(Nyrean Super Galaxy- Rtern Region)
(Planet Aquanox- Lurein City)
Being so close to the sea meant that the overwhelming scent of salt filled the air.
It was mixed with a faint undertone of blood as numerous stalls propped up near the edges of the water.
Dozens of merchants watched carefully as the butchers behind the stalls neatly cut up the pieces of meat that came from the fresh aquatic creatures caught in the nearby waters.
Rokan leaned against the side of a wooden wall and watched the chaos unfold.
The currency that the people on Planet Aquanox used was linked to the central Federines dollar.
Its value was quite high all things considered so the price of the meat sold in this marketplace was very steep.
But… the potential for profits is what drove these merchants to search for a good deal.
The animals that lived in the oceans of Planet Aquanox were protected species and banned from being bred outside of the planet.
Hence their rarity.
"Oi… you're in our spot…" a low hoarse growl interrupted Rokan's musings.
He looked in the direction of the sound and saw five large aliens staring at him with unpleasant smirks on their faces.
These aliens were around six feet tall and possessed robust and muscular builds. Their bodies were covered in rough, textured skin that was varying shades of blue.
Dark swirling patterns were printed along the edges of their flesh which resembled intricate tattoos or markings.
They were vaguely humanoid but the rows of bony ridges along their jaws and underneath their eyes dispelled the notion that they could be similar to humans.
"Sorry gentlemen," Rokan smoothly replied as he stepped forward and tried to move away from the wall.
His path was blocked by one of the aliens who stuck out his oversized palm and prevented him from leaving.
"No… you see… there is a toll…" the alien smirked, and his companions giggled softly.
"Right… well how much is the…" Rokan's voice was cut off as a fist was driven into his stomach with so much force that he collapsed on the ground.
He began to breathe heavily and desperately scrambled to get away from the intimidating aliens who leered mockingly at him.
"Please… don't hurt… me…" Rokan stammered fearfully as he curled his body into a ball with his hands over his head.
Two of the aliens began to kick him violently and Rokan let out screams of pain that echoed through the docks.
His blood curling cries could clearly be heard by the venders and merchants in the area, but no one moved to help him or stop the senseless violence.
Finally, the beating stopped and Rokan slumped on the ground with his eyelids struggling to stay open.
He felt a greasy palm search around the inside of one of the pockets of his robe and take out a small bag filled with coins.
Someone spat on his body and then the sound of heavy footsteps could be heard slowly moving further and further away.
Rokan remained in the same position for thirty minutes before slowly stirring and waking up from his apparent unconscious state.
He staggered to his feet and made his way to the south side of the docks with stumbling footsteps.
He was clearly in a great deal of pain.
At least… in the minds of the passerby who had witnessed the affair from start to finish.
Rokan was grateful for the mask covering his face because he had to fight to keep a small smile from spreading across his lips.
Truthfully… he was completely uninjured.
Honestly if he wanted to the thugs' hands and legs would have broken as soon as they touched him.
But then everyone would know that he was a strong person.
The Federines government were looking for a human who was at least in the god stage and who would suspect that he had just been beaten up by a group of street thugs.
Cultivators usually had large egos so the thought of a high-level cultivator allowing some nobodies to violently assault them was unthinkable.
Rokan continued to walk with faltering footsteps until he arrived at the edge of the docks where a small ferret-like creature stood silently with its back turned to the sea.
The creature was tiny only the size of around three feet in height and possessed rat-like features which included a pair of long whiskers attached to the sides of its face.
It wore a sharp navy-blue vest but no pants. A gold chain was wrapped tightly around its left paw that shone under the sunlight.
"I don't have any healing medicine… go away…" the creature growled in a voice that was deep and hoarse.
Rokan leaned downwards and slowly whispered in the alien's ear the phrase that he had heard from the priestess at the temple.
"The stars shine brightest," Rokan quietly spoke.
The creature's facial expression did not change but he curled up his left paw around the gold chain wrapped around his arm.
"There is no return trip," the creature replied after a brief moment of silence.
"I have made arrangements," Rokan muttered softly but refused to elaborate when the creature shot him a look of curiosity.
"So be it… we do not dig into the affairs of our customers," the creature calmly replied before slowly walking away.
"You may call me Captain Mordred."
He raised up his right paw and gestured for Rokan to follow suit.
Rokan followed behind the alien but made sure to keep limping. He did not want to break character for even a moment.
There was no telling who was still watching.
This sense of vigilance and paranoia had kept him alive for many years.
Captain Mordred led the duke through a winding maze of docks, piers, and side passageways until they eventually arrived at a starship yard.
Numerous vessels were parked inside the space and Rokan saw aliens of varying shapes and sizes exiting the vehicles.
Captain Mordred walked up to one of the vessels and lightly raised up his paw to tap on the side of the spacefaring vehicle.
The starship was medium sized with a long and sleek exterior.
It did not have any visible plasma cannons or offensive systems, but Rokan could see several cloaking devices around its hull.
Lightweight, fast and with impressive stealth capabilities.
In other words, a starship that had been designed for smuggling illegal good across the border of the Federines empire and into the Earth Federation.
A doorway opened up and a series of metalloid stairs fell down to the ground with a heavy thump.
Captain Mordred began to walk up the stairs all the while whistling a cheerful tune under his breath.
The song was faint, but Rokan's enhanced sense of hearing could make out the words of the tune that the captain softly hummed.
"In the depths of starry night, where the boundless void flows…"
"We sail the sky, where the cowards do not dare to go."
"With bravery and courage in our hearts."
"Off we go to depart..."
"Our journey never ends it is just beginning…"
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