Chapter 986: Chapter 284: The Last Calm
The news of Zuo Jing assassinating the Cai Mo Star Realm Chief spread throughout the entire Empire as if propelled by a Teleportation Engine.
On the surface, the Cai Mo Star Realm Chief was in Red Ink-1, while the one assassinated in Red Ink-12 was fake.
However, for some reason, the Star Realm Chief in Red Ink-1 has yet to step forward to prove this point.
This led to the credibility of this news increasing significantly.
Moreover, it was quickly noticed that the Empire was using various means to cut off the spread of this information, and after spreading to several surrounding star realms, the news of the Star Realm Chief’s assassination only remained as rumors.
But this also gave those who knew the news a hint.
The assassination by Zuo Jing was real, and so was the assassin.
This situation also led to a second wave of information propagation lurking deep within the network connecting the entire Empire, rising even more swiftly.
Soon, the entire process of the assassination was laid out in front of various forces.
Since Thousand Faces’ original intention was to implicate An Wuping, there was no concern for disguise; even when charging into the government building, they only symbolically destroyed some road surveillance.
The appearance of An Wuping, the plasma released after entering insectification state causing small-scale crystallization of the surrounding environment, and the final arrival of the Black Mist taking away An Wuping, were all essentially recorded.
Sufficient to completely label An Wuping as part of Zuo Jing.
The Star Realm Governments involved in the assassination incident immediately organized a joint meeting.
Since the Audan Government, having been the first to come into contact with An Wuping, had quietly moved An Wuping’s household registration, they of course also joined the meeting.
As the Deputy Director had learned of An Wuping’s actual situation through Chen Ming in advance, he remained silent throughout the meeting, avoiding joining the topic of issuing a bounty for An Wuping raised by the Beinu Star Realm.
After all, with all the evidence there, playing dead when the wind is against you is just to put on a better face when the wind turns favorable.
The joint meeting of several star realms ended quickly.
The final conclusion was to issue a wanted notice first, apprehend the person, and then discuss further.
But this assassination action involves far more than just a few star realms.
The consequences of the assassination will not only impact the Cai Mo Star Realm.
After all, if even the highest leader of a star realm cannot be protected, this incident would also significantly damage the credibility of the Empire and the government, stirring restless actions among some covert figures.
In such a circumstance, there are even more undercurrents surging within the Empire.
After the assassination action concluded, An Wuping, staying on Zuo Jing’s ship entering the Cai Mo, quickly sensed the presence of this undercurrent.
Although Chen Ming did nothing at this moment because even though there were clues regarding Zuo Jing, they were still unclear; it wasn’t time to turn tables yet.
All An Wuping could do was wait for Thousand Faces to send him to the location, then wait silently.
Then, his fleet within the Cai Mo was attacked the moment it entered Superspace.
By that earlier patrol team, mentioned by Chen Ming and the director, which belonged to the star system obstructing his fleet’s investigation.
They had followed all the way, launching a sudden silent attack in Superspace after Chen Ming completed resupply at a Space Station.
Chen Ming’s first reaction to this incident wasn’t anger but doubt.
Were they seeking death by coming to him?
Chen Ming maintained six fleets within the Empire, each fleet containing only fifty ships, ten destroyers and forty frigates, appearing weak in combat power.
But these patrol teams were similar, a mixed fleet of destroyers and frigates without cruisers.
Even if their numbers were three times his fleet, so what?
Chen Ming didn’t even bother to regard them.
After providing psychic support, he handed over the full command of the battle to the Beta Level Dusk core within the fleet.
In just over ten minutes, the tripled fleet was easily wiped out in the face of infinite ammunition, shield, and energy.
Chen Ming incurred no losses.
As for what exactly was going on with this fleet.
A little thought would reveal it.
Blocking the gate earlier, now attacking.
Apparently, Zuo Jing’s psychic power had already spread to these people.
Since Zuo Jing already had these influenced people actively initiate an attack instead of quietly working behind the scenes to obstruct something.
It truly indicated that Zuo Jing’s plan had reached its final stage.
Just like when Thousand Faces was in contact with someone unknown, they mentioned the final phase.
They should have already found a suitable place to stay, most likely in the four locations marked by the director.
The others influenced by Zuo Jing should also be moving soon; turmoil in the Cai Mo Star Realm is likely imminent.
Chen Ming didn’t clean up the battlefield as it was a sheer waste of time.
Wasting time would mean complying with Zuo Jing’s wishes.
So Chen Ming simply didn’t hold back, directly transforming all his ships in the Cai Mo Star Realm with Superspace Channel Teleportation Systems on the spot.
The six fleets were reorganized and recomposed into four, heading to the four star systems marked by the director.
By the time the Superspace Channel teleportation completed.
Chen Ming found that the situations of these four star systems couldn’t be said to be similar, but identical.
All four star systems were encircled by fleets.
Sensors could absolutely seal off the edges of the entire star system without leaving blind spots.
