Chapter 209 : Chapter 209 Dying ten thousand times wouldn't be enough
Seeing that Qi Zhimu could prevent everyone from using offensive means without even moving a finger, Helena couldn't help but smile bitterly.
The casual display of power left her with no doubt about the truth of his words.
"Mr. Magician, I do not possess the highest decision-making power; this matter requires representatives from multiple parties to make a joint decision."
"You don't need to worry about that; no one will object," Qi Zhimu suddenly revealed a strange smile.
Except for Herta, everyone else broke out in a cold sweat upon hearing this.
No one was a fool; it was impossible not to understand the underlying implication.
"Personally, I have no objection. As a fellow citizen of Fog City, I support Herta's decision."
Helena expressed her stance very straightforwardly.
Qi Zhimu stared at her for a moment, and after finding his answer, he dissolved the ice on the others.
"Put away your weapons, or face the consequences," Helena ordered the oblivious guards behind her with a turn of her head.
Even without her saying it, no one dared to act recklessly now.
After warning her subordinates, Helena quickly made arrangements to relay Herta's intentions back to the United Government as a unilateral notification rather than a proposal for discussion.
Azure Star had coexisted with Virtual Substance Lifeforms for so many years that they had long ago established ways and standards to quantify their strength.
From the moment Qi Zhimu entered the council chamber, the relevant detection devices connected elsewhere short-circuited instantly.
In the recorded history of Azure Star, a Virtual Substance Lifeform capable of reaching this level would not find it difficult to wipe out half the planet.
If anyone was unafraid of death and dared to face such a sharp edge, their own death would be a small matter; dragging others down with them would truly be an eternal infamy.
"Herta, can you tell us roughly what you experienced during these three years?" Helena asked cautiously.
Qi Zhimu showed no reaction to this.
Herta nodded and summarized the process in a few words.
Spending three years to find the correct spatial coordinates, encountering a crisis on the return journey, the spaceship crashing into the depths of the Labyrinth Zone, and meeting Qi Zhimu to reach an agreement.
Under his escort, she crossed numerous obstacles to finally return to her homeland.
Although the narrative was understated, Helena knew full well the dangers involved.
How terrifying the depths of the Labyrinth Zone outside Azure Star were remained an unsolved mystery to this day.
Herta did not elaborate on the process, and she didn't dare to ask more, but there was one thing she had to bring up no matter what.
"May I ask... did you encounter the Rebels on your way back?"
Hearing this, Herta frowned.
She naturally knew what the Rebels referred to.
Not everyone supported the Azure Star Jump Project, and voices of opposition had never ceased.
They believed the Red Giant star explosion was fabricated and that Azure Star was actually in no danger.
To stop the plan's execution, the dissenters gradually formed the Rebels to oppose the United Government.
Years ago, when Azure Star's first jump failure caused serious consequences and linked with the Materia Void, the Rebels' prestige reached an unprecedented peak.
When she left for her mission back then, the Rebels were an existence capable of rivaling the United Government.
If not for the United Government's firm stance on executing the plan and its continuous protection of citizens threatened by Virtual Substance Lifeforms, public opinion would likely have shifted entirely long ago.
"I didn't run into the Rebels," Herta answered truthfully.
After saying the words, she felt an indescribable, strange sensation.
It was as if... even she didn't quite believe the words were true, yet she indeed had no memory of such an encounter.
Seeing Helena's stunned expression, Herta couldn't help but ask in return.
"Why do you ask?"
"...Of all the spaceships tasked with missions 356 years ago, many fell at the hands of the Rebels," Helena replied.
"The technological level mastered by the Rebels is far inferior to the United Government. Where did they get the capital to threaten Azure Star's highest level of aerospace technology?"
Unless...
Thinking of a certain possibility, Herta's expression turned somewhat gloomy.
"Is it because of those with special abilities, the ones alien civilizations call Pathstriders?"
Helena nodded: "Yes, that person is now the leader of the Rebels and can brainwash people or even modify their cognition through unknown means."
"When the plan was being deployed back then, the other party had already controlled a small number of core personnel, infiltrating silently."
"According to the results of interrogations from over three hundred years ago, at least 20 people among those executing the mission belonged to the Rebels."
"Of those who piloted spaceships away from Azure Star back then, you are the only one to return so far. You should have an idea of what that means."
"You must have passed through the Equatorial Defense Line Fortress when you returned. Two years ago, it was the Rebels who launched a large-scale attack, coordinating with the attacking Virtual Substance Lifeforms, which led to the fall of the defense line."
Herta realized and nodded silently.
Before she could say anything, a piercing alarm sounded without warning.
A communication came through.
"Ambassador Helena, the Rebel fleet is approaching. Their scale exceeds ours, and they are expected to reach the intersection point in 5 minutes."
"Their information is certainly fast enough," Helena's face looked grim.
The Rebels must have intercepted the news of Herta's return from within the United Government and had now arranged a fleet to intercept them.
For hundreds of years, the Rebels had been relentlessly trying to stop the United Government from restarting the jump.
They claimed, in the name of righteousness, that they didn't want to see a disaster even more terrifying than the connection to the Materia Void occur.
"Deploy the highest-level defensive formation and wait for reinforcements."
"Yes!"
The communication ended. Helena looked at Herta and Qi Zhimu, her lips moved slightly, and she finally left in a hurry after saying "Excuse me."
Qi Zhimu cracked his neck, and Herta shook her head slightly at him.
"Your reaction is quite unexpected."
"Only if you take action when my life is threatened can you build prestige for me. It will make it more convenient to take over the highest execution authority of the plan and reduce unnecessary conflicts."
"Not bad, not bad. It seems you took everything I said in Fog City to heart," Qi Zhimu stroked her head with satisfaction.
He had thought just now that she would beg him to act.
But then again, this sudden crisis was enough to show how troublesome the Rebels were.
Of course, 'troublesome' was only relative to the United Government.
In Qi Zhimu's eyes, they could hardly be considered a threat.
Before five minutes had even passed, the vanguard fleet began a direct exchange of fire with the Rebel fleet.
Qi Zhimu listened for a moment and stood up lazily.
As soon as he moved, the guards staying there to 'protect' them all looked nervous, not knowing what he intended to do.
"Little brat Herta, I don't need to wait for your life to be threatened to build prestige for you."
"Once people have an accurate understanding of the unknown, they will desperately convince themselves. Furthermore—"
At this point, Qi Zhimu's expression instantly became cold and sharp.
"You know, I'm the type of person who... protects my food..."
"Anyone who dares to eye my food shall die."
Staring blankly at Qi Zhimu, Herta's eyes didn't even blink.
Feeling a bit uneasy under her gaze, Qi Zhimu turned his face away and gave a familiar cold snort.
"If everything goes smoothly, I'll be able to start my feast as soon as possible. Those Rebels actually dare to interfere; dying ten thousand times wouldn't be enough."
"Mm."
"What do you mean 'mm'?"
"...Nothing. Go ahead and do it, Mr. Creditor."
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