Chapter 2527

2527 - Impudence

Planet Uraginus, Marshal's Office—

"This is piracy! No... it's piracy and robbery in broad daylight!" A fat man stomped his foot on the ground in protest, his face turning red with anger. "You are trampling all over the Tyrant Galaxy Law Code!!"

"Call it whatever you like." Sitting behind a tidy desk, Peon looked the man standing before him up and down. "Personally, I call it stopping theft."

"How is that?!" the fat man shouted. "How is it reasonable that you issued a decree forbidding the collection of taxes from the Space Gates within Lord Robin's vast territories, and at the same time say you're stopping theft? Aren't you stealing the resources, ideas, and innovations of the Tyrant Galaxy this way?"

"Heh~" Peon stared a little longer into the eyes of the person before him.

This particular person had kept combing through all the gates on the planets of Middle Sector 100, year after year, pulling astronomical tax figures out of thin air without bothering to calculate or justify those numbers, and no one had ever dared to treat him coldly.

His appearance today, on the verge of tears like this... was unusually delightful.

"His Majesty has declared his lands a closed universe. Its inhabitants have special rights, and its armies have special Paths. I cannot allow someone like you, from a hostile external power, to move freely among our planets and monitor our movements legally... If you want to do that, put in a little effort yourselves." Peon laughed.

"By the way, the Great Space Gates in our lands will also be confiscated. They belong to us now." Then Peon waved his hand, "Tell your Lord to forget anything related to the Gates and the tithes within the lands of The True Beginning. This nonsense will not happen again."

"Theft!" the fat man shouted.

"Theft is really your continued absorption of profits from an innovation that was released to the people over 70 million years ago." Peon waved his hand, "At the same time, my father has given the green light to distribute the principles and research of the Enhanced Second Path across the entire universe for free... Learn a little about generosity, you scum!"

"He published the principles but not the solutions. He kept them exclusive to the inhabitants of his lands and those who take Oaths of War Participation under his banner." The fat man was on the verge of going mad, "He's practically doing free advertising!"

"If there is anyone who can make use of the research and come up with a cure, let them step forward. We have announced that we will not pursue anyone who uses the research of His Majesty's disciple for the benefit of humanity." Peon declared nobly.

"Come up with a cure how, when your cure is extracted from the Blood of Space Beasts, for hell's sake?!" The fat man pointed at Peon. "This is a scam!"

"This conversation has gone on long enough." Peon fidgeted slightly. "Those tens of millions of years are enough for you. We will consider the gates spoils in exchange for the material and moral losses your master caused us in the Middle Sector 90 War. And were it not for the Law we have against killing envoys and officials, I would have cut off your head right here. Now get lost!"

"You..!!" The fat man gritted his teeth hard, then bent slightly and turned to leave. "I will make sure His Majesty hears of this!"

"Sing it to him if you like!" Peon placed both hands on his desk and stood in a surge of anger. "Tell him that his Lord Peon will wipe his backside with his rulebook starting today!"

"..." The fat man paused for a moment and clenched his fists tightly, then continued walking with eyes spitting sparks. "I will make sure the message is delivered."

Then he went out and slammed the door behind him. Baaam!

"Tsk." Peon returned to sit on his official seat with annoyance, then sighed and looked toward a certain direction inside the room. "I apologize for keeping you waiting. Were it not for all those Laws your father enacts about honorable dealings, I would have hanged every single hair on his head separately."

"Haha, your affection for him is burning a bit too much." On one side of the Marshal's office, a young man with white hair sat with composure.

"Little brother, they are the very embodiment of the word trash, believe me. Just a few years ago there was a great war between us witnessed by the entire universe—the same war in which they exploited the Space Gates to restrict us. All they did was postpone the visit to collect taxes for a while, and then today they came demanding the taxes of twelve full years. Can you imagine?" Peon gestured toward the door with annoyance. "What exactly do they think our reaction will be?"

"Perhaps that is precisely why they sent him? For the sake of this reaction of yours?" The white-haired young man, Richard, raised an eyebrow slightly. "Perhaps they want a justification to start something?"

"Let them start whatever they want—new smear campaigns? Product competition? Perhaps a war alongside their new beloved ally?!" Peon waved his hand. "We are prepared for anything."

"Hmm, you're right." Richard nodded and leaned his back further into the couch. "What the enemies do won't matter as long as we're prepared."

"..." Peon stared at his brother's face for a long while, then took a pen in both hands and quietly began turning it over and over while looking down. "I still don't think it's a good idea... this matter of sending you to fight on the Eastern Front alongside The Bull, Aro... If you want, go west with Alexander and Victoria and the others—my worry for you would be lighter there."

"They treat me like a spoiled child there, and that will limit my growth." Richard shook his head. "I want a proper war zone where I can fully explore the power of the Quadruple Merged Anti-Matter Law."

Peon laughed. "You'll be disappointed then. Asterion has announced that he surrendered to preserve the safety of his sons and his subjects—he won't enter the war."

"That's fine. Aro will find another war, and I'll jump into it." Richard shrugged. "I came to say goodbye before joining the Eastern Front. Years may separate us before we meet again."

"..." Peon's expression turned serious again, and he stared hard at his brother's face. "Just stay alive... Whatever you want—power, glory, or status—everything exists beside your father. Don't push yourself too hard."

"Haha, don't worry." Richard showed a smile. "I'll live no matter the cost." His eyes gleamed with a strange light. "I'm afraid Serine might find herself another husband if I die, haha."