Marvel: The other side of the double-passing door is Devouring the Stars

Chapter 342 Knowing My True Identity
“No problem for now,” the pirate noted on the registration form, “but your ransom assessment needs further confirmation. Until then, you will be placed in temporary detention.”

"Randomization?" Rowan asked, feigning surprise.

"Of course we want a ransom!" the pirate sneered. "Do you think we're a charity? We'll determine the ransom amount based on your wealth and background. Pay up and we'll release you; don't, and you'll be sold into slavery!"

These words intensified the panic among the passengers, but Emperor Yan and Luo Wen secretly breathed a sigh of relief. At least the pirates didn't suspect their identities, which meant they still had a chance to escape.

Soon, all passengers were transferred to a large detention area within the pirate base. This area, which may have originally been a cargo hold on a warship, had been converted into a makeshift prison. Dozens of passengers were crammed together in poor conditions, but at least their basic survival needs were met.

"What do we do now?" Rowan asked Yan Di in a low voice from the corner.

"First, observe the situation and understand the base's structure and defenses," Emperor Yan replied, "then find a suitable opportunity to escape."

"What if they really want a ransom?"

"We'll see when the time comes; we'll always find a way," Emperor Yan comforted them, but he was also worried about how this unexpected situation would affect their overall plan.

On the other side of the detention area, several pirates were discussing something:
"These hostages are of good quality; we should be able to get a large ransom from them."

"Those two merchants looked very wealthy; their goods were quite valuable."

"When will the commander return? This is an important decision that requires his personal approval."

"He should be back soon. He went to handle another deal and will be back in no time."

Hearing these conversations, Emperor Yan realized they might have to stay there for some time. This delay would be fatal to their plans, but under the current circumstances, they could only patiently wait for an opportunity.

Time passes slowly.

In the dimly lit cell, the stench of decaying metal mingled with the stench of blood, making one want to vomit. Rowan leaned against the cold alloy wall, observing the patrolling pirates outside through the narrow ventilation opening. His face bore several fresh scars, his clothes were tattered, but his eyes remained resolute.

"Senior Emperor Yan, I've observed for three days and have basically figured out the patrol patterns of the Blood Raven Pirates." Rowan lowered his voice and turned to the middle-aged man in the corner who looked like an ordinary merchant.

Emperor Yan had a disheveled beard and wore a simple gray robe. Even so, he exuded an undeniable aura of majesty. Emperor Yan slowly opened his eyes, his deep pupils gleaming with a light like magma.

"Tell me about it." Emperor Yan's voice was deep and magnetic, and even though he tried to suppress it, one could still feel the powerful force contained within it.

Rowan leaned closer cautiously and said in an almost inaudible voice, “Every day around midnight, the guards on the east side change shifts, leaving a gap of about fifteen minutes. And I’ve discovered that the Blood Raven’s energy shield briefly shuts down during maintenance; that’s our only chance.”

“Fifteen minutes.” Emperor Yan pondered, tapping his fingers lightly on the ground. “Time is indeed tight. But Rowan, have you considered how we’ll leave this asteroid even if we escape this prison? The Blood Raven Pirates’ ships are equipped with tracking devices.”

Rowan frowned; he knew the Flame Emperor was right. The Blood Raven's Nest was located on a remote asteroid, surrounded by the vast expanse of space, making it impossible to leave without a spaceship. Moreover, with his cosmic-level strength, he was utterly helpless against this group of ferocious pirates.

"So we're just going to wait to die like this?" Rowan gritted his teeth, his fists clenched. "Senior, you're an Immortal-level expert, is there really no way?"

Emperor Yan gave a wry smile and shook his head: "Luo Wen, do you think I don't want to take action? But you see the situation now. My injuries haven't fully healed, and..." He paused, his eyes becoming complicated, "I'm still unsure how many traitors remain within the Giant Axe Arena. Revealing my identity rashly could bring even greater danger."

Just then, footsteps sounded outside the cell. The two immediately shut up and pretended to be asleep. Several Blood Raven pirates walked by, and one of them, a bald pirate with a face full of scars, spat into the cell:
"These damned merchants are all dirt poor, they have nothing but a few boxes of ordinary goods. The boss said if no one comes to pay the ransom in two days, we'll get rid of them all!"

"Heh heh, that kid's pretty good-looking. He should fetch a decent price at the slave market," another tall, thin pirate said with a sinister grin.

