Abyss Solo

Daphne said coldly:

"I don't know exactly what you want to do, but based on what I know about you, I don't believe you're refusing to plunder slaves from the Dominicans due to some so-called personal principles, which is almost a custom in the Empire. Those civilian classes, who are basically your base of reputation, wouldn't really resent you for this."

"Caring about your reputation, cherishing your principles, unwilling to become the executioner's blade in the hands of the Imperial Nobles, unwilling to bow down to the Imperial Nobles' class, these are all your excuses, right?"

Yang Ming smiled and shook his head: "Believe it or not, Daphne, I am a person of principles."

"You don't need to admit it, and I have no way to make you admit it," Daphne said tightly, "but if your intention is to divide the Empire from the perspective of public opinion, to split the entire Empire, then Hanton, we can no longer continue our cooperation."

"Daphne, what good would it do me to divide the Empire?"

Yang Ming frowned and questioned:

"What motive do I have to attack the Empire?

"I might say something that could offend you; if I nod, I can become a member of the Sherman family, and as long as I get close to them, I can use mental control methods to turn them into my puppets."

"Isn't this a shortcut to achieve my so-called ambitions?"

Daphne pondered for a few moments and said: "Yes, this is indeed the fastest shortcut, although many of my elders no longer have real bodies... What is your purpose? Or rather, what is your appeal?"

"Let me think, I actually have no appeals, just a passive counterattack. How about asking the Military Department to formally apologize for the Dominicos Star massacre?"

"That's impossible."

"Then I don't know what I should demand."

Just as Yang Ming was about to continue ranting, Daphne frowned and made a motion of listening intently—it was evident she had hidden earpieces as well.

"What? Dreadnought?"

Almost simultaneously, Yang Ming's watch vibrated, and Lyu's text message appeared in privacy mode before Yang Ming.

[Boss, a dreadnought code-named Black Crow has appeared in the outer star domain of Saka Star. The Imperial formation has begun escorting the dreadnought, which has already activated its energy protection system and is charging its main cannon.]

Boss Yang's expression visibly drooped.

Daphne took a deep breath and looked at Yang Ming with a complex gaze.

"This is the attitude of the Sherman family and the Military Department, Hanton," Daphne said with a hint of pleading in her eyes, "We've worked hard for the current situation... Shouldn't our interests be aligned?"

Yang Ming said calmly: "Now it seems our interests are not fully aligned, Daphne."

"No, Hanton," Daphne's voice quivered slightly, "I am willing to put your interests first, I can do anything for you. If we show a little softness to them now, bow our heads, everything will pass, nobody will let your interests suffer.""

Yang Ming gazed at Daphne.

Daphne slightly clenched her fist.

Yang Ming said calmly: "The dreadnought might open fire, you can leave Saka Star now."

After saying that, he stood up and was about to walk to his bedroom on the second floor.

"Hanton!"

Daphne suddenly lunged forward and hugged Yang Ming tightly from behind, trembling as she said:

"What exactly do you want to do, can you tell me, what exactly do you want to do! If, if you want to pardon Catherine, I can help make it happen!"

"You still don't understand, Daphne," Yang Ming patted Daphne on the back of her hand, "Those old folks have already targeted me with a dreadnought, and I should respond a bit, Daphne, please remember, if today becomes a turning point in the Empire's history, all responsibility lies with your elders."

"You want to..."

"White Ghost excels at live broadcasting," Yang Ming said calmly, "Such a big event as the dreadnought arriving at Saka Star, how can I not leverage my own popularity?"

"Hanton?"

"Alright, Daphne, you're tired," Yang Ming's words carried a sharper tone, "I still prefer the ambitious you from back then, you now are too gentle and virtuous."

Yang Ming lightly broke free from Daphne's embrace.

After returning to his bedroom, Yang Ming leaned against the door panel, his eyes revealing a hollow sensation for a few seconds.

"Boss, should we officially begin the counterattack?"

"Let's retaliate," Yang Ming said calmly, "All who threaten my survival are my enemies. Proceed, Lyu, bring this ancient country a little twist."

"Yes," Lyu responded softly, then fell silent.

Three minutes later, several airships left the surface of Saka Star, and the live broadcast from the vantage point of Saka Star's outer satellites suddenly appeared on the Empire's domestic and international networks.

[Empire's Final Ultimatum: Dreadnought has locked onto Saka Star.]

Unified with the Empire's network, enormous amounts of information suddenly appeared, and accounts of thirty percent of official local media suddenly began publishing information beyond officials' control.

On the networks, several major factions were evenly matched, but within minutes the results were dispelled.

The Empire's online influence plummeted.

Various channels of expression within the Great Nobles' class experienced violent fluctuations, many accounts were directly muted, and several planets where the nobles reside experienced regional, inexplicable network interruptions.

On this battlefield of Empire's network, it turned into a one-sided 'chart-topping' position, as those foreign powers lacking prior rehearsal voluntarily became the 'supporters of White Ghost.'

The Empire's network was breached.

This was merely the beginning.

About twelve minutes later, another piece of news popped up.

A massive protest erupted on Yaha Star, with hundreds of thousands of citizens holding White Ghost busts high, surrounding the local government and stationed troops.

Following that, similar news stories began flooding the feeds.

In just two Galaxy Times, within the Empire, sixty-nine main Administrative Star protests broke out, with protest numbers exploding.

Inside the northwestern border troops of the Empire, hundreds of officers at the school level submitted a joint letter to the Military Department, hoping the Military Department would understand the noble feelings of the Empire's hero; the mighty Empire should have a place for this hero.

Similar circumstances appeared in the Military Intelligence Bureau system and the Empire's Rapid Reaction Force.

In the fleet that was recently deployed to the surrounding star domain of Saka Star, dozens of junior officers were arrested on the spot by the Imperial Constabulary Enforcement Team for refusing to unlock weapon safety, and the news accidentally leaked.

This was Yang Ming's first wave of formal counterattack.