. Piss me off and I’ll blow your brains out.”

Dirk Archer gave the bearded Jason an icy glare.

In truth, when the command center was first attacked, Dirk Archer was on the verge of despair. He immediately recognized that their assailants were no ordinary space pirates but highly trained soldiers. These men had effortlessly cut through the ship’s security with stolen weapons.

The ship’s guards were no match for these formidable attackers. In mere minutes, the fight was over. Dirk Archer was the only crew member left alive in the control room.

As for why they’d kept him alive, Dirk Archer could only smile bitterly.

A starship captain held at least the rank of colonel. Publicly executing the captain would send a strong message to the Federation. That’s precisely why Jason had spared him.

Jiang Yuan glanced at Ji Rong but said nothing. Now that they’d engaged the enemy, it was kill or be killed. They were in this together.

Jiang Yuan gripped a gun in each hand, silently assessing the situation inside.

How many were left?

He couldn’t help but wonder. Five? Six? Or even more?

“Cover me. I’m going in,” Ji Rong said.

Hearing this, Jiang Yuan shrugged. “Alright.”

Since someone was willing to take the risk, Jiang Yuan had no objections.

As soon as Jiang Yuan agreed, Ji Rong burst into action. Caught off guard by Ji Rong’s sudden assault, Falcon Squad opened fire, attempting to gun him down.

Bullets whizzed through the air, striking the path where Ji Rong had rolled, leaving a trail of impact marks.

Jason, proving his worth as Falcon Squad’s leader, fired a shot to intercept Ji Rong’s predicted landing spot.

Bang!

Ji Rong’s expression turned cold as he realized he was about to be hit. In that split second, he forced himself to change his landing point!

Even so, the bullet that would have struck his chest was still going to hit him—not in a fatal spot, but in his foot!

Without hesitation, Jiang Yuan took aim and fired two shots in quick succession!

Bang!

Bang!

Of the three bullets flying through the air, two collided mid-flight, intercepting Jason’s shot. The third continued on its trajectory!

Before Jason could react in surprise, his body crumpled to the ground, the back of his head a bloody mess.

Ji Rong opened fire as well, taking down the other four men in the control room one after another. Seeing his “comrade” perform so reliably, Jiang Yuan gave Ji Rong an approving look.

Hmm, this guy might be irritating, but his skills are impressive.

Just as Jiang Yuan had this thought, a head suddenly popped up from under a desk. As Jiang Yuan raised his gun to shoot, a hand abruptly grabbed the barrel.

“Don’t shoot!”

Jiang Yuan hesitated. He realized the person who had come out wasn’t an enemy but the Destiny’s captain.

He recognized Dirk Archer as the captain because he had appeared on a projection and spoken when the ship launched.

Dirk Archer was momentarily stunned to see two young faces at the doorway. Having encountered countless people in his life, he could tell these two were no older than twenty. Had they really taken down the Falcon Squad that had hijacked the entire ship?

Dirk Archer was too shocked to speak. Meanwhile, not far from their location, two great military forces faced off among the stars.

“General, the Imperial Shadow Hunters are requesting communication.”

After Xu Yue agreed to connect, the familiar face of his old rival, Basil Gallop, appeared on the screen.

Basil Gallop had beautiful golden hair and striking blue eyes. Handsome and dressed in a black uniform, he sat in his chair with a carefree smile. “It’s been a while, General Xu. I’m pleased to see you again.”

Xu Yue raised an eyebrow, giving Basil Gallop a cold look. “I don’t want to see you. Get lost.”

“General Xu is as crude and uncivilized as ever,” Basil Gallop’s lips curled upward, seemingly resigned to Xu Yue’s response.

However, Xu Yue had no interest in further conversation with Basil Gallop. He immediately issued attack orders. Though the Federation and Empire were currently in a ceasefire, the Shadow Hunters had crossed into Federation territory. His attack would be justified.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

With the attack order given, three missiles struck the Shadow Hunters’ warship, instantly destroying its left wing.

