Chapter 203: Ch 199 he was ready!
And one more thing became clear: for all the effort and planning behind this move, it might have been a deliberate distraction—designed to buy just enough time that, even if their real objective came to light, no one would be ready to stop it. This was the conclusion reached by think tanks and power blocs across the galaxy. They couldn’t be certain, but most believed there was a better than 50 percent chance they were right.
Even with only a 50 percent probability, there was still uncertainty. Doubts lingered. Analysts couldn’t say for sure whether their assessment was correct. In the past, something like this wouldn’t have happened—but the confusion caused by the strategy had shaken their confidence. They couldn’t be certain about anything anymore... unless the probability rose above 90 percent.
Still, 50 percent was more than enough for some smaller factions. These minor forces had already begun preparing. Their goal? To move toward the galactic rim—following the same direction as the fleets of the Four Great Powers. They knew they couldn’t compete directly, but they hoped to scavenge whatever was left in the giants’ wake. And in a conflict of this scale, even scraps could be valuable.
With that in mind, many mid-tier battleships began their voyages. Their destinations were the same. Whether the future would be bright or bleak was still unknown—even to them.
Meanwhile, a new theory—no, not quite a theory, more of a speculation—began circulating. And it was enough to shake many to their core.
The speculation was this: the direction in which the Four Powers’ fleets were heading coincided with the path taken by the Star Empire fleet. This connection led to an even more disturbing possibility—what if the Star Empire, together with the Tier-Two, low-grade Minotaur Clan (a small regional power at the galactic rim), and its network of blockades in that region, were somehow involved with the Four Powers?
The implications were massive. All four fleets were moving in roughly the same direction. While their exact destinations were still unknown, the probability that they were converging was estimated at over 40 percent—likely higher, if not for the
But that wasn’t the end of it.
The initial speculation sparked a wildfire of even deeper, more radical theories. One in particular was spreading fast—challenging the very foundation of what everyone believed from the beginning.
What if this was all a misdirection?