"Forget about that old man; he looks so frail. Let's just throw him into space to feed the void beasts!"

The pirates' laughter faded into the distance, and Rowan's face turned deathly pale. He knew these pirates weren't joking; the Blood Raven Pirates were notorious for their cruelty, and those who fell into their hands rarely fared well.

“Senior.” Rowan’s voice trembled.

Emperor Yan gently patted his shoulder, comforting him, "Don't worry, I won't let them succeed. If things get really bad, I'll reveal my identity and protect you even if it means serious injury."

Luo Wen felt a warmth in his heart; he knew that Emperor Yan wasn't just talking nonsense. Although their relationship was merely one of employer and employee, their time together had allowed him to experience the character of this immortal-level powerhouse.

Suddenly, the entire Blood Raven's Nest shook. A piercing alarm blared through the sky, and red warning lights began to flash.

"What happened?" Rowan stood up in surprise.

Emperor Yan frowned, using his spiritual power to sense the situation outside: "A powerful being is approaching, and their intentions are not good."

Frantic footsteps and shouts could be heard outside the prison:

"Quick! Quick! Enemy invasion!"

"Damn it, how did anyone find this place!"

"Quickly notify the boss, prepare for battle!"

The Blood Raven pirates were thrown into chaos, grabbing their weapons and rushing outside. Rowan and Emperor Yan exchanged a glance, both seeing hope in each other's eyes.

"Could it be a rescue?" Rowan asked excitedly.

Emperor Yan, however, appeared even more cautious: "Not necessarily. It could be other pirate groups coming to seize our territory. Let's wait and see."

Just then, through the small window of the cell, a huge figure could be seen appearing on the horizon. It was a warship entirely silver-white, with enormous axe patterns carved on its hull, gleaming under the starlight.

"That's..." Emperor Yan's pupils contracted, "...the warship of the Giant Axe Arena!"

Rowan was so excited he almost jumped up: "It's a rescue! They must be here to save us!"

But Emperor Yan's expression became complicated. He knew his current predicament. What would the people of the Giant Axe Arena do if they discovered he was still alive? Would they rescue him, or...?
The massive warship hovered above the Blood Raven's Nest, and a majestic voice resounded throughout the asteroid via loudspeakers:

"Blood Raven Pirates, listen up! You are surrounded. Release all hostages immediately, and those who surrender will be spared the death penalty!"

The voice was as loud as thunder, carrying an undeniable majesty. Upon hearing it, Emperor Yan froze completely.

“Thunder,” he murmured to himself.

"Senior, do you know the person who came?" Luo Wen keenly sensed the Yan Emperor's unusual behavior.

Emperor Yan took a deep breath, his expression becoming wary: "Lei Ming, another elder of the Giant Axe Arena, an Immortal-level expert. But..." He paused, his eyes flickering, "I'm not sure if he's friend or foe." Luo Wen was somewhat puzzled, but didn't press further. He knew Emperor Yan must have his own reasons.

The battle outside had begun. Blood Raven, leader of the Blood Raven Pirates, roared and gave the order: "Brothers, fight them to the death! Activate all defense systems!"

The roar of energy cannons echoed continuously, causing the entire asteroid to tremble violently. Through a small window, flashes of fire from explosions could be seen constantly appearing in the sky.

With a loud "boom," cracks appeared in the prison walls.

The warships at the Giant Axe Arena were clearly heavily armed, and the Blood Raven Pirates' defenses were simply no match for them. Before long, the sound of gunfire outside subsided.

"Surrender! We surrender!" some pirates began to shout.

But they were met with an even fiercer attack. Clearly, the people of the Giant Axe Arena had no intention of surrendering.

Emperor Yan closed his eyes, using his spiritual power to sense the battle situation outside. He could feel a powerful aura moving rapidly, and wherever it passed, the life force of the Blood Raven pirates vanished one by one.

“Lei Ming has personally taken action,” the Flame Emperor said softly.

Sure enough, it didn't take long for the outside to quiet down. Apart from the occasional wail, there were no more sounds of fighting.

"Bang!" The prison door was kicked open.

A tall, imposing man appeared at the entrance. He wore black armor, carried a massive warhammer on his back, and emanated a powerful aura of lightning. His face was sharply defined, with thick eyebrows and eyes as sharp as lightning. He was none other than Lei Ming, an elder of the Giant Axe Arena.

