Chapter 562: The Greedy Who Keeps Up With the Times

The coldly beautiful woman saw NuoWa blocking the road they had to take; her figure and physique were roughly comparable, only taller, with a far better build, and her combat suit and weapons seemed a few grades stronger than theirs.

"Tilas, what should we do?" but the other female reincarnator felt a bit nervous, constantly sensing that the opponent was an existence that would crush them.

"What can we do?" the coldly beautiful woman said calmly, confident, reaching to draw the short sword at her waist, and in a deep voice said: "We can't Astate, could we still not handle a frail…"

But before the coldly beautiful woman could finish, a spurt of blood with a "ciz~" sound cut her off.

At the same time, the coldly beautiful woman watched helplessly as the right hand she was about to draw the sword with already "pachi~" fell to the ground.

It turned out NuoWa simply made a flick of the finger, releasing a Spiritual Energy blade that emitted a ghostly blue, slightly cyan light, and in an instant of controlled force severed the coldly beautiful woman's right hand.

The speed was such that the coldly beautiful woman didn't even perceive the pain.

Immediately after, without any idle talk, NuoWa, still with her left hand on her hip and right hand raised, made a finger‑snapping gesture.

"Pa~!"

"Puff! Puff!"

Accompanying the snapping sound, the group of reincarnators could not withstand the Psychic Pressure; their bodies burst and exploded from the inside out.

The companion's foul‑smelling blood and viscera splattered onto the only surviving coldly beautiful woman, while NuoWa had an invisible barrier that blocked all further filth, and most notably she wore a faint smile.

"Ah…" Pain surged, and seeing her companion's body explode and die in less than a blink made the coldly beautiful woman unable to keep her cool and composed demeanor; she opened her mouth wide, and then…

"Aaaah!!!!"

She emitted an earth‑shaking, voiceless wail.

"Shut up." NuoWa frowned slightly, apparently irritated, pinching with her right index finger and thumb, rendering the coldly beautiful woman unable to make any sound.

Moreover, the coldly beautiful woman's body outline also emitted a cyan‑blue glow, slowly rising and drifting to the front of NuoWa.

"Trash, are you sure those kids are harder for me to deal with? Meeting me, your luck is rather bad." NuoWa looked at the coldly beautiful woman with a disdainful expression.

It is well known among the Empire's high command that unless it is a Totmos battalion, or certain elite battalions, battalion commanders, and regiment champions, one usually must keep a respectful distance when encountering Ghost operatives.

Because Ghost operatives again, their mastery of Spiritual Energy techniques far surpasses that of ordinary Astate, let alone NuoWa, a veteran Ghost operative.

At this moment.

NuoWa leapt lightly, stepping onto the "solid steps" she created, and in fewer than a dozen strides vaulted out of the alley onto the rooftop of a hundred‑meter‑tall apartment building.

She seemed to sense something, facing the northern metropolitan area that houses a massive starport, she shook her head and smiled, then turned to the coldly beautiful woman who had also floated behind her and said with a smile:

"Your minds have truly been corroded to the point of ruin; you actually believe in some 'Lord God', being duped into dealing with an OriginalBody? This joke can at least entertain me for a few hours."

Saying this, NuoWa, though still smiling, let her tone grow colder: "And your appearance has interrupted my opening execution of the greedy officer in the Zero‑Three Universe, and I still have to make the OriginalBody junior cooperate in the act, which makes me a little displeased,"

"So then, I will pry from your mouth… your mind all information about whatever 'Lord God' is, and also, how do you access that so‑called reincarnation space…"

"Hmm, reincarnation mission? How about letting my father (Sui Bian) or Magnus also in the multiverse select some reincarnators to clash with a bunch of riff‑raff?"

"Forget it…"

Having said that, NuoWa immediately vanished from the apartment rooftop, taking the coldly beautiful woman with her, and even though the coldly beautiful woman hadn't heard NuoWa's monologue, she had already been sentenced to death.

Meanwhile.

The central area of Metropolitan Zone 07.

Here lies a massive starport covering at least ten thousand square kilometers.

Countless shuttles, cruise ships and cargo vessels descend in altitude, either docking at the floating platforms within the starport or hovering in the designated airspace above.

However, more than a dozen light‑carrier and transport ships of the Empire's fleet, each three to ten kilometers long, line up and hover at a kilometer above the starport.

And earlier, within seconds, the two squads of trap‑setters that dealt with the 'loli girl' and other reincarnators rode Fire‑Spirit class vessels, which also belong to this transport fleet.

