Translator: AnubisTL
After some minor setbacks, both sides had grown more familiar with each other.
Though it might sound strange, conflict is often the quickest way to understand someone. For example, sending daily greetings to your Goddess as a lovesick simp is far less effective than launching a full-blown verbal assault. That's how you truly get to know each other.
"Let's go through this step by step."
"Assume you're a good person."
Chen Mang pondered for a moment before turning to the old sect leader of the Venomous Serpent Sect. "You discovered an immortal realm fragment containing vast resource mines—what you call spirit stones. You want to accumulate these spirit stones to pass on to talented juniors, so someday you can overthrow the Kasha Civilization's rule and restore the glory of Immortal Cultivation."
"To this end, you even had Zhang Qiudao erase his memories and were reluctant to use too many spirit stones for the Venomous Serpent Sect's own purposes."
"Sacrificing the family for the greater good."
"Is that correct?"
"Mm-hmm."
The old sect leader nodded vigorously, like a chick pecking for grain. "That's exactly right."
"Have you ever considered this? Even the Immortal Realm you speak of was obliterated with a single shot from the Kasha Civilization. What's the point of continuing to cultivate? We're clearly not on the same level."
"We must cling to hope. I firmly believe that a spark can ignite a prairie fire."
"Very well. Your spark has arrived. Hand over the resources from this immortal realm fragment, and I'll annihilate the Kasha Civilization for you."
"What?"
"You don't believe me? Doesn't the Kasha Civilization have a garrison stationed on your planet? I'll go destroy them right now."
"No, no, no!" The old sect leader of the Venomous Serpent Sect paled, his voice urgent. "If those garrisons fall, we're all doomed. The Kasha Civilization's armies would slaughter every last soul on Black Tortoise Star."
After a deep breath, the old sect leader looked up at Chen Mang. After a long pause, he continued, "Zhang Qiudao is a child I hold dear. The fact that he chose to trust you means there must be something in you worthy of trust."
"I will give you the coordinates to this immortal realm fragment."
"And I'll let you send people in to mine its resources."
"But I just hope you can promise one thing: if you ever manage to overthrow the Kasha Civilization, could you relocate more people to Black Tortoise Star? It's far too sparsely populated there."
"Of course."
Chen Mang was slightly surprised. "What brought this sudden realization?"
"It's hard not to see the truth when it's right in front of you."
The old sect leader of the Venomous Serpent Sect glanced at the nearby abyss, a hint of resignation flickering in his murky eyes. "But let me make this clear: I only have the coordinates for a single immortal realm fragment. I truly don't know anything about the others."
"No problem, one is enough," Chen Mang said cheerfully, waving his hand dismissively.
One hour later, the sacrificial ritual began.
On the rear slopes of the Venomous Serpent Sect, the old sect leader retrieved a vast array of materials from his Space Pouch and began setting up the formation. He then sacrificed himself—complete with the refrigerator he was carrying—to the immortal realm fragment.
It's worth noting that within the Kasha Civilization Federation, the disparity between the ruling elite's opulence and the common people's privation had grown extreme.
Once, everyone used the prestigious ancient rings. But after the mass production and widespread distribution of cheap Space Pouches in the Cultivation World, few still bothered to purchase ancient rings. Many artisans who had made their living crafting these rings were forced to retrain and find new trades.
Soon, Chen Mang led Biaozi and the others into the nearby refrigerator. When they emerged, they found themselves within an "immortal realm fragment."
"Is this the immortal realm fragment?"
"It's way too fragmentary."
How to describe this place? It was roughly the size of ten football fields. There was no sky, no sun, no clouds, yet it was brightly lit. The edges were clearly demarcated by a dark, twisted, and distorted barrier, isolating this place from the rest of the universe. It was an utterly miraculous location, its ground littered with iron and copper mines.
Before long, Biaozi returned, pickaxe slung over his shoulder, and reported in a hushed voice, "It's mostly 7th-tier ore."
"7th-tier ore?" Chen Mang's eyes lit up. The highest-tier ore he had ever mined in his life was 7th-tier. A single 7th-tier mine typically yielded around ten billion units of resources. With seven or eight mines here, that meant seventy to eighty billion units in total.
