I Pick Up Talents on the Interstellar Battlefield

Chapter 612: Chapter 471: Senate, Empire Resolution_2

"The Luoho Clan is incredibly audacious!" A councilor broke the silence first, slamming the documents onto the table with anger in his voice. "Daring to detain Galactic scholars privately, disregarding Empire law, they are simply lawless!"

"This matter is no trifling concern. The origin of the Ice Gate is unknown; should it seal dangerous demons inside, the consequences could be unimaginable," another councilor concurred, his tone grave. "We must promptly send someone to Pluto, control the scene, and uncover the truth!"

The discussion gradually grew louder, and the atmosphere in the council hall instantly shifted from calm deliberation to tense and heated.

In the end, everyone refocused their gaze on Zhuge Jin – as the Chief of the Senate, his stance would directly influence the ultimate decision direction.

Yet, they were well aware that the Zhuge Clan and the Luoho Clan had always been at odds. In this matter, the decision Chief Zhuge would make was actually quite clear.

Zhuge Jin slowly spoke, his tone steady and resolute: "This issue is critical, and does not allow for any delay. Firstly, immediately issue a letter to the Military Department to coordinate the dispatch of troops to Pluto, to entirely seal off the area surrounding the Ice Gate, strictly prohibiting any unrelated personnel from approaching. Secondly, notify the Academy of Sciences to send elite teams of sealing experts and historical archaeology teams to merge with Professor Gao Shiniang on Pluto. The primary task is to decipher the ancient writings on the ice pillar, track the historical background and origin of the Ice Gate, and, only after fully understanding the risks, formulate the most detailed plan for breaking the seal, but no unauthorized actions are allowed."

His decision-making was clear and methodical, gaining the approval of all the councilors.

"Agreed!"

"Agreed!"

Several councilors expressed their stance first, and the others nodded in agreement, without the slightest dissent.

After the meeting ended, the Senate’s document was quickly sent to the Military Department.

Meanwhile, discussions within the Military Department were also nearing their end. Upon receiving the Senate’s letter, both parties reached a high consensus and immediately made a decision: deploy the entire 29th Army to Pluto, to ensure the quickest completion of sealing off and controlling the Ice Gate site.

The 29th Army, the elite force stationed on the Royal star, known for their formidable combat prowess and strict discipline, usually undertook significant emergency tasks. Their dispatch this time underscored the Empire’s emphasis on the Ice Gate.

After the order was given, the soldiers of the 29th Army swiftly assembled, their military flying devices ready and prepared to head towards the star gate station of Pluto.

Simultaneously, the news of the Ice Gate spread quickly amongst the top families on the Royal star like wings.

The Dongfang Clan and Zhuge Clan had long learned the details from Dongfang Haoyue and Zhuge Yu, and were secretly preparing to send family experts to participate in subsequent research. Meanwhile, several Holy Blood Clans were mobilizing their intelligence networks, inquiring everywhere to uncover the specifics of the Ice Gate and the role played by the Luoho Clan; some strong Golden Clans were not willing to be left behind, trying to gain a share in this event involving ancient secrets.

The entire upper circle of the Royal star was thus becoming active because of this news, except for the Luoho Clan, which found itself in unprecedented fury.

When the clan leadership learned that the secret of the Ice Gate had been exposed and the Empire had dispatched troops to Pluto, the entire estate of the Luoho Clan was shrouded in a low pressure.

The secret they had painstakingly guarded for over two years, spending vast human and material resources, was about to bear fruit but suddenly laid bare overnight, not only rendering all efforts in vain but also possibly facing accountability from the Empire, inciting great anger among the Luoho Clan’s leadership, who immediately aimed harsh scolds at Inzaghi Luoho.

In front of Alaya and many subordinates, Inzaghi Luoho was a dignified, cold, and unchallengeable Military Lord, but in the eyes of the high ranks in the Luoho Clan, Inzaghi Luoho was just a relatively outstanding younger member, and there were many of his direct lineage in the Luoho Clan.

Hence, punishment was meted out without any hold barred.

The Ice Gate on Pluto, like a massive stone thrown into the serene lake of the Empire’s upper society, set off huge waves, marking the slow start of a contest for ancient secrets.

...

Amid the Soul-Splitting Ice Valley, the cold wind was like a blade, roaring through with ice shards.

"Boom!"

