Chapter 20

Yuan Hanshuang had no idea what she had just blurted out, and her unintentional words were perceived as a provocation, prompting the Chief Corps of the Imperial Military Academy and all the members of the Presidential Committee to gather and observe.

She briefly persuaded Ke Junda through the Star Net communication. Once he understood her intentions, without a second thought, he immediately bought a ticket and set off on the journey to the Central Galaxy.

“Alright, I’ll wait for you at Silver Star.”

After hanging up the phone, Yuan Hanshuang felt unusually good.

Raising this younger brother wasn’t in vain; he truly followed her when she mentioned joining the martial arts world.

Deep down, she also understood that, although interstellar martial arts were currently on the decline, the value of martial arts manuals was not entirely diminished. It was more about the bonds formed in the past.

Otherwise, who would casually decide such a major life event as choosing a school with just a few words?

For such a friend in need, offering wholehearted assistance regardless of the destination reminded her of her past life’s experiences in the martial arts world. With Ke Junda as her younger brother, she was determined!

After confirming the location of the cafeteria, Yuan Hanshuang swiped her student card to buy today’s quota of nutrient solution in one go. Opening the Star Net navigation, she was ready to stroll around the black market of the Central Galaxy.

She was a formally registered fighter in the black market, and this identity was applicable throughout the entire galaxy. As long as she registered at the local black market arena, she could participate in matches anytime.

Of course, the school’s vicinity wouldn’t lack commercial areas.

As Yuan Hanshuang walked out of the school gate, she noticed several people on the other side of the street calling out and recruiting part-time workers. Seeing students from Silver Star, they eagerly waved and greeted.

“Silver Star students! Interested in a part-time job?”

It wasn’t that Silver Star students came from impoverished families; it was just that the Imperial Military Academy implemented a strict closed management system on weekdays. Besides, they received subsidies every month upon enrollment, making it challenging to attract military academy students. So, they focused on recruiting from another school.

In general, without some connections, one couldn’t easily enter the black market.

Yuan Hanshuang had just arrived in the Central Galaxy and hadn’t had the chance to inquire about the location of the black market. However, she wasn’t in a hurry. She bought a delicious grilled sausage from a street food stall and strolled around while eating.

Persistence pays off, and she did find a contact for the black market.

The person stood at the street corner, holding a small loudspeaker.

“Classmates, consider working with us. You can earn up to a thousand star coins a day, and the benefits are excellent.”

On a street where the average daily wage was only two hundred, a thousand star coins were exceptionally attractive. The recruiter only shouted for a short while but already managed to attract many students.

“A thousand star coins? What kind of part-time job is this?”

Recruiter: “Mainly as a waiter.”

“Waiter?” The students frowned one by one. “Don’t fool us. The service staff at the luxury counter next door only earn two hundred a day. You’re not trying to trick us into some shady business on Dark Star, are you?”

At these words, people around them began to show skeptical looks.

A thousand star coins a day might sound good, but if it involved getting on a shady transportation to Dark Star, that would be a terrible fate.

“Misunderstanding, classmates. Can you please use your brains for a moment?”

The recruiter sighed, “It’s the modern era, and the laws of the Imperial Federation are in place. How could we openly deceive you and send you to Dark Star? Moreover, do you think Dark Star is such a great place? Just the ticket alone costs several thousand star coins; I can’t even afford to go myself!”

After finishing the grilled sausage, Yuan Hanshuang tossed the bamboo skewer into the trash can, nodding in agreement.

Dark Star served as the headquarters of the Black Street’s Black Tower and was a giant planet with a diameter no less than that of the Federal Capital and the Imperial Capital. Situated in the fringe system, it lay outside the jurisdiction of both the Federation and the Empire, truly a lawless territory.

Since it was a lawless land, the cost of a ticket to Dark Star was naturally high. While not everyone going to Dark Star was a ruthless fugitive, they weren’t entirely clean either. Why would anyone go to such a place for no reason?

“Although we offer high pay, we have a legitimate business license, so classmates can rest assured.”

As the recruiter spoke, he displayed the light brain screen.

In recent years, after the Imperial Federation and the Black Street reached an unspoken agreement, the latter indeed moved some industries into the open, a kind of compromise between the two major powers.

“They really do have a business license.”

Seeing the license, the students finally believed and began to inquire about the part-time conditions.

For such a high-paying part-time job, the requirements were evidently demanding. The list provided by the recruiter wasn’t simple at all, including criteria like appearance and height, proficiency in calculations, and requirements for cultivation level, among others. It was comprehensive and numerous.

With this list of conditions, half of the students surrounding them were immediately filtered out.

Yuan Hanshuang listened on the sidelines with the crowd.

As a seasoned employee of the black market, she could easily discern that this was the black market casino recruiting temporary servers.

The black market had a broad business scope, including not only fighting arenas but also casinos, racetracks, and more, providing numerous job opportunities each year. Some positions were challenging for ordinary individuals and required individuals with talents.

Without a doubt, students from advanced academies were the most suitable and cost-effective combat resources.

Seeing so many students signing up, a rich smile reappeared on the recruiter’s face.

“Don’t be in a hurry, don’t be in a hurry. Students who meet the criteria, come to me, scan the code, and get a resume form to fill out. Our special car is parked on the nearby star track. We’ll take one person at a time, only recruiting ten. It includes three meals and transportation!”

As he was busy inviting students, he turned around and saw a black-haired girl with twin ponytails walking towards the car door as if she owned the place. Suddenly, he became irritated, “Hey, you, the Silver Star student, what are you doing?”

“We’re all the cream of the crop who got into advanced academies. It’s not appropriate to sneak in like this.”

He stopped talking halfway because he saw the black-haired girl turn around, wearing a pair of cool and stylish shades.

The shades themselves weren’t a big deal, but what truly stood out was the diamond emblem on the frame.

That was the exclusive symbol for the resident diamond fighters of the black market.

Yuan Hanshuang raised an eyebrow, “Mind if I hitch a ride?”

“Not at all, not at all, certainly not! Please!”

The recruiter finally snapped out of his shock. His attitude took a 180-degree turn, eager to assist and practically helping her onto the car.

The fighting arena was the core symbol of the black market, and resident fighters were a rare few, but undoubtedly, each of them was a big shot. The recruiter was just a small-time assistant and dare not offend such figures.

Many students who were filling out their resumes curiously witnessed this scene.

“Who is that person?”

“Don’t know, probably someone with connections.”

After about ten minutes, the crowd dispersed, leaving the black-haired girl and the recruiter by the car, ready to head to the Black Market.

An hour later, the hovercar started. The vehicle navigated through various turns, leading them to the city center and directly flying into the central building of a steel skyscraper. The Central Galaxy lived up to its reputation; a dazzling silver-colored passage cracked open at the center of the building, revealing the entrance to the black market.

A glance inside the building revealed a hidden paradise, a small-scale base.

Just this operation alone was enough to outshine the stars of 1999.

After parking at the entrance of the casino, the recruiter and a few students got off early. The hovercar was then instructed to go to the entrance of the fighting arena. The recruiter bowed repeatedly, sending them off with utmost respect.

Soon, the hovercar arrived at Yuan Hanshuang’s destination – the Central Arena.

After getting off the car, she stopped to admire this ultra-high-tech building constructed collectively by holographic brains. Then, she looked around, took her time, and walked slowly to the service counter.

Yuan Hanshuang, being a resident fighter of the black market, had a quicker processing time.

In less than ten minutes, she completed the relocation procedures.