240: You really don't care?!

"Since you want to know," after thinking for a moment, Kelaifu looked at Xi Hai, his tone carrying a hint of gravity, "for the sake of those fighter orders, I'll give you the inside scoop."

"Actually, moving against the Military Alliance is indeed one of the Empire's recent strategies."

"As for using your line of contact..."

"That was the idea of those guys from the Imperial Religion. Their primary goal is to test you and see if you'll take the bait."

As he spoke, a look of disgust crept onto Kelaifu's face.

Although Xi Hai's current relationship with the Empire was more akin to "cooperation" rather than "vassalage," Kelaifu had already defaulted to considering him part of the same faction within the Empire's power structure.

And to Kelaifu, this "test" by the Imperial Religion was undoubtedly an attempt to push someone who provided a steady stream of benefits to the Empire and to Kelaifu himself out as a pawn and cannon fodder.

In his eyes, the tentacles of those people from the Imperial Religion stretched a bit too far—coincidentally, his faction boss thought so too.

As for who you ask his faction boss is?

Heh, Kelaifu is the head of the military department, and the military department has been unwavering Royalists from beginning to end. Who do you think he listens to?

Hearing Kelaifu's explanation, Xi Hai felt a bit more assured.

However, he wasn't sure if this "test" was what he thought it was. To be safe, he asked:

"What kind of test?"

Kelaifu rubbed his chin and replied:

"It's not much of a test, just seeing your attitude toward the current Military Alliance, and by the way, checking your level of obedience."

"If you had actually agreed... I estimate they would have directly used you as the hand reaching into the Military Alliance. Even if the Military Alliance reacted later, they would just push you out to take the fall."

As he spoke, thinking of the benefits Xi Hai could currently bring him, Kelaifu couldn't help but add, just to put him at ease:

"Rest assured, it was the people from the Imperial Religion testing you, not the Emperor's will."

"If you are unsure about anything, don't make a move yet; report it to the military department."

"Rest assured, in the vast majority of cases, as long as it doesn't involve a few core issues, the military department can directly protect you."

After listening to Kelaifu, Xi Hai nodded silently.

Is it a test? So blatant?

What kind of mindset did these people have when they gave him orders?

Forget it, no point thinking so much. Xi Hai put down the documents he was holding and glanced at Kelaifu again.

That guy still had a serious expression, showing no signs of joy, anger, sorrow, or happiness beneath his skin.

Now only one thing was certain: someone in the Empire had started setting their sights on him—

But fortunately, the incorrect quote he gave to balanced anderson earlier had, by a stroke of luck, brought him someone who could be considered to be in the same faction.

It was time to have the night lamp increase its focus on the Empire.

Thinking this, Xi Hai looked at Kelaifu again.

"Understood, Mr. Kelaifu."

"I have one more thing. Regarding those bugs that appeared in Ursa Major V12.22 earlier, I specifically used a private communication device to remind you to clean them up as soon as possible."

"By now, the cleanup should be finished, right?"

Hearing Xi Hai's question, the smile in Kelaifu's eyes paused.

Bugs... bugs?

When was that... oh, right!

Those bugs that were blown out after The Consortium bombed Cetus V66.66!

Since the bug infestation outbreak in Ursa Major V12.22, the Empire had already conducted a risk assessment on this type of bug—

And the rating given by the researchers was only B-class, and the type was classified as a general biological hazard.

The Empire still had that "flesh factory" dragged out from Ursa Major V12.22 in its hands!

To put it bluntly, those things were just a pile of biological colonies of unknown origin, stuck together.

They were just slightly related to the Void and happened to evolve into a few "weapon" mimetic forms; there was no need to make a fuss.

Thus, he replied perfunctorily:

"Those bugs?"

"The Empire has already dispatched sufficient suppression forces; resolving the aftermath will certainly be no problem."

"Rest easy. Such a small matter doesn't require contacting me through private channels."

"Back when we were at Ursa Major V12.22, weren't they resolved quite easily?"

Listening to Kelaifu's equivocal answer, Xi Hai felt his right eyelid twitch violently a few times.

So, they never really took those bugs seriously, did they?

Thinking of how he had almost crashed and burned at the hands of these bugs before, and remembering the terrifyingly high threat level the Human Federation had assigned to them back in the day,

Xi Hai still chose to emphasize it once more:

"Mr. Kelaifu, I still have to remind you,"

"the evolution speed and learning ability of those bugs are truly astonishing. The best time to resolve them is while they haven't yet established a foothold in the material universe, to drive them back into the Void immediately."

