Former Interstellar Mercenary In Urban Cultivation World-Chapter 1267: Nebula Bar Intrigue

Amalia had Soham provide the exact location of the meeting.

Then she instructed him and Duan Yao to guard the Neon Azure Syndicate’s headquarters while she and Rafael headed to the designated site.

About half an hour later, they arrived at the address Soham had given them.

Amalia glanced up at the large signboard displaying four words: Nebula Bar.

It was a bustling establishment, and despite it still being daytime, there were already plenty of people partying inside.

As they stepped through the entrance tunnel, the distant sound of lively chatter and music greeted them.

Beyond the tunnel was an expansive space: a massive dance floor, scattered seating booths, and a well-stocked bar counter.

Despite the early hour, the bar was packed with revelers.

Amalia’s beautiful appearance immediately caught the attention of several men.

A few of them started making their way toward her, only to be blocked by Rafael.

Some of them shot him irritated glares but still threw lewd glances at Amalia.

Amalia didn’t notice.

Her gaze was locked on a secluded booth on the second floor, shielded behind a glass partition.

A staircase led up to it, but no one dared approach—armed guards in black surrounded the area, ensuring that no one got too close.

"Let’s go check it out."

Amalia walked toward the bar near the staircase.

As soon as she sat down, a bartender approached with a welcoming smile.

"What can I get you, beauty? At Nebula Bar, we have every kind of liquor you can imagine. One sip, and I guarantee you’ll be back for more." The bartender even threw in a playful wink.

Amalia remained expressionless but felt a sense of relief.

She was glad she hadn’t brought the Drama King along today.

If that person had been here, he would have made a scene on the spot.

"Give me the strongest drink you’ve got."

The bartender immediately gave her a thumbs-up. "Bold choice! Is this your first time at Nebula Bar?"

"Is it that obvious?" Amalia narrowed her eyes slightly.

"Regulars rarely order the strongest drink right away, especially if they plan to party all night. And with looks like yours, I’d definitely remember if I had seen you before." The bartender then turned to Rafael and, with a grin, added, "And this big guy here—those muscles are impressive. I like this type."

"I only like fragrant, beautiful women. I’m not interested in you." Rafael rolled his eyes internally.

"What a pity." The bartender cast an appreciative glance at Rafael’s arms and waist before reluctantly looking away.

Not long after, the drink Amalia ordered was served.

"Nebula Blaze—our bar’s strongest cocktail. So far, fewer than ten people have managed to stay standing after drinking a full glass. If you can finish it in one gulp and not get drunk, your drinks are on the house for the night."

Amalia sniffed the drink.

It had a rich, aromatic scent, but she couldn’t immediately detect just how strong it was.

There was definitely something else mixed in.

She subtly glanced toward the staircase—three factions had just arrived.

"I’ll give it a try."

With that, Amalia downed the entire 500-milliliter glass of Nebula Blaze in one go.

As soon as the liquid entered her body, it instantly evaporated.

Amalia’s expression barely changed, but her gaze flickered toward the bartender, who was smiling brightly. "You spiked this drink."

Rafael’s eyes turned sharp, and his aura was about to erupt—but Amalia suppressed it in an instant.

The difference in their cultivation levels was so vast that the bartender didn’t even notice what had just happened.

"Just a little something extra to spice up the experience. You two must be cultivators, right? What brings you to Nebula Bar?" The bartender’s smile remained unchanged.

"I heard about the place and came for a drink, that’s all."

Amalia truly was here for a drink.

Whatever the Holy Gate of the Heaven and the Earth’s intentions were, she had no plans to make a move just yet.

"Oh? I thought you were here for them." The bartender glanced at the leaders of another arriving faction.

"I don’t care whether they live or die." Amalia tapped the counter, signaling for another drink.

Seeing that Amalia showed no reaction after finishing the first glass, the bartender finally realized that Nebula Blaze was ineffective against her.

He mixed another drink and served it.

Half an hour later, the leaders of all three factions had finally arrived.

Unbeknownst to anyone, Amalia’s divine sense had already spread throughout the entire bar.