Not much, really. The Stellaris's resource gap was simply too vast. The armor's Tier wasn't high enough, and many Seven-Colored Accessories hadn't even reached Tier 200, let alone stockpiling enough resources for a full campaign.
But since it was essentially free for the taking, they might as well take it.
"This was once the Immortal Realm," the old sect leader of the Venomous Serpent Sect said with a sigh, his voice thick with nostalgia. "In the heyday of the Cultivation Civilization, cultivators would occasionally ascend to the Immortal Realm. But times have changed; even the most powerful spells can't withstand a single cannonball."
"Times have truly changed," he repeated.
"When the currents of history cast someone aside, they don't send a notice. Our only hope now is for the powerful cultivators of the Five Great Sects and Three Great Clans to ascend to immortality someday and lead the Cultivation Civilization to reclaim its former glory."
Meanwhile, mining robots emerged in endless waves from the nearby refrigerator, ready to begin extraction.
"This place is perfect," Chen Mang observed, scanning the surroundings. He turned to Old Pig and instructed, "Once the mining is complete, have workers retrofit this area into a prison. We'll use it to detain anyone we need to lock up in the future. The natural barriers here are ideal."
"Good plan," Old Pig agreed.
With that, the brief interlude came to an end.
Chen Mang could sense that the old sect leader had been carrying a heavy burden for too long, needing an outlet for his pent-up frustrations. Normally, his position as sect leader prevented him from voicing such divisive sentiments. But now, with their sect's power diminished, he could finally speak his mind freely.
He understood this feeling.
This was precisely why he had chosen to live on a train for his civilization.
As long as he didn't have a fixed base, he could leave whenever he wanted.
He wouldn't be subject to anyone's jurisdiction or exploitation.
Three days passed quickly.
Chen Mang led his group back to Central Continent City to participate in the triennial Alchemist Convention. Their goal was to make their top-grade Marrow Cleansing Pill a hit and earn a fortune.
This was the main event of their trip.
Everything before had just been appetizers.
Though there had been quite a few appetizers, and their appetites had grown rather large.
Central Continent City was bustling today, its streets packed with cultivators and tourists from other civilizations who had come to join the festivities. This was one of the most famous holidays on Black Tortoise Star, and many people attended every year.
"Next to take the stage is—"
"Zhang Xuanyao, Inner Sect disciple of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion, Foundation Establishment ninth layer cultivation!"
The host's voice echoed across the stage.
The crowd erupted in cheers. In truth, many of them hadn't even heard of this name; they were just cheering to be part of the atmosphere.
Over a dozen alchemists, their expressions ranging from aloof to warm to shy, now stood on the stage. Each time the host announced a name, an alchemist would ascend from the audience.
Chen Mang casually selected a disciple from the Venomous Serpent Sect to send up.
After all, his "Medicinal Pills" were essentially pre-prepared dishes. He didn't need to perform any actual alchemy; he just had to pour cola into the Alchemy Furnace.
"What a lively scene," Chen Mang remarked.
The venue for this Alchemist Convention was none other than the stadium where he had fought Young Master Li three days prior. Now fully restored, it was packed with spectators. Chen Mang, Biaozi, and the others sat in the stands, watching the proceedings with amusement.
This life wasn't bad, he thought. Make some money, watch some fun.
"Is that him?"
In a private booth above the stadium, eight figures gathered, their faces expressionless as they gazed down at Chen Mang, who sat among the audience, clearly enjoying the spectacle.
These eight were no ordinary observers.
They were the leaders of the Black Tortoise Star's Five Great Sects and Three Great Clans!
While their power might not be the greatest, their influence was unquestionably supreme.
On this planet, these eight individuals held absolute power over the fate of many lives.
"Confirmed," said a scar-faced middle-aged man, his eyes flashing with conviction as he nodded. "During the duel between him and Young Master Li of the Great Onion Civilization, their Cosmic Behemoths released energy fluctuations clearly indicating they were Tier 100!"
"His Cosmic Behemoth is definitely Tier 100. There's no mistake about that."
