Chapter 139

At the moment when a mushroom cloud rose over the secret city,

Inside the disc-shaped flagship stationed on the ground, a clandestine conversation was still taking place.

“Is that really true?”

Admiral Gelang of the 4th Interstellar Navigation Fleet, swung his armored hand toward the captain who was asking the question again.

“Well, my friend, why would I lie to you?”

“…That’s true, but…”

The captain frowned slightly at the pointed question but sank into thought.

However, this wasn’t due to irritation but rather a natural phenomenon that accompanied trying to understand the story Gelang had told him.

“Still, you don’t believe me either, do you?”

Gelang’s question, sensing the captain’s thoughts.

“…Yes.”

Though he answered this way, the captain’s heart leaned more towards not wanting to believe rather than actively doubting the words.

The story survivor Toric had passed on to Admiral Gelang from the 3rd Interstellar Navigation Fleet was horribly disheartening.

‘Most definitely…’

The flagship’s captain revisits the story.

The sudden loss of communication with the colonized city.

The forces dispatched to check, cut off communication as well, further depleting their already scarce combat strength.

The 3rd Interstellar Navigation Fleet being drawn into a quagmire.

Even so, Admiral Ssa-Jo of the 3rd Interstellar Navigation Fleet remained calm, making decisive judgments, bowed to the 1st Interstellar Navigation Fleet and secured their support.

‘All for the empire’s victory.’

Setting aside pride, the resolve of an imperial soldier who would serve as an example to all.

Thus, the joint front between the 1st and 3rd Interstellar Navigation Fleets was established.

The 3rd Interstellar Navigation Fleet, trusting the support from the 1st Interstellar Navigation Fleet, set a course for Earth.

But from the moment they landed, everything started to go wrong.

Enemies adept at utilizing small fleets strategically.

A massive trap employing native organisms.

And the enemies’ utterly unexpected attack methods.

The perfectly prepared trap that ensnared the 3rd Interstellar Navigation Fleet.

Although they still had the hope of support from the 1st Interstellar Navigation Fleet, that aid never came, even as their flagship was destroyed in a valiant defense.

Thus, the 3rd Interstellar Navigation Fleet was annihilated.

A deep shadow crossed the captain’s face as he revisited the story.

Because the situation the 3rd Interstellar Navigation Fleet had encountered was too similar to that of the 4th Interstellar Navigation Fleet’s current predicament.

The only difference was whether it involved the colonized city or the consumption of front-line forces.

Which meant it wasn’t the 3rd Interstellar Navigation Fleet but the 4th that could face annihilation.

“Hmph. Of course there were reasons why provisions and support weren’t sufficiently provided all this time, you pathetic cowards!!”

It seemed Gelang was thinking along similar lines, grinding his jaw as he openly cursed the 1st Interstellar Navigation Fleet.

Despite this, the unease and discomfort in the captain’s heart remained.

But regardless of such negative emotions, Toric still appeared suspicious to him.

“While it’s plausible for survivors to emerge from an annihilated fleet, the timing is too conveniently aligned.”

Toric’s arrival and his party were seemingly synchronized with the 1st Interstellar Navigation Fleet’s response.

While he wasn’t intent on suspecting fellow imperial soldiers without reason, the series of events interlocked in a way that couldn’t help but raise suspicion.

Furthermore, as the captain of this flagship and one of the main figures leading the 4th Interstellar Navigation Fleet alongside Gelang, he had no choice but to respond with extreme caution to everything.

“Captain Toric.”

“Yes, Admiral. What is your command?”

Toric, with slightly moist eyes, answered.

Toric’s gaze showed no signs of lying, yet the captain spoke anyway.

“Are there really no proofs at all? Even something like a recorded conversation or a message exchanged with the 1st Interstellar Navigation Fleet?”

Toric shook his head with a tearful look, directed at the cautious captain.

Toric’s seemingly aggrieved expression gave no indication of deceit.

Indeed, Toric was telling the truth, albeit with a small lie embedded within it.

“What would a mere destroyer captain know? We merely acted according to the orders passed down from the fleet.”

There was nothing the captain could counter to such an obvious argument.

“Didn’t you already confirm this with Captain Toric’s subordinates? All soldiers stated it was true.”

“That’s correct.”

The captain solemnly nodded, accepting Gelang’s mediation.

He was well aware of how hard it was for over a hundred soldiers to unanimously agree on something.

Additionally, the details and consistency of the account provided by Toric were too intricate to dismiss as simple lies.

Though there was a gut feeling that it wasn’t a lie, something unsettled him nonetheless.

‘Something feels…’

However, despite that instinct, an intangible unease continuously unsettled the captain’s mind.

“Let us move on; unlike those cowards, Captain Toric’s soldiers voluntarily headed towards the forefront of the battle.”