She didn’t need to go upstairs—she could see everything happening above from where she sat.

As the undercurrents surged in the Underground City, three metallic-looking spacecraft finally appeared above Planet Omicron.

These three ships were much smaller than cosmic battleships, but they were still not to be underestimated.

They were equipped with the aliens’ most advanced technology, and just one of these small ships could wipe out an entire planet.

This was no exaggeration.

When the aliens invaded the Andromeda Universe, they deployed many such ships in every star system.

With these ships, the aliens destroyed one planet after another, leaving countless humans displaced.

Although some were fortunate enough to survive, they had already lost their homes.

The three spacecraft landed at the port, and rows of alien troops disembarked.

They came in various strange forms, with thousands of soldiers representing multiple species.

Near the port, layers upon layers of Crimson Moon Dynasty troops had sealed off the area, forming an impenetrable iron fortress.

Even if the aliens suddenly launched an attack, they wouldn’t be able to break through the defenses immediately.

Among them were not only the Solaryx but also the Umbrathari and the Scaldriths.

The Umbrathari had a humanoid appearance similar to humans, with slender limbs.

However, their skin was entirely violet, and they possessed wings of varying lengths, covered in more than 80% violet feathers.

Unlike the Solaryx, who only retained a golden horn on their forehead when taking human form, the Umbrathari retained their violet skin, although their wings disappeared.

The Scaldriths appeared even more human-like, with the main distinction being their fiery red hair—just like the flames they could breathe.

The moment these three alien royal families appeared, the atmosphere at the port grew tense, brimming with restless energy.

The Crimson Moon Dynasty Royal Family did not dared not relax in the slightest.

Planet Omicron was their stronghold—if a battle erupted, the potential losses could be severe.

However, not everything was necessarily bad.

Every situation had its opposite side.

Because Planet Omicron was their territory, the aliens had to consider the risk of being trapped if they made a move.

If anything truly happened, Planet Omicron’s powerful military strength would allow them to suppress the situation immediately.

Both sides had their own plans.

The envoy sent by the Crimson Moon Dynasty Royal Family wasted no time on pleasantries upon meeting the representatives of the three alien royal families.

They directly escorted them to their accommodations.

Once inside their vehicles, the aliens’ transport was completely surrounded by the Crimson Moon Dynasty Royal Family’s convoy as they proceeded forward.

"What do you think?" Sol’Rae slowly closed his golden eyes, his posture straight and regal, exuding an aura of untouchable nobility.

His fingers tapped casually against the armrest of his seat.

In the corner of his vehicle sat an elderly man—frail and thin.

If not for the golden horn atop his head, no one would have guessed he was also a Solaryx.

Hearing the prince’s question, the elder’s parched lips parted, releasing a hoarse voice. "Your Highness, the people around that envoy are all powerful. The strongest among them is the man on his right."

"I remember that man. He seems to be one of the Elders of the Pleiadian Ascendancy. His strength is formidable. There are several Elders of the Pleiadian Ascendancy, and many of our people have fallen at their hands," Hassan remarked.

For the past six months, they had never ceased investigating the Pleiadian Ascendancy.

Most of the key figures had already been identified.

"The Crimson Moon Dynasty is being exceedingly cautious, they’re afraid that we might act," Heliox scoffed arrogantly.

The more cautious the Crimson Moon Dynasty was, the more it proved they feared them—as they should.

If not for a critical mistake in the middle of their plan, they would have already conquered the Andromeda Universe. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓

Yet, after two whole years, they still hadn’t taken control.

Now, they were forced to negotiate with these lowly humans—a disgrace to higher-dimensional beings.

"Your Highness, are we really going to sign a ceasefire agreement with these low-dimensional creatures?" Heliox asked, unwilling to accept such an outcome.

Sol’Rae did not respond.

"A ceasefire is impossible. This is merely a temporary delay. Sooner or later, we will completely conquer this universe," Hassan declared with absolute confidence.

As they spoke, the convoy speeding through the air finally arrived at its destination.

At the same time, Sharif led the others to knock on Kenny Lin’s door.

A voice from inside granted them permission to enter.

