Chapter 556: Sowing Discord Tactics, Raising Both Hands

City…

Standing on the grass outside the forest's perimeter and looking north, a highly modern city lies more than ten kilometers away, with countless massive structures.

However, in such a modern city, the number of airships is actually only a minority.

Most importantly, the city's outskirts are surrounded by a wall dozens of meters high, and a few armed patrol aircraft in the sky, completely sealing off the city; people's freedom of movement seems to have been stripped away by the First Empire's 332nd Fleet.

Moreover, as Sui Bian walks slowly toward the city together with the White Queen, he senses the overwhelmingly oppressive mood inside the city, indicating that the First Empire's rule has left Codi Sang'er temporarily unable to adapt.

Now, two hundred Imperial Guards and Grey Knights have instantly dispersed to Codi Sang'er and the various colonies of its star system.

Even Artemis performed short‑range Spiritual Energy teleportation, preparing to first seize Codi Sang'er's satellite; after all, she is both the Hunt Goddess and the Moonlight Goddess, so she must capture the "Moon".

As for Artemis's spells…

Since Sui Bian returned all of her Spiritual Energy, and given her considerable reputation among the various legions, the goddess's Spiritual Energy has continued to grow steadily.

Moreover, Artemis often humbly seeks instruction from Hera, thereby learning many spells unique to the Olympian gods; techniques like short‑range Spiritual Energy teleportation have become routine.

"Your Majesty…" At this moment, the White Queen, whose twin pupils continuously emitted a faint blue glow, walked while reporting to Sui Bian: "All the children seem to be employing a single‑person siege strategy, and are now launching a fierce assault on two hundred cities and bases.

Lady Artemis has also arrived at Codi Sang'er's satellite, Minie, and is preparing to dismantle the main forces of the 332nd Fleet's branch."

"Hmm, it seems we need to speed up a bit," Sui Bian nodded lightly.

The White Queen also nodded in agreement, but soon reverted to the cold, glamorous expression of the Red Queen and continued: "Your Majesty, I have already dismantled all communications of the 332nd Fleet's branch; simultaneously, I have analyzed and deciphered all its permissions, and fabricated a false appearance of normalcy for the First Empire here.

Then, based on the First Empire's operating style and efficiency, I performed calculations…"

At this point, the White Queen's twin pupils' blue light intensified slightly, "Unless we expose ourselves voluntarily, the First Empire would need at least 120 to 180 Earth days to notice any anomaly."

"Good." Sui Bian nodded.

The First Empire is massive, yet also extremely "bloated"; as a border region, Codi Sang'er is truly inconspicuous, especially with the White Queen handling all the falsifications.

When Sui Bian set foot in this universe, he also sensed a trace of the Trickster's aura (Note: the First Empire and this universe are fan creations).

It indicates that the "Dark Side" worshipped, revered, and believed in by the First Empire's upper echelons seems inseparable from the Trickster.

Of course, the Trickster also sensed Sui Bian's arrival, but unlike usual, the Trickster did not immediately withdraw its influence from this universe.

However, Sui Bian can understand, because the First Empire alone has 70 quadrillion people, and it also has many "sensitives".

With such a plentiful granary, how could the Trickster possibly abandon it?

Given that Sui Bian's power in the material universe far surpasses the Trickster's in the alternate dimension, the Trickster cannot discern his exact location.

And at that moment.

Sui Bian and the White Queen, the two "people", finally arrived at the edge of the city's wall.

Not far away, the checkpoint featured two bunker structures, as well as a self‑propelled gun equipped with a machine cannon on two legs with reverse joints.

Meanwhile, nearly a hundred Imperial soldiers wearing fully sealed combat suits painted bright white with a plastic‑like texture, or some kind of integrated armor exoskeleton/powered armor, and wielding explosive energy weapons, were conducting routine inspections and maintaining the order of "people" entering and exiting the city.

As for the "people"…

Although they all wear clothing, their races are extremely diverse.

Some look and stand like humans, others have slender, sticky tentacle heads resembling octopuses, and there are also humanoid forms with pink skin.

In short, actually witnessing First Empire residents gave the White Queen a déjà vu of the Zero Five universe.

If the people wish to enter the city, after completing routine checks and ensuring no contraband on themselves or their vehicles, they may pass directly.

Conversely, when people try to leave the city, those soldiers in white armor (white troops) will harass them in countless ways, urging them to return with various excuses.

