The Hydra Crew’s ship, the Vanguard, soared high above the shifting, iridescent landscapes of the Slime World, its sensors sweeping the terrain for their missing comrades.

Within a day, the radar pinged with success as they located Max, Angelica, and Flameboy huddling in a sheltered ravine.

​However, the celebratory mood was cut short. They didn’t find Moon. There was no signal, no encrypted messages, and no trace of her bio-signature. It was as if she had vanished from the planet overnight, leaving nothing but the cold wind behind.

​"Still nothing? She’s the most competent one among us. How can she just... disappear?" Angelica asked with worry as she stepped onto the bridge.

​Captain Ajaz sighed, staring at the empty seat where Moon usually sat.

"Moon’s background was always shrouded in mystery, Angelica. She never told us where she came from or where she went during her off-hours. Maybe she had something more urgent to attend tox something that couldn’t wait for a goodbye."

​"Without a word? After everything we’ve been through? That’s cold, even for her." Max grumbled, crossing his arms..

​"Perhaps. But in this business, sometimes a silent exit is the only one you’re allowed," Ajaz replied softly.

​Though the mystery remained, the crew had no choice but to accept the silence. With the mission aborted and the members they could find safely aboard, the Vanguard ignited its thrusters and departed for the long return journey to Earth.

​But they didn’t know that an even larger shadow was following them through the vacuum.

True to its name, the Ghost had activated its advanced camouflage functions, slipping into the darkness of space as an invisible predator following a familiar scent.

​After 3 more days of travel through the luminescent stars, the Vanguard finally broke through Earth’s atmosphere.

While the crew prepared for landing, the Ghost remained in high orbit, floating like a silent sentinel, untraceable by any planetary radar.

​As the landing struts hissed and settled onto the familiar soil of their home planet, the Hydra Crew stepped out into the fresh air.

They shared a rare moment of genuine joy, holding each other’s hands and embracing, relieved to have survived the ordeal.

But of course, Flameboy still mocked Neo.

Still, the Hydra felt incomplete. The absence of Moon made it hollow.

​Neo stood apart, watching them with a passive expression, his mind already calculating the next phase of his ascent.

When he turned to leave, Captain Ajaz stepped forward and placed a heavy, grounding hand on his shoulder.

​"Neo, I don’t know how much you liked her, or how saddened you are by Moon’s sudden departure. We all feel the gap she left behind."

​Neo looked at the Captain, feigning a flicker of melancholy.

"She was quite unique, Captain. It’s a shame xI didn’t get understand her better."

Ajaz nodded.

​"It is. But look at me. We would really love to have you onboard with us again for the next mission. You might not be the most capable fighter in the room yet, but you’re the most patient and understanding of them all. You have a temperament that keeps this chaotic crew together."

Ajaz said it because he understand most newbies quit exploring space after their first run.

​Deus, the Vice-Captain, walked over and nodded in agreement.

"Ajaz is right, kid. You’ve got a level head. That’s worth more than raw power in a tight spot."

​Ajaz gripped Neo’s shoulder a bit tighter, looking him in the eye.

"So don’t let me down, Neo. You have a bright future ahead of you. Stay with us, and we’ll make sure you reach it."

​Neo offered a small, humble smile.

"I appreciate the trust, Captain. I’ll think about it."

Neo reached Green Vine Villa in the evening, his posture heavy, as if he were carrying the burden of the world on his shoulders.

​"Bro, you’re back!" As soon as he knocked on the door, Nina hurried out. Upon seeing his face, her expression brightened instantly.

"I missed you so much, Bro. Tell me, how did the mission go? Did you actually meet any aliens?"

​Neo simply caressed her head in silence, then headed up to his room without saying a word.

​Nina stood there, stunned.

He was still her brother, yet he felt unfamiliar at the same time. Something had definitely changed within him, and the change made her feel a little uneasy.

Neo spent the night in his room as various thoughts crossed his mind. He had already devised a careful strategy to maintain a dual persona so that his family would not be put in danger while he simultaneously worked on conquering other planets.

However, conquering planets would not be an easy task. After all, the three nearby livable planets and their stars were already under the Federation’s control. Challenging them was akin to pulling a lion’s tail, especially while he remained weak in both technology and manpower.

​Both of these problems could be solved with money. Universal Credits, to be specific.

With UC, he could purchase weapons and ships, recruit manpower, and much more.

However, to acquire that amount of wealth, he needed to establish more than just a company; he needed to build a business empire.

​He remembered what old man Dorok had said. The demand for Aqua Core Flash was so high that customers were desperate to get their hands on it.

He could start with that.

With 225 points of cosmic force, he could now synthesize hundreds of regular bottles in a single batch, generating massive profits. His business wouldn’t just grow, it would explode.

​With these thoughts, he eventually drifted off to sleep. His mother knocked on the door with food, but seeing that he was deeply asleep, Mrs. Godson did not disturb him.

​The next morning, as the sun barely rose over the Green Vine Villa and the maids and workers began their routines, Neo stepped out.

In the garage, he noticed that the black colour flying car promised by Apex Nebula had been successfully delivered.

Without any ceremony, he ignited the engine like an expert driver and flew away from the villa.

​The maids stared, stunned by their master’s return.

​"Master Neo is back!" one woman shouted.

​"Yeah. And he looks completely healthy. Maybe we won’t have to look for new jobs after all," a younger maid responded, her eyes glassy.

<< What came before was nothing more than a prelude >>

<< The real game had just begun >>