Since the demise of the Scarlet Star, the Star Thief Legion has become famous for its fierce reputation, and everyone who mentions it looks terrified.
The names of "Reaper" and "Firefox" were also spread, ranking first and second on the Empire's most wanted list.
Ruan Yuebai did not leave immediately, but stayed on the Black Phantom temporarily, leading Rong Heng and his party to Barham Star, to make up for the fleet Lansing had promised with the Barham Arsenal and weapons.
But apart from the necessary meetings, he was like a shadow on the Black Phantom, with almost no sense of presence.
Since the explosion of the Sky Blue Star and the death of Lansing, his mood has become very light. He used to be taciturn and gloomy, but now he has no mood at all.
In Nauta's words, he is like a migrating fish, but he lost his companions halfway and lost his direction. Drifting dazedly in the water, drifting with the current.
Rong Heng is noncommittal about this.
But Nota's words moved him: "Didn't you always want to build an invincible fleet? He is strong enough to be a captain."
In today's interstellar pirate group, there are not many powerful people, but these people were originally wanted criminals or star thieves recruited from all over the world, and they are all vicious people. The premise of their allegiance to Rong Heng is that he can bring them huge benefits. Not to mention loyalty and faithfulness, you can't even entrust your back.
Once Rong Heng had an accident, the first wave of rebellion was estimated to be these people.
So Rong Heng has been selecting reliable candidates over the years, preparing to build a fleet loyal to himself after he has accumulated enough.
It's just that soldiers are easy to find, but good generals are hard to find.
So far, only Nota has passed his test.
Now that Nuota mentioned Ruan Yuebai, he thought about it seriously and thought that this was indeed a good candidate.
Ruan Yuebai is of mermaid bloodline. He is not only good at water attack, but also has a very smart brain. Compared with Nota's rough and simple fighting style, he is more like a strategist who can strategize in the rear.
"You can touch and have a look," Rong Heng finally said.
Nota went to the rest cabin to find Ruan Yuebai with a wine glass.
They are on their way to Barham Star, Ruan Yuebai is happy and quiet, most of the time she stays alone in the corner of the rest cabin, quietly looking out the porthole.
"What's so beautiful outside? It's so dark." Nota leaned over and looked out head to head with him.
Ruan Yuebai leaned back a little uncomfortable, pulled away, and said in a hoarse voice, "Is something wrong?"
He doesn't like chatting with people, and he stays now just to keep his promise.
"I can't find you if I have nothing to do?" Nota shrugged and shook his glass at him. She was originally a very charming and beautiful appearance, but the scars running through her cheeks made her a little more outrageous, and her words and deeds were rough, which diluted the natural charm of the Nine-tailed Fox Clan and made her a little more forthright.
"I think we are very destined." She approached Ruan Yuebai again and pointed to the wound on his face.
It means that they have wounds on their faces, and their faces are broken.
"I cut myself with a knife to avoid pursuit and trouble." She rolled her eyes slyly, stared at Ruan Yuebai and said, "How about you?"
Ruan Yuebai subconsciously frowned, her cheeks turned to the shadow, hiding the scars on her face.
Mermaids pay attention to appearance is engraved in their genes, even after so long, he still can't face himself. When they stayed with Lansing on Scarlett Star, they lived in a place where not even a mirror was placed.
He was also reluctant to bring up that difficult time.
But Nota's eyes were clear, and he asked the question with a "we are the same" intimacy that didn't make him feel too offensive.
After Lansing left, he was too lonely, and at this moment he had the desire to talk.
He brushed his long blue hair covering his cheeks and said in a hoarse voice, "It was done in the laboratory. Later, the injury was not treated properly and it deteriorated."
Originally, the scar should not be so serious, but at that time, he escaped from the transport ship that transported the experimental body, and was living in Junk Star. At that time, the environment was harsh, and the scars on the face and tail were naturally impossible to be properly treated, and the infection even worsened. Later, a large scar was left, and even one eye lost its visual function.
Although Lansing found him later, he asked many doctors to treat him, but the liquid that eroded the wound was too special, and the damage could not be reversed.
"I said we were very destined." Nota propped her chin, and the only remaining flaming fox tail swayed gently behind her.
Ruan Yuebai noticed that she only had one tail.
Similar experiences have made the two of them less familiar. Ruan Yuebai is still withdrawn and gloomy, but occasionally chats with Nuota for a while.
Ruan Shiqing watched as Nuota coaxed Ruan Yuebai into his own camp before arriving at Barham.