Lei Ming scanned the people in the prison, and when his gaze fell on Emperor Yan, he was completely stunned.

"Emperor Yan?!" Lei Ming's voice was filled with shock. "You...you're still alive?"

Emperor Yan slowly stood up. Although he still maintained the disguise of a merchant, this disguise was obviously meaningless in front of Lei Ming. He looked at Lei Ming warily, without answering immediately.

Rowan sensed the tense atmosphere between the two and didn't know what to say.

Lei Ming gave Yan Di a deep look, then shouted outside, "You guys continue clearing the other areas, leave this to me!"

"Yes, Elder Lei Ming!" came the reply from outside.

Once the footsteps faded into the distance, Lei Ming turned to Yan Di again: "Yan Di, everyone thought you were dead. The missing person report has been submitted to headquarters, and your position has been revoked."

Emperor Yan sneered, "Is that so? It seems some people are quite pleased with this outcome."

Lei Ming frowned: "What do you mean by that?"

"What do you mean?" Emperor Yan's tone turned sharp. "Lei Ming, do you really not know? Or are you one of them?"

Lei Ming's expression changed: "Emperor Yan, are you questioning me?"

The confrontation between the two immortal-level powerhouses made the air heavy. Rowan felt it was difficult to breathe; the oppressive aura of such a powerhouse was beyond his ability to withstand.

Emperor Yan stared intently at Lei Ming, trying to discern something from his eyes. Lei Ming, in turn, looked directly at Emperor Yan, his eyes filled with shock and confusion, but not guilt.

After a long silence, Emperor Yan spoke first: "Tell me, how did headquarters handle the news of my disappearance?"

Lei Ming withdrew his lightning aura, his tone softening: "Upon receiving news of your disappearance, headquarters immediately dispatched a search and rescue team. However, in the void near Blue Crystal Star, we only found the wreckage of your spaceship and some bloodstains. Based on the situation at the scene, everyone believes you have perished."

"And then?" Emperor Yan continued to ask.

"Then headquarters held a memorial service for you, and your disciples were all deeply saddened. As for your position," Lei Ming paused, "it's temporarily vacant; no one has taken it yet."

Emperor Yan carefully observed Lei Ming's expression. These words sounded normal, consistent with the style of the Giant Axe Arena. But that didn't necessarily mean anything.

"Lei Ming, why are you here?" Emperor Yan suddenly asked.

Lei Ming paused for a moment, then said, "We received intelligence that the Blood Raven Pirates have been very active recently, plundering merchant ships in multiple star systems. Headquarters has decided to wipe out this pirate hideout, and I volunteered to carry out this mission."

"A coincidence?" Emperor Yan wondered to himself.

At this moment, Rowan couldn't help but speak up: "Seniors, shouldn't we leave here first? What if there are other pirates?"

Lei Ming then noticed Luo Wen, and sized up the young man: "Who are you?"

"Luo Wen, I am a friend of Senior Yan Di." Luo Wen didn't know how to explain their relationship.

Lei Ming nodded, then said to Emperor Yan, "Emperor Yan, no matter what happened, let's go back to the Giant Axe Arena first. You need medical treatment, and—" He paused, "your resurrection has shocked many people."

Emperor Yan remained silent for a long time before finally nodding: "Alright, but I have one condition."

"What conditions?"

"Until I find out the truth, please do not reveal to anyone that I am still alive." Emperor Yan's tone was both pleading and warning.

Lei Ming gave him a deep look: "Emperor Yan, do you really believe there's a traitor within the Giant Axe Arena?"

"It's not just a belief, it's certainty," Emperor Yan's voice was resolute. "If it weren't for an internal leak, how could the Blood Raven Pirates have accurately predicted my course? And they even knew my true identity."

Lei Ming's expression turned serious: "This matter is indeed very suspicious. Okay, I promise you, I won't tell anyone until you're ready. But..."

"but what?"

“You have to give me an explanation, let me know what you’ve been through all this time,” Lei Ming said with concern.

Emperor Yan glanced at Luo Wen, then briefly recounted his experiences over the past period. From his encounter on Blue Crystal Star, to faking his death to escape, to disguising himself as a merchant to sneak back into the Giant Axe Arena, and finally being kidnapped by the Blood Raven Pirates.

(End of this chapter)