Ubel left the premises of their docking area and was met with a crowd of people who were curious to see the people who landed. Then as if all hell broke loose, the people started yelling their trades at him.

“Hey! Do you have goods to sell? I will take it!”

“Our firm gives good nighttime services for you and your tired men.”

“You’re pirates, right? Do you have a vacancy? I want to join!”

“I have new stocks of warheads and shells! Perfect for taking out the personnel on ships!”

“Food! Do you need quality and cheap food for your next journey? I’ll take you to our company! We provide discounts for bulk orders!”

“Small arms have just arrived! Perfect for your self-defense!”

“We accept stolen goods and cargo for 80 percent of the market price!”

“Get our insurance! Lost ships and cargo will be answered by our company with just sig-”

Ubel had to walk slowly as he gently pushed away the different marketing attempts as he passed by. He smiled, remembering the day when he started back in the game when he would also do the same in the game, selling his service and skill as a smuggler before rising as one of the most powerful and influential shipping magnates on the galactic board.

He turned his gaze around as he enjoyed the new sights of a crowded civilization amidst the chaotic air of the cityscape. A familiar feeling that he could still refresh from his memories. Even if it was when he visited this place behind a monitor, the first encounters and the enjoyment he gained with his friends while staying on this station were still new and felt like it just happened yesterday.

It seemed that the only thing that changed in his absence of 10 years was the increased number of people who would always block their way from and to the docking bay. Other than that, it was still the same old outlaw station he always remembered. Along with the good fun moments with his friends who would play with him.

If only he could bring them here, they would probably be ecstatic like him. Meeting personally the Non-player characters that they could only interact with a mouse and keyboard was an inexplicable feeling. It's like he was meeting the famed and legendary characters in a story. He was taken back to his new reality when a rushing trader hit him, he realized that it was with no ill intent as the man was blinded by the crates he was carrying. He immediately received an apology as the man continued on his way.

He turned to look behind him and saw his companions who were following behind had better ways of handling the crowd as they just simply aimed their guns at the bustling people who gave them away. Especially when they were also escorting a large number of captured personnel which was their priority to be disposed in the market.

Ubel then inserted himself in the digital system of the station and asked for a digital copy of Banedog’s Backyard map. In seconds, he registered and was provided with a detailed 3D model of the station. It was truly still the same with newly added structures on top of each other. With some new names on the former establishments that he visited.

Then he searched for the nearest slave pens in the docking bay and asked to be led. The map accepted his request and in his eyes, an arrow popped up to direct him towards his target destination. He glanced at the map that was displayed on the lower right of his vision and saw that the slave pens were just a walking distance, but the massive crowds of people on the way would slow them down. Especially when the way to their destination was riddled with disorganized and open kitchens, makeshift tents of the homeless, dead or drunk groups of outlaws, trash heaps, and burning waste materials which forced them to make detours several times.

He also noticed the prying eyes on top of the buildings and the flying drones that he detected, flying above them while subtly following them wherever they went. He grinned as he was excited to see what kind of encounters he would get from this station.

“Same old things, old friend,” he muttered under his breath.

As he followed the directions, he ran across a dozen hoodlums who appeared as he turned in a corner. They were armed with metal pipes and something that Ubel could assume as homemade pipe rifles.

“Well, speak of the devil.” Ubel grinned.

“You have a problem kid? It seems you are quite lost. Did your momma leave you or something? Hahaha!” one of them mocked and laughed at his joke which also made Ubel laugh with them. Then right on cue, his companions arrived as they also turned to this alley.

They noticed that their commander was surrounded by hoodlums and immediately armed themselves. Showing that they would not hesitate to eliminate those who hindered them.

“Hey hey! Chill! Is this the son of your boss or something?” one of the hoodlums tried to freeze down the heating situation after he saw the armed followers of Ubel. “We’re just joking…what the hell.”

They quickly moved out of the way as they retreated to where they came from, disappearing in the alleys that led them to the lower levels.

“Nice timing. Anyways, let's continue.” Ubel grinned as he led the way again to their destination.

They arrived at an open space where it was near a large body of water where ships and barges were docked. It seemed that this station also had built-in bodies of water as Ubel couldn’t see the end of it as he scanned the horizon, finally appreciating the size of the station they were in.

The slave pens were as he expected. It had a very bad combination of the smell of blood, piss, shit, garbage, and rotting corpses. Fortunately, they brought masks to protect their nose from the disgusting smell. But those they are dragging with them can’t say the same, as the prisoners behind them who were not just forced to follow them into their dark fate but also restrained on both hands, couldn’t even cover their noses, and had to breathe through their mouth.

As Ubel entered the dimly lit establishment of the slavers, the air was thick with the scent of sweat, rotting meat, and desperation. On the cages, he saw men women, and even children in rags and chains. Mostly in malnourished states, you would think they are living skeletons already. But strangely enough, Ubel felt nothing. He stopped walking for a second as he felt the time slowed around him. He realized that he had changed, unknowingly and unconsciously. Then he remembered his former self, Kiryu. Would he still think the same if he saw these people?

Then he found his answer as Kiryu appeared in front of him and smiled, with a smoking cigarette on his lips.

Both have the same answer.

And at the same time, both said the same thing.

“Nah... It's all part of the great game. But we aren’t pawns, we are players.”

Then he felt someone waking him up back to reality.

“Commander.” Eris shook his shoulder and he found his way back. “Is something wrong?”

He shook his head.

