Chapter 128: Heading to the Divine Glory Empire (4)
Chapter 128: Heading to the Divine Glory Empire (4)
Though, in the Great Cosmic Era, warships weren’t judged by size. But a warship this huge could carry a relatively large number of energy cannons.
Therefore, the power unleashed in a single salvo from this giant ship in the 3D image was definitely not something to ignore.
“We’re in the outskirts of the Barren Star Domain, why has this warship suddenly appeared here?”, the Captain couldn’t quite figure it out. But not understanding it didn’t mean dwelling on it; what he had to do now was immediately send a report back to Headquarters.
“Report the image coordinates to Base immediately. We’ve encountered armed warships from another civilization. Their destination is unknown. We are initiating contact…”, the Captain promptly issued a series of commands to the crew below.
“All warships, maximum power to energy systems! Prepare for combat!”
As the Captain’s orders were given, three Heavy Warships and ten Light Warships immediately dispersed, forming the most common battle formation in space.
Meanwhile, Lei Yaotian’s Space Carrier was in the midst of cooling down.
The patrol group from the Northern Fleet of the Divine Glory Empire had already been spotted by Lei Yaotian’s side.
“Report, Commander. The enemy warships have entered combat posture. They are also simultaneously sending signals asking our destination and civilization…”, After listening to the Artificial Human’s report, Lei Yaotian commanded: “Immediately deploy the Heavy Warships attached to the Space Carrier’s flanks. All medium and Light Warships, open full available output! Form up for battle.”
“Yes!”
As the Artificial Humans relayed Lei Yaotian’s orders, ten Heavy Warships detached from the Space Carrier’s port and starboard sides. Medium Warships and Light Warships streamed out from the Port bays at the rear of the Space Carrier, sailing out one after another.
As the light, medium, and heavy warships arrayed themselves neatly, the opposing patrol fleet of the Divine Glory Empire instantly felt immense pressure.
“What’s going on here! Is that some kind of mobile Port?! How can so many warships appear?! The situation clearly puts us at a disadvantage now!”
The patrol fleet Captain felt his scalp go numb as he watched the dozens of warships appear in the 3D image.
“Has the other side responded yet? Are they really hostile?”
This was what concerned him most.
If they were merely traders coming to the Divine Glory Empire, then everything would be fine.
But if they intended to…
The Captain sucked in a cold breath. He knew his fleet wouldn’t survive a single coordinated salvo from the other side.
As if the giant ship’s gaping cannons were just decorations!
The barrels of his own fleet’s cannons were three times smaller than even the smallest ships in the opponent’s fleet. It was easy to imagine they had no firepower advantage whatsoever, giving him a serious headache.
Additionally, his fleet had far fewer ships than the other side.
“Hopefully, they aren’t an unknown civilization, or at least they mean no harm!”
The Captain could only hope for that.
By now, Lei Yaotian could see that the other side was intimidated by him. He was quite satisfied with this effect.
“Young Master, is this really necessary?”
Wangcai felt it wasn’t worth creating such tension, especially since Lei Yaotian was there to seek recognition of kinship.
Lei Yaotian chuckled at Wangcai. “We need to show off our strength. That’s how we earn respect. It prevents them from thinking we’re just grasping for status within the Divine Glory Empire. This actually helps us enter the Empire, doesn’t it?”
Wangcai didn’t argue. He looked at the 3D image and said, “That reasoning isn’t wrong, Young Master. But have you considered this: what if our warships attract unwanted attention from the Divine Glory Empire itself?” Frankly, Wangcai had a point.
Lei Yaotian’s Space Carrier, in this universe, was something only the three Ninth-level Civilizations could build. For the Divine Glory Empire, still an Eighth-tier Civilization, the allure was immense.
Because of this, Wangcai worried the Divine Glory Empire might resort to underhanded tactics.
After all, their side claimed to be just a small Tribe.
The Divine Glory Empire, however, was a super civilization controlling billions of Planets with a population of trillions. If they really developed sinister designs, there could be big trouble.
Lei Yaotian thought for a moment. “I’ve considered that too. That’s why I believe we absolutely must make a grand entrance. We need all the citizens of the Divine Glory Empire to know about our this delegation seeking relatives. This way, even if someone inside the Empire covets our ships, they’ll have to think twice.”
“If we don’t do this, it’s likely they’ll simply cover up our arrival, silencing us and making us disappear…”
Wangcai looked slightly confused at Lei Yaotian.
“How exactly do we make a grand entrance?”
Lei Yaotian smirked grimly. “We charge straight through! Order the fleet to raise the Energy Shield defenses to maximum power! That way, events must become big news!” Lei Yaotian gave a particularly sly grin. “Also, dispatch a Mecha combat unit to force-board one of their warships! Try to seize their Empire’s internal navigation coordinates! Our next destination is an Administrative Planet in the North!!”
