“`
There’s nothing we can do then, everyone has to wait here.
There’s nothing to do, and we can’t leave.
We still have to wait almost a year.
There are quite a few people with grievances, not just one or two. This includes the investigation teams of the three levels themselves, who are also resentful. To travel all the way to your Tianma Star Sector and then have to wastefully linger here for another year, who would be happy with that?
In such circumstances, it’s hardly surprising that some incidents have occurred.
Everyone here is someone with a reputation to uphold, showing off their own magic tricks. Leaving for a while isn’t unthinkable.
One riskier method involves pretending to stay here while actually having left, as long as one returns before the delegation of the Sun Lord arrives.
Of course, the risk lies in being reported, which is quite troublesome; and you need someone to take this risk for you. Locals from Tianma Star Sector basically shouldn’t expect this kind of treatment, especially Pei Desi and Akuna, who are key figures with leadership responsibilities. There’s fear they may flee.
Besides the risk, there’s another nauseating point: after leaving in this manner, you can’t be too high-profile while carrying out your affairs outside, otherwise the facade of staying in Korolya would fall apart.
But Gu Hang clearly isn’t too willing to adopt this method.
Here, Zhang Guang’en offered Gu Hang a second option:
“Aren’t you the Governor of Rage Owl Star?”
“Yes.”
“A year and a half ago, there were signs of a demon invasion on Rage Owl Star, and even the emergence of a very powerful demon incarnation, but it was suppressed by you all, right?”
“Yes.”
“There have also been cult activities on your planet, and even the Ironmen Rebellion, which has just been quelled, right?”
“Yes.”
“Sheesh… Gu, if you take my advice, don’t bother with that planet and come to Yunluo with me. We could work together to expand and strengthen the Psychic Cultivator’s Association. Wouldn’t that be nice?”
“Archmage, you jest.” Gu Hang was somewhat helpless.
Such talk, while it was still okay back on Rage Owl Star, would invariably provoke such a remark anywhere else once they heard what Rage Owl Star had been through.
“Alright, I won’t persuade you further,” Zhang Guang’en said, “However, since these events have happened on Rage Owl Star, it would make sense for the investigation team to go there and perhaps find some clues, don’t you think?”
Gu Hang feigned a look of sudden realization.
He certainly had thought of this idea long ago, but it was best that Zhang Guang’en suggested it. It would seem a bit off if he made the suggestion himself.
Zhang Guang’en chuckled: “As a member of the investigating team, you can certainly go. However, the identity of the Star Sector investigation team is not enough; you need to join the Star Domain investigation team at least. What about that matter I mentioned to you before? Have you considered it?”
Gu Hang spoke earnestly: “I have made up my mind. I am willing to join the Psychic Cultivator’s Association’s Star Law Hall in the Dragonhawk Star Domain and serve as your deputy, contributing to the development of the Association. However, I should establish a branch of the Association on Rage Owl Star and develop the Association’s power in the Tianma Star Sector. In the affairs of the Association, I will support every decision you make.”
Zhang Guang’en felt slightly disappointed that he couldn’t lure Gu Hang over to the Stellar Capital, but he quickly let it go, thinking it might even be a blessing. After all, there was only one A-rank Spiritual Energy user in the Stellar Capital Yunluo Star. Having another one might cause trouble. Gu Hang, as he now seemed, was polite and not ambitious, but who knows what could happen once he made the move?
Having him outside yet contributing the influence of an A-rank Spiritual Energy user, being able to uphold the Association’s presence and even stepping in when necessary, achieved his goal.
“Alright, that settles it! I’ll issue the appointment decree from the Star Law Hall right now and recommend you to join the Star Domain investigation team. Once the information is filed, you will lead a team to Rage Owl Star to investigate the source of the Abyssal erosion, to see if it’s related to the disappearance of the apostle Galaraldo. The investigation period… let’s say three months, and you can extend it if it’s not enough. However, during this time, you must frequently return to report the situation. You can’t really stay on Rage Owl Star for the whole three months, understood?”
