Chapter 45: Return Journey

When Stormbreaker returned to the battlefield, the fighting had ended, and the fleet was busy clearing up the aftermath. Laika approached, having compiled the latest reports, and began her briefing:

"Commander, Vice-Commander Ai Er, the Storm Fleet has achieved a complete victory. We've destroyed three T3-class enemy starships and sixty-two T2-class enemy ships. We've also captured seventeen T2-class ships, while the remaining enemy vessels managed to escape."

"Following humanitarian principles, we conducted rescue operations, saving over seventeen thousand people, who are now detained in three T3 Scythe-class ships in separate groups."

"We expect the battlefield cleanup to finish in thirty minutes. As per the Commander's instructions, we're taking anything of value, leaving nothing behind."

Feng Mo gave Laika a sharp look, annoyed at her thinly veiled accusation of stinginess. Was he really that tight-fisted? No, he preferred to think of it as responsible stewardship.

"Make a note: all captured personnel are to be taken to Storm Planet and assigned as laborers. They'll get one meal a day, just enough to keep them alive, and they'll work hard. After a hundred years of service, they can be granted civilian status."

Feng Mo was not planning to show any mercy. Most of these people were first-level genetic warriors, perfect for doing heavy labor. The Storm Planet was still in need of development, and now he had the manpower to do it.

As for the Pirate Leader, Ai Er would handle him. Feng Mo had promised not to kill him, but Ai Er had her own ways of making him wish he were dead.

The thirty minutes passed quickly. The fleet, which had initially set out with fourteen ships, now returned with thirty-one, all linked together by tractor beams. This operation had truly been a profitable venture. The wreckage alone would sell for millions of Yunshan coins, enough to fund the construction of two T2 Bear-class frigates.

With the battle over, the Flame Pirate Group was no more. Feng Mo's system rewarded him with 1,000 points and a blueprint for a T3-class Boxer Missile Ship. He now had even more starship models he needed to build, knowing that the road to power was a long and challenging one.

Six months flew by, with Feng Mo focusing entirely on the development of his domain. After dealing with the pirates, he signed agreements with the Elves and the Bisi Clan in the Star Network Space, formalizing the resource distribution for Planet P459 as agreed.

Soon after, he had the Mello Sisters take control of the thirteen resource planets that once belonged to the pirates, stationing twelve T2 Bear-class ships and one T3 Scythe-class destroyer there for defense.

Throughout the next six months, the fleet expanded. Under Alisa's direction, four T3 Hammer-class industrial ships were constructed using the outdated shipyards on Storm Planet. Feng Mo even had starship engineers brought from Cloud Sky Main Star to work on these ships.

In five months, the fleet added to its arsenal:

50 T3 Zircon Mechs

1 T3 Lion-class Carrier

4 T3 Scythe-class Destroyers

3 T3 Hammer-class Industrial Ships

20 T2 Bear-class Frigates

10 T3 Reindeer-class Transport Ships

2 T3 Boxer-class Missile Ships

The fleet had evolved into a mixed force of two flagship-class vessels. It now boasted one Stormbreaker flagship, one T3 Lion-class carrier flagship, two T3 Boxer-class missile ships, eight T3 Scythe-class destroyers, thirty-two T2 Bear-class frigates, sixty T3 Zircon Mechs, four T3 Hammer-class industrial ships, and ten T3 Reindeer-class transport ships.

With fifty-eight starships and sixty mechs, Feng Mo had become a force to be reckoned with. Each starship underwent a test flight that Feng Mo personally supervised to ensure everything was in perfect working order.

As the fleet grew, so did the crew. Feng Mo organized an extensive exam on Storm Planet, nicknamed the Star Exam, to recruit nearly ten thousand trainee crew members. He also transferred five thousand more from Cloud Sky Main Star and purchased seven thousand from the slave market.

The fleet structure was reorganized: Ai Er became the captain of the T3 Lion-class carrier and Vice-Commander, responsible for space combat. Alisa became the captain of the T3 Hammer-class industrial ships and the head of the Industrial Fleet. Huaqin was made captain of the T3 Scythe-class destroyers and the head of the Destroyer Fleet. Silia was assigned to the T3 Boxer-class missile ships, while the Mello Sisters took charge of the T2 Bear-class frigates.

Laika and Laixi were designated as Fleet Secretaries, assisting Feng Mo directly. The fleet was divided into two units: Storm Unit One, led by Stormbreaker, and Storm Unit Two, led by the Lion-class carrier. Each unit comprised one T3 Boxer, four T3 Scythes, sixteen T2 Bears, and thirty T3 Zircon Mechs.

Six months of tireless work had transformed Feng Mo, giving him an air of authority and decisiveness. He now carried himself with a natural dignity befitting a true leader.

In the Star Network Space, Feng Mo arrived at a government building— the Yunshan Empire Registration Office. Today, he was here to register his fourteen planets and earn military credits, which he needed to advance his noble title.

Feng Mo wore a noble's attire in the virtual world, complete with the Yunshan Empire's Viscount emblem on his chest and a jade pendant marking him as the head of the Feng family.

As he approached the front desk, a young receptionist greeted him with a respectful bow:

"Good morning, Viscount Feng Mo. How may I assist you today?"

"You know me?" Feng Mo asked with curiosity.

The receptionist smiled warmly. "It's our duty to recognize prominent figures like yourself. Any staff member here would be able to identify you on sight."

Feng Mo nodded, impressed by the professionalism. It seemed the staff had memorized the faces of every influential noble, military officer, and powerful business figure in the Empire.

"I'm here to register one habitable planet and thirteen resource planets. I also need to name the star system."

Though Feng Mo didn't control the entire Storm Star System yet, having the right to name it was a critical step— similar to claiming moral high ground in ancient wars.

"Understood. Please follow me, Viscount."

The receptionist led Feng Mo to an office decorated in the Empire's signature understated elegance. He sat down, and a holographic screen appeared in front of him, prompting him to input the coordinates of his planets.

Feng Mo entered the data, and the receptionist clicked a few more options, bringing up another prompt.

"Please name the star system."

Feng Mo entered: Storm Star System.

"And the planets?"

He named the habitable planet Storm Main Star and designated the thirteen resource planets as FM001 through FM013. The naming scheme was clean and easy to remember, much like the F series he had established for the Cloud Sky Star System.

Registering planets required providing detailed information for verification. Imperial officials would later inspect these planets, but those details didn't need to be discussed further.

One downside to registering planets with the Empire was the

tax— or "protection fee." This wasn't a one-time expense but rather an ongoing obligation.