2284 – Preparing for the Crusher
Somewhere in the space of Young Sector 99—
Inside what appears to be a spacious meeting cabin within a massive spacecraft…
“…I don’t even know why we have to make plans and prepare before attacking an empire located in the Young Belt. This is ridiculous and infuriating.” One of the people inside what looked like a command center or meeting room aboard a spacecraft spoke.
“That’s the point. We must strike with all our forces in a single decisive attack.” Another person explained, then pointed toward a map hanging in front of everyone. “Robin Burton’s entire base lies within that spot.”
At the spot he pointed to, there was a large circle drawn by hand, or if viewed from a different angle, the result would be a sphere.
A sphere that appeared small amidst the vast space, but it wasn’t infinitely small either—from one end to the other, its diameter was a full light-hour… It was the famous mysterious region in Young Sector 99.
Or, to be more precise…
"The location of the True Beginning Empire..." A third person gritted his teeth. "Robin's stronghold and his family, and the stronghold of his filthy Marshal and his family, along with all the resources, industries, equipment, innovations, and countless treasures that either pass through here first or ultimately settle here."
Then he looked toward the person across the table from him.
"You can't imagine the number of transport vehicles moving back and forth around that spot. Even we in the Syndicate used the latest sensing equipment to scan what was happening inside, and we detected an enormous amount of traffic to and from the middle planet, Planet Nihari."
That person pulled the floating sphere closer and placed a point in its center.
"Here lies the Galactic Seed, and around it, three thousand seven hundred planets supply it daily with a massive number of space transport trucks. The space trucks moving among them in a single day are enough to carry the wealth of an entire century's empire. So imagine what I'm talking about here. I can't precisely observe what's on the surface of Nihari itself, but we can imagine the scale of industry that requires all these raw materials and all this movement."
"The galaxy inside has reached that many planets?" Another person asked in astonishment.
Although his mouth watered slightly at the mention of trucks and flowing wealth, this particular piece of information was extremely shocking.
"This is according to the latest research," the Syndicate member replied seriously. "In fact, the number must have increased by no less than fifty additional planets today alone."
"To that extent?!"
"Since when could planets be moved so quickly?"
"This is unbelievable—did he find himself a sixth-grade Displacement Gear or what?"
"Have you forgotten his Sales Network, gentlemen?" one of the attendees spoke, his eyes nearly sparking with fury. "He's been buying Displacement Gear in bulk for a long time, and he must be using it here!"
"Damn it, how I hate fighting the wealthy!!"
"Don't worry, gentlemen," the Syndicate member chuckled. "By the end of the day, everything he's gathered will be yours." Then he looked around and explained, "Well, not literally yours, of course, but you understand what I mean."
Around the Syndicate member were about thirty people.
All of them were either Nexus State holders or Royal Spirit Masters.
And all of them belonged to the same Sorcerer Galaxy.
These were part of the force sent by the Sorcerer to rescue Young Sector 98, but the latest support that reached the enemies from the First and Third Armies, along with the full backing of the Shadow Swords, made the mission practically impossible.
That is why everyone who descended into Young Sector 98 was gathered, along with all their remaining followers within the Young Belt, and then they left for here.
No matter how powerful Robin Burton is within the Young Belt…
It is still, in the end, a Young Belt.
And his followers cannot withstand this number of enemies at this level.
Especially…
Then the Syndicate member cast a glance to his right.
There was a person sitting solemnly to the side, eyes closed, listening to everything without uttering a single word.
He is one of Zargul the Sorcerer's sons.
A Seven-Star Royal Soul Master.
With this kind of striking power, all other calculations collapse.
The defenses collapse.
The fleets collapse.
The arrays collapse.
And with enough time, a Seven-Star Royal Soul Master can handle everything on his own.
They brought a butcher's cleaver to slaughter a chick.
"Hmm, you're right. This ready-made galaxy will become ours, and we must not cause excessive destruction in it."
"Imagine, my brothers, two galaxies in Sectors 98 and 99, both belonging to us... Has this ever happened in history?"
"It will happen with us now. Finally, one good thing has come out of this nightmare."
The entire mood shifted completely.
They set everything aside and began discussing the ideal methods of control without harming Nihari or the surrounding infrastructure.
"Shh!" The seated person raised his hand, and everyone fell silent instantly.
Then he lowered it very slowly.
All eyes were on him.
Only when his hand returned to the armrest did he speak.
"Return your focus to the plan for breaching the First Protection Layer and eliminating the scattered Note-4 Fleets without too many losses, then the second layer, then the third... and after that, talk about Nihari."
"I think you're overestimating them too much, Big Brother," one of the people around the table spoke calmly. "No matter what the defenses are, what can stop us? What can stop you specifically?"
"Minimize the losses!" The Seven-Star Royal Spirit Master furrowed his brows. "We have lost enough in this war. No matter how advanced the Syndicate's equipment is, we must not forget that we truly don't know what's happening on the ground. Secondly... there is a variable that must be taken into account."
"And what is it, Big Brother?" asked another person.
The Royal Spirit Master furrowed his brows even more, then spoke in a serious tone that made the room fall completely silent.
"The Red Plague that is present there."