MPWATMBC Chapter 93

As a planet rich in geothermal resources, Cranberry had been under construction for over twenty years, and it now boasted impressive facilities that offered female pirates a complete experience of food, drink, and entertainment. Anything could be bought here with gold, silver, and jewels, as trade did not rely on star coins but rather hard currency.

The underground town wasn’t very large, but like a small sparrow with all its vital organs, it had everything one could need. As long as you had money, you could enjoy royal treatment. When Ryan and his group arrived, they brought ample gold and silver coins with them. Even in the interstellar age, the Empire’s gold reserves were still the foundation of currency issuance. With the honor legion covering expenses, they decided to indulge in a bit of high-end luxury and enjoy themselves.

The hotel was not tall, only six stories, but the top floor luxury suite was where they stayed. The suite had three bedrooms—Harriet claimed one for herself, while the others shared the remaining two. The suite also featured an ultra-luxurious bathtub, a game room for leisurely fun, and accompanying room services, ensuring that the money spent was definitely worth it.

In the living room, everyone had changed into new clothes and gathered together. After checking the room and ensuring there were no listening devices, Ryan placed a jamming ball on the table, which could block eavesdropping.

Harriet claimed the single sofa and sat there laughing uncontrollably. “Haha, someone actually touched Ryan’s butt! How did it feel? Did that person say it was amazing?”

Derrick and Jack couldn’t help but laugh too. Just thinking about Ryan’s expression at that moment made them want to burst out laughing, but they held back to give Ryan some face. The look on that female pirate’s face when Ryan firmly rejected her was priceless—it was like a short T Rex not being able to eat a long-necked dinosaur, such a missed opportunity.

“Tell me, what did that pirate look like?” Fan Lanting, who hadn’t been present, asked curiously.

Derrick held in his laughter and said, “She was only about 60 cm tall, with a big head and a tiny body. I know there’s a tropical planet in the Life Starfield where the people are all short due to their genetic traits, so I guess she’s from there.”

“That famous dwarf planet?”

“Yeah, that’s the one. There’s a kind of green fruit in the rainforest there that’s really delicious.” Ryan’s focus was quite unique.

Fan Lanting nodded, looking at Ryan. “Ryan’s charm really is immense.”

Ryan: “…” Being touched on the butt by anyone other than Auston is not a good feeling, and it’s definitely not something to be envious of. He doesn’t want this kind of charm!

Harriet waved her hand in the air, “Little Fan, don’t be jealous. You have me, I’ll grab you.”

Fan Lanting turned his head away, his face almost contorting. “No, I refuse. Harriet, we’ll settle this in the arena when we get back. I’ll show you the consequences of casually squeezing my butt!”

“I’m happy to oblige, darling. I could actually take responsibility for you.” They were both unmarried, so it seemed like a perfect match for internal consumption. “You’re exactly my type. How about it? Want to try being together?”

Fan Lanting didn’t immediately refuse as he normally would. Instead, he lowered his head, as if considering the feasibility of the proposal. The others exchanged looks. They all knew how much Fan Lanting adored writer Connor, so now he was letting go of his idol? Ryan silently cursed his cousin in his heart. This was the consequence of “missing out”—he’d regret it later, but it would be too late.

The atmosphere grew momentarily tense, but Derrick broke the silence by mocking Harriet. “You really have a lot of types you like.”

When Harriet first met Ryan, she said he was her type, and now she’s telling Fan Lanting the same thing. Harriet really is a heartbreaker!

Harriet sighed. “My tastes are just a little more broad. There was a time when you were my type too.”

“Don’t even think about it. Two Ys together have no future.”

Harriet leaned in closer to Derrick, “But we’re a man and a woman, so a little fun could still be possible.”

Derrick, ever the serious one, firmly rejected her. “No thanks, I’m married.”

Harriet was just joking around, but when she heard Derrick say he was married, she felt a bit disappointed. Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she decided not to dwell on it. Instead, she lifted her gaze to Ryan, who was busy with his hands on the coffee table. In the end, it was still Ryan who was reliable.

