Chapter 235

“`html

Chapter 235: A Whole New Main Plot, Bai Fu Descends to Our Side [53k]

“Here we go again?”

In the Dark Domain, on the planet Darren, Ernst, the new boss of the most renowned prosthetic production company on the planet, looked up with a worried expression as night fell.

Several fire-like points suddenly appeared in the distant sky, swiftly crossing the horizon like meteors.

He knew these weren’t meteors; he had seen similar scenes months ago.

They were spaceships!

Yes, spaceships that had only existed in fantasy works in their previous understanding!

When Ernst first saw the massive cold-silver spaceship break through the clouds and appear under the blood-red sunset, he, like everyone else around him, thought it was an optical illusion or some other natural wonder.

It wasn’t until the spaceship landed and a graceful young woman with white hair stepped out from the opened hatch that he realized the world was about to change.

“Could something be wrong with Darren Star?”

Ernst quickly contacted his friend in the newly formed coalition government to inquire about the situation.

“You guessed right. They are indeed spaceships—seventeen in total. Just now, the aliens aboard contacted us. They claim to be the vanguard of the Tam Civilization and have been sent to apprehend the assassins who tried to kill the Yuan Shou.”

Ernst’s face changed: “Could they be referring to the woman who arrived on Darren Star a few months ago?”

His friend shook his head, eyes filled with anger: “I don’t know. These people are too arrogant. The diplomat was forcibly taken to their ship within seconds of hesitation, and Carter tried to save the diplomat but was crushed by an unknown energy.”

“This.”

Ernst wanted to say something, but he didn’t know what.

Facing opponents far stronger than he could ever imagine, what could he do?

Both ends of the call fell into a long silence.

They felt lost about the future. Perhaps today would be their end, with no future left for them.

“Ah, take care of yourself. I’ll go…”

“Who?”

Just as his friend was about to hang up, he heard Ernst’s startled cry. His face changed abruptly.

“What happened, Ernst?”

“Y-Y-Yes…”

Ernst stared wide-eyed at the person who suddenly appeared on the roof.

He couldn’t shout out her name, but his friend already knew who she was because he heard a familiar voice over the phone.

“You mentioned the Tam Civilization just now, didn’t you?”

It’s her!

The woman who appeared on Darren Star a few months ago, calling herself Bai Fu, and having good relations with the Undying!

Bai Fu looked puzzled at Ernst.

She had been walking nearby when she suddenly saw several dozen spaceships fly across the sky. She rushed over to Ernst to gather information, not expecting to hear a familiar name.

Why would the Tam Civilization’s fleet come to Darren Star instead of staying in the Edge World?

“Like this…”

Ernst wiped the sweat off his forehead and started explaining.

“Assassinating the Yuan Shou? Hunting down assassins?”

Bai Fu was stunned. She thought the fleet had come to deal with her under Frank’s command, but the reality was much more explosive.

The Yuan Shou of the Tam Civilization was a prominent figure in the Edge World, and anyone daring enough to assassinate him and escape capture was considered a formidable individual.

“How interesting.”

Before, Bai Fu was wondering how the official would get players from various newbie planets to enter the Star Ocean after version 2.0 launched. Dropping a batch of spaceships or portals directly seemed too contrived.

Now she understood.

This was the plot!

To catch the assassins, the Tam Civilization must have dispatched numerous ships. Besides military ships, many bounty hunters likely entered the Dark Domain.

Their activities would expose the newbie planets where players resided, allowing players to join the Star Ocean.

However, with Bai Fu here, there was no need for the Tam Civilization to intervene.

Let’s go elsewhere and find someone else. Don’t interfere with my plans to exploit players!

“I know better than anyone if there are assassins around. I will persuade them to leave.”

Bai Fu bravely offered to solve the crisis.

Ernst stared in shock at Bai Fu.

Would it really work?

…

At the same time.

Inside a Tam Civilization spaceship.

The fleet commander stood with crossed arms, looking down at the extremely backward city below.

“What’s the result of the interrogation?”

The adjutant stepped forward: “Commander Roman, the diplomat confessed. A spaceship landed here a few months ago.”

“Oh?” Roman’s zombie-like face showed a stiff smile, “Looks like we found our target. Inform the natives to hand over the assassin, or we’ll raze the entire city!”

“Yes!”

Soon, everyone on the ground heard the adjutant’s announcement.

To prove their ability to easily destroy a city, the adjutant ordered the gunner to fire at the tallest broadcasting tower.

