Chapter 376: Welcome, Unexpected
Those companions locked in the laboratory, and those extremely cruel evolution experiments.
"What's wrong with it?"
Elder Mandel glanced at Rocket Raccoon, who was standing still in the cage with tears in his eyes, and looked at Yondu: "Didn't you feed it?"
Yondu was playing with the Yaka Arrow in his hand, his palm stroking the Runes carved on it. A feeling of bloodline connection surged in his heart. Compared to controlling it with a Whistle before, this Yaka Arrow now felt like an extension of his arm, a very strange sensation.
Hearing Elder Mandel's question, Yondu glanced at Rocket, shrugged: "You just told me to catch him, nobody told me what raccoons eat?"
"Hmm! This Rocket Raccoon is something the Big Boss specifically asked for, we can't let it starve to death. Someone, prepare some Energy Bars and water for it!" Elder Mandel waved his hand.
The Robot that had finished processing Kaimi's Corpse quickly walked into the Office carrying Energy Bars and a basin of water.
As the Robot opened the cage and bent down to place the Energy Bars and water basin inside, Rocket keenly sensed an opportunity. It kicked over the basin filled with Clear Water, splashing the water towards the Robot's Faceplate.
And Rocket Raccoon, using the Water Flow as cover, pushed off the Robot's arm with its feet, attempting to dart out of the cage.
Just as Rocket Raccoon was halfway out of the cage, it suddenly felt something binding its lower body. Rocket looked back and saw streams of Water Flow, like Rope, wrapped around its legs. The other end of the Rope was held in the Robot's hand.
Before Rocket Raccoon could react, the Robot lifted it by the water rope into its Palm. The large palm, as big as a cattail fan, pinched its Neck, and stuffed it back into the cage.
*Splash—*
The Robot righted the overturned Metal basin. The water rope in its hand loosened from Rocket Raccoon and turned back into Clear Water, flowing into the basin.
Rocket looked at the Clear Water in the basin before it, then at the Robot whose Faceplate bottom faintly glowed Red Light. It took two steps forward, tentatively reaching out to touch this machine it had initially thought was a household Robot.
Ability to control water flow? Some kind of Mechanical Lifeform? Or Technology it didn't understand.
As a highly intelligent evolved Life Form, Rocket had a strong thirst for knowledge regarding any Technology it didn't understand, like a dry surface meeting water.
*Bang!* However, the Sentinel Robot coldly closed the cage door directly, leaving Rocket with a bruised nose.
Furious that its face was almost flattened by the cage door, Rocket picked up the Energy Bar from the basin and threw it towards the Sentinel Robot. The Energy Bar had just been thrown above the Sentinel Robot and hadn't even touched it yet when, in the next moment, two Red Lights shot out from the Sentinel Robot's Eyes, instantly shattering the Energy Bar into a pile of Dust.
"Oh, sh*t!"
Seeing the Sentinel Robot's Head twist ninety degrees to look at itself, and the Red Light that seemed about to burst forth at any moment, Rocket was startled. It very wisely raised its hands high.
After determining that Rocket had no intention of attacking, the Sentinel Robot silently walked to the side, picked up a vacuum cleaner, and began cleaning the Office.
"Oh, damn it, what's the deal with this East Galaxy Company?"
Rocket watched Elder Mandel and Yondu leave the Office, pacing in the cage, trying to find a way to escape. But its Equipment had been confiscated when Yondu caught it.
Coupled with the watchful Robot outside constantly monitoring it, Rocket fell into despair for a moment.
The East Galaxy Company's Headquarters Building had a bizarre design style, looking like several leaves pulled with soapy water, blown into bubbles by the wind. The outer shell was something similar to Glazed Tile, emitting colorful Streaking Light under the illumination of two Suns.
The open space in front of the Headquarters Building was a vast, garden-like flat area. Various Exotic Flowers and Plants were interspersed among colorful Trees over twenty meters tall. Occasionally, Birds with long, trailing wing-tails and gorgeous plumage flew by.
