Chapter 1284: Military Base Stationed in the Ash Star Alliance

Mother Ying set the flowerpot aside and picked up another pot that needed pruning.

"Guilliman, how has your father been feeling lately?"

"Father is well. He has been handling some diplomatic affairs recently and is in good spirits."

Mother Ying nodded.

"That is good. He is the type of person who worries his whole life. Once he finishes worrying about one thing, he starts on another. I don't know when he will ever be able to rest."

Guilliman said.

"Father says that when Humans no longer need him, he will rest."

Mother Ying shook her head.

"Then he will never be able to rest in his entire life."

Guilliman did not respond.

Mother Ying snipped off a withered leaf and placed it into the small basket Curze handed her.

"It is even better now that Curze has come to help me. He is better at tending to them than I am."

Curze finally looked up.

"Grandmother is better at tending to them than I am. I am just helping."

Mother Ying smiled.

"Helping is also tending. From now on, these flowers will be left to you."

Curze was stunned for a moment.

"Left to me?"

Mother Ying nodded.

"Yes. I am old and do not have as much energy anymore. Will you help me take care of them?"

Curze looked at her, and a flash of complex emotion passed through his black eyes.

"I... I am afraid I won't tend to them well."

Mother Ying said.

"If you don't tend to them well, you can learn slowly. Didn't the few pots you planted grow very well?"

Curze looked down at the few pots of Xiaohua he had planted. They were blooming quietly in the moonlight, their leaves emerald green and their blossoms delicate.

"That was just my good luck," he said.

Mother Ying shook her head.

"It is not luck. It is because you put your heart into it. Flowers are the kind of things that, if you treat them well, they will treat you well. Just like people."

Curze was silent for a long time.

Then he said.

"Alright. I will help you tend to them."

"Good child."

The moon rose to its highest point, shrouding the entire garden in a silver-white glow.

Mother Ying finally put down the scissors and placed the last pruned flowerpot on the stone table.

"Alright. That is all for today."

Curze stood up, dumped the withered leaves from the small basket into the trash can nearby, and tidied up the scissors and flowerpots.

His movements were practiced; he had clearly done this many times before.

Guilliman also stood up.

"Grandmother, shall I see you back to rest?"

Mother Ying shook her head.

"No need. It is not as if I cannot walk. You two chat; I am heading back first."

She looked at Curze.

"Curze, come again tomorrow evening, alright?"

Curze nodded.

"Alright."

Mother Ying smiled and reached out to pat his head.

"Good."

She turned and walked slowly along the gravel path.

The garden fell quiet.

In the distance, the lights went out one by one.

Wa'erduosi Star, eastern border of the Ash Star Alliance.

In the largest city on the planet, in the northern suburbs of Wa'erduosi City, a brand-new military base had already risen from the ground.

The base covered an area of about fifty square kilometers, with three layers of electrified barbed wire on the perimeter and an Automatic Turret every fifty meters.

Inside the base, gray barracks were arranged neatly, and the training grounds, armory, Command Center, and medical facilities were all fully equipped.

Above the main gate of the base hung the emblem of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance: the Double-Headed Eagle.

This was one of the results of the negotiations by the Corax delegation.

The Ash Star Alliance agreed to allow the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance to station Astra Militarum troops on three border planets, nominally to "protect the safety of the Primarch and subsequent Xiu Luo Saint Humans," but in reality, these were three nails driven by the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance into the eastern border of the Ash Star Alliance.

Wa'erduosi Star was one of them.

At this moment, on the third floor of the base's Command Center, Corax stood before the window, looking out at the orange-red wasteland beyond.

He was dressed in black casual clothes, and behind him, the Holographic Star Map marked the border between the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance and the Ash Star Alliance, as well as the locations of the three garrisoned planets.

Wa'erduosi Star is in the far east, Kalidusi Star is in the northwest, and Nuowa Star is in the southwest.

The three planets are distributed in a triangle, echoing each other, and can monitor most of the eastern border area of the Ash Star Alliance.

"My lord."

Adjutant Haliwusi walked in, holding a Data Pad in his hand.

"The 72nd Regiment of the Cadian Shock Troops has finished moving in. Personnel and equipment have been accounted for, and they are ready to execute the Task at any time."

Corax did not turn around.

"Is the situation going smoothly?"

"There were no accidents during the transfer process. The Ash Star Alliance side cooperated very well."

The corners of Corax's mouth lifted slightly.

"Cooperated very well? They had no choice but to cooperate."

He turned around and walked to the star map.

"Wa'erduosi Star, Kalidusi Star, Nuowa Star. Three planets, three regiments. The 72nd, 73rd, and 74th Regiments of the Cadian Shock Troops."

His finger traced across the star map.

"Wa'erduosi Star is in the far east, the furthest from the core area of the Ash Star Alliance, but its position is the most critical. Starting from here, one can monitor forty percent of the eastern border area of the Ash Star Alliance. Kalidusi Star is in the northwest, and Nuowa Star is in the southwest. The three planets form a triangle and support each other; if any one planet is attacked, the other two can provide support within twenty-four hours."

Haliwusi nodded.

"My lord, what is the reaction of the Ash Star Alliance to the garrison?"

Corax looked at him.

"What do you think?"

Haliwusi thought for a moment.

"It probably won't be too good."

Corax laughed.

"Of course it won't be too good. If it were you, would you be willing to let others station troops at your doorstep?"

He walked back to the window and looked at the orange-red wasteland outside.

"But they have no choice. After the assassination incident, they are in the wrong. A Primarch of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance was assassinated on their territory, their security system was full of holes, and the assassin has yet to be caught. At a time like this, if I propose a request to station troops, can they refuse? They cannot refuse. Nor do they dare to refuse."