On the screen, Basil Gallop shook with the violent tremors of his ship. His expression turned ugly, a cold, venomous look crossing his face. He snarled, “Xu Yue, I have the Goddess of Destiny in my hands.”

“There are 30,000 people aboard the Destiny. You sent me three missiles, so I’ll kill 300… no, 3,000 people!”

Hearing Basil Gallop’s words, Xu Yue lost his composure. This bastard did have an ace up his sleeve. “You wouldn’t dare!”

“What wouldn’t I dare?” Basil Gallop chuckled, then ordered a subordinate, “Establish communication with the Destiny. Let General Xu see if I dare or not.”

Xu Yue trembled with rage. Everyone in the Fearless’s control room shuddered at Basil Gallop’s smile. This Imperial general was notorious for his ruthlessness. He had another name—”the Ripper”—and if he said he would do something, he meant it.

Inside the Destiny, having just averted disaster, Jiang Yuan sat down to rest, with Ji Rong beside him.

Ji Rong glanced at Jiang Yuan, then extended his hand. “I’m Ji Rong. What’s your name?”

“Jiang Yuan,” he replied casually, shaking Ji Rong’s hand briefly.

Ji Rong: “Thanks for earlier.”

Jiang Yuan: “Consider us even.”

They fell silent after this exchange. Meanwhile, Captain Dirk was trying to contact the Interstellar Patrol. Due to signal jamming, he couldn’t get through.

As he grew anxious, the ship’s signal suddenly restored. At that moment, an unfamiliar communication request came through. Dirk hesitated, then accepted the call.

A face that could be described as beautiful appeared on the screen. Upon seeing Dirk, the caller’s expression tightened. “Where’s Jason?”

Dirk, having heard the name of the man who had held him hostage, replied directly, “Dead.”

Hearing Dirk’s words, Basil Gallop’s expression instantly froze. Xu Yue, still connected to the call, couldn’t help but laugh.

“Basil Gallop, is this what you meant by having the Destiny in your hands?” Xu Yue smirked mockingly.

Basil Gallop’s face turned ashen. He glanced at Xu Yue, then forced a somewhat regretful smile, maintaining his composure. “Well then, General Xu, until next time.”

At Basil Gallop’s command, a massive black hole suddenly appeared around the Shadow Hunter ship. In the next instant, they engaged in a spatial jump and vanished from that part of space.

Seeing this, Xu Yue raised an eyebrow slightly. Basil Gallop had expended a great deal of the Shadow Hunter’s energy to perform that spatial jump. Even if Xu Yue wanted to pursue, he couldn’t.

“So, who are you?” Jiang Yuan asked, confused by the golden-haired man who had appeared on the screen after the communication was established.

Jiang Yuan’s voice echoed through the Shadow Hunter ship, which was still connected to the Destiny.

Basil Gallop was nearly driven mad by the black-haired youth on the screen. This person didn’t know who he was and had ruined his plans!

Damn it!

If not for the need to maintain the dignity befitting an Imperial noble, Basil Gallop would have liked to offer some choice words about Jiang Yuan’s parents.

Ji Rong gave Jiang Yuan an odd look. Judging by his expression, it seemed Jiang Yuan really didn’t recognize the “Ripper” Basil Gallop.

Basil Gallop flashed what he thought was a charming smile. “I’ll remember you. Trust me, we’ll meet again.”

Jiang Yuan: “No need. Goodbye.”

As soon as Jiang Yuan finished speaking, he followed Alphonse’s guidance to find the button on the control panel and cut off communication with the Shadow Hunter warship.

Basil Gallop, staring at the now-black screen: “…”

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Raine: I will be out for an early birthday trip to Japan but I have scheduled chapters in advance to cover the weeks I will be away. If there are any bonus chapters, I will update when I get back, which should be late-August or early-September.

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