Chapter 502: Shadows in the Dark, and a Deal with the Reformers

In an unknown starfield, within a secret base of the Abyss Institute, a special force field constantly intertwined with black chains existed here.

Heavy footsteps walked toward the hatch at the deepest part of the base, slowly approaching. A large number of black chains were interwoven over the heavy metallic door.

With a crack, the chains on the hatch shattered, the hatch opened, and dazzling light shone in, tearing a small opening in the darkness.

A squad of soldiers wearing special armor stood at the door, light shining through the gaps between the people. The leader let out an emotionless voice:

"Dead Silence, there is a task."

As the voice fell, there was no response, only dead silence.

However, the silence didn't last long before an eerie sound emanated from a corner the light couldn't reach.

A humanoid creature entirely shrouded in blood-colored mist stepped out of the darkness. Only a pair of blood-red eyes could be clearly seen all over its body, making it impossible to tell what species it was.

This was Dead Silence, a special creature born in a certain dimension, which the Abyss Institute had discovered by chance.

This prevented any person or object that entered its vicinity from using their inherent superpowers, but it remained unaffected itself.

"What... task..." Its voice was hoarse, and its interstellar common language was non-standard, making it only barely possible to distinguish the general meaning.

The leader said in a deep voice, "Leave this place with me first."

"What... task!" it asked again. Its intelligence quotient seemed to have some issues.

"Kill a person—Li Yu!"

Hearing this name, Dead Silence didn't have any emotional fluctuations. Having been stuck here all year round, making it difficult to contact the outside world, it didn't know the meaning of this name.

"I need the Silence Chains," Dead Silence continued.

"Once we leave here, we will give the Silence Chains to you." The leader waved to his subordinates.

A group of soldiers immediately stepped forward, surrounding and taking Dead Silence out of the room.

Every soldier's face was taut, revealing grave and apprehensive expressions. Their footsteps subconsciously quickened; they clearly wanted to transfer the target as soon as possible and didn't want to linger near it for too long.

Only within this force field could the vast majority of Dead Silence's power be restricted.

However, the Abyss Institute naturally had methods to counter it; otherwise, they wouldn't use it as a mission tool and imprison it.

...

"Your Royal Highness, Horus has already set out, and Li Yu has also left the Central Star System. There is a high probability he is heading to Meditation's territory..." Titus's subordinate was reporting to him:

"Furthermore, he had the Logistics Department dispatch a Blood Thunder Dragon Gene Chain over, and he used the emergency transmission protocol, utilizing a spatial wormhole."

"Blood Thunder Dragon Gene Chain?" Titus frowned slightly. Could it be that Li Yu was going to undergo his Third Evolution?

How could his speed be so fast?

This news made him feel even more displeased. He instantly snorted coldly, "What does he think Return Star is? His own warehouse? He can dispatch a high-tier gene chain just like that?"

"Klein is truly an idiot. Does she really think Li Yu wants her to make Return Star bigger and stronger!?"

"The Other-Dimensional Camp basically wants to pocket Return Star. Only I... can lead Return Star toward prosperity!"

"Yes, a portion of the high echelon also has quite a few complaints about this, it's just that they have all been suppressed," the subordinate immediately added.

"Continue to monitor their movements, and report any news to me at any time," Titus ordered.

The subordinate accepted the order and lowered his head as he left the place.

Titus stared into the void, unsure of what he was pondering over, until a long time later when he finally spoke up: "Are things ready over there? I don't wish for any more problems to arise."

It was unknown who he was talking to, but a voice came from the shadows behind him: "Your Royal Highness, it is already prepared. This time, it's impossible for Horus to return."

"It's just... the Black Net hasn't given an accurate reply regarding Li Yu's side. They are apprehensive of that Other-Dimensional Camp. The meaning they convey is to temporarily not provoke them."

Titus's expression turned slightly cold: "Apprehensive they may be, but could it be that the Black Net doesn't even have the guts to snatch something from Li Yu's hands?"