At this time.

The fleet released thousands of transport boats and aircraft, heading to the warehouse area on the east side to procure living supplies for the expeditionary force.

In fact, the expeditionary force led by Rog, Shengjilesi and Sui Ang numbered only about sixty battalions, and possessed a home world of Honor Iron Fist with self‑sufficiency, fully capable of supplying the entire expeditionary force with ample provisions.

However, the food and drink produced by the home world are mostly for satiety and essential vitamins, metals and nutrition, whereas the living supplies the transport fleet obtains from Kelkok are mostly flavorful, appetite‑inducing…

Or put more plainly, they are snacks, sodas, tobacco and alcohol, even the latest physical game consoles, as well as other electronic entertainment products.

Regarding this type of leisure supplies, the Empire's military does not manage them very strictly; after all, during combat downtime, soldiers need some pastimes to relax their tense nerves.

Even support troops and Astate are no exception; they are merely super‑soldiers, usually stern and bearing heavy burdens, but that does not mean they do not need relaxation.

Of course, regarding certain 'products' from gray areas, the Empire's military will not, and could never, provide them, and such matters are taboo within the ranks.

Although the Empire tolerates certain 'chaotic' environments, with many red‑light districts on planets and colonies, as long as there is no coercion and it is mutually voluntary, the usual attitude is to turn a blind eye; sometimes a patrol may be organized, but the military absolutely forbids its personnel from entering such venues.

As for the OriginalBody responsible for this transport mission, who is also the target of the War Eagle and other reincarnators, Sui Meng is aboard a ten‑kilometer‑long Achilles II‑type aircraft carrier.

On the side of Achilles's hangar.

Sui Meng, equipped in a black paint scheme accented with dark red, wearing dragon‑honor armor draped in tiger‑beast fur, led a dozen trap‑setters of the Honor Guard (Break Army) toward the lift at the edge of the hangar.

"Sir, a batch of new trap‑setter recruits have completed the trial, and many can be directly assigned to battalions."

At the same time, a low‑intelligence artificial intelligence with an Eastern‑female charm, long black hair, dressed in hanfu, known as 'Red Sleeve', projected a holographic body that followed Sui Meng's left side, reporting to the stoic OriginalBody.

Furthermore, Red Sleeve displayed several holographic screens before Sui Meng, containing information on Sui Yang, Sui Yue, as well as Mark, Ran Bing, Bai Yue Kui, Jing Nan and others.

Red Sleeve continued its report: "Moreover, His Majesty the Emperor has also allocated personnel from other universes with combat and management experience to our trap‑setters, but some are suited for civil posts and the Imperial Navy, so the Emperor has directly transferred them away."

Sui Meng listened while walking toward the lift, glanced through the numerous files and data in a few glances, fell silent briefly, then replied to Red Sleeve:

"His Majesty is currently in another universe, submitting a request to the Red Empress, stating that our trap‑setters need all talent, and that those who withdrew with Sui Yang and Sui Yue to the main universe should all be transferred to the trap‑setters."

"Understood." Red Sleeve responded expressionlessly, instantly transmitted the request to the Red Empress, and the next second said:

"The Red Empress has temporarily halted the order to change course, but since it was personally issued by His Majesty, we must wait for His Majesty to return to the Empire Palace before giving a precise reply."

"Good." Sui Meng nodded slightly, then walked up the elevator with the Broken Army, turned around, and faced Red Sleeve standing at the edge of the elevator, saying:

"I am conducting the handover with the officials of Ke Luo Ke; as for the inventory of supplies, I leave that to you. Also, do not forget to assist the Ke Luo Ke side in screening, ensuring no reincarnator is missed."

"Yes, the 14th Battalion has already dispatched forty-two combat squads, scattered throughout the metropolitan area."

"Hmm."

End of conversation.

The elevator opened its gates and released a hovering platform emitting a green light, causing Sui Meng and the Broken Army to descend to the airport below.

The distance of a kilometer passed in an instant.

Sui Meng and the others had no mind to admire the high-altitude scenery; they quickly reached the ground, and nearby there were only some warehouse buildings, the landing pads for airships and small atmospheric flight vehicles.

The view was indeed open, but it seemed unsuitable for Sui Meng to do as he told Red Sleeve—meeting and discussing with the officials.

Actually, given Sui Meng's temperament, he would absolutely refuse the officials' handover invitation; normally he would let Red Sleeve handle it directly, so having the officials come here to meet him is already truly "unprecedented."

