Chapter 75: I will try..

The object was shaped like a sharp, three-sided pyramid. Its entire surface was pitch-black, while the glass panels at its base revealed a faint glow from inside, as though the interior were filled with daylight.

Through the camera aboard Oisín’s ship, Lorcan could see countless mechanical arms moving up and down. The structure’s cold metal exterior reflected a bluish-grey light.

It looked like an enormous industrial processing facility.

Lorcan raised his eyebrows in surprise.

"A factory?"

Could this be the secret pheromone production facility they had been searching for?

Just then, static crackled through the speaker in the cabin. Oisín pressed the answer button, and Cathal’s slightly distorted voice came through.

"Oisín, they have already passed the checkpoint. The border guards spotted the royal ship, and the coordinates they recorded are inside the factory."

"That is excellent news."

Oisín chuckled and finished the strong liquor in front of him.

"I have been waiting here for almost three days. At least it was not a waste of time."

He let out a small sigh.

"Your information was accurate, Colonel Cathal."

Cathal sounded rather pleased with himself.

"Of course. I spent nearly half a month on leave searching every corner of the 23rd District."

He then muttered under his breath.

"I have used up all the leave I saved over the past two years. Next time, even if a handsome young man asks me out, I will not have any time to spare."

Oisín replied, "If I return alive and remain in command of the Third Army, I will find a way to get your leave back. However..."

Neither of them spoke after that.

They both understood what he meant.

What if Oisín never returned?

Neither wanted to consider that possibility.

After a brief silence, Cathal spoke again.

"There is something else you should know, Oisín. Ever since the royal ship crossed the border, the entire 23rd District has been under lockdown. Tadhg is extremely cautious about security. He has introduced some very strict measures. At this point, even a fly would struggle to get into the district."

Oisín showed no surprise.

"That makes sense. Otherwise, why would I have arrived so early and spent three days flying around this desolate place?"

If Cathal had not managed to intercept the factory’s visitor records, they would never have been able to arrange an ambush at this location.

Oisín turned his attention toward the enormous window that stretched from the floor to the ceiling.

The massive black structure was emerging from the edge of the planet. It slowly moved closer, its enormous shadow falling over them like a monster from an ancient legend.

Oisín adjusted the ship’s controls.

"I can see them. Over and out."

"All right."

Cathal’s voice remained calm, but he did not end the call immediately.

Through the crackling static, he added quietly, "Good luck, General."

Oisín gave a low grunt in response before ending the call.

He then started the ship with practiced ease, carefully steering around the enormous structure before heading toward the asteroid belt.

66 could not help exclaiming.

"What is he doing?"

The inside of an asteroid belt was extremely dangerous. Countless rocks moved through the area at speeds of tens of kilometres per second. Even the most advanced obstacle-avoidance systems could not guarantee safety.

Flying into such a place meant risking death or serious injury.

Lorcan answered calmly, "That is the best place to hide."

He remembered doing something similar during the volcano hive mission in *Star Warfare*.

Players had to pass through the worker drones’ patrols and reach the queen boss to claim the kill reward. However, no matter how powerful a player was, fighting an entire swarm of worker drones was extremely difficult.

According to the guides posted on the game’s forums, the best strategy was to create a fireproof suit and enter the hive through the lava.

After all, no worker drone would expect someone to come through such a dangerous place.

A deadly location had become the safest hiding spot.

The same principle applied here.

From their earlier conversation, Lorcan already knew that the entire 23rd District was under lockdown. The area around the factory would certainly be heavily guarded.

However, nobody would bother watching the inside of an asteroid belt.

It was a place everyone considered a death zone.

Oisín guided the ship into the asteroid belt.

He wore the uniform of the Third Army, with medals covering his chest and his sash neatly arranged. He looked as though he were attending an awards ceremony rather than entering a place where no living creature could survive.

Asteroids rushed past the ship.

The vessel avoided them with remarkable agility, though a few still struck its surface, leaving small dents behind.

The cockpit shook violently, but Oisín’s hands remained steady.

He carefully adjusted the ship’s angle and direction, gradually moving deeper into the belt. Soon, he was rotating along with the dust and rocks caught in the planet’s gravitational pull.