"I was in secluded cultivation here at the time. I couldn't have misperceived that."
His words hung in the air.
The group fell into a profound silence, none daring to speak. What did a Tier 100 Cosmic Behemoth truly mean?
Normally, a Cosmic Behemoth Cub with such potential would require millennia, even tens of millennia, to mature. The only method to drastically shorten this time was the "Giant Beast Car" developed by the Mechanical Civilization.
And for a civilization to possess a Tier 100 Cosmic Behemoth meant their train also possessed Tier 100 defensive components.
Tier 100.
Throughout the entire 27th Galaxy, no civilization's train had ever achieved Tier 100 defensive components. The resources required for such an upgrade were astronomical.
Just then—
Everyone suddenly noticed a fluffy little ball wriggle out from Chen Mang's coat, its ears twitching as it gazed curiously at the dais.
"Quick! You have the Demon-Revealing Mirror, right? Use it!"
The middle-aged man hastily pulled out the mirror, channeled spiritual energy into it, and received a confirmation. His voice trembled with excitement: "It's confirmed! Tier 100! His Cosmic Behemoth is truly Tier 100!"
"He's the most suitable candidate we've ever seen."
"May I approach him?"
"No."
At that moment, the white-haired elder seated in the center of the dais shook his head slightly, leaning on his staff. A weary detachment from worldly affairs clouded his eyes. "The Apocalypse Plan has been secretly carried out under immense pressure by the entire Cultivation World for over a century."
"We haven't accumulated enough resources yet."
"It's not time to activate it."
"Moreover, we know almost nothing about him. All we have is his name—Chen Mang—and that he has a method to conceal the Tier of his train accessories. His official entry status is as a member of the Yisao Merchant Guild from Sanshui City on Peace Planet."
"He's a civilization-less vagabond."
"Everything else remains unclear."
"His bone age is less than thirty, yet he possesses such formidable strength. This suggests he's both skilled and powerful, but we can't vouch for his character."
The crowd fell silent again, as if doused with cold water.
Though the outside world labeled them as a "Cultivation Civilization," they always considered themselves part of the "Human Civilization."
In their culture, there was an ancient saying: "Man will conquer Heaven."
Immortal Cultivation itself was defying the natural order.
What had they to fear?
The Immortal Realm had been destroyed, and several Cultivation Civilizations annihilated. Only they remained. Would they resign themselves to becoming mere zoo exhibits, gawked at by countless visitors?
No.
Never.
Under immense pressure, humans often devise wildly audacious plans.
Thus was born the "Apocalypse Plan"!
The leaders of the Five Great Sects and Three Great Clans set aside past grievances, gathering in a secret chamber. After forty-nine days of relentless debate, without sleep or rest, they finally conceived this scheme.
All to restore the Black Tortoise Star to its former glory!
Never be enslaved!
A century ago, they discovered a vast number of "immortal realm fragments." Overjoyed, they sent their hidden "Divine Transformation Realm seniors" from various factions to cultivate within these fragments, hoping to use their resources to cultivate an Immortal who could overthrow the Kasha Civilization's rule.
But soon, they realized this idea was overly naive. Their utilization of resources was too inefficient, and immortal cultivation required vast amounts of time. The fragmented nature of advanced Immortal Techniques prevented their full combat potential from being unleashed. Even at peak performance, they couldn't match the Kasha Civilization.
In the current universe, the "mechanical train" civilization ecosystem is indeed more suited for combat than their "immortal cultivation" ecosystem.
Thus, after forty-nine days of deliberation, the "Apocalypse Plan" was born—to counter a spear with a spear!
The plan was simple:
Gather all immortal realm fragments and vast quantities of spirit stones, no longer using them for cultivation. Accumulate them for centuries, millennia, or even tens of millennia—until they encountered a train conductor with sufficient potential.
Then, invest all resources into that one individual.
With the millennia-old foundation of Black Tortoise Star, we supported a single train, aiming to overthrow the rule of the Kasha Civilization.
It was a mad plan.
One that staked the entire future of Black Tortoise Star.
But—
Once this plan was decided, it has been unwaveringly executed for a century.
