Space Colony Copernicus.
A series of reports echoed through Copernicus' main bridge.
[Sixth Fleet has completed docking procedures.]
[Quantum camouflage system activation preparations complete!]
[Signal interference initiated.]
[Artemis Umbrella deployment commencing! 5%, 25%, 55%, 85%, 100%!]
[Artemis Umbrella fully deployed. Anti-detection systems activated. Confirmed no signal detection.]
"This is Andrew, Andrew Waltfeld. Conduct another anti-detection sweep in 5 minutes, over."
After issuing the order, the short brown-haired man in the SDS white uniform turned towards the pink-haired girl seated at the command chair:
"Quite the commotion you've stirred up!"
Lacus Clyne offered an apologetic smile to her father's old subordinate before addressing the relieved bridge crew:
"Thank you for your hard work, everyone."
"Please maintain standard alert protocols while following the planned rest rotation."
Hearing this, the previously tense crew responded with renewed vigour:
"Yes, Madam Chairwoman!!" xN
Watching these passionate youngsters, Andrew scratched his head before addressing Lacus again:
"For now, we've likely shaken off the Union's surveillance satellites. Though you might not like it, you should really get some rest."
"Don't push yourself too hard, Princess."
Lacus blinked at Andrew's words, then nodded slightly with a gentle smile:
"I will, Uncle Andrew."
Andrew chuckled and waved her off:
"Go rest then. Leave the rest to me."
"I think I should wait here with everyone—"
Lacus' words trailed off as she paused, then offered another apologetic look:
"Sorry, Uncle Andrew, I'll need to excuse myself."
"Go on, go on."
Andrew immediately understood, waving her off as he watched the young woman leave her station for the corridor.
Once she'd gone, Andrew turned back to observe the highly motivated young crew, remarking with some amusement:
"Just as you're all inspired by our little princess, it seems her own inspiration has arrived."
This prompted immediate complaints from below:
"Say no more, and we can remain friendly colleagues, Sir Andrew!!"
"Old men who ruin youthful romance deserve eternal bachelorhood, you bastard!!"
"Sir Andrew only says such things because he's never been in love, right? That's it, isn't it?"
Digging a pinky in his ear, Andrew declared triumphantly:
"Sorry to disappoint, but I've been married ten years~"
Silence fell for one second...
"Damn you!!" xN
"Ahahahaha~~"
Andrew's victorious laughter filled the bridge.
...
Inside the core area of Copernicus, at the private dining hall.
"You've worked hard."
Accompanied by gentle words, Luo Shu looked up from his seat at the table to see Lacus floating lightly towards him.
He hastily stood up, but his abrupt movement caused him to float upwards in the zero-gravity environment.
Fortunately, Luo Shu's hands steadied Lacus, pulling her close to his side.
As the two slowly descended towards the floor under artificial gravity, Luo Shu teased himself:
"Rather than saying I've worked hard, it's more accurate to say I've been causing trouble for you."
Saying this, Luo Shu pulled Lacus into his embrace as they landed together on the white high-backed chairs of the dining hall.
He gently patted Lacus's back and apologised:
"Sorry, I might have been a bit too wilful and disrupted your plans."
Hearing his apology, Lacus couldn't help but laugh, leaning back slightly to sit on Luo Shu's lap as she said:
"So it seems Kirika's words weren't entirely without merit."
Luo Shu raised an eyebrow at this.
At that moment, Lacus teased with a smile:
"She said every week without fail, you cause some major incident, claiming you're a calamity deity incarnate sent specifically to shorten her lifespan. The way she wails about it is hilarious to watch."
"Is it really that exaggerated?" Luo Shu feigned ignorance.
Lacus suppressed a laugh and poked Luo Shu's chest with her index finger, circling it as she said:
"Why don't you try recalling exactly what date you returned to Japan from America?"
Remembering he'd only taken the flight two days ago, Luo Shu's expression turned awkward, and he quickly changed the subject:
"How bad were the SDS's losses this time?"
Seeing Luo Shu divert the topic, Lacus stopped teasing him and followed his lead:
"Aside from exposing the space fleet and Copernicus base's gamma-ray cannon system, the remaining losses would probably just be revealing the Hidden Management Department's Demigod combat capabilities..."
"The exact extent of the damage will have to be determined through further negotiations with the Union."
As she spoke, Lacus rested her right hand lightly on Luo Shu's chest, leaning into his embrace and whispering in his ear:
"Don't worry, everything's within controllable limits."
"Confrontation with the Union was always part of the plan, just slightly ahead of schedule."
Hearing this, Luo Shu seemed surprised: "You'd already prepared to break ties with the Union?"
Lacus merely smiled at this: "Copernicus wasn't built in a day."
"And compared to exposing Copernicus, revealing the Star Gate, the Abyss Warring States, or even the power of the Five Great Spirits—let alone the Star Contract—would be far more uncontrollable situations."
"Having the Union wary but not terrified of us is already an ideal outcome."
Luo Shu understood the Star Gate, Abyss Warring States and Five Great Spirits, but the Star Contract was new to him.
"What's the Star Contract?"
Lacus had no intention of hiding anything from Luo Shu. With a smile, she explained:
"A strategic-grade Abyss Artefact of the Patch Tribe."
"According to the tribal elder, its function appears to be making a wish to the Great Will to alter the planet's physical laws once."
"Using this, we could effortlessly dismantle the entire order of modern society, even exterminate humanity itself."
"Though only once, the matriarch of the Patch Clan granted me the opportunity to use the Star Contract."
"Hiss!"
Luo Shu sucked in a cold breath. So Lacus had been holding such a trump card all along?
'With this in hand, how dare the Union come and pressure us before?'
Just as Luo Shu was puzzled, Lacus smiled and explained:
"Previously, the SDS lacked sufficient foundation. Even if I revealed the Star Contract, it wouldn't have had enough impact. Now, whether it's exposed or not is temporarily unimportant."
Luo Shu nodded at this. That was indeed true.
What the Union feared most now was nothing more than assassinations by Demigods and the biosphere annihilation strikes from Copernicus platforms.
Once they found countermeasures, they could gradually reveal the next trump card to maintain mutual strategic deterrence. Not a bad approach.
But compared to these, Luo Shu was more concerned about the SDS's immediate situation.
"After this exposure, while the Union won't act rashly, they'll likely make plenty of small moves."
"I suspect the day we relocate the SDS headquarters into the Abyss Warring States might come much sooner."
Hearing this, Lacus didn't argue but teased with a smile:
"Feeling the pressure, eager to advance your rank?"
Luo Shu gave a wry smile, not refuting her words since he did feel the need to progress quickly:
"So I think we can afford to be more aggressive with our operations in Japan."
Luo Shu's next words came as a quiet murmur before Lacus could grasp his meaning.
"Taking just Chiba Port seems too modest. Let's claim the entire Chiba Prefecture instead."