Chapter 40: The Crisis Approaches

"So, you're really heading to the northwest sector of Mos Eisley? I've heard it's quite chaotic over there," Cunt said, walking up to Yuri.

"That’s exactly the kind of place I like," Yuri replied with a hearty laugh. He then changed the subject. "Still, you’d better lend me the T-850 allocated to you."

"Are two T-850s for you and Vitaly not enough? Didn't you just say you liked it there?" Cunt chuckled.

"I like being alive even more. Only when you're alive can you do business." Yuri patted Cunt on the shoulder. "Well, as agreed, I'll see you in 24 standard hours."

Cunt shook his head and headed to a bar in Mos Eisley with Quinto and Felacy. He told Quinto that this trip was to scout for business and, incidentally, to let everyone blow off some steam, especially since they had just landed a big deal worth 100,000 credits.

Upon arriving at the bar, Cunt quickly found the Twi'lek woman he had met last time. Familiarity breeds comfort, and this time, they could practically be considered old flames. After a few drinks, they hit it off immediately. He was charming and dashing, she was coy and alluring; after some playful touching and feigned resistance, they instinctively drifted to a corner of the bar.

Seeing Cunt walk away, and knowing his robotic bodyguard had followed Yuri, Quinto’s expression suddenly turned grave. He downed his blue spotchka drink in one go. The unique aroma of the krill—a specialty of Sorgan—filled his mouth, but he had no heart to savor his favorite beverage.

"Well? About what we discussed earlier?" Felacy took a casual sip of her drink, her eyes locked on Quinto.

"Are you out of your mind? Planning something like this with Kenneth! Do you have any idea how easily that could get us killed? None of the people in the Fourth Group are pushovers. Didn't I tell you about the last run I did with them?" Quinto hissed.

"So what? They're just a bunch of losers who couldn't even handle a broken ship belonging to three bounty hunters and had to beg a Jedi for help," Felacy said dismissively.

"That doesn't mean we should go to 'Iron-Tooth' Kooken! Do you have any idea what kind of person he is? He has ties to the Black Sun! Otherwise, how could the Hutts tolerate a ship as massive as his Hammerhead-class cruiser loitering near Tatooine?" Quinto’s knuckles turned white from tension as he whispered.

Felacy glanced back toward Cunt. The Twi'lek woman was now sitting on Cunt’s lap, and the two were so preoccupied with their heated flirtation that they hadn't noticed anything.

She scoffed, "So what do you suggest? Should we just let them snatch our ship and keep us like hostages on Endor? I didn't leave Corellia with you just to live a life like that!"

"Listen, Tang Xiao has been good to us. Isn't this life—without worries about food or shelter, and not having to live day-to-day—good enough? If we go to... what do you think 'Iron-Tooth' Kooken will do to us?" Quinto growled under his breath.

Felacy frowned, but remained stubborn, putting on a brave front. "It's too late anyway. I've already sent the message."

"What! When?" Quinto was horrified.

"Kenneth told me the people at the second table by the entrance were Kooken's men. I just had to knock three times on the table. So, just now, I..." Felacy seemed to realize she had made a grave mistake, her tone turning timid.

"You damn idiot! Run! We can't let them catch us!" Quinto grabbed Felacy’s hand, ready to dash out of the bar.

But as he stood up, he felt a powerful force shove him back into his seat. He turned around with difficulty, only to realize that, at some point, they had been surrounded by over a dozen menacing-looking men.

Quinto instinctively looked toward Cunt’s table, but it was already empty. Cunt had vanished.

Meanwhile, in the hotel behind the bar, Cunt was tangled up with the serpent-like Twi'lek woman, cursing under his breath, "'Iron-Tooth' Kooken? A Hammerhead-class cruiser? FUCK!"

At that moment, the Twi'lek woman wrapped herself around him, her lekku playfully scratching his back as she purred, "Darling, I lost at the dice game you taught me again... I don't have any clothes left to take off. What should I do?"

Cunt instantly shifted gears, leering as he pulled the naked woman onto his lap and whispered in her ear, "Then let's play a game of truth. I have a question: do you know 'Iron-Tooth' Kooken?"

A flash of fear crossed the Twi'lek woman's eyes. "Why bring him up? You're scaring me..."

"Just tell me, and I'll give you a huge reward! Really, a very big one!" Cunt breathed into her ear.

The Twi'lek woman licked her lips, then replied reluctantly, "I know a sister who has a good relationship with the navigator under Kooken. Should I call her over, and we can both..."

"Hahahaha... No, today, the double reward is all yours!" Cunt laughed, scooped up the Twi'lek woman, and headed toward the back room.

However, his other hand was inside his pocket, transmitting the recording he had just intercepted to Tang Xiao.

...

At this time, Planet Dawn had not yet realized the impending crisis, and work in all sectors was proceeding methodically. After seeing off the master chief engineer, Professor Chi Jianjun, and sending him to the "mansion," Tang Xiao returned to his room in the town hall to sleep.

But no sooner had he climbed into bed than he heard a scream: "Help!!!"

The sound was faint, but because his Force sensitivity had awakened, Tang Xiao sensed it immediately.

An enemy!! Had a beast broken in?

Tang Xiao bolted upright. Not even bothering to put on his shirt, he jumped from the second floor and sprinted toward the source of the sound.

Halfway there, he saw an old man running toward him, wearing nothing but his underwear and clutching a few pieces of clothing. It was none other than Chi Jianjun.

He looked absolutely wretched; his hair, which was usually combed over to cover his scalp, had fallen down, revealing a classic "Mediterranean" bald spot—with long tufts of hair around the sides.

Seeing Tang Xiao, Chi Jianjun looked as if he had found a savior. He grabbed his clothes and shrieked, "There's a monster! There's a monster!!!"

"Wait! Explain yourself, what kind of monster?" Tang Xiao grabbed his shoulders to steady him.