Origin Player.

Chapter 830 The Empire of Steel and Spices
Ding!
When Jiang He came to her senses.

He could hear the soft clinking of silver cutlery.

In the dim candlelight, a long table was laid out, with two cups of black tea surrounded by wisps of white steam. The steak was marinated in various spices and then cut evenly with a knife and fork by a pair of aged hands. The old man looked withered, but his posture was upright as he patiently savored his dinner. Judging from the huge portrait behind him, he must have been a handsome man in his youth.

"Our empire was forged from steel and spices."

The old man chewed his tea briefly, picked up his cup of black tea, and said calmly, "Let this old proverb serve as a farewell gift."

Jiang He calmly enjoyed the exquisite dinner, but was actually somewhat surprised that this time it wouldn't start with jail time.

The old man savored the aroma of the tea and said, "Compared to our first meeting ten years ago, this should be our second. Come to think of it, I can't remember which child your grandfather was, but you have pure blood and are exceptionally outstanding."

"Nineteen years old, the peak of the heroic era."

A hint of a smile appeared in the old man's eyes: "Look at your brothers and sisters, their eyes are certainly not well-intentioned."

Jiang He turned her head and looked over the second-floor armrest of the dining table to the luxurious hall on the first floor, where a lively ball was being held.

Dozens of young men and women, who also shared Alexei blood, accompanied the guests, glancing at the second floor from time to time and occasionally saying things like "bastard," "suspicious," or "I don't remember anything."

Alexei is the second-in-command family of the Star Cluster, renowned in the northern part of the Empire. They not only firmly control the rich second planet in the cluster, but also run the Alexei Consortium. Duke Alexei once defeated the demigod Niat, but the two became enemies because of this, which later evolved into mortal enemies of the families.

"Don't bother looking. The strongest is only a Gold Elite, and even that was painstakingly built up with magic potions. It's unlucky to look at. In the family, you only need to be wary of the Planet Governor and the Patriarch. As for their names, I've forgotten them."

The old duke chuckled. His proudest achievement in life was having over a hundred offspring, creating a vast family. His eldest son was the most talented and ruthless, currently serving as the governor of Planet Two. His second son was steady and composed, in charge of the conglomerate and the main planet's operations. Both were legendary figures, but the former was stronger.

Planetary governors are mostly at the pinnacle of legend.

Jiang He remained silent.

The old duke's teasing expression vanished, and he looked at him quietly.

The two sides remained in a standoff for half an hour.

"I'm old."

I understand you less and less.

The old duke was defeated, and the biggest problem for the family right now is that the pillar of the family is about to reach the end of his life. He has no time to waste.

“Every Alexei will receive a grant upon reaching adulthood. I have prepared a company for you to operate interstellar trade and have obtained a royal trade patent license. I have now invested 100 million star coins to purchase a decommissioned hero-class cruiser, the Expedition, which will serve you, including the colonel captain. The family will pay the salaries of the employees for the next three months.”

The Duke raised a finger and said, "I only have two requirements. First, within ten years, prepare to break through to the Legendary level. If you succeed, you will be the undisputed number one genius in the Empire. Second, your family will have half of the highest distribution rights for the companies under your name."

"Now, joining the Tianxing Star Fleet, fighting pirates independently, or developing private colonies are all your freedom, and I will not interfere."

The Duke glanced at the little girl in white who was always by Jiang He's side and teased, "After all, you have good taste."

After speaking, the Duke rose and left his seat. He had not noticed Zhuang Ya's legendary elite strength. The answer was simple—he chose not to see it.

Jiang He ate the pork chop simply, especially savoring the spices, which tasted like a mixture of cloves, pepper, cinnamon, and star anise. The exquisite utensils surrounding the black tea indicated that Tianhuo Star had a rich tea culture.

Not far away, among a row of serving maids, the prettiest one took the initiative to refill Jiang He's tea. The softness beneath her clothes occasionally brushed against Jiang He's left shoulder and arm. Alexei, a young, powerful, and wealthy man, was practically one of the most valuable companions among the vast creatures of the Tianhuo Star Cluster.

Boom!
The little girl in white threw a punch and knocked the head maid to pieces.

Blood and flesh splattered everywhere. Before he had gone far, the old duke was taken aback. He hadn't expected that he could misjudge someone.

Zhuang Ya said softly, "Copy authority, Zerg."