Massive quantities of iron ore extracted from the immortal realm fragments were secretly stockpiled. Central Continent City flourished, earning vast amounts of iron ore, while cowering before the Kasha Civilization Garrison, appearing utterly subservient—all of it.
All to accumulate vast reserves of spirit stones, and when the right person came along, to invest all our resources in him!
"Yes, yes, it's true!"
The middle-aged man who had spoken first pulled out a recording stone from his robe, crushed it, and the events of three days prior replayed before them. Though silent, the images were vivid.
The man began to explain:
"At first, these factions were all enemies, entangled in betrayal, greed, and foolishness—the primal sins."
"But through Chen Mang's diplomacy..."
"They all transformed their enemies into allies, united on a common battlefront, and even planned a life-or-death battle beforehand. But at the last moment, Chen Mang spared Young Master Li's Cosmic Behemoth, completely winning Young Master Li's trust."
"He demonstrated not a single negative trait throughout the entire process."
"I believe his character is undoubtedly worthy of praise."
"Still, that's not enough."
The Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion, seated in the center, slowly shook his head and said gravely, "You're too impatient. I understand you want to see the Kasha Civilization's downfall quickly, but our Apocalypse Plan has only been in execution for a century."
"We haven't accumulated enough resources yet."
"Our initial plan called for at least a millennium, possibly five thousand, ten thousand, or even tens of thousands of years."
"He may be suitable."
"But he appeared too early, and our current resources are insufficient."
"Perhaps..."
At that moment, a man with a softer demeanor, seated nearby, spoke thoughtfully, "Pavilion Master, perhaps we should reconsider our plan. The fact that Chen Mang could upgrade the train's defensive components to Tier 100 suggests he may not be lacking resources."
"And he has his own unique methods."
"In a thousand years, he might develop the strength to destroy the Kasha Civilization on his own."
"At that point, providing him with resources would be pointless."
"Now, it's like delivering coal in the snow. He's currently in the early stages of establishing himself. The resources accumulated by Black Tortoise Star over a century may not be much, but they're significant to him. When he grows stronger in the future, this kindness will reflect favorably on Black Tortoise Star."
After a long silence, the Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion spoke again, his voice hoarse: "What the outside world doesn't know is that Black Tortoise Star is rich in Murphy Stone. Currently, all the Murphy Stone on Black Tortoise Star is being secretly stockpiled."
"According to our plan, we intended to use Murphy Stone and vast resources to push a single train to its peak."
"Without sufficient Murphy Stone, even the Kasha Civilization cannot break through its limits."
"But—"
"Only a century has passed, and we haven't accumulated enough Murphy Stone. Launching the plan now won't have a decisive impact. It's a gamble. If he doesn't grow strong, can we simply restart the plan?"
"The Apocalypse Plan itself was a gamble from the start," said a stunningly beautiful woman seated in the corner, calmly gazing at Chen Mang in the audience. "We've already gambled once. Why not gamble again? I opposed this plan from the beginning. Entrusting Black Tortoise Star's future to an outsider? It's pure fantasy."
The heavily scarred middle-aged man said with a grim expression, "The plan is already set. Let's not reopen old wounds. Without this plan, can we rely on our own strength? Don't you understand the vast gap between us?"
"I understand."
"I understand very well."
The beautiful woman nodded calmly. "So, even though I disagreed, I still firmly carried out the plan. And now, I believe it's time to activate it."
"What's the most important thing in the Apocalypse Plan?"
"Is it Black Tortoise Star's foundation?"
"No, it's people."
"A perfectly suitable person."
"Chen Mang has the means, the temperament, and the capability. He's a civilization-less wanderer without political affiliations, owns a Tier 100 Cosmic Behemoth, and keeps a low profile. He's the ideal candidate for our plan."
"What does a Tier 100 Cosmic Behemoth mean? It could effortlessly annihilate the entire Black Tortoise Star."
"But do you see anything unusual about him compared to others? No, he looks just like an ordinary person. Put yourselves in his shoes. If you had the power to destroy the world effortlessly, would you sit in the stands like a regular person, cheerfully watching the spectacle?"
"He's the most suitable candidate to have emerged in recent years."
