Chapter 002

The next day, Captain Seven Fingers announced this matter, and everyone looked at me with eyes full of pity. The captain walked up to me, patted my shoulder firmly, and said to everyone: "Hunt Wind is a brave young man, just as brave as his father! To reward his courage, I have decided to award him five hundred Universe Coins"

Captain Qizhi led me out of the spaceship, extending his hand from a distance to the person in charge: "Haha! Instructor Li, hello! It's you again who has come to pick me up!" Instructor Li, however, was unresponsive and merely extended his hand to shake with him politely before immediately letting go, snorting, "Qizhi, your people are always the worst. I hope this time they can be stronger!" The captain awkwardly replied, "Haha, definitely! This time I have brought the best!" He pulled me over, and Instructor Li scrutinized me while I also took the opportunity to observe him: Instructor Li, like me, was of Asian descent, but his eyes were more sinister than the captain's. When he looked at me, I felt as if I were a mouse being stared at by a venomous snake, a shiver running down my spine. His nose bore a thin scar that extended to the right corner of his mouth, and his lips were chiseled as if carved from stone, with sharp angles. He stood there like a fierce beast hiding in the grass, waiting for prey to pass by, sending chills down one's spine.

He pointed at the box on the ground and said: "Do you see this? This is the most valuable Rocky crystal ore! A box of Rocky crystal ore like this is enough for you to buy a ship just like my treasure 'Killer Bee', or even better! Among you, is there no one who wants to be a captain? Is there no one who wants to experience the thrill of commanding the winds and waves from a high position? Do you want to spend your whole life as just a small pirate?" The captain stood on his usual high platform, extending the index finger of his left hand, his arm hanging down at an angle, pointing at the group of pirates below and shouted.

I am also aware of the dangers of underground fighting, but I do not wish to give up. A nearly perfect pirate ship sways before my eyes, with golden sides, a magnificent main cannon, and a tail rudder as agile as a swallow. "Come on! Step out! As long as you can fight ten matches, just ten matches, you can realize your dreams! Drink the finest wine in the universe, sleep with the most beautiful courtesans in the universe, and eat the most delicious food in the universe!" The seductive voice of Captain Seven Fingers echoed in my ears again. Uncle Brandon pulled me back.

I want a ship of my own! I have made up my mind, no longer considering the uncle's advice, deliberately ignoring the dangers of the boxing match. I got up, put on my clothes, and walked out of the cabin. I arrived at the captain's door and rang the electromagnetic doorbell. After a long time without a response, it was now three o'clock in the deep night, and I knew the captain must be sound asleep. I pressed the button again, and the electromagnetic door slid open silently. Captain Seven Fingers stood at the door, wearing a loose leather coat, his eyes bloodshot and looking at me with some anger: "What is it!" "I want to go!" I said, my face calm and expressionless. After a long time without a response, it was now three o'clock in the deep night, and I knew the captain must be sound asleep. I pressed the button again, and the electromagnetic door slid open silently. Captain Seven Fingers stood at the door, wearing a loose leather coat, his eyes bloodshot and looking at me with some anger: "What is it!" "I want to go!" I said, my face calm and expressionless. "What?" The captain did not understand. "I said I want to go to the training camp!" I repeated, raising my voice slightly. The eagle-like eyes of Captain Seven Fingers shone with intensity as he quickly said: "Really? You must understand that decisions made on my ship are not subject to change!" I did not look at his intimidating gaze, nodded slightly, and turned to leave. The eagle-like eyes of Captain Seven Fingers shone with intensity as he quickly said: "Really? You must understand that decisions made on my ship are not subject to change!" I did not look at his intimidating gaze, nodded slightly, and turned to leave.

The "Killer Bee" finally arrived at the planet Mallorca after fourteen days of full-speed travel. Outside the planet's atmosphere, Captain Seven Fingers sent a signal to the training camp on the planet, and soon received a response. The captain ordered, "Prepare for landing!" The "Killer Bee" plunged into the atmosphere of Mallorca, slowly descending towards the designated coordinates. Upon entering Mallorca's atmosphere, the entire ship experienced a slight tremor, at which point the pirate ship's engines shut down, and the artificial gravity inside the spacecraft was gradually replaced by the planet's gravity. At this moment, the captain commanded, "Prepare for landing!" The "Killer Bee" plunged into the atmosphere of Mallorca, slowly descending towards the designated coordinates. Upon entering Mallorca's atmosphere, the entire ship experienced a slight tremor, at which point the pirate ship's engines shut down, and the artificial gravity inside the spacecraft was gradually replaced by the planet's gravity. This was the most uncomfortable moment; the entire body felt extremely uneasy, and the food from days ago was churning in the stomach, as if the large and small intestines were about to tangle together! Subsequently, the intense shaking caused by the friction between the ship's body and the atmosphere during the descent made it feel as though the entire body was being thrown apart, despite tightening the metal safety buckle and the *illustration*, the body was still jolted as if it were coming apart. This was the most uncomfortable moment; the entire body felt extremely uneasy, and the food from days ago was churning in the stomach, as if the large and small intestines were about to tangle together! Subsequently, the intense shaking caused by the friction between the ship's body and the atmosphere during the descent made it feel as though the entire body was being thrown apart, despite tightening the metal safety buckle and the *illustration*, the body was still jolted as if it were coming apart.

