Chapter 100: The Conversation

Should he let these Iktans stay?

Lei Yaotian thought about it carefully in his heart, unable to make a decision immediately.

Their wealth had drawn the envy of many creatures. That finally caused the massacre against the Iktans. If he kept them, would others think he had gotten their riches?

But on second thought, he was developing quietly on this planet. Probably, other creatures wouldn’t find out so quickly.

These Iktans had only entered the Barren Star Domain because they were desperate. Plus, they’d been lucky enough to find this planet. Otherwise, he himself wouldn’t even know when he might meet these cosmic beings.

So, agreeing to let the Iktans stay wouldn’t be such a big deal.

Still, taking in people for nothing felt like a bad deal.

He did feel sympathy for them, but that was all. They weren’t his kind after all. And he wasn’t some noble Saint—their situation wasn’t something they could use to win his kindness.

After thinking it over, Lei Yaotian watched the trembling Elder Mensa with an amused look. “So, you’re asking for a favor? You want me to say yes and let you stay?”

“Please have mercy on us,” Elder Mensa knelt down.

As he knelt, other Iktans began kneeling too.

“That’s a tough one. If I take you in, others might assume I got something from you. Then the creatures who want you dead might come for me.”

Lei Yaotian sounded troubled.

Mensa and the others knew he was telling the truth.

But to Lei Yaotian, this was nonsense. He wasn’t even from their universe; why worry about those creatures? He was just making this point to show how hard it would be to shelter them. There were no free favors. Simply talking a few words wasn’t enough.

“Things couldn’t be that easy,” Lei Yaotian thought to himself.

Honestly, these Iktans were unlucky. This planet was ownerless. If they’d arrived earlier, they might’ve become its native inhabitants.

When Lei Yaotian came, if they were indeed natives, he might have let them live.

But now? Lei Yaotian had come here first. He’d already started developing the planet. So compared to these Iktans, he had become its master.

In the Great Cosmic Era, every species followed a law: if you find a habitable planet, you claim ownership. You become its rightful sovereign.

The condition was that you needed a powerful homeland or faction backing you up, ensuring your claim.

But now, these Iktans could only beg for Lei Yaotian’s mercy.

Plus, Lei Yaotian had vastly larger forces on this planet.

No matter how you looked at it, these Iktans had no leverage. Even if they had more numbers, they wouldn’t stand a chance. They were cowards by nature.

“Young Master, please be kind and let us stay. This is the Barren Star Domain. Most creatures avoid it. There’s no precious minerals or energy sources here—it’s not worth their time. If we hadn’t been desperate, we wouldn’t have come,” Elder Mensa pleaded bitterly.

But his son Menlo caught the meaning in Lei Yaotian’s words: what benefit would helping the Iktans bring?

Sigh… another one eyeing our fortune. But the whole tribe barely has any star coins left, Menlo thought. They’d fled in such haste; no one carried Interstellar Alliance Bank Cards.

Without anything to offer this ‘human,’ they’d never survive here. They had to find a way to move him, to secure his permission.

But Menlo also worried. What if Lei Yaotian was like the rest? What if after getting what he wanted, he turned around and killed them?

During their escape, many clansmen had fallen for such lies… and died horrible deaths.

Menlo already felt numb.

Other Iktans near him shared the same fear.

Seeing their mixture of fear and fading hope, Lei Yaotian continued. “Give me a single reason. One reason to let you stay. I can’t just take you in for nothing, risking conflict with others. Think about it—would you do it?”

The Iktans went silent. They couldn’t argue with that.

Noticing their silence, Lei Yaotian curled his lip slightly. “Actually, you needn’t worry. I don’t dislike your people. I’m not like other beings in this universe. I could care less who you are. Just give me one reason that moves me, and I’d keep you. Whatever others think means nothing.”

The Iktans remained silent, unmoved by his words.

Lei Yaotian didn’t mind. He pointed at Mensa. “Bring him over. I’ll speak with their leader instead.” Then he turned to leave.

Two Artificial Human Soldiers stepped forward, lifting the small-statured Elder Mensa to follow Lei Yaotian inside the camp. As they left, Menlo called anxiously to his father. But under the watchful eyes and aimed guns of the surrounding soldiers, he dared not move much.

Elder Mensa twisted back to shake his head at his son. His message was clear: do nothing foolish.

Eyes damp with tears, Menlo watched his father’s form grow distant.

……

“I enjoy looking at this lake,” Lei Yaotian sat smiling inside an Arabian-style tent by the lake. Elder Mensa was brought before him. “The water is clear, the scenery around it lovely. Every time I come, it soothes my spirit.”

“The view is beautiful. But Young Master, you didn’t bring me here just to admire nature,” Elder Mensa prompted.

“Hahaha!” Lei Yaotian laughed, then wiped the grin off his face. He locked eyes with the elder. “Alright. Straight to business. This planet is mine. You can stay—but what do you bring me?”

“Don’t answer yet. Know this: keeping you carries risks. Empty promises won’t work.” Lei Yaotian planned to shake something useful out of them.

Elder Mensa gave a bitter smile. He bowed toward Lei Yaotian before speaking. “Our Ikto Race branch…We lost our home. Our people. Our possessions. Other creatures took everything. We fled with nothing valuable. Nothing that would tempt your eyes.”

He hid nothing. Honesty was his last option.

“Honestly? I wouldn’t mind if others found you. I’m different from beings in this universe. I’m from… a distant place.” Lei Yaotian gestured skyward.

His words sent his little visitor down a wrong path.

Mensa’s head snapped up, his bright eyes flashing at Lei Yaotian. What does this human mean? Did he come from the Barren Star Domain’s far end? A place no one’s reached? The elder misunderstood him completely.

What Lei Yaotian actually meant was obvious: I’m not from this world, bro. I don’t share your values. Sheltering you? Easy. No baggage.

Because he chose vague phrasing, Elder Mensa leaped to a strange conclusion.

“I can barely believe it! Young Master, did you break through the energy storms to arrive here from the Barren Star Domain’s farthest edge?” Elder Mensa said with sincere amazement.

Hordes of creatures and warships had tried to explore there. They either failed or died, blocked by immense space tempests. Gradually, everyone lost interest in that uncharted sector. Besides, its barren void held no resources, minerals, or energy sources.

“The edge of what?” Lei Yaotian was stunned for a moment. Instantly recovering, he went along: “Indeed! I came from beyond that domain’s boundary. Though I can’t return now.”

Mensa nodded slowly. “However you crossed those colossal storms… you’re like us. Adrift without a home.”

Lei Yaotian had no wish to share sadness with this old being. He addressed Mensa directly: “Therefore, I will shelter you. Provide all you need to survive. But one condition: you join my forces. Become my—.”

His meaning was unmistakable. These Iktans would serve him.