Chapter 2412

2412 - Finding Oneself

Middle Sector 100 — Planet Uraginus.

*Whoosh*

From the space gate emerged a person with a trunk-like nose dangling like an elephant's, and beneath his forehead, three eyes with three eyebrows.

Clearly corpulent, yet his aura proclaimed that this body was extremely powerful, and his clothing gave him a regal impression, while his expression confirmed all of the above!

Then, moments later, a person stepped forward from the side with calm features and gave a small nod, "We welcome the Centennial Planetary Emperor Velfol."

"...?" The Emperor looked that person up and down, "You know who I am and yet you don't bow? Is your standing truly that high?"

"Oh." The young human showed a small smile, "I hold no prestigious position or anything in the Empire, I'm still trying to carve my own path, but my name is Donald Burton. I hope you'll remember it, for perhaps I may become significant one day."

"...." The Emperor's anger suddenly vanished, replaced by expressions of surprise and then pride, as he nodded firmly.

They sent someone from the Burton Family itself to receive him—they truly hold him in high regard!!

"Please, this way." The young man gestured toward a certain path that wound quietly through the palace corridors, "The Deputy Marshal awaits you at the appointed place."

"Deputy Marshal?" The Emperor furrowed his brows deeply: "Marshal Caesar won't meet with us?!" He twitched his ears vigorously, "Has he decided Middle Sector 100 is no longer important, or what?"

Ten years ago, after the Renara and Hedrick incident, any fighting in Sector Number 100 had become child's play and foolishness.

Caesar's campaign, which was supposed to attack 4 Millennial Empires and eliminate the Seven Thrones Empire, came to a complete halt... What replaced it was fierce negotiation.

Negotiations led by Foreign Affairs Advisor Glacion, who appeared in Middle Sector 100 immediately after the incident of the two galaxies and began his work.

The result was the surrender of the five empires over the course of three years without a single shell being fired.

Yes... Even the Seven Thrones Empire, which had been fighting for centuries, surrendered and declared its annexation to the Cradle Empire!!

After subduing all the Millennial Empires, Glacion left the sector and began moving across all the territories of His Majesty Robin Burton to reconcile viewpoints, leaving Middle Sector 100 for Caesar to handle himself.

He continued subduing the Centennial Empires, the multiple ones, and even planetary kingdoms, trade alliances, and disrupting Syndicate outposts... To put it more precisely, making the entire sector his own.

To that end, Caesar's call was brief and purposeful: "I have no time to make offers to each one individually—come and pledge your allegiance, or I will come to you."

A clear message and an outright threat, and it was more than enough.

After subduing all the Millennial Empires and revealing that the Cradle's empires had an official backer of such power, there was no longer any room for fighting. In the following years, the powers came one by one to hear the terms and recite the Oath.

And today was one of those days… but apparently, the Marshal is not present!

"It's nothing personal," Donald replied calmly. "His Excellency the Marshal announced an open-ended leave in the inner circles and delegated all his authority to his deputy. No one knows his whereabouts now… except perhaps the Shadow Swords."

"…?" The Emperor furrowed his brows heavily upon hearing those words. "The Marshal abandoned his authority and fled? …Is it normal for you to tell me such information?"

"His Excellency the Marshal is on leave. His Excellency the Marshal has no enemies to flee from, and no burden of responsibility to evade—he is the one who stood this empire on its feet in the midst of crises and despite all calamities!" Donald paused and stared at the Emperor's face, who had also stopped in his tracks.

Then Donald showed a small smile and resumed moving, "In any case, His Excellency Deputy Peon is no less in status or experience—treat him the same way you would the Marshal."

"Peon?" the Emperor repeated in a low voice.

Of course he knew—he was also one of Robin Burton's adopted children, the Supreme Commander of All Special Forces!

Then seriousness returned to his face, "...His Excellency the Deputy is certainly sufficient, but... do you know when the Marshal will return?"

"No." Donald spoke as he moved, "We don't know, but I don't think he has the time to come back for your sake." Then he cast a glance backward, "If I were you, I wouldn't wait—I'd swear allegiance before His Excellency Deputy Peon, for the star field you inhabit is our next target."

*Gulp*

"That's why I'm here!!" The Emperor swallowed his saliva involuntarily, "...I heard a great deal about the Marshal before I came—he didn't seem like the type to take leave at all... Didn't he tell you the reason? Perhaps an illness or something of the sort?"

"...." Donald hesitated for a moment over whether he should reply, then sighed: "He said he wanted to find himself."

"Find himself?" The Emperor was greatly bewildered, "The eldest son of Lord Robin says that? What does that leave for the rest of us?"

"Because precisely as the eldest son of His Majesty the Lord, he must always rise to the level of responsibility," Donald raised his head, "The Marshal is a role model for all of us, and when he returns... I am certain he will be completely different."