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Page 362
But she... still decided to play it safe.
Having lost the protection of the Ark, the soul of the Void Dreamer is now exposed to the fangs of the Thirsty Lady.
If anything were to happen, her soul would suffer eternal torment in Slaanesh's palace—something she certainly didn't want to see.
But clearly, she wasn't the only pirate fleet in this whirlpool.
"Those monkeys!"
Just as she was still hesitating, with the fluctuations in the subspace, she could sense that no fewer than three pirate fleets were approaching the transport ship that was flashing with light through the vortex.
What if... what if one of them successfully seizes the artifact and their strength skyrockets? Wouldn't their Black Claw fleet become their next target, devoured by them?
"We can't let this opportunity fall into the hands of other pirates!"
Seeing other pirate gangs obtain this artifact was even more painful for her than losing it herself!
Even if it means causing trouble for other pirate fleets, Black Claw still has to go and see for themselves.
"Black Claw Fleet, move out!"
Meanwhile, the other fleets in the vortex:
"Brothers of the Red Hook Fleet, let's go join the fun! Brothers, let's go!"
"So many fleets have been mobilized, this thing must be of some value. The Darkfire Pirates can't afford to miss out on this raid."
The pirate fleet, which had been temporarily quiet due to the Badab War, suddenly became extremely lively again.
......
"..."
"Have these pirates gone mad?!"
The captain was bewildered as he watched the three pirate fleets approaching their transport ship in the distance, seemingly driven mad and chasing no one else.
They had just left the transit station and were preparing to make a few shallow jumps in subspace before successfully completing this transport mission.
Just as they were approaching Mandeville, several pirate fleets that had been lying in ambush suddenly appeared nearby, heading straight for their transport ship without any regard for anything else.
This is no ordinary pirate fleet. Judging from the size of their ships and the gun turrets on their escort vessels, it's clear that none of these pirates are good people.
Why is that?
They dispatched these three pirate fleets just for his one ship's worth of grain?
"Shout out! Shout out!"
"Ask these guys what they're up to! If they're really so hungry they won't even leave this ship full of food behind, then give it to them!"
"Damn, what bad luck!"
"Sound array administrator, have you received a response from the other party?"
"Yes, Captain! They seem to be after a magical artifact inside the ship, and their pirate fleet is constantly fighting over it!"
"A divine artifact?! If I had a divine artifact, would I need a transport ship to deliver it?"
The captain is going crazy.
What kind of stupid pirates are these?
"Reporting to the captain," came an even more desperate message from the diviner in charge of the transport ship's oracle.
"Not only are there three pirate fleets in front of us, but it seems that there are more and more pirate fleets coming from afar."
It wasn't just these three pirate fleets in front of them that were insane.
In the distance, even more pirates were fighting over the fresh food for their transport ship.
"This is insane..."
"They're all fucking insane!"
Since things are already like this, what's there to worry about?
Captain, transport ship... forget it!
"Quickly, prepare the shuttle."
"Let them take this ship; let's get back to the fleet first."
......
With the captain having abandoned ship, the remaining crew members were naturally thrown into disarray and unwilling to stay aboard.
"Very well, our Black Talon pirate fleet will take over this transport ship as well—"
"Wait a minute, alien lady, why are you in such a hurry to leave?"
In the communications of the Black Talon fleet that first approached the transport ship, a middle-aged man whose face was half covered by mechanical devices appeared.
In the projection, he was looking at the other person with a cunning gaze.
“I have a name, I am Waldra, slippery Dabus.” The Void Dreamer’s eyes blazed with fury.
"Then what do you suggest we do?"
“We’ve encountered this situation before.” A tall figure appeared on the other side of the main bridge projection.
He wore black Mark-VII power armor with all paint and markings removed, which seemed to be the minimalist paint scheme of his Darkfire Pirates.
From the projection, only the "dish"-shaped breathing grille of his helmet could be seen at this moment.
"It's very simple, pirates should decide the ownership of their spoils through duels."
The three pirate fleets gathered here now all have extremely strong firepower. It is still unclear what the magical artifact inside the ships is. What if the pirates start fighting among themselves and end up finding that there is no treasure at all?
Are we really going to drag this whole ship full of grain along with us?
The Darkfire Pirates' Space Marine captain's proposal was simple—everyone should send out squads to board the ship together, and then decide ownership through a duel after discovering the treasure.
The simplest and most direct approach, with minimal losses for all parties involved.
