The battle had ended in a one-sided massacre. All T2 Black Bear-class ships moved in, sweeping the battlefield clean. Bai Muchen, who had barely escaped the carnage, stood aboard his flagship, his face ashen with fear as he watched Storm Fleet finishing off the remnants of his forces.
Standard T3 missile ships typically had two to three hundred missile silos, but these two T3 missile ships were modified to carry five hundred silos each. It was terrifying to witness.
"Commander, the battle damage report is ready," the adjutant nervously reported, dreading that Bai Muchen might take his frustration out on him. It was common practice for high-ranking individuals to use subordinates as scapegoats.
"Report!" Bai Muchen snapped.
"Five waves of star missiles—our interception rate was 43%. Nearly four hundred T2 ships were destroyed, with only thirty-seven managing to escape unharmed. We lost fifty-four T3 ships. Our fleet is completely defeated."
The adjutant quickly summarized the damage and stepped back, keeping his head bowed to avoid provoking Bai Muchen.
Bai Muchen knew they were no longer capable of fighting. Forcing a confrontation would only lead to total annihilation, and Storm Fleet still had a mysterious T3 carrier that hadn't even joined the battle. If two missile ships were this devastating, who knew what the carrier could do?
Aboard Storm's command deck, Feng Mo sat in the captain's chair and turned to his secretary, Laika. "Establish communication with the enemy flagship."
"Yes, sir."
Laika carried out the order, and half a minute later, Bai Muchen appeared on the video screen. His face was still pale with rage, and Feng Mo couldn't help but find it amusing.
"I have three demands. If the Bai family agrees, Storm Fleet will withdraw," Feng Mo declared.
"First: a compensation payment of thirty million star coins. Second: five dark energy crystals. Third: a Federation treaty stipulating that the Bai family will never set foot in Storm Star System again."
Bai Muchen's expression darkened even more as he flatly refused. "That's impossible. The Bai family can agree to stay away from Storm Star System, but we only have three dark energy crystals, and we'll add ten million more star coins."
Feng Mo shook his head slowly. "I'm not negotiating. Let me show you some fireworks, and then you can decide."
With that, he ended the call and ordered, "Laika, prepare the T3 Puncher-class ships. Fire one thousand star missiles at Bai Family Starport!"
At the Bai family's starport, news had spread that Bai Muchen was negotiating with Feng Mo, so the planetary defense systems remained inactive. The sudden barrage of one thousand missiles left them scrambling. The first wave of interception had only a 32% success rate, and the panic-stricken ships docked in the starport scrambled to escape.
But their frantic attempts to flee only created chaos. The starport was filled with expensive industrial and supply ships, which were even more costly to build than destroyers.
The scene descended into utter pandemonium. People, desperate to save themselves, made the situation worse.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The star missiles struck, igniting the entire starport. Explosions and screams filled the air, and secondary explosions from the ships amplified the devastation. The fire spread quickly, engulfing the entire starport. On the planet below, civilians could only watch in horror as the massive starport exploded in flames.
When Feng Mo reestablished the video link with Bai Muchen, he was met with a face contorted in rage, eyes red with fury. Feng Mo merely smiled.
"Three demands. Will the Bai family comply?" he asked lightly.
Bai Muchen, his voice shaking with barely contained anger, demanded, "Do you realize how many innocent lives you've taken by attacking the starport? This is monstrous!"
Feng Mo scoffed. "Oh? And when your brother bombarded FM001, killing tens of thousands of innocent people, was that not monstrous? Now you want to preach morality to me? Hypocrisy much? When it was your family's actions in question, where were your righteous words? All crows are black, Bai Muchen."
His words cut deep, leaving Bai Muchen momentarily speechless.
"I'm not here to waste time. You have two choices: meet my demands, or I continue. Ten seconds to decide."
"Fine! The Bai family agrees!" Bai Muchen spat out. "Thirty million star coins will be transferred immediately. The five dark energy crystals will take three days to gather and will be handed over to Yunjian Commerce. On my honor as a Bai, the Bai family will never set foot in Storm Star System again!"
They finalized a Federation treaty, ensuring the Bai family couldn't go back on their word. The compensation demanded was substantial, representing a third of the Bai family's wealth. The dark energy crystals were particularly valuable, and Feng Mo planned to use them for constructing his future T4 flagship.
Once the treaty was signed, Bai Muchen asked, "Now, will you return my brother?"
This act of brotherly concern touched on a sensitive nerve, but Bai Muchen's emotions were misplaced.
"Your brother? Bai Muli?" Feng Mo replied. "Sorry, but he won't be coming back."
"What do you mean? The Bai family has met your demands, yet you refuse to return my brother?" Bai Muchen roared.
"It's not that I refuse. It's just that Bai Muli is… well, floating somewhere out there in space. Even if I wanted to return him, I couldn't."
Feng Mo made a casual shrugging gesture.
"You killed him! The Bai family will never forgive you!" Bai Muchen shouted, his voice cracking with rage.
Feng Mo responded coolly, "That's fine. We're already enemies. But heed this warning: if you don't want your entire family annihilated, don't cross me again."
With that, Feng Mo ended the call. Initially, he had considered wiping out the Bai family completely, but that would have been too brazen an affront to Snow Eagle Empire. A lone star lord like him couldn't take on an entire empire. He needed time to grow stronger.
"Laika, inform Ai Er to set course for home. We're heading back to Storm Star System."
Feng Mo then called General Gu via video link. As soon as the connection was established, Gu's laughter boomed through.
"Xiao Mo, all settled?"
"Yes, it's all taken care of. Thank you, Uncle Gu, and thank the fleet too. I'll transfer a million star coins as a gesture of appreciation. Consider it a feast to celebrate our victory."
"You don't have to be so polite," Gu chided, though his smile widened. "Helping you is my duty, but I appreciate the gesture. If you ever need anything, just call. As long as you don't bring the sky down, Uncle Gu will have your back."
Gu's laughter grew heartier. A well-mannered and considerate younger relative was always a pleasure to have around. The unofficial nature of the mission was understood by all, and while his soldiers wouldn't complain, a token of appreciatio
n never hurt. The star coins would make sure the crew felt their efforts were valued.
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