When they stepped in, they saw Kenny Lin standing by the window—but Amalia was nowhere in sight.

Sharif did not ask about her.

Instead, he walked up to the window, where Kenny Lin was gazing at the scenery outside.

In the slanted left section of his view, a cluster of black and white dots was slowly approaching.

After a while, they could see clearly—it was a convoy of over a hundred vehicles.

After making a turn, they disappeared into another building just across from the embassy, less than a thousand meters away.

The estate’s buildings weren’t as tall as the embassy, but it was still an opulent structure—an official residence the Crimson Moon Dynasty used for foreign guests.

The sheer number of surveillance devices and heavy weaponry surrounding it signified how much importance they placed on this place—or rather, on the people about to reside there.

"The Crimson Moon Dynasty arranged for the alien royal family to stay close to the embassy. They must want us to keep each other in check," Sharif said, having received the information earlier.

Realizing that the estate near them was heavily guarded, he immediately understood the Crimson Moon Dynasty’s intent.

"If I were them, I would do the same," Rafiq said. "If we had mechas to make the alien royals fight us first, it would be a win-win situation for the empire."

This kind of political maneuver was standard across all star systems.

There was nothing surprising about it—except for the fact that these arrogant aliens might take the initiative to provoke them.

Kenny Lin spread his divine sense outward, swiftly scanning the alien estate.

In the vast plaza before the mansion’s gates, the hundred-plus vehicles soon landed.

One by one, aliens stepped out, their imposing presence forming a direct standoff against the Crimson Moon Dynasty’s soldiers.

Neither side was willing to back down first, and this tension remained until the Pleiades Star System envoy watched the aliens enter the building.

"These alien royals are indeed arrogant. Less than a hundred of them, yet on our territory, they make no effort to conceal their superiority. They’re openly provoking us," the envoy said, his expression darkening.

"The alien royals are naturally proud. If they suddenly showed humility and backed down, that would be suspicious. We wouldn’t be able to rest easy. Regardless of their true motives, this is preferable," Harchand Yuvan said before turning to the Seventh Elder.

Everyone followed suit, awaiting his next command.

"Have your men closely monitor this area."

"Seventh Elder, if these aliens attempt to leave, do we stop them or not?" the envoy asked.

"No need to stop them, but certain rules must be made clear to them in advance. Even if they are royalty, they must follow human laws while on Planet Omicron," the Seventh Elder said before calling out Harchand’s name. "During the time these alien royals stay on Planet Omicron, you must stay vigilant day and night. If they show any unusual behavior, report it immediately."

"Understood, Seventh Elder." Harchand nodded slightly.

"Hmm." The Seventh Elder acknowledged with a sound and was about to leave when Harchand suddenly remembered something.

"Seventh Elder, if these alien royals come into conflict with representatives of the Eight Star Systems, how should we handle it?"

The Seventh Elder paused slightly. "Handle it as you see fit."

Inside the grand estate, the three alien royals were led to their respective accommodations.

Before long, two young alien royals arrived at Sol’Rae’s residence, where the three of them gathered.

"These humans are still as fearful of us as ever," sneered Ignis’Kai, the prince of the Scaldriths.

As soon as he stepped inside, he let his tail materialize and casually dropped it onto the floor.

"If you’ve taken human form, don’t revert to your original state so carelessly," Var’Thal the prince of Umbrathari frowned.

"Sol’Rae hasn’t said anything about it." Despite his words, Ignis’Kai retracted his tail and letting it turn back into legs. Lazily, he added, "By the way, do these low-dimensional beings really think they can keep us confined in this estate? Where would they get the audacity to imprison us?"

Outside, only a small portion of the human military had withdrawn.

The majority remained, surrounding the estate like an iron fortress.

Several of them had strong energy signatures—clear signs that they had been left behind to guard them.

"They wouldn’t dare," Var’Thal said with certainty.

"Of course, they wouldn’t. But I doubt you came here just to discuss this, did you?" Sol’Rae accepted the goblet handed to him by his personal attendant.

The cup contained a green liquid with a faint waxy scent—it was the blood of a rare insect-beast.

