Chapter 111: Pursuing a Beaten Foe

For the Storm Fleet, star battles that crush a weakened enemy are second nature. Feng Mo's motto, "Big empire, big expenses," is engraved on the base wall, serving as a constant reminder to his fleet captains.

The Storm System is resource-poor, so nothing of value can be overlooked when scouring a battlefield. Feng Mo's directive is clear: spare nothing and enforce complete compliance.

"The quasi-T5 planet-destroyer cannon has completed charging. Awaiting orders."

"Fire!" At Feng Mo's command, the orange energy sphere transformed into a blinding beam, streaking directly toward the enemy's flagship. The beam penetrated the ship in an instant, obliterating everything in its path. The flagship erupted with a blackened hole, igniting a secondary explosion that tore the entire vessel into fragments.

Feng Mo nodded, satisfied with the cannon's performance. It was powerful—one shot could take down an average T4 warship. However, heavily armored battleships might only be disabled by a single blast, not fully destroyed. As it was not a true T5 weapon, it lacked full annihilation capacity.

Still, it would suffice against minor asteroids. Satisfied with its overall power, Feng Mo felt confident that the Hurricane could now claim the title of the strongest vessel under T5.

The entire battle was over in under two hours. Through relentless pursuit, the Storm Fleet decimated the enemy's forces, wiping out an entire small T4 fleet, including 42 T4 starships. With this added to their previous fleet losses, Feng Mo was sure Lawrence would be livid upon hearing the news.

And he was right. In his final moments, Sirun De had managed to send a video message to the Demon Lord, showing the Hurricane shattering his T4 Vulture battleship with a single cannon blast. The scene sent Lawrence's blood pressure soaring; he flew into a rage, smashing objects and cursing loudly.

Worse, Sirun De's dying words revealed a critical piece of intelligence: Feng Mo's vendetta against the Demon System stemmed from the presence of Aier Plan. The previous failed assassination attempt on Feng Mo had allowed a massive threat to escape—a hidden danger that had now cost the Demon System an entire T4 fleet.

Now, Lawrence's Demon System had fewer than 300 T4 ships and only about 2,000 T3 ships. Though still formidable, the steady, heavy losses were making Lawrence increasingly cautious. After all, the longer he lived, the more he feared death.

Left with no choice, he again dialed Qiao Senior's number. When the call connected, Lawrence wasted no words, immediately forwarding Sirun De's final video, then demanding:

"Think of a way to kill Feng Mo. You know you can make it happen. As long as Feng Mo lives, the Demon System will never find peace. If the Demon System's rule is ever threatened, your little trading video with me will flood the entire Federation."

Faced with Lawrence's threats, Qiao Senior could only sigh. This man was just like the White Family before—constantly using threats. While annoyed, Qiao Senior wisely chose not to argue; at the moment, Lawrence was too irrational. In a calm voice, he attempted to placate him:

"The Qiao family and the Yue Clan are sworn enemies, and Feng Mo is backed by the Yue Clan. In truth, the Qiao family would love to eliminate him. But Feng Mo won't leave the Storm System, and as long as he remains within his territory, killing him is nearly impossible."

Lawrence's eyes lit up. "So, you're saying we lure Feng Mo out of the Storm System, then converge our forces to wipe out the Storm Fleet. But the Demon System alone might not be enough, so we'll need the Qiao family's help?"

Qiao Senior paused thoughtfully. "I can't give a final answer on this. You know my position in the family, but I lack direct authority over the fleet. I'll need the family head's approval."

Lawrence mulled it over and agreed. After all, Qiao Senior was technically just a steward, though he hadn't considered that if the family head hadn't preapproved the plan, would Qiao Senior have dared to trade a quasi-T5 warship blueprint?

After hanging up, Qiao Senior made his way to the main study, where he respectfully bowed. "Master, should we reconsider the matter concerning Feng Mo? His connection with the Yue Clan isn't that close, but going after him would mean tangling with the formidable Chu and Hua families behind him."

Sitting at the desk was a middle-aged man in scholarly robes with a square-jawed face and commanding presence. Without addressing Qiao directly, the Qiao family head spoke thoughtfully:

"Old Qiao, you've served me long enough to recognize certain people are destined to become central players. They may face hardships, even life-threatening dangers, but fate aligns to aid them when it matters most."

"These individuals are dangerous. If you cross such a person, you have two choices: bow to them or eliminate them with absolute certainty, ensuring they never rise again."

"Proceed. Take the family insignia. You'll have command of a T4 fleet. Personally oversee the task. Alive or dead, bring back Feng Mo."

Qiao Senior bowed deeply. "Understood, Master. I'll ensure success. Await my good news."

With that, he carefully pocketed the family insignia, then exited the room, silently closing the door behind him. As soon as he left, his posture shifted back to its former confidence. Calling Lawrence back, he stated without preamble:

"It's settled. The Qiao family will dispatch a T4 fleet to join the Demon System in an assault on the Storm Fleet. I'll personally lead. See you at the Demon System."

He ended the call without giving Lawrence a chance to respond. Though abrupt, Qiao Senior's behavior was intentional. A team should have only one voice, and he intended to be that voice.

Meanwhile, Feng Mo was brainstorming how to further weaken the Demon System. Several ideas came to mind, but he dismissed them—either they were too risky, or their potential rewards didn't outweigh the dangers.

As he pondered, Aier returned to the Hurricane from the battlefield. The moment she entered the control room, she threw herself into Feng Mo's arms. Amused, Feng Mo smiled; it seemed his playful "Succubus Queen" comment had brought out her softer side. He understood how many years Aier had endured under tremendous pressure and felt deep compassion for her.

"Let's put our heads together. Think of a way to keep chipping away at the Demon System until we have the perfect chance for a decisive showdown."

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