The three form an alliance.
Rong Heng wanted to find out the truth of her mother's death and avenge her; and Nuota wanted to be the governor of Tutar and let those noble purebloods kneel at her feet; as for Ruan Yuebai, Since Lansing and Scarlett Star died together, he lost his goal and had nowhere to go, so he followed Nota's advice, stayed and tried to use Rong Heng and Nota as new companions.
Ruan Shiqing shuttled in the huge "Black Phantom", watching the three people continue to perfect the plan to attack the Ballam star.
The three occasionally disagree and argue. Neither Nuo Tower nor Rong Heng had a good temper. In the end, Ruan Yuebai was the mediator and came up with a compromise.
Everything seems completely different from the previous life, but there are similarities in subtleties.
Even though the experience is different and the character has changed, it seems that they are still the cubs that Ruan Shiqing is familiar with.
When Rong Heng was browsing news related to Si Yan in the war room alone, he hugged him from behind and told him over and over that your father was not what you saw, he loved you very much.
Even if they couldn't feel his presence, Ruan Shiqing still repeated it tirelessly.
Until the Black Phantom arrives at Barham first, the battle begins.
After several battles, Rong Heng stormed the Barham star. Just when they were about to bring troops in, there was a sudden change—
A huge ark rises from the ground of the Barham Arsenal, full of robot soldiers, assuming a guard stance. And the commander of the ark made Ruan Shiqing feel very familiar.
The other party did not come up to fight, but initiated a communication request.
Rong Heng got through the communication and negotiated with the other party.
It was a tall robot, all golden, wearing a decent black suit and black top hat, like an old-school gentleman. Even when the muzzles of both sides were aimed at each other, they were still polite.
He introduced himself as "Apocalypse" and explained his purpose.
—He wants to work with Rong Heng.
It is not only Rong Heng who is eyeing the Barham Arsenal, but Apocalypse is also planning to seize control of Barham Star.
Balham Star is quite mechanized, with many jobs being done by robots. Therefore, when Rong Heng stormed the Barham star, Tian Qi also took the opportunity to implant the virus program into the control system, instigating these robots.
And now he is looking for Rong Heng to discuss a business.
"The name of the Black Phantom has long been heard, and I admire it very much." If you don't look at the appearance, Apocalypse's words and deeds are no different from humans: "Now is the time when the building is about to collapse, since we We meet by fate and have the same purpose, so why kill each other? It’s better to work together and share a piece of the pie.”
"I know several secret arsenals under the four chaebols, which not only produce a large number of warships and weapons, but also countless robots." He performed an elegant etiquette: "It's just me One person can't eat such a big cake and needs a strong ally."
His attitude can be described as friendly, but unfortunately Rong Heng does not trust him.
In particular, this robot's actions are obviously beyond the scope of robots. He is not like a robot with a set level, but more like a cunning human in a robot shell.
He looked at Nuota and Ruan Yuebai, and both shook their heads.
Apocalypse clearly saw their doubts, and thoughtfully explained his purpose: "My name comes from the Book of Revelation, which says that on Judgment Day the Lamb will be unraveled. Seal, summon knights on four horses, white, red, black, and green. These four knights brought plague, war, famine, and death to mankind, and then the world was destroyed.[Note 1]"
He stretched his arms and grinned: "The empire is so rotten, and only after it is destroyed can it usher in a new life."
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse represent the coming of the end.
And he named himself "Apocalypse", apparently thinking that he would bring destruction and new life to the empire.
But Rong Heng did not believe his words.
A robot that has awakened self-consciousness and mastered an army of robots, he doesn't think that the other party invites him to cooperate just to destroy the world in the second year. Even if the other party acts like a human, it cannot change the fact that the other party is a robot.
Robots and people are only two words apart, but the essence is very different.
An old saying goes, "Those who are not of our race must have different hearts", Rong Heng took it seriously.
Their positions are different, and rash cooperation is tantamount to raising tigers.
The negotiation broke down, and the two parties who had a polite conversation a minute ago fired at each other without hesitation.
The artillery fire spread throughout the entire Barham star, after three days and nights of fierce fighting, it ended with Apocalypse leading the robot soldiers to drive the ark away.
But Rong Heng did not get a good deal, and the casualties were much greater than expected.
After tidying up the battlefield, Rong Heng called out the holographic image of Apocalypse and asked people to check the origin of Apocalypse.
Ruan Shiqing stared at the holographic image, looking at this strange robot with a little familiarity, and finally determined that the apocalypse turned out to be 09.