Yondu and Elder Mandel stood side by side. Behind them were the High-level Staff of the East Galaxy Company. At this moment, everyone stood straight in front of the Headquarters Building according to their rank, as if welcoming guests.
Beside them was another queue, a team composed of Priests. The leading Elder wore a red Robe, followed by several Middle-aged Men in white Cleric robes and a few black-clothed Clerics.
"Who do you think the Big Boss will send this time?" Elder Mandel, dressed in a Suit, took out a pure gold Pocket Watch from his pocket and checked the Time.
The Pocket Watch did not show Earth's twenty-four-hour clock, but the Time on Fallen Star.
Elder Mandel's attire was naturally due to the influence from above. Back when Boss Tang liked to wear White Suits, Elder Mandel would commission high-end Gowns from handmade shops in Italy whenever he went to Earth to Report on work.
Of course, to avoid wearing the same Suit as the Big Boss, Elder Mandel, who was well-versed in Eastern Earth etiquette, wore a Black Suit.
"I don't go to Earth often," Yondu said indifferently, "Anyone is fine, as long as it's not that person from last time."
"Watch your words!" Elder Mandel's small Rhinoceros Eyes opened wide, glaring at Yondu, telling him to be careful with his words and actions.
Yondu was about to grin and say something when suddenly his mouth closed. In the open space before them, a blue Vortex the size of a Fist suddenly appeared.
The Vortex rotated and rapidly expanded to over four meters high and three meters wide, forming a blue, eerie Space Portal.
From the Teleportation Gate, a thick thigh extended. Elder Mandel quickly stepped forward to the Entrance, then looked somewhat at a loss at the tall Figure walking out of the Teleportation Gate.
With that distinctive appearance and Equipment, this tall Figure was clearly a Predator.
"No, aren't the people coming from Earth? How can there be a Predator here, and judging by the style, it's the warlike and bloodthirsty Dark Iron Blood!"
Elder Mandel, who had been involved in the Black Market for many years, recognized the identity of the Predator before him at a glance.
Before Elder Mandel could react, after the Predator walked out of the Space Gate, it immediately revealed its Shoulder Cannon, vigilantly surveying the surroundings.
Then, another tall Predator walked out of the Space Gate. This Predator was a full head taller than the previous one.
Looking at the strings of Prey Fangs around the latter's Neck, symbolizing its status, Elder Mandel gasped. This was at least a Predator Elder. This was bad, could the Space Gate have malfunctioned and connected to the Predator Clan Lair!
Elder Mandel watched Shadow Storm walk out of the Space Gate, instantly breaking into a cold sweat. He gestured behind him, signaling Yondu to prepare for Combat.
Considering the Defensive Works of the East Galaxy Company Headquarters, they weren't afraid of these Predators at all. But now the Company's High-level Staff were all gathered here. If something were to happen, the Trouble would be immense.
Receiving Elder Mandel's signal, Yondu's Mental Power moved, and the Yaka Arrow tucked into his waist floated up directly, silently hiding behind his back, remotely aimed at the two Predators.
At the same time, the Energy Cannons on the nearby Hovering Turrets also aimed at this Area. The Iron Soldiers responsible for Guard duty also began moving towards this direction. "Hmm?!"
Shadow Storm raised his Eyes to look at Yondu, then scanned the surroundings. As a Hunter who had hunted top predators for thousands of years, arguably the strongest Hunter among the Predator, he keenly sensed danger. The Red Light on his Shoulder Cannon also lit up.
Three Red Dots appeared directly above Elder Mandel's Head.
Just as a conflict was about to erupt, a plump Figure walked out from inside the Space Gate. Pope Hyde, wearing a Papal Tiara, was startled by the tense situation as soon as he stepped out of the Space Gate.
He immediately reached for the Cross on his chest, and his Entire Body was instantly enveloped in a ball of white Holy Light.
"What is going on?"
Pope Hyde smiled and scanned the surroundings. His Gaze settled on the Cleric group not far away.
Seeing the Clerics walking towards him, he dispersed the Holy Light protecting him and walked smilingly into the middle of the tense group.
"Pope Hyde, this is a misunderstanding!" Elder Mandel saw Pope Hyde appear and realized the misunderstanding.
