203: A bunch of chain reactions

Blue Star, Oceania City-States, a wealthy district in New Sydney, underground meeting room.

Emergency news from Interstellar Peace was playing on a loop in the holographic projection.

“Breaking news! The Interstellar Peace Corporation’s Pluto Star Gate has suffered a terrorist attack!” The anchor’s voice carried a rare seriousness. “A certain group within the Third Federation illegally modified and concealed relevant information, using a cargo ship full of nuclear bombs to blow up the experimental Star Gate built by the Corporation seven years ago!”

“Fortunately, these deranged terrorists got their intelligence wrong, mistakenly believing the decommissioned Star Gate was an active site.”

The screen switched, and the moment of the Star Gate’s explosion was replayed repeatedly. A blinding white light tore through the dark universe, and the silver-white metal structure twisted and broke in the high heat.

“According to the Corporation’s preliminary estimates, this attack resulted in losses of up to 520 billion credit points for the Corporation.”

“Five hundred and twenty billion…” Westminster George’s face instantly turned pale, and the red wine glass in his hand shattered on the floor with a “smash,” breaking into countless crimson glass shards.

“What… what is going on?” Matsumoto Kenichi slumped into his chair, cold sweat beading on his forehead. “Who did this? Arakaba, was it you!?”

“Bullshit!” Arakaba slammed the table, a wild glint in his eyes. “We’re not that stupid! Playing such tricks against the Corporation, do you take me for an idiot?! I—”

His words abruptly stopped.

In the holographic projection, the news footage suddenly switched, and a clear photo was magnified.

The faces of Kurosaki, Sato, Yamamoto, and others were clearly visible!

“Latest news! The Corporation’s Executive Department quickly located the culprits after the attack. The ‘titan’ squad received orders and successfully raided a secret base of the Third Federation, arresting all core members of a terrorist organization named ‘Amaterasu Society’!”

“According to interrogations, the organization planned to use the Star Gate explosion to create chaos and assist secessionist forces within the Oceania City-States to reoccup areas like Europa and the Northern Territories!”

The air in the meeting room instantly froze.

“No?! What are they talking about?” Ulrich’s voice trembled. “How come we didn’t know about this plan?!”

“You fools!” A sinister glint flashed in Arakaba’s eyes. “These bastards! Do they want to play insubordination again?!”

Arakaba’s roar echoed in the meeting room. His fist slammed heavily on the tabletop, making the holographic projection shake.

“Those idiots! What did they do behind my back?!”

George stared intently at Arakaba: “You’d better explain yourself clearly, or we’ll all be ruined by you!”

Arakaba took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. He pulled up an encrypted file and projected it onto the conference table.

“This was our original plan for the three federations.” His voice was low and suppressed. “We only intended to use hacking to interfere with the Corporation’s logistics system, creating some minor glitches, so that the Corporation would give us more resource quotas at the negotiating table.”

He swiped a finger, and the screen switched to a detailed technical proposal: “Sato’s team cracked the Corporation’s cargo system backdoor. We originally planned to temporarily disable the navigation systems of a few cargo ships, causing some delays.”

“That’s all!” Arakaba gritted his teeth. “I never approved any Star Gate attack plan!”

George’s face grew increasingly grim: “You mean… Kurosaki and his group acted without authorization, and then they just… succeeded?”

“How is that possible? What do you think the talents the Corporation has recruited over the past thirty years are for? How could such a low-level ‘Trojan horse’ plan succeed?!”

“How should I know!” Arakaba’s tone was very agitated. “I knew it couldn’t be done, that’s why I worked with Locke and Claudia to devise the plan to disrupt the cargo system!”

The meeting room fell silent.

Ulrich suddenly shivered: “Wait… could the Corporation have intentionally allowed them to blow up the Star Gate?”

“If… if that’s the case…” George’s voice began to tremble. “Five hundred and twenty billion credit points in losses… even if we combine all our assets, we can’t afford to pay it back…”

Arakaba slowly nodded stiffly: “We were set up.”

One hour later, above New Sydney.

Piercing air raid sirens blared across the entire City-State.

Residents looked up in terror, only to see a colossal object slowly descending from above the dark clouds.

It was an Interstellar Peace Corporation warship, a Colonel-class warship, the Fubo. Around it, dozens of Luofu Fleet warships, each over a thousand meters long, sealed off the entire sky like an iron curtain.

“Attention residents of the Oceania City-States.” The warship’s broadcast echoed in every corner of the city. “This is the Interstellar Peace Corporation’s Strategic Investment Department. Due to the Third Federation’s alleged planning and execution of a terrorist attack targeting the Interstellar Peace Corporation and the Eastern Federation, temporary comprehensive control is now being imposed on Oceania in accordance with the ‘Solar System Security Act’.”

