The Three-Clawed Serpent Interstellar Pirate Fleet did not immediately assume a battle stance, but rather advanced slowly, like an ordinary interstellar fleet.
Just as they were about to enter the combat range of the Blizzard Zero, suddenly the Blizzard Zero moved, as if sensing something, and began to sail in another direction.
"Boss, have we been discovered?" the Skinny Lieutenant asked.
"At this distance, what if we're discovered? The usual trick—have two T2 Ishkur-class Interstellar Frigates and several T1 Vulture-class Interstellar Frigates flank them from both sides. At this distance, intercepting them will be easy!" the Bearded Pirate Captain said confidently.
At this moment, the Three-Clawed Serpent Interstellar Pirate Fleet no longer maintained any disguise and pursued the Blizzard Zero at full speed.
Among them, the two T2 Ishkur-class Interstellar Frigates and T1 Vulture-class Interstellar Frigates had the fastest speeds. Because the Interstellar Frigate is the fastest starship in terms of maneuverability among all types of starships—only some Interstellar Cruisers can compete with it. Interstellar Frigates rely on their high speed to perform combat missions such as escorting fleet formations and intercepting enemy starships. Therefore, interstellar pirates like this cheap and suitable starship for raiding the most. They swarm up like bees—no matter what kind of starship you are, they'll chase and attack relentlessly.
At this point, the Blizzard Zero perhaps also sensed something was wrong and began to increase its speed. But the starships of the Three-Clawed Serpent Interstellar Pirate Fleet were like dog-skin plaster—impossible to shake off. And the distance between them was getting closer and closer, on the verge of catching up.
"Little darling, trying to escape? No prey that this master has set his eyes on has ever escaped," the Bearded Pirate Captain sneered.
Just then, the communications crew member exclaimed, "Report, Boss, there's a communication signal requesting access… It seems… it seems to be the Blizzard Zero!"
The Bearded Pirate Captain was stunned, then burst into laughter: "It seems that worthless baron is scared and wants to beg for mercy from us. Next, I'd like to enjoy the sight of a baron begging for mercy before his death."
The video communication connected, and a video window appeared in front of the Bearded Pirate Captain.
A man's face appeared before his eyes. But the imagined expressions of fear and dread were not seen; instead, there was a playful look, as if looking at a toy.
"You're the leader of the Three-Clawed Serpent Interstellar Pirate Fleet, aren't you?" the man said calmly.
This opening left the Bearded Pirate Captain momentarily unresponsive, wondering if there was something wrong with how it was opened—why wasn't this guy scared at all?
"You know me?" the Bearded Pirate Captain said in surprise.
"I also know that you were hired by the Bao Family and the Cui Family to attack us," Zachary Chase said, resting his chin on his hand.
The Bearded Pirate Captain spread his hands and laughed, "Since the Baron knows, there's nothing more to say. We just take money to do business, so please, Baron, just go ahead and die obediently."
"Go die?" Zachary chuckled, "Sorry, it's not me who's going to die, but you."
"Us? Hahahaha, you worthless baron are truly joking—send us to our deaths?" the Bearded Pirate Captain looked at Zachary with disdain: "What right do you have to send us to our deaths? Just with this dilapidated, ill-fitting starship of yours? Don't even look at what's around you. Those are my starships! They are about to crush your starship, and you, this poor baron, will be buried in your own territory star system."
"I advise you to look around you first," Zachary said, narrowing his eyes, a slight smile on his lips.
Just then, the Bearded Pirate Captain's radar crew member exclaimed, "Bad news! A large number of energy signatures have appeared around us and are closing in!"
"Energy signatures? Could it be starships?" the Bearded Pirate Captain watched the hundreds of light dots on the starship radar swarming from all directions, targeting their Three-Clawed Serpent Interstellar Pirate Fleet.
"It doesn't seem to be starships—more like Interstellar Fighters or something similar," the radar crew member replied.
Interstellar Fighters?
The Bearded Pirate Captain was surprised. He activated the deep-space telescope, and soon he clearly saw what these dense light dots were.
An Interstellar Drone Swarm!
Hundreds of Interstellar Drones had already surrounded their Three-Clawed Serpent Interstellar Pirate Fleet.
In the ongoing video communication, Zachary gave no thought to whether the opposing pirate leader could hear what he was saying. He coldly issued the attack order.
"Attack. Eliminate all Interstellar Pirate starships. Don't leave a single one."
Subsequently, each Interstellar Drone began to lock onto its respective target.
The first to attack were the T2 Killer Bee-class Medium Interstellar Drones, numbering one hundred. They were equipped with laser autocannons; although their power could not compare to starship weapons, they could get close to enemy starships and find the most suitable position to attack. Most importantly, these were T2-class Interstellar Drones!
"Boss, bad news! My starship is under attack by a large number of Interstellar Drones! Damn it, these Interstellar Drones are too fast—my close-in weapons can't stop them!"
"Report! The T1 Vulture-class Medium Interstellar Frigate Bridge is under attack. The captain is dead on the spot, and the starship has lost its command system."
"Report! The T1 Scythe-class Medium Interstellar Destroyer is being besieged by enemy Interstellar Drones. Requesting support! Requesting support!"
On the Bearded Pirate Captain's Bridge, various bad news kept coming. The hundreds of Interstellar Drones were devouring their starships like a swarm of bees.
"Counterattack! Counterattack! Form a firepower net to intercept these Interstellar Drones!" the Bearded Pirate Captain gritted his teeth and gave the order.
Just then, a huge fireball appeared, and the shockwave even reached his flagship, and the booming sound of the hull armor vibrating could be heard.
"That's…" the Bearded Pirate Captain was dumbfounded.
"One of our T2 Blue Sparrow-class Medium Interstellar Cruisers is suspected to have been bombed by enemy Interstellar Drone bombers. The starship was directly destroyed!" the crew member reported.
The Bearded Pirate Captain looked at the somewhat out-of-control battle before him. He swallowed, suddenly not knowing what to do.
"Immediately split into two routes! One fleet continues to attack the Blizzard Zero, and the other highly mobile fleet goes to find their Aircraft Carrier Starship. Their Aircraft Carrier Starship must be hiding nearby. As long as that Aircraft Carrier Starship is destroyed, these Interstellar Drones will naturally no longer be a threat!" the Skinny Lieutenant offered the smartest suggestion at this moment.
The Bearded Pirate Captain reacted. He immediately ordered: "All Interstellar Destroyers stay here and continue to pursue the Blizzard Zero. The remaining Interstellar Cruisers and Interstellar Frigates, search for the enemy's Aircraft Carrier Starship at full speed!"
"Report! We have found the coordinates of the enemy's Aircraft Carrier Starship! The enemy's Interstellar Drones that finished attacking are all returning in this direction. That Aircraft Carrier Starship should be in this area!" the radar crew member pointed to a location on the star map.
The Interstellar Drones returning after finishing their attack had no intention of hiding their whereabouts. Under their starship radar scan, they quickly discovered an Aircraft Carrier Starship lurking behind a satellite.
The Bearded Pirate Captain seemed to see an enemy. He roared hysterically: "Charge! I'm going to smash that Aircraft Carrier Starship to pieces!"