“Nothing. ” He assured her with a smile, leading them again. He continued his way through the crowded road where other slavers and traders were passing by, exchanging credits for slaves and vice versa. He and his companions walked by, ignoring the pitiful pleas and painful moans of those chained and bound in cages lining the walls. Although they were inside the station and were at the furthest place from the Sun, it still felt hot as the artificial sunlight of the station brought down heat to their skin.

“If this was a light novel, I would probably be promoting the freedom of slaves or buying them all out,” Ubel smirked at such a notion. “Collecting little girls and creating a harem of waifus that were former slaves… a what-if scenario, maybe?”

“Commander?” Eris got confused as she heard him talking to himself again.

“Nothing, by the way, Eris… what do you think of them?” Ubel asked, gesturing upon the imprisoned slaves in the cages and chains. She turned and saw things woman and man, too weak to move, waiting for death or a master.

“Pitiful... but weak and useless. A waste of breathable air,” she muttered in disgust. “We pay our air and they don’t.”

“But what would you do if one of them were stronger than you, but they were just too weak to fight or display their great skills because they were never given something to nourish themselves?” Ubel asked again.

“Then they should blame their parents or a divine being for bringing them into this world without letting them know how to make them strong enough to avoid such fate,” Eris argued. “If I was in their situation, I would fight to the death. A quick death is much preferable than a life of suffering.”

She spat on the ground.

“What does that make you then? You’re bound to me. By the toxin that I injected upon all of you.” he tried to test her.

“Don’t misunderstand our choice, commander. Some of us may have been forced to kneel to your overwhelming might. But there are some of us also, who see only an advantage of working under you. And that is not being bound to you, it's a mutual contract between us.”

“I never made or signed any agreement between us though?”

“You did when you took the role from Munda. A deal where I would kill you if I think you’re not keeping your end of the bargain… even if I will die trying.” Eris said with hostile eyes. “And few of us think this way.”

He glanced behind them, obviously knowing that his companions had heard Eris’ statements. Then he received a confirmation with a shrug from each of them.

“Nice.” Ubel smiled and teased. “Finally, something to keep me up every night.”

“Sometimes I think that you’re either crazy or broken, commander.”Eris just scoffed at his attempt and silently pulled their prisoners behind her.

“What do you mean by that?”

“I don’t know aside from a hunch, but maybe I’ll tell you more about it as we get to know you more.” Eris then continued dragging their prisoners behind them.

They walked in the crowded street until they approached one of the slave pens that had just finished its trade with a client. The counter has a very fat and sloppy slaver, sitting on his floating chair, berating his henchmen to start whipping the new slaves they had. He had a bald head with obvious skin disease, either from working in this polluted and contaminated environment or from making contact with his diseased slaves. In any case, he was a potential buyer in Ubel’s eyes.

Ubel cleared his throat to announce his presence. The slaver turned to face him, his expression a mix of irritation and curiosity.

"What do you want?" he snapped, his tone harsh and commanding.

Ubel met his gaze with a calm demeanor, unfazed by the slaver's abrasive attitude.

"I have a proposition for you," he began, his voice steady and confident.

The slaver arched an eyebrow, intrigued despite himself.

"Go on," he replied, his interest piqued.

"I have a group of captives that I'm looking to sell," Ubel explained, gesturing to the group of people that were chained together, standing behind him and surrounded by his companions. "They were the crew of the three freighters that the group recently captured. Members of a trading fleet.”

The slaver's eyes widened in surprise, a hint of excitement flickering in his gaze.

"Experienced sailors, you say?" he mused, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "That could be quite valuable indeed for those who need a crew in the slave vessels."

Ubel nodded, his expression serious.

"Indeed. They have knowledge and skills that could prove useful to the right buyer."

The slavemaster’s floating chair went around the counter and flew in the circle of the slaves, sniffing and touching their skin and head. Ubel wondered how the slavemaster could even breathe normally in this awful atmosphere. Then after the master meticulously inspected each captive, he scanned their bodies for any signs of disease or cybernetic enhancements. In his eyes, Ubel’s claims were confirmed.

Ubel observed the proceedings with a mix of impatience and anticipation. He knew that the slavemaster's assessment would determine the value of his captives and ultimately the success of his transaction.

After what felt like an eternity, the slavemaster finally completed his inspection and turned to face Ubel with a calculating expression.

"I'll offer you 7 million credits for the lot," he declared, his tone brusque. His companions’ eyes went wide after hearing the offer. It was several times the price they were always offered by the passing traders that they used to deal with, who usually bought their plunder in bulk.

However, their new commander had other things in his mind to consider. Ubel's lips curled into a slight smirk as he shook his head.

"That won't do," he replied coolly. "I know the value of these captives. I won’t bend my price of 10 million credits."

The slavemaster's eyebrows shot up in surprise at Ubel's bold counteroffer.

"10 million?" he echoed, his voice tinged with disbelief. Shoving his hand as if to shake off, what he thought was a bluff from Ubel. "You must be joking. I worked for many years in this trade kid. I don’t know which system or planet you came from but my eyes know how to see the value of each slave."

Ubel's expression remained unchanged as he met the slavemaster's gaze with steely resolve.

"I assure you, I'm quite serious," he stated firmly. "These captives are worth every credit of that price."

“Humor me.” The obese slavemaster leaned, taunting Ubel.

“Each of them was enhanced with cybernetics and implants that assisted them in traversing the dark space. Their modular upgrades were also high quality and corporate grade… if you know what I meant.” Ubel grinned.

Modular and Corporate Grade. These two words were something that made the ears of the slavemaster twitch when he heard these.

“Which corp?” he leaned closer, asking.

“Stern-Ballast-Ergo marked,” Ubel replied in a whisper.