“I understand.”
Gu Hang was actually still a bit annoyed.
Even though traveling from the Korolya Star System to the Rage Owl Star System only required a single Stellar jump, the one-way journey still took a minimum of six days, and a round trip would waste twelve days on the road. After several such round trips, he feared that half of his three-month investigation period would be wasted in transit.
But there was nothing he could do about it.
Ultimately, it was a situation of his own making, so he had to bear with it.
As for a subdivision of the investigation team accompanying him to Rage Owl Star… so be it. The leader of the team was Gu Hang himself. Could he possibly find fault with himself?
Even if there was someone stubborn enough to investigate their leader, Gu Hang was not afraid. With three levels of investigation teams unable to find anything on Korolya III, could they possibly discover anything on Rage Owl Star?
There was only one thing that he truly feared being investigated—the Black Box.
“`
But he decided that this time when he returned, he would collect all the Black Boxes into the Storm God Kingdom.
Without Gu Hang’s permission, no one could enter the Storm God Kingdom.
Unless they forcibly broke in.
In the entire Empire, Gu Hang didn’t think that there were many who could manage that, especially not here.
As for Gu Hang himself joining the Psychic Cultivator’s Association, it was a matter of little consequence.
What would he need to give up? Stay connected via My Virtual Library Empire
Nothing but the title and influence of an A-grade Spiritual Energy user.
On the contrary, he could gain something from it.
It wasn’t as if he was required to do anything specific.
If they really wanted him to fight, he could simply refuse.
The Psychic Cultivator’s Association didn’t possess that much binding power, especially not over someone like him.
…
Waiting for the investigation team to approve the procedures took some time.
And Gu Hang, having some spare time while he waited, made a trip to Nest Capital-Fino City.
It was an occupied area.
Fino City, with a population of ten billion, had become a massive den of Demons, a veritable Abyssal hell.
An Imperial Army of at least ten million people struggled within it.
Among them, seven million were from the Planetary Defense Force of Korolya III.
This army’s level of strength and equipment… perfectly matched people’s stereotype of a Planetary Defense Force.
Weak, poor equipment, problematic discipline and morale.
Despite a population of 40 billion on Korolya III, the planet’s productivity couldn’t keep up with the number of people. A significant portion of the population, fundamentally, was no different from pigs raised for slaughter—merely a source of taxes.
To say Korolya was wealthy was indeed true; it paid four billion in Imperial Taxes a year. To call it dirt-poor was also accurate; not only were the people poor, but to support such a vast population—compounded by severe corruption and administrative inefficiency—meant that aside from the populace, there were hardly any valuable outputs.
Under such circumstances, they simply could not afford a large, elite army.
The military forces on Korolya III numbered around 200 million, making up about 0.5% of the entire populace. Most of them could not be mobilized and were tasked with suppressing any revolts across various Nest Capitals to avoid uprisings.
Every moment, in each of the Nest Capitals, the lowest class, who lived worse than dogs and pigs, were on the verge of rebellion. With life being untenable either way, any incitement could escalate into a riot. They’d fight with an iron rod if they had to.
Those troops were responsible for crushing such rebellions and could not be moved lightly.
Being able to deploy seven million was no small feat.
They were primarily tasked with establishing a perimeter blockade around the entire Nest Capital. Additionally, some were used as ‘cannon fodder’ and mobilized by the Star Realm Army.
This Star Realm Army referred to the 3 million soldiers of the Dragonhawk 3rd Corps.
The first batch consisted of only one million men, but over the half-year, reinforcements arrived four times, bringing the total to three million.
The one in charge was a Major General named Jeden Hanson from the Empire.
He was the Deputy Corps Commander of the Dragonhawk 3rd Corps.
Aside from the Dragonhawk 3rd Corps, there was another less conspicuous force present.
It was a contingent of 77,000 from the Rage Bear Legion, originating from Rage Owl Star.
The commander of this force was the Colonel of the 3rd Beast-slaying Brigade, Lucy Lee Ko Xi.