"Well, Dark Knight, your nickname and your taste are both terrible, but I have to admit that there's some truth to your suggestion."
“But your Space Marine’s superhuman physique is clearly stronger than mine, and that alien woman who’s lived for thousands of years isn’t someone to mess with either… If I choose your plan, wouldn’t that mean—”
"Shut up, Dabus."
The "dish" on the wandering Astartes helmet became larger because it was close to the projection device.
"I don't have time to haggle with you."
"We need to board the ship as soon as possible; more of our pirate comrades are heading toward this light."
......
"Alright, alright, my guys who've been competing with me for most of their lives, do you really think there's some kind of magical artifact hidden in a tiny grain transport ship?"
"Especially when all the guards ran away as soon as they saw us?"
The leaders of the three pirate fleets and their cronies quickly boarded and rendezvoused with the ship's defenses.
“If you think this is a trap, you don’t have to get involved, Mr. Dabs.”
"Hehe, I'm not going to watch what I've got fly away."
"Especially when it flies into your hands."
As he spoke, Dabus, who was followed by several automated fighter soldiers, fiddled with the Thinker array on his forehead: "This way."
The artifact that everyone had been eagerly anticipating was located behind this rather inconspicuous hatch.
“Strange… The instruments show that there is nothing in this cabin except for it.”
Are you sure your oracles are working properly?
"It's definitely an alien sister, I—"
"Stop arguing, just open it."
The wandering space marine, leading his companions who were also clad in power armor, was the first to push open the door.
It was pitch black inside the hatch; you couldn't see anything.
"Let me see...where is the thing?"
The lights were turned on, and apart from a white chair in the center of the empty cabin, there was nothing else.
Where's the magic weapon?
Is this chair the magical artifact they promised?
boom.
Just as the pirates were still pondering whether the artifact was this chair, the door behind them slammed shut the next moment.
"Now, have you decided what to do with me?"
A streak of golden-red flames flashed, and a giant clad in purple-gold power armor appeared before them all in the next instant, without anyone noticing.
He sat in that chair with his back to them.
Chapter 218 Three Pirate Crews
"Who?"
Upon hearing this, the three pirate leaders all took a big step back.
The armored warrior, who had been sitting upright on the small stool, stood up, turned his head to look at the three pirate captains, and burned them to ashes with golden-red flames.
It's useless, but it'll look cool.
"Now, I need your strength."
......
"You are......"
The first to react was the leader of the Darkfire Pirates.
As a wandering Space Marine, he knew better than anyone what this nearly 3-meter-tall power armor meant.
He might not be entirely clear on the specific design of the other's armor, but judging from the ornate and intricate patterns reminiscent of the original armor, and the gleaming golden Imperial Eagle soaring above his chest...
"Are you the emperor's son?"
The wandering Space Marine pirate captain exclaimed in surprise.
Imperial Eagle logo.
In the original timeline, due to the rebellion of the Sons of the Emperor, the Imperial Skyhawk decorations "came into the homes of ordinary people," and the Mark VII armor was also known as the Skyhawk.
But this time the situation is different.
The Emperor's Son not only did not rebel and join Chaos, but also served as the direct legion of Warmaster Fugrim in resisting the evil Iron Hand. He was betrayed by the evil Horus on the Istvan III.
Despite being attacked from both sides, they successfully intercepted the enemy at the cost of almost their entire legion and killed the Primarch of the Iron Hand.
To commemorate the near-annihilation of the Sons of the Emperor's Legion, even forty millennia later, only the Sons of the Emperor's Legion can still possess the glory of wearing the Imperial Skyhawk.
The fact that the golden eagle on the powered armor could spread its wings and soar clearly indicated his identity.
A Space Marine from the Sons of the Emperor Chapter... Judging from his height, the patterns and decorations on his armor, and his ghostly speed earlier... this person is most likely a Chapter Master!
Commander of the Emperor's Son Battle Group!
The newly formed guild leader actually appeared in front of him, just when he was someone who had abandoned his mission and was spending his days plundering aimlessly in the vortex!
How...how embarrassing!
The Darkfire Pirates' Space Marines were drenched in sweat.
"May I ask... sir, who exactly are you?"
“I am Casgar, Casgar Sherlock,” said the Astartes warrior in his purple-gold armor.
"I need your help."
As he spoke, Casca slowly walked towards the three pirate crews, stopping about 5 meters in front of them amidst the rising flames.
"My lord, what do you desire?"
Upon seeing this, Dabus, the leader of the Red Hook Pirates, greeted them with a smile.