Starsea Fleet: Age of the Lord

Feng Mo opened the two lead-lined boxes, retrieving the half-eaten T4 interstellar seed. He then opened the crystal container, dropped the seed inside, and subtly slipped in a control chip before sealing the container again.

The worm's eyes brightened instantly upon seeing the seed, its previously lethargic demeanor vanishing. Its eyes shone like tiny light bulbs as it hurriedly slithered over, biting down on the seed with a satisfying crunch.

Despite its small size, the worm's bite was incredibly powerful. Feng Mo could clearly see the bite marks piercing the seed's tough outer shell as the worm burrowed into it, happily absorbing the energy inside.

Feng Mo wasn't particularly worried, though, as he observed the T5 control chip gradually liquefying, adhering to the worm's body before seeping through its skin and disappearing within. Soon after, Feng Mo could sense the worm's every movement and thought.

This was the power of the control chip, a two-part design with Feng Mo holding the "parent chip" while the "child chip" now resided in the worm's body. The chip would gradually influence the enslaved creature's thoughts over time.

Upon realizing it had been subdued, the interstellar worm halted its gnawing and looked around within the crystal container. Feng Mo opened the lid, reaching in just as Ai Er warned him, "My lord, be careful. This little creature's bite can tear through metal."

Feng Mo waved her off, extending his hand into the container and lifting the worm.

The worm curled up in his palm, gazing curiously at him with its bulb-like eyes while emitting a faint humming noise. Despite its rather hideous appearance, it felt surprisingly soft to the touch.

Though it was still in its juvenile phase, this interstellar worm had the potential to grow into a truly fearsome creature. The Federation had encountered an adult of its kind before, a massive beast as large as a life-supporting planet—clearly, a T6-level being at minimum.

The tiny creature Feng Mo now held was only around T1, perhaps even weaker. It still had plenty of growing to do, and its favorite food was energy. Luckily, Feng Mo had just made a considerable profit and could afford to feed this little glutton.

Someday, he mused, it might grow large enough to carry a floating island where he could build a palace. However, he set that idea aside for now; raising such a creature and the floating island required vast amounts of resources and could wait until he had at least two T5 fleets.

"Ai Er, what type of T5 interstellar seed did we find this time?" Feng Mo asked.

"My lord, scans and comparisons with the Federation database reveal it's a single-use radioactive explosive. This type of seed can be crafted into a missile with a potency surpassing even clustered planet-destroyer cannons. It's the same type of weapon that severely injured the Hua family's gene line."

"Due to the immense danger of these seeds, the Federation has encouraged anyone who finds one to turn it in for a reward. They've designated them with the code 'X'—this one is recorded as X003."

Feng Mo nodded, putting aside any thoughts of opening the lead-lined box. This was not something to use lightly, given the risk of collateral damage. He'd save it for a powerful adversary, should the need arise.

With the white hole's treasures cataloged, Feng Mo left the storage room with Ai Er, the interstellar worm wrapped around his wrist like a bracelet. As long as it was well-fed, the creature remained docile and rarely moved. Like all of its kind, it preferred lazing around, perfectly content to be doted upon.

---

The Next Morning

After a quiet breakfast served by Ai Er, Feng Mo donned his noble attire, closed his eyes, and entered the virtual Star Network. Today, he was headed to the Federation's Council Building.

This massive structure, the Federation's headquarters in the Star Network, was closed to the public. Feng Mo waited outside in silence until a feline woman in high heels approached, bowing politely.

"My apologies for the delay, Duke. Your request to establish a kingdom initially met some resistance, but with the strong support of Senators Nori and Gu Jun, it was ultimately approved."

Feng Mo nodded, recognizing her tact in revealing some background. The Federation Council elected new senators every five years, with a membership of around a thousand.

These senators came from various sectors: military leaders such as T5 fleet commanders, political figures like the head of the Federation's Starship Technology Department, and leaders of the major noble houses, like the Huiyao Chu family, the Tianqi Yue family, and the Tianqi Qiao family.

The cat-girl's remark about initial opposition indicated that some in the council were against him. However, thanks to Senator Nori and Gu Jun's advocacy, his request was approved. He didn't need to question Gu Jun's support—his "Uncle Gu" had been an unwavering ally, helping him openly and behind the scenes countless times.

But who was Nori? It took Feng Mo a moment to recall that Senator Nori was the current head of the Yunshan Empire. However, it puzzled him that Nori would back him, as he and Gu Jun weren't from the same faction.

Feng Mo shrugged off the thought as he followed the cat-girl into the Federation Council Building.

As he entered, the memory clicked into place—Senator Nori was indeed the president of the Yunshan Empire. Yet Nori's support seemed out of character. He wasn't in Gu Jun's faction, which added a layer of intrigue to the situation. But Feng Mo's youthful experience, even factoring in his previous life, left him lacking the seasoned insights to untangle such political webs.

Now, standing in the Federation Council Chamber—the pinnacle of the Federation's power—Feng Mo surveyed the room with the watchful eyes of a tiger. Many seats were unoccupied, roughly a third of them, indicating those senators had abstained from the vote.

After completing the Orca's construction, Feng Mo had officially submitted his request to the Federation to establish a kingdom. His proposed territory included the Hurricane and Storm Systems, while he kept the Celestial Crystal and Beast Roar Systems away from Federation scrutiny. With the Federation engaged in three-front wars, they had no resources to focus on the chaotic starscape, which allowed Feng Mo to exploit this opportunity.

In the Federation's eyes, his claimed star systems were still part of their domain, and as part of his agreement, he would owe the Yunshan Empire a 5% annual tax. How much the Yunshan Empire then paid to the Federation was a mystery to him.

The 5% tax was essentially a "protection fee," ensuring his kingdom would remain under the Federation's umbrella. So long as he paid it, the Federation wouldn't attack any recognized kingdom. If he refused, however, he'

d find himself facing countless obstacles from the Federation.

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