Abyss Solo

As soon as Daphne stepped into the study, Yang Ming's laughter came through:

"Let me guess, Daphne.

"You must have received Director Eno's orders to take me to the Emperor Star, right?"

Daphne paused for a moment, looking up at Boss Yang sitting behind the desk, without raising his head.

He still looked like he did the first time they met, the power of the Ancient Gods keeping him from aging, while she had to endure some cosmetic pain to maintain her appearance.

Yang Ming held the paper book and said with a smile:

"I can also guess, the experience of this meeting was not pleasant for you; you suddenly realized that the elders of the family, who had some mystery to them, were essentially just stubborn old men, despicable rulers, and the most outstanding among them were actually scientific talents like Director Eno."

Daphne wondered: "You have a way to eavesdrop on my communication system."

"I have a way, but out of respect for you, I haven't done it."

Yang Ming tossed the book aside and laughed:

"Do you have any information to share with me?"

"There's no meaningful information; they still don't see you as an opponent, only as a Transformed Soldier not under their control."

Daphne folded her arms, leaning against the wardrobe, her slender figure radiating astonishing feminine charm.

"I feel like a fool, being played around by you.

"Hanton, can you stop continuing this? I'm afraid you won't be able to turn back."

"Daphne, what am I supposed to continue?"

"Splintering the Empire."

"I'm just a Transformed Soldier, how could I possibly splinter the Empire?"

"I'm not sure," Daphne said, "my brain is very tired now; I've received too much information in the past ten Galaxy Times, which makes me feel extremely powerless."

Yang Ming said sternly:

"Firstly, Daphne, it's not that I want to do something; the Empire forces me to act, it's always them doing something.

"They want me to plunder the Dominicans, I refused, and then they started to be dissatisfied, they started to stir negative news about me solving terrorist organizations, causing a public opinion battle.

"After that, you also saw it, they dispatched fleets, moved in the Dreadnought, aiming the Dreadnought's guns at my Saka Star, using the millions of people here to threaten me... can humans do such a thing?

"Then, they shifted all the responsibility onto me.

"To simplify, it would be like, 'I want to kill you, you're not allowed to move, if you dare to slap me, you are the evil demon.'

"What kind of bullshit robber arrogance thinking."

Daphne couldn't help but laugh, her red lips and rosy cheeks blossoming like flowers.

"I know what you want to hear," Daphne laughed, "you want to hear me say—indeed, that's the way it is, they're inherently rude and arrogant, the essence of the Empire is robbery and hegemony."

"Mm-hmm."

"But Hanton, I'm not a child, I have my own judgment," Daphne said, "Things have developed to the current stage, should be under your control, right? You deliberately led them to attack you, intentionally made things escalate to be uncontrollable."

"Think what you want," Yang Ming shook his head, sincerity filling his gaze, "I'm just a kind-hearted Vice Admiral of the Empire."

"Heh."

Daphne's smile became even brighter.

"What about Emperor Star? Are you going?"

"For now, it's not the time," Yang Ming stretched lazily, "The Dreadnought is hovering over me, I can't just leave the people here behind, let them withdraw the Dreadnought first, then I can make a trip to the Emperor Star."

Daphne asked: "Aren't you afraid they'll actually fire?"

"They're just stupid, not foolish," Yang Ming replied, "The Dreadnought can only destroy my body, it can't actually kill me; if they fire, the negative impact on the Empire will be a hundred times greater than the Dominicos Star massacre, and the vast majority of the Empire's citizens will fall into a survival crisis, the foundation of the Empire's rule will collapse instantly."

Daphne hummed a few notes: "However, they do seem intent on bombing the uninhabited areas of Saka Star, possibly using this method to continue pressuring you... can you turn off the live broadcast against the Dreadnought?"

"No," Yang Ming said, "I want the citizens across the nation to see how the Empire treats its heroes."

"Alright then, I can't persuade you."

Daphne turned and walked towards the bedroom.

"I'll reply like this, just saying, your condition for going to Emperor Star for negotiations is that they first withdraw the troops near Saka Star... which is highly unlikely, they won't bend to you, it's more uncomfortable than killing them."

Yang Ming thought it over and felt it was somewhat imprudent.

What if the Sherman family actually agreed? Then wouldn't all previous efforts be in vain?

So, Yang Ming shouted: "Add one more condition, have someone from their ranks publicly apologize to me."

"Don't be too excessive, darling."

"These are my full conditions."

Daphne didn't say anything, casually closing the room door.

Yang Ming stood there in a slight moment of reflection.

Lyu's voice came from Yang Ming's hidden earpiece: "Boss, should we accelerate the plan?"

"Keep the pace steady, neither fast nor slow.

"I'm increasingly certain now that the Sherman family, without support, is completely weak."

Yang Ming chuckled:

"The so-called elite ruling faction of Sherman, is essentially because they were born into that position, then through their modest efforts being selected as part of an interest group, the majority of them don't possess very strong capabilities.

"The real talents of the Empire, those officers who can't climb up in the Military Department, those elite who sit on the cold bench year after year in the Political Affairs Department, are also among those researchers enjoying historical blessings.