However, Kelaifu did not seem to appreciate it; his attitude remained just as perfunctory.

"Is that so?"

"After I go back, I will arrange for another group to go and take a look."

"Rest assured, the star marker of Cetus V66.66 is still firmly controlled by the Imperial Navy."

"A group of bugs that can't even leave their star system poses no threat to the Empire—"

"We also have over a dozen megastructures left over from the Human Federation era in our hands."

"In the current situation, it's better to prepare for the standoff with the Military Alliance first."

"I guarantee that we will have several large-scale conflicts with the Military Alliance within a month—and then, this conflict will end within three months."

Listening to his words filled with flags, Xi Hai nodded silently.

Forget it, he wouldn't listen even if I said more. Let him be.

He could only think of a way himself...

When the time comes, he would send his own fleet to resolve it. Even if he lost a few Warships, he absolutely could not let that swarm of disasters escape.

Thinking this, he stood up directly.

After shaking hands with Kelaifu again, he bid farewell:

"Mr. Kelaifu, I will go ahead and hand over your requirements for the Warships to our R&D department—"

"The response regarding the Warships will be given to you within the time limit we just agreed upon."

"For now, let someone take you to rest."

Kelaifu politely withdrew his hand, smoothed the wrinkles on the corner of his clothes, and replied:

"Alright—then I will take my leave."

Subsequently, led by an officer, he headed to the rest area.

Walking on the path, Kelaifu looked through the observation window of the corridor at the twinkling the multitude stars outside. An inexplicable emotion surfaced, making him feel a trace of unease.

No! Why would he have this feeling?

The day to move against the Military Alliance was almost here. This feeling was wrong, very wrong...

It was as if he were afraid.

But why would he be afraid?

The Empire had already reached a temporary alliance with the Haivier Federation, the Democratic Alliance, and the Xila Republic.

The four top powers that had just annexed The Consortium had joined forces; they should be completely capable of rivaling the Military Alliance.

At that time, the temporary alliance composed of the four major powers would simultaneously assist both sides of the Military Alliance. After weakening their power to a certain degree, they could directly attack from both sides and annex both of them.

And as for the alien civilizations outside the borders of the Military Alliance?

A joke. The Military Alliance alone had been able to hold them off for over eight hundred years; now they had a full four!

The only role of that group of aliens was to pin down the main force of the Military Alliance, letting those guys who only had war on their minds stay honestly in place.

Once the four powers took over the Military Alliance...

Not to mention that there were so many defensive works built over the past eight hundred years that could provide them with a fallback,

relying on their military strength, perhaps they could, just like in the history books, restore the glory of their ancestors and have another "Great Restoration"!

Thinking of this, the unease in Kelaifu's heart was finally suppressed a little.

The floor of the corridor clanged "thud, thud" under his footsteps, just like his chaotic inner heart.

...

And what about Xi Hai on the other side?

He was currently trying to "assemble a ship" for them based on those requirements given by the Empire.

Except for specifically naming the eternal storm, the other Warships only had usage requirements—

"Light frigates capable of amphibious operations, equipped with basic firepower, mainly for planetary defense forces?"

Hmm, looking at this requirement, Xi Hai immediately thought of something that looked very suitable—the CV-II003 class light escort ship, which was the beginner escort ship given in the Never Ending sponsorship agreement.

Shave off some armor, add an anti-gravity engine, and it's good to go.

The old rules: cut everything else first. Engines, armor, firepower, flight control...

For a moment, he even considered just cutting everything and leaving just a steering wheel—

Anyway, there was always a saying circulating in the setting: after the fight, your Warship pilot comes back clutching a steering wheel and tells you it's a Battlecruiser.

Besides, since the CV-II003 is already being sold, adding a matching AC721 and calling it a supply ship is quite reasonable, right?

Anyway, this thing is enough for the Empire:

A Warship is just a weapon platform, and the series of Warships from Never Ending all have one thing in common: the modification redundancy is extremely huge.

To use an odd analogy, Never Ending's Warships are like a super bus; whatever plug-ins you install on them, that's what they turn into.

As for what exactly to install on them, let the Empire figure it out themselves—

Just like the fighters he currently provides to the Empire steadily; except for the bullfrog for which people still come to buy matching ammunition, the Empire has already completed self-production for the other models.

And then there's the cruiser for tactical suppression, KCCP2.0...

After choosing the ship types, Xi Hai directly chose to confirm.

As for how to modify them first...

Xi Hai dove headfirst into the work.