Chapter 59: Fifty-Ninth Day of Lying Flat Like a Salted Fish

There was one benefit to everyone gathering in the Galactic Core Region-

Data synchronization was fast.

For the military’s communication system, it took an hour for a signal to cross the entire galaxy. Consequently, signal transmission from the Galactic Core to any part of the Empire would not exceed half an hour.

The Desolate Planet was not too far from the Galactic Core. With only a ten-minute time lag for the signal to arrive, it could practically be considered a synchronized live broadcast if you rounded down.

Of course, it also took some time for the exercise’s recording equipment to send signals from the battlefield to the external communication ships. In reality, that process took much longer than ten minutes.

But that wasn’t particularly important.

Lu Yuan didn’t need perfectly instantaneous news. He just wanted to see what was happening over there.

Though he already had his suspicions…

“Siming and the others should have reached the Galactic Core with the Star Pirate Syndicate by now,” Goudan said with a frown. “The military is there too. Will they be in danger?”

“Oh, no, they won’t.” Lu Yuan shook his head.

Goudan found this strange. “Why?”

“You can’t just Warp anywhere you want in the Galactic Core,” Lu Yuan explained. “This ensures that as long as the Star Pirates take the initiative, it’s almost impossible for the military to surround them. They certainly won’t be wiped out.

“They might not win the fight, but they can definitely run.

“…It’s just that their objective might be very difficult to achieve.”

“You already know what they’re after?” Goudan asked.

“…” Lu Yuan gave him a helpless look. “The Health Pharmaceuticals transport ships. They said they were going to hijack those.”

Goudan thought for a moment. “Will the military protect the transport ships?”

“That’s likely the whole reason they came to the Galactic Core,” Lu Yuan said. “The Emperor probably needs urgent medicine… he might have been poisoned. They ordered the transport ships to take the route through the Galactic Core to avoid detours and delays. But the Galactic Core is a prime spot for a hijacking.

“Or rather, the Emperor-if the Emperor needs medicine this urgently, he’s likely in no condition to manage this. So it’s probably the Imperial Family. They know someone is definitely going to try and steal the medicine.

“So they arranged for the military to stand guard here, ensuring the transport ships can pass through this danger zone. They even arranged six identical transport ships… they’ve certainly offended a lot of people, haven’t they? Tsk.”

Lu Yuan gave a mocking laugh. “One of those ships is the one they’re determined to protect at all costs. The route for that ship brushes right past the edge of the military exercise’s battlefield.”

He turned the tablet around to show Goudan the screen. He had already overlaid several maps.

“This is the route of the sixth transport ship, and here is the location of the exercise. The transport ship passes behind the First Legion, with the Fifth Legion on the other side. The objective of the exercise is to rescue prisoners; the First Legion is required to go to the Fifth Legion’s position and rescue captives being guarded by them…

“Does this mean they don’t trust the Fifth Legion either? Only the First Legion is here to protect the transport ship. The Fifth Legion is a complete decoy.

“But what use is a decoy like that? It’ll only drag them down. Anyone with eyes can see what’s going on… oh, putting the Fifth Legion here might be necessary. Speaking of which… this looks like Nan Yingxu’s style. Nan Xiao… ha.”

Lu Yuan suddenly laughed. “Is it possible Nan Xiao doesn’t want Nan Hui to live either?”

“However, the person Nan Yingxu chose isn’t very capable,” Lu Yuan chuckled. “It’s been a year and a half and he still hasn’t won the hearts of the First Legion. This Marshal Wen Shen is a bit of a weakling.”

Goudan: “…”

“I didn’t follow any of that,” he said sincerely.

Lu Yuan reflected for a moment, then explained, “Simply put, there’s no real danger. Because the person the Empire sent out to protect the transport ship is a bit green. He’s no match for those old foxes under my command… or rather, the ones who used to be under my command.”

Goudan was curious. “Tell me the specifics too.”

“It’s too long, I’m too lazy to talk,” Lu Yuan said.

Goudan: “…”

“Just watch the show.” Lu Yuan pulled up the battlefield footage. “It’s quite a performance.”

