Several small starships streaked past, likely escorting the security force.


    From the operations room, Analise and Fiy watched the situation unfold. Before any conflict could break out on their end, two starships collided in the distance.


    The one behind had rammed straight into the one ahead.


    Analise noticed that both starships bore patterns resembling bird feathers.


    "Those belong to the Shadowhawk Alliance," Fiy said, his voice tinged with unease. "Their stance has been shaky for a while. They''re one of the few remaining neutral factions, along with the Ironhorn Alliance."


    "Isn''t that a good thing?" Analise asked, scanning the horizon. "Neutral parties don''t pick sides. Maybe they''re just passing through."


    From one of the starships, smaller vesselsunched as the massive ship itself descended, faint mes flickering along its hull. Meanwhile, the other ship, which was the culprit, hovered motionless in mid-air.


    "Well... They''re considered neutral because they attack indiscriminately," Fiy muttered, his eyebrow twitching.


    "Oh... That''s a problem, isn''t it?" Analise''s expression grew serious.


    Just then, an unknown star traveler attempted to initiate an interster call to her.


    Without hesitation, Analise declined the call.


    "Someone''s calling you? Why didn''t you answer?" Fiy asked, ncing at her while keeping an eye on the scene outside.


    "It''s an unknown user. I don''t want to answer," she said simply.


    The starship shook slightly, and Analise and Fiy tensed up, looking outside.


    It turned out the bird-feather starship had rammed another starship.


    They were really reckless, and it seemed that starships could take quite a hit.


    It had already rammed two others, yet it remained unscathed, while the other two


    were burning, with many small shipsunching from them.


    A notification sounded.


    Another interster call from an unknown user.


    Analise nced at it and realized it seemed to be the same one as before.


    After a moment''s hesitation, she answered.


    "Looks like we meet again, little female."


    Gideon''s face appeared on Analise''s screen.


    "How about that interster bumper car? They were nothingpared to mine."


    His demeanor seemed different from when they met face-to-face.


    At the Ironhorn Alliance Lordship Estate, his clothes were wrinkled as if he''d been wearing them for days. His hair was long and messy.


    If it weren''t for his face, Analise would never have tolerated Gideon hugging her back at the Lordship Estate. But now, he was preening like a peacock, deliberately showing off his outfit.


    "So, little female, what do you think? Not bad, fight? This ancient-style robe from the human era was custom-made." Gideon stepped back a few paces, giving Analise a full view.


    She had to admit, it was impressive. Even his shoes looked like something straight out of a period drama.


    So, the interster world had cosyers too?


    "Not bad. It looks good," Analise acknowledged. The outfit was undeniably striking.


    It seemed Gideon had even done something to his hair. His usually messy, long locks were now


    tied back, with a few braids woven in and draped over his shoulders.


    "I knew you''d like it." Gideon beamed, looking momentarily like an excited child. "Why did you attack those guys? Aren''t they part of your alliance?" Analise asked. Gideon shrugged. "Even dogs bite their owners sometimes. They need a lesson, or they''ll forget who they belong to."


    Analise was speechless.


    So, there was some internal conflict.


    "Have you seen all the starstones?" Gideon asked with a smile, breaking the awkward silence.


    "No," Analise shook her head. "But I heard a recording."


    "Got it."


    Gideon leaned in closer, filling the screen with only his upper body.


    It made it easier for Analise to take in his sharp features.


    "Things are urgent right now, so I''ll skip the small talk. We can chatter. For now,


    we need to catch Sawyer and Sean together."


    His expression darkened. "We have to capture Sean today."


    Analise frowned.


    "Why? I thought the Shadowhawk Alliance was neutral. Why are you getting involved with someone working with the Reimers?"


    "Because of you." Gideon lowered his gaze and took out a spatial storage device from his pocket. "This pocket drive was specially made for Sean."