If some people are desperate to leave and become verbally or physically aggressive, they will be met with white troops beating them with rifle stocks.

Entry allowed, exit forbidden.

It appears that after completing its rule, the First Empire is imposing lockdown management on all settlements, and may, after depleting residents' food, water, and other resources, prepare an "official sale" or limited supply to better cement colonial domination.

Sui Bian and the White Queen understand this tactic well, and it directly confirms that the First Empire's reputation within this galaxy is poor; otherwise it wouldn't employ such methods to crush people's minds and morale.

However, this approach resembles a "slowly boiling frog" strategy—preserving its external reputation while seeking absolute control—whereas the Human Empire lacks such considerations.

Reputation?

That thing can't be eaten, and after experiencing universes like Zero Five, the Human Empire's conquest attitude becomes extremely hardline.

Among the alien scum, the Empire's reputation is notoriously infamous, yet the quality of life for its internal residents is envied by those alien scum.

The Human Empire doesn't need reputation; with several million, nearly ten million Astate, why would it care about such illusory things?

In fact, the universe Sui Bian leads the group into is similar to the cinematic Star Wars universe, though largely the same.

First, the "Force" also exists in this universe, but that is indeed a lie fabricated by the Trickster, because the Force is Spiritual Energy, and the Trickster has been deceiving sensitive intelligent life with the Force for tens of thousands of years.

It is precisely because this universe frequently erupts into galaxy‑scale wars that it continuously provides the Trickster with "rations", and most importantly, this universe is the Trickster's "backyard"…

Simply put, the Trickster first discovered the universe's malleability, concealed it from evil deities such as Naguo, Se Nie, and Kongyu, and secretly nurtured the universe's intelligent species to grow stronger, gradually and steadily gaining greater power with the aim of becoming the supreme being.

Anyway, the Trickster is either preparing to cause trouble or already on the way to doing so.

Thus, when Sui Bian employed Spiritual Energy to probe the multiverse and discovered this universe, he immediately concluded that invading and occupying it might be the "straw" that sows discord among the evil gods.

Of course, the evil gods inherently keep each other in check and fight, yet are forced to coexist.

For example, the Trickster and Se Nie not long ago might have been locked in a life‑or‑death clash, but they could soon stand together, "happily" discussing how to corrupt the OriginalBody and Astate.

Sui Bian hasn't failed to consider slaying and absorbing the evil gods.

However, doing so would cause the alternate dimension to become more "boiling", and before long, new evil gods would be born.

After all, Se Nie and its kind are essentially projections of various extreme emotions of intelligent life.

Unless, like the Overseer, one releases massive dedicated cross‑phase pulse waves to conduct a "great flood"‑like extermination, thereby curbing their rampant proliferation in the alternate dimension.

Now the Human Empire possesses the capability to replicate the Overseer's eradication method, which is one reason why the alternate dimension's evil gods dare not act rashly.

But this is clearly not the solution Sui Bian desires.

Over the years, he has been secretly discussing and researching with Magnus how to, after eliminating existing evil gods and demons, create a scheme within the alternate dimension to regulate emotional and affective projections.

In fact, Sui Bian could abandon his physical body in the material universe, as well as a dimensional ascension opportunity like that of the Zero Three Emperor, and voluntarily become a "divine" of the alternate dimension.

Moreover, with the absolute loyalty and faith of all Human Empire residents, as well as the OriginalBody and Astate offspring, he would become the most powerful divine, bar none.

Thus, it can permanently suppress the evil gods and demons of other spaces.

But…

This is merely the fastest, and also the most direct way to see results.

However, Sui Bian cannot be certain whether the one who becomes the god of other space can still keep his original heart; of course, he is also unwilling to simply give up his freedom and his body.

Or else, let all intelligent species of the multiverse be vaccinated, but achieving that would be sheer fantasy, after all the universe is growing in infinite numbers.

However, now there is a new research project launched by the plague doctor, combined with some "alienation" strategies designated by Sui Bian and Magnus, perhaps it could reshape other space in one fell swoop.

While pondering.

Sui Bian has already walked into the formation with Bai Hou, slowly heading toward the checkpoint.

Moreover, Sui Bian's imperial attire and towering height have attracted the attention and gazes of those around.

Some are still whispering, seemingly taking him for a freak, wanting to provoke the white soldiers at the checkpoint, while many others glance at the cold‑handsome Bai Hou.

