Setting a Trap

"Is the Space Stone on Xandar? Is that true?"

Inside the Raging Thunder Pirate Group’s flagship, the Raging Thunder Captain, who had been preparing to head to Earth, asked in astonishment, "Wasn’t it supposed to be on Earth?"

"Boss, you’re behind the times. They’ve already put out ads. The whole galaxy knows about it."

The deputy officer opened a tablet. On it, an Earth beauty spoke in Xandarian, "Earth Express, cross-planet delivery within ten seconds…"

The Raging Thunder Captain stared wide-eyed. "Using the Space Stone to deliver packages? Which genius came up with that? Is that how the Space Stone is supposed to be used?"

"Each delivery starts at five hundred thousand. That’s much faster money than robbery."

One of the men sighed, and the others nodded. "Definitely faster than robbery. Five hundred thousand in ten seconds—how much could they make in a day? In just a few years, they could probably become the richest person on Xandar, right?"

Someone shouted at the Raging Thunder Captain, "Boss, once we grab the Space Stone, should we start delivering packages too?"

"Can you have a little ambition? Although deliveries really are profitable, although deliveries can make us the richest… Hmm, the richest?"

The Raging Thunder Captain gritted his teeth. "Change course. We’re going to Xandar to steal the Space Stone, then deliver packages."

The Ravagers cheered. "Steal the Stone, deliver packages!"

The deputy officer hurriedly said, "Boss, calm down, please calm down. We can’t beat the Nova Corps."

"That’s true."

The Raging Thunder Captain frowned. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Pool some money together and have Earth Express deliver something to Rainbow Star. Then we’ll kill that Earthling making the delivery and take the Space Stone."

The Ravagers cheered again. "Great idea! Long live the boss!"

"Advertising everywhere like this… Is he really not afraid of dying?"

Lindy stared at the ads online, frowning deeply. Being this high-profile, it was not only the Ravagers who would set their sights on him. Xandar’s higher-ups would probably have ideas as well.

This was practically asking for death.

Lindy’s deputy officer said in a low voice, "Centurion, rather than letting those Ravagers get it, why don’t we…"

"What did you say? How can the Nova Corps do something like that?"

Lindy snapped, then continued, "Keep an eye on him. If someone steals his Space Stone, we’ll immediately step in and help him take it back."

The deputy officer was stunned. "Help him take it back?"

"Then, on the grounds that he cannot protect the Space Stone, we’ll forcibly purchase it."

Lindy said, "I’ll apply to Nova Prime for one billion as the purchase price."

"Centurion, you’re wise."

The deputy officer said admiringly. This way, they could obtain the Space Stone without damaging the Nova Corps’ reputation.

"He really did come from some backwater place. He acts like a nouveau riche."

Lindy shook her head. It seemed she would not get the chance to have dinner with him after all.

Lindy asked again, "By the way, besides delivering packages, what else has that Earthling been doing?"

"Taking beauties shopping."

The deputy officer said, "And every time he goes out, he has a different beauty with him."

"Bastard."

Lindy gritted her teeth. She had actually been thinking about dinner with him, yet he turned out to be that kind of person. He deserved to have his Space Stone stolen.

Lindy secretly sighed. "What a shame about those chocolates. They were quite tasty."

Outside Earth Express, the Raging Thunder Pirate Group’s deputy officer angrily shouted at a staff member, "Didn’t you say five hundred thousand? Why has it become eight hundred thousand?"

"Five hundred thousand is the minimum price. You want it delivered to Rainbow Star, and you have a specified delivery time, so you have to pay extra."

The staff member smiled brightly. "Sir, if you want to send a package, please place your order soon. Our prices will be going up shortly. Eight hundred thousand is actually the promotional price."

The deputy officer shouted angrily, "How is this any different from robbery?"

The staff member said, "It is different. This earns more than robbery, earns it faster, and carries no risk at all."

The deputy officer was furious. He gritted his teeth and said, "Fine, eight hundred thousand it is. I’ll send it."

The staff member said, "A wise choice. Please come this way to complete the paperwork."

The deputy officer snorted and followed the staff member into the store. His eyes were filled with greed. In a few days, the Space Stone would belong to the Raging Thunder Pirate Group. When that happened, he too would make one delivery and earn eight hundred thousand.

"That man seems to be the deputy officer of the Raging Thunder Pirate Group!"

Outside the delivery station, a passerby pretending to read the news had a glint in his eyes. It looks like the Raging Thunder Pirate Group is preparing to make a move. I have to notify the captain immediately.

Besides that passerby, there were several other spies nearby. It could not be helped—money moved people’s hearts. Ravagers, bounty hunters, and even some of Xandar’s forces had all set their sights on the Space Stone.

