Chapter 102: Did the Divine Emperor Also Rebel?

Washituoer left, and before departing even thoughtfully arranged a ceasefire with Xisi that lasted three months.

Besides openly declaring that he is a deity and will never take advantage of Xisi, Washituoer also needed at least three months to first equip a batch of troops with the Explosive Gun.

Moreover, those three months were entirely Washituoer's production time, not research time.

After all, in Washituoer's view, this Explosive Gun must have some key technology he has not yet mastered, while the rest is common street‑level tech.

He cracked the secret and reproduced the Hundredfold power in Xisi's hands, which was as easy as turning over one's palm.

Thus Xisi gained a precious chance to repair, mobilizing the inventory aboard Moon‑class vessels to rush‑repair the battleship.

Just when Xisi thought he could finally catch his breath, in a distant galaxy a massive fleet of over a hundred ships was quietly docking in the void.

Lacking the bizarre decorations and mutations of the Chaos Region, these warships exuded cold, steel‑hard machinery.

At the center of the fleet, on an Emperor‑class battleship, the Empire's double‑headed eagle was prominently displayed.

Yet a fleet of this scale was merely one combat group among ten expedition fleets in Kiriman's Indomitable Expedition.

It was the second‑largest expedition plan in scale since the birth of the Human Empire.

Kiriman's self‑planned Indomitable Expedition gathered an unimaginable number of Imperial Troops.

Even a combat group casually dispatched to chase Xisi was large enough to launch a Revelation‑level war on its own.

Within the Retribution‑class battleship at this moment.

Countless Krig, neatly marching off the Yunxuji onto the deck, in uniform attire and strict formation, tens of thousands of the Krig legion filled the entire deck before the massive cannon manufactured on their homeworld behind them.

Yet the combat group commander who was supposed to receive this batch of Krig troops had not yet appeared.

At the high platform ahead of the deck, a large number of crew members were busily running back and forth.

The Krig wearing breathing masks showed no expression, and the commander who should have arrived stayed on the bridge, watching a deputy who rushed in with a report and the conspicuous points on the projector.

"So this is where the traitor is!"

A Navy Admiral who had undergone life‑extension surgery, appearing no older than his early forties.

He stared at the constantly flickering dots in the projection, his face stern as he spoke.

Even from the admiral's words, one could easily hear the barely restrained fury.

After all, it wasn't only Abadon and Washituoer who were being led by the nose by Xisi, but also the task force ordered to hunt him down.

Having chased for so long, even daring to enter the Great Vortex and clash with Xiulun, they still never caught even Xisi's shadow.

Not only the admiral, but almost the entire task force from top to bottom was seething with anger.

"According to reports from the nearby sector government, the traitor named Xisi is right here now."

The deputy affirmed again, confirming the message's authenticity, and the admiral almost instantly flailed his arm toward the red dot on the projection.

"All forces, leap immediately and eliminate this traitor, then we must complete Lord Kiriman's expedition plan."

The admiral was impatient, and nearby Captain Astat, the Star Realm Army Commander, the Battle Nun and others all showed the same urgency, seemingly unwilling to keep being led by the nose by Xisi.

Only a State Church Priest, looking at the formidable crowd before him, thought for a moment before unable to hold back a question.

"A traitor naturally must be eliminated without reason."

"But earlier, among another group of rebel Red Pirates, shouldn't we consider the words of those captives?"

"After all, so many captives said they saw a 'Cursed Warrior', this human called Xisi... perhaps there truly is a misunderstanding."

The priest phrased it as politely as possible, even avoiding uttering the word 'traitor'.

Hearing this, the bridge crowd pulled their attention back from the excitement of finally ending the endless chase and gave the priest a serious look.

They did not rebuke him outright; instead, everyone calmly began to think seriously.

Their ability to become senior staff of the task force alone proved their excellence.

It was also because even the Astat think‑tank and the Mechanical Church, using all means, confirmed the captives were not lying.

The rebel group they were hunting truly possessed a Divine Emperor's Cursed Warrior.

Although the Empire never acknowledged a Cursed Warrior, the higher‑ups all knew what its appearance signified.

It meant the other side had the Divine Emperor's personal endorsement, an unquestionably loyal Imperial subject.

The scene was quiet for a moment, then the admiral broke the silence:

"Whether or not they truly have a Cursed Warrior, we must send someone to take a look."

"Even if the traitor isn't lying, who can say their memory is accurate?"

The admiral's words were immediately endorsed by the crowd, and then he looked up again at Xisi's location on the projection; after a brief pause he swung his arm again:

"First send a strike force over; the enemy has only one ship, once we catch up they can't escape."

No one on the bridge raised further objections; soon, at a corner of the massive fleet, a small strike fleet composed of two Moon‑class cruisers and ten escort ships slowly detached from the main force, beginning the Leap toward Xisi's location.

Facing the departing fleet, everyone prayed that this long pursuit could end.

At the same time they were confident in the strike force they had sent.

Even ignoring that the enemy has only one damaged Moon‑class ship, we have two, plus ten escort ships in one go; on paper this strength overwhelmingly crushes the opponent, and they could not imagine any reason for failure.

Then the entire fleet lingered in the void, awaiting possible reports from the forward strike force, since the distance to Xisi's location required little time.

Soon, with a rush of footsteps, the frontline report everyone had been awaiting finally arrived.

"It's a directly recorded transmission, but the content..."

The delivering officer's face turned strange, and he even could not continue after picking up the report.

Seeing this, the crowd exchanged glances, then the admiral took it directly and skimmed it quickly:

"The Four Gods‑corrupted Panbian Juntuán?"

His brows relaxed, and the admiral looked at the priest, letting out a sigh: "It seems this Xisi is nothing but a rebel."

Having finished speaking, the admiral, still feeling the near‑defiance of the Emperor, continued his inspection.

Then the smile that had just appeared hesitated slightly:

Then the smile that had just appeared froze slightly:

What do you call it, the ones providing fire support to the Rebel Forces are Cursed Warriors?

The Bridge fell instantly silent; the admiral also stared blankly at the report, not even having time to notice the State Church Priest's face turn pale in an instant, and continued onward.

Then the admiral's brows instantly furrowed into deep ravines:

Divine Emperor...

Also rebelled?!