In the center of the sectional sofa was a large quartz stone coffee table, enough for two people to lie side by side. It was unclear what its original purpose was, but now it was cleared of fruit plates, floral arrangements, and magazines. Ryan placed a light screen on it, lightly tapping it to activate it, and snowflake-like holograms were projected into the air.

Ryan raised his hand, opening his personal terminal and performing a few operations. With a wave of his hand, the data entered the light screen. The surface conditions of Cranberry appeared, “The detectors I deployed are working well. Most of them have transmitted data, and we can now construct a topographical map of Cranberry’s surface.” The surface map of the planet faded away, replaced by a view of the underground city’s layout, “This is the visible layout of the underground city—one main road, three branching paths, with the terrain clearly visible.”

“The exit tunnels?” Jack, sitting nearby, reached out to drag the holographic terrain map, quickly memorizing the details.

Ryan replied, “That part is missing.”

“That’s where the key to our exit lies,” Derrick said, his playful expression disappearing as he squatted next to the coffee table.

Ryan nodded. “We need to find an opportunity to get close to the exit and place some detectors inside. Right now, we can’t know what the situation is in there.” The underground tunnels had many branching paths, and a small mistake could lead to getting lost. One wrong step could potentially drop them into a bottomless chasm of molten lava.

Harriet chimed in, “Hey, hey, hey, guys, why are you all thinking the worst? Maybe we’ll be able to complete the mission easily, leave without a hitch, and avoid making any noise.”

“That would be the best,” Ryan agreed, hoping for a smooth and successful completion of the mission.

Their mission was to make contact with the pirates who might be coming from the Red Spider base and extract the exact coordinates of the base from them. The informants planted by the Glory Legion had passed on word that this group was out to purchase supplies and weapons, and one of their possible destinations was Cranberry. As for the pirates’ specific traits… Ryan glanced at Fan Lanting. As a scout, Fan Lanting had a natural talent for tracking and finding people or things.

Fan Lanting opened his personal terminal and shared an image of the target, based on the informant’s description, on the light screen. “The specific targets are three people. A woman with red hair, a hooked nose, and a cautious demeanor; a young man in his twenties with an ordinary appearance, the only notable feature being his flirtatious eyes, with the classic ‘peach blossom eyes’; and a middle-aged man with a buzz cut and a scar on his left ear, which makes his ear look abnormal compared to others. This is the most distinctive person in the group. I’ve drawn a rough sketch based on the informant’s description. It won’t be a perfect match with the real people, and I suspect they might use disguises, making it even harder to find them.”

“Don’t forget another possibility…” Ryan said helplessly, looking at the group. “There’s a chance that we’ve been wasting our time, and they might not even be here on Cranberry.”

With a probability greater than thirty percent, it was a gamble on their part.

After some brief discussions on their action strategy, the group left the room and split into different areas to investigate.

Of course, their attire was quite proper—not the cool, skimpy outfits that were common these days. They were wearing pants! Under their light shirts, they were dressed in a more restrained, almost austere manner, suitable for the underground city, projecting a sense of controlled desire.

The narrow streets of the underground city were crowded, with food stalls lined up on both sides, making the already cramped space even more congested. Walking through them, it was inevitable that one would brush against others. Ryan could feel his buttocks and chest being touched now and then—whether intentional or not, he endured it.

The underground city was unbearably hot, like being inside a sauna. Spotting an ice cream shop, Ryan walked over. “Vanilla chocolate ice cream, one silver coin.”

Ryan flicked a coin from his hand, which the vendor caught, smiling. “Our ice cream is handmade, you know. I can sprinkle some crushed nuts on top. What would you like?”

“Freeze-dried strawberries and pistachio bits,” Ryan ordered, picking according to his preferences.

“Got it, sir. Please wait a moment, it’ll be ready soon.” The vendor took out the ice cream from the freezer, expertly coating it in flowing chocolate and sprinkling nuts and dried fruits. If one ignored her mechanical arm and the scar on her face, she looked like an ordinary street vendor, not a retired pirate.

While waiting, Ryan made small talk with the vendor. After a few exchanges, he casually asked, “Is it obvious when someone’s an outsider?”

