Novel Full Chapter 944 - 944: Calling His Bluff
A chilling silence descended upon the Conclave’s war chamber. Both the physically present individuals and their holographic counterparts remained motionless, their minds racing, sifting through the layers of information that had just been presented. Kumakar, however, was an anomaly. His face, invisible to all, held a faint, almost imperceptible relaxation. His plan was taking shape.
He turned to the hologram of Osmo, the leader of Dreznor’s former civilization. His gaze was a subtle nod of appreciation, so fleeting that a casual observer might have thought he was merely adjusting his neck. Kumakar was a master manipulator. He knew that if *he* had delivered this information, it would be met with skepticism. He was already branded as the architect of the anti-Empire hate train, his motives suspect. His plan, intricate as it was, risked derailment if he appeared too invested. So, he had used Osmo.
Osmo, the leader of a people now indelibly linked to the “Dreznor threat,” was desperate to distance himself from the chaos. Kumakar had offered him a lifeline: present the intelligence, weave the narrative, and allow his own people to avoid facing the full brunt of the Conclave’s anger. Unknowingly, Osmo had become Kumakar’s mouthpiece, delivering a meticulously crafted story that he, in his desperation, believed to be the absolute truth. Several other leaders, subtly prompted by Kumakar’s pre-arranged questions, had unknowingly allowed Osmo to fully unveil the cunning narrative.
The Zelvora leader’s hologram shimmered into prominence, his voice breaking the heavy silence. “Aside from the connection we can make about the escapee due to the post made by the last of them before disappearing, the rest of this information is still heresy. If that is our standard for action, then the Empire could easily turn the same accusations against us, citing our current cooperation with them.” He spoke with the calm rationality of a seasoned diplomat, reminding everyone that they were still operating on hypotheses, lacking substantial, independently verifiable evidence.
“That would have sounded like a solid argument, if we didn’t have other evidence pointing at them as well,” the Hurai leader countered, his voice rough. A holographic image of the recovered bomb, its Terran Imperial government signature undeniable, shimmered in the air above the table. “I’m sure the rest of you have completed your investigations. You know, with certainty, that parts of that bomb bear the Terran Imperial government’s signature. This is physical proof, not speculation. And its counterparts have already claimed victims.” He stared directly at the Zelvora’s hologram, reminding them that the Empire had already secretly fired the first shot.
“Are you going to defend the Empire again, Zelvora?” Kumakar interjected, his voice cutting like a blade, giving the Zelvora leader no chance to respond to the Hurai’s accusation. “What hold do they have over you? Are the free mana stones and the promised payout for your work on the wormhole lanes worth risking the wrath of the entire Conclave?” He subtly hinted at a deeper, more insidious motive, casting suspicion on the Zelvora leader’s every attempt at rational discourse. His words, cloaked as a quest for justice, subtly implied that the Zelvora leader’s opposition was merely a delay tactic, a means to ensure they received their payments before the Conclave declared war.
“I have been wondering the same,” one of the leaders from a below-top-fifty civilization chimed in, his suspicion ignited by Kumakar’s pointed questions. “Why are you so defensive when it comes to the Empire? Is Kumakar’s speculation true?” The Zelvora, along with a few other top-ten civilizations, were hoarding the majority of the wormhole projects, leaving little for those below them. The potential payouts from the Empire were indeed substantial.
“I am not defending the Empire,” the Zelvora leader replied, his voice firm, unwavering. “But using evidence collected from a single source as the foundation for a monumental decision is reckless. We must gather data from at least five more liberated star systems. Analyze the wreckage, the materials they leave behind. Only then can we be sure the Empire is truly behind this, or if someone else planted that bomb to drag them into this conflict. Only then will our suspicions be replaced by certainty.” He refused to be drawn into Kumakar’s emotional theatrics, sticking to his principles of rigorous evidence and reasoned deliberation.
“Are you insinuating that I planted evidence to frame the Empire?” Kumakar’s hologram slammed an invisible fist onto his desk, his composure cracking. His eyes blazed, a feral anger distorting his features. He seemed to forget the hierarchy, the unwritten rules of Conclave decorum.
“I never mentioned your participation, Your Excellency,” the Zelvora leader countered, his voice still calm, unyielding. “It could be Dreznor himself, attempting to drag the Empire into his revolution. Or a third party, seeking to deplete our resources on two fronts while we believe we are fighting only one.” He pressed his counter-argument, refusing to be dragged into Kumakar’s personal vendetta. “My suggestion is to focus our efforts on a few, targeted star systems. Liberate them, gather all evidence, and if it connects directly to the Empire, then we have a confirmed lead. We won’t have to live with the suspicion of acting rashly.”
“I think this is just an excuse to delay,” Kumakar sneered, dismissing the suggestion out of hand. He was terrified the Zelvora leader’s idea would take root. If they found no evidence connecting the Empire, his entire narrative would collapse. “Are you afraid of the Empire? Are you willing to support condemning them if *your* suggestion proves their involvement? Or will you back out again, like you did before?” He implied that the Zelvora, and perhaps the other top-ten civilizations, were suffering from a mental block of fear regarding the Empire, a fear so profound it had overridden their usual strategic acumen. To Kumakar, the Black Hole Bomb, a surprise weapon used only once, had clearly been overestimated in its true threat.
“Fine,” the Zelvora leader conceded, his voice resigned. “If we manage to gather evidence connecting the Empire from even one more captured and liberated star system, then I will not argue for the Empire anymore.”
*Fuck.* Kumakar’s internal curse was silent, a desperate cry against a bluff that had just been called. His meticulously crafted plan was now on the brink of failure. But he had no way to backtrack, no way to retract his challenge. With an internal sigh, he forced a tight smile. “Then I support that. If everyone else supports this proposal, we will proceed.” He prayed, silently, desperately, that it would not pass. Yoursupportat*keepstheseriesgoing.
Lady Luck, however, had decided to abandon Kumakar that day. The proposal passed with near-unanimous support, only a few abstentions, notably from the silent Grand Xor’Vak Elder. The very gamble Kumakar had designed to force the Conclave’s hand had now turned into his greatest threat.