Abyss Solo

"Shut up, old geezer," Yang Ming said calmly, "I'm giving you the courtesy of calling you an Empire elder, but without it, you're just a senile old parasite, holding on desperately to life while hogging your position. What rank do you hold? What title? And you dare to shout in front of me, an Empire Duke and Vice Admiral?"

"You!"

"Me? What about me? I gave you a chance before, and you didn't dare use it. The Dreadnought was just floating outside my Saka Star, and didn't it leave?"

Yang Ming said leisurely:

"If you have the guts, use the Dreadnought to blast me, otherwise, shut up and sit down. Let me tell you upfront, any attack that threatens the security of my outer skin cells will be considered a declaration of war against me, and I will retaliate unconditionally in kind.

"Since it's already come to this, might as well just break the pot and give up. "

"White Ghost! You're too arrogant! You're simply too arrogant! You have no upbringing!"

"Oh, can't even curse properly now? Has your brain been soaking in nutrient solution for too long, turning it into live sauerkraut? If you can't curse, I'll teach you. You're an old brat, a useless old fool who just takes his pay without doing any work, only lasting three and a half seconds in your youth, and still a limp old coward now.

"Don't you all have some damn self-awareness of where the problem lies in the Empire?

"You old bastards defy natural order to monopolize the Empire's power, making the power structure of the Empire increasingly geriatric, rendering the Empire's systemic metabolism function almost entirely defunct. You protect what's in your interest and eliminate what isn't.

"Do you have any self-respect left as part of the Sherman family? Any ideals and beliefs of the Sherman Empire standing tall atop the Milky Way? No, you have none. You have absolutely nothing."

Yang Ming's words were like a CIWS, not giving anyone a chance to interrupt.

"And, if you are genuinely striving to fulfill the life ideal of your ancestor, the great founding emperor Levi Sherman, which is individual ascension, and to achieve the ascension ideal of mankind in the Milky Way, by exploiting the Empire's system to oppress the populace and slave status, I wouldn't have said anything about you.

"At most, it would be a difference in stance, and I would actually see you as idealists.

"But in reality?

"You're just safeguarding your own interests, your faction's interests, your descendants' interests, and allowing your descendants to take your place, continuing to manipulate the Empire.

"You don't even know how many major steps ascension requires.

"This is a solidification of power, the most top-tier and decayed solidification of power! You are the fundamental culprits for the Empire's current state!"

Director Eno squinted and smiled for a moment but soon resumed a frowning, thoughtful expression.

The others looked grim, glaring at Yang Ming with hostility.

One elder, even breathing heavily, pointed at Yang Ming and cursed: "What are your intentions! What exactly do you want to do! Hanton! You're a soldier of the Empire! Where's your natural instinct to obey orders?"

Yang Ming said calmly: "My instinct to obey orders has been worn away by your repeated boundary-pushing actions. Any more questions?"

"You!"

Another elder yelled angrily: "White Ghost! Do you really think we're afraid of you! Do you believe I won't send people to flatten your Saka Star right now?"

Yang Ming replied calmly: "The No.18 Thought Space Station, on the third satellite of Guhamu Jupiter...is where your body is located, right?"

The elder turned pale, and his projection trembled slightly.

"You, you actually... Who gave you this information! This is top-secret intelligence!"

"This is what you consider top-secret intelligence, but in reality, just a button press and your life-support device stops," Yang Ming smiled, "Many people are itching to climb to your position, your descendants don't have other thoughts? You've lived for too long, old man."

"Bastard! You! You!"

The elder's breathing grew rapid.

Yang Ming slightly curled his lips: "I suggest you quickly come up with a plan, otherwise, the fire will really spread, I can argue with you all day."

The six elders present looked as grim as water.

Yang Ming continued:

"There's also another issue, which I mentioned earlier, that professional tasks require professional talents. In this highest-level strategy meeting, are there true scholars of political science and sociology? Are there experts who have genuinely researched the Empire's local ecology? None.

"This is another predicament of the Empire, as I mentioned, you monopolize all resources, making your descendants the heirs of these resources.

"Truly talented, capable, and passionate individuals can at most become local administrators. Even now, the Empire doesn't have a single non-noble governor.

"The path of upward mobility for commoners has been completely blocked, and that is the root cause of the problem. "

"Hanton," Director Eno frowned, "Shut up, stop talking. You've said too much today! Don't spread words that disrupt unity, the issue now is how to get through the difficult times."

"No problem."

Yang Ming shrugged: "I respect you, Director, you are a true scientist."

"Continue the meeting."

Director Eno said:

"This matter is urgent and cannot be delayed. I suggest first employing military control and then conducting an open and transparent trial, punishing both commoners and nobles alike... Forget it, twenty percent punishment for commoners, eighty percent for nobles."