The vendor chuckled twice, the scar on her face pulling into a somewhat grotesque expression. “You’re an outsider, and a newcomer at that.”

“Is it because I’m dressed too much?”

“No, no, it’s because of your eyes.”

Ryan raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “What do you mean?”

“People who come often have bolder eyes. They stare freely, and can practically strip someone with just a glance. Cranberry is a land of freedom, no restrictions.” The vendor winked and added, “You look too covered up, it makes you more appetizing. Heh heh.” She almost wanted to ask the customer how much he’d pay for a night, judging by his build—he definitely had the strength.

Ryan: “…” Heh.

Ryan controlled his facial expression, pretending to understand. “I see, I’ll try to come back with the boss sometime, really glad I came, learned a lot.”

“Haha, as long as you let go, you’ll experience the supreme pleasure here in Cranberry. Do you see the little red house in the middle?”

Ryan raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. “The small red house in the center, you mean? I noticed it on my way here. It looks so small and low, yet it occupies the heart of the town. I’m guessing there’s something special about it.” He turned to Fan Lanting, who was assigned to investigate that area.

The vendor smiled slyly, enjoying Ryan’s inquisitiveness. She leaned closer, dropping another two fresh raspberries onto the ice cream as a sort of treat. Fresh fruit was a rare luxury on Cranberry, and Ryan knew it was a special gesture. “That little red house? It’s like a paradise inside, better than anything you could imagine. You’ll experience heaven in there.”

“Have you been to heaven?”

The vendor silently took the raspberries off, “Heh heh, when I save enough money, I’ll go to the Little Red House and enjoy myself.” He really didn’t know how to chat. What fruit to offer and not offering anymore! “It’s a pity though, only one type of man can go in there.”

Ryan took the plain vanilla chocolate ice cream. Without needing to ask much, he already knew what that “one type of man” was – someone for others to use for amusement.

Once again, he felt the gaze of being watched. Ryan calmly looked over and saw a familiar face – disguised as a nervous violinist, it was the “adventurer” or wild pirate who had bought a barrel of fuel from Ryan at a high price.

Bandner did not avoid it. After giving Ryan a deep look, he turned around. Ryan decisively followed. Behind him, the vendor mumbled, “Why did he leave? I was planning to give him two more raspberries.” Looking at the raspberries in her hand, she, being an ex-pirate with professional ethics, couldn’t bring herself to put the used fruit back. So, she simply ate them herself. The solution was perfect. The retired pirate squinted, fresh fruit was really delicious.

Ryan finished the ice cream in a few bites, including the ice cream stick made from corn extract, sidestepping through the crowd and quietly entering an alley. The mental map in his brain began to align with the coordinates, confirming his position and also completing the map. The third-generation detectors still had a major flaw – their lifespan was too short, preventing them from fully exploring the underground city. They could only stop at knowing where the junctions were, but what lay at the end of those paths remained unknown.

The narrow path in the alley had completely lost the bustling, crowded, and decadent atmosphere of the main street, replaced only by darkness and heat, as if the end led to crimson lava. A turn appeared ahead, and without hesitation, Ryan took a pen out of his pocket, raised it, and aimed. The red dot emitted by the “fountain pen” landed on the center of the other person’s forehead. Bandner looked at Ryan timidly, like a violinist bullied by the boss in a small orchestra, “Save me.”

Ryan chuckled lightly, “If you take your hand off the weapon, I might still be able to save you.”

“At least we’ve met once, don’t be so heartless,” Bandner dropped the disguise, and his entire aura changed, becoming confident and arrogant, yet his brows showed anxiety and unease, like a beast trapped in an iron cage, restless but trying to remain composed.

“Tell me your purpose, or I’ll make sure you can never leave Cranberry.” Ryan didn’t beat around the bush and asked directly.

Bandner raised an eyebrow, “You’re too direct, you could’ve said a few words first. Your suggestion is quite malicious, I accept the threat. How about this, before we talk properly, put down the weapon?”

Ryan chuckled, “Together?”

“Together,” Bandner nodded.

