Asha Star system, Sacred Fist Star.
This massive planet, located at the edge of the star system, served as the primary residence for members of the Saints’ Hand Society’s Mission Department.
The Saints’ Hand Society, a colossal underground organization hidden within the Empire’s shadows and controlling several star systems, had an exceptionally complex internal structure.
But for Yun Ruoxi and Heishui, the Saints’ Hand Society could generally be viewed as four major departments: the Mission Department, the Research Department, the Logistics Department, and the Colonization Department.
The functions of the latter three departments were evident from their names. Only the first—the Mission Department—when stripped of its pleasant-sounding facade, revealed its true nature: a violent institution loyal to the Saints’ Hand Society.
The armies cultivated by the Saints’ Hand Society, trainees who graduated from the battle camp, qualified individuals who passed through the abyss of death row, star energy users specially recruited from the outside due to unique abilities, descendants of internal members who awakened combat-related supernatural powers, cyborgs, Psychics, and even Star Beasts.
Any member who directly participated in missions and combat belonged to this department.
And without a doubt, Heishui and Heart Demon, along with Yun Ruoxi’s former classmates, were all assigned to the Mission Department’s roster after joining the Saints’ Hand Society.
Of course, this now also included Ye Lan and her new younger sister.
Whoosh!
A white streak shot swiftly through the void.
Heishui, having piloted the spaceship through various inspections, arrived near Sacred Fist Star with Yun Ruoxi and Shi Linglin aboard.
In her field of vision, a massive planet with clearly demarcated surface areas instantly came into view.
Sacred Fist Star was a stunning planet.
Yun Ruoxi turned her head slightly, her expression placid as she looked out the viewport.
Anyone seeing it for the first time would sincerely marvel from the depths of their heart at the power of human technology.
For the sole purpose of accommodating the living requirements of different members, the Saints’ Hand Society had used Starforge Colossi to transform the planet’s entire surface into five distinctly different zones.
These were the four residential zones: high-temperature, frigid, aquatic, and temperate, plus the Central District where the Mission Department’s institutions were located.
The Central District was situated at the planet’s equator, intersecting all four residential zones, making it convenient for Mission Department members to report in at any time.
And this was also the destination of her journey!
“Preparing to enter the Starport!”
Heishui piloted the ship to the planet’s exterior but was in no hurry to enter. Instead, she reduced speed and turned towards a massive starport spanning the space.
For ease of management, all private ships were strictly prohibited from directly entering Sacred Fist Star’s atmosphere. They needed to dock at the starport first, then transfer via the sky elevator.
As the Saints’ Hand Society’s “busiest” department, this colossal starport constantly handled a massive flow of ships.
The ship Heishui piloted blended right in, utterly inconspicuous.
Therefore, aside from those who had been keeping an eye on Yun Ruoxi, no one could know what the arrival of this ship truly meant for the Mission Department.
“Commencing inspection. Detected thirty-six points of damage, including armor breaches, energy shield generator overload…”
As the ship entered the starport, intelligent scanning equipment began examining and announcing the vessel’s damage status.
This inspection and repair service was free for Mission Department members.
Heishui, accustomed to this, immediately replied, “Proceed with repairs.”
This was the standard operating procedure. The repair phase following the inspection was also considered part of the benefits for Mission Department members.
For the Saints’ Hand Society to have so many members, they couldn’t rely solely on mind control. High compensation and generous benefits were also methods they used to attract talent.
Heishui stood up from the pilot’s seat, looking at the utterly composed Yun Ruoxi, the curious Shi Linglin, and the cowering Heart Demon. He sighed inwardly.
“Heart Demon, you go back and rest first. I’ll take them to the Central District to complete registration,” he said softly.
Hearing she didn’t have to follow Yun Ruoxi anymore, Heart Demon immediately shot Heishui a grateful look, hurriedly disembarked from the ship, and left with quick steps.
Shi Linglin watched Heart Demon’s retreating back with pity. Another poor soul scared witless by my older sister!
“Let’s go.”
Heishui waited a moment, deliberately letting Heart Demon get farther away before leading Yun Ruoxi and Shi Linglin off the ship.
Stepping off the ship and officially entering the starport, Yun Ruoxi and Shi Linglin immediately felt as if they had entered a bustling marketplace.
Robots and Mission Department members preparing to depart or returning from missions to rest were everywhere.
These Mission Department members, though their appearances varied greatly, their equipment differed, and some were clearly from different races, all without exception carried a palpable aura of killing intent, broadcasting the fact that they were not to be trifled with.
“Level two, level two, level two, level three…”
Yun Ruoxi floated forward, her gaze sweeping the surroundings openly, murmuring softly under her breath.
Heishui and Shi Linglin were close by. He looked at the girl questioningly, and the latter explained, “Older sister is assessing the targets’ strength, seeing if she can handle them.”
Heishui felt awkward upon hearing this. “Private combat is strictly forbidden in the starport and the residential zones of Sacred Fist Star. It’s only permitted in the Death Duel Arena in the Central District. And staring at others like that really invites trouble. Can you ask your sister to stop…”
Heishui was about to ask Shi Linglin to persuade Yun Ruoxi, hoping she wouldn’t cause trouble on her very first day reporting to the Mission Department.
But before he could finish speaking, someone with an impatient expression had already walked over.
“Hey!”
The newcomer shouted loudly, striding up to Yun Ruoxi. His massive shadow completely enveloped her.
This was a giant, a full four meters tall.
His face was fleshy and scowling, muscles bulging, looking even more robust than Instructor Behemoth.
The man glared at Yun Ruoxi with displeasure.
“You’re a newbie from the battle camp side? Didn’t your commandant teach you to keep your head down here before you came?”
“Not good, this is someone from the Death Prison Faction!”
Heishui looked at the man, his eyes catching the simple crack-like tattoo on the other’s arm. His pupils contracted instantly, a sense of foreboding rising within him.
Where there are people, there are factions.
Even within an organization like the Saints’ Hand Society, it was no exception.
Due to the origins of its members, the Mission Department had long been divided into four major factions: the War Camp Faction, the Death Prison Faction, the Special Recruitment Faction, and the Direct Lineage Faction.
These four factions usually looked down on each other, with the War Camp Faction and the Death Prison Faction having the worst relationship.
The former, though they were the “own people” cultivated by the Saints’ Hand Society, didn’t enjoy the transcendent status of the Direct Lineage Faction.
Compared to the externally-sourced Death Prison and Special Recruitment Factions, they were still in a better position.
This in-between status left many of them feeling twisted. They clung even more tightly to the identity of being direct lineage, always looking to the Direct Lineage Faction as their leaders, completely despising the latter groups as “scum” from the Empire’s underbelly.
And the latter viewed the former as having joined the Saints’ Hand Society too easily, just a bunch of child soldiers.
That’s why Heishui had previously been puzzled and displeased about being assigned to retrieve a “qualified individual.”
After all, logically, that should have been the Death Prison Faction’s business.
Of course, after learning the “qualified individual” was Ye Lan, that was a different matter altogether.