Chapter 1718: Chapter 976: Gu Hang’s Opinion Must Be Respected
However, before engaging in dialogue with any forces on Holy Terra, Robert knew there was one thing he must do.
That was to talk with Gu Hang.
At this moment, he recognized more clearly than ever that to save the Empire, and even to save Holy Terra now, the strength he most needed to rely on was the strength of the Alliance.
Without Gu Hang’s support, without the support of the Alliance, his idea of saving the Empire was nothing more than an illusion.
In fact, without the Alliance’s help, he couldn’t even reach the Moon.
And even if he managed to get there, in the previous lunar battle, Gu Jing’s presence was also the key to victory, and the Alliance’s breaker forces emerging from the miniature Veil Spirit Gate were equally unignorable.
Furthermore, if the situation in the attack on Holy Terra went poorly—which was very likely—the Alliance’s help would be his strongest support.
Without the Alliance, there would be nothing.
This was something he had actually been aware of for quite some time, but this time, he planned to openly discuss it with Gu Hang.
The discussion wouldn’t just cover the current battle, but also what form the Imperial Central Government should take after the war ended.
...
Robert stared at the holo-table’s image of a planet marked with a scarlet hue, Holy Terra’s silhouette appearing distant and weighty in the void. The command center on the Moon was still filled with the smell of sterile gel and the scent of plasma-burned metal. Outside the heavy soundproof doors was a battlefield where lunar dust had yet to settle, and the engineers and Protection Army raced against time to repair the orbiting defense array desecrated by demons.
Gu Hang stood beside him—a projection from a remote call, yet appearing incredibly real.
The hall was left with only the two of them, the heavy alloy doors blocking out the mechanical hum and the suppressed commands of the communication officers outside, the air heavy with the weight of post-war smoke and future decisions.
Robert first broke the silence, his gaze still fixed on the planet symbolizing the heart of the Empire, yet possibly a corrupt ulcer: "The stench-ridden abyss on the Moon is but a bubble rising from the mire of Terra. The Sun Legion’s betrayal under the lash of Terror Demon is just the beginning; who knows how many Navy and Military Affairs Department units have been corrupted by the Jianqi Cult, even the Starport’s ship cannons could target the loyalists... I admit, the little luck I harbored has been completely shattered."
Gu Hang stepped closer, gently pointing his fingertip to the void region between Terra and the Moon on the star map: "The fissure in space continues to expand. This isn’t a natural storm, Regent King; it’s a man-made desecration ritual digging deep into the bone. Chaos’ tendrils extend beyond the filth of the lower nest capitals; they’ve gripped the administrative throat of Terra."
"Every chaotic report from Terra slices away the glory of the past. The Golden Knight Order, mired in the mud, unable to respond for so long, and the communications of the Star Language Hall being devoured by some silence—that’s no simple technical failure. The riots surging within the nest capital megacities reveal unprecedented levels of coordination and destruction, far beyond mere hunger or despair-driven uprisings..."
"The orders come from the four Evil Gods, but the hands executing them are hidden in the deepest shadows." Gu Hang’s voice remained as steady as an ancient well, yet his assessment sank Robert’s mood into the pit.
He knew those four Evil Gods, even though they weren’t widely known in the glorious age he once lived in. But after his revival, through the various data he had seen, and after leading the Expeditionary Force through the Subspace utterly different from his past impressions, he had fully realized the terror of those four Evil Gods.
The civil war he experienced, which nearly destroyed the Empire, was closely related to those four Evil Gods. His blood kin brothers, everyone was turned into loathsome beings under the influence of these four.
And now, it seemed that the four were focusing their attention on Holy Terra.
This seemed only natural.
As Evil Gods, if they sought to destroy humanity and once again unleash a chaotic tide in the real universe, then from their perspective, wouldn’t the heart of the Human Empire, the universe’s overlords, appear as the brightest pearl?
It would be extremely obvious for them to want this pearl.
So much so that the current turmoil on Holy Terra was hard to ascertain how much was due to these Evil Gods contending among each other.
They wanted not only to seize this pearl, but also to ’enjoy it exclusively.’
Since the cataclysm and the tearing of the Empire by the Scarlet Scar, the attention of the four Gods had likely already been cast.
Over the past century, underlings of these Gods patiently advanced countless corruption plans within Holy Terra. Now, with Robert and his Expeditionary Force arriving in the Solar System, it acted as a massive catalyst.
The worshippers of the Evil God would have realized their time was limited. They can no longer afford patience, just as the Jianqi Cult aggressively stole the sacrificial rituals of the Terror Demon followers on the Moon, summoning the ’Demon Offspring’ Magnus. Even if they failed on the Moon this time, it was certainly just a prelude. They would likely continue with one radical move after another on Holy Terra.
"I need your support, Gu Hang."
"Of course." Gu Hang’s answer was clear.
He turned to face Robert, making his commitment and assurance: "When the campaign to reclaim Holy Terra begins, the Alliance will do everything to provide you with all the support you need."
Robert paused for a moment.
Even though Gu Hang said ’everything,’ Robert still needed further confirmation.
"Including you?"
Gu Hang’s subsequent answer completely reassured him: "Yes, when you need me, I will descend."
Robert breathed a sigh of relief.
Gu Hang himself was the greatest assurance of all.
After witnessing the current state of his blood kin brother Magnus, he didn’t have much confidence in the upcoming war.
The presence of an invincible, absolutely powerful individual could heavily influence the outcome of the war.
There’s even a possibility that the future great war might attract a certain Evil God to participate directly!
Of course, this was merely a possibility.
For an Evil God to enter directly, the conditions would likely be quite severe, the difficulty very high.
If they could appear so easily, how could the real universe maintain its current foundation?
As for specific war strategies, the two didn’t delve into them.
Later, both their advisory teams would discuss these matters thoroughly.
Their conversation at this moment started to reach a deeper level:
"After the war is won, what form should the Imperial Central Government take?"
This question was first raised by Robert.
Robert certainly had his own ideas about this matter.
Since his awakening, and since embarking on the expedition to Holy Terra, he had pondered this question countless times in depth.
But at this moment, he needed to hear Gu Hang’s thoughts.
Gu Hang met Robert’s examining, sharp gaze directly, without hesitation.
Since he wanted to hear, then Gu Hang would speak.
"The anchor of imperial theocracy must never be shifted. As the Regent King, you are the only legally effective spiritual beacon in this shattered universe. But the operation of a vast empire requires a precise and efficient machine. The old feudal councils and the oligarchic clans that hollowed the Empire’s muscles must be uprooted! A new core of imperial government must be based on absolute responsibility and capability."
"And the Alliance Government I lead is more suited to undertake this responsibility than any other group today."
