Chapter 41: Crisis Approaches [Seeking monthly tickets, collections, and recommendation votes]

40. Crisis Approaches

Vunert walked over to Yuri and said, "So, you're planning to head to the northwest district of Mos Esley? I heard it's quite chaotic over there."

"I like places like that," Yuri laughed, then changed the subject. "However, you should still lend me that T-850 you were allocated."

"Don't you and Vitaly think having two T-850s is stilln't enough security? Didn't you say you liked it there?" Vunert teased.

"But I like staying alive even more. You can only do business if you're alive." Yuri patted Vunert on the shoulder. "Well then, according to our agreement, I'll see you in 24 standard hours."

Vunert shook his head and headed to a bar in Mos Esley with Quinto and Felacci. He told Quinto that this trip was meant to find some business and take everyone for a bit of relaxation, especially since they had just made a big deal and earned 100,000 credits.

Upon arriving at the bar, Vunert quickly found the Twi'lek woman he had met last time. Since they had met before, they were already quite familiar; this time, they could be considered old flames. After a few drinks, he and the woman quickly got into the groove. One was dashing and flirtatious, the other was eyes full of passion; they embraced and played a game of coy resistance, eventually drifting unconsciously into a corner of the bar.

Seeing Vunert walk away and noticing that his robot bodyguard had followed Yuri, Quinto's expression suddenly turned serious. He drained the blue Sporkika drink in front of him. The unique aroma of krill, a specialty of the planet Sogen, filled his mouth, but at this moment, he had no desire to savor his favorite drink.

"How is it? That matter from before," Felacci said, taking a casual sip of her drink while staring straight at Quinto.

"Are you insane? To actually plot such a thing with Kenneth! Do you realize how easily this could get us our heads chopped off? None of those people from the Fourth Group are kind souls. I've told you before about that run we went on with them!" Quinto roared in a low voice.

"So what? He's still just a useless loser who couldn't even beat a ship with three bounty hunters and ended up having to beg a Jedi for help," Felacci said dismissively.

"Even so, it's impossible to go looking for 'Iron Tooth' Kooken! Don't you know what kind of character he is? He has connections with the 'Black Sun'! Otherwise, how could the Hutts tolerate a ship as large as his Hammerhead-class cruiser loitering near Tatooine!" Quinto's fists clenched tightly from tension. "No! We must report this to the Administrator immediately!"

Felacci glanced back toward Vunert. At that moment, the Twi'lek woman had already sat on Vunert's lap. The two were lost in the heat of the moment, completely oblivious to what was happening over here.

She snorted and said, "Then what should we do? Just let them steal our ship and keep us as hostages on Endor? If you tell Tang Xiao now, he'll definitely kill me! Do you want me dead? I didn't come with you from Corellia to live a life like this!"

"Listen, Tang Xiao has been very good to us. Isn't it better to live without worries instead of living in constant fear? If we go now... what do you think 'Iron Tooth' Kooken could do to us?" Quinto hissed.

Felacci frowned and thought for a moment, but she remained stubborn, feigning strength. "In any case, it's too late. I've already sent the message out."

"What! When?" Quinto turned pale with shock.

"Kenneth told me that the people at the second table by the bar entrance are Kooken's men. You just have to knock three times on their table. So, just now, I..." Felacci seemed to realize she had caused trouble, her tone becoming somewhat timid.

"You absolute idiot!!! Run! We can't let them catch us!" Quinto grabbed Felacci's hand and tried to bolt toward the exit of the bar.

But just as he stood up, he felt a powerful force slam him back into his seat! He turned his head with difficulty, only to find that, at some unknown point, they had been surrounded by over a dozen fierce-looking men.

Subconsciously, Quinto looked toward Vunert's table, only to find it empty. Vunert had left at some point without them noticing.

Meanwhile, in the hotel behind the bar, Vunert was intimately entwined with the Twi'lek woman, who was like a beautiful serpent, while cursing under his breath, "'Iron Tooth' Kooken? A Hammerhead-class cruiser? FUCK!!"

At that moment, the Twi'lek woman clung to him again. Her pair of head-tentacles moved flexibly, scratching his back as she cooed coquettishly, "Darling, those dice you taught me to play with... I lost again... I don't even have any clothes left to take off, what should I do..."

Vunert's expression shifted instantly. With a lecherous grin, he pulled the naked Twi'lek woman closer and whispered in her ear, "Then let's play a game of Truth or Dare. I'll ask you one question: do you know 'Iron Tooth' Kooken?"

A flash of terror crossed the Twi'lek woman's eyes. "Why are you mentioning that person? I'm scared..."

"Just tell me, and I'll give you a huge reward! Really, a huge one!" Vunert breathed into her ear.

The Twi'lek woman licked her lips before saying somewhat reluctantly, "I know a sister who is quite close to one of Kooken's navigators. Should I call her over, so we can both..."

"Hahahaha... No, today, the double reward is all yours!" Vunert laughed loudly, picked up the Twi'lek woman, and headed toward the back room.

However, his other hand was in his pocket, sending the recorded eavesdropping to Tang Xiao.

...

At this time, the Dawn Planet was unaware of the impending crisis, and work was proceeding in an orderly fashion. After receiving Professor Chi Jianjun, a Master Chief Engineer, Tang Xiao had sent him to the "mansion" before returning to his room at the City Hall to sleep.

But just as he climbed into bed, he suddenly heard a scream: "Help me!!!"

The voice wasn't loud, but because he had awakened to the Force, Tang Xiao sensed it immediately.

An enemy!! Had a beast broken in?

Tang Xiao bolted upright. Without even bothering to put on a shirt, he jumped straight down from the second floor and sprinted toward the source of the sound.

Halfway there, he saw an old man running toward him wearing nothing but underwear, clutching a few pieces of clothing in his hands. Who else could it be but Chi Jianjun?

However, he looked utterly disheveled. His hair was a mess; the hair that used to cover his crown had fallen away, leaving him with a standard Mediterranean pattern—specifically, the kind where the hair is only long around the sides.

Seeing Tang Xiao approaching, Chi Jianjun looked as if he had found a savior. He ran over clutching his clothes, screaming, "There's a monster! There's a monster!!"

"Wait! Speak clearly, what kind of monster?" Tang Xiao grabbed his shoulders to calm him down.

(End of Chapter)