The copying authority received a response that allowed the copying of Zerg-specific abilities, which served as a form of testing. Meanwhile, a Zerg parasitized the head maid and infiltrated the upper echelons of the Tianhuo Star Clan, despite its own relatively high rank.

"I really am getting old."

Jiang He remained calm. The older a superhuman is, the more energy-efficient they are. The old duke may not be unaware of this spy, but rather he simply didn't pay attention to it. Just like himself, he wouldn't keep his All-Seeing Eye open all the time, as it would be too much of a burden.

The head maid's death caused no stir.

Several servants of extraordinary rank came to clean up the scene. Unlike the luxurious and peaceful ball in the first-floor hall, the front-line desolate war star had already seen a local war break out with the Zerg.

Jiang He left his seat and walked out of Alexei Castle.

Above, a starry sky glitters, and several habitable planets stand out nearby. Flying cars fueled by empty crystals fly back and forth, and the buildings are towering, featuring a "prehistoric" classical art style.

Even on the main planet, Skyfire Avenue, where land is incredibly valuable, the Alexei family's castle still boasts a well-maintained lawn large enough for horses to run on, complete with gardens, fountains, sculptures, and more. Moreover, the Red Castle and the Royal Palace are not far away.

Skyfire Avenue can be considered the economic and political center of the entire star cluster. The most elite Skyfire Fleet is stationed there year-round, and several of its sub-mythical-class space motherships have terrifying firepower and the ability to suppress even legendary peak-level opponents.

"Yayaan Alexei".

"By seniority, I am your cousin's aunt."

In front of the garden sculpture, a young woman in an evening gown walked over. She had crimson eyes, a very curvaceous figure, and her slender white legs were faintly visible through the slit of her fitted skirt. She exuded an alluring aura that blended elegance and charm.

“I’ve always looked forward to a sensual night in my life,” Ya Ya’an said with a smile. “Would you like to sit with me for a while? I heard the Duke bought you a warship.”

Jiang He nodded slightly: "It seems you don't have it."

Ya Ya An: "..."

Even when she deliberately provoked, it would be difficult to achieve such a precise angle.

Ya Ya An forced a smile, "Who told me my aptitude isn't quite there? But it's common knowledge that the Empire's human race is slightly inferior to some planetary natives in terms of warrior and magical aptitude. Mechs and warships are everything. How about your expedition ship?"

Ya Ya An suddenly moved closer, her fragrance like orchids in the breeze.

Jiang He glanced at the sculpture not far away.

Ya Ya An's expression tightened, and she turned to the side to block the view.

Jiang He said calmly, "Since I gained the power of destiny, some things have become boring to me. For example, if you and I were to have sex in the wild, in 3 minutes and 20 seconds, the moment your evening gown hits the ground, a patrol of soldiers would break free from the entanglement of drunken guests and appear at the corner of the castle, and you would shout 'Help!'"

“When the patrolmen rushed over, two Alexeis would appear from behind the sculpture to my left. One would block the patrolmen, while the other would come over to take pictures and accuse me of plotting something.”

"As for the target, it is that hero-class cruiser."

Ya Ya'an's pretty face turned deathly pale.

Jiang He was unmoved by this; it was just child's play. In the eyes of the young Alexei, even the peak of heroes couldn't surpass the rules of the star cluster.

"It wasn't my idea..."

"But when the time came, you regretted it, because you found that you had actually fallen in love with me."

In an instant, the Forbidden Fruit Position: Succubus Chariot was activated.

The powerful allure, coupled with a controllable charm, directly distorted Ya Ya An's mind, causing pink hearts to appear in her eyes. The two young men behind the sculpture no longer hid and rushed over.

In a short while, the three of them knelt in a row.

Jiang He asked, "Whose idea was this?"

The two youths beat Ya Ya An up, and then started fighting. One of them quickly won and replied with admiration and honor, "He is the eldest son of the family head, your uncle, Lorend."

"What he wants is not just cruisers, but also the royal license of the Rhine Interstellar Trading Company. This is extremely beneficial for planetary colonization. In the colonies it occupies, the licensor has the right to mint coins, the right to make unified civil and criminal judgments, the right to organize and conduct military activities, and the right to declare war and conduct diplomatic negotiations."

