Starting from the Planetary Governor

Chapter 914: Chapter 493, The Enemy is in Terra!

One banquet after another, one meeting after another, one social gathering after another under the guise of art and music…

In the last month on Holy Terra, Gu Hang was diligently expanding his network of contacts.

To be honest, he didn’t enjoy these things.

But he was trying hard to integrate himself into them and use their methods to secure everything possible for his Alliance.

The more he did so, the more disillusioned he became with the highest echelons of the Human Empire.

On this trip to Terra, Gu Hang had come to an in-depth understanding of the heart of the Human Empire. From the High Lords at the very top to the rank-and-file executive officers, he had dealt with them all.

Among them, were there any with glorious ideals or grand visions?

Yes, there were.

But they were a minority.

Instead, what Gu Hang mostly saw was interest exchange, sordid dealings, and lives steeped in debauchery…

Even when discussing serious matters, in Gu Hang’s view, they were quite impractical, dissociated from reality, and of no benefit to the nation or the people.

It was fortunate that it hadn’t yet come to a point of total negligence in civil administration and military recreation. The former might be present, but the ‘military’ had not yet become ‘recreational’, which was the only consolation.

Before Gu Hang left, the struggle for the head of the Military Affairs Department had concluded.

Galaraldo had won but hadn’t won completely.

He had succeeded in becoming the Minister of Military Affairs, the highest administrative office within one of the four major departments of the Empire.

Under the Empire Government structure, in theory, the only person above him was the Imperial Prime Minister.

But that was only in theory. In reality, not to mention that he hadn’t yet secured his position, within the Empire there were too many independent power factions outside the government structure.

Moreover, the reason he hadn’t won completely was due to not having secured a seat in the Supreme Council.

It was quite rare in Empire history for the Military Affairs Department to lose the position of a High Lord. After all, if there was a hierarchy among the four major departments, Military Affairs would be second, possibly vying for first. While it’s true that not every term within the four departments guarantees the seat of a High Lord and sometimes none have it, typically the Minister of Military Affairs would be among them. It was rare to see the ministers of the three other departments included while the Military Affairs was excluded.

To be honest, this had a substantial impact on Galaraldo’s control over the Military Affairs Department, as the people below might become dissatisfied and uneasy.

But he didn’t actually care about these anymore.

In his words: “I’ve risen through the ranks at breakneck speed in recent years, unavoidably offending a great many people, especially those whose positions I’ve taken, whose paths I’ve blocked. However, after my promotion to Minister, many of these issues will subside. If I am not high enough, they will envy me, resent me; but once I rise to a level they can only look up to, they will instead flatter me.”

“I’m not lacking in grudges; if I feared this, I would have kept a low profile long ago.”

“It’s you who should be careful when you return. Whether it’s dealing with the Fury Flame Battle Group or possibly Iron Armor that may soon make big moves, neither is easy to handle. Don’t let us down, but don’t overextend yourself either. If it really comes to the worst and there’s no way out, always remember to stay alive at all costs. With me here, no matter the difficulty, I assure you a chance for a comeback!”

These were Galaraldo’s final words of advice to Gu Hang before he left.

…

Gazing at Holy Terra growing smaller and more distant within his sight, Gu Hang withdrew his gaze and turned towards the boundless Star Sea ahead.

The matters on Terra had concluded, and he was on his journey home.

It had been one year since he left the Alliance, and the return trip would take nearly another year. Together, two years were quite an extended period.

As a leader, being away from the core of your dominion for a long time is certainly not beneficial.

However, as a part of the Empire, and a power grown under the wings of the Empire, Gu Hang had to make this trip to Terra by all means.

Putting aside the benefits acquired and the troubles resolved on this trip, he had to let these old masters on Terra clearly recognize what kind of person he was, in the way he wanted to be recognized.

This way, when they thought of the Alliance, they wouldn’t just see it as a rising power in the Empire’s Eastern Frontier grasping both military and political power. Instead, they would associate it with the identity of Gu Hang, the leader, think of him in the context of the Imperial Political Arena, realize his connection to Holy Terra, as part of an emerging political faction.

‘One of their own.’

Should things come to some dangerous yet inevitable juncture later on, the contacts established on Terra might prove to be useful.

And, for the past twenty years, the Alliance system that he had crafted should still be trustworthy, not wholly reliant on his presence, capable of operating smoothly on its own. The biggest problem with his absence from the center was not the governance, but the morale.

Two years, was nearly at the limit. And for this reason, he didn’t dare to waste any more time on Holy Terra. Once matters were settled, he promptly embarked on his return journey.

Hoping that all would still be well when he returned.

…

In the Eastern Cosmos Domain, within the Dragonhawk Star Domain and the Snoweagle Starfield.

Fury Flame Battle Group Leader Kazimir Ersu was in communication with his ally, Humphrey Paolo, the Iron Armor Battle Group Leader located far away in the Princess Star Domain.