"Warning, you have intruded into the territory of the Suroma Empire. Please cease imdiately, or you will be dealt with according to the law."
"Warning, you..."
At the eastern border of the Suroma Empire, a defensive line ford by hundreds of robots was being assaulted by a large number of black-robed personnel.
These black-robed individuals were all swift and agile, undoubtedly all Ascendants of considerable strength. They were like a black flood, carrying a terrifying impact force that smashed through and tore apart the defensive line in one go.
Although the firepower of the machine guards was strong enough, facing an assault team composed of over a thousand elite Ascendants, they were still quickly routed.
"You have..."
*Crunch!*
The warning being cyclically broadcast from a machine soldier's mouth hadn't even finished when its head was smashed by a weapon like an iron rod.
The black-robed man carrying the iron rod looked down at the machine soldier he had just knocked down. The latter's head was cracked open, sparking with electricity, exposing the internal circuits and chipboard.
"A bunch of electronic trash."
He snorted coldly, raised the iron rod in his hand, and charged toward the next machine soldier.
In just over ten minutes, the Suroma Empire's eastern border was completely breached. A large number of black-robed Ascendants from the Republic of Fahe invaded the empire and rapidly advanced toward its core cities.
This move shocked the world.
The Suroma Empire's own Senate hadn't expected the Republic of Fahe to launch a surprise attack and hurriedly convened a Senate eting.
"These lunatics from the Fire Thief Worship Cult, who gave them the guts?!"
A Senator said gravely, "This must be a preditated retaliation. The empire previously sent an elite squad to carry out a decapitation strike against them, and they are taking this opportunity to retaliate!"
The other Senators all nodded with grim expressions, acknowledging this.
Previously, Suroma had indeed sent a decapitation squad to assassinate the Republic of Fahe's "Joel I," aiming to dismantle this unstable factor sharing the sa continent as the empire.
The operation was very successful. The decapitation squad lived up to its heavy responsibility and completed the mission, succeeding in the assassination.
However, the Republic of Fahe did not collapse because of this. Instead, less than three days after Joel I died in the assassination, they promoted Joel II.
This was unexpected for both the Suroma Empire and the entire Human Consortium.
Originally, the Human Consortium was preparing to jointly send a team to take action, but due to the influence of subsequent rules, the operation had to be temporarily shelved.
Now, for the Human Consortium, the biggest enemy is the parasitized forms. As a result, the assembled Joint Force was imdiately dispatched to the Black Flag Country, with no ti to deal with the Republic of Fahe.
The Republic of Fahe seized this opportunity and proactively launched a surprise attack on Suroma, acting very decisively. And this strike had already achieved so results.
"Now, a large number of the empire's elite soldiers have been sent to the Joint Force. Are the bastards from the Republic of Fahe thinking the empire is empty, which is why they dare to attack?"
"What is the Republic of Fahe's goal? Is it just to retaliate for our assassination, or do they truly want to seize our land?"
"Land doesn't have much aning nowadays. I think they are coming for our people, wanting us all to convert to the Fire Thief Worship Cult... or eliminate us, the so-called infidels in their mouths!"
"Currently, the outer cities are almost in an undefended state. Once these bastards break through the border, they can drive straight in. We must react as soon as possible!"
It wasn't just the Suroma Empire like this. Due to the massive population decline in Human Consortium countries, many cities had long been deserted and desolate.
Under these circumstances, near the border towns, it was highly likely that no city's population exceeded that of the border town itself.
This ant that once the empire's border was breached, the Republic of Fahe's attacking force could rapidly advance, pressing all the way to the core cities with concentrated populations.
This was unacceptable to the empire.
"But a large portion of our elite forces have been transferred to participate in the Joint Force. Should we withdraw so?"
"The parasitized forms are also crucial. If we withdraw at this ti, how can we guarantee capturing enough food to supply the alien entity in exchange for answers to questions?"
"Is asking questions more important than survival?!" the Senator in charge of the intelligence departnt roared. "This ti, those lunatics from the Republic of Fahe are serious. Just the vanguard alone exceeds a thousand Ascendants!"
"Right, don't forget the Republic of Fahe is suspected to have an Ascendant who possesses mind-control abilities. What if this person enters our cities and turns our people into believers of the Fire Thief Worship Cult? Then..."
"The elite forces participating in the Joint Force cannot be withdrawn."
At that mont, a firm voice ca from outside.