The "colonial trade patent license" granted by the royal family is not simply a power. Without royal authorization, the above four behaviors all violate the "Imperial Law". Engaging in illegal acts will cause the mech resonators to lose "loyalty". Therefore, these mech pilots will not obey illegal orders, which is equivalent to being crippled in the expansion.

The license is worth far more than the Hero Cruiser.

Jiang He said, "The three of you, immediately sell all your assets, transfer the money to me, and then line up to commit suicide in front of Lord, no later than the end of the banquet."

With her face bruised and swollen, Ya Ya An said worriedly, "This could exacerbate the conflict between you and Lorend."

Ya Ya An was completely unconcerned about her own death at this moment; she was willing to die for her "lover".

Jiang He simply waved his hand. Making the conflict public would make the other side restrain themselves for a while. The old duke was, after all, a sub-mythical being and belonged to his own camp. The key to his wanting to kill important direct descendants of the Alexei family was timing.

"clear."

The three of them left quickly.

Jiang He activated his animal companion and arranged to meet Wu He in the Trading Alley on Tianhuo Avenue. According to the basic information, the Trading Alley is backed by the Tianhuo Royal Family, and behind that is the Imperial Finance Department, which controls the entire empire's material supply and allows anyone to trade anything.

……

Two hours later, the music at the ball became softer.

In the center of the hall, Lorend, who looked to be only in his twenties, was surrounded by a group of people chatting and lining up around him. They were all well-known media reporters, big businessmen, or powerful captains, officers, gold lieutenants, and silver sergeants of the Starry Sky Navy. To cross the threshold of general level, legendary strength was a prerequisite.

"Mr. Lawrence, I've heard that the patriarch and the governor's private army have gone to war. Is this true?"

"What is the Alexei family's attitude towards the recent insect swarm on the Desolate Battle Star?"

"Emerald Planet Nineteen has resumed its expansion, but Alexei has already lost all of the planet's colonies in the last failure. Your Excellency, do you intend to take action against the three legendary peak figures of the native Emerald Empire?"

The topic of Emerald Star made the atmosphere a little more serious.

The fact that the Tianhuo Star Group failed in its first expansion is enough to prove the strength of the Emerald Empire.

With the Zerg on the outside, internal rebellions, the Skyfire Lord's long-standing absence from worldly affairs as he pursues higher levels, Duke Alexei's advanced age, and Duke Niat in charge of the front-line battles, the Skyfire Corps truly lacks the decisive force to deliver a final blow.

Or rather, it's not worth it.

The number of powerful figures and troops needed to destroy the Emerald Empire, as well as the anticipated losses, are disproportionate to the potential gains. Moreover, if any one of those three legendary peak figures escapes to seek guerrilla revenge, it will only worsen the current situation. Lorend stated solemnly, "The Alexei family always adheres to a policy of peace when handling matters within the star cluster. Regarding the Emerald Empire, we only insist on the principle of free trade. The Duke is not an executioner who slaughters intelligent beings."

"So it's more about slowly eroding it, right?"

"Get out of here!"

Reporters surrounded Lorend, and although the questions were always sharp, he enjoyed being in the spotlight.

"Lorend."

"Asking them one by one..."

"I am your sister, yet you killed our child. You might as well kill me too. Let me be frank with you, you are no match for Father!"

Lorend turned around in astonishment.

His chief security advisor, who had crawled out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood on the battlefield, was also stunned at this moment.

The dozen or so reporters looked bewildered.

Everyone wondered at the same time, is this human language?
Just when the chief security advisor thought Ya Ya'an was about to act impulsively or even resort to violence, he unexpectedly stabbed himself in the eye socket, dying on the spot and falling into a pool of blood.

The pupil of the Lorenz earthquake.

He felt as if a huge net was coming. The enemy that could make Ya Ya An betray him so quickly and even risk her life to smear him must be a behemoth.

"The Crystal White Star Cluster? The Great Universe Star Cluster?"

"That's not right. With a major war about to break out, why aren't you busy preparing for battle? Why are you bullying a junior like me?"

"A prophecy... Could it be that I have an unparalleled future!?"

Lorend didn't consider the supernatural factor at all. This was Alexei Castle, where the Mechanical Matrix Anti-Magic, which cost as much as a space mothership, was produced at the headquarters of the Mechanicus Cult and could even suppress the supernatural power of the legendary peak.

