BATTLE FOR STARS

“Before we go, I should introduce your bodyguard,” Claudia gestured behind her. A well-built man stepped forward. “This is Major Sade from the Royal Guard. You’ve met him before—he’ll be responsible for your safety on this planet.”

“Your Highness,” Sade raised his right hand and gave a crisp military salute.

“Hello,” Belina replied, a bit displeased. Her cousin was off to enjoy private time, leaving her stuck with a bodyguard—it was rather inconvenient.

But refusing Sade’s presence was out of the question. It was the Royal Guard’s duty. Not wanting Claudia to lecture her further, she simply nodded in agreement.

“Then let’s go our separate ways. Oh, and Boman has arranged a hotel for you. If you need anything, you can head there directly,” Claudia added. Even though they hadn’t met the general, accommodations had been arranged—an entire hotel booked exclusively for the princess’s group.

“Alright, see you.” The group parted at the entrance. Claudia and Liang Jinsong boarded another flying car.

“Where should we go first?” Belina asked Ding Yufei. She had no intention of heading to the hotel just yet.

“Let me check the map.”

“Okay.” With a wave of her hand, a holographic map projected from her wristband.

Ding Yufei studied it. The entire planet was divided into numerous sections, each covered by a dome. Some were scenic residential zones, others entertainment districts, and a few were office areas. Every entertainment zone had a variety of attractions, though each focused on different themes.

“This one looks pretty big, and it’s not far. Let’s go here,” he pointed to a nearby district.

“Sounds good.” Belina tapped her wristband to set the destination.

“Take the luggage to the Lafayette Hotel,” she instructed a group of transport robots in the vehicle behind them.

“You’re sure that’s enough?” Ding Yufei asked.

“Of course. These robots are about as intelligent as a ten-year-old. Carrying luggage is no problem.”

They got into the car. A navigation map appeared on the console, and the vehicle shot upward into the sky. Ding Yufei activated the fully transparent windows, revealing the entire landscape outside.

Buildings on Boman weren’t tall—typically five or six stories—but each floor was over ten meters high. As an entertainment planet, the architecture was uniquely styled, and every structure was surrounded by carefully designed scenery. The entire planet felt like one vast resort.

“This place is really beautiful,” Ding Yufei remarked.

“Of course. Otherwise, how would it attract visitors?” Belina replied. “But it’s all artificial. Originally, Boman was completely barren.”

“Incredible.” Ding Yufei marveled at the power of planetary engineering. Looking up, he noticed many other flying cars heading toward their destinations.

“Are these all fully autonomous?” he asked, since neither Belina nor Sade seemed to be controlling the vehicle.

“Yes,” Belina said, pulling out a control lever. “But you can switch to manual—it’s faster.”

“Wait,” Ding Yufei said nervously, watching the ground blur beneath them. “We’re already going fast, and there are other cars around. What if we crash? Let’s just let the computer handle it.”

“No need to worry. Every vehicle follows a designated route.”

“Really? I don’t see anything.”

Belina pressed a button, and a blue cylindrical path appeared ahead of them. “We follow these virtual air corridors. Plus, the cars have anti-collision systems.”

“If everyone follows the route, why say it won’t ‘easily’ crash?” Ding Yufei asked.

Belina suddenly shoved the control lever forward. The car surged ahead, veering out of the designated path.

“Like this,” she said. “If you don’t follow the system, then collisions become possible.”

“Then get back into the lane!” Ding Yufei was pressed into his seat by the sudden acceleration, startled by her move.

“It’s fine. We’re VIPs—the traffic system will clear a path for us.” Belina didn’t slow down, instead accelerating to maximum speed and racing toward their destination.

Ding Yufei didn’t stop her. The general’s no-show had clearly annoyed the princess—this was her way of venting.

A journey of over a thousand kilometers took only a little more than ten minutes at her speed.

Belina skillfully parked the car right outside the entertainment center. The group stepped out.

The building was a massive octagonal structure, almost entirely made of glass-like material. Soft lighting from within and beneath illuminated everything brightly. It stood nearly two hundred meters tall, making it a striking landmark in the area. Countless smaller passageways extended outward like a spiderweb, connecting to surrounding buildings—likely a form of transit.

Perhaps because the carnival was approaching, there was a steady flow of visitors. Most appeared wealthy, wearing satisfied expressions, clearly enjoying themselves. Nearly everyone moved in groups; solitary visitors were rare.

Ding Yufei had grown up with the mindset of studying hard and working diligently, with enjoyment coming last. Now, faced with a planet dedicated entirely to pleasure, he found it somewhat difficult to accept.

The entrance doors, made of glass-like material and over ten meters high, slid open automatically before they even reached them.

“Welcome!” A man approached enthusiastically. “Please, this way to rest.”

Ding Yufei glanced at him—no pointed ears, meaning he wasn’t a slave, but a free citizen. After all, Belina had mentioned that slave owners rarely did such work.

The man looked to be in his early thirties. His purple hair was thinning, barely covering his scalp. He had a round face and a constant smile that made him seem approachable.

Noticing the wristband markers, he immediately recognized them as VIPs and felt a surge of excitement.

“Guests, I’m Thomson, the reception manager here. May I ask—would you like attendant slaves?”