A placement plan had been decided, but that didn't mean they would execute it immediately.

For the next period of time, Ethan and the others continued to live on this planet, observing its environment more closely. This allowed them to gain a deeper understanding of the planet.

The planet's mass was quite large. Although the training ground was like a small asteroid, it could be fully contained within the ocean, and would only occupy a very small part of it.

Additionally, the planet's atmosphere was rather unique because it contained a peculiar component that prevented the star's light from directly penetrating. Instead, this special substance was stored in extremely high regions and then slowly released into the planet.

This meant there was almost no distinction between day and night on the entire planet. The sky constantly emitted a soft purple glow.

The gravity was slightly greater than Earth's, which had no effect on Ethan and the others. As for the people in the training ground, they might be a little unaccustomed to it at first. Ethan would likely turn off the training ground's gravity generator.

In the second month of residing on the purple planet, the others also landed one after another.

Ethan began attempting to remove his helmet and move around the planet without any protective measures. His body was strong enough, and his resistance to various abnormal conditions was the best, so he was the first to try.

After him came those with strong self-healing abilities like Logan. Finally, by the time Star-Lord could also live on this planet safely and soundly, five months had passed.

They not only established a temporary camp but even personally built a small village, using materials entirely collected from the planet, thus confirming that the planet had all the resources necessary for human survival.

Even food was sourced locally. Thanks to Annette's tireless efforts and the bold attempts of Ethan and the others, they tested over a dozen edible plants. Yes, only plants, because the discovered creatures were huge and difficult to kill. It wouldn't be troublesome for Ethan and the others, but considering the strength of the people in the training ground, it would be difficult for them to hunt these creatures directly, so they prioritized trying various vegetables.

Some of these foods were delicious, some had little taste, and some made you question your life choices, but they all contained rich nutrients and could meet the human body's needs.

Ethan and the others not only recorded various data but also attempted artificial cultivation. Ultimately, three types successfully sprouted, one of which had almost no requirements for the living environment. It could grow as long as it was watered and grew incredibly fast. This was the only food that was successfully cultivated to maturity.

The characteristics of this plant were very suitable for space travel, especially since it was rich in nutrients.

Unfortunately, it didn't taste like much when eaten, but Star-Lord still took some seedlings, planning to plant this species on the Milano.

By this time, the survey work could be declared complete. Ethan and the others were certain that this planet could support long-term human habitation.

As for what long-term effects living in this purple environment might have on the human body, Ethan didn't know. Perhaps countless years from now, if he remembered, he could come back and see.

"What else do we need to do next?"

"After investigating here, we'll go check out a few other planets."

During the initial period of living on this planet, Yondu, who was bored waiting in orbit, flew his fighter jet around the vicinity a few times and discovered three other planets of considerable mass in this star system.

Preliminary observations from a distance suggested that these planets might also be habitable.

Since there were other options, it didn't matter to look at a few more places. Star-Lord didn't mind making a few more trips. After all, this kind of work just took time and wasn't dangerous.

Considering the generous reward Ethan had offered, even without personal connections, he was willing to continue.

After packing up their things and destroying all the buildings they had constructed, Ethan and the others left no trace in this place. It wasn't that Ethan hadn't thought about leaving messages or similar things to leave future adventurers who stumbled upon the place utterly bewildered.

But he wouldn't get to see that scene and couldn't enjoy the satisfaction of a successful prank, so he abandoned that childish idea. As for the words Star-Lord carved on the stone slab with a laser, he just pretended not to see them. He didn't remind Star-Lord that the people of this world wouldn't understand what he wrote.

Everyone in Ethan's group, except for Betty, could speak English, and English was mostly universal throughout the galaxy (correct), which made Star-Lord overlook the fact that he was in another universe.

Even Betty, after understanding the situation, had already mastered multiple Earth languages through learning devices during this time for easier communication with everyone.

Plus, he was constantly traveling in space anyway and had seen many strange and wonderful planets. Just a purple planet alone wasn't enough to remind him of this.

