263: Chapter 261 Come on, let's get down to business.

Siren V09.11, star marker exit.

"Commander, we have arrived at the forward base prepared by the Democratic Alliance."

The massive Warship floated quietly in the starry sky. All portholes were pitch black; only the Bridge remained brightly lit.

Warm orange light spread evenly across the soft carpet. Gold threads woven into the biological furs shimmered with an eerie glow. Numerous exquisite artifacts were quietly displayed on stands, making it seem less like the core of a Warship and more like a noble's showroom—

This was the First-class Battleship "Coral Sea," belonging to the Xila Republic.

It was also the personal vessel of Gaius Kelsos, the eldest son of the Kelsos Family, the Republic's most prestigious and decorated family.

"Good—"

Gaius looked at the adjutant bowing beside him, waved his hand, and stood up from the brown sofa chair.

He glanced at the watch on his left wrist and nodded, his expression showing slight satisfaction.

"Half a standard hour faster than estimated. Good efficiency."

"Where are the people from The Empire? Did they break down on the road again?"

Facing Gaius's question, the adjutant immediately handed over a tablet and replied:

"Reporting, Commander. The reason the Imperial Navy gave this time isn't a breakdown, but a navigation system failure that led to a course error."

"But in short, just like before, they are still falling far behind the main fleet."

"Tsk..." Gaius wore a look of "just as expected" disdain as he glanced at the tablet in his hand.

"These uncivilized religious barbarians are as repulsive as ever."

Afterward, he casually tossed the tablet aside.

"Forget it. Anyway, the Great Rebellion has a much bigger impact on The Empire than on us."

"Organize the fleet and wake all soldiers in hibernation. This is already the front line—"

"Get everyone's spirits up! Let those so-called 'allies' in the coalition see the style of the Kelsos Family!"

"Yes, sir!"

Receiving the order, the adjutant quickly turned and left. As the Bridge doors closed, only the quietly standing Gaius remained before the massive floor-to-ceiling window.

He gazed at the shimmering starry sky outside and slowly paced to a transparent display stand—inside was a small black bead.

The surface of the bead had no color at all, as if it were the purest black in the world. It was said to be a creation of the second era, but no one knew its purpose. Perhaps it was a weapon, or perhaps an artifact.

However, its current status was merely one of Gaius's personal collections.

At this moment, Gaius slowly picked up the bead and rolled it in his hand.

The heavy weight didn't provide any sense of security, and the cold touch only heightened the abnormal unease in his heart—

This Slave Laborer riot was truly too strange: massive in scale, swift in action, and covering continuous regions.

He had even heard that some rioting Slave Laborers had received military assistance from unknown forces—assistance from starships!

Combined with The Empire's abnormal reactions within the coalition... the suspicion that already existed in Gaius's heart began to grow uncontrollably.

"The Empire... what on earth do those religious fanatics want?"

"Is half of The Consortium still not enough to satisfy them?"

"Beep, beep, beep————"

Suddenly, the communicator at his waist rang, snapping Gaius out of his own world.

"General Kelsos, I heard your side has already arrived at the forward base?"

"As a representative of the Democratic Alliance, I hope to meet with you privately. Also, let's chat about those 'suspicions' we had before—"

"I wonder, do you have the time?"

He's even more restless than me?

Hearing the familiar voice, Gaius took a deep breath, casually placed the bead back into the display case, and then spoke into the communicator:

"Fine—"

After the short reply came somewhat hurried footsteps—Gaius walked away without looking back.

However, the black bead didn't seem to be placed correctly. Shortly after Gaius left, it slowly rolled off the counter, and with a crisp "ting," it fell beside the base of the display stand.

A patch of pure black blended into the star-colored base like a black hole, quiet and lethal... One standard hour later, in a meeting room at the forward base.

"Welcome—descendant of miracles and glory, the sunken dictator—Commander Kelsos!"

Just as Gaius pushed the door open, a flamboyant voice rang out almost simultaneously, making his brow furrow sharply.

He immediately looked toward the source of the voice. Sure enough, an eyesore of a fellow was sitting in an exaggerated posture—feet propped up on the table, hands behind his neck—half-leaning, half-lying in the meeting room chair.

No, he couldn't be called a person, because from the front, the guy looked like a toad, but his body shape was like a gorilla.

If someone from a specific historical period saw this posture, they would surely exclaim, "Is it stylish? Brother?"

But Gaius was not from that era; he only felt a wave of nausea.

"As expected, the freedom of the Democratic Alliance is truly something else," Gaius insulted without any hesitation, looking at the eyesore.

"Free enough that even a monkey is qualified to sit at the table?"

The guy with his feet up was about to curse back when he was interrupted by another voice—

"Calm down—Gaius,"

It was the leader of the Democratic Alliance delegation, Char. He walked directly to Gaius's side, held his shoulder, and whispered:

"It can't be helped. You know the situation in our Democratic Alliance; we need political correctness."

"The Committee believes that if there is no voice for mixed-bloods in the high levels, it would be a trampling of democracy, and it would be detrimental to maintaining the Alliance."

Gaius looked at Char, expressionless.

He naturally knew what kind of mess the Democratic Alliance had been lately:

As the weakest in terms of overall strength among the six top regimes, the Democratic Alliance was structured more like a coalition of governments, with only a so-called "Democratic Committee" acting on behalf of the central government.

Initially, to expand rapidly, the Democratic Alliance accepted a large number of "Mixed-blood humans" who were not recognized by human society and gave them considerable power.

Recently, however, those mixed-bloods had begun collective troublemaking—a pig-faced, human-bodied freak named "Fuershou" had appeared among them.

That freak proposed a "Fuershou Principle," which involved linking two completely unrelated things, then forcibly elevating the concept, and frantically labeling anyone who opposed them.

Relying on this principle, a large number of so-called mixed-bloods quickly occupied the social mainstream of the Democratic Alliance. Even in the current Committee, more than half of the seats had fallen—

At this moment, the monkey with its feet up was the best evidence.

"I know what your situation is," Gaius replied coldly.

"But it has nothing to do with me, and that's no reason for you to let a freak appear before me and disgust me."

Char smiled awkwardly. Before he could respond, the monkey with its feet up couldn't sit still—

"You damn racist! Who allowed you to use an insulting term like 'freak'?"

"I am a mixed-blood human! You are disregarding equality among humans and sowing discord! You Traitor!"

"Char! Kick this guy out immediately!"

Char looked at the shouting monkey, his eyes full of discomfort, but he only shook his head helplessly. He glanced at Gaius and leaned in to whisper,

"I have serious business to discuss, but this dead monkey insisted on coming along,"

"I'm truly sorry, but my family is still under the Committee's surveillance,"

"I have to step away for a moment, but—this meeting room has no surveillance, no network connection, and no monitors,"

"I am truly sorry."

Subsequently, he immediately addressed the monkey with its feet up and replied with a smile:

"Major General Charlie, this is our esteemed guest. You might have some misunderstanding with him. I'll go get the negotiation materials first, excuse me."

Before either could react, Char slipped away and left the meeting room.

After Char left, Gaius coldly stared at the Major General before him who was literally a 'monkey wearing a crown,' staring at its still-arrogant face.

Estimating that Char was far enough away, he directly pulled out his sidearm and aimed it at the mouth that was still saying things like "Why do humans still think they are superior to any other species?"—

"BANG!!!!"

"Just because I'm human. What, you got a problem with that?"

After sliding the sidearm back into his pocket, he calmly dialed Char's communicator and said:

"It's asleep. Come in and tell me your business."

...