"That's not the case. They have already sent people over, and what's interesting is that the Abyss Institute is also there, along with a few hidden organizations." The person shook their head and explained:

"Many factions are extremely curious about this Other-Dimensional Camp that popped out of nowhere. Meditation... is a perfect opportunity for a probe."

Only then did Titus's expression ease up slightly.

"It's just that, Your Royal Highness... getting rid of Horus has already caused damage to Return Star's own interests. Is it necessary to go to such an extent?"

The status of the person standing in the shadows didn't seem low, otherwise they wouldn't dare ask such a question in front of Titus.

Titus didn't directly answer this question, but instead said, "Losing an illustrious general right after becoming Empress—this will be a fatal blow to Klein."

"Also, don't let Bolvar know about this matter. He won't agree."

Although Bolvar supported him, it was only under the overall situation of not damaging Return Star's interests that he would lend his support.

Killing Horus was a massive loss, and Bolvar couldn't possibly agree to it.

"Understood..." The person in the shadows didn't offer too much persuasion, perhaps also knowing that even if they tried to persuade him, it would be useless.

...

"Your Excellency Husband, how come you suddenly have the time to contact me." Li Yu stared at the figure on the screen. This communication request had come very suddenly.

Husband was still dressed like a normal citizen, just like an old grandpa who liked to walk his bird in the park early in the morning—

"I heard that Return Star was recently attacked. Some armed organizations took advantage of the time when Empress Klein ascended the throne and the regime was unstable to launch a massive assault."

Li Yu raised his eyebrows slightly: "Your Excellency's intelligence is quite timely. Could it be that there are people from the Reformers among those resistance organizations?"

Husband's expression remained unchanged as he shook his head and said, "Your Excellency misunderstands. We Reformers aim to liberate oppressed and suffering citizens. Those terrorist organizations that slaughter recklessly have nothing to do with us."

"However..." Speaking up to this point, his tone shifted, "We did receive some news that might be helpful to Return Star."

Hmm? Hearing this, Li Yu felt truly surprised. The Reformers were actually coming to help Return Star.

Return Star's luck had been pretty good recently. Both the Star Glory Empire and the Reformers were rushing over to help, deeply afraid that Return Star would run into problems.

Li Yu pondered for a moment and then probed, "You guys want the leaders of those organizations?"

After thinking it over, this was the only thing he could think of that would make the Reformers suddenly run over to curry favor.

Back then, the bosses of the three organizations—Kuzar's Blade, Crimson Holy Fire, and the other—were captured by Harken and then thrown to the Grand Duke of Blood as power banks, having their blood essence drained completely.

Later, when Li Yu was slaughtering all directions, those few who were situated in cosmic space were not affected and were still alive and well.

So Li Yu captured them and took them as spoils of war. There were four people in total: the leaders of these three top-tier resistance organizations, as well as the commander of that Reformer fleet.

Later, he conducted deep physical examinations on them. The three lifeforms who had been used as power banks by the Grand Duke of Blood were basically ruined.

Their genetic structures had been destroyed, and it was impossible for them to recover their peak strength in this lifetime. Only that one Esper had escaped disaster.

"Your Excellency is very smart. That's right, we hope to use this news to exchange those leaders back." Husband didn't deny it; this was their objective to begin with.

"Out of 35 terrorist organizations in total, we can provide information on the relevant activities of 29 of them, and even action predictions..."

"As for the remaining six, we currently don't have an intelligence source."

Li Yu vaguely sensed something going on, looking suspiciously at Husband: "You guys are selling these organizations to me?"

"Truly ruthless."

Li Yu could vaguely guess that if it was just basic intelligence data, it would be fine and not worth much.

But the most valuable part among them was the action predictions of those organizations that Husband had mentioned.

This would save Return Star a massive amount of time, allowing them to completely wait for the rabbits to fall into the trap, and the price they paid would also be greatly reduced.

However, only the most core personnel could access action plans. Obviously, these organizations all had deep cooperation with the Reformers in the dark.

And now, the Reformers had unhesitatingly sold them all out.

"What is Your Excellency talking about? Why can't I understand?" Husband shook his head, unable to admit to this matter, and immediately added: "Our goal is to liberate the oppressed and suffering masses. Slaughtering recklessly is entirely the doing of terrorist organizations."