It was as if he had always belonged there.

Lorcan held his breath.

"If I were the one flying, I would have crashed already."

Oisín switched off the lights and activated the electromagnetic shielding.

He allowed the ship to rotate with the surrounding debris.

From a distance, it looked like nothing more than another abandoned vessel near the border of the 23rd District. It was simply a cold metal coffin containing the remains of a Third Army general.

Oisín reached for the long-barrelled rifle resting on the passenger seat.

He took out a silk cloth and began cleaning the weapon slowly.

The silver sniper rifle reflected the light. Its barrel gave off a cold shine, much like the surface of the moon.

Oisín remained silent as he watched the screen in front of him.

Two red dots moved slowly along their assigned paths. Gradually, the distance between them began to shrink.

One represented the factory.

The other represented their ship.

Twenty minutes later, the two dots began to draw closer.

The factory continued moving along the asteroid belt’s orbit.

Inside the ship, the camera in the living area quietly turned toward the factory. Through the enormous window, Lorcan could now see the structure in much greater detail.

The factory had three main levels.

The lowest level contained rows of robotic arms arranged like an assembly line. They were responsible for producing pheromones.

The middle level was divided into separate research rooms and bedrooms. These areas served as living quarters for the factory’s leaders and visitors.

The highest level contained a grand hall with enormous glass windows stretching from the floor to the ceiling. It was where the most important guests were received.

Tadhg was somewhere inside.

Unlike the cold and sterile appearance of the lower two levels, the top floor was decorated in a luxurious and comfortable style.

Leather sofas had been brought from the capital planet. Rare green plants stood beside the windows, and even the carpet was worth a fortune.

The First Prince was lounging on a sofa, slowly swirling a newly developed pheromone solution in his hand.

The liquid was a dangerous peach-pink colour.

Lorcan turned toward 66.

"Can you figure out what they are saying by reading their lips?"

66 replied, "I will try. The camera’s resolution is too low to read their lips clearly. A twelve-times magnification scope would make it easier."

The System concentrated on processing the images.

"Hmm, I can barely make it out. Tadhg is saying, ’Is this new substance more effective than the previous addictive drug?’"

"The man wearing the tie is... Oh, I have just checked the imperial database. His name is Gonat. He is a researcher at the Imperial Pheromone Research Institute and the director’s most talented student."

66 continued, "He was sentenced to death after killing his neighbour’s entire family, including a five-year-old child, with an axe following an argument. I did not expect him to be here. It seems he is acting as the factory’s representative."

Lorcan paused.

"Director Sigurd’s most talented student? If I remember correctly, Tadhg married Sigurd’s son and made him his consort, did he not?"

66 replied, "Yes. You have a good memory. Oh, he is here as well. The elderly man with grey hair standing at the back is Sigurd."

Lorcan looked at the screen.

An elderly man stood in the middle of the hall, holding a bottle of peach-pink liquid. He gently swirled the contents of the glass container, his expression filled with fascination.

Lorcan asked, "What is the director saying?"

66 began translating their lip movements.

"He says, ’This is much better. Gonat and I have created our masterpiece. We have increased the discomfort caused by addiction and strengthened the drug’s ability to control its victims.’"

"The director continues, ’The females will cry and beg for your mercy. Without your pheromones, they will become like dogs, wagging their tails and pleading for your kindness. Please enjoy yourself to the fullest.’"

"Then the First Prince says, ’I cannot wait any longer. Do you have any test subjects? Bring one over so I can try it.’"

"The director replies, ’I will arrange the most beautiful one for you immediately.’"

"The First Prince seems satisfied. He nods and says, ’Apart from being beautiful, I would prefer someone with a fiery temper. Someone who refuses to surrender, no matter how much you torment them. It will be much more entertaining when they finally beg after taking the drug.’"

The camera’s resolution was too poor for Lorcan to clearly see Tadhg’s expression.

However, he could still sense the man’s coldness.

It was as though the person being discussed was not a living human being but a laboratory rat trapped inside a cage.

66 shuddered.

"Are there living test subjects inside the factory?"

Lorcan could not help sneering.

"Impressive. It seems this factory does not only produce addictive drugs. It is also a brothel in space."