Chapter 1

"Good kid, you've really made it, joining the military?"

"Yeah, Uncle Lin, I've been assigned to a special department, but I have to leave the City of the Moon, and I'll have fewer chances to come back."

Luoxin sat on the counter, smiling and replied.

The man he called Uncle Lin was a middle-aged man with a metal prosthetic left arm and a mechanical electronic eye that glowed red. He was busy behind the counter.

In this era of interstellar colonization, prosthetic technology was already well-developed. Ordinary people who didn't possess extraordinary powers had, to some extent, installed some enhancements on their bodies.

A bowl of beef ramen, piled high with beef, was placed in front of Luoxin.

Luoxin took a pair of chopsticks and started eating heartily.

There were no other customers at the noodle stand, and the night breeze blew, making it quite desolate.

Uncle Lin lit a cigarette and began to chatter, "Do well out there, and make a name for yourself. No one will dare to bully us anymore."

Luoxin ate while listening to Uncle Lin's chatter and touched the bracelet on his left wrist.

He transferred 10,000 star coins to Uncle Lin's account.

Uncle Lin's electronic eye displayed the transfer notification, and he was taken aback for a moment. He frowned and said, "Brat, what are you doing?"

"Uncle Lin, take the money. Xiaoling is about to advance to a higher grade, right?"

"This..."

"I won't be short of money after joining the military."

Uncle Lin took a deep puff of his cigarette, remained silent for a moment, and finally accepted the transfer, saying, "Uncle Lin does need the money now. I'll pay you back in the future."

Luoxin smiled and said, "Uncle Lin, you're being too formal. Consider this money as a gift for Xiaoling, to help her learn a skill. If she encounters any trouble, she can call me, and I'll try to help."

"Haha, okay, I'll remember. Brat, when are you bringing a girlfriend back? You're of age now."

"Uncle Lin, don't rush it..."

"Things like this should be done early. Otherwise, when you're older, you won't have the energy, and you'll regret it, sigh."

Uncle Lin's tone was somewhat melancholic. At this moment, other customers entered the shop, and Uncle Lin went to attend to them.

Luoxin buried his head in his noodles.

The shop was located on the hundredth floor, with a suspended walkway outside. Layer by layer, countless shops were distributed downward. In the middle, projection light paths outlined the suspended walkways, and flying vehicles zipped by.

The City of the Moon, a top-tier metropolis of the Interstellar Federation.

This was a three-dimensional city, with a vertical depth of several kilometers, divided into several major levels. As far as the eye could see, skyscrapers stood like a forest, and colorful neon lights and virtual projections filled every inch of the city. Flying vehicles soared through the sky like fish in water.

This universe was colorful and bustling. The Milky Way was lively, and many intelligent species had been discovered. Over a long period of development, humans led the formation of a federation and expanded outward together.

Technology was unprecedentedly advanced.

Interstellar travel, Dyson spheres, prosthetic technology, super artificial intelligence, and gene editing technology were all thriving. More importantly, this universe also possessed extraordinary powers, with top-tier strong individuals capable of rivaling deities.

The universe was colorful and lively, but for Luoxin, the only place with warmth was this noodle stand.

When he crossed over, he was in an orphanage.

This body was only 10 years old, with no one to rely on, and was often bullied by other children in the orphanage. Hunger was a constant state, and he suffered from long-term malnutrition.

Uncle Lin, seeing his pitiful state, often helped him. When he had nothing to eat, he could come to the noodle stand for a bowl of beef noodles.

Luoxin had no power to change anything.

But, the poor rely on mutations.

During a fight with other children in the orphanage, he awakened his ability. After sending everyone to the crematorium, he was taken away by the federation.

Since then, he had entered into a contract with the federation.

The federation suppressed the incident and provided him with cultivation resources. Through his own efforts, he entered the top school in the City of the Moon, which was also ranked third in the federation—Star Dragon Academy.

This school focused on cultivating warriors and ability users.

He entered the ability department and trained hard.

As a condition, he had to serve the federation for 30 years after graduation.

A few days ago, at 18 years old, he graduated with a comprehensive ranking of 9th in the ability department. He also adhered to the contract and served the federation.

The federation originally assigned him to the military.

For a civilian, this was a bright and promising opportunity, a chance to bring glory to the family.

But Luoxin refused.

He then applied to join the Dark Department.

This was an official organization that operated behind the scenes for the federation, mainly responsible for cleaning up internal corruption and handling covert operations, akin to a black glove.

The reason was money.

