"I'll give back control right before entering the FTL zone," Rei informed Xander before cutting off the communication.
Xander grimaced. The other people on the pirate ship looked at each other with doubt and confusion.
"He will give back control, right?"
"Err... He should."
Xander glanced at one of his subordinates and asked, "Would you have given back control?"
"N-No."
"Then you got the answer," Xander said coldly, his gaze following Rei's ship. Soon, the ship vanished into a blinking portal that their engine opened, entering the FTL zone.
"Don't worry. I've marked the strongest of them. They had an advantage this time, but the hunt will be mine next time," Xander icily said before resuming his focus on moving to their destination.
"Goran! Stop sulking and come here. We have to complete our big delivery," Xander said. This was also one of the reasons why he didn't take the risk.
"Prepare the mini-ship and arrange for Goran's departure. He'll complete the delivery while I call someone to fix this ship."
Xander issued some orders after taking a breath.
…
"The nearest planet with a high level of visits from space and a solid black market is roughly 23 light years away," Terrana informed after entering the FTL zone. "We'll reach there in twenty minutes."
"We'll sell this big guy there and buy a small but flexible spacecraft," Rei said, smiling with a gleam in his eyes, "And add just a single high-quality weapon that can pierce the enemy's barrier and strike them so our Leo and Terrana can hack n slash them."
"That would be awesome," Alice chirped, finally feeling some thrill after this recent mind-gripping encounter.
"Yes. We can also dodge some attacks in smaller spacecraft," Lia said with a smile.
Leo wryly smiled and nodded, "I guess I'll do my same old slave work."
"What are you saying? That's the work only you can do," Rei laughed and grabbed Leo's other shoulder. "Have some fire, man. You will be the most powerful hacker, or should we say, Hex Master in the universe, hahaha."
Rei's boisterous laugh was addicting, making everyone happy, even Terrana.
It didn't take long for twenty minutes to pass as they successfully arrived at their destination; Planet Murkwater, one of the biggest black market trading centers in this area of solar systems.
It bustled with criminals and big shots who were egged with bounties on their heads.
No bounty hunters nor police or enforcer of a single government dared to set foot here to capture any of them.
The planet looked extremely lively and full of light from the outside, but it was just as murky inside as its name suggested.
"Whew, it looks like anything goes here," Rei lightly blew a breath, surprised.
"Even trouble too," Leo said, a bit serious. "Guys, let's not get in trouble and finish our business quickly."
"Sigh, Leo. You show weakness in such a place, and you get played to death in all ways," Rei said, grabbing Leo's shoulders and looking at him with a confident smile. "Stay cool and maintain your aura. You are a goddamn genius gifted with an ability that elevated you to a monster."
"Got it?" Rei asked, slapping Leo's back tightly.
Alice and Lia nodded, showing their fists while smiling. Even they were ready to stand tall without fear now that they were here.
Leo wryly smiled and nodded. "I understand. I guess I was being too cautious."
"Nah, we need that cautiousness of yours, but not to the extent that makes us look weak. That's all." Rei grinned and said, "Alright, let's prepare to descend."
"On it. Also, is this planet's air breathable?" Leo quickly asked as their space cruiser descended on the vast parking area that consisted of all kinds of spaceships, some even bigger than theirs.
"As you are now Exceeds, you can breathe on any planet, understand any language of any civilization, and if you speak, others would automatically understand you. However, the gravity of different planets will still affect you," Terrana said with a smile. "This is the first boon to all those who become Exceed."
"Cool," Leo was pleasantly surprised before he asked the next question, "What's the planet's gravity?"
"Twice that of earth. Lia will have some trouble walking," Terrana said, turning towards Lia with a rueful smile.
Alice, Rei, and Leo were stronger than normal humans.
Alice had S-grade physical power, Rei had A-grade (His combat rank S), and Leo had B-grade.
Meanwhile, Lia's physical power was merely D-grade—an Average human's physical power.
Having thought of an idea, Rei asked with a thoughtful expression, "wait, Lia. Can you bring out more power in your ability's passive state?"
"I can try. I have been practicing and fighting it constantly but haven't tried to draw more power from the passive state," Lia said, her eyes sparkling as she eagerly asked, "can I try to do that?"
"Do it, but slow. And coat your ability's power around your body," Rei said before he paused, thinking of something.
"That's it! Imagine a majestic queenly dress for you if you must, but try to control and don your ability as an outfit in a passive state."
"Oh, like him!" Leo exclaimed as he remembered someone who had also awakened Mythical-type with Titular Name.
Leo started telling Lia about the story of Dong Zon.
"News was that Dong Zon died due to him trying to forcefully control his ability to draw out more power than he could handle and went berserk before dying on some planet far away."