A loud blast thundered through the valley, and a silhouette flew backward like a severed kite, crashing hard into the mighty ice mountain.

In an instant, the ice mountain shook violently, cracks spread like spider webs, and then it collapsed with a roar, raising a sky full of ice mist and rubble.

Moments later, a figure shakily crawled out from the pile of ice – it was Alaya.

Her chest bone was obviously sunken, and her mouth overflowed with fresh blood, her face pale as paper. The once-beautiful visage was now full of distress and pain, needing to lean against the ice rocks to stand, each movement tugging at her wound, making her tremble with suffering.

Not far away, Tier Seven masters Crown and Cheng Zhou witnessed Alaya’s miserable state, their legs felt like lead, their hearts pounding in their chests like frightened quails, not daring to even gasp.

They kept their heads down, their eyes darting, not daring to glance at Inzaghi Luoho, fearing that the overwhelming rage might spill onto them and make them the next targets of venting.

Inzaghi Luoho stood where he was, his eyes blood-red, the blood-colored Spiritual Energy surrounding him nearly solidified, emanating a suffocating pressure.

He walked steadily toward Alaya, each step causing the ice on the ground to quake subtly.

As Alaya looked at his approaching figure in fear, her body could no longer support her, and she knelt, her forehead pressed tightly against the cold ground.

Inzaghi squatted down, grabbed Alaya’s hair, forcibly lifting her beautiful yet woeful face, roughly gripping her cheeks, his knuckles straining, seemingly wanting to crush her cheekbone.

"What did I tell you back then?" His voice was as cold as ice, laced with piercing murderous intent. "Regarding the Ice Gate, you are the main person responsible! If anything goes wrong, I’ll end you!"

The intense pain made Alaya’s vision black out, she endured the tears and anguish, chokingly pleading, "Military Lord... give me another chance... I will definitely bring back the sealing group, catch the leak..."

"Chance? Now the entire Empire upper echelon knows about this, and you still want a chance?" Inzaghi abruptly released her, delivering a fierce kick to Alaya’s chest.

"Boom!"

Alaya was kicked again, tumbling several times on the ice before barely stopping, spitting a mouthful of blood, yet still struggling to get up.

Inzaghi looked at her as she barely clung to life, his voice cold as frost, "If not for someone pleading for you within the clan, you’d already be a corpse now."

Upon hearing this, Alaya’s body quivered, her face instantly showing wild joy from surviving a crisis, disregarding the pain in her body, she knelt again, kowtowing repeatedly, "Thank you, Military Lord! Thank you for sparing me!"

After dealing with Alaya, Inzaghi’s gaze slowly turned to Crown and Cheng Zhou.

The duo, upon seeing this, went weak in the knees, "thud" as they both fell to the ground, shaking like leaves.

They were too clear on Inzaghi’s temperament, once blinded by rage, regardless of the other party’s status, even if Tier Seven masters could be slaughtered with a word.

"Spare us, Military Lord! Spare us, Military Lord!"

The pair pleaded repeatedly, their foreheads pressed tightly to the ground, daring not move at all.

Inzaghi’s bloodlight grew denser, his crimson gaze fixed fiercely on them, the gaze like tangible blades, sweeping over them.

Time seemed to have stood still at that moment; Crown and Cheng Zhou felt cold sweat trailing down their backs, raising every hair on end, breathing slowly, fearing one wrong move could precipitate deadly consequences.

After a long time, Inzaghi slowly restrained the murderous intent within him, firmly suppressing the urge to tear the duo apart. At this critical moment, he needed personnel, those two, despite their errors, were Tier Seven Spiritualists and still of use.

He said coldly: "You’re getting off this time. Remember, another slip-up and you won’t need me to act, you should settle it yourselves."

"Yes! Yes! Thank you, Military Lord, for sparing us! Thank you, Military Lord!"

Crown and Cheng Zhou, as if granted amnesty, hurriedly thanked him repeatedly, their faces full of fortune and gratitude, only daring to slightly raise their heads after Inzaghi turned away, their backs already soaked with cold sweat, they fell on the ice, gasping.

The howling winds in the Soul-Splitting Ice Valley persisted, but could not disperse the lingering blood and terror in the air.

In the snowstorm, Inzaghi looked towards the direction of the Ice Gate, his eyes flashing with a mad murderous intent, "No matter who you are, I will find you and make you pay in blood!"