BATTLE FOR STARS

Lev Serta, the Chief of Security for Elwin Planet, held a position that was not particularly high-profile, but in reality, his authority was considerable. After all, his department dealt with matters that were often exceptional in nature.

The war between the Hill Empire and the Confederation had lasted over a thousand years, becoming part of everyday life. In recent years, however, Lev had sensed a subtle change: the scale of the war was increasing, and the production speed of interstellar warships was faster than ever.

Long ago, if a star sector clashed with the Confederation and faced serious opposition, the Hill Empire generally avoided confrontation, developing in less critical directions. But in recent years, the Empire’s fleets had begun engaging in direct combat, launching attacks into Confederation-controlled sectors.

Not long ago, Imperial forces had confronted Confederation fleets near the Eppso sector. Tens of thousands of ships were deployed on both sides, with neither willing to retreat. It seemed that a full-scale battle was imminent.

Lev had also received orders from the military to strengthen security and prevent Confederation sabotage or intelligence leaks. Although he recognized the unusual significance of this operation, for him, the routine pressures of security work were far less intense than those faced by front-line fleets. Still, a briefing today caught his attention:

“Confederation commercial ship Unicorn arrived at Pami Port at 08:13 on March 14. This vessel belongs to the Jeo Trade Group of the Kramic Kingdom, carrying large amounts of Confederation cargo. According to current policy, the Security Department is requested to assist with inspection. — Pami Port Transport Inspection Office”

Lev knew the Jeo Trade Group well. Not only was it a major company with long-standing trade relations with the Hill Empire, but its local agent on this planet was Arthur—Landon’s good friend. Arthur’s involvement in the incident with Landon’s sister had caused Lev’s youngest son considerable trouble.

During his subsequent investigation, Lev had noticed Arthur’s name and confirmed the close relationship between the two families.

Although the incident with his son had occurred two years ago, Lev still felt unsettled. As the security chief of a key military planet, his title might not be extraordinary, but his actual power and respect were substantial. He had never suffered such a personal loss before, and he had long sought an opportunity to take revenge on Landon.

Glancing at the long cargo list in the attachment, a sly smile crept across Lev’s face. This was a perfect opportunity—not only to settle a score with Landon, but also to gain substantial profit.

Seated in his wide chair, Lev watched the busy and orderly small transport ships in the sky, his mind already plotting. It looked simple, but execution would require meticulous precision.

Over the past two years, Landon had gone through a series of combat situations. Due to his excellent command, his rank had risen rapidly. He was now Deputy Commander of a mixed assault fleet, holding a rank equal to Lev’s.

This was another point of irritation for Lev. A previously unknown young man had quickly risen to challenge his position. He knew promotions were faster during wartime, but if he didn’t act now, it might become even harder later.

This operation needed to make Landon uncomfortable, yet leave no trace of wrongdoing that could implicate Lev.

Lev closed his eyes and reclined quietly in his chair. After a while, he opened them, having finally formulated a plan. Rising, he waved his hand slightly. A holographic image of a woman appeared beside him.

“Sir, how may I assist?” asked the AI, Joy, responsible for all of Lev’s daily work and personal affairs.

“Joy, have Newman One-Bear come to my office,” Lev commanded.

“Understood,” the AI replied and vanished.

Soon after, a slender young man entered Lev’s office.

“Chief Lev Three-Bear, what brings me here?” Newman asked bluntly.

“Newman, of course it’s good news,” Lev replied. Though Newman was his subordinate, their relationship was unusual. Lev often tasked Newman with handling sensitive matters, so formalities were minimal.

“What good news?” Newman asked casually.

“First, take your personal AI offline,” Lev instructed.

“All right.” Newman glanced at Lev. Shutting down the AI prevented any conversation from being stored or accessed later—a precaution for delicate matters.

“So, who’s in trouble this time, or is it a lady you’re dealing with?” Newman asked after disconnecting his AI.

“This is good news. We’re going to make a fortune, enough to last the rest of our lives,” Lev said with a wicked smile.

“Really? A fortune? Usually, you give me tricky tasks. Even occasional rewards are never enough to last a lifetime. I’m only in my sixties—normally, I’d still have at least 150 years ahead. If this is true, it’s a huge sum,” Newman said, puzzled.

“Come closer,” Lev said, gesturing. When Newman approached, Lev opened a small display, just large enough for Newman to see. It was the cargo manifest of the Unicorn.

“So much! This could really support us for life,” Newman said, scanning the list.

“That’s not all. Look here,” Lev said, clicking to expand a compressed section of the manifest.

“Wow, these are in high demand,” Newman exclaimed, then grew uneasy. “This much cargo won’t be easy to deal with. Also, I know this company—they have connections with many top officials in the Empire. Even here on our planet, they have extensive relationships.”

“I know. But most of those are strictly business. Deal with them properly, and the benefits can be delivered without issue. As for… deep connections, as long as we are meticulous and leave no loopholes, no one can touch us,” Lev replied.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Newman asked hesitantly. “This company has dealt with the Empire for a long time. We can’t be certain how deep their connections go. If we take this on our own, they won’t let it go easily.”

“Who said we’re taking it for ourselves?” Lev said, a sinister gleam in his eyes.