The star map of the Chaos Star Sea displayed five star systems. Beyond these, there were no recorded regions, though brief descriptions of distant territories were mentioned. On the map, planets marked in blue indicated those conquered and registered with the Federation, officially belonging to the Starsea Human Federation.
Planets marked in red were either home to indigenous Chaos Star Sea inhabitants or occupied by other interstellar races. The Federation had not yet fully conquered these five star systems, hence the use of codes instead of formal names.
The systems were labeled as: U1, U2, U3, U4, and U5.
However, there was no mention of the so-called Demon Star System that Ai Er had previously described.
After exiting Rika Star Maps, Feng Mo and Ai Er boarded a maglev train back to the spaceport. With the star map in hand, they could finally prepare for their departure. The closest system to the Aokelan Star System was U3, which the Federation had already occupied 70% of, leaving only a matter of time before full control was achieved.
"Commander," Ai Er whispered, "I can sense the presence of one of my kind." She pointed to the rear of the train, where a figure, completely shrouded in a large black hooded cloak, sat motionless. The figure's face was hidden, making it hard to discern any features.
It was unusual to see a succubus traveling alone on a public maglev train. Generally, non-human species allowed to move freely in public areas were always accompanied by their owners. This one, however, was an exception, or she wouldn't have felt the need to hide her identity so carefully.
Feng Mo's curiosity was piqued. In the Federation, succubi were highly coveted, especially wild ones. Capturing a wild succubus and selling her at a slave market could fetch a hefty price—at least several hundred thousand Yunshan Coins.
Moreover, not everyone could purchase these special slaves. Only nobility had the privilege, and even then, any succubi that appeared in the market were quickly snapped up by lesser noble houses.
Just then, four human men entered the train, glancing around before spotting the cloaked succubus. They sighed with relief, then moved to the back of the train, subtly forming a circle around her.
Succubi, with their strong spiritual senses, could easily detect hostility. The four men's intentions did not escape the lone succubus. Preparing to flee, she planned to get off at the next stop, but the four men also followed her off the train.
"Let's go check this out," Feng Mo said, unable to ignore Ai Er's pleading expression.
Every planet had its dark corners. Given Aokelan Star System's proximity to the Chaos Star Sea, its security and prosperity were naturally less than the more developed areas of the Federation.
The cloaked succubus wove her way through a maze of alleyways, arriving at an old, run-down house in a slum. Once sure she wasn't being followed, she knocked rhythmically on the door. A moment later, the door creaked open, and she slipped inside.
From the shadows, several figures emerged—other succubi, including one adult and five juveniles. All were female, with small horns on their heads and long tails wrapped around their waists, making them resemble human women when cloaked.
"Laila, how did it go? Did you get anything?" the adult succubus asked.
Laila, the cloaked succubus, knelt and embraced the small children surrounding her. She removed her cloak, revealing a handful of bills marked with a white eagle emblem. "I only managed to get this much today," she said. "It should be enough to feed the children for a week. But we may need to move again. I sensed some bad men looking for us."
Suddenly, a faint rustling sound echoed. It was subtle, but with heightened senses, the succubi immediately sensed danger.
"Quick, Lacey, take the children and run out the back!" Laila commanded.
"Run where?" A gruff voice sneered. "We've got this whole place surrounded. Seven succubi, huh? Our young master is going to be thrilled!"
The front door burst open, and several armed men in black stormed in, led by a middle-aged man. His eyes glistened with greed. Capturing these seven succubi meant an unimaginable windfall. He could either offer them as a tribute to a noble or sell them to secure a cushy life.
They had been planning this ambush for weeks, staking out the area for any sign of the succubi.
"Run!" Laila yelled at the others. "They want us alive, so they won't shoot. Run as fast as you can, and at least one of you might escape!"
She pulled out four short swords, imbuing them with spiritual energy, and launched them at the intruders. The other succubi, led by Lacey, tried to escape out the back.
"Where do you think you're going? After them!" the leader barked. "Leave this little beauty to me!"
With a flash, the middle-aged man deflected the incoming swords with a black dagger, shattering them effortlessly. Desperate, Laila grabbed another short sword and prepared to take her own life, preferring death over capture.
"Don't resist," the man taunted, using his dagger to disarm her. "Come quietly, and perhaps your new master will treat you well. Who knows? You might end up a high-class companion, and I'll have to bow to you next time we meet."
Laila's heart sank. Two years of living in constant fear, hiding from the world... perhaps she should have died a long time ago. Just as she steeled herself for one last desperate act—
Clap, clap, clap.
A slow, mocking applause echoed. "Quite the drama," a young voice said. "Mind if I join in? If you put on a good show, I might even reward you."
Feng Mo and Ai Er entered, with a group of immobilized black-clad men floating behind them, all paralyzed by Ai Er's spiritual power. Behind them, the six succubi who had tried to escape slowly emerged, relieved and astonished.
The middle-aged man's face turned pale. The strength of this succubus was beyond his expectations, at least a third-tier gene warrior, maybe even touching the fourth tier. And to think she was just a servant to the young man in front of him—a noble.
"Sir," the man stammered, "we work for the Liu family of Aokelan. We won't resist, but please, for the sake of our shared nobility, let us go."
He was skilled at reading the room, but he hadn't counted on Feng Mo.
"The Liu family?" Feng Mo frowned. "As far as I know, there isn't a noble family by that name in the Snow Eagle Empire."
"Commander," Ai Er interjected, "the Liu family is indeed listed as a baronet in the Aokelan system. Captain Wang mentioned them in the data he shared, though you only reviewed the higher-ranked nobles."
Hearing this, the middle-aged man, a third-tier gene warrior, dropped his dagger and raised his hands in surrender. He knew better than to cross this young noble. Sometimes, knowing when to yield could be a lifesaver.
Seeing Ai Er, Laila's tears began to fall. The despair that had
nearly driven her to suicide gave way to a glimmer of hope, a chance at life.