Chapter 17

This left Lord Fu Xuan feeling curious: what on earth could the Disaster Empire be building such a massive megastructure for?

The scene in the light screen shifted, focusing on a fleet of battered, dilapidated ships.

There were about a dozen of them, their hulls weathered and scarred by countless asteroid impacts.

Some pipes were even exposed to the vacuum of space, a sight that was truly hair-raising.

The engines of these ships were burning with only the faintest flickers of flame, drifting through deep space in a near-gliding motion.

The view in the light screen moved, transitioning inside one of the ships.

Inside, there were emaciated Starfish-people, huddled together with hunger visible in their eyes.

They seemed to have endured some kind of catastrophe and a long, desperate flight; the food and energy supplies on these dozen civilian ships were clearly all but exhausted.

A Starfish mother was seen holding her child, carefully pulling a bit of crushed compressed biscuit from her pocket to feed it.

But before the child could eat, other starving Starfish nearby noticed the food.

They swarmed forward, quickly dividing up the last of the mother's meager rations.

【"These unfortunate wanderers fled their home to escape the Contingency."】

【"Since then, they have been drifting aimlessly, making a desperate gamble to find a new home before their supplies run out."】

【"Clearly, they have failed. Now, with their supplies depleted, they are forced to seek aid from the Empire, hoping to find refuge within Imperial borders."】

A cold, analytical voice echoed from the Empire's border starport, transmitting intelligence to the administrative matrix within the Empire.

"It seems they were truly pushed to the brink to actually seek help from the Disaster Empire?"

"What is the Contingency? It scared the Starfish into abandoning their home and even forced them to beg the Disaster Empire for help?"

"How could an entity as heartless and cold as the Empire agree to the pleas of these pathetic Starfish?"

The sentient beings across the universe couldn't help but discuss this scene.

Most of them did not believe the Disaster Empire would accept these Starfish refugees.

【"The fully awakened Contingency is encroaching upon the entire universe; they seek to block our path to higher-level ascension."】

【"This is precisely the time for all civilizations among the stars to move toward cooperation. We need to utilize every force that can be utilized!"】

【"The Empire will allow all sentient beings to serve the Empire, burning their value to oppose the Contingency."】

【"Following the instructions of His Majesty the Emperor, we will accept all refugees—regardless of whether they are alien."】

The broadcast from the Empire's starport resonated through the void.

The near-desperate Starfish on the civilian ships widened their eyes upon hearing the Imperial broadcast.

Hope ignited in their eyes, even though this hope was granted by their sworn enemies.

Not only were the Starfish on the civilian ships shaken, but even the beings across the universe couldn't help but widen their eyes.

"Am I hallucinating? 'All civilizations among the stars to move toward cooperation'? 'Utilize every force that can be utilized'? 'Allow all sentient beings to serve the Empire'?"

"What exactly is this fully awakened Contingency? It actually made the Disaster Empire prepare for a serious battle? Even the Prethoryn Scourge didn't get this kind of treatment!"

"It seems that although the Disaster Empire is cold and rational, it still knows the big picture when mercy and unity are required."

Only Lord Fu Xuan couldn't help but rub her chin.

Even in the face of a massive threat, the Empire's unconditional acceptance of refugees still felt unbelievable to her.

It wasn't because of the Empire's past actions, but because it didn't fit the Empire's principle of "efficiency."

A group of alien refugees with different languages, different customs, and even hatred toward the Empire entering the Empire—

it was hard to say whether they would be a burden or a source of valuable labor.

Even if they could generate value, it would only be possible after a long process of education, domestication, and integration.

Moreover, the Empire clearly had some kind of racial purity obsession; would they really trust other alien races so much?

Lord Fu Xuan couldn't help but pinch her chin.

【"We welcome you!"】

The Empire's broadcast voice rang out on the Starfish ships:

【"Please follow the guidance of the Imperial ships and proceed to the designated star system."】

【"Do not deviate from the course. If you enter the Solar System, Alpha Centauri, or other sacred Imperial territories, the Empire will not hesitate to shoot you down."】

【"Vile aliens are not worthy of bathing in the sunlight of the sacred territories."】

The Starfish tremblingly piloted their dilapidated civilian ships, following the Imperial fleet toward the designated star system.