Although these spies did not recognize the deputy officer, they all sensed that something was off about him. He did not look like a good person, so they secretly photographed him and sent the pictures back to their headquarters.

Thus, the Raging Thunder Pirate Group’s plan became known to one party after another.

"The Raging Thunder Pirate Group?"

Wang Bert, who was out shopping, also received the news. He said coldly, "Spread this information through the underworld channels. I want to watch a good show."

"Yes, Master."

The man reporting to him replied respectfully. He was the boss of a Xandarian gang who had wanted to extort Wang Bert, only to be casually controlled by him.

Even on an advanced planet like Xandar, darkness was unavoidable.

After giving his instructions, Wang Bert continued shopping with his arm around the beauty. He instructed her, "Don’t aim too high. Buy as much basic technology as possible and lay a solid foundation first."

"Thank you, Mr. Wang."

The beauty said respectfully, "You’ve spent so much."

"It’s fine. The money comes easily anyway. Go out for a stroll, and a few million is already in hand."

Wang Bert smiled unconcernedly. These past few days, he had not been chasing girls. He had been helping various countries purchase technology. He would definitely fulfill the promises he had made.

"Mr. Wang, you’re truly amazing."

The beauty looked at him with immense admiration. These millions were not Earth currency, but universal galactic currency.

"Can’t be helped. I was born to be a tycoon."

Wang Bert laughed heartily with his arm around the beauty. She pressed herself tightly against him, her eyes full of fascination.

Being with a man like this was truly her good fortune.

"Rainbow Star tomorrow?"

Lindy also received the news. She immediately told her deputy officer, "Go to Rainbow Star at once and set an ambush. Lead the team personally. Also, try to keep that Earthling alive, so no one can say we killed him for his treasure."

"Understood."

The deputy officer nodded, though he did not agree at all. It would be better if that nouveau riche Earthling died. It would save them a great deal of money.

The next day, Lindy was waiting for news from Rainbow Star when she unexpectedly received word that Wang Bert had come to visit.

Lindy asked, "Future richest man, why are you so free today?"

Wang Bert placed a box of chocolates on the table and got straight to the point. "I came today mainly to show you a good show, and incidentally let you know that although I have a lot of money, I’m not a nouveau riche."

Lindy frowned and asked suspiciously, "What do you mean?"

Wang Bert said nothing more. He drew a circle with one hand. The circle flashed with light, and an image of Rainbow Star appeared inside it like a television screen.

At a Rainbow Star warehouse, a member of the Raging Thunder Pirate Group asked the holographic projection of an Earth Express staff member, "Why hasn’t the package arrived yet?"

The staff member answered, "Because the time has not come yet. Our boss likes punctuality. After all, every second of his time is worth hundreds of thousands in universal currency."

Dead rich bastard.

The member gritted his teeth inwardly. Wait a little longer. You’ll be dead soon anyway.

Lindy walked to Wang Bert’s side. As she watched the circle of light, she asked in astonishment, "You knew there was an ambush on Rainbow Star?"

"Of course I knew. Centurion, there are far more ambushes on Rainbow Star than you imagine."

Wang Bert controlled the magic mirror to inspect the area outside. He quickly discovered more than ten hidden forces. They all had cloaking devices, but they could not hide from magic.

"So many?"

Lindy cried out in disbelief. She had always thought there was only the Raging Thunder Pirate Group.

Wang Bert said, "Ravagers, bounty hunters, your Xandarian forces, plus the Nova Corps. Rainbow Star will be very lively today."

Lindy said, "Mr. Wang, the Nova Corps is there to help you."

"I know. That’s why I brought you a gift."

Wang Bert looked at Lindy with a smile. She felt as if he could see right through her.

"My conscience is clear."

Lindy snorted and asked, "How do you plan to deal with these people? The Nova Corps can cooperate with you."

Wang Bert shook his head. "No need. Have them guard the outside and keep everyone else from approaching."

Lindy looked at Wang Bert and said, "I know you must have made preparations, but don’t underestimate them. Ravagers and bounty hunters are not easy opponents."

"Centurion Lindy, you’re the one underestimating me."

Wang Bert smiled. Lindy was about to say something else when, within the circle of light, a portal appeared out of thin air and grew larger and larger.

"Besides you, someone else can use portals?"

Lindy was stunned. At the same time, she hurriedly contacted her deputy officer and told them not to act yet, but to wait and see.

"Perhaps."

Wang Bert did not elaborate, merely watching the spectacle in silence.

At the Rainbow Star warehouse, another Wang Bert walked out. He handed the package to the other party and said, "Thank you for using Earth Express. We look forward to serving you again."