"Don't go!" As soon as I returned to the room, Uncle Brandon said this to me, and I was immediately taken aback. Uncle Brandon continued, "The moment I saw the look in your eyes, I knew you wanted to go—you can't hide it from me. I've watched you grow up; I know you too well... Don't go..." He repeated, "Since this ship has participated in the underground boxing matches, no fighter has ever returned. The brutality of such matches is beyond your imagination!" "Let me think about it," I replied. Uncle Brandon looked at me, and I met his gaze with a defiant look. He helplessly nodded, "Alright..." He reiterated, "Since this ship has participated in the underground boxing matches, no fighter has ever returned. The brutality of such matches is beyond your imagination!" "Let me think about it," I said. Uncle Brandon looked at me, and I met his gaze with a defiant look. He helplessly nodded, "Alright..."

Should I go or not? That night, I lay in bed alone, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. A beautiful pirate ship kept swaying before my eyes, and the captain's words echoed in my ears repeatedly. Why can I only be an ordinary pirate? Why does Captain Seven Fingers get to share half of the spoils without fighting? Why must I listen to others barking orders at me? Thinking of Uncle Brandon, he is already old, and perhaps in a few years, he will no longer be able to go out and fight alongside everyone. The fate of elderly pirates is tragic; they lose their sources of income and often die in hunger and cold. Why does Captain Seven Fingers get to share half of the spoils without fighting? Why must I listen to others barking orders at me? Thinking of Uncle Brandon, he is already old, and perhaps in a few years, he will no longer be able to go out and fight alongside everyone. The fate of elderly pirates is tragic; they lose their sources of income and often die in hunger and cold. But Uncle Brandon will not, because he has me. I will not let him live that way; I will support him. But who will I have in the future? If I want to continue being an obscure pirate like this, perhaps my life will end up like Uncle Brandon's, just a more common version of his fate rather than a lucky one. But Uncle Brandon will not, because he has me. I will not let him live that way; I will support him. But who will I have in the future? If I want to continue being an obscure pirate like this, perhaps my life will end up like Uncle Brandon's, just a more common version of his fate rather than a lucky one.

Captain Seven Fingers saw our greedy gazes and a smug smile appeared at the corners of his mouth. He said loudly: "I know you are dissatisfied with the rules I have set—I can share half of the spoils! But you have no way to do anything about it, because you have no ship!"

The captain said to me: "Liefeng, this is Instructor Li, one of the three leaders here—he is also a former boxer, once known as the 'Battle Axe' Demon King, and he still holds the highest record of 134 consecutive victories in top-level boxing matches!" The term 'Demon King' is what we use to refer to black market boxing champions, as those who can become champions in the black market ring have blood on their hands that is no less than that of the Demon King. Upon hearing the captain's praise, Instructor Li showed no sign of pride on his face. In less than three minutes of meeting him, I had already experienced the prowess of this legendary boxer twice—first, when he looked at me just now, I felt as if I were being targeted by the most venomous snake; the second time was just now, when my greatest achievement was being praised, yet he displayed not a hint of pride. What a calm boxer he is!

Everyone experiences this in their youth. Although they verbally agree, they are internally thinking that the older generation is too cautious. The opportunity is right in front of them; why not seize it? It is only when they grow old that they understand why the elders said such things when they were young. Then, as an elder, they find themselves telling the same words to the young, watching them make the same mistakes they once made, shaking their heads helplessly, unable to assist. It is only when they grow old that they understand why the elders said such things when they were young. Then, as an elder, they find themselves telling the same words to the young, watching them make the same mistakes they once made, shaking their heads helplessly, unable to assist.

