Chapter 1422: How do you prove they weren't acting under your orders?

Viridian United Kingdom Capital Star, Conference Hall of the royal palace.

King Antuodi sat on the throne, looking at the holographic screen.

On the screen, the fleet of the Raven Guard was closing in on the Capital Star.

"Your Majesty, the fleet of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance has crossed the border, and our defense fleet... has all been sunk."

The voice of the Commander was trembling.

Antuodi's fists clenched.

He certainly knew that the Capital Star of the Sargon Free Territory had already been bombed, and the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance had not given them any chance for negotiation.

"What about those who returned from the Xiuluo Holy Star?"

Antuodi asked.

The Minister of Interior said.

"Locked in the dungeon, Your Majesty, how do you intend to deal with them?"

Antuodi stood up and walked down from the throne.

"How to deal with them? They are the culprits; they were the ones who sent people to hijack the Emperor's son, and they were the ones who brought disaster upon the Viridian United Kingdom. If I don't deal with them, who else should I deal with?"

The Minister of Interior said cautiously.

"Your Majesty, but when the people were originally sent to the Xiuluo Holy Star, it was you who approved it..."

Antuodi turned to look at him.

"I approved it? What I approved was 'observe the situation and act according to opportunity,' when did I ever approve of them taking action to hijack anyone?"

The Minister of Interior lowered his head and did not dare to speak.

Antuodi walked back to the throne.

"Bring those people up, execute them in front of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance, and let that Corax see that we have already punished the sinners; perhaps he will soften his heart and spare us."

Seeing that his ministers had no objections, Antuodi pressed the Communication Device.

"Connect to the Fleet Commander of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance, I want to speak with Corax."

The communication request was sent, and the holographic screen lit up.

Corax's face appeared on the screen, and he spoke slowly.

"King Antuodi of the Viridian United Kingdom, what is your business?"

Antuodi tried his best to make his tone sound humble.

"Lord Corax, the Viridian United Kingdom has already uncovered the truth of the hijacking incident; the culprits are those few diplomatic personnel who acted without authorization. They have already been arrested and are awaiting execution. We are willing to execute them in your presence to prove the sincerity of the Viridian United Kingdom."

Corax's eyebrows raised slightly.

"In my presence?"

Antuodi nodded.

"Yes, please bear witness, Lord Corax."

He waved his hand, and guards brought several people up.

They were exactly the diplomatic personnel sent to the Xiuluo Holy Star, led by Aoleiliu; they were bound, kneeling on the ground, their faces full of fear and despair.

Antuodi stood up and walked in front of them.

"Aoleiliu, you sent people to hijack the Emperor's son, a crime deserving of death. Today, in front of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance, I sentence you to death."

Aoleiliu raised his head.

"Your Majesty, we were only executing your..."

Antuodi drew an Energy Gun and fired a shot into Aoleiliu's chest.

Aoleiliu fell, and he fired several more shots, killing the others as well.

Antuodi put away the gun and turned to face the holographic screen.

"Lord Corax, the sinners have been executed. The Viridian United Kingdom is willing to accept all conditions of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance, only asking that you spare us."

Corax looked at the screen, the smile at the corners of his mouth deepening.

"You killed the murderers?"

Antuodi said.

"Yes, they have already paid for their crimes."

Corax said.

"How do you prove they weren't acting under your orders?"

Antuodi's expression changed, and he began to explain.

"Lord Corax, we..."

Corax interrupted him.

"You didn't dare to hand the murderers over to the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance, so you killed them to destroy the evidence—is this what you call sincerity?"

"Lord Corax, that is not what we meant..."

Corax said.

"Then what do you mean? Hijacking the Emperor's son, shielding the murderers, and killing them to silence them!"

Antuodi said.

"Lord Corax, we are willing to..."

"Willing to what? Willing to die?"

The communication was cut off, and the holographic screen went dark.

Antuodi stood where he was, his hands still trembling.

The Commander stood up, trying hard to keep his tone steady.

"Your Majesty, Corax will not let us go; we must organize a defense."

Antuodi walked back to the throne and sat down.

"Assemble all ships, all ground troops move into position; we will fight the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance to the death."

The Minister of Interior said.

"Your Majesty, our fleet cannot even defeat a single one of their warships..."

"Even if we cannot win, we must fight; are we to just wait for death?"

Antuodi immediately issued the order.

"All troops, enter combat status; as soon as the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance fleet arrives, open fire immediately."

But at this moment, the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance fleet no longer needed to "arrive"; they were in orbit, already in position.

On the Raven, Corax stood before the observation window, looking down at that deep blue planet below.

The Capital Star of the Viridian United Kingdom, with a population of about six billion, had no Humans, only Aliens.

"Father, all ships are in position, main cannons are fully charged."

The Adjutant reported.

Corax said.

"Fire."

As rounds of Light Lance fire shot toward the planet, the planet quickly turned into a purgatory.

Antuodi was still naively having his troops fight to the death, never imagining that the enemy had no intention of landing on their planet at all.

"Father, the Capital Star of the Viridian United Kingdom has been destroyed."

Corax said.

"Notify the other planets of the Viridian United Kingdom, and broadcast Luojia's statement."

The Adjutant pulled up a holographic screen.

Luojia's image appeared on every planet of the Viridian United Kingdom that could still receive a signal.

Corax turned and walked back to the command chair.

"The Viridian United Kingdom, from today on, no longer exists."

The Adjutant walked over.

"Father, how should we handle those planets that surrendered?"

Corax said.

"Administrative personnel will come to take over; enforce Secondary Citizen status according to standard, and suppress any resistance on the spot."

The Adjutant replied.

"Understood."

Corax closed his eyes.

Outside the window, in the star sector of the Viridian United Kingdom, those planets that surrendered were waiting for their new masters.

They were no longer part of a kingdom, but Secondary Citizens of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance.

Their fate had already been sealed from the moment the diplomats ordered the kidnapping of the Young Primarch.