My Children’s Gifts Give Me 1000x Returns!

(ARC 5: THE CENTENNIAL ASSEMBLY & THE CENTRAL GALACTIC EMPIRE)

The absolute, suffocating silence that fell over the Iron Gate of the Seven Stars was heavier than deep-space gravity.

Thousands of alien captains, diplomatic envoys, and high-tier merchants aboard the queued star-vessels watched in utter, jaw-dropping shock. A single localized blast of golden dragon pressure from a newly arrived outer-rim ship had shattered the shields of a Solari Imperial patrol vessel and launched it five miles backward in a fraction of a second!

Inside the Iron Gate command fortress, sirens blared in chaotic rhythm.

[WARNING! HIGH-DENSITY SOVEREIGN PRESSURE DETECTED!]

[ALERT! SOLARI PATROL UNIT SHIELDS COLLAPSED!]

[TARGET: THE STERLING SOVEREIGN — FACTION LEVEL: UNKNOWN / EXTREME THREAT]

On the main bridge of The Sterling Sovereign, Ethan stood near the viewport, casually resting his wooden spear shaft over his shoulder, a bright, confident grin on his face. Elena stood beside him, her azure blade drawn by a quiet millimeter, her spatial perception covering every defensive turret on the surrounding orbital ring.

At the center of the bridge stood Gabriel, his arm wrapped securely around Evelyn’s waist. His dark golden dragon pupils burned with a calm, world-ending dominance as he looked toward the towering, golden blast doors of the Iron Gate.

"T-They actually threatened to break the Iron Gate..." an alien envoy stammered from a nearby merchant vessel. "Don't they know the Solari Dynasty controls the outer gate defenses?!"

Before the Iron Gate’s heavy plasma batteries could lock onto The Sterling Sovereign—

BZ—ZZZ-T!

A brilliant, three-hundred-mile silver spatial beam descended from the highest orbital ring of Aethelgard!

A towering, elder figure clad in pristine silver robes embroidered with star-crystal patterns materialized in the space between the Iron Gate and House Sterling’s flagship. It was Grand Elder Arion of the Gilded Trade Federation, flanked by twelve silver-armored Void Sovereign guards.

"Cease all targeting sequences immediately!" Grand Elder Arion’s voice echoed across the sector via cosmic resonance, overriding the Solari command network. "By decree of the Central Assembly Charter, House Sterling is an invited Sovereign Clan attending the Centennial Assembly! Any unauthorized hostility against invited guests will be treated as a violation of galactic law!"

Officer Kael, stumbling out of his damaged patrol vessel, pointed a trembling, blood-stained finger toward Gabriel's ship. "Grand Elder! They destroyed my shields! They refused tribute and mana-binding!"

Grand Elder Arion turned his sharp, icy gaze toward Officer Kael, his voice cold and unforgiving. "House Sterling holds an ascended Sovereign Realm. Sovereign Master Gabriel Sterling owes tribute to no one under the Assembly Charter! Step down, Officer Kael, before I report the Solari Dynasty for extortion at the imperial gate."

Kael choked back his rage, his yellow eyes burning with venomous hatred as he signaled his remaining guards to retreat.

Grand Elder Arion turned toward The Sterling Sovereign, bowing deeply in the airless void.

"Sovereign Master Gabriel Sterling," Arion transmitted smoothly. "The Gilded Trade Federation welcomes you and House Sterling to Aethelgard. Please, allow us to guide your fleet to the Grand Celestial Docks."

Gabriel smiled faintly, looking down at Evelyn, who offered a soft, radiant nod.

"Lead the way, Grand Elder," Gabriel commanded calmly.