Chapter 1543

A certain scientific super electromagnetic cannon.

"Big sister, you see I'm not wrong, right?"

Shirai rested both hands behind her head, naturally leaning back against the chair, "Didn't I say so? This time the galaxy has so many forces joining together to besiege the Iron Tomb, it won't be particularly troublesome. Even the Xianzhou fleet's marshal only dispatched one Xianzhou ship to participate in the battle, I think this already sufficiently explains the problem!"

As she spoke, Shirai spread both hands out, placing them in front of Misaka Mikoto, "Left is the Abundance People, right is the Iron Tomb. Defending against the Abundance People and other 'Destruction' forces requires five Xianzhou ships, while dealing with the Iron Tomb only needs one, I think the marshal's meaning is already crystal clear."

"But, Zandal's declaration of war..."

Misaka gently shook her head, the seriousness on her face showing no sign of diminishing.

"Big sister, I think rather than saying it was a declaration of war, it's better to say it was an 'invitation'."

"Invitation?"

"Yeah, Zandal believes his plan's realization is beyond doubt, so he wants to invite everyone in the universe to share in witnessing the arrival of the 'moment' calculated by the Erudition Venerate." Shirai raised a finger, speaking solemnly, "But, big sister, don't forget, those participating in the siege of the Iron Tomb aren't fools either, they're all prominent forces within the galaxy's pan-trade system, how could they possibly let the Iron Tomb easily connect with the Erudition Venerate?"

"So, I think the Xianzhou fleet marshal's meaning is also very simple: as long as we prevent the Iron Tomb from connecting with the Erudition Venerate, the Iron Tomb's threat can be greatly reduced—and to achieve this, dispatching just the 'Luofu' Xianzhou ship is enough."

—

Feixiao bluntly said: "Don't blame me for speaking harshly: in this battle, Luofu must absolutely not take the lead."

Jing Yuan smiled faintly: "Hunting Order Envoy, are you perhaps afraid Luofu will take the Ying Qing battle achievements?"

"This matter is of great importance, so stop joking. The Star Core turmoil, the martial rites ceremony... though the chaos has subsided, rumors in the streets are only increasing. With Old Yan here, those with ulterior motives can't stir up trouble. But once Luofu seizes the golden blood, the situation will be completely different. Jing Liu, what kind of person is she, and what connection does she have with you... no need for me to say more. Using a pretext to show off—there are as many such methods as you want."

Jing Yuan remained unmoved: "Feixiao General, you worry too much. I volunteered for this mission precisely not seeking unanimous approval within the alliance. Luofu capturing golden blood, redeeming guilt through merit—this is one victory; you and I relying on this golden blood to facilitate negotiations—this is two victories; Luofu achieving two victories, all three of us rejoicing—this is three victories—"

Jing Yuan narrowed his eyes, smiling with clouds and wind lightness: "Look, if this were the Celestial Vessel Bureau's business, wouldn't it be profit overflowing?"

—

Yínhún.

"Hey hey, that third victory is totally something he just forced together himself, right?!"

However, facing the imminent Iron Tomb threat, Jing Yuan could still joke in front of the other two generals, which also made Gintoki less tense than before.

"These generals' chat content mainly concerns the Xianzhou's 'internal worries', yet they hardly discuss the Iron Tomb as an 'external threat', showing they're very confident about the outcome of this battle against the Iron Tomb." Sōjirō Tōdō said lightly, "But that's fine too, as long as the situation remains under the control of these high-level officials."

"After all, the Xianzhou Alliance has drifted in the universe for several thousand years, so we should trust their judgment and experience in handling crises; they're not facing the Jiemie Dajun for the first time either." Gintoki shoved the red beans from his plate onto his own rice, "Maybe the Xianzhou Alliance still has hidden cards? Anyway, those big shots aren't in a hurry, ordinary people being anxious is useless, might as well think about what to eat tomorrow."

"But experience can only make the Xianzhou Alliance make fewer mistakes, not avoid mistakes entirely." Tōdō pressed out his cigarette in the ashtray, his tone unusually serious, "The Shinsengumi deals with anti-shogunate activists every year, experience is rich enough, right? But still, not every year does someone get injured?"

"Moreover, I always feel this situation is different from before. This is the 'envoy' created by that first genius Zandal, who also devoured the 'Destruction' of thirty million worlds—how can other Jiemie Dajun be compared to it? This surpasses the power of an Order of Command envoy, maybe even the Xianzhou's several Hunting Order Envoys combined still can't beat it."

—

"Yu Que possesses the 'Ten Directions Light Reflection Dharma Realm', so it surely understands this battle's meaning better than Luofu. Wengfaluo Si's causality vanished in the Exhaustive Observation Array—in Yaoguang General's view, what auspicious or ominous sign does this phenomenon portend?"

"In divination studies, we call this 'xu zhen': matters involving star gods, ordinary people cannot perceive the full picture."

"Your explanation isn't any clearer than Fu Qing's."

Yaoguang sighed helplessly: "Alas, the three words 'uncertainty'—where exactly is it hard to understand? For the azure-gold mind (Erudition Venerate), the 'Iron Tomb' emergence is the calculated 'moment', but I believe He will not sit and wait for death."

"As for the galaxy forces, this is a 'thread of life', also the key to reversing the interstellar situation. The Xingzhou Train leads the alliance formation, but I see all factions secretly harboring their own little schemes."

Feixiao didn't find this strange: "Internal divisions exist within the alliance, it's not hard to imagine how other forces will act." After saying this, Feixiao turned his head to look toward the other side, "Jing Yuan. In the Sedu Ni La star cluster battle, I and the Xing Xiao legion have crossed swords."

"Must be cautious. In terms of military equipment and soldiers, the Jin Mie legion isn't worth mentioning; the Company, even the Abundance People, could fight it. But virtual troops are merely 'Destruction' consumables, the real variable—"

Jing Yuan sank his voice to continue: "Is the 'Jiemie Dajun'."

"Correct. Nan Nu Ke's envoy is also his weapon burning the life path. Ordinary tactics and strategies probably won't work against them. This is my judgment—to completely fell a great lord, one must disregard casualties, spare no cost, only fear..." Feixiao paused, "Only fear that a slight carelessness will let Luofu fall into Huan Long's trap, drawing ever closer to 'Destruction'."

"But the words 'doubt' are precisely the heart demon she intends to plant in your and my hearts. Do you remember? The alliance oath's opening: 'Desire that future generations be free from invasion and attack, suspicion and violent tyranny'."

Jing Yuan turned his gaze toward the outer Tian Ce府, the stars hanging in the night sky like countless pairs of silent eyes, cold and eternal, watching the Xianzhou.

"The arrowheads of the Imperial Bow have always pointed toward disasters threatening the universe. Since the 'Expansion' path is with me, then Yun Qi should also uphold the oath as before... but may those at the very front of the battle lines also be safe."