Chapter 479: Aren't the Money and Men Right in Front of You? If You're Not Loyal, Then Be Made Loyal
Cyrenaica local time.
June 15th.
Surt’s Stereoscopic City, the Governor’s Mansion.
The war negotiations, led by the Vengeful Angels, were held as scheduled.
Cyrenaica was an unremarkable, standard-issue habitable planet in the Empire. Its food production, mineral resources, and commercial standing were all average. Even its military significance was negligible, its status low due to its proximity to the administrative region’s capital, the Iberian World, resulting in a long-term lack of a garrison.
However, this didn’t change the fact that the Cyrenaica World was the mother planet for its local citizens, a homeland beloved by its billions of inhabitants.
To the local populace, the war in low orbit was a distant affair. Regardless of who the final victor was or how the rulers changed, their own lives would not see much of a difference.
Work, raise children, pay taxes.
These three things defined the entire life of an ordinary citizen here.
But today, even the citizens least concerned with grand narratives and Imperial politics could sense the storm clouds gathering overhead, a sign of the tempest to come.
One after another, transport ships streaked across the sky like meteors, heading for the Surt region in a vast, unending procession.
What surprised them most was the sight of a ship bearing the insignia of the Ministry of Internal Affairs among these visitors.
After all, aside from collecting the Tithing, the grand masters from the Ministry of Internal Affairs rarely came to their world.
The Upper City port of Surt’s Stereoscopic City.
Amidst the roar of engines and gusts of wind, the small ship bearing the insignia of the Ministry of Internal Affairs slowly docked at the magnificent port.
As the hatch opened and the ramp lowered, three men in black officer’s greatcoats and peaked caps, their faces covered in scars, strode quickly down the ramp.
The delegation greeting these masters from the Military Affairs Department included not only the local Governor and upper nobility but also four Battle Sisters.
Ostensibly subordinate to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but in practice an equal bureaucratic body under the Empire’s chaotic administrative system, the Military Affairs Department was a powerful branch of government established during the Great Crusade era.
The Imperial Infantry Corps, local Defense Armies, Imperial Knight Battle Groups, the Imperial Navy… all such military organizations were placed under the control of the Military Affairs Department by the Grand Governor’s reforms.
These masters from Iberia were not people the local Governor could afford to offend.
Even if they were merely the heads of some large office and not actual high-ranking officials with real power.
However, after disembarking, they didn’t bother with the feigned pleasantries for the Governor and local nobles, instead walking straight toward the Battle Sisters who had come to greet them.
General Cateline, an Iberian noble, was the commander of the Military Affairs Department’s Rebel Suppression War Command Hall.
Though of noble birth, he lacked even a trace of aristocratic extravagance. All that remained was the iron-willed ruthlessness of a soldier. The expression on his nearly disfigured face could even be described as savage.
His jawline, covered in stubble, looked as if it were cast from iron and steel.
His body, ramrod straight beneath a black greatcoat and a crisp, olive-drab uniform, stood proudly. He squinted at the Battle Sister before him, his voice raspy as if his throat were lined with razor blades.
He extended a hand. “Cateline, Commander of the Rebel Suppression War Command Hall. My superiors sent me to assist you in dealing with the Cyrenaica rebels.
“Those two are my adjutants.”
The Battle Sister shook his hand and replied, “Lu Jia, Adjutant to the Commander of Vengeful, a Blood Flame Disciple. Lord Reinhardt had me wait for you here.”
After the brief meeting.
Both parties ignored the awkward expression on the local Governor’s face and strode quickly toward the Governor’s Mansion.
The main conference hall of the Governor’s Mansion.
On the Vengeful Angels’ side, Urus was commanding the Avenger Flagship while recuperating, but everyone else had arrived. Even Agate, who typically disliked secular affairs, had specifically requested to attend.
Or rather, as an ally of Great Sage Zeka, his other mission on Cyrenaica—besides supporting Reinhardt—was to investigate the situation at the local excavation site.
Great Sage Cassio’s unauthorized excavation and mining, conducted behind the Mechanical Order’s back, had even drawn the deep dissatisfaction of Great Sage Gneus, who was usually absorbed in his research.
Agate, clad in the bright red cloak of a Mechanical Sage and holding a Scepter, stood beside Reinhardt.
His Mechanical Eye, glowing with a faint blue light, adjusted its focus as he scanned the attendees in the vast conference hall. “Rejecting Great Sage Cassio’s proposal was a wise choice,” he said in a low voice.
“I’ve already received word. In three days at most, Holy City Standard Time, Great Sage Zeka’s fleet will arrive at Cyrenaica to take possession of the Ancient Armory here.
“Furthermore, he will launch an expedition to the Ash Border Founding World.
“Although I received my investiture on that world, what Great Sage Cassio has done this time is out of line.”
「Two days ago.」
Great Sage Cassio had approached Reinhardt and offered him a third of the Ancient Armaments in exchange for his help in transporting the rest of the armaments off Cyrenaica.
But any fool could guess what that bastard was planning.
Great Sage Zeka was an ally of the Grand Governor and the Vengeful Angels. Backstabbing him like this would yield no benefit beyond a pile of Ancient Armaments.
In fact, it would only lead to endless trouble.
Besides, once these Ancient Armaments fell into Great Sage Zeka’s hands, they would sooner or later be equipped by the Vengeful Angels anyway.
Reinhardt replied, “You and I both know how hot these Ancient Armaments are. It’s not just Great Sage Zeka—Grand Lord Kles and the tech-heretics of the Shadow Temple are all intensely interested in this place.”