Only those with power at the sub-mythical level or above are exceptions, since as the master, the Duke would never restrict himself.

"Lorend, you heartless bastard..."

"I'm dead!"

As the two Alexeis also committed suicide, the hall suddenly became noisy, filled with discussions, and it was clear to anyone with eyes to see that this was a demonstration.

The chief security advisor narrowed his eyes. If there was anything the three had in common, it was their connection to Rhein Alexei. These three should have been...

"I think I've forgotten something," the chief security advisor suddenly wondered.

……

Tianhuo Avenue, Trading Alley.

This alley, which extends from the main road, is bustling with people.

Agricultural products from agricultural planets, cheap raw materials from industrial planets, and cultural and entertainment products from the modern world—a dazzling array of goods were on display. From time to time, people from the Heavenly Fire would lead their slaves away. Steel and spices forged the empire, while the slave trade that covered the entire galaxy was the empire's blood.

"Boss, the dominant industry of Tianhuo Star is war-related industry. Other industries ultimately serve the war. Light industries such as food and textiles are heavily dependent on colonized planets. The local industry is both deformed and developed, thus requiring a massive number of slave workers."

Wuhe and Jianghe walked side by side.

The little girl in white followed silently behind.

During the time of the ball, Wuhe had already completed a basic investigation of Tianhuo Star, an astonishingly efficient process.

"Your account has received 342007800.00 yuan."

Jiang He glanced at his wristwatch; it was an Imperial Citizen's Standard Communicator, connected to the Imperial Bank.

Wuhe scratched his head. The string of numbers sounded like a phone number. 340 million star coins—a huge sum. Due to the enormous threat hidden in the shadows, the Empire attached great importance to the development of space detection technology and enforced strict measures. This money probably wasn't stolen by the boss.

The three arrived at the trading hall and, according to the verification results, entered a Class C room. The room was pure white, with hundreds of projection screens displaying the artificial intelligence, Mechanical Heart, which separated a wisp of computing power and descended in the form of a black and white humanoid dinosaur.

"What do you need? The Emperor Dragon System is at your service. This is a Class C transaction, which requires a 10% Imperial Tax, plus handling fees and transportation losses."

The human-shaped dinosaur has a friendly and human-like attitude; the dinosaur is also a dragon.

“Resources related to drugs,” Jiang He said.

"Ok."

The list on the screen began to scroll.

There are countless kinds of goods, but only the crystallized soul is often depicted in gray and white, and this thing is marked as being exclusively for the "Emperor".

A few minutes later, Jiang He selected the item called "Great Scorpion Flower," worth 3 million star coins. This high-grade plant comes from the war star of the Great Scorpion Star Cluster. When a legendary scorpion-type insectoid falls, it merges with the local soil to give birth to the Great Scorpion Flower.

The giant scorpion flower is usually used as a deadly poison and can also enhance the energy of poison-type superhumans, but the mortality rate is astonishing.

Jiang He confirmed the purchase.

"This transaction cost 3 million Star Coins, and an additional 3 million Star Coins will be paid."

Inside the white room, a distant spatial fluctuation swept in, and a palm-sized box landed smoothly. Inside was a scorpion-like dark green flower with an eerie color.

Jiang He directly consumed the giant scorpion flower. In the past, he would absorb extraordinary factors, but in the resource-rich Galactic Empire, readily available natural treasures were more cost-effective.

[Hint: Sub-Mythical Level Sinful Poison LV1→LV2]
Seeing this, Wuhe was tempted and said, "Boss, the main goal this time is to make money. There are no resources that Gluttony can't digest. At its peak, the Empire controlled 1360 star clusters, and now it controls half of them. In this interstellar age, we can find any kind of resource."

"Immortal Pig Body," Zhuang Ya chimed in, her voice clear and crisp.

Jiang He nodded slightly, somewhat regretfully.

Ya Ya'an and the other two belonged to the less valued group in the Alexei family. They barely managed to scrape together 3 million star coins by selling all their assets. To be honest, he forgot to have these three guys take out a loan, and they should have signed some kind of indenture.

"Trading Alley, do you need slaves?"

"Yes, you can never have too much of this."

Jiang He even considered selling the population of the Gluttonous World, but the Gluttonous population was related to the production of large-scale soul crystals, which directly affected the efficiency of improving the fundamental ability, the Myth of Gun Technique.

