Chapter 69: Are All You Star Pirates So Unreasonable? Part 1

A full ten minutes of fireworks turned the vast horizon into a brilliant spectacle.

In the restaurant, guests at other tables whispered among themselves, enjoying the show together.

Only when the final fireworks fizzled out, becoming shooting stars about to extinguish on the sea’s surface, did Xie Jianxun finally pull his attention back.

“Sorry, the fireworks were too loud earlier. What did you say?”

He turned around and saw Huo Jing with his head lowered, focused on slicing the duck meat on his plate.

The knife blade was coated in rich sauce, with half a slice of sauce-soaked toast beside it. Most of the main course had already been eaten.

Huo Jing: “No, nothing. How were the fireworks?”

Xie Jianxun sighed sincerely: “This was my first time seeing fireworks bloom in person, not just on Star Net… Honestly, it was too shocking.”

The Great Star Pirate across from him looked quite pleased, mentally applauding his own sudden brilliant idea.

“They sent a reservation invite to the Siphon Whale earlier, asking if I was interested. Good thing I remembered.”

Xie Jianxun was about to dig into his own main course when he heard this, and his knife hovered in midair as realization dawned.

“You booked it? I thought this was… a wonderful coincidence.”

He looked at Huo Jing in surprise. The Great Star Pirate chuckled lightly: “A coincidence wouldn’t appear so perfectly right outside our window.”

But to Xie Jianxun, it truly was a wonderful coincidence.

Fireworks, the ocean—it was just like when he’d sat curled up on the Landship, knees drawn to his chest, earnestly describing his future to One.

A dream once popped like a bubble, now miraculously reappearing.

Suddenly, a great hope ignited in him. Did this mean that Mechanical Puppets might one day reappear before him by some twist of fate?

…He needed to seize the time and find a mechanic capable of repairing one for him.

Back on the Siphon Whale, Xie Jianxun headed to his cabin. At the fork in the corridor, as he said goodbye to Huo Jing, the other man called out to him.

“Here, you can wear this around your neck.”

With a flick of his wrist, Huo Jing dangled a beautiful copper necklace.

A small, rigid card of special material hung from it, engraved with Xie Jianxun’s name and photo.

“The Siphon Whale Crew Badge. It grants all the permissions of a formal crew member. With this, you can go anywhere a formal crew member can—and the Captain’s Quarters too.”

Huo Jing didn’t mention how he’d spent the dead of night meticulously engraving Xie Jianxun’s name onto the card.

As the electric knife traced the surface, there was always this subtle sensation, like a sound piercing straight into his heart.

Pulsing along with his veins.

The pretty young master seemed stunned, taking a long moment to react. In the end, Huo Jing strode forward and forcibly hung the badge around his neck.

This meant Xie Jianxun now had complete freedom of movement on the Siphon Whale.

He could use the ship’s various devices and facilities like the other crew members, and every month, a meal subsidy would be deposited onto the badge.

“Nothing else? Go get some sleep.”

Seeing Xie Jianxun still unresponsive, the Great Star Pirate took a step back, his brows and eyes drooping as if in low spirits.

“Never mind, you don’t care about it anyway, right…”

Halfway through, Xie Jianxun suddenly stepped forward, tugged on the Copper Pendant Necklace around Huo Jing’s neck, and tilted his face up.

Huo Jing instinctively leaned down and was pulled into a tight hug, then released.

The young master’s expression was calm, his gaze clear, as if he’d made some decision—now filled with resolve and determination.

“Thank you, Mr. Huo,” Xie Jianxun whispered softly in his ear.

Then, he slipped into his cabin and firmly shut the door.

A passing star pirate clicked their tongue at Huo Jing, recklessly teasing the boss with ghostly faces, clawing motions, and eerie sounds.

Just like that, the Great Star Pirate leader’s mood brightened.

He straightened up, thinking leisurely that it was probably just a matter of timing. Once the final blaze simmered down, that young master would surely be willing to stay.

Then, he’d take Xie Jianxun home to see his beautiful homeland, Minai Hill.

Inside the cabin.

Xie Jianxun hid in bed, pulling the covers over his head.

He thought gloomily: Trapped here—what difference did it make from being trapped in the manor? He had to stay firm, resist corruption, and leave as soon as possible!

The footsteps of the crowd outside gradually faded, until the soundproof door sealed everything away.

Only then did he relax, lowering his head to see the card Huo Jing had given him swaying slightly on his neck.

