Starting from the Planetary Governor

Chapter 1465: Chapter 831: Accompany Me to Starfire

However, after learning that the forces Tai Shichen had brought were only ’that little,’ he felt somewhat disappointed.

But still, at least they can hold the line, right? If they can’t defend all eleven exits, then at least they should defend the seventh exit he’s at.

Yet Tai Shichen actually wants to unite the many forces from the various nearby star domains?

Isn’t that a bit too far-fetched!

If unification were possible, what business would Sifleg have?

Looking at the assembly, where everyone had their own agendas, Wang Keren felt annoyed.

He kept silent, letting the meeting go on chaotically, all the while contemplating how he would discuss this with Tai Shichen later.

When the idea of unitedly constructing the Unyielding Defense Line collapsed, he thought of some conditions to make the so-called Unyielding Defense Line first establish at the seventh exit.

Somewhere else?

Let them go to hell!

As he was pondering, he heard the heavy steps of Power Armor entering the conference hall.

Looking up, he saw the majestic Battle Group Leader, clad in Terminator Power Armor, walking into the hall.

Tai Shichen did not head to the central podium but walked straight through the crowd, the magnetic locks of his Power Boots sparking fine sparks on the engraved prayers to the God of All Machines on the floor.

“Three days ago, the Beastmen occupied three agricultural worlds in the Hawk Constellation Star Zone.” His voice modulated by the throat transducer carried the unique metallic resonance of an Interstellar Warrior, “The orbital defense platforms of those planets were supposed to hold for three months, but the Beastmen’s junk fleet shattered the Void Shield Generator—everyone should have received the images sent by the refugee ships.”

A holographic projection unfolded in the center of the round table: an orbital elevator melted by acid plummeted to the surface like a dying giant serpent, spore bombs bloomed into dark green mushroom clouds over densely populated areas, and groups of Beastmen, excitedly howling, dismembered the golden statue of a Planetary Governor. The image froze on the scene of the junk fleet setting sail again, with the next target still unknown.

A Dominant Bishop under Wang Keren spoke, “According to the calculations of the Steel Flame Furnace, the current defense system can last at most two Terra months.”

“That’s the result of your lack of unity!” Tai Shichen’s knuckles tapped on the fine gold tabletop, overturning a Merchant Wanderer’s wine glass, “If all the Melting Furnace Array were activated and Komeir were to lift their restrictions on Holy Power Crystal mining…”

“Impossible!” The State Archbishop’s roar shook the sacred candles, “Those machines will defile the soil of the Holy Land!”

As the Battle Group Leader turned, the wind pressure from his billowing cloak extinguished all the candles. In the darkness, only his goggles glowed red, staring intently at the bishop of Komeir Shrine World: “This is a mandate from the High Lord, and I, as the Death Angel of The Emperor, deliver this order. Before departing, I communicated with the Flash Judgement Court, and they deem anyone who refuses this order as a heretic.”

When the lights came back on, people noticed the hem of the bishop’s robe was unknowingly covered with frost crystals.

Tai Shichen had already moved behind the Founding Governor, lightly resting his Power Claw on the shoulder armor: “Sage Wang Keren, what do you think of this matter?”

The sound of metal grinding came from the governor’s throat: “If we can provide the Steel Flame Furnace with enough Holy Power Crystals, we can perfect the seventh exit’s…”

“Not just the seventh exit, the entire Unyielding Defense Line.”

Wang Keren fell silent.

How much would that cost?

Just as he was considering whether to temporarily agree to get through the immediate difficulty and deal with future issues slowly, he suddenly saw Tai Shichen draw an arc on the holographic map with his finger:

“Plus, a twenty-year exclusive mining right for this trade route in the future.”

The marked star systems happened to be the traditional territory of a particular merchant family, causing a low buzz of curses.

Wang Keren said nothing further.

Those places had caught his eye decades ago, but the merchant family was not easy to deal with either.

The Mercenary Queen Tristan spoke up suddenly: “My girls need live ammunition supplies! The laser guns of various worlds can’t even penetrate Insect Race shells right now!”

“The Steel Flame Furnace’s warehouse has high-energy crystals and Purgatory Heavy Laser Guns. If necessary, the Alliance Army’s logistics storehouse has even better equipment.” Tai Shichen brought up the supply list, “Exchange the Green-skinned Leader’s head for one container per head.”

“Deal!” The mercenary leader licked the notch on the axe blade, “But I’d like to inspect the goods first.”

An Alliance staff officer brought in documents and distributed them to each table.

As they read the clauses, the noise of disputes rose again.

Even though the overall situation was decided, everyone seemed to think they had room to negotiate on the details.

But at that moment, the Battle Group Leader suddenly threw an object into the air. It was a green-skinned head soaked in preservative fluid, with fragments of the Sifliger Court troops’ emblem on its tusks. Amidst the gasps of the crowd, the Power Claw crushed it, and the splattered liquid sizzled white smoke on the force field barrier.

“This fool thought he was saving humanity.” Tai Shichen flicked away the residues on his hand, “Now the entire Charon Star Zone’s ecosystem is polluted by parasitic spores. Guess which will the mutant vines devour first, the slums or your private estates?”

The holographic projection switched to a real-time strategic map, the purple representing the Insect Swarm and the green of the Beastmen slowly devouring the star domain’s boundaries. The Battle Group Leader activated the holographic emitters hidden under each seat, thrusting the attendees into the burning streets of the Nest Capital. The virtual war cries of the Beastmen made several civil representatives fall to the ground, while a Planetary Governor even drew out a defensive laser handgun.

“The Unyielding Defense Line requires three hundred missile platforms and forty-seven rapid response fleets.” Tai Shichen’s voice penetrated the virtual barrage, “The Steel Flame Furnace will manage the orbital defense network, Miss Tristan’s mercenary group will clean up the remaining enemies, and the National Church will pacify the populace—as for the costs…”

He deliberately paused, watching the merchant representatives instinctively clutch their money bags, “How about we deduct the expenses with your smuggling fleets hidden in the satellite shadows?”

As the last digital agreement was completed, night had fallen over the Founding World outside the dome. Tai Shichen removed his helmet, revealing a scar running from brow to jawline—a memento left by the Chaos Lord three years ago. This intentionally displayed vulnerability momentarily silenced the representatives who were prepared to haggle.

“At this point, who still believes there’s safety behind high walls?” He caressed the crack in the tabletop sliced by an axe, “Now… who is willing to join me in facing the Starfire?”