Ordinary aliens couldn’t afford such a drink.

The blood of this insect-beast could enhance their strength, making them increasingly powerful over time.

Only the royal family could consume it daily as if it were mere wine.

The two princes exchanged glances. "Tomorrow is the negotiation with the humans. What do you think? Are we really going to agree to their demands?"

"That depends on what demands they make."

Seeing that they couldn’t get much out of Sol’Rae, they changed the subject.

Ignis’Kai said, "I heard that just a thousand meters from here is an embassy where representatives of the Eight Star Systems are staying."

"The human who stole the Aelra Umbrathari-1 Battleship is supposedly there too," Var’Thal added.

He had once considered recruiting Aelra but hadn’t expected him to die so quickly, losing both his life and his battleship.

Noting their murderous intent, Sol’Rae said coldly, "That matter is not ours to deal with for now. I suggest you both save your energy."

"True enough," Var’Thal chuckled.

Ignis’Kai remained silent, though his mind was already calculating.

Aelra’s family was a noble lineage of considerable strength.

Recruiting Aelra would have meant gaining the support of his family.

However, now that Aelra was dead, his Umbrathari-1 Battleship was an unclaimed prize, no longer belonging to his family.

If they could seize the battleship, their strength would rise significantly, giving them a major advantage in this competition.

Sol’Rae didn’t need to guess what they were thinking.

A scornful smile flickered across his lips.

The fleet they had sent to the Erythar System was not nearly as powerful as those deployed in other universes.

But still, how could such a backward system possibly have taken down two of their battleship?

Sol’Rae didn’t believe for a second that the Erythar Star System had no hidden trump cards.

He wanted the Umbrathari-1 Battleship too, so why not let them test the waters for him first?

Ignis’Kai and Var’Thal didn’t linger for long before making excuses to leave.

Once they returned to their respective estates, they immediately began conspiring with their trusted aides on how to reclaim the battleship from the Erythar Star System.

Meanwhile, in the embassy, at the top-floor window—

Kenny Lin suddenly let out a soft chuckle.

Sharif and Rafiq instinctively turned to look at him.

They hadn’t said anything particularly amusing just now, had they?

"Don’t leave the embassy until after the negotiation tomorrow."

As they were still puzzling over his words, Kenny Lin spoke again.

"The aliens want to cause trouble for us?" Sharif immediately made the connection.

After all, Aelra’s Umbrathari-1 Battleship was in their hands, and the aliens were bound to be furious.

As long as the battleship remained with them, it would be a constant reminder of their humiliating defeat at the hands of humans—they had lost both soldiers and ships.

Moreover, a single battleship possessed enough firepower to dominate half a star system.

How could the aliens not covet it?

"If you go out looking for trouble yourselves, don’t expect Amalia to save you. I’m not as kind as she is, especially when it comes to people who bring problems upon themselves," Kenny Lin warned bluntly.

"Mr. Kenny is right. We won’t leave the embassy until the negotiations begin," Rafiq replied with a relaxed expression.

He had no issue with staying inside; he was already spending most of his time training.

Ever since he had begun to experience the benefits of cultivation, he had little interest in running around outside.

Sharif sighed. "Must be nice for you. You all spend your days training in your rooms, and I’m the only one stuck dealing with everything else."

Rafiq burst out laughing. "Well, you are a Minister, after all. We’re just rough fighters, only good for combat. Dealing with people is your specialty."

Kenny Lin leaned against the window, lost in thought.

When would Amalia return?

If she didn’t come back soon, he’d have to go to the underground city to find her.

Underground City, Nebula Bar.

Within the range of Amalia’s divine sense, she noticed that ever since the meeting between the three major underground factions’ leaders, the bar had attracted some unusual visitors.

These people didn’t wear masks, but their faces appeared oddly blurred.

Ordinary people, assuming it was just the dim lighting in the bar, wouldn’t think twice about it.

But Amalia could see through the deception.

They were using minor tricks, effective enough against common folk.

"Ms. Amalia, I’ve noticed some unfamiliar presences in the bar," Rafael whispered. "Some of them might be on par with me, and others... perhaps even stronger."