"Without exception."
"The most crucial point is that he has no wife, which perfectly aligns with all our plan's requirements."
"I propose we immediately execute the Apocalypse Plan."
The crowd fell silent, turning their gazes toward the Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion, awaiting his opinion.
"..."
The Pavilion Master remained silent for a long while, his eyes closed. Then, leaning on his staff with both hands, he slowly opened his eyes and looked at Chen Mang on the dais. "Gentlemen," he murmured, "in this moment, we decide the fate of the entire Black Tortoise Star."
"The destinies of billions of lives rest in our hands."
"If our plan is exposed..."
"The Black Tortoise Star will face the vast armies of the Kasha Civilization."
"I urge each of you to think, rethink, and think again before making this decision."
"As I grow old..."
"I can no longer match your boldness. I've just examined my heart and realized that my hesitation wasn't due to any doubts about the plan's soundness, but simply because I lacked the courage to make such a decision. With my days numbered, I wanted to delay this choice until my death, passing the responsibility to you."
"But when I realized this..."
"I became terrified."
"There are seven of you here. Let's vote. Those who support appointing Chen Mang as the executor of the Apocalypse Plan, please raise your hand."
The next moment—
Seven hands rose one after another.
Unanimous approval.
"Very well."
The Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion rose unsteadily to his feet and turned toward the door. "Begin executing the plan as discussed. Let's hope things don't take a turn for the worse."
"Withdraw our pawns from the other candidates and focus all our efforts on approaching Chen Mang."
Over the years, they had identified numerous candidates, placing pawns around each to evaluate their temperament and potential. For example, Young Master Li of the Great Onion Civilization, the train conductor of the Philia Pirate Group, and Zhang Qiusheng of Hibiscus Star.
The most crucial factor was temperament. The Black Tortoise Star was at a severe disadvantage in this transaction, lacking the strength to ensure that a candidate who grew stronger would protect them. Their only hopes lay in two things: gratitude and love.
To foster gratitude, they had secretly cultivated nineteen immortal beauties—both male and female—over the years. These individuals were proficient in the four scholarly arts of zither, Go, calligraphy, and painting, and possessed peerless beauty and figures.
TL/N: Go refers to the board game, kinda like Chinese Chess.
All of this was for the purpose of marriage alliances.
Only by becoming a married couple and having children could they more effectively bind the train conductor to the Black Tortoise Star.
This was their only means of securing such a bond.
This method of binding, however, could only be effective on certain individuals. This was also a crucial criterion for assessing one's temperament.
"By the way."
The Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion, who hadn't yet left the room, paused unsteadily and whispered: "Continue cultivating those eight male cultivators. Don't worry about wasting resources. Even though our chosen candidate is male, we can't be certain if he prefers women."
"We can only hope he does."
"Otherwise, the inability to have children becomes a major problem. Without children, it's difficult to truly care about the Black Tortoise Star."
The other seven members watched the old man's retreating figure in silence for a long time before softly sighing: "The Pavilion Master is getting old."
"He used to be so full of ambition."
"He spoke of scheming for the world, using all its people as chess pieces to lay out a grand, earth-shattering game. When the game began, the entire world would be shaken!"
"At the time, this very game was first proposed by the Pavilion Master himself. Now that it's time to make the first move, he's grown afraid."
"Who isn't afraid?" the beautiful woman murmured as she walked by the window. "The Kasha Civilization's centuries of rule weigh like a mountain on the Pavilion Master's heart. He was once so proud and arrogant, yet he had to smile and wipe away the spit of a mere garrison commander from the Kasha Civilization."
"The Pavilion Master said it himself."
"Enduring silently may be the right path, but it wears down the spirit. Endure enough, and you'll truly become cowardly."
"He knows this, yet he can't resist it."
"Then let's proceed with the plan," the scar-faced man said, his eyes narrowing. "I'll have our clan's 'fairy' approach him first. Then we'll find a way to plant a pawn near him to assess his true potential and temperament."
"We already have a suitable candidate."
"The man beside him is the sect leader of the Venomous Serpent Sect. They seem close, which is a good sign. At least it means they don't view us as mere monkeys in a zoo, but as equals. I'll contact him."