He had met Pope Hyde on Earth before.
Back when he was in charge of Alien Trade, Boss Tang had temporarily called a meeting, and he and Pope Hyde had met once at that Tang Group Higher-ups meeting.
He quickly explained: "It's my fault, I didn't expect the two Predators to be our own people from the Group!"
"He is Shadow Storm, currently serving as the single combat Training Instructor for the Internal Armed Training Camp! The one next to him is his kinsman!"
A Voice sounded from inside the Space Gate. Elder Mandel looked in the direction of the Voice and saw a muscular Man walk out of the Space Gate, wearing an Army Green Camouflage Uniform T-shirt on top and Army Green trousers on the bottom. "Mr. Kane!"
Elder Mandel quickly stepped forward: "I didn't expect it would be you personally! I'm very sorry, my arrangements were not thorough..."
"It's good that you don't recognize Shadow Storm, having vigilance is a good thing! In the future, there's no need for welcome ceremonies, I don't like these formalities!" Kane nodded towards Elder Mandel, extending a Finger to tease the palm-sized Golden Three-Headed Lizard standing on his shoulder.
*Hiss!*
The Golden Three-Headed Lizard, covered in Scales, was somewhat impatient with Kane's teasing. Its three Heads swayed left and right, occasionally spitting out streams of scorching white Electric Current Sparks towards Kane.
However, those little Electric Current Sparks hitting Kane's Finger didn't cause him any harm at all.
"Yes, I understand, I will definitely correct it in the future!"
Elder Mandel bowed slightly towards Kane and continued: "Mr. Kane, you've come a long way. I have already arranged a Feast in the Banquet Hall to welcome you. What do you think, would you like to rest first, or go now...?"
Kane looked back behind him. Black-clothed Big Men with stern faces were moving Weapon Equipment and luggage out of the Spatial Channel one by one.
"Arrange for them, find a place to put this Equipment down, and let's talk about the main Matters first. How is the Matter Boss entrusted to you progressing?"
"You can rest assured about this. That Rocket Raccoon has been caught, and we are also inquiring about Intelligence on that person called High Evolutionary!—"
Upon hearing that Rocket Raccoon had been caught, Kane looked at Elder Mandel in surprise and nodded approvingly: "Your efficiency is quite good. Take me to see what Boss wants!"
"That Rocket Raccoon is in my Office, please come this way!—"
Elder Mandel stood beside Kane. Although they walked side by side, he was a step behind Kane. He extended his hand to point the way for Kane.
A Crowd of people followed behind them, almost exactly like the scene when high-level leaders on Earth Inspect companies below.
After the misunderstanding was resolved, Pope Hyde did not follow Kane. He was directly surrounded by a group of Clerics and walked in another Direction.
The Cardinal beside him reported to him along the way on the achievements of the Faith Propagation Order in the Eastern Galaxy during this period.
Pope Hyde occasionally spoke a few sentences, and the Clerics behind him held their breath and listened attentively, assuming a listening posture.
"Twenty-seven Habitable Planets, I see your efforts, but this number is not enough, the Lord's Faith needs to be spread—"
"I came this time to spread the Lord's gospel throughout the Milky Way Galaxy. In three years, this number must increase tenfold—"
Inside the Space Gate, Adam and Black Bolt walked out side by side.
Black Bolt looked up in shock at the two Satellites orbiting Fallen Star above his Head, and the Starships taking off and landing overhead. Although he couldn't speak, Adam could tell Black Bolt's shock from his wide Eyes and his expression of disbelief.
"!"
"This is Father's branch Company Headquarters in the Eastern Galaxy! The daily Galactic Credits flow here is over a trillion, and the Profit from selling Energy alone each day is enough to buy dozens of Earths."
Adam looked at Black Bolt's shocked Expression, like a Child showing off his Father, introducing him proudly.
Black Bolt looked at the Warships and Spaceships overhead, then scanned the surroundings. The Rhinoceros-Men, Thing, Crystal-People, these strange-looking Alien Races. It took him a long Time to recover.