The Senators looked over and saw the empire's king entering, leaning on a cane, his face brooking no doubt.
"Your Majesty, the Republic of Fahe's attack..."
"I will handle this matter."
The Senators looked at each other. One of them said, "Your Majesty, are you planning to mobilize your own troops? Those are your personal guards."
The King said, "I have my own arrangents for this matter. Senators, you should focus your attention on capturing more parasitized forms."
After saying this, he turned and left without further explanation.
The Senators listened to the sound of the cane fading into the distance. After a mont, soone finally spoke.
"His Majesty... does he have so important question he intends to ask that alien intelligent entity? Otherwise, why is he so anxious about capturing parasitized forms?"
"That is indeed possible."
The Senators looked at each other, each seeing sothing in the other's expression, but surprisingly, no one dared to voice it.
After leaving the Senate, the Suroma King soon appeared in a large laboratory filled with chanical bodies.
"Your Majesty, you've co."
A white-haired, elderly man received him.
The King looked at the man's arms, which glead with a tallic luster.
"Dr. Haisen, you've changed quite a bit in two months."
This white-haired old man was the lead developer of the Suroma Empire's mass-produced intelligent robot technology.
And this technology was rely one of the byproducts of the "Iron Will" project.
"Heh." Haisen smiled and raised his chanically modified arms. "These things are just more convenient for work."
"I know Dr. Haisen is devoted to chanical modification technology, but it's best not to risk your own body. The Doctor should understand, I cannot accept the risk of you having problems."
Dr. Haisen nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes. What brings Your Majesty here this ti?"
"I need to deploy a batch of 'Annihilators' to suppress the enemy."
Dr. Haisen was shocked upon hearing this. "Your Majesty is mobilizing the Annihilators? Their existence will be exposed to the world, won't it? Won't this affect your future plans?"
"If we cannot ensure the present, what future is there to talk about?" the King said. "Right now, the empire's enemy is a large number of Ascendants, and the empire's elite forces have more important things to do."
"I see." Dr. Haisen nodded. "If the enemy is a large number of Ascendants, ordinary mass-produced models are indeed sowhat lacking. I understand. I will activate the Annihilators in reserve. How many does Your Majesty need?"
"One hundred units."
"Good, I will go arrange the deploynt imdiately."
"Wait."
The King stopped Dr. Haisen, then fell silent for a mont.
Dr. Haisen cautiously guessed, "Your Majesty... you want to ask about the 'Angel,' don't you?"
"...How is his condition?"
"He is still troubled by neural connection issues. We cannot achieve complete consciousness recovery. He can only retain partial instincts and obedience to commands, like the Annihilators."
Dr. Haisen sighed. "The human brain's neuron system is too complex. Given the current research progress, unless there is so revolutionary breakthrough, it will still take many years of research for the 'Angel' to fully recover..."
"Can you specify the connection problem? Be specific enough to explain in just a few sentences," the King said.
Dr. Haisen was montarily stunned. "I can, but what's the point?"
"There is a point. Questions that humanity currently cannot answer might be given to the alien intelligent entity to answer."
...
Sesitata Ice Field, Landing Site.
Ever since the huge cost of nearly three thousand parasitized forms was expended to ask that question, no one had approached the alien intelligent entity for a long ti.
The mbers of the Contact Delegation believed there was only one reason: there wasn't enough food.
Slightly important questions ca at a trendous cost. This led to the situation where, before large-scale capture of parasitized forms from the Black Flag Country, the stockpiles of Human Consortium countries might not be enough to ask more than a few questions.
For the mbers of the Contact Delegation, they felt fortunate.
If the Human Consortium asked questions without sufficient preparation, and if the parasitized forms on site weren't enough to eat, then who the alien intelligent entity would eat next was obvious.
They, and the soldiers maintaining order and security, would all beco its feeding targets.
Don't think that just because many of them were very interested in studying alien life, studying was one thing, but becoming alien life's food was another.
Apart from a few fanatics like Louis, most people were just like Lord Ye who claid to love dragons but fled at the sight of one.
Perhaps they had boasted before, saying things like "I'd die happy if I could see an alien creature once," but now most were thinking the rules should end quickly and the Fire Thief should reclaim this man-eating monster.
They also held no illusions about asking the alien intelligent entity questions.
Based on their experiences these past few days on site, they clearly understood: only a select few had the qualification to ask questions, and even these few needed to hold etings, discuss, and vote to decide which question to choose.