"Agreed."
Soon—
The seven exchanged glances, quickly left the secret chamber, and returned to their respective flying boats, mobilizing their resources with all haste.
Once the Apocalypse Plan was initiated, it wasn't just about contacting candidates and planting pawns.
After all, Chen Mang wasn't merely a candidate; he was the unanimously chosen ultimate being!
His temperament and potential had already been assessed and found to be perfectly qualified. The only reason for further verification was out of caution.
According to the original plan, Chen Mang should have first been listed as a candidate, undergone a series of evaluations, and competed with other candidates. However, after gaining a deeper understanding of him, they bypassed this process entirely, canceled all other candidate slots, and directly designated him as the "ultimate being."
Good talent scouts are common, but finding a true gem is rare.
No matter how fine the fodder, one must still wait for a truly exceptional thoroughbred to come along.
While most people, including the Kasha Civilization garrison, were gathered in Central Continent City for the festivities, the entire Cultivation World began to stir beneath the surface, guided by a series of secret orders. One of the key reasons for choosing Central Continent City was to keep the Kasha Civilization garrison under house arrest.
Those people...
instinctively preferred staying in comfortable places.
The Apocalypse Plan was officially launched!
Black Tortoise Star's first counterattack, whether successful or not, would be its last.
Within the Kasha Civilization Federation, countless civilizations had rebelled before, only to be extinguished. Yet this failed to deter new civilizations from secretly amassing strength, preparing to resist.
They would rather die trying than not try at all.
This was a desperate gamble, staking hundreds of years of Black Tortoise Star's foundation and its very future.
The stakes: Chen Mang.
Win.
Universal rejoicing. With the migration of populations, the number of cultivators on Black Tortoise Star would surge, allowing the reestablishment of the Immortal Realm and a return to the former glory of the Cultivation Civilization.
Lose.
Black Tortoise Star would be Chen Mang's tomb, and billions of lives would perish because of his actions.
In the Kasha Civilization Federation, on a space station near Peace Planet in the 27th Galaxy:
A middle-aged man slammed his fist angrily against the screen, his expression dark.
This space station, belonging to the Kasha Civilization, served as a strategic deployment point.
And...
He had just discovered that one of the 13 hidden strategic wormholes originally belonging to the 27th Galaxy had been reactivated. Now two were active—dammit!
Over a year ago, only one had been activated, and he could report it as a natural dissipation.
But then he discovered that another one had been activated just days ago.
How was he supposed to report this?
Were the Kasha Civilization Federation to claim that two of the thirteen hidden strategic wormholes they had spent vast resources to construct had naturally dissipated within a year? Bullshit! If the higher-ups didn't send investigators down, it would be a fucking miracle!
If they uncovered that he had deliberately fabricated the truth a year ago, he was finished!
He knew perfectly well who had activated the two wormholes. A year ago, while drunk, he had accidentally added a stranger to a group chat and leaked the coordinates of all thirteen wormholes.
But he couldn't possibly report this now.
Reporting it would mean certain death.
Death either way.
After a long silence, his thoughts swirling as he stared at the galaxy map on the screen, he gritted his teeth and said, "Destroy the remaining eleven hidden strategic wormholes. Then I'll report it as a Zerg Civilization invasion, claiming they used unknown methods to destroy all the concealed strategic wormholes."
The 27th Galaxy was the one closest to the Zerg Civilization.
Though tens of thousands of light-years away, the methods of the Zerg Civilization are inherently mysterious and unpredictable, making such a feat plausible.
"Huh?"
A flicker of fear crossed the adjutant's eyes as he stammered, "Commander, these thirteen hidden strategic wormholes consumed trillions of units of iron ore from the Kasha Civilization. They are crucial strategic deployment points."
"Once war begins..."
"The Kasha Civilization's military can rapidly deploy to the Zerg Civilization's territory and surrounding strategic zones through these wormholes."
"The cost of creating wormholes undetectable by the Zerg Civilization is immense."
"Though we've lost two, eleven remain. If we eliminate that boy, the wormhole coordinates won't be revealed, saving the Kasha Civilization vast resources."