"Those terrorist organizations operating under the banner of resistance organizations are also our enemies."

Li Yu ignored this set of high-sounding words. The Reformers' choice was actually not surprising.

Such a massive organization couldn't act like a single lifeform, doing things according to its own personality.

Interests definitely had to come first.

Dozens of obscure little organizations could be abandoned just like that.

"Who is supporting them from behind? Is it you guys?" Li Yu asked.

Husband shook his head, neither admitting nor denying it, and merely said, "So our deal is reached?"

Li Yu narrowed his eyes and broke into an enlightened smile: "Acceptable, but I will hand Sabbac, Walter, and Iroha over to you in exchange for intelligence support."

Husband frowned slightly and said, "There's also Sam."

Sam was that Esper and also the commander of the Reformer fleet, who still maintained combat power at the A4 Level.

"Haha..." Li Yu chuckled softly. "Although the three of them, Iroha included, still have value to you guys, in my eyes, they are just three crippled individuals."

"Just like the action trajectories of those organizations, which are of little use to you guys, but are very important to Return Star."

"Using something unimportant to oneself but important to the other party to trade—this is very normal."

Li Yu stared at Husband with a faint smile that was yet not a smile: "But Sam, a lifeform at the A4 Level, is not at this price point."

Husband's expression sank slightly; exchanging only three people completely failed to meet his psychological expectations.

"I can tell you who is supporting these organizations from behind..." Husband continued.

"Not enough. It's nothing more than those factions and those people. I can find traces with just a little screening." Li Yu shook his head.

"Then what does Your Excellency wish to obtain?" Husband asked in return, before adding: "If it's an overly harsh demand, we will refuse."

Li Yu revealed an inexplicable smile: "I want you guys to issue an official announcement declaring that Return Star is a civilization of hope, and you will not support any resistance activities that happen within its borders from now on."

"And establish friendly relations with Klein..."

"Impossible!" Before Li Yu could even finish speaking, Husband subconsciously refused: "The Reformers have never issued this kind of statement!"

In interstellar space, although the Reformers were not accepted by the ruling class, they were similarly welcomed by the lower-class people.

Their reputation had spread to almost every corner of interstellar space. To what extent had it reached?

If you were cursed out terribly by your boss, you would think of the Reformers—

If this bastard oppresses me again, I'll go join the Reformers and screw him over!

Although this was just a fleeting thought and not everyone had the courage to join the Reformers.

But this had also become a kind of symbol in the hearts of all lower-class citizens.

At least, someone was resisting!

If the Reformers issued this kind of statement, then the resistance activities within Return Star's borders would become virtually non-existent, and at the same time, it would bring incomparable prestige to Klein.

After all, the oppression suffered by the majority of citizens was not considered severe, and they were basically used to it.

They would only think: our civilization is an excellent civilization acknowledged even by the Reformers.

It was just that it would simultaneously bring a lot of criticism to the Reformers.

"What if we add the leader of the White Uprising Army to the deal?" Li Yu wasn't surprised at all by Husband's refusal.

"Yodel is in your hands?!" Husband was subconsciously startled, his expression changing drastically.

Yodel had disappeared in No Man's Land for a long time. The Reformers had also investigated their news, but gained nothing.

The White Uprising Army was an up-and-coming force they thought quite highly of.

Although the leader was relatively young, after their guidance, his potential was very great.

It was just that the Reformers hadn't expected Yodel to be attracted to No Man's Land.

And at the time, the Reformers had no way to directly tell Yodel about their plan to ambush the Star Glory Empire, so they could only ignore him for the time being.

However, when they came back to their senses, they discovered that the entire high echelon of the White Uprising Army had disappeared without a trace.

Only now did Husband realize that the White Uprising Army had actually fallen into Li Yu's hands, making his mind grave.

A recording was transmitted over; it was exactly the scene of Yodel and the others being imprisoned, looking quite miserable.

"This..." Husband's expression was hesitant, as if experiencing some sort of intense inner struggle.

(End of Chapter)