A deep blue beam pierced the night sky. People on the ground didn’t understand what happened until the upper half of the tower disappeared, leaving a red molten residue.

“Aaaah—”

The city was engulfed by screams of fear.

People were on the tower. With that blast, hundreds turned to ashes.

“These beasts!”

The Chairman of the coalition government trembled in fear at the sight of the spaceship in the sky.

It was rage-induced.

But he could do nothing. He was too weak.

Good.

Roman nodded in satisfaction.

“Play the countdown. Tell them they have ten…”

His voice stopped as a floating white figure suddenly appeared outside the window.

“Killing without investigation, isn’t that a bit excessive?”

A cold voice penetrated the armor and drifted into the cockpit.

Roman narrowed his eyes.

“Excessive?”

He sneered.

The Tam Civilization revered force. As a soldier of the Tam Civilization, his creed was simple—

The strong should humiliate the weak!

“Who are you? From your appearance, you’re clearly not one of the locals.”

What?

Bai Fu froze.

“Do you not recognize me?”

After defeating the Tower of Secrets, her reputation soared to over 400 in the Edge World. While not high, it was impressive.

She assumed this reputation would make her recognizable anywhere, but reality differed.

Roman frowned: “Why should I know you? Forget it. Once I capture you, everything will be clear.”

He turned back to call for his adjutant, but the adjutant pointed behind him in terror.

“Commander Roman, sh-she…”

“What’s going on?”

Roman barked, displeasure evident on his face.

Suddenly, he heard a crackling sound behind him. By the time he realized the danger, it was too late.

Boom!

The massive spiritual energy flood from the spirit explosion crashed into the spaceship’s armor, tearing it apart instantly. Shattered armor pieces struck Roman’s back, causing intense pain. Before he could scream, another wave of spiritual energy flooded his body.

Zzz!

Spiritual energy dissolved Roman’s body, the adjacent walls of the cockpit, and several storage rooms before exiting the spaceship, leaving a lingering white trail in the dark sky.

“Still a Catastrophe Tier.”

Bai Fu retracted her right hand, pleased with her current output.

At S+ level, she could dismantle spaceships manually, but the efficiency was never this high.

Once she leveled up her skills, she could handle even large fleets effortlessly.

One person, one fleet, torn apart—this is why Catastrophe Tiers are called Catastrophe Tiers!

Bai Fu looked up, smiling at the fleet’s adjutant.

“Can you answer a few questions?”

She originally didn’t want to resort to violence. Although her relationship with the Tam Civilization wasn’t great, Roman preferred physical confrontation over reason.

The adjutant was nearly driven mad by Roman’s death. He screamed, “She killed Commander Roman! Kill her! All ships, kill her!”

Under his roar, other ships turned their cannons.

“It seems I need to calm you down.”

Bai Fu used Void Card-making to create a card named 【Pitiful Eye】, intending to test the Tam Civilization fleet.

The card dissipated.

Suddenly, a black eye floated in the sky. Several meters wide, it caused everyone in the spaceship to feel as if they had been drained of blood, making them feel weak.

Stronger psychics could withstand the debuff, but weaker psychics or non-psychic soldiers suffered immensely. Within seconds, their despair bars were full.

“What’s happening? I feel like crying. Mom, I want my mom. I want to go home.”

“What’s the point of living? We all die eventually. Why not end it now?”

Ironclad soldiers knelt and cried uncontrollably.

Some picked up their guns and shot themselves in the head.

Boom!

Brains splattered.

Others alternated between crying and laughing while shooting at their comrades.

Chaos ensued.

The seventeen ships had become a hellish scene. Those immersed in despair had no interest in Bai Fu. They just wanted to run away.

“Wow, so powerful?”

Even Bai Fu, who unleashed the Pitiful Eye, was shocked. Others were even more startled.

Bai Fu approached the adjutant: “Are you calmer now?”

“Calm, completely calm.”

The adjutant’s lips quivered. This scene was more terrifying than death. He had no desire to resist, answering whatever Bai Fu asked.

As the questioning continued, Bai Fu gradually understood the situation.

Roman not recognizing her was understandable.

Her reputation truly spread in the Tam Civilization after she ascended to the Catastrophe Tier and defeated the Tower of Secrets. Before that, Roman had already been tasked with chasing the assassin who tried to kill the Yuan Shou.

“Who sent the assassin?”

“Unknown. Some suspect General Gustav, others the Glorious Forces, and others the Free Star System Alliance. The Yuan Shou sent us to apprehend the assassin to uncover the truth.”