"He definitely wouldn't reveal the coordinates."
The middle-aged man's face darkened as he seized the adjutant by the collar, enunciating each word menacingly: "Listen carefully. If I report the loss of two strategic wormholes, the higher-ups will undoubtedly send investigators."
"Both of us will be forced to commit suicide."
"And you won't escape."
"Once we destroy all thirteen concealed strategic wormholes and eliminate that person, this matter will become public knowledge, and we'll bear no responsibility. Do you understand?"
"Immediately send forces to destroy the remaining eleven concealed strategic wormholes!"
"Report to me once they're destroyed. I'll handle the reporting."
"I won't say it again. This is the only way to save our lives. I don't want to die, and I'm sure you don't either. Besides, the Kasha Civilization won't miss these wormholes. Moreover, war is impossible—haven't you seen that the Zerg Civilization is already waging war in the opposite direction? They wouldn't dare provoke us, the Kasha Civilization."
"Yes, yes!" The deputy's face twisted, his voice trembling with desperation.
He acquiesced, having no other choice.
He didn't want to die either.
But...
He couldn't shake the feeling that this was wrong. They could have found a way to preserve those eleven wormholes. If higher-ups investigated later, they could have concealed the truth, destroyed all the strategic wormholes, and blamed the Zerg Civilization. Instead, they chose to report the truth for the sake of the civilization's interests. Would the higher-ups really hold them accountable?
"Wait!"
Just then, a middle-aged man with a slightly menacing expression gritted his teeth and rasped, "This won't do. It's not realistic enough!"
"How could the Zerg Civilization have secretly dispatched military forces to the 27th Galaxy, evading all detection, and then precisely destroyed all the concealed strategic wormholes?"
"How did they obtain the intelligence?"
"Could we have been the ones who leaked the information?"
"It must have been when the Zerg Mothership secretly arrived and clashed with our forces. During the space battle, they accidentally bombarded several hidden strategic wormholes. That would make it plausible. Let me check."
"Order the Kasha Civilization garrison in the 27th Galaxy to voyage."
"Send an emergency intelligence report stating a Zerg invasion."
The man rapidly tapped points on the galaxy map. "This point, this point, and this point."
"Two points make a line."
"When the Zerg Mothership destroyed these planets, it accidentally bombarded the wormholes. Order the Kasha Civilization garrison in the 27th Galaxy to voyage, targeting the Great Onion Civilization, Brilliant Civilization, Jiang Ping Civilization, Peace-Seeking Civilization, and Black Tortoise Civilization."
"Wait, the Black Tortoise Civilization won't do. It's a Cultivation Civilization, and one of their high-ranking leaders is fond of watching sword flight. We need to preserve it, or we'll face accountability for the emotional impact. Let's switch it out and add the Ant-Man Civilization instead."
"A total of twenty-seven First-Tier Civilizations."
"Completely destroyed."
"Create a state of war in the 27th Galaxy. The 'Kasha Civilization Garrison' will bravely resist the enemy, repelling the Zerg Civilization's mothership military forces with only seventeen high-tier trains lost!"
"During the conflict, twenty-seven First-Tier Civilizations will be destroyed, and several of their concealed strategic wormholes will be accidentally destroyed."
The middle-aged man, his eyes bloodshot, stared intently at the galaxy map. "This should do it. Now it's foolproof."
"Commander!"
The adjutant standing beside him burst into tears. "The hole is getting bigger! Let's stop patching it up! Just report the truth! The higher-ups definitely won't hold us accountable! This mess is only getting worse!"
"Cut the crap!"
The man, on the verge of hysterical madness, roared, "I don't want to die! If you understood the bureaucratic game better than me, you wouldn't still be stuck as an adjutant after thirty-seven years! I climbed above you so quickly because I understand it better than you!"
"Chaos?"
"The more chaos, the better!"
"Only in chaos can we fish in muddy waters! Otherwise, we'll all die!"
"Don't worry, I've got this under control. The Kasha Civilization Federation has nearly ten thousand First-Tier Civilizations, and only 27 have been destroyed. The higher-ups won't care at all. The leader of the Kasha Civilization Garrison in the 27th Galaxy is my brother."