And just as everyone thought today would be another boring day of freezing, Sigaochin led soldiers toward them.
"From now on, you can leave," she said. "The soldiers will drive you to the nearest town. Then you can proceed to the cities on your own, returning to your respective countries or departnts."
The mbers of the Contact Delegation were stunned, then overjoyed.
"We can go back?"
"Great, we can finally leave this godforsaken place!"
"These past few days, I've had nightmares every night about being eaten. It's finally over..."
Everyone cheered and jumped for joy. So remained relatively calm and asked, "May I ask what's going on? Why can we suddenly go back?"
Sigaochin said flatly, "Intelligence has been leaked. Soone posted information about the alien intelligent entity's function, its feeding, and other issues online."
"What..."
Everyone was very surprised to hear this.
They had been staying at the Landing Site these past few days, with no access to any internet-connected devices. They knew very well how strict the secrecy asures were.
Under these circumstances, the news could still leak... it was simply unbelievable.
"I want to stay!"
Louis stepped forward at this mont, stubbornly saying to Sigaochin.
"Impossible," Sigaochin said bluntly. "The order I received is to repatriate all mbers of the Contact Delegation."
"But I'm different from these cowards!" Louis beca frantic. "They're afraid of death and want to leave quickly, but I'm not!"
The other delegation mbers, being criticized, imdiately flew into a rage.
"Louis, you bastard, who are you calling a coward?"
"Don't mind him, he's just a lunatic."
"Captain, I think you should just leave him here. Didn't he say he could be food? Next ti, let him be the food, just right for contributing to humanity."
Louis ignored the others and pleaded with Sigaochin. "Please, let
stay. Or contact your superior, and I'll explain!"
Sigaochin said expressionlessly, "Take them away."
"Yes."
The soldiers imdiately loaded everyone, including Louis, into the vehicles.
"I want to stay! Let
stay!"
Louis clung to the car door, refusing to let go, but it was useless. A soldier struck him with a rifle butt, causing him pain and making him release his grip, then pushed him into the vehicle.
After the Contact Delegation and others left the Landing Site, Sigaochin contacted Yelanka to report the situation.
"Administrator, all delegation mbers have been sent to the town."
"Good, I know."
Sigaochin heard a sowhat subdued tone in Yelanka's voice and asked, "Administrator, do you need
to go to the prison to investigate the murder case?"
"No, from now on, don't go anywhere," Yelanka said. "After the intelligence about the alien intelligent entity is exposed, there may be so individuals or groups with impure motives attempting to make contact. You must stop these people. I have already dispatched a new batch of soldiers to support you."
"Yes, Administrator, please rest assured. I will absolutely not allow any unauthorized personnel to approach the alien intelligent entity!"
"Mmm, I believe you." Yelanka paused. "Sigaochin, do you think the one who acted was him?"
Yelanka didn't say "his" na, but Sigaochin knew she was referring to that academy teacher, Guan Tong.
"For now, we can only say he has significant motive and suspicion," Sigaochin said. "But without evidence, I cannot make a judgnt."
"...Yes. Without evidence, we cannot make a judgnt. I have already sent people to the scene to investigate. We'll just wait for the results."
After the communication ended, Sigaochin fell into silent contemplation.
She didn't detect any emotions like "grief" or "sorrow" in Yelanka's voice.
This wasn't strange. As siblings, they hadn't grown up together since childhood. The number of tis they t each year was almost in the single digits, so their bond was never deep to begin with.
And this already shallow bond was completely erased after two incidents: Lijeka sending assassins to threaten and attempt to kill Guan Tong, and colluding with their grandmother to try to take drastic action at the birthday banquet.
Rather than being family, it was more accurate to say they had long beco enemies, each wishing to eliminate the other.
But Konia was a large family. Considering from the family's perspective, the assassination of a core family mber who once had the qualifications to compete for the Administrator position was absolutely a major event among major events for the family.
If the family didn't handle it properly, it could only an the family had lost its power, which would make many enemies beco restless.
If it really was that teacher Guan Tong who assassinated Lijeka, then the Administrator she...
Sigaochin shook her head. This wasn't sothing she should worry about.
The only thing she should worry about now was one thing: strictly execute the task assigned by Yelanka, ensuring that during the rule period after the intelligence leak, no unrelated personnel would have the opportunity to approach the alien intelligent entity.
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