【"You will arrive at a brand-new home, where you will serve the Empire and burn your value."】

【"Your new home is named the 'Synaptic Condenser'."】

25. 【The Disaster Empire's Second Most Terrifying Megastructure】

The civilian ships of the Starfish refugees in the light screen slowly sailed into a silent star system under the guidance of the Imperial fleet.

In this star system, only the Synaptic Condenser, resembling a steel brain, hung high in the void.

Electric arcs jumped across blocks that looked like the cerebral cortex, and nerve-like cables connected each block, ultimately linking to a brainstem-like core.

This massive megastructure made the Starfish widen their eyes.

But they didn't harbor any suspicions; after all, there was no shortage of residential stations among the stars.

In the eyes of the Starfish, this megastructure was just a strangely shaped residential station.

Under the escort of the Imperial fleet, the Starfish walked off their old civilian ships one by one.

The Imperial Army stationed on the Synaptic Condenser began distributing a day's worth of nutrient paste to the Starfish.

Seeing the food, the Starfish were immediately filled with gratitude, their eyes brimming with tears.

【"Work hard. If it weren't for the full awakening of the Contingency, aliens like you would never have the chance to burn yourselves for the Empire."】

The Starfish nodded repeatedly, not giving a second thought to the words of the Imperial soldiers.

【"Did you see that, child? The Empire is made of kind people; they give us food and work."】

【"Praise His Majesty the Emperor of the Empire!"】

【"Gratitude to the benevolent Imperial administrative matrix, gratitude to the benevolent Great Emperor of the Empire!"】

The Starfish shouted various slogans, praising the Empire's grace.

Even the sentient beings outside the light screen watching this scene couldn't help but feel at ease.

"The Empire has started distributing food to them; it seems they are genuinely helping refugees."

"Is this Synaptic Condenser some kind of orbital residential station? Built to accommodate refugees?"

"Heh, I don't believe the Disaster Empire is that kind-hearted; they'll definitely send them into factories for brutal exploitation."

"Exploited is exploited, at least they survived—besides, are there few people in the universe exploited by corporations? What's the difference between being exploited by the Disaster Empire and by a corporation?"

On the Luofu Xianzhou, Lord Fu Xuan watched this scene, feeling it become increasingly strange.

With a great enemy at the gates, how could the Disaster Empire do such an inefficient thing?

She looked closely at the Starfish in the light screen; although they were loudly singing the praises of the Empire's grace,

several people who were clearly Starfish elites were quietly gathering in the crowd, whispering to each other.

These people were certainly not discussing how to contribute to the Empire.

Lord Fu Xuan asked herself: if a group of Abundance followers defected to the Xianzhou, would she be willing to trust them?

The answer was, of course, no.

Would the Abundance followers abandon their hatred for the Xianzhou and contribute to it?

The answer was also no.

Finally, would the Xianzhou fully accept the Abundance followers and allow them into Xianzhou society?

Unless the brains of the Seven Arbiter-Generals and the Marshal had been kicked by an Abundance monstrosity, they would absolutely never do such a thing.

If they did, the light arrows of the Reignbow Arbiter would likely purge the traitors the very next moment.

So what exactly did the Disaster Empire want to do?

Lord Fu Xuan couldn't help but feel curious and continued to look into the light screen.

【"Aliens, proceed to your residential locations and work posts."】

【"It is time to burn your value for the Empire! Your thoughts will build the path of ascension for the Empire."】

Under the command of the Imperial Army, a massive number of Starfish crowded into a block of the Synaptic Condenser.

Some Starfish tried to sneak out of the crowd, but the reaction speed of the Imperial Army was extremely fast.

These genetically modified soldiers, equipped with synthetic ceramic steel armor and advanced optical sensors, reached the escapees in the blink of an eye.

The bolters in their hands fired coarse and heavy bullets, instantly shattering the escaping Starfish into chunks of meat.

The auxiliary troops nearby stepped forward, collected the shattered meat, injected it into a dissolution pool, and synthesized it into nutrient gel. ===== CHAPTER 18 =====