Amalia glanced at him in surprise. "You can sense them?"

Rafael looked both proud and cautious. "A little. Sometimes, you don’t need to assess someone’s strength directly—just watching their behavior is enough to tell that something’s off."

Amalia had nearly forgotten—Rafael was the leader of the underground black market.

He was naturally adept at reading people.

"Ms. Amalia, did these people suddenly show up because of the factions upstairs? They don’t seem like members of the Void Serpent Gang."

If the Void Serpent Gang had such powerful people, then even if their leader had died, the three factions wouldn’t have dared to split up their territory so openly.

Having spent a few days in the underground city, Rafael had already gained a solid understanding of the power dynamics at play.

"Hmm, they are followers of the Holy Gate of the Heaven and the Earth," Amalia said.

Rafael’s pupils shrank. "What are they doing here?"

"The Void Serpent Gang was secretly nurtured by the Holy Gate of the Heaven and the Earth. Now that these three factions want to carve up the Void Serpent Gang, do you think the Holy Gate of the Heaven and the Earth will allow that?" Amalia chuckled.

Rafael understood immediately—the sudden appearance of these cultists meant they were here to assassinate the leaders of the three factions.

"If the three faction leaders die, the underground city will fall into chaos. This is the Neon Azure Syndicate’s opportunity!"

With no leader to follow, the subordinates would inevitably start vying for power, each of them would trying to become the new boss.

No one would have time to think about dividing up the Void Serpent Gang’s territory—they’d all be focused on taking control.

"The Holy Gate of the Heaven and the Earth is truly ruthless. To resolve the Void Serpent Gang’s crisis, they’re planning to kill these people outright. But does that mean they might also target the Neon Azure Syndicate while they’re at it?"

Right now, the Neon Azure Syndicate was the most stable among the five factions.

With Soham firmly in place as their leader—thanks to their support—this was the perfect time to take advantage of the chaos in the other four factions.

"The Void Serpent Gang won’t have much trouble. As long as the Holy Gate of the Heaven and the Earth sends reinforcements to suppress the situation, their crisis will be resolved quickly. The other factions, however, won’t be so lucky. And with the alien situation still unfolding, they won’t have time to deal with the Neon Azure Syndicate just yet."

"Then why are we even here?" Rafael was confused.

This whole situation benefited the Neon Azure Syndicate, so why did they need to be involved?

Amalia’s lips curved slightly. "We’re here to identify people."

Rafael didn’t quite get it but chose not to ask further.

As they waited, the Holy Gate of the Heaven and the Earth cultists finally began to move.

One of them even made his way to the bar where Amalia was sitting.

This particular spot was the closest to the staircase.

Amalia glanced at him, and the man looked back at her.

His casual gaze carried a chilling confidence—the kind of confidence that decided life and death.

Amalia looked away as if she had merely taken an idle glance.

When she noticed other cultists gathering nearby, she stood up and said to Rafael, "Let’s check out the dance floor."

As soon as they left, two men immediately took their seats.

Amalia overheard one of them say, "At least they know their place. Got up and left before we even got here."

"That wasn’t knowing their place—it was just dumb luck. I was about to throw them out myself."

Then, the two men laughed.

"Ms. Amalia, should we—" Rafael’s eyes turned cold. He had heard them too.

"No need," Amalia said.

Only three Holy Gate of the Heaven and the Earth cultists had come this time, and none of them were the Storm Claw Overlord she was searching for.

Moments after Amalia and Rafael moved to the dance floor, one of the cultists suddenly set down his drink and walked toward the staircase leading to the second floor.

The guards at the stairway immediately stepped forward to stop him, but before they could even shout, one of them was sent flying with a loud crash.

The sound was drowned out by the deafening music, so only those nearby noticed what had happened.

The three Holy Gate of the Heaven and the Earth cultists slaughtered the guards at the staircase.

Two of them rushed upstairs, while the third smashed through a glass window and stormed into a private room.

A series of loud crashes and screams finally drew more attention.

When people realized there were corpses, the music stopped, replaced by terrified screams as the crowd scrambled to escape.

