Lord of the Truth

Chapter 2414 Important!

Mid Sector 99—Ghost Valley Planet

Bam

"The situation has become increasingly dangerous, and the continued silence from those at the top is becoming completely unbearable!" One of the gate guards, possessing the formidable strength of a Nexus State, angrily struck a nearby rock as he vented the frustration that had clearly been building inside him. "What exactly is it supposed to mean when our main branch in Mid Sector 100 is simply evacuated like this? Where has the prestige and dignity of our Syndicate gone?!"

"At least there hasn't been any actual bloodshed so far, and that's something worth considering. Across all of our offices that have been affected, not a single person has been killed." Another person released a long sigh as he considered the situation from a different perspective. "If they had chosen to attack them and resist instead of withdrawing, it would've almost certainly turned into a genuine disaster."

"That's even worse in my eyes!" The same Nexus State immediately shouted even louder upon hearing that response, clearly finding the peaceful withdrawals more humiliating than reassuring. "How could they simply agree to leave whenever they're told to do so? Have they completely forgotten whose name they carry and who stands behind them? If I were in the administration's position, I'd have every one of their heads cut off!"

"Calm down, gentlemen... The situation we're currently facing is considerably worse than merely evacuating a few of our branches and affiliated offices." A person possessing a World Cataclysm domain finally spoke while folding his arms across his chest, his expression carrying far more concern than anger. "What we're witnessing is a direct blow against the Syndicate's very presence, and I'm afraid that what has happened so far may merely be the beginning of further operations against it." Then he shifted his gaze toward the others gathered around him. "For example, they might eventually begin stripping away the Syndicate's sources of profit."

"Heh~ Impossible." The first Nexus State immediately waved his hand dismissively, apparently finding that possibility far too extreme to seriously consider. "Closing down a few offices in retaliation for what we've been doing to them isn't really that serious in the greater picture, and there'll still be a path available for both sides to settle the matter afterward... But directly interfering with the Syndicate's sources of income is completely different, and something like that would never end well for whoever attempted it... They're far too intelligent to deliberately do something like that."

Swooo

"...?" At that exact moment, before their discussion could continue any further, everyone present suddenly sensed a vessel forcefully piercing through the planet's atmosphere and heading directly toward their position.

They all immediately rose to their feet and turned their attention toward the approaching presence.

Those who had been inside enclosed areas quickly came outside to investigate, while those who had already been standing near the gate shot upward into the air, everyone staring toward the approaching vessel with obvious confusion and suspicion... Supposedly, no one except vessels belonging to the Syndicate itself was authorized to approach or interfere with this planet.

And more importantly, none of them could remember ever seeing this particular vessel before!

"This..." The World Cataclysm narrowed his eyes as he carefully examined the unfamiliar vessel approaching them, a vague sense of recognition appearing on his face. "I've laid eyes on something like this before... but where exactly..."

"No, you haven't seen it before." One of the experts nearby suddenly began speaking with some hesitation, though his tone gradually became more certain as he examined the vessel. "If you actually had seen one before, there's absolutely no doubt that you would've remembered it the instant you laid eyes on it again."

That person then turned toward his superior and revealed what he had recognized. "It's a Rapid Support Vessel, one belonging to Robin Burton's Imperial Guards."

"What?!" The Nexus State immediately flew into a violent rage upon hearing whose vessel it was and, without even taking the time to question why it had appeared here, unleashed a fist strike with all of his strength directly toward the approaching vessel before it could complete its descent. Swoosh

The tremendous destructive power belonging to a Nexus State tore violently across the horizon and instantly crossed the distance separating them from the vessel, reaching its target almost immediately, but—

Poof

The vessel suddenly swayed toward the side under the impact, while the section that had been struck lit up across its surface in the shape of a bright blue grid, before the entire vessel quickly stabilized itself again and simply continued along its original path as though nothing significant had happened.

The vessel's defensive systems had blocked the Nexus State's powerful attack with remarkable ease, without even preventing it from continuing its descent.

"Eek!" The Nexus State felt as though something had suddenly become stuck in his throat and he was about to choke from the sight before him, but despite his embarrassment and anger, he had absolutely no intention of launching another attack. Having even one full-strength strike blocked so effortlessly was already more than enough damage to his prestige in front of everyone present. He quickly gestured toward the others instead. "Come!" Then he took his team with him and immediately headed toward the location where the vessel was preparing to land.

Hisss~

At that designated spot, the vessel landed comfortably and without encountering any further interference, then its door opened to reveal the figures waiting inside. Step Step Several people began descending from the vessel one after another with calm and steady movements.

Some among them wore high-level epic armor of an intensely deep black that immediately distinguished them from ordinary soldiers, while the others wore black-and-gold robes representing the Soul Masters belonging to the Empire.

The person standing at the very front of the arriving group, in particular, immediately began looking around the surrounding area with an unusually strange expression as soon as he descended... His gaze seemed to carry two conflicting emotions at the exact same time, unmistakable nostalgia mixed together with equally unmistakable hatred.

Swoosh At that moment, the Syndicate's Nexus State descended nearby and immediately confronted the newly arrived group. "What's going on here?!" Behind him, the members of his team landed one after another until they had all gathered around him.

Then the Nexus State advanced with several rapid and aggressive steps toward the person standing at the front of the newcomers until the distance between their faces became so small that their breaths practically mixed together. "Do you even know where you are, you bastard?!"