"But he had spectacularly used his ability by donning it as his outfit," Leo said, a bit excited as he still remembered the live scene of Dong Zon twelve years ago."
"Ahem, so since his ability was related to a majestic flying white tiger with four wings, he could don his ability as his outfit to produce wings and armaments like heavenly tiger claws on his body."
"He could even breathe and produce sharp wind capable of powdering stones!"
Terrana nodded, "Truly a top-class fighter that got famous even in the universe. I remember he managed to reach 3rd Seal.
"Unfortunately, he couldn't cross the realm of Inferior Seals and enter Median Seals," Terrana shook her head in lament.
The spaceship was parked, but everyone watched Lia trying to control her ability.
"You don't need to make it more powerful. It just had to cover your body with a cool outfit you like. Just need to be showy," Rei said.
"You seem very ready for this," Leo said, a bit speechless as he looked at Rei.
Rei had his usual reddish-brown jacket, a white T-shirt, and a cool pair of pants. At his waist, he hung his evolved katana, Piercing Judge.
"Haha, you are fine with that pen. This sword is dangerous," Rei said with a laugh.
"Can't deny that," Leo wryly said as he hung the laser pen Red Rex on his shirt's chest pocket. He wore a black open formal jacket, but casually with an untucked shirt inside and formal pants.
"As for Alice, she is strongest among us in terms of pure physical power, so no worries," Rei said, smilingly patting Alice's head.
"Now, we wait until Lia finishes," Leo said as they looked at Lia, who was trying her best.
She had already covered the lover half of her body with a gorgeous purple dress that was thick and flowery layered at the bottom with several layers.
Slowly, her upper half was coated as well. Majestic trails of purple flames soon burst behind her as her dress was completed.
Lia looked beautiful… only if she wished.
"Last touch-up," Lia said with a smile that was soon covered by a creepy and scary witch face with purple flame eyes and a wide frightening grin.
Her dress was also lit up in patches of dark pale purple flames, making her look exceedingly fear-invoking.
Rei whistled, impressed. "Now that's how you use it smartly. This is the perfect outfit for this place."
"So cool," Alice said as her eyes became sparky. 'I wonder if I will grow taller and bigger too?'
Alice looked down, feeling a bit disappointed. 'I am seventeen, but it doesn't look like that at all. I am like a thirteen-year-old.'
"Intimidating it is, alright," Leo said with a grin as he looked at Lia's new appearance.
"Let's go. I am ready," Lia said, her smile reaching her eyes as she felt she had become helpful for the first time.
…
The squad went out of the spaceship after Terrana parked it.
Norgils, Elves, Anteras, Lizardmen, Demons, Goblins, Dwarves, Lardoids, Darkins, Wingraxes, and more…
They entered one of the market entrances while watching various alien races and humans, amazed at every step but not showing it. Lia didn't look like she stood out after entering the market.
"So many races," Rei muttered under his breath, but his eyes were gleaming with excitement. A mysterious feeling welled up in him, familiar yet strange.
But he had often felt this phenomenon, so he automatically ignored it.
A few people glanced at Lia in curiosity or assessment before moving, but they were not unnerved in the least.
Rei had a carefree smile and moved at the very front. Behind him was Alice, and behind Alice were Leo and Lia moving in tandem.
"Nice sword, Nii-chan," a short bald man called out from his small stall of high-tech but trashy things. The short old man wore red goggles that occasionally blinked with red light.
"Thanks, oldie," Rei turned to him with a smile, gesturing with a two-finger wave adios from the forehead.
"Haha, he called you an oldie, Talion," a bulky man laughed rowdily from the side.
Rei paused and arched his head toward the source of the voice before smiling, "Any problem with that, Meathead?"
The one who spoke was a bulky fat man with an unusually thick head, hence literally meathead.
Although Rei smiled, it appeared chilly. His thumb was pressed against his katana's handle all the time since they entered. Rei didn't show it, but he was observing everything and stayed most cautious while showing the opposite externally.
Lia also glanced at the bulky head guy. Her face still had the flame mask with a creepy wide smile and burning eyes.
"Tsk, y'all no fun," said the Meathead guy as he spat on the floor and got down from his chair before entering the street. "If you want to have a round, then speak."
Rei walked towards the meathead and stood a meter away from him. The meat head was seven feet tall human with some genetic imbalance. His head was too big, like a pig, and his body was fat.
"Hahaha, go for it," said the shorty old man while laughing. "I am sure that sword can pierce this fatass completely. My eyes can't be wrong."
"Nii-chan, get rid of this fat quickly."
"Wanna try?" Rei asked, widely grinning as he unsheathed his katana and produced a slight hum.