Looking at the scene before him, he finally felt relieved and completely believed that Kane's promise to him was not an empty boast.
If this force was truly so powerful, then their kinsmen would no longer have to live cramped on the desolate The Moon. Thinking of this, a smile appeared on Black Bolt's face.
He gave Adam a thumbs up.
"Two VIPs! Would you two like to go to your accommodations first, or eat first?"
Seeing that Black Bolt and Adam's attire was clearly different from the men in Suits, the East Galaxy Company Person in Charge, who had Insect Tentacles on his Head and was helping Kane's Subordinates move luggage and guide them to their rooms, quickly stepped forward to ask.
Black Bolt and Adam were both equipped with Universal Translators from the Milky Way Galaxy, so there was no Obstacle in their communication! "No need to eat, find us a guide, we'll go look around Outside first!" Adam asked Black Bolt, and seeing that he also had no intention of eating, he directly instructed the Person in Charge.
During this Time, Adam had been accompanying Tang Song in Cultivation in the Great Luo Heaven. Being inherently simple-minded, he was like a hyperactive child who had been cooped up for too long and now just wanted to go wild.
"Lu Jia, Lu Na! You two come here and accompany the two VIPs to look around Outside—" The Person in Charge, being sharp-eyed, called over two Young Women.
Two tall girls, with shoulder-length red hair. Not only was their hair red, but their delicate faces and the Skin exposed outside their Clothes were also like Rubies, glowing with fluorescence, like two red jade Beauties.
Aside from their red skin color, which was different from Earthlings, they looked no different from Earthlings.
Of course, their appearance was also why they could be at the East Galaxy Company Headquarters.
These Red-skinned people originally lived on a Resource-poor Planet. The Planet they inhabited was arid with little rain, mostly dry deserts and Mountain Ranges, and there were no valuable Mineral Resources to speak of.
Even Space Pirates were too lazy to visit this Planet.
The only interesting thing was that their appearance was one of the few races similar to Earthlings (except for skin color!).
After the East Galaxy Company expanded, the Red-skinned people without Scales and various strange Tentacles were hired and purchased in large numbers by Elder Mandel to fill the service positions at the East Galaxy Company.
And the Waiters who could work as receptionists at the East Galaxy Company Headquarters were naturally one in ten thousand, the kind of stunning beauties who perfectly fit Earthling aesthetics. Moreover, the Red-skinned girls who came here to work all gave themselves Chinese names.
After arranging guides, the Person in Charge also thoughtfully arranged two of the latest Model Small Spaceships and four Iron Soldiers as Security followers.
"Master! Want to go for a stroll together!"
Adam looked at the high-tech Spaceship before him, somewhat excitedly walking towards the Ship Cabin. However, as if remembering something, he turned back to look at Shadow Storm, who was preparing to leave, and called out.
The reason he called Shadow Storm "Master" was because, under Tang Song's orders, the mid and high-level staff of the Tang Group, including Kane, Lane, and several other Leaders, as well as himself, had all trained under Shadow Storm.
Adam deeply admired the skills Shadow Storm had honed through millennia of killing and hunting, which is why he always called Shadow Storm "Master".
Shadow Storm just looked back at Adam, shook his Head slightly, and then took his kinsmen onto a Spaceship and left.
After leaving the East Galaxy Company's Energy Shield, the Spaceship accelerated and left Fallen Star, heading directly for Wundagore Mountain Planet.
Adam understood Shadow Storm's nature, so he didn't say anything. He and Black Bolt boarded a Small Spaceship together and, accompanied by their two beautiful guides, also left the East Galaxy Company Headquarters to tour Fallen Star.
Meanwhile, a somewhat dilapidated spaceship also landed at Fallen Star's Spaceport.
An Airship flew out of the spaceship's hatch.
"I am Groot!"
"Alright, alright, it's not the Rocket Raccoon, I don't understand what you're saying, but I've inquired, Yondu operates here, this Fallen Star is his lair, I'll help you find the Rocket Raccoon!"
"I am Groot!"
"I told you, I don't understand!"
"I am Groot!"
"Oh, my God!"
(End of chapter)