“All residents are requested to return to their residences immediately and await further instructions.”

The headquarters building of the three federations.

Arakaba stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, his face ashen, watching the fleet in the sky.

“They’re here…”

The meeting room door was suddenly pushed open, and an assistant rushed in, panicked: “Lord Arakaba! Representatives from the Corporation’s Strategic Investment Department demand an immediate meeting with all high-ranking officials of the federation! They… they have evidence!”

Arakaba closed his eyes and took a deep breath: “Let them in.”

A moment later, the meeting room door opened again.

A Corporation representative in a black uniform stepped in, followed by four fully armed security robots. His gaze coldly swept over everyone present, finally resting on Arakaba.

“Director Arakaba.” His voice was devoid of emotion. “I am Yi Xin from the Traditional Projects Department, assigned by Director Topaz to settle the ‘debt’.”

“According to the evidence we possess, the Third Federation ‘planned and carried out a terrorist attack against the Interstellar Peace Corporation.”

He waved a hand, and a holographic projection unfolded. Interrogation videos of Kurosaki and others, modification records of the cargo ship, procurement lists of nuclear warheads… all the evidence was complete.

“Do you have anything to explain regarding this?”

Arakaba’s fists were clenched tightly, his nails digging deeply into his palms. He knew that this evidence was enough for the Corporation to legitimately crush the entire Third Federation.

He knew he was wronged.

He also knew that the Corporation knew he was wronged.

But what did it matter?

“I…” His voice was hoarse. “The Third Federation… pleads guilty.”

The meeting room was silent.

The Corporation representative nodded slightly: “Very good. Then, according to relevant regulations, the Interstellar Peace Corporation will fully take over the management rights of all assets and personnel of the Third Federation.”

“Given your inability to repay the debt, the Corporation will offer a solution that you can accept. Now, please attend to your personal affairs first.”

He turned and walked towards the door, dropping one last sentence: “You have 24 hours to prepare for the handover. Do not make any foolish attempts.”

The meeting room door slowly closed, leaving behind a room full of high-ranking officials with ashen faces.

Equally solemn were the old-world dignitaries remotely observing this ‘negotiation’.

The ‘acceptable solution’ mentioned by the Corporation representative gave them a very ominous premonition.

Arakaba slowly sat back in his chair, his finger hovering over a red button under the table, trembling slightly, a last flicker of madness in his eyes.

His gaze swept over the ashen-faced dignitaries in the meeting room projection—George, Matsumoto, Ulrich… these relics of the old era were all slumped in their chairs now, their eyes filled only with despair.

“Arakaba…” George’s voice was hoarse. “Do we… really have no other choice?”

Arakaba did not answer, merely giving him a cold glance.

“Choice?” A grim smile appeared on his lips. “Do you think the Corporation will leave us a way out? Five hundred and twenty billion credit points in losses—even if we sell all our assets, we can’t afford to pay it back!”

“But… but…” Ulrich stammered, “Didn’t the Corporation only hold the Third Federation responsible? As for us, at most we’ll just pay some money, right? Right?”

“Pay some money?” Arakaba abruptly stood up, his hands braced on the table, a wild fire burning in his eyes. “Do you think the Corporation will let you go? They’ve been waiting for this day!”

“They allowed Kurosaki and those idiots to blow up the Star Gate precisely to have an excuse to take over the entire Oceania! To take over all of us!”

“What part did we play in all human civilization’s progress over the past twenty years? Did the Corporation and the Eastern Federation ever consult with us even once!?” His voice was almost a scream. “Don’t you understand yet? In the Amber King’s heart, we are not considered human! Do you understand!?”

“Now, they have succeeded! And we…”

He slowly straightened up, his finger gently stroking the button under the table.

“We can only choose how to die.”

The air in the meeting room seemed to solidify.

George’s lips trembled: “You… what do you want to do?”

Arakaba did not answer, merely slowly raising his hand and pressing a holographic communication button.

“Everyone, listen.” His voice was low and cold. “This is Arakaba. From now on, the Third Federation is entering its highest state of emergency.”

“All…” His voice paused slightly. “All personnel, fend for yourselves.”

The communication was cut.

The meeting room was silent.

Ulrich abruptly stood up, the projection seemingly tearing slightly due to his speed: “Arakaba! Are you insane?! What are you going to do?!”

Arakaba slowly raised his head, a wild smile on his lips: “Since there’s no escape…”

“Then let’s die together.”

His hand finally pressed the red button under the table.

“I’ll go first.”