There were no external enemies in the federation, and the military had no opportunities for merit. Joining now would just mean going through the motions and receiving a dead salary.

Moreover, he had no power or influence.

Promotion was impossible.

With that dead salary, could he afford a house? A car? A wife? Besides, cultivation expenses were high, and after the federation's support agreement expired, he would have to prepare the resources himself.

In the military, he would have nothing.

The only way out was to attach himself to a powerful figure and be a sycophant.

Luoxin didn't want to suffer that humiliation.

In comparison, the Dark Department suited him.

This department couldn't operate openly. Whatever they did would be covered up, with no social influence.

But, they would be paid.

A lot of money.

Additionally, the Dark Department was loosely managed.

Dark Department teams operated in small units, occasionally receiving mandatory orders, but otherwise had freedom to do private work as long as they followed the basic rules.

The Dark Department identity was like a black card, giving a lot of freedom in missions. Doing bad things was also acceptable as long as it wasn't too excessive, and the authorities would suppress the situation.

More money, less work, and more freedom.

The cost was that they had no social identity, and the department's fatality rate was as high as 77.2%. Those who retired smoothly were often injured or had health issues.

People from influential families wouldn't join. Those who joined the Dark Department were either short of money, loners, or desperados.

Luoxin fit all these criteria.

After learning about this department, he still decided to join.

Wealth comes with risk.

His reliance was his ability.

The rarest and most dangerous concept-type ability in the ability department, he could manipulate the concept of 'quantity,' altering ratios. Currently, his strength allowed him to adjust between 0.01 and 100 times.

For example, amplifying physical attributes by 100 times.

Or reducing the intermolecular forces of an object to 0.01 times.

The current projection range was a spherical space with a 5-meter radius. The ability would fail if the target exceeded the range, but the effects would remain.

He was very strong.

He didn't take first place at graduation because he didn't want to.

As a civilian, he needed to be low-key.

After all, the top 100 were all influential figures in the City of the Moon, and he was the only civilian among them. If he had taken first place, wouldn't he have slapped all the important people in the face?

Finishing the bowl of noodles and the soup,

The bowl and plate were spotlessly clean, with nothing left.

Wasting food was a habit he didn't have.

Customers came and went, and Uncle Lin was busy.

Luoxin stood up and said,

"Uncle Lin, I'm going back."

"Come back often. Here, take some to eat on the way." Uncle Lin took out a package of homemade braised beef and threw it to Luoxin.

Luoxin didn't hesitate, holding it in his arms and about to leave.

Outside, there was a commotion.

Several flying trucks sped by, bumping into each other and smashing many things along the way, causing the shop owners to curse loudly.

Soon, sirens blared, and police drones and cars rushed by with red and blue lights flashing.

A police chase was underway.

People looked out, unsure what was happening.

A customer checked his phone and shouted, "Wow! Big news! Someone kidnapped Star Maiden! It happened near the spaceport, and she was taken away in front of tens of thousands of fans. Who is this kidnapper? So bold!"

"What!?"

Another customer jumped up, wailing,

"My little star! I already bought tickets for her concert tomorrow!"

Even Uncle Lin was shocked, groaning and taking out his phone to check the situation.

Luoxin was indifferent.

Star Maiden was a singer who debuted in the past two years, a super star across the entire federation with a billion fans. She was a genius from the Star Clan, and it was said that her voice had a magical quality that could touch hearts. She had come to the City of the Moon for a tour and was kidnapped right after leaving the spaceport, in front of tens of thousands of fans.

The chase continued.

Luoxin was uninterested. He didn't follow stars, and it wasn't his business.

One of the Dark Department's rules: Don't meddle in other people's affairs. Without orders, don't get involved in any incidents.

What if it was arranged by some big shot?

Getting involved was fine, as long as he wasn't discovered.

The federal police weren't to be underestimated. It wouldn't take long for the kidnappers to be caught.

Luoxin left with the braised beef.

At the door, he froze, and the braised beef fell to the ground.

The suspended platform in front of the shop was smashed.

His only means of transportation, a flying scooter that had accompanied him for several years, was gone.

Luoxin's face twitched. He picked up the braised beef and returned to the shop with a dark expression.

Uncle Lin asked in confusion,

"Luoxin, what's wrong?"

"Uncle Lin, can I see the surveillance footage from the entrance?"

He took a paper bag, poked two holes in it, and put it on his head.

The flying scooter had been with him for several years and was half of his remaining assets, worth at least 2000 star coins. It was gone in an instant.

This wasn't over!