August 22, 2765, Earth history. It was morning with clear weather.

A shuttle penetrated the layers of asteroids and made a beeline for Maraca Freeport. The trail of light from the shuttle's tail was dazzling... Soon after, the shuttle halted at Maraca's Triangular Star Tak Spaceport.

The scene ahead was a beautiful city of green fields, skyscrapers soaring into the clouds stood in stark contrast to the towering trees reaching towards the sky, the bustling city was brimming with commercial activity.

Maraca Freeport was about one-fifth the size of Earth and was entirely controlled by five major forces. Similar to the three giants of Sena, the five forces of Maraca Freeport were also termed as the big five, known as the Five-pointed Star of Maraca.

Plainly speaking, the jurisdiction of each country's officials essentially did not interfere with the Five-pointed Star, all existing within the central region. This was the counterbalance method among the major forces, where none could intervene in the affairs of the five major forces using armed forces.

Comparatively, the border of the Five-pointed Star was a violent region filled with a degenerative aura, where beneath the superficial prosperity, undercurrents were surging. Despite being only a river away from the central region, the living conditions were worlds apart.

The flight that Feng Yi took was the refugee flight to the Third Star, also known as Gomez-controlled Tak Green City.

In this city filled with all sorts and conditions of people, the big five had flight constraints. No force's refugee flight could stop in another's flight route, after all, it was a major source of income for the five major forces.

Within the jurisdiction of the five major factions, the privileged could enjoy heaven-like treatment, while the destitute could die on the streets unnoticed.

With the escalated war in the Saudi Federation, the number of refugees flooding into the five major forces palpably increased. The chaos level of Maraca Freeport had drastically changed in recent years. Now, the protection fee in Gomez's Tak City was soaring...

Just as the shuttle landed, Feng Yi, who was asleep, woke up. He decided to look around, and before he could get up, the conversations around him piqued his curiosity.

After asking around Feng Yi learned that everyone was looking for the protection of local mercenaries. Even though they had to pay the requisite protection fee which was essentially buying basic survival security, the local big guns would still be eyeing them.

These people were mainly poor folks living in the shadowy areas of Alpha. They ventured out just to conduct some business or sell local specialities, after all, everyone was trying to make ends meet. During an unusual time of war chain reaction, a considerable number of citizens living on Big Macs, and even on Lipton, had become illegal residents. For them, finding work in the Alpha sunlit area was an uphill task, it was a road of no choice.

However, right upon arrival at Maraca Freeport, they heard that the local protection fee had doubled once again. For the displaced, this was no less than adding insult to injury. Some folks only had their living expenses and the mandatory protection fee. Even life sustenance was an issue. As soon as the news came out, it instantly plunged the already gloomy atmosphere into freezing cold.

The shuttle's driver clenched his fists. Being also a common man, he could indeed feel the desperation of people who were struggling for survival, yet helplessly stuck here. And what could he do? The salary he earned was enough to barely cover a few people's protection fee, but faced with a hundred odd people inside the shuttle, he was helpless.

Some of the ragged women were carrying children, some elderly were carrying Alpha's coarse grain seeds. All were stuck at this phase.

Watching all this, Feng Yi felt a bit dejected. He didn't think of himself as a Santa but he wouldn't sit idle either. After returning to the capital's military department in the solar system, the half-yearly post allowance he received, along with some meritorious awards, which put together might be barely enough.

Buzzing... Clang! With a swoosh, the green military backpack strap was severed. Feng Yi said, "Anyone who's short for the protection fee, I can contribute some."

As soon as he spoke, everyone's eyes were locked on Feng Yi. They couldn't believe their ears. Perhaps this money seemed worthless in the eyes of the rich, but it was, indeed, the purchase price of people's lives in the presence of everyone.

"Young man, are you..." Trembling, an old man with white hair spoke.

Feng Yi smiled, "Life is tough during wartime. We are all federal citizens. It's only right to look after one another, especially in Freeport."

Upon hearing this, the old man's first reaction was not to take the money, but with tearful eyes, he dumped the bag of Alpha black jade seeds, which was the money he earned for his granddaughter's school fee, into the gutter. "Young man, thank you." The old man, on saying this, seemed ready to kneel. At the same time, many around were also prepared to kneel down out of gratefulness.

Feng Yi, who believed in equal treatment, refused to accept such an overt gesture. Along with the arrival of a gust of wind, the sudden pressure made everyone stand up straight. "Those who lack money come and take it, no need to be polite."

Even though he said it, it was to no avail. To give away the money wasted quite a bit of Feng Yi's efforts. He was helpless. In the end, he half persuaded and half forced the money into the hands of the simple refugees.

The shuttle driver seeing this remained silent and simply offered Feng Yi a cigarette, but Feng Yi decline. Smoking would only reduce lung capacity, which was detrimental for fighting.

Stepping off the shuttle, a group of soldiers in camouflage gear approached to collect the corresponding protection fees. Their faces rigid, they smirked when they spotted the federation insignia on the shuttle.

However, having paid the protection fee, at least Gomez's subordinates wouldn't outright trouble everyone on the surface. Watching the white silver coins going into the pockets of the soldiers, Feng Yi indeed felt the pinch. This was the money he earned on the battlefield of life and death. But then again, when in Rome do as the Romans do, he had no comments.

After paying the protection fee, everyone was again threatened by the local thugs. But in this phase, Feng Yi naturally could do the job of a freedom mercenary. He assured everyone that there was no need to worry; this federal league was under his protection.

The crowd, firstly was penniless, and secondly, still penniless. The protection fee was only barely covered, leaving no room to squeeze out extra. So, this crowd made up of refugees entered the bustling city leisurely.

The magnetic levitated stream on the main street was endless; Time Second sports cars were everywhere. With the grace of a prosperous city contrasted harshly with the crowd's attire, many privileged young men and women jeered at this sight.

Quietly and quickly, the crowd led by Feng Yi was again blocked by ten patrolmen. As soldiers under one of the big five, Gomez, the sight of Feng Yi and his crowd in the city instantly brought out a vicious light in the patrolmen's eyes.

"Stop," commanded a blond-haired female captain, sternly.

As Feng Yi halted, she further ordered, "This place does not permit passage for Level 3 refugees."

Feng Yi replied, "We've paid the protection fee before."

"Whether or not you've paid the protection fee, I'm not sure, but we haven't received any protection fee," she retorted.

"What do you mean?"

"What do you mean?" With a fairly rebellious tone, several men behind her drew their automatic rifles. The female captain's face flashed a mock smirk. "What do you mean? Are you provoking the authority of Mr. Gomez? Pay the protection fee otherwise, you can't proceed now."

Ging-gang-dong!

A flash of silver light disappeared in an instant, a crescent shaped knife cut ten automatic rifles in half in a split second. The remaining aftermath spreading out like an umbrella directly cut through a few old trees at a distance before it vanished. With just one hit, all the guns held by the patroller were cut in half.

"Will the money from selling this metal be enough?"

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