He picked it up casually and saw the slightly messy handwriting on it.

It was Huo Jing who had signed his name—now hanging around his neck.

He already had a plan that required access to the ship. He’d originally intended to come up with some excuse to fool the First Mate, but now Huo Jing had handed him the most important key.

Xie Jianxun slowly exhaled, rubbing the surface of the crew badge.

The next day around nine, Xie Jianxun emerged from his cabin.

He’d thought he’d gotten up late enough, but plenty of others were only just having breakfast at this hour.

He thought for a moment, then realized.

They’d probably played too hard outside yesterday.

So next, he needed to ask around for the First Mate’s cabin location. After breakfast, he’d track down the First Mate, pry out the general position of the Escape Pods—ideally snag a full ship escape route diagram…

Hearing footsteps stop, Xie Jianxun slowly looked up to find Huo Jing standing right in front of him.

The Great Star Pirate wasn’t wearing a jacket, just a sleeveless tank top.

He showed off his muscular upper arms, the pendant necklace swaying against his chest. His hair was damp, strands clinging to his forehead, giving him a distinctly intimidating vibe.

On his wrist was a uniquely styled Light Brain Wristwatch—Xie Jianxun guessed it had been modified by the star pirates’ own craftsman for extra functions.

Even though he wasn’t up to no good, Xie Jianxun still jumped in fright at the thought.

He blurted out: “…Good morning!”

Huo Jing ran a hand through his hair and gave him a strange look.

“There’s no tradition of greetings on the ship.”

He reverted to his usual demeanor, lazily blocking Xie Jianxun’s path. “No need to be so polite, little young master.”

Feeling guilty as if caught red-handed, Xie Jianxun made small talk: “Greetings are just polite. People need some of that.”

With that, he slipped away quickly. His ash-gray hair, messed up from the pillow, had slight waves, the tips bouncing as he went—straight into someone’s heart.

It looked so soft, perfect for gentle stroking.

Without much thought, Huo Jing grabbed him.

Xie Jianxun twisted his head, only for Huo Jing to strike first: “Running off so fast—are you planning some mischief?”

The accused felt guilty: “I’m just hungry and going to eat… How could it be mischief?!”

Huo Jing laid down the law: “If I say you’re up to mischief, you are.”

Xie Jianxun: “…” What the hell.

Huo Jing: “Come on. As punishment for our new crew member’s lack of manners, you’ll stick by my side all day.”

With that, Huo Jing turned and headed down another corridor fork.

He hadn’t gone far when light, slightly grumbling footsteps followed from behind.

“Are all you star pirates this unreasonable?” came the young man’s voice.

Huo Jing: “Don’t tar everyone with the same brush. Of course not. Ah, only I’m unreasonable, little young master.”

Xie Jianxun: “…What the hell.”

Huo Jing tilted his head: “What?”

Xie Jianxun immediately stood at attention, perfectly polite: “Thank you.”

Huo Jing turned his head back and snorted a laugh: “You could say that word right to my face, curse me outright—you know I wouldn’t mind.”

Xie Jianxun muttered: “Nah, that’d make it seem like I’ve got no manners left.”

At the cafeteria, Huo Jing strode straight to the counter. The star pirates saw him coming and parted, clearing a wide path.

The star pirate boss cut in line without a shred of guilt, leaning down to order.

Xie Jianxun watched him order five meat buns, six eggs, two nutrient drinks, two corns, one protein supplement, and finally a bowl of millet porridge from the vending machine.

The output chute opened, delivering a metal tray.

As he finished, Xie Jianxun stepped up to tap the screen, but Huo Jing grabbed his waist and pulled him away.

“Let’s go, I’ve ordered for you.”

Xie Jianxun tentatively pointed at the loaded tray: “All for me?”

Huo Jing: “Yeah, little young master—you look starved. Eat up.”

Staring at the pile, Xie Jianxun fell silent.

If he actually stuffed all that into his stomach, Julius would be pounding on the Siphon Whale tomorrow to collect his corpse.

Seeing him frozen, the Great Star Pirate finally laughed out loud.

“Kidding, Xunxun—this is yours.”

He separated out the millet porridge, two meat buns, and one egg—perfect for the young master’s dainty appetite—and set them in front of Xie Jianxun.

Xie Jianxun, no longer caring about that awful nickname, tentatively pointed at the rest: “And these?”

“Of course they’re mine—little young master, I just finished working out. I’m the one starving to death.”