Chapter Twenty-Eight: The Pursuit! (A Special Bonus for Legend of the Starry Sky!)

“Listen to me, you can’t catch up! The prison is equipped with specialized ships for transporting prisoners. Your little ship will be destroyed the moment you touch it!” Hao Yun explained, headache creeping in. Did this little girl really not understand the vast difference between ships used for missions within a planet and those designed to navigate the vastness of space?

“I won’t give up! I can catch them!” Kaliya stubbornly declared, her eyes slightly reddened.

“What exactly happened? Kaliya, do you really insist on going after them yourself?” Kaliya turned her head away, avoiding Hao Yun’s gaze. This was the first time since she donned her police uniform that she had looked away from him.

“Let me go...” she pleaded softly.

“If you don’t tell me, I won’t let you go to your death!” Hao Yun’s tone was unusually firm. Kaliya was kind-hearted; he couldn’t bear to let her walk into danger alone.

“More than thirty officers have died...” Kaliya sobbed, “If it weren’t for me, if I hadn’t captured them and put them in prison, they wouldn’t have died... It’s all my fault... sob...”

Tears streamed down her cheeks—this was the first time Hao Yun had ever seen her cry. Even in his past life, not once did he see a girlfriend shed tears during an argument. Now he realized just how heavy a girl’s tears could be—so heavy that your heart might falter with the weight of each drop.

“It’s not your fault. You only did what you were supposed to do.” He stepped forward gently, pulling Kaliya into his embrace and wiping away her tears. “Everyone has their own duty. Yours is to catch criminals; the prison guards’ duty is to watch over the prison. You can’t blame yourself for their deaths.”

“But if it weren’t for me, they wouldn’t have died... Maybe if only I had warned them more... It’s all my fault...” Kaliya clung tightly to Hao Yun, her warm tears falling upon his heart.

Hao Yun didn’t know how to comfort this kind-hearted girl. Perhaps, according to the original plan, Kaliya wouldn’t have even been involved in capturing the Guardians of the Galaxy. If he hadn’t shown up...

“I’ll go with you.”

“What did you say?” Kaliya lifted her dirty little face, looking at him in confusion.

Hao Yun grabbed a tissue from the coffee table and wiped her face. “I said, I’ll go with you to catch the criminals! Criminals should stay in prison and face the law, shouldn’t they?”

“But it’s dangerous...”

“I’m your partner. You promised to watch my back, remember? Let’s go. I’ll change clothes and we’ll leave right away.” Hao Yun smiled, picking up the police uniform hanging over the sofa’s backrest. Kaliya’s face flushed slightly as she watched his capable movements.

“Let’s go. It’s time to catch the criminals!” Dressed and ready, Hao Yun opened the door, took Kaliya’s small hand, and strode toward the ship. At this moment, he had completely forgotten that the Guardians of the Galaxy were destined to become heroes. All he knew was that criminals must face justice—that was the duty of a hero.

....................

Once aboard the ship, Hao Yun took the co-pilot’s seat. As Kaliya started the engines, he suddenly asked, “Do you know where to catch them?”

“No...” Kaliya replied pitifully, glancing at him. Hao Yun instinctively covered his face. He was just a native of this planet; she was really asking him that?

“What was your original plan then?” he asked curiously.

Kaliya lowered her head, unwilling to meet his gaze. “I just wanted to fly near the prison and see if I could catch anyone...”

“That’s basically a death wish. Can’t you think a bit more?” Seeing her timid expression, Hao Yun couldn’t help but tap her on the head. “Ever heard of the Void Zone? Go there!”

“Ah? How do you know? The Void Zone is dangerous—it’s the Collector’s territory...”

“Don’t ask, just fly. Let’s go!” Hao Yun waved off her questions impatiently. Kaliya pouted but dared not argue. She started the ship, set the course, and took off.

On Sandar, a streak of fire tore through the sky, heading straight for the Void Zone.

....................

Inside the Collector’s vault in the Void Zone, the Collector greeted Star-Lord and his companions with an ancient cosmic salute: “It is a pleasure to see you.”

“My dear Gamora, it is truly an honor to meet you in person.” The Collector smiled warmly at Gamora and gave a ceremonial kiss. At this stage, she was the only one worthy of such respect and a formal greeting.

“Let’s skip the formalities, Tivan,” Gamora said flatly, taking back her hand. “We have what you want.”

“Is that so? And what might that be?” The Collector began conversing with Star-Lord’s group, while Hao Yun, guided by the ship’s autopilot, arrived with Kaliya at the Void Zone.

“Ugh, it stinks!” The moment they stepped off the ship, Kaliya covered her nose and mouth. Though born on Sandar, this was her first time in such a chaotic place.

“Smelly? Good.” Hao Yun handed her a gas mask. “This is the Void Zone, the Collector’s domain and a breeding ground for sin.”

While explaining, Hao Yun glared fiercely at the crowd gathering around them.

“Everyone here carries original sin—no innocents. But it’s the perfect place to fence stolen goods and trade illegal items.”

Kaliya refrained from asking why no one cleaned this place up. She understood: the universe was vast beyond measure.

“How do you know Star-Lord and the others will come here?”

“Don’t forget why they fought on Sandar in the first place.” Hao Yun exerted a slight force, pushing the crowd aside—also showing his strength.

“To steal items?” Kaliya blinked and answered instinctively.

“Exactly. Since they all escaped prison together, it means they’ve reached an agreement. And this is the best place to sell stolen goods at high prices.”

Hao Yun strode straight toward the Collector’s location, sensing a powerful energy fluctuation. Only a Power Stone could create such a surge in the Void Zone at this moment.

“Whizz! Whizz! Whizz!”

“Boom! Boom! Boom!”

Just as Hao Yun reached the Collector’s door, debating whether to storm in or wait for them to come out, countless energy spheres suddenly blasted through the door and walls!

Hao Yun grabbed Kaliya’s hand and turned to flee. If he remembered correctly, this was an accident caused by the Collector’s maid forcibly trying to control the Power Stone. Next, a ship piloted by Nebula would launch an ambush, and a fierce battle would erupt in the Void Zone!

With Ronan and his fleet hot on their heels, they were already too late!