Mainly, the attire of Sui Bian and Bai Hou seems rather unconventional to them.

Soon.

The two "people" have arrived at this side of the checkpoint.

"Heavens, you're really tall." A white‑soldier captain with an orange‑red shoulder strap on his right shoulder, leading a few subordinates, just reached Sui Bian's front and couldn't help but exclaim.

"Hmm." The white soldiers all nodded in agreement.

It seems they were not provoked by Sui Bian's "imperial" attire.

"…" Bai Hou's mouth corner twitched involuntarily.

(Sui Bian's spiritual perception can understand the white soldiers' words; Bai Hou's vast database can perform speculative translation)

Possessing a will close to human emotions, she inexplicably feels these white soldiers are somewhat…

"Cute"?

Seems contrary to the stereotypical ugly visage.

However, looking toward the other side's exit checkpoint, the white soldiers' use of violent means to drive residents back into the city made Bai Hou feel relieved.

After all, the white soldiers are merely executors of superior orders, obeying commands, and venting their discontent on the residents they enforce.

Approaching.

The white‑soldier captain put away his sigh, and with an official tone that carried a slight mechanical quality due to his helmet, he asked Sui Bian: "Reason for entry, are you carrying any contraband?"

"Reason for entry is to prepare to seize control of this city; as for contraband…" Sui Bian said, while his left hand had already "materialized" the Imperial Claw, and he smiled, counter‑questioning:

"I don't know whether this thing in my hand counts as contraband for you."

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"

"Open fire!"

Seeing this, the white‑soldier captain and his subordinates immediately raised their guns to shoot, but before they could pull the trigger, they were already torn into fragments and pieces by a burst of elusive "strong wind".

And the source of that "strong wind" was precisely the Imperial Claw.

Because Sui Bian swung too fast for anyone to see clearly, all they knew was that Sui Bian stood there, and the ten‑man white‑soldier squad was instantly slain.

!!

This abnormal change caused the residents to panic and flee, a few bold ones even thinking of taking the chance to run from inside the city to outside, but they were still shot dead by the remaining white soldiers.

In an instant, the checkpoint side erupted in great chaos, while the remaining hundred white soldiers had no time to maintain order, nor to consider civilian friendly fire or mistaken killings, and directly launched a concentrated fire attack on Sui Bian and Bai Hou.

"Whoosh~! Whoosh~!"

The blast energy gun emitted its unique report, causing countless pale blue laser‑like artillery shells to "hit" Sui Bian and Bai Hou.

After the two self‑propelled cannons equipped with small‑to‑medium caliber weapons finished turning and joined the concentrated fire attack, Sui Bian and Bai Hou's figures were directly shrouded in thick smoke.

But Sui Bian did not act like some mercenaries or space pirates who, despite being invincibly strong, still wait for the enemy's attack to cease before walking out of the smoke unscathed, saying something like "Enough already, now it's my turn!"

After Sui Bian and Bai Hou personally felt the power of the blast energy gun and obtained relevant data for evaluation, they did not wait for the white soldiers' concentrated fire to end before taking the initiative.

Still, it was the strong wind produced by swinging the Imperial Claw.

Still, it was the sound of flesh and armor being easily cut.

From the viewpoint of a bystander not far away, Sui Bian seemed not to have moved at all, while all the white soldiers surrounding him and Bai Hou, along with the two bunkers and two self‑propelled cannons, were cut into "seven pieces and eight pieces".

???

This left the nearby reinforcements that had rushed upon hearing the news instantly dumbfounded, utterly incredulous.

What is this situation?

When those reinforcements turned their gaze to the over‑three‑meter‑tall, imperial‑clad Sui Bian with the Imperial Claw on his left hand…

"I surrender!!"

A white soldier decisively threw down his blast energy gun, then raised both hands toward Sui Bian, indicating he posed no threat.

??

This caused the surrounding teammates to stare in disbelief, instinctively stepping back a few feet and leaning slightly backward.

"Oh?" Seeing this, Sui Bian intriguingly lifted his left hand a bit, moved the Imperial Claw, seemingly intending to intimidate these white soldiers.

"We surrender!!"

In an instant, all the white soldiers on the scene raised their hands and surrendered, no longer harboring any resistance.

Nonsense…

Where is a three‑meter‑tall stalwart giant, letting out a fart!

Moreover, the treatment the First Empire gives "them" isn't great either, so why struggle so hard?

(End of chapter)