"Ms. Amalia, do we stay here or head out?"

The leaders of the three factions had also brought cultivators with them.

They themselves were cultivators as well.

As soon as the battle started, they and the three cultists were already fighting in the middle of the nightclub’s dance floor.

Some ordinary people who were too slow to escape were caught in the shockwaves of their battle.

Their bodies exploded instantly, blood splattering all the way to the ceiling.

"Let’s go," Amalia took a glance at the chaos and turned around to leave.

Rafael looked back just in time to see one of the faction leaders getting his head blown apart by a cultist.

This battle clearly wouldn’t last much longer.

"Ms. Amalia, are we heading back now?" Rafael asked as they stepped out of the chaotic nightclub.

"Let’s check the place next door."

The neighboring building was only about a hundred or two hundred meters away.

It was a dimly lit little establishment, yet it had a certain charm.

The soft lighting and the scattered seating arrangements made for a quiet atmosphere.

Inside the café, three or four people sat around, completely indifferent to the massacre happening next door.

If it weren’t for one of them casually saying, "It’s just a few people getting killed, why is it taking so long?" there would have been no indication that they were aware of the carnage at all.

It was a small café, not very spacious.

They weren’t sitting together, but Amalia suspected they might be connected.

Unfortunately, none of them were the Storm Claw Overlord she was searching for.

She saw all of this with her divine sense, as there was a "Closed for Business" sign hanging at the café’s entrance.

The sign also stated that it would reopen the day after tomorrow.

Today was the gathering day for the Holy Gate of the Heaven and the Earth’s cultists.

Tomorrow was their day to act.

And the fact that they had already planned to resume business afterward revealed their unparalleled confidence in their plan’s success.

Twenty minutes later, the three cultists from earlier returned.

hey ignored the "Closed" sign and directly pushed open the café’s doors.

Amalia said nothing, and Rafael didn’t bring it up either.

He simply waited with her in a dark corner for over an hour.

During this time, a few more people arrived—men and women alike.

They all carried a laid-back, indifferent air about them.

However, none of them were the Storm Claw Overlord.

The underground city’s lights had shifted to a yellow hue, indicating that the sun was beginning to set.

Just as Rafael thought they might have to wait a few more hours, Amalia suddenly spoke.

"Let’s go."

"So soon? Aren’t we waiting for all of them to arrive?" Rafael asked in surprise.

"There’s no need. They won’t all be gathering here."

Just moments ago, Amalia overheard some of the cultists chatting.

They had mentioned the Storm Claw Overlord, wondering why he hadn’t arrived yet.

One of them responded that the Storm Claw Overlord wouldn’t be coming today—he would only show up just before their meeting time tomorrow morning.

Soham was already waiting for them when they returned.

"The leaders of the three factions have already been killed by the Holy Gate of the Heaven and the Earth cultists. The underground city will soon descend into chaos. In the short term, no one will be able to threaten you. You should be able to handle things on your own. I’ll be taking Rafael and Duan Yao back with me," Amalia said.

Soham’s heart pounded with excitement—so they were really dead. "Ms. Amalia, isn’t this the perfect opportunity to annex their territories?"

With Rafael and Duan Yao gone, he wouldn’t have many strong fighters left to support him.

But if they stayed, he was confident he could take over at least one or two of the factions’ territories in the shortest possible time.

"There’s no rush," Amalia replied.

"Tomorrow, something big will happen at the Pleiades Star System Royal Palace. Once that’s over, they’ll come back to assist you."

Soham’s eyes flickered with understanding.

He knew that tomorrow was the day of negotiations between the Crimson Moon Dynasty and the alien royal family.

What he didn’t know was what role they intended to play in it.

Countless thoughts raced through his mind, but he kept his expression neutral.

No matter what their true identities were, it didn’t change anything for him.

After leaving the Neon Azure Syndicate, Rafael asked, "Ms. Amalia, Soham still doesn’t know that we’re envoys from the Erythar Star System. If he finds out, do you think he’ll turn against us?"

"That depends on whether he’s smart enough," Amalia said indifferently. "If he isn’t, then we’ll just train someone else to take his place."