Free Web NovelChapter 274: Chapter 274: Star Thieves
"BANG, BANG, BANG." Three gunshots rang out, followed by a scream. frёewebηovel.cѳm
"Cover her mouth and shut her up," a vicious voice echoed inside the cabin.
"Nobody move! The captain is dead, and we’ve taken control of the Starship’s cockpit. There are 346 passengers and twenty-nine crew members aboard. Three of the crew just died, so now there are twenty-six. Listen up, all of you! Your positions are locked. Do not move. If we find anyone who dares to disobey..." The man paused, and then—BANG! A passenger in the middle of the cabin dropped to the floor.
"That’s what happens to those who disobey," the Star Thief leader threatened, glaring viciously at everyone through the holographic projection.
Ning Xuan turned to glance at Yu Mingche. He wore a look of utter confusion; this was his first time taking public transport, and he had never imagined they would encounter Star Thieves.
’Was this premeditated, or just a chance encounter? Are they here for him, or for me?’
"What do you want, hijacking this Starship?" This was a long-haul interstellar route, with no intersections with other flight paths. Unless they wanted to get lost in the vastness of the Star Domain, the Star Thieves couldn’t change course.
"An excellent question. What do you all think we want? Hahahaha! You’ll find out soon enough," the Star Thief leader boomed with a boisterous laugh.
"And now, I’ll pick a few of you... distinguished ladies for my brothers to enjoy—" Before he could finish, a loud CLANG suddenly echoed through the ship.
WHOOSH! All the lights inside the Starship went out in an instant. Through the cabin’s curved viewport, the pale blue glow of the outer Protective Shield could be seen flickering violently as the entire vessel began to tremble.
"Ahhh!" A fresh wave of screams erupted throughout the cabin.
"Fellow passengers, there aren’t many Star Thieves! The ship’s control system is experiencing a power failure, so let’s take them down together!" a man’s voice suddenly called out.
"I’ve marked the locations of the Star Thieves for all of you. Those passengers closest to them can act now."
"Anyone who helps eliminate a Star Thief will receive a reward from the Federation Government." These announcements came from several different voices, none of which used the Starship’s PA system, yet they were heard clearly by every person on board.
"How is this possible? I had full control of the energy systems! How could there be a malfunction?" the Star Thief leader yelled, on the verge of a breakdown.
"Brothers, find the troublemakers and drag them out!" the Star Thief leader commanded.
He had devised a meticulous plan to seize the energy control systems, even boarding this very Starship in advance to case it, studying every last nook and cranny.
While traveling through the boundless Star Domain, a Starship’s energy control system was its very lifeline. Control the energy, and you controlled the ship’s every move.
He had made so many plans. An oversight like this should have been impossible.
"Ghk... ghk..." In the darkness, something happened to the Star Thief leader, and he was suddenly unable to speak.
Just then, a myriad of light streams flashed past the viewports, illuminating the cabin’s interior with perfect clarity. In that momentary light, everyone saw the fierce-looking Star Thief leader hanging in mid-air, his neck constricted by intertwined black and red vines.
The once-arrogant Star Thief leader now dangled there, his terrified eyes fixed on the people in the cabin.
"Ahhh...!" Someone screamed again.
"What’s all the screaming about? It’s just a Star Thief dying. What’s so scary about that?"
"Stop! I have a hostage! I’m a technician who can operate the Starship’s energy systems! I was forced onto this ship! Don’t kill me!" one of the Star Thieves marked with a red dot screamed in panic, hiding behind a passenger he had taken hostage.
"I was forced, too! I surrender!" another Star Thief marked with a red dot yelled, immediately putting his hands on his head and kneeling on the floor.
CLANG! The Starship’s cabin suddenly lurched to one side. A deafening CRUNCH followed as the ship seemed to collide with something, nearly flipping completely over. A shrill alarm blared. "Warning! The Starship’s external shield has been breached. Energy is dropping rapidly. Please repair the shield immediately!" a cold, mechanical voice suddenly announced.
Ning Xuan, Yu Mingche, and the others were in the VIP section, not far from the forward command cabin. As the alarm blared, Ning Xuan watched a wine glass roll off a table and shatter on the floor. Her fingers clenched into a fist. ’If the Starship breaks down in this Star Domain, we’re in serious trouble.’
Tang Xue’s face was deathly pale as she clung to Min Wu, refusing to let go.
"Please, do not be alarmed. The energy control systems will be restored momentarily." A man wearing a silver mask that covered half his face levitated into the air. With a gesture, his subordinates began dragging the captured Star Thieves toward the spacious dining hall at the front of the Starship.
Ning Xuan recognized the masked man instantly. It was Feng Linran.
Just as Feng Linran stepped forward to stabilize the situation, Yan Fuzhen appeared at Ning Xuan’s side.
Both of these chief stewards had boarded the Starship incognito, as neither felt completely at ease letting their respective masters travel alone.
"Don’t touch me! Your Excellency Yi Lin, tell your men to stand down, or I’ll kill you right now!" The pirate, who had been disguised as a member of the Starship’s crew, ripped open his uniform to reveal the protective suit underneath.
The wave of spiritual power that burst from this pirate was immense, pinning everyone nearby in place.
"Stop, let them go! Let them go! I have Star Gold! Don’t kill me!" the mining tycoon from the A-level Mineral Resource Star System screamed in terror, his hands and feet bound by a Light Rope.
The moment he saw the hanged Star Thief, he’d had a bad feeling. He recognized the man’s face—he had seen him at least three times over the past half-year.
He had suspected from the start that this group was after him, and now, that suspicion was confirmed.
"I told you to stop, do you hear me?!" The Star Thief holding Her Excellency Yi Lin hostage began to panic as he watched Feng Linran completely ignore him and continue directing his men to secure the area.
Soon, the energy control systems rebooted, the cabin lights flickered back on, and the Starship’s external shield finished its repairs.
"TX Star-041 Wanted Criminal. You normally operate in the B-level Star Realm. What brings you to an S-Class Star Domain?" Feng Linran asked, his face devoid of expression as he unleashed his spiritual pressure.
The immense SSS-level pressure instantly froze the Star Thief where he stood. A Light Rope then shot out and bound him, and like the others, he was taken to the dining hall up front.
"Who are you? You’re not one of Feng Yilin’s people, are you? This is all a misunderstanding! We were just here for revenge against Feng Yilin! We mean no harm to anyone else, especially not Your Excellency! Why don’t... why don’t you let us go? We can give you all the wealth we’ve amassed over the years."