"There won’t be a next time. Stay here."

The Raging Thunder Pirate Group member gave a savage smile and threw two triangular gravity devices at Wang Bert’s feet. A gravity field appeared out of thin air, trapping Wang Bert where he stood.

Immediately afterward, dozens of pirates emerged from the surroundings and fired at Wang Bert simultaneously. Before Wang Bert could say anything, he was blasted to pieces. Only a gemstone radiating boundless light floated in place.

At the same time, the portal behind Wang Bert vanished.

"Don’t you think that’s a little fake? Also, since when is the Space Stone that bright? Is it a lightbulb?"

Lindy mocked. Wang Bert smiled and said, "On Earth, we have an idiom: blinded by greed."

"The Space Stone?"

Inside the warehouse, every pirate began breathing rapidly. They stared unblinkingly at the Space Stone, wishing they could grab it immediately.

This gemstone was worth becoming the richest person alive.

"Guard the perimeter!"

The Raging Thunder Captain shouted, then rushed eagerly toward the Space Stone. Although the pirates were unwilling, they did not dare do anything. Their captain was no pushover.

"The Stone is mine!"

The Raging Thunder Captain excitedly reached for the Space Stone. At that moment, screams suddenly came from the guards outside. Then, a barrage of energy attacks shot in from beyond the warehouse. The pirates were caught completely off guard and suffered heavy losses.

"Damn it!"

The Raging Thunder Captain cursed. He grabbed the Space Stone and tried to teleport away, but the Space Stone did not react at all.

"How do you use this thing?"

The Raging Thunder Captain was close to losing his mind. As he ran toward the robot, he shouted, "Fight back! As long as we get the Space Stone, we can have anything we want from now on!"

"Sorry, that isn’t your Space Stone. It’s mine."

As the voice rang out, the warehouse doors exploded open with a boom. A tall figure walked in—it was an exoskeleton combat mech.

The Raging Thunder Captain hid behind the robot and shouted angrily, "The Black Fox Pirate Group? You want to rob us after we did the work?"

"If we didn’t rob other pirates, what kind of pirates would we be?"

The Black Fox Captain gave a disdainful smile and raised his gun, spraying bullets wildly at the Raging Thunder Captain. At the same time, the Black Fox Pirate Group charged in and began a fierce battle with the Raging Thunder Pirate Group.

Because the Raging Thunder Pirate Group had suffered such severe losses earlier, they soon fell into a disadvantage. Just as the Black Fox Captain was feeling pleased with himself, a huge barrage of missiles and explosives suddenly came in from outside.

Both groups were shocked and hurriedly fled outside. The next moment, the warehouse erupted in a series of violent explosions. The ground shook, and flames, shockwaves, and black smoke filled the area.

By the time the smoke cleared, the warehouse had been reduced to rubble. A large number of Ravagers had died, and only the Raging Thunder Captain and the Black Fox Captain had escaped.

"Who the hell was that?"

The Black Fox Captain shouted furiously from within his battered mech. The next moment, an energy beam descended from the sky. The Black Fox Captain’s eyes widened as he fell backward.

The Raging Thunder Captain crawled to his feet and looked around, his heart filled with despair. There were people everywhere, and more than ten armed spacecraft floated overhead.

These people were not from the same force. They were all highly wary of one another, and their expressions were equally puzzled. Why were there so many people?

"I never expected the Raging Thunder Pirate Group to be wiped off the map today. Don’t you all want the Space Stone? Take it!"

The Raging Thunder Captain laughed miserably and threw the Space Stone, which he had previously regarded as a supreme treasure, into the air. The aerial forces of every faction immediately rushed toward it.

At the same time, all the factions opened fire on one another without any prior agreement. A massive melee involving over a thousand people erupted.

The deputy officer stared in shock. "Centurion, what’s going on?"

"Let the dogs tear each other apart."

Lindy snorted and asked Wang Bert, "Where are your people?"

"You’ll know soon enough."

Wang Bert said, "For now, sit down and watch the show with me."

"Fine."

After hesitating for a moment, Lindy did not refuse. She sat beside Wang Bert to watch the battle, then asked, "Is this surveillance circle also an ability of the Space Stone?"

Wang Bert shook his head. "No, this is magic."

"What magic could possibly exist in this world?"

Lindy smiled disdainfully. Her translator automatically rendered magic as a mysterious power that had once appeared on Xandar.

"Just because you haven’t seen magic doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist."

Wang Bert lifted Lindy’s hand from afar and lightly brushed it. A heart-shaped mark appeared on her hand. He said, "If you can wash off this magic mark within three days, I’ll donate one hundred million to the Nova Corps."