"As long as everyone is inside the trains with the windows closed when the plan is executed, no one will know what really happened. Only you, me, and he—and those he trusts—will know the truth."
"But..."
The deputy officer collapsed to the ground, his voice trembling. "There wasn't even a real battle. How could we lose 17 high-tier trains?"
The middle-aged man tilted his head and glanced at the deputy officer. "Just do as I instructed."
"I need to talk to my brother."
"After this is done, I'll issue a Zerg invasion warning. You must report it up the chain according to the established protocol for a Zerg invasion. I'll end the battle within ten minutes. By then, the Kasha Civilization's main forces won't be able to reach us."
"But the Kasha Civilization garrison in the 27th Galaxy has 138 high-tier trains. Every train conductor will know the true situation!"
"Most of the train conductors are loyal to my brother. They won't leak the truth. As for the 17 who aren't loyal, they'll be buried with their trains."
"If we pull this off..."
"We've even earned merit."
"Remember this: The Kasha Civilization is vast and prosperous. Losing a little won't matter."
"But we each have only one life."
"No resurrection."
"Death is final."
"When faced with the choice between renewable resources and non-renewable resources on the Heavenly Balance, anyone knows which to choose. Don't make me lecture you again. As a soldier, your duty is to obey orders!"
"Take my key and prepare the warning signal."
"But according to protocol, commander, you don't have authority to mobilize the Kasha Civilization garrison in the 27th Galaxy. You need to apply for the necessary permissions."
"There's another rule in the system: in emergency situations, you have the freedom to act! Do you think I need to spell it out for you? Do you think I don't understand the rules better than you? Now get moving—don't make me repeat myself!"
"Yes, sir!"
The adjutant, looking somewhat dazed, struggled to his feet and trudged unsteadily toward the rear of the space station.
The middle-aged man watched the adjutant's retreating figure, his eyes narrowing slightly. If everything went smoothly...
...once the plan was complete, it would be time for the adjutant to "move on" as well.
He sat back down, gazing at the galaxy map, his lips moving slightly as he muttered to himself, reviewing his plan for any potential oversights.
He had to admit it: the plan was undeniably reckless.
But upon careful calculation, the costs were negligible, well within the Kasha Civilization's capacity to bear.
With this approach, no one would investigate the concealed strategic wormholes. Moreover, his diligent vigilance—detecting the enemy invasion immediately and issuing the warning in time to minimize losses—would even earn him commendation.
All that remained was to erase the remaining traces. Fortunately, he was highly experienced in cleaning up such messes.
Perfect.
Though the story's beginning wasn't auspicious, as everyone knows, the ending would be glorious.
After a while, having patched every gap and potential exposure in the plan, the middle-aged man leaned back in his chair with satisfaction. He dialed the number of the Commander of the Kasha Civilization Garrison in the 27th Galaxy, ready to execute the plan.
Thirty minutes later...
Woo—buzz—woo—buzz!
Woo—buzz—woo—buzz!!!
The piercing alarm blared throughout the space station!
The man picked up the chilled lemon water and gulped it down in one go. After a deep breath, he snarled into the communicator, "The Zerg army has breached the radar blockade and secretly entered the 27th Galaxy!"
"Alert!"
"Alert!"
"Immediately contact the Kasha Civilization garrison in the 27th Galaxy and prepare to engage the enemy!"
In an instant—
Almost instantly—
The piercing, urgent alarm of the highest-level Zerg invasion warning blared across every planet in the 27th Galaxy. It echoed in the ground-based garrisons and the trains of the Kasha Civilization's space fleet.
The giant star ring-based weapons stationed across multiple planets emerged from the ground, their massive barrels aimed skyward, ready to fire at coordinates.
In that moment—
The entire 27th Galaxy entered a First-Level Alert. Countless high-tier trains, large ground-based weapons, and military shielding devices that were usually unseen sprang to life!
All civilian radars, communication channels, and even civilian wormholes were immediately locked down.
War had begun.
The objective: repel the Zerg invasion.
(End of the Chapter)
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