Lu Yuan understood the situation within the Empire. Even though he had been gone for a year and a half, he knew exactly what the combat strength and political stances of each faction were.

Therefore, he could easily deduce the ending from the beginning.

After this wave, the old Emperor was finished. Even if he didn’t die, he likely wouldn’t have another chance to regain consciousness.

But the conflict between Nan Xiao and Nan Yingxu… and Nan Yingzhe, was only just beginning.

Nan Xiao likely wanted the old Emperor dead. If she truly wanted him to live, she could have simply announced the news of his critical illness. With the entire nation’s resources mobilized to deliver the medicine, it would have reached his hands for certain.

Regardless of whatever public excuse she gave for not announcing it and buying the medicine in secret, the fundamental reason was that she wanted the old Emperor to die.

She would contact Health Pharmaceuticals, but she would never arrange for a military exercise. Buying the medicine was just for show; she didn’t want it delivered to the Emperor at all.

But Nan Yingxu likely wanted the Emperor to live. Although he was also an heir to the throne, his rank in the line of succession was below Nan Xiao’s. If the Emperor died now, only Nan Xiao would ascend.

Even though Nan Xiao and Nan Yingxu were mother and son, their relationship was not particularly good.

Thus, the military exercise was his arrangement. The goal was to escort the medicine.

However, the only person who could help him was Wen Shen.

During the war against the Zerg, under Lu Yuan’s leadership, the military had undergone a complete overhaul. Those who remained were true, qualified soldiers. If they weren’t given a persuasive reason, they wouldn’t participate in an escort mission for medicine.

Except for Wen Shen.

Lu Yuan’s death had left a vacancy. But only one. It was the position Wen Shen now held.

Unfortunately, Wen Shen lacked control over the First Legion. If he could make the First Legion follow his every word, the Fifth Legion wouldn’t even be involved. He could have simply ordered the First Legion-or even just sent the Mecha Maneuver Team out-to ensure the medicine was delivered safely.

But he couldn’t get the Mecha Maneuver Team to execute his orders perfectly. So he had to use the military exercise as a pretext to deploy the First Legion. A typical exercise wouldn’t go to the Galactic Core, so they contacted the Fifth Legion as well.

As for Ying Xun, he was likely contacted by Nan Yingzhe.

As for the final outcome…

It wasn’t entirely certain.

Because there was one more variable: who was the one who poisoned the Emperor?

If the poisoner had sent out enough combat power, they and the Star Pirates could intercept the medicine in the Galactic Core. If not, things might get dangerous.

So, the one who poisoned him…

For a moment, Lu Yuan couldn’t even think of who held such a deep grudge against the Emperor that they would resort to assassination by poison.

–

If Geshu Ming knew that Lu Yuan’s biggest dilemma was actually this, she would likely be utterly speechless.

-Every bystander thinks you have a blood feud with the Emperor and is trying to get revenge for you, yet you’re the only one who doesn’t take it seriously at all?

Unfortunately, Geshu Ming didn’t know.

–

On the battlefield, the Star Pirates dodged the First Legion’s artillery fire, advancing toward the transport ships at the center of the vortex.

Chen Feiyun and his team entered the Fifth Legion’s base, only to find that less than half the personnel remained. Zhou Fei and his men, whose mission was to guard the prisoners and prevent the First Legion’s rescue, had already moved out in full force, their destination unknown.

In reality, Zhou Fei had already led his legion around to the rear of the First Legion.

Just as the First Legion’s reinforcements reached the transport ships, the main force of the Fifth Legion suddenly charged out, intercepting them halfway.

In an instant, the main forces of two great legions were locked in a direct confrontation, and the fires of war erupted.

The transport ships: ?

Weren’t the soldiers supposed to be here to protect us?

Ying Xun didn’t care about any of that. With a wide grin and a wave of his hand, he drove his flagship forward. “This piece of junk!!! Blow it up for me!!!”

The transport ship exploded in the void, and a cargo hold full of medicine scattered into the universe. Only then did Ying Xun smack his lips and mutter, “A pity.”

Then he ordered: “Withdraw!”