Chapter 77: • Remote Fleet Command Part Three

There was a brief silence.

Then Arthur’s voice suddenly filled the minds of everyone present.

?All Iron Angels and personnel of the Ashbourne Private Fleet, it is your Commander, Arthur von Ashbourne, speaking.?

The entire hall fell silent.

The Iron Angels exchanged stunned glances.

They could hear him.

Every single one of them.

Yet Arthur was nowhere to be seen.

There was no holographic projection.

No communication device.

No visible speaker.

His voice simply seemed to be coming from everywhere around them at once, as though the entire hall itself had become his voice.

Several Iron Angels looked around in confusion.

"It’s really the Commander..."

"I can hear him inside my head."

"But where is he?"

"There’s no communication device."

Octoria remained standing at attention, though even she couldn’t completely hide the faint smile on her face.

Arthur continued.

?You may have questions about how I’m speaking to all of you like this.?

A few of the Iron Angels exchanged glances.

?I’ll answer that question first. This is merely one of the many things I’m capable of.?

The hall became even quieter.

?And if you continue serving under me, you’ll eventually witness many more bizarre things.?

There was a faint pause.

?This will probably be one of the least noteworthy among them.?

Several Iron Angels stared forward with slightly bewildered expressions.

Arthur’s voice continued.

?So you might as well prepare yourselves.?

Octoria’s smile widened slightly.

Then Arthur’s tone became more serious.

?Now, as for why I’ve contacted all of you... I’ll be straightforward.?

The atmosphere in the hall immediately changed.

?The Empire has determined that I possess power beyond what they can control.?

A few Iron Angels visibly stiffened.

Others exchanged uncertain glances.

Arthur continued.

?Some of you may find that claim absurd. Perhaps you don’t believe it.?

His voice remained calm.

?That’s fine. With time, your questions will be answered.?

The Iron Angels listened silently.

Then Arthur’s voice became noticeably heavier.

?But there is something I want an answer to right now.?

The entire hall seemed to hold its breath.

?Are you prepared to place your lives in my hands??

Silence.

?Regardless of what I’ve just told you.?

Several Iron Angels visibly tensed.

Arthur continued.

?I’m sure you understand the gravity of what I’m asking.?

No one spoke.

The sheer weight of his words settled over the hall.

Some of the younger Iron Angels visibly swallowed.

One of them wiped a bead of cold sweat from her temple.

They understood what Arthur had just said.

The Empire had determined that their Commander possessed power beyond what it could control.

That statement alone was dangerous.

The Central Empire did not tolerate forces that existed beyond its authority. Every military organization, every noble house, every private fleet, and every awakened individual ultimately existed beneath Imperial law. Their strength could vary, their positions could differ, and their influence could stretch across entire star systems, but none of them were supposed to become powers that the Empire could no longer control.

And Arthur had just told them that the Empire believed he had crossed that line.

Then he asked them to place their lives in his hands.

The implications were difficult to ignore.

If they continued to follow him after knowing that the Empire considered him a threat, then their loyalty would inevitably place them in conflict with Imperial interests.

They could be ordered by the Empire to stand down.

They could be ordered to abandon Arthur.

They could be ordered to surrender him.

And if they refused...

They would be standing against the Empire alongside him.

Several Iron Angels exchanged uneasy glances.

One of them swallowed hard.

"So..."

Her voice was barely audible.

"If we follow the Commander..."

Another Iron Angel’s expression tightened.

"...doesn’t that mean we’d be going against the Empire?"

There was silence for a couple of seconds.

Then Octoria suddenly slammed her left foot against the metallic floor.

BOOM!

The metal beneath her boots dented under the force of the impact.

Every Iron Angel in the hall flinched.

Octoria looked across the gathered personnel, her expression carrying a hint of disappointment.

"I am disappointed in all of you."

The Iron Angels stared at her.

Octoria slowly dropped to one knee and lowered her head.

"Commander," she said firmly. "I, Octoria, Vice Commander of the Ashbourne Private Fleet, am with you until the very end."

Her voice carried through the hall.

"I was already thrown away once, sent to die to Chi Psychosis, and you didn’t hesitate to save me. You gave me a place to belong. You gave me purpose."

She raised her head, her purple eyes filled with determination.

"If you wish to not be tied down, then I shall be your sword. If you wish to wreak havoc, I shall be an accomplice. If you wish to bring war to the Empire, then I will be there beside you, flaming torch in hand."

Her fist tightened against her chest.

"You need only mention it, and I shall be there."

Back in his room in the academy’s male dormitory, Arthur couldn’t help but look visibly surprised. He then smiled.

He leaned back slightly as he listened to Octoria’s declaration.

?I am relieved, Octoria. I am most proud of you.?

Octoria smiled faintly.

"Hardly worth mentioning, Commander."

There was a brief pause.

Then Arthur’s voice rose once more, filling the minds of every member of the Ashbourne Private Fleet.

?Then, the remaining members of the Ashbourne Private Fleet...?

His tone became serious.

?Where do you stand??

?If you wish to turn back now, know that I won’t hold it against you.?

There was another pause.

For several seconds, no one spoke.

Then a few quiet murmurs began spreading through the hall.

"I want to follow the Commander, but..."

"Going against the Empire is practically suicide, isn’t it?"

"I don’t think anyone here wants to die..."

The voices remained low and uncertain.

Then, suddenly, one of the Iron Angels spoke up.

"What’s the difference?"

The murmurs immediately stopped.

Everyone turned toward her.

She stepped forward from the formation, her honey-blonde hair falling around her shoulders and her brown eyes carrying a fiery glint of intense determination.

"Dying when we were abandoned and dying in service to him now... what difference does it make?"

A few of the Iron Angels stared at her in surprise.

The woman smiled.

"At least this way, we’d probably go down in a blaze of glory!"