I clearly remember that day when Captain Seven Fingers, with his right hand that had only two fingers left, walked up to everyone holding a box. "Bang!" He threw the box in front of us, his gloomy gaze sweeping over all of us, and then he swung the laser knife in his hand, causing the lid of the box to fly off. We all gasped, not because of Captain Seven Fingers' knife skills, but because the box was filled to the brim with Rocky crystals. In the modern space age, what is the most important thing? Money? No, it is energy! Without energy, even the most advanced cosmic mothership would be nothing but a pile of scrap metal. The energy source of the space age is this crystal ore, named after the famous physical chemist Rocky, discovered in the year 223 before the Space Era. The discovery of this crystal ore made large-scale space travel possible for humanity. It can directly provide energy for modern spacecraft engines, and its purity is very high. A box of Rocky crystals, measuring half a meter on each side, is enough to power the highest-level mothership for a week. Of course, the value of Rocky crystals is also considerable, comparable to the most precious metal, Yōuzǐyàjīn, in today's market. The estimated value of such a box of Rocky crystals should be around five million cosmic coins, roughly equivalent to the value of this pirate ship, the "Murder Peak."

I disembarked with the captain, while the other crew members showed no desire to set foot on this planet, even too lazy to leave the ship. Uncle Brandon held me tightly, tears streaming down our cheeks and mingling as they dripped onto the deck. Captain Seven Fingers looked at us indifferently and did not urge me. Finally, Uncle released me: "Go on, since you have chosen this path, make sure to walk it well!" I let go of Uncle, picked up the bag on the ground, and went out with the captain

I walked back to my room with my head down, and when I looked up, Uncle Brandon was standing at the door. At that moment, the expression of sorrow on his face is something I will never forget. I was momentarily at a loss for words: "Uncle, I..." Uncle shook his head: "I understand your thoughts. Every boxer believes they are lucky, but do you know that their endings are all unfortunate?" I lowered my head: "I don’t want to be a little pirate for the rest of my life. You are getting old, and I want to buy you a villa on Moonfall Star. This is our only chance, Uncle!" Moonfall Star is universally recognized as the most beautiful and best environment in the universe, the preferred planet for the wealthy to spend their twilight years. Uncle walked over and put his arm around my shoulder: "We all know the fate of pirates. From the day we became pirates, we have been mentally prepared for it. I am already very lucky to have lived this long. You don’t need to plan for my later years; I am already very happy." We entered the room and closed the door. Uncle sat on my bed and said to me: "You have already spoken to the captain, and it cannot be changed. But you must remember, as long as you reach the top boxing matches, you can retire from the boxing world at any time. So don’t think about things like pirate ships or villas. It is most important to retire early; life is the most crucial thing. Without life, having money means nothing to enjoy!" I nodded, but in my heart, I had no intention of following Uncle's advice.

With a sound of hissing, the main hatch of the "Killer Bee" spewed out a cloud of white gas. The hatch opened under the action of two mechanical arms, revealing a landscape of dark red gravel outside, resembling blood that had dried for several days, making it uncomfortable for the eyes to behold. Outside, three individuals dressed in blue uniforms stood in a row with their hands behind their backs. Their clothing was made from nano-synthetic plastic material, which never gets dirty and is warm and breathable. Even in such a dusty environment, not a speck of dust would cling to them—of course, such clothing comes at a high price, one that we small-time pirates cannot afford. Captain Seven Fingers owns a black suit made from this material, which he wears for the pirate gathering held every five years.

Hearing the captain's words, my heart raced. No! I don't want to, I don't want to! I want to have my own ship, one that is hundreds of times better than the "Killer Bee," because I am hundreds of times more capable than Captain Seven Fingers! The captain, seeing the eager expressions of us young people, smiled again: "Ten matches! As long as you can complete ten top-level boxing matches, you will get everything you desire!" We suddenly realized that it meant we were to fight in underground boxing. The older pirates left one after another, not because they had grown old and lacked the means to fight, but because they knew that none of those who went to fight ever returned. The captain, seeing the eager expressions of us young people, smiled again: "Ten matches! As long as you can complete ten top-level boxing matches, you will get everything you desire!" We suddenly realized that it meant we were to fight in underground boxing. The older pirates left one after another, not because they had grown old and lacked the means to fight, but because they knew that none of those who went to fight ever returned

The "Killing Bee" is sailing at full speed, aiming to reach the location of the Black Fist training camp on the planet Mallorca within half a month. The planet Mallorca belongs to the Fed star system in the Canform Nebula and is the ninth of the thirteen planets orbiting the Fed star. The environment is harsh, with toxic plants and man-eating beasts everywhere, making it uninhabitable. However, it is the ideal place for training Black Fist fighters into killing machines. Individuals trained in such an environment can overcome any opponent, which is one of the secrets behind the enduring popularity of the Black Fist tournaments organized by the Pirate Alliance over the years. Fighters trained on the planet Mallorca possess not only extraordinary strength and skills but also unparalleled cruelty. This brutality gives rise to bloody competitions that those perverse wealthy individuals are willing to spend lavishly to pursue.

At last, the spacecraft came to a sudden halt, and then everything fell silent. We knew that we had finally landed safely