In the Nanxiang Star Cluster, this unexpected yet foreseeable disaster report was delivered punctually to the military and political center, causing Nanxiang Marquis Liu An, who had been awakened from frozen slumber once again, to be furious beyond measure.
He first expressed deep condolences for the Empireās loss of a rising new Earl, then felt deeply disappointed that the short-lived Earl failed to deliver the new type of Fourth-Class Mother Empressās Giant Reproductive Cells. Subsequently, he ordered the execution of tens of thousands of individuals related by blood to the rebellious Fang Pirate Group soldiers, to uphold justice for the lost Earl.
Meanwhile, in the command room of the Tracker Spaceship, Ren Zhong awakened once more, and first held a brief online meeting to inform all on-duty subordinates about the current new situation, telling them that from now on the Source Star Fleet would enter silent navigation mode, and take a large detour below the Shattered Star Ring to reach the South Nine Star through an unconventional route.
During the meeting, whether it was Xiao Xingyue, Isu Rock, or anyone else, they gazed at him almost with a god-like reverence.
At the beginning, when Ren Zhong devised the disguise plan, not everyone fully agreed.
Although no one opposed him after he made the decision, there were still some who harbored slight doubts.
Now the objective facts have proven his wisdom and insight, giving everyone another lesson.
The darkness of the Empire indeed exceeds imagination.
"As I said, this was inevitable." Ren Zhongās face showed little pride, only a detached tone as if describing this objective reality from a spectatorās viewpoint, "But it doesnāt matter, as long as we successfully reach the South Nine Star, when I enter the power sequence of the Empire, our safety will still be safeguarded."
...
After the meeting ended, the others gradually dispersed, leaving Ren Zhong sitting in his office, lost in new thoughts.
He still harbored doubts in his heart.
Judging by Liu Anās performance, the Mechanical Empire is indeed decayed and outdated, even though it possesses a high technology level, it implements a backward royal governance.
And it appears to be the worst kind of imperial rule, filled with low-level personal rule, internal fights, and intrigues, with very low efficiency.
The Empireās Emperor does not seem to be particularly wise or mighty; otherwise, a mere Earl would not dare to recklessly assassinate another prospective Earl to maintain his own standing, burying such important strategic intelligence as the Mother Empress Ship Giant Reproductive Cells in the process.
All indications suggest that the Empireās Emperor does not have strong control over the aristocratic class, which doesnāt match the technological level of information flow communication and Star Gate channels, at least indicating that the current Emperor is no saintly sovereign, and the Royal Family isnāt a great family filled with heroic figures.
Even compared to an Ascendant whom Ren Zhong has only dealt with once, the management system of the Mechanical Empire appears frivolous and stupid, let alone the intelligence provided by Sun Ai that shows the Pilgrims and Spirit Demon Raceās control areas and comprehensive combat power even surpass the Ascendants now.
But even so, the Mechanical Empire has astonishingly managed to linger for millions of years, only falling into a disadvantage but not utterly defeated, which truly is puzzling.
"Xiao Ai, I canāt figure out some things..."
Ren Zhong shared his confusion with Sun Ai.
He remembered that Sun Ai had once read through the complete history of the Empire, so he could ask her.
Sun Ai finally seized the opportunity and transformed into a three-dimensional image through projection, appearing in front of him.
Currently, she had changed her appearance to that of a fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl, standing with her hands on her hips, her neck held stiff, nostrils facing Ren Zhong, speaking with an arrogant demeanor: "Now you know to come to me? I wanted to tell you back then, but you didnāt want to listen, huh!"
Ren Zhong was taken aback, "What do you mean?"
Sun Ai pursed her lips: "Luck, Iāve always said it, you just didnāt like to hear it. Seriously."
Through Sun Aiās recounting once more, Ren Zhong gradually realized, and the feelings in his heart were indescribably strange.
He had known before that the four major human branches in the Ancient Disk Galaxy went in different directions, each with its own merits, and significantly differed.
The Mechanical Empire, which retained the most pristine human traits, features the development of super large machinery, including starship embryos. Through multiple-person collaborative control, the Empire can manufacture and control super-large spinning machinery like stellar bodies.
These machines possess enormous power but also appear clumsy. The Mechanical Empire doesnāt place much emphasis on individual strength; the Professional System basically reaches its limit at the super level, focusing more on team strength, controlled by large numbers of people to wield the infinitely expanded super large machinery.