Chapter 1014: This Disaster Was Not Without Cause

Feng Qi Xing Alliance core star region, a certain administrative hub planet, high-level official's office.

"Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance... Xiuluo Holy... Where on earth did they pop out from? Possessing such powerful military strength, it is impossible for there to have been no traces before this!"

Aolusi once again pulled up the fragmented information on the "Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance" collected by the Intelligence Department; there were basically no clues regarding its origin or core world.

"Could it really be some ancient civilization that has been hiding in the shadows all along?"

Aolusi shook his head.

Aolusi expanded the search range until his gaze stopped on a planetary record numbered "ES-41," with its name field displayed as "Xiuluo Holy."

Xiuluo Holy? Same name? Or...

Aolusi clicked open this file.

The record showed that ES-41 "Xiuluo Holy" Star, located on the edge of the original Seventh Star Sector, was a planet managed under contract by the "Heavenly Flow Entertainment Group" subordinate to the Feng Qi Xing Alliance, and its primary use was... a large-scale integrated Gladiator Arena and extreme experience park.

The file recorded that the planet had been seeded with various intelligent life forms to engage in "natural" competition and performance within specific ecological zones, for the sake of wealthy individuals from the core star region and thrill-seeking tourists to watch and place bets.

The last update of the record stopped at about three standard years ago.

Large-scale, Out of Control indigenous Riot occurred inside the planet, multiple seeded races were wiped out, and the signal was interrupted.

The entertainment group had once dispatched a small exploration fleet to investigate, but it encountered unknown resistance, and that small exploration fleet disappeared.

Subsequently, the planet was marked by the group internally as "Out of Control, high risk," and in view of its remoteness and "limited commercial value," no further resources were invested to recover it, nor was this matter reported upward as a major incident; it was merely noted in the internal files.

The timeline matches! Xiuluo Holy Star indigenous Riot, wiping out other races, then losing contact... three standard years of blank space... when they appeared again, it was as the "Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance" that conquered the Seventh Star Sector with the force of a landslide!

That planet which they treated as a Gladiator Arena, viewed as a low-class entertainment tool and experimental subject—the "indigenous people" on it erupted in a desperate situation, not only unifying the planet but, in just three short years, developing a terrifying military force capable of crushing the Southern Theater of the Feng Qi Xing Alliance!

And all of this could have been discovered early, or even strangled in the cradle!

Aolusi sent an encrypted communication to contact the manager of the "Heavenly Flow Entertainment Group"—Daotaisi.

The sound of the communication connecting rang for a long time before it was picked up.

"Oh? Is it Deputy Chief Aolusi? What wind blew you here? Our entertainment group's taxes are paid on time and in full."

Aolusi said through gritted teeth.

"Manager Daotaisi, I have reviewed the file regarding ES-41, 'Xiuluo Holy' Star."

The smile on Daotaisi's face did not diminish.

"Xiuluo Holy? Oh... you mean that Out of Control Gladiator Arena planet? That's all old news from many years ago. Why, has the Deputy Chief suddenly become interested in the entertainment industry?"

"Old news? Daotaisi! Do you know that the 'Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance' that is currently beating us to a pulp in the Southern Theater and has already taken three star sectors is very likely the one that crawled out of that Gladiator Arena planet you marked as 'Out of Control, high risk'!"

"What?! This... this is impossible! Deputy Chief, you must be mistaken! That was just a group of uncivilized indigenous people! At most they had a few broken ships! How could they..."

"Impossible?"

Aolusi threw a processed combat image screenshot in front of the communication projection.

"Look at this! Look at the emblem on their warships! And look at the crest on their warriors' Power Armor! How many similarities does it have to the symbolic totem of that Gladiator Arena planet recorded in your file?! And the time! Three years! They disappeared for three years! And then the Seventh Star Sector was gone! You dare say this is a coincidence?!"

Daotaisi looked at the clear emblem, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

"I... I... Deputy Chief, at the time... at the time the planet's signal was interrupted, we sent a security fleet! The losses were not small! We evaluated it and thought that for an entertainment planet in a remote area, investing more costs to clear it out was not cost-effective... and besides, who could have thought... who could have thought they could in such a short time..."

"Evaluated? Not cost-effective?"

Aolusi roared at the Communication Device.

"You idiot! You bucket of slop! You only have your pathetic profits and costs in your eyes! Do you know how many fleets the Feng Qi Xing Alliance has lost because of your negligence, because of your stupidity? How many warriors?

Three whole prosperous star sectors! Now the western front is also under increased pressure because our forces are stretched thin! All of this may stem from that 'not cost-effective' evaluation of yours back then!"

Aolusi pointed at Daotaisi's nose.

"Daotaisi! You and that damn entertainment group of yours must bear direct responsibility for this disaster! You concealed the truth and allowed a potential huge threat to grow and strengthen! This is dereliction of duty! This is betrayal!"

Daotaisi was scolded until his face turned pale, and he slumped into his chair.

"Deputy Chief Aolusi! Calm down! Please calm down! This... this cannot be blamed entirely on us! Who... who could have predicted such a thing?

This... this is simply a miracle! Yes, a miracle! An unrepeatable miracle! We... we can make up for it! Our group is willing to donate... donate a large sum of funds to support the front line..."

"Make up for it? With money? Do you think money can buy back the lost star sectors? Can it buy back the soldiers who died in battle? Can it offset the strategic disaster brought about by your incredibly stupid mistake?"

Aolusi said every word clearly.

"Daotaisi, you listen to me carefully. This matter is not over. I will immediately compile the relevant files and our investigation results into a formal report and submit it to the Supreme Council.

I will formally propose at the council to immediately remove you from all positions as manager of the 'Heavenly Flow Entertainment Group'! And I will conduct the most thorough investigation and accountability for your group's serious dereliction of duty in this incident! You just wait to face the judgment of the council!"

After speaking, Aolusi cut the communication.

Then he sent a communication to his Secretary.

"Immediately prepare a Highest Priority report framework for me! Subject: Preliminary report on the major discovery regarding the origin of the 'Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance' and the dereliction of duty by the relevant responsible parties.

I want those high-and-mighty adults in the council to know that this disaster was not without cause!"

"Understood, Lord Aolusi."