Wangcai didn’t fully grasp the plan, but since the Young Master gave the order, he would carry it out.
Afterwards, Wangcai sent a message to the other side, stating which civilization governed their Tribe, why they had come here, and that they harbored no ill intentions…
The Commander of the patrol fleet watched the video message sent by the other side. Hearing their crisp, perfect Imperial accent, he pondered deeply.
“They came to find relatives?”
The Commander wasn’t particularly surprised by this. After all, the Divine Glory Empire stood at the peak of Eighth-tier Civilization. Many Imperial citizens, especially Nobles and elites, had left descendants scattered outside the Empire over the years.
Someone popping up claiming kinship happened from time to time. It was nothing unusual.
A few years back, for instance, a being from a low-level civilization had come to the Empire seeking relatives, claiming to be the bloodline of the Empire’s Southern Governor. It caused quite a stir back in the day. That being tried to leverage it into joining the Empire and its territory, hoping to leap instantly into the Eighth-tier Civilization club.
Of course, that plan didn’t work out. That bumpkin seemed to suffer an inexplicable attack within the Empire and ended up dead in the streets.
However, this current relative-seeker was different from that country bumpkin. His warships were clearly top-of-the-line gear. Who knew what level civilization produced them.
“Could it be that some high-ranking Imperial figure consorted with a higher civilization?”
The Commander thought this unlikely. After all, the civilizations higher than the Divine Glory Empire currently numbered only three.
One was a mechanical civilization – easy to rule out.
The other two, while carbon-based, had appearances… less than desirable. One looked a bit like a hippopotamus, the other resembled ants. It was hard to imagine anyone in the Empire getting intimate with such beings.
Regardless, the other party had sent a video expressing peaceful intentions.
The Commander transmitted this video back to the Northern Fleet Headquarters. Let the higher-ups deal with it.
Meanwhile, his fleet moved alongside Lei Yaotian’s Armada on the periphery, acting as a mix of escort and monitors as they proceeded deeper into the territory of the Divine Glory Empire.
The Commander completely ignored Lei Yaotian’s request for the Empire’s internal Jump Point coordinates.
Because of this, Lei Yaotian ordered his prepared Artificial Human Soldiers, clad in holographic consciousness-implanted Mecha gear, to seize one of the Divine Glory Empire’s Light Warships. They successfully retrieved the Jump Point coordinates for the Empire’s Northern Border.
This action immediately escalated the tension. Yet, the Divine Glory Empire patrol fleet refrained from attacking.
“It seems even their giant cannons and big ships fear ours~~”
Lei Yaotian, watching through live external video feeds, smiled as he spoke to Wangcai.
“Strength determines everything. Right now, we hold the advantage. And they don’t know our full capabilities, so they won’t open fire immediately. But once their reinforcements arrive, it won’t be so simple.”
Wangcai was somewhat uneasy about Lei Yaotian’s aggressive tactics.
Although the other side’s firepower couldn’t seriously hurt them, Wangcai hoped this conflict could be avoided if possible.
Even as they spoke, an Artificial Human reported loudly: “Commander! Intense energy fluctuations detected all around us! Possible that enemy reinforcements have arrived!” No sooner had he spoken than the Space around Lei Yaotian’s fleet rippled, causing the visual feed to distort.
Then, one by one, warships marked with an eagle’s head emblem appeared in the Starry Sky surrounding them.
“Quite a few ships have arrived, huh? Looks like around five hundred?”
Lei Yaotian didn’t change expression; he actually still seemed relaxed enough to joke with Wangcai.
It was unclear if he was truly bold or simply had hidden cards to play.
Of course, Lei Yaotian wasn’t just reckless; he had confidence in his assets. Bruce had repeatedly guaranteed that his Space Carrier could withstand 50% of the damage from energy-based weapons, depending on their output level.
He felt quite secure about his 6 billion Credit Points Space Carrier purchase.
Moreover, Lei Yaotian had conducted tests; the results had already proven the Space Carrier’s defenses. That’s why he remained so calm, even surrounded by over five hundred enemy warships.
“Commander, an incoming message asking again to confirm our destination!”
…
…
All of Lei Yaotian’s warships were recalled. The Space Carrier began its journey towards the Central Star Domain of the Divine Glory Empire.
Aboard Lei Yaotian’s Space Carrier now was a civil affairs official from the Divine Glory Empire.
Yes, this type of official specialized in handling ‘kinship-seeking’ matters.
“So, it appears you are a descendant of Baronet Leipengte?”
A middle-aged man in a black uniform and knee-high black leather boots flipped through the documents and photos prepared by Lei Yaotian’s group as he spoke, not looking up.