"Within His Majesty's domain." The person standing at the front calmly raised one hand to stop and reassure those behind him before they could react to the provocation, then answered the Nexus State in an equally provocative manner.

"You—"

"Wait!" Before the furious Nexus State could shout anything further, a woman standing among the people behind him suddenly interrupted him, her attention completely fixed upon the person at the front. "I've seen you before..." She raised her hand and pointed directly toward him.

"That's right." The first person to descend from the vessel raised his head slightly as he openly acknowledged the woman's recognition. "I'm Wade, the second commander of the Imperial Guards. I've been to this filthy place before alongside His Majesty, and I have more than enough warm and bitter memories connected to this planet to make me come here personally today and claim it."

Then Wade calmly raised his hand and placed it directly against the forehead of the Nexus State standing before him, showing no concern whatsoever for the difference in their positions or the hostility already filling the air. "And now, get the hell out of here!"

"Robin Burton has actually been here before?" The Nexus State muttered those words to himself for a brief moment as he processed what Wade had just revealed, but then his expression hardened again and he suddenly raised his voice. "Even if Robin Burton came here personally, I still wouldn't surrender this planet to you!!"

Whoosh Whoosh

Clack Clack Clack

The Royal Soul Masters immediately brought out small circular arrays that appeared upon the palms of their hands, while the Imperial Guards simultaneously drew their high-level epic weapons as ominous crimson lights began emanating from their intensely black armor. At the same time, even the Rapid Support Vessel behind them reacted, deploying hundreds of small cannons from its body and aiming every one of them directly toward the gathered Syndicate soldiers!

Step Wade took one small step forward, closing the already narrow distance between them until his forehead directly touched that of the person standing before him, then spoke with an openly hostile smile that made the threat in his words perfectly clear. "Listen carefully, we have orders not to immediately grind you Syndicate dogs into paste on sight, but you're standing in the middle of Mid Sector 99, and this entire sector is considered His Majesty's backyard. We are the Imperial Guards, and our duty is to protect his backyard... I'll turn you into a pie for that Red Plague you people love spreading so many rumors about, and I won't even get as much as a pay cut for it. Want to bet?"

"...." The Nexus State gradually began to sweat as he remained face-to-face with Wade. On one hand, he could clearly sense both the strength and the considerable number of Soul Masters standing behind the Imperial Guards, and on the other hand... he could actually sense a certain degree of danger coming from Wade himself?!

But despite everything he could sense around him, his dignity as the leader of the group wouldn't allow him to simply remain silent and retreat in front of all his followers without saying anything. "You—"

"You own the planet for now." Before their superior could finish what he was trying to say, two of the Nexus States standing behind him hurriedly stepped forward and grabbed him firmly by both arms, while a third advanced at almost the same time and directly placed a hand over his mouth to prevent him from continuing.

Meanwhile, the fourth Nexus State remained slightly farther behind and spoke in a controlled manner, clearly choosing withdrawal over allowing the confrontation to escalate any further. "We'll leave, and we'll report everything that happened here to the Administrators."

Wade immediately raised his hand and pointed them toward the location of the Space Portal, making it perfectly clear that he had no intention of stopping their departure. "Do you want me to sign a damn report for you too?!"

"...."

Swoosh Swoosh

Without wasting any more time on pointless arguments, all of the Syndicate members quickly left the area together. Even their leader pretended more than once along the way that he still wanted to speak or turn back and continue the confrontation, but despite those gestures, he never actually resisted the others as they took him away with them.

"Heh~" Wade remained where he was and watched the departing group until their figures completely disappeared over the distant horizon, then slowly began looking around at the familiar surroundings of the planet with a complicated expression. "If it weren't for those few days I spent on you alongside His Majesty, I'd personally destroy you, you rotten planet, after what you did to us."

"What did I do?!"

Whooosh

"Hmm?!" Wade immediately turned his attention toward the unexpected voice and began looking around in search of its source, until his eyes finally caught sight of a strange movement in the wind coming from a particular direction nearby.

Those strangely moving winds rapidly gathered together and condensed before his eyes until they gradually took the shape of a gloomy-looking girl. "What did I have to do with what happened to you people? The Syndicate is the one that made me like this!!" Then, almost immediately after shouting those words, she suddenly smiled as though she had already forgotten everything she'd just complained about. "Where's Robin? I have an agreement with him. Is he the one who sent all of you here to rescue me?!"

"...." Wade looked at her with obvious surprise, apparently not knowing what agreement she was referring to. "I don't know anything about any agreements." Then his gaze moved over her from top to bottom as he examined the strange figure before him. "I don't want to bring you bad news, but he's most likely forgotten about you by now, and with everything that's currently happening throughout the universe, you'll probably never see him again."

"What are you saying?!" The Planet Spirit immediately shouted in protest, clearly refusing to accept Wade's words. "I have to meet him!" Then she quickly snapped her fingers twice as though another solution had suddenly occurred to her. "A-At least bring me that girl Morgana. I saw her become one of his followers, so bring her to me!!"

"....." Wade continued staring at the little Planet Soul, visibly puzzled by the sheer persistence and urgency she was displaying.

"I'm important!!"

The little Planet Spirit stomped her foot forcefully against the ground as she insisted.