Moreover, if it were not for a "sister's" entrustment and for him to act as bait, he would utterly disdain participating in the bureaucratic system.

As for the officials of Ke Luo Ke, they merely habitually invited the Original Body, never expecting Sui Meng to agree.

Is the meeting place unsuitable?

But for these officials of the remote star fields and star regions, being able to personally meet the Original Body is a rare occurrence; how could they blame the Original Body for choosing an unsuitable place?

Therefore, the high-ranking officials of Ke Luo Ke had to emphasize a ten-thousandfold importance, almost everyone present, fearing the Original Body would detect any impropriety.

At this moment.

A group of officials dressed in black Imperial formal attire, seeing Sui Meng and over a dozen Broken Army arrive, hurried forward.

Leading this group of officials was a man with a full beard, looking like a retired veteran, responsible for the metropolitan area's economy, construction, etc., the Chief District Director.

The two sides met.

The bearded Chief District Director, representing all officials, spoke first to Sui Meng: "Our Ke Luo Ke officials being able to meet Governor Sui Meng is our honor; please allow me..."

"Alright." Sui Meng lightly waved his hand, interrupting the other's words, and with a scrutinizing gaze swept over all officials, then said in a deep voice:

"There are still reincarnators remaining in the metropolitan area, so we will keep it brief. I personally meet with you all not only to handle supply matters, but also because some individuals, after becoming Imperial officials, consider themselves superior, and their attitude toward Imperial residents has plummeted, becoming arrogant.

Moreover, they deliberately ignore residents' reports and complaints, adopting a deliberately tricky and difficult attitude..."

Saying this, Sui Meng's gaze fell upon a female official who appeared only thirty years old, wearing slightly heavy makeup, his expression turning even colder as he questioned: "Is it or isn't it?"

!!

Upon hearing Sui Meng say this, all officials, including the Chief District Director, seemed to hold their breath, daring not to breathe heavily, while also turning their gazes toward that female official.

"I... I..."

The female official stammered, especially when locking eyes with a five-meter-tall Original Body, seeing the Original Body's gaze filled with undisguised contempt, she was directly frightened into collapsing to the ground.

Having a guilty conscience is one thing, but more importantly, being scrutinized by an Original Body caused the female official's brain to directly "crash," plunging her into unconsciousness.

The numerous corrupt officials previously investigated by NuoWa included this female director of the Food Safety Bureau of Metropolitan District 17.

This person graduated from a university in the main universe, smoothly retired from the Imperial Navy after joining, and due to outstanding performance, plus the main universe's UEG once intending to cultivate him, he was transferred to Metropolitan District 17 of Ke Luo Ke, starting from a grassroots official.

Previously this person could restrain himself, but after becoming the director overseeing catering affairs, combined with his background from the main universe, university, and navy, he began to treat subordinates and residents related to catering with "sharp-tongued harshness."

Of course, such female officials are merely one among many in Ke Luo Ke who believe that being in a remote area allows them, under appropriate circumstances, to become "greedy."

Because these officials understand low-intelligence artificial intelligence, as well as the Red Empress and White Empress monitoring everything, and also understand the operation of the Imperial internal system, they then use the tiny power in their hands to infinitely amplify it.

For example, this female official would use lawful and compliant excuses to make things difficult in every way, refusing or ignoring certain shops' deliveries unless they provide more valid documents.

And she would arbitrarily file reports; theoretically, this female official has committed no violation, so after multiple instances, some shop owners have had to repeatedly lower their stance just to get approval.

To say this brings no benefit and also yields no actual embezzlement...

But this person has gained spiritual pleasure, feeling "superior," usually no one dares to provoke him, he is highly respected, and meanwhile those around him must also fawn over "her" in every way.

After all, in today's Human Empire, any form of transfer or gift can be promptly detected, so the way of "corruption" has also evolved with the times.

For NuoWa and Sui Meng, this is precisely what constitutes a "corrupt official."

Thus NuoWa had Sui Meng accept the officials' invitation, and also had Sui Meng perform some "warning" actions...

Only then did Sui Meng release Spiritual Energy, forcibly awaken the fainted female official, then stroll over, and under the female official's terrified gaze lift his right foot...

"Pfft!!"

The skull exploded.

And Sui Meng continued in an icy tone: "The Empire and His Majesty tolerate not a single bit of corruption, including in feelings and spirit; moreover..."

Sui Meng said, then glanced toward the "air" not far to his left, and said in a deep voice: "If you want to assassinate me, don't let your killing intent show, you reincarnator scum."

(End of chapter)