Chapter 65: Chapter 65, For the Emperor
Would the Battle Group be willing to fight for its rebirth?
This question didn’t even require Matins to think.
It was a matter of course.
But was he so easily swayed by Gu Hang in a few words?
“We will certainly fight for the revival of the Battle Group, even if it costs us our lives. However, I must make sure that our fight is truly for the renewal of the Battle Group, and not for the power of a few,” Matins said.
“The two are the same,” Gu Hang said, “I will be honest with you on this matter. My actions, of course, will not all be for the Phoenix Battle Group. I was ordered to come to this wasteland planet to develop and strengthen it. But isn’t our goal the same?”
“I believe there are three major elements for the Phoenix to rebuild. First, manpower and material resources, requiring a large number of Auxiliary Armies and sufficient logistical support; second, you need a Battle Group Fleet; third, seven Angels hardly count as a Battle Group, you need to regain vitality and recruit enough brothers to fight.”
“The third point, I cannot help you with. But for the first and second points, as long as Rage Owl Star grows according to my plan, it will become your solid backing, solving the problems of Mortal Auxiliary Armies, fleets, and logistics supplies.”
“I want to develop and strengthen my world, while you need a world that has grown strong to rebuild your Battle Group. Phoenix fights for the future of Rage Owl Star, and Rage Owl Star fights for the revival of the Phoenix. We are naturally meant to work together.”
The leader of the Battle Group was indeed not cut out for politics, but interstellar warriors often don’t need to think too much. Many of them have always been straightforward: “Why then shouldn’t I choose a world that has already developed?”
Gu Hang showed a smile: “If you had a choice, you wouldn’t have come to Rage Owl Star.”
Matins had to admit, Mr. Gu was right.
The Phoenix Battle Group had been wandering for months, passing through many worlds, big and small. If they had had a choice, they would have settled down long ago.
Their goal had always been to rebuild the Battle Group, but no one really wanted to help them do it.
To take a few interstellar warriors as ‘allies’ or thugs was certainly good;
To rebuild the Battle Group? Forget it.
Maintaining a proper Battle Group almost required an entire planet’s effort. A large number of troops, a lot of logistical manpower, and starships were incredibly expensive commodities.
Not to mention, the particularity of the interstellar warriors meant they were a group of highly independent, exceptionally positioned super-warriors within the Empire.
The Emperor’s Death Angels were not only a description of them but also a title for their special status.
After all the hard work of rebuilding the Battle Group, do you think they will serve you, or will the Battle Group call the shots over the governor?
In the eyes of most interstellar warriors, the planet governor was nothing more than a mortal who provided them with supplies and managed the planet—at best, a steward. To think about commanding interstellar warriors this way and that? Dream on!
Most governors, or the generals who built worlds, didn’t want to spend all their efforts only to end up with a supreme governor over their own heads.
Most of the people Matins had encountered on his journey were like this.
He didn’t think much himself, but he could see through the thoughts of others. Those insincere smiles, those chest-thumping promises, in his view, they were all false. They dangled the carrot of rebuilding to keep them working themselves to death, and once they were of no value, they’d kick them away… But a dying Battle Group would find it hard to resist a powerful governor.
Yet upon arriving at Rage Owl Star, though he was disappointed with the backwardness of the entire world, in some ways it might also be a good thing.
His Battle Group was already in tatters, with only seven warriors remaining. But Rage Owl Star was also a broken world. Mr. Gu, the governor, really needed them. With their assistance, his Excellency the governor would be better able to control the entire planet. And as the governor’s power grew, their side would benefit and grow stronger as well.
They didn’t have to worry about Gu Hang deceiving them or acting against them. Given the dire straits Mr. Gu was currently in, even as debilitated as the Phoenix was, with just seven people they had the ability to fight back and make a full retreat if necessary.
They also didn’t have to worry about the governor reneging later on, because under the phased fulfillment of their duty to support the Battle Group, the Group would draw nutrients and grow stronger.
As long as the Battle Group could grow in strength alongside the governor’s increasing power, by the future, even if the two sides were to fall out after the governor had strengthened his forces, the Battle Group would likely have enough strength already. By then, if they were to go their separate ways, they would have enough power to return to the Star Sea and start anew as a Starship-based Battle Group—what was so difficult about that?
Even in the worst-case scenario, they could ensure to kill…
Oh, wrong, we’re a loyal Battle Group; we don’t do such things.
Looking at Matins’ face, which seemed to betray no thoughts at all, Gu Hang smiled amiably and sincerely, seemingly completely unconcerned about what Matins really thought.
Matins began to speak, “Perhaps we really should grow together, you reviving your world, me reviving my Battle Group. But how can you ensure that you can do it, that your world can truly develop as you plan?”
“You see, my situation might be similar to yours. You are on the brink of extinction, and if I can’t achieve something in two years, I too will die. But our difference lies in that I am full of confidence in my future, while you harbor uncertainty; you don’t know how to succeed, and I do.”
“So, you who are lost, would do well to tie your fate to mine.”
“It won’t be long, just two years, and we shall see the outcome.”
Matins was already swayed by Gu Hang’s words.
Why shouldn’t the directionless Phoenix hitch a ride on a train that knows the way?
It’s merely two years, after all, which for the long-lived interstellar warriors, isn’t too much time. They had endured a hundred-year penance expedition; spending two years on Rage Owl Star, watching time pass by, wasn’t a big deal.
If Mr. Gu truly failed, then two years later, when the officials from the Empire’s Administrative Department decided to execute the governor, he could personally send Mr. Gu on his way.
Matins was leaning towards agreeing to cooperate with Mr. Gu. He had intended to go back and discuss with his brothers in arms before giving a final answer. But at this moment, he remembered Priest Rizzo’s words.
You are the Battle Group leader; you must shoulder the responsibilities of the Battle Group.
And so, Matins changed his mind.
He stood up, towering over Mr. Gu, who was much smaller in stature. Although his own body completely covered that of the governor, forcing him to crane his neck to see his face, with an overwhelming sense of oppression, the governor’s expression didn’t change in the slightest.
In the end, Matins extended his gigantic palm towards Gu Hang:
“I hope our cooperation will be blessed by the Divine Emperor.”
The smile on Gu Hang’s face grew even more brilliant.
He reached out his hand and clasped it together with that of Matins, disproportionately large:
“For The Emperor!”