“Yes, I’ve heard about that.”

A brief silence.

At that moment, Toric, who had been quietly bowing his head, suddenly caught attention with a brightened gaze.

‘This is my chance.’

Opportunities that arise in life often vanish like daydreams if not seized immediately, and Toric understood this better than anyone else in this room at this moment.

“We’re from the same Imperial Military, aren’t we? If my meager strength can assist the 4th Interstellar Navigation Fleet in any way, I would be truly delighted.”

“Dear me, my friend!”

Gelang stood up abruptly from his seat.

Gelang approached Toric, patted his shoulder, and nodded.

“Very well said indeed! Imperial troops must help each other!”

A cheerful voice.

Toric couldn’t help but let a corner of his mouth curl up in response to this all-but-expected reaction.

‘Ah, I should be more careful.’

Toric’s expression quickly smoothed over as he inwardly smiled.

“Agreed.”

With that response, Toric bowed his head again.

Inside his mind, one thought circled.

‘If I resolve this matter properly, I can save my ship and subordinates. This is an action to save my subordinates.’

Repeating this mantra to himself, Toric’s heart, which had almost crumbled because of his necessary betrayal, was now completely enveloped in the logic Edu had given him.

Certainly, there was a hint of exaggeration, but the words Toric spoke were fundamentally based on the truth.

It was absolutely not a lie.

Of course, the information Toric gave about the 1st Interstellar Navigation Fleet was slightly distorted, but distortion in the transmission of information is quite common and ordinary.

Therefore, Toric looked at the cosmos without any shame.

‘This isn’t betrayal, it’s not betrayal…!’

…

Inside the main command room of Obelisk.

“When the Invaders came, I was a bit uneasy, but we managed to escape somehow.”

Freya nodded in agreement.

“We exploited their weak points. And besides, we have a pretty handy ace up our sleeve, don’t we?”

Turning his head, he looked out the window.

Iason and a cruiser, carrying friends, were slowly maneuvering above.

Higher in the sky, a golden fleet stood in place, and the ship deck of the forward base was occupied with the ships of the 3rd Interstellar Navigation Fleet, undergoing repairs.

The ships themselves represent a powerful fighting force.

However, in addition to that visible power, the mobility of the ships far exceeds the norm.

In short, they possess an overwhelming range of activity.

This strategic advantage defies imagination.

As he thought about this, a sudden question came to mind.

“How is the recovery of the 3rd Interstellar Navigation Fleet progressing?”

“Most of the movable ones are done by now. The remaining ones are heavily damaged, so it might be better to disassemble them for parts or build something else.”

Pointing her index finger and twirling her right hand, Banetta looked upward as if deep in thought.

“Let’s see… two carriers, five battleships, twelve cruisers. Transport ships and destroyers have been almost entirely retrieved.”

“Ah.”

Nodding at Banetta’s words.

Looking up at the skies above again.

A large-scale fleet comprised of multiple battleships, carriers, cruisers, and destroyers.

Though compared to the past it represents an overwhelming increase in firepower, it still wasn’t enough.

“Hey, Edu! Gimme more ships!”

“Ah, nuclear weapons…”

The administrator’s voice brought him back from his thoughts.

“Edu, it seems preparations are going well, but what do you plan to do going forward?”

“By the way, what do you plan to do with the prisoners? And what are you going to use the nuclear weapons we found in Russia for?”

The administrator and Freya asked.

Banetta didn’t speak, but her gaze clearly indicated she was curious about his thoughts.

“We’ll start by talking, dismantle what we can, and then have a big fight.”

He made a punching motion into the air.

But due to his feeble physical abilities, not even the faintest sound of wind came out.

“Talk and fight?”

“Yes, that’s why I sent the video message. Since the deadline is almost up, I think we’ll soon get a response from them.”

He grinned and smiled broadly at everyone.

By the way, is Toric handling things well on his end?

…

The engines spewed flames.

The golden destroyer advanced through the empty, barren desert.

The destroyer, which had been traversing the void of an empty rock desert, slowed down upon detecting an object of interest.

Two airborne objects ahead.

Though their forms differ, one was from the 1st Interstellar Navigation Fleet and the other from the 4th Interstellar Navigation Fleet, both destroyers.

The destroyer hovered over the desert where the two vessels faced each other.

Shortly after, holograms appeared in the air, revealing Admiral Rygerda of the 1st Interstellar Navigation Fleet, Admiral Gelang of the 4th, and Edu.

“…Then, let’s begin our story.”

Rygerda spoke with a careful tone, his gaze shifting to Gelang, with whom he had previously coordinated, but his mind carried a single question:

“…Why did he look at me with eyes that resembled an enemy’s?”