So, when the Milano left the purple planet and followed behind Yondu's fighter jet towards the next target planet, Star-Lord still hadn't realized. He was happily fantasizing about the expressions on the faces of the first successful adventurers to land years from now when they saw the stone slab he had carved the message on.

Finally, Rocket Raccoon couldn't stand his smugness anymore and exposed the situation he had overlooked, which finally made Star-Lord realize.

"Damn it, I completely forgot about that."

"Hahahahahahaha!"

The one laughing so unrestrainedly was, of course, Rocket Raccoon. Their time together had created some chemistry between them, making them somewhat like teammates, but when there was an opportunity to mock Star-Lord, Rocket Raccoon wouldn't hold back at all, nor would he express himself subtly. He would only mock Star-Lord in a more exaggerated manner.

His pride a little hurt, Star-Lord decided to change the subject to distract everyone.

He connected the communicator and asked Yondu why he wasn't using jump drives.

Although they were all within the same star system, the distances between planets were not as simple as stepping out and going downstairs to buy something at the supermarket. It was much more convenient to use space jumps for long-distance interstellar travel.

A single jump for a relatively short distance, or several consecutive space jumps for a longer distance, would get them there.

According to the star chart transmitted by Yondu, the nearest planet wasn't close, so why weren't they using space jumps?

"Do you think I don't know that? Have you forgotten we're in another universe? The space jump drive on our ship doesn't work here!"

"Hahahahahahaha, are you an idiot? Didn't you think of that before?"

Rocket Raccoon found another opportunity to mock Star-Lord wildly. Regardless of whether he had thought of it before, it didn't stop him from ridiculing Star-Lord as a brainless idiot.

Their conversation served as some entertainment during the journey. Ethan took this opportunity to ask Betty: how did the Empire's spacecraft undertake long-distance travel?

Let's not discuss whether objects can truly break the speed of light and travel at light speed. After all, he had even been to universes like DC and Marvel, where there were more than just one or two individuals who could move at light speed or even faster.

Even assuming one could have a spaceship capable of traveling at light speed, given the vastness of the universe and the terrifying distances between planets, even traveling at light speed, it would take countless years to exit a galaxy similar to the Milky Way, let alone the even more terrifying distances between large galaxies.

Given this premise, how did the spacecraft of the Empire, which had vast territories, move between planets?

Was it by traveling at speeds many times the speed of light, or did they possess technology like space jumping?

"The Empire builds special jump gates at some relatively important nodes, and all spacecraft can use these specialized jump devices for long-distance movement."

Ethan nodded. The Empire's method reminded him of a game where a similar approach was used. The spacecraft itself couldn't perform space jumps, but there were devices (artificial celestial bodies) capable of creating wormholes or spatial distortions located in specific areas.

"Why do they do that? Is it because of some technical reason that prevents spatial transfer devices from being installed on spacecraft?"

Rocket Raccoon's hearing was very sharp. Although he was sitting in the co-pilot's seat and still arguing with Star-Lord, it didn't stop him from eavesdropping on Ethan's conversation.

He was even more unwilling to miss topics related to technology.

"I'm told it's for convenience of management, to prevent certain unruly people from frequently jumping giant spacecraft directly near planets. You should know that even without considering the impact of wormholes formed by space jumps on planets, large space battleships alone are equivalent to artificial celestial bodies, and getting too close to a planet can cause various disasters."

"Okay, I understand."

Ethan covered his face. He had never expected that the Empire chose this method purely for traffic control, but upon careful thought, it did make some sense.

Betty then mentioned that when she was in the military academy, they were taught tactics involving destroying the teleportation devices when necessary to buy time.

"This... Do other civilizations also use jump devices for long-distance travel?"

If it were before, Betty might have answered as a matter of course: "Is there any other way?"

Now she knew that this seemingly mere space fighter, the Milano, could perform space jumps, so she could no longer have that thought.

"Because... the Empire hasn't encountered external enemies for a long time, and many tactics are based on the technology the Empire currently possesses."

Thinking of countless Imperial commanders smugly destroying the jump devices, believing they had bought more time, only for the enemy fleet to directly initiate a space jump and instantly appear before them, what a pathetic and ridiculous scene that would be.

(To be continued.)