“If you sell soul crystals, I can sell slaves worth hundreds of millions, guaranteed by the name of Duke Alexei.”

"No! No! No!"

A near-mythical level of charm and seduction is activated.

The dinosaur shook its head repeatedly, resolutely stating, "According to the Imperial Law, all types of Soul Crystals are exclusively for the Emperor, as written in the Constitution. The Emperor needs these crystals to maintain his soul's existence when suppressing the passages; they are a crucial factor for the survival of humanity in the Empire. I cannot agree to this."

Wuhe's eyes darkened.

This is at least at the level of sub-mythology or higher in artificial intelligence.

Jiang He said, "Then forget it."

Finally, Jiang He bought ten more Silver-class frigates, spending a total of eleven million star coins, leaving him with only 1007800.00 yuan in savings. The frigates would dock at Tianhuo Star Port before dawn, and he was given slave staff to pilot the ships, as well as explosion controllers.

Transaction is over.

The three left the trading alley and arrived at a two-story building at the end of Tianhuo Avenue. The first floor was an office and the second floor was a rest area. The Rhine Interstellar Trading Company was currently rather rudimentary.

Jiang He and Wu He discussed it and decided on their next business: the company would mainly trade in slaves, spices, and jewelry.

"Boss, the jewelry trade needs a spokesperson."

The mob eagerly anticipates their leader's debut, hoping he will become an idol of the empire.

"We can start with the low-to-mid-range stones; quantity isn't an issue with these stones."

Jiang He flipped through a fashion magazine. The most famous piece of jewelry in the Tianhuo Star Clan right now is the Heart of Tianhuo, which was worn by the diva Doria when she attended the Red Castle dinner. It is worth 2000 million star coins.

The empire has been around for ten thousand years, and its culture and identification techniques in jewelry have long reached their peak. However, Jiang He is not faking it. The Great Sin of Gluttony has the most fundamental extraordinary factor in charge, and the gemstones made from it are essentially natural.

Jiang He casually crushed the table and chairs, and performed a simple binge alchemy. A moment later, a palm-sized piece of Starry Sky Jade was created, shimmering with a special brilliance of nineteen prisms. It was worth hundreds of thousands of star coins. Even if an alchemy myth-level appraiser came forward, this was a genuine Starry Sky Jade.

"Manufacturing is still too slow."

"Why not pretend it's a gem mine in a colony and then put it on the market?"

Jiang He transferred his remaining million Star Coins to Wu He, instructing him to register a jewelry company through contractual control and risk isolation, since it was intended to be listed on the Skyfire Stock Exchange in the future.

"Wuhe, you stay at Tianhuo Star to oversee operations, and Aya will stay to assist you. The legendary elite combat power is more than enough."

Wuhe pondered for a moment, then replied, "Understood. I won't let Aya take action unless absolutely necessary."

Zhuang Ya had no objection upon hearing this, but stepped forward and touched Jiang He's cheek. With spatial authority and animal companions, team members could teleport to each other at any time.

The night passed.

Jiang He went out and headed to Xinggang outside Tianhuo Avenue.

Along the way, there were no fewer than ten people tailing him. The youngest member of the Alexei family, whose life level is the highest, deserves attention from all parties. His next choice will likely represent the main direction of the Alexei family's business.

[Hint: Main quest ① has been released]
[Mission Name: The Dictator]
[Mission Requirements: Kill ten players from the Otherworld on Emerald Star (0/10). The player intelligence module will activate an alarm when the distance between players is less than 100 miles.]
[Quest Rewards: Sub-Mythical Level Skill Enhancement Scroll *1 / True Attribute Points *3 / Large Soul Crystal *2]
[Task Time Limit: 100 calendar days]
[Task Penalty: None]
[Note: Emerald Star is one of the worlds where all beings can experience the battlefield. There are a large number of players of varying levels, but none exceed the legendary level. Its spatial solidity is the same as the main world, the Galactic Empire, which is at the sub-mythical level and difficult to destroy. This world contains kingdoms such as the Emerald Empire, the Black Stone Kingdom, and the White Oak Kingdom. The background is medieval.]
Jiang He examined the task for a moment. It seemed unnecessary to complete it specifically. During his conquest of Emerald Star, the aftershocks were enough to annihilate all players. This was based on experience.

(End of this chapter)