Ryan put down the “fountain pen,” only to see the other person raise a handgun. With a calm smile, he said, “Disobedient children deserve to be punished.” The moment the words left his mouth, Ryan moved. His speed was so fast that ordinary eyes couldn’t keep up. By the time everything settled, Bandner was already on the ground, clutching his stomach, crying out in pain. Ryan said indifferently, “I said, put down the weapon together.”

Bandner, lying on the ground in pain, begged for mercy, “I’m sorry, I was just joking.”

“That joke wasn’t funny. Now tell me, why did you bring me here?”

Bandner felt his misplaced organs slowly realign, and the pain became bearable. “I really came to ask for help. I saw Beland’s news and know you’re very capable. I was so delighted to see you here in Cranberry. My companion was captured and taken to that damn red house. I need to rescue him. When he was younger, he got injured, his ear was damaged. A metal skewer scraped past his ear, almost piercing into his brain, so his head’s a bit slow. If he’s taken into the red house and his body is exploited for some weird abilities, I’ll really feel sorry for him.”

“Scars?” Ryan’s heart stirred. Could it really be such a coincidence? “On his ear? your friend has a crew cut. You should also have a female companion, with a hooked nose?”

“Huh, how do you know?” Bandner suddenly looked up, his mind racing in an instant. In the end, he decided to remain puzzled.

It really is such a coincidence! Ryan looked somewhat helplessly at the young man he had knocked to the ground. “What about your peach blossom eyes?”

“Not good-looking, I had cosmetic surgery to get rid of them.” Bandner’s eyes moved, and under Ryan’s gaze, he decided to tell the truth.

“You’re a pirate from the Red Spider!” Ryan’s palm slightly moved. With a mere thought, he could easily choke Bandner’s neck, ending his life in an instant.

Bandner vehemently denied it, “How is that possible? We’re good people.” Under Ryan’s indifferent gaze, Bandner’s voice lowered, and he hesitated before saying, “We’re just poor people controlled by pirates. The main force of the Red Spider was almost wiped out in the last Glory Legion’s crackdown. That’s why we finally have a chance to catch our breath and live the life we want. We don’t want to be pirates, we just want to follow Emperor Qin Feng’s will and farm well, be farmers.”

Ryan: “?” What does this have to do with him? Why is he involved in pirates?

Bandner was a carefree and reckless person. He could disguise himself, but he could also be honest. Once he started talking, there was nothing left to hide, as this was the truth. “My ancestor was an underling of Emperor Qin Feng, tasked with infiltrating the pirates as an undercover agent. Since the emperor never contacted my ancestor to terminate the mission, my ancestor just stayed with the pirates. The pirate group changed names several times, from Skull to Victory Rose, and now to Red Spider. Our family grew larger in the pirate logistics, and now we’ve completely transformed the pirate base. To be exact, that place is no longer a pirate base, but a place where we follow Emperor Qin Feng’s ideals of ‘freedom, equality, and kindness.’ We’ve always wanted to be legitimate citizens, not black-market residents. We want personal terminals that can access the star network, so we can play games. We want to go to university, we want to travel to other star domains.”

Ryan had a moment of confusion. A few hundred years ago, he seemed to have given this order, because with the imminent war against the Zergs, he didn’t want any internal problems within humanity, so he suppressed pirates, etc. But after the Battle of Dawn, when he self-destructed and died, he lost track of how the “pirate division” mission progressed. He never expected that, after all these years, this mission was still quietly being carried out… If what Bandner said was true, he would verify its authenticity.

“Why did you come to Cranberry?” Ryan asked.

Bandner, “Damn it, we didn’t want to come to Cranberry, but we ran into the remnants of the Red Spider on the way. After shaking them off, we ran out of fuel and had no choice but to change course and come to the nearest pirate gathering point. We don’t have identification, so as illegal residents, we can only buy resources at pirate gathering points. We need weapons to protect the planet, and books to understand the outside world. Damn it, I didn’t expect the female pirates of Cranberry to have such heavy tastes. They don’t want me, this young fresh meat, but instead want that buzz-cut guy, Rennie! Can you believe that?”

Ryan said, “…Kind of.”