According to the adjutant, although the Tam Civilization seemed outwardly prosperous, the internal and external situations were tense.

Internally, the Glorious Forces, a rebel group, caused chaos, killing multiple colonial governors. Despite being suppressed, they thrived. Additionally, conflicts between old nobles like Gustav and new military aristocrats escalated.

Externally, despite backing the Super Nova Task Force, the Tam Civilization faced threats from Titan Industries and the Rebirth Empire, both eager to extend their influence into the Edge World.

For years, major wars hadn’t occurred among the three cosmic civilizations, but their proxies frequently clashed.

“Unstable situation, possible war?”

Bai Fu pondered.

She felt she had grasped the main theme of the Tam Civilization plotline—

War!

Interstellar War!

“This is likely the most critical plotline in the Edge World, continuing from version 2.0 to just before version 3.0. Afterward, players should be able to intervene in the disputes among the three cosmic civilizations.”

Bai Fu’s eyes lit up.

Great opportunity!

If she could benefit greatly from this war, she would have no problem becoming the Overlord after version 3.0.

Can she gain benefits?

Absolutely!

Bai Fu was confident.

With her current strength and popularity among players, if managed well, she could become a queen of mercenaries even if she couldn’t be the queen of munitions.

“If only I could find the assassin before the Tam Civilization does.”

Bai Fu shook her head.

Forget it for now.

With the intelligence gained, Bai Fu cleaned out the spaceship’s occupants and decided not to damage it unless necessary. She planned to sell the seventeen spaceships on the black market.

The money earned would fund a special foundation dedicated to serving new players entering the Star Ocean.

[Are you still unsure what to do?]

[Are you still struggling financially?]

[Contact the Bai Fu Foundation. Each Undying will receive a free ticket to the planet Ulysses!]

[Welcome to the player capital, the Ulysses Star Base!]

Yes.

Bai Fu intended to attract more players this way.

Although it required significant investment, she knew she could recoup the costs from the players who joined her.

This would also expand the Ulysses Star Base and increase her goodwill among players.

After parking the ships on the ground, Bai Fu met Ernst and others, informing them the crisis was over.

Ernst and the others initially thought she was dead, but seeing her single-handedly defeat the attacking fleet, they were astonished. Looking at her now, they saw a goddess.

Bai Fu smiled and nodded.

Her affinity wasn’t built overnight. Two days later, the protagonist of Darren Star sought her out, wanting to follow her. She agreed immediately.

The more potential subordinates, the better.

Another ten days passed.

On this day, the game officially announced the release of version 2.0.

Countless players eagerly awaited it.

[Wondering how we’ll enter the Star Ocean?]

[Do you think Fu Fu will come in a spaceship to pick us up?]

[Don’t dream. Why would Fu Fu come?]

[Exactly. Fu Fu has no reason to come.]

Amidst the chatter, the game relaunched. Massive numbers of players logged in, including those on Darren Star.

The update lasted a day, but according to the official, five months had passed in-game. Players urgently wanted to see the changes.

Upon logging in, they discovered a dozen new spaceships on Darren Star.

What?

They hurriedly asked nearby NPCs.

“The spaceships? One was brought by a white-haired alien who said her name was… Yes, Bai Fu! The others are from the Tam Civilization. They’ve been causing trouble since arriving on Darren Star. Bai Fu took care of them.”

Damn, Bai Fu. Could it be the same name?

Investigation confirmed it was the real Bai Fu. She came in spaceships to pick them up!

Rumbles and roars!

The entire planet shook.

Bai Fu’s descent was unexpected.

[According to the NPCs, Fu Fu came for the Tam Civilization, right? Frank from the Tam Civilization took the True Essence Pillar from the Tower of Secrets. Could the main plot of version 2.0 be related to the Tam Civilization?]

[I don’t know. Who cares? I need to post this and tell other players, Fu Fu is here!]

Within minutes, news of Bai Fu’s arrival spread throughout the player community.

Other newbie planet players were bewildered.

Why? Why only Darren Star?

Bai Fu happily browsed the posts.

During the 2.0 update, she didn’t get any substantial enhancements from the Planner, which frustrated her. But with the official launch, all her frustrations vanished.

GoGoGo!

During the update period, she visited several newbie planets, including Darren Star.

A few days ago, she called Anya to bring the fleet to pick up players. After this trip, her player count would likely double.

Four million warriors, how scared are the other factions?

Haha.

“Don’t rush, everyone line up. I’ll attend to each of you, turning you all into my shape!”

---