Chaos Heir

Chapter 1222 Chigoilara

The Orlats looked confused, and the same went for the audience and Carlos. Information was a valuable currency, often being far more helpful than actual money, but no one could understand what the pilot could do with what he had just asked.

Still, the two Orlats didn't care about the pilot's intentions. No one did. Even Carlos tried to keep his mind away from those topics. After all, everyone had something to hide in those environments, and Blue's attire was enough to put him in that group.

"So," Navin muttered. "If we talk about our home planet, our debt is cleared?"

"Not so fast," The hooded figure chuckled. "I'm the one who decides when what you share is enough."

"Information is expensive," Shirin scoffed, feigning some non-existent loyalty. "It's about our species, so we set the price."

The immediate haggling failed to surprise Carlos. His pilot could be good at gambling, but the Orlats were proper tricksters. Blue had made a mistake in giving Navin and Shirin so much agency in the negotiation.

"Let's do it like this," The hooded figure announced. "I'll only ask two questions. What do you think?"

The two Orlats smelled a ploy, but there was a limit to how much could be revealed with two questions. Also, that was far better than paying money, so the aliens quickly voiced their agreement.

"My first question," The pilot voiced, delaying his following words on purpose. "How's the government on your home planet structured?"

The Orlats felt almost disappointed at that question. They had expected the pilot to inquire about grand secrets and priceless knowledge, but his curiosity tackled one of the most basic aspects of their species.

"No government," Shirin explained, slightly relaxing since the situation wasn't as serious as she had dreaded. "Nothing like the humans. Chigoilara has clans with different and variable influence."

Everyone knew about the Orlats' home planet's name. Obtaining a precise location was the problem. Chigoilara seemed to change coordinates depending on which Orlats people asked that question.

Despite the different subjects, Shirin had stuck with that tradition, only giving a vague answer. She didn't reveal anything specific on purpose. That was to hide valuable information and bait another question out of the pilot.

"Your clan must be pretty influential then," Blue exclaimed. "It actually stretches as far as Merth 290's neighborhood!"

"Our clan left Chigoilara long ago," Navin scoffed. "There were no riches to find there."

"The political situation must be crazy with so many clans," The pilot continued. "But I bet you could return whenever you wanted."

"Anyone can come to Chigoliara," Shirin revealed. "There's just nothing there."

Navin and Shirin groaned before gasping, realizing a truth that Carlos had already spotted. The two Orlats had ended up revealing more than planned due to that veiled compliment. They didn't describe anything precise, but the pilot had tricked them anyway.

"You said two questions!" Navin cried.

"And I asked one," Blue stated. "The other two were statements."

Navin and Shirin wore annoyed but grim expressions. They would have found ways to dodge the deal in a different situation, but they were stuck on a ship with that crew. They had to follow Carlos' rules to receive their next salary.

"Your last question, then," Navin cursed. "And make it quick."

"How does someone become an Ambassador for the clans on Chigoliara?" The pilot asked, to everyone's surprise. Still, the two Orlats ended up exploding into loud laughs.

"Ambassador!" Shirin shouted, unable to contain herself. "You wasted your last question on such a stupid thing."

"Orlats don't have Ambassadors," Navin explained, also laughing to no end. "You can become friends with a few clans, but that's it."

"And that's if they don't decide to steal everything down to your pants first," Shirin added.

The Orlats kept laughing hard, and their reaction eventually affected the three human bystanders, who joined them in those snickers. It truly seemed that the pilot's clever ploy had turned against him, but Carlos smelled a different truth.

'So,' Carlos realized, 'That was what he was after.'

The hooded man feigned innocence, shrugging his shoulders and joining the general laughs. He seemed to accept defeat, but Carlos wasn't tricked. He knew better than to let that façade deceive him, especially after witnessing his pilot's behavior for weeks.

"Alright, alright," Carlos announced. "Enough with the games. Everyone, go back to your posts."

"There's nothing but empty space for the next hours, Boss," The hooded man claimed. "I'll be in my quarters."

"You woke me up, Blue," Carlos snorted. "You'll go back to the bridge and update me."

"Aye, aye, Boss," The hooded man groaned, standing up and leaving that dining area. Carlos followed him, and the two soon found themselves on the relatively spacious bridge.

"You know our scanners are shit, Boss," The hooded man exclaimed while sitting on the pilot's seat, "But all our reports give the all-clear. There shouldn't be anything between us and the rescue point."

"Shouldn't?" Carlos questioned, inspecting the screens hanging above the control desk.

"Even I can't predict what the universe can throw at us, Boss," The hooded man sighed. "But don't worry! You'll all be dead in no time in that case."

"We'll all be dead," Carlos corrected, but the pilot only laughed, seemingly uncaring about the dangers of space.

"By the way," Carlos muttered. "It seems your weeks of work have finally paid off. The Orlats sure are tough customers."

"I don't know what you are talking about," The hooded man kept laughing. "I just wanted them to pay me back in some way."

"Sure, sure," Carlos sighed. "Though I don't know why you'd want to learn about Chigoilara and from such random Orlats on top of that."

"You really overestimate me, Boss," The hooded man said, shrugging his shoulders. "I'm not smart enough to have such far-sighted plans."

"Ah, Blue," Carlos chuckled. "You are a good pilot. I can tell as much. Maybe we should have a drink at the brothel the next time we land for supplies. It will be on me since you refused to take the Orlats' money."

Carlos didn't plan anything serious. He knew better than to pry into people's private businesses, especially in that line of work. He simply wanted a drinking companion who was smarter than his average subordinate.

"Boss, when will you learn?" The pilot tsked. "She has ears everywhere."

Carlos' eyes suddenly went wide, but it was too late. The temperature on the bridge dropped by a few degrees, and cold sweat started accumulating on Carlos' back. He knew who had joined them but was too terrified to turn to greet her.

"Carlos," A female, chilling voice resounded through the bridge. "Where did you say you wanted to bring my husband?"