Starting from the Planetary Governor

Chapter 1708: Chapter 970: Return at Once

Faced with differing messages from Holy Terra and Mars, who should Robert trust?

Of course, he trusts no one!

From the current situation, it’s clear that something has gone wrong.

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly who’s at fault without adequate information, but Robert decided to see for himself.

To protect himself and avoid falling into a trap due to issues on Mars, he carefully led his fleet forward, maintaining formation, and deployed numerous scout ships for reconnaissance.

Eventually, it became apparent that the problem was indeed with Holy Terra.

The forward-most scout ships witnessed as war unfolded on Holy Terra!

Robert closely monitored the situation, demanding all frontline intelligence be sent directly to him.

From this intelligence, Robert felt that the war currently occurring on Holy Terra seemed to be not an ’external’ invasion, but rather an internal upheaval.

But this made it all the more strange.

Holy Terra, with its massive population of over a trillion, densely packed with nest capitals that drain the oceans, has cramped living spaces and inevitably areas lacking control.

Riots occurring are actually quite normal.

Not to mention since the Catastrophe Era, even in better times, the situation was not always peaceful.

Given such a large base, coupled with the Empire’s truly corrupt and inefficient nature, some unrest is very normal.

However, while unrest easily erupts, it is also easily suppressed.

Not considering the Imperial Guard stationed long-term within the Imperial Palace, after all, those ’homebodies’ barely step out no matter the gravity of the situation.

Besides the Imperial Guard, one of the original warbands, the Golden Knights, have long been stationed on Holy Terra. They have many historical records of suppressing revolts.

Furthermore, the defensive forces on Holy Terra remain formidable.

The Sun Legion, a leader among the Star Realm Army, numbering in billions, had a considerable portion outside Holy Terra when the Catastrophe hit and couldn’t return, yet nearly half remain stationed on Holy Terra.

They are the main force for quelling unrest on Holy Terra.

Moreover, the Legal Department cannot be ignored. It is rooted in Holy Terra, with police forces not inferior to elite armies in equipment and personnel. The police focus more on investigation, riot control, urban and small-scale warfare.

Perhaps in large-scale field battles, the Legal Department cannot match the military, due to differences in equipment and training for different scenarios. However, in urban environments, they are significantly more professional in suppressing uprisings.

The number of Legal Department personnel on Holy Terra is no less than the Solar Expedition Army.

Beyond the basic police forces, the Legal Department also has elite officers. Power Armor and Terminator Armor - feedback versions equipped for mortals - are available.

Besides the Sun Legion and Legal Department, there are forces like the Tribunal and Assassin Court...

There are plenty of talents on Holy Terra capable of quelling any riots.

Historically, there have been hardly any successful uprisings on Holy Terra.

But what if it isn’t just a simple riot?

In the Solar System, amidst the surging Subspace waves, deep Chaos corruption is more than normal.

In fact, before the Catastrophe Era, in the lower nest capitals of Holy Terra, Chaos corruption was not uncommon among the impoverished population.

Under the Scarlet Scar, it certainly became more severe.

Nonetheless, riots caused merely by Chaos corruption aren’t frightening by themselves.

But what if the very defenses meant to suppress these riots are also corrupted?

Star Realm Army leaders, police officials... these have happened throughout history.

Reaching this point is still not particularly terrifying.

After all, Chaos corruption has always been a core threat faced by the Human Empire, with the National Church, Sect of Mechanics, Tribunal, and Legal Department all having rigorous mechanisms for oversight.

But what if the depth of corruption increases? To the extent that these institutions themselves have corrupted elements?

At this point, it becomes quite troubling.

We could add another layer of frightening reality—even without Chaos corruption, is humanity a perfect, flawless species?

In such troubled times, the many nobles on the planet, even without Chaos corruption, surely have their hidden agendas.

Further exacerbated by Chaos corruption, whispered temptations from Subspace...

"Whew..." Robert let out a long breath.

No matter how complex or difficult the situation on Holy Terra, he must face it now.

He had prepared himself to face this.

Otherwise, why bring a massive Terra Expeditionary Army rather than coming alone?

...

When the Terra Expeditionary Army reached near Holy Terra, they didn’t need to initiate contact with the surface; a communication arrived first.

However, it was a warning message.

They still did not recognize Robert’s identity.

It was completely within expectations.

Whether they were truly cautious and disbelieved the revival of the Son of God or if they did believe but did not want the Son of God to reclaim his throne and power, they could likely do this.

Robert sent a stern reply, emphasizing his identity and legitimacy, demanding that all political and military forces on Holy Terra obey his orders if they remain loyal, in the name of the Empire’s Regent King.

Here, he avoided falling into an identity verification trap.

Even if his identity is genuine, the ground forces have countless ways to delay indefinitely under the guise of procedural justice.

Instead, he needed to hold the initiative.

Where does his initiative lie?

There are two essential aspects.

First, his identity.

Before his slumber, besides being the Son of God and leader of the legion, he had another crucial identity as the Empire’s Regent King.

The title alone indicates the weight of this position.

He was the Empire Government’s undisputed highest legal ruler, even a dictator.

Without the Emperor’s return, he was the Empire’s master.

This identity, never revoked even after his injury-induced slumber, still stood.

Naturally, who could revoke it? What effort would it take to disturb the eleven ancient mythical figures already asleep?

Now, this legitimate identity is his greatest source of legitimacy to rule the entire Empire.

The second source of his initiative is the large, reinforced, peak-recovered Expeditionary Force he commands.

He was determined to fully leverage his advantage.

His orders to Holy Terra were not solely directed at the government; he also used secret channels to send differently worded letters to every crucial faction on Holy Terra, including the Imperial Guard, seeking their support.

Moreover, he advanced his army to the lunar orbit.