Feng Mo's plan was simple yet strategic: first, establish a solid business relationship with the Demon Star System through slave trade, building trust and gaining their confidence.
Then, he would "accidentally" let slip that he had a stash of two critical resources—dark matter and dark energy crystals—enticing the Demon Lord himself to take interest. Ideally, the Demon Lord would show up personally; if not, Feng Mo would arrange for the trade in a remote location where he could set an ambush and take them by surprise.
Feng Mo had chosen his team for the operation carefully, leveraging his extensive network of contacts. One key player was Lei Zhi, a slave trader on the Auckland Prime who was a rising star in the industry. Her success was largely due to her alliance with Feng Mo's forces and her connections to Ai Er, one of Feng Mo's closest allies and the one who had initially selected Lei Zhi as a supplier two years prior.
When Ai Er arrived on Auckland Prime to purchase slaves for Storm Star, she opened bidding through the star web, where Lei Zhi's company was one of the bidders. Lei Zhi was chosen not only for her business acumen but because she was the only female bidder present, making Ai Er's selection straightforward, as she preferred minimal dealings with men to keep her focus on Feng Mo.
Over the next two years, Lei Zhi had supplied a steady stream of slaves to Storm Star, expanding her business and reputation within the slave trade. Given her reputation and ties to Feng Mo, there was no need for her to personally approach the Demon Lord. Instead, one of her inconspicuous employees, a woman named Molly, was tasked to act independently on her behalf. Lei Zhi remained in control behind the scenes, setting the plan in motion.
Within a month, Molly made two large transactions with the Demon Star System, purchasing a total of 30 million slaves. This volume placed her in the top ten of their regular clients—high enough to catch attention but not suspiciously so. Molly skillfully manipulated conversations, hinting at an untapped supply of rare resources. Her ability to pique curiosity was impressive, and Feng Mo couldn't help but appreciate Lei Zhi's talent for finding exceptional personnel.
"Commander," Hua Qin reported, "the plan is progressing smoothly. Molly has made contact with Silund, the head of slave trade for the Demon Star System. She subtly hinted that her employer has a stash of dark matter to offload."
Silund, intrigued, had tried to pry for more details, but Molly expertly deflected, leaving just enough mystery to stir his interest.
Feng Mo was pleased. In just one month, they were already a third of the way through the plan.
"Excellent work, Lei Zhi. Ai Er's judgment was spot on, and your assistant Molly is a true asset. She's managed this masterfully."
Lei Zhi and Molly were elated to receive praise directly from Feng Mo. To be commended by the Lord of Storm Star was an honor.
Feng Mo knew the value of well-placed encouragement. For those beneath him, a little acknowledgment could go a long way in motivating them to push even harder.
Sure enough, two weeks later, Lei Zhi reached out again, visibly excited in the video feed.
"Commander, the plan worked! This morning, Molly spoke with Silund during another transaction. He couldn't resist asking about the dark matter, and Molly, after a bit of feigned annoyance, let the full story slip, emphasizing it's just a T3 freighter full of dark matter that needs to be moved."
Silund, eager for such a deal, had already reported it to the Demon Lord, Lawrence. They scheduled a trade meeting in a remote area of interstellar space between the U4 and U5 star systems, a spot Feng Mo had carefully chosen for his ambush.
Meanwhile, back on the Demon Prime, Silund was reporting to Lawrence.
"My lord, this trader has transacted with us three times, acquiring a total of 45 million slaves—no small feat. The dark matter was first mentioned accidentally during the second transaction. On the third transaction, with some gentle questioning, she revealed that her employer has a stockpile of dark matter they can't move due to recent federal scrutiny."
Lawrence nodded, listening intently. The situation seemed plausible, but it was also suspiciously convenient—an opportunity too perfect to ignore, yet too coincidental to fully trust. But with his current desperation to strengthen his fleet, Lawrence decided to proceed cautiously.
"Very well, proceed with the trade. But I want it handled discreetly. Once we have the dark matter, we can start construction on a quasi-T5 ship to take our enemies by surprise."
Silund, completely confident in Molly's sincerity, was ready to lead the trade mission himself. Meanwhile, Lawrence, still wary from his previous encounter with Feng Mo, had turned his system into an impenetrable stronghold, recalling his T4 fleets and consolidating his power. He wouldn't take any unnecessary risks.
Seven days later, in the command center of the Hurricane, Feng Mo sat calmly in his captain's chair with Hua Qin and Kailan beside him.
"Commander, the four T4 Scorpion Tail bombers have taken their positions under the direction of the Mello sisters. Ai Er has joined the operation, arriving at the rendezvous point on Lei Zhi's T3 carrier."
Feng Mo nodded. Initially, he hadn't wanted Ai Er to personally oversee the trade. But she had insisted, eager to see the downfall of the Demon Star System firsthand. Feng Mo couldn't deny her that, especially with the thorough precautions he had taken to minimize risks.
In the interstellar space between the U4 and U5 systems, Ai Er led a mixed T3 and T2 fleet stationed at the meeting point, a place she had chosen as the perfect trap for the Demon fleet. The location lay at the edge of an asteroid belt, with the T4 bio-ships concealed among the rocks and the four T4 Scorpion Tails cloaked nearby, awaiting their chance.
With this setup, Feng Mo was confident they could destroy twenty or more T4 ships in one volley. His Hurricane fleet was positioned just at the outer edge of the Scorpion Tails' radar range—far enough to remain undetected, yet ready to move in as soon as the trap was sprung.
On the bridge of her flagship, Ai Er wore a sleek black combat suit without a mask, a deliberate choice. She wanted the Demon Star System forces to see her face and know th
at Ai Er, former slave, had returned to haunt them
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