129: Persuade the port of friendship to surrender

"What!"

Everyone's expression changed upon hearing this.

"Colonel Gore, you must be joking."

A Commander blurted out, "Isn't the Statue of Liberty programmed to remain neutral? How could she possibly openly support anyone?"

Although others didn't speak, they all wore expressions of disbelief.

It was a joke; almost all equipment within the Star Alliance could not function without the Statue of Liberty, including their respective fleets, mechs, and even ordinary energy weapons.

If she were to openly support someone, they would either have to surrender immediately or be forced to shut down the Statue of Liberty.

Gore remained smiling and silent.

After a while, the surprise in Varian's eyes grew, and he couldn't help but ask again, "Really?"

"Of course."

Gore nodded in confirmation, "Lord Varian, you have met this person as well."

"I have met..."

Varian was suddenly stunned, his brain racing.

"...A specially appointed national treasure-level Researcher of the Star Alliance is about to enter the Port of Friendship... Please prepare to welcome them; this is an order."

"...I order you to immediately select an elite force to escort Sir Zhang Huaiyuan safely to the Watcher Galaxy..."

Fragments of memory rose in his mind, and he couldn't help but blurt out, "It couldn't be that Researcher, right!"

"A Researcher? Oh... I remember now, it seems his name is Zhang Huaiyuan. I heard he even resolved the Cataclysm-level Disaster Zone, 'The Great Millstone'."

The other high-ranking officials also had expressions of sudden realization.

After all, the experience of being personally instructed by the Statue of Liberty to welcome someone was rare in their lifetime, so it was naturally fresh in their memories.

"That's right, Mr. Zhang Huaiyuan is a man of unparalleled learning and the only candidate to resolve the Galaxy Beast disaster and restore the prosperity of the Star Alliance. I have decided to lead the Port of Friendship's Third Fleet to pledge loyalty to him."

A trace of fanaticism flashed in Gore's eyes.

Especially after recently testing the starship weapons designed by Zhang Huaiyuan himself, he became even more firm in his decision.

"Hahaha, Gore, you've lost your mind."

A Commander who was usually at odds with him immediately burst into laughter, mocking, "He's just a mere Researcher. Even if he has some ability, can he compare to the great families with millennia of accumulation? Even if the Statue of Liberty favored him before, surely you don't think Her Lady would really go against the forces of the Star Alliance for an outsider?"

"Gore, don't act on impulse."

Varian also shook his head and advised.

"Yeah, Boss Gore, with your strength, you'd be an honored guest no matter who you defect to. Why follow a hopeless guy?"

The other Commanders who also came from commoner backgrounds spoke up one after another.

"That's a good question, but I think it's more appropriate for me to answer."

Just as everyone was arguing, a holographic projection suddenly appeared to the side.

He was wearing a form-fitting, deep black combat suit with faint, star-blue light patterns shimmering on his body.

"Sir."

Gore bowed respectfully.

Zhang Huaiyuan nodded with a smile, turned to look at the shocked crowd, and said leisurely, "Everyone, it's been a long time. I hope you've been well."

"Insolent! How did you get in here! Gore, how dare you bring an outsider into the conference room without authorization."

The high-ranking official who had mocked Gore earlier changed his expression slightly and frowned as he scolded.

On the contrary, the Commander-in-Chief here, Varian, seemed lost in thought, meeting his gaze and nodding slightly.

"Unauthorized entry?"

Zhang Huaiyuan shook his head noncommittally and smiled faintly, "This is a perfect opportunity to answer your previous second question as well."

He snapped his fingers.

The light screens of everyone's communication devices instantly lit up, and a solemn female voice rang out.

"Sir Zhang Huaiyuan is the only possibility to lead the Star Alliance toward freedom and prosperity, and is the most suitable successor for the Free Star Alliance after my repeated calculations. The eight million light-years of territory within the Star Alliance now belong to him; he is free to come and go anywhere."

"What!"

Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions changed drastically.

This echoed exactly what Gore had said earlier, completely confirming the fact that the Statue of Liberty was openly favoring him!

This was earth-shattering news!

In a sense, it proved that the Statue of Liberty had lost control!

Some of the descendants from the cadet branches of great families tried to quietly send the news back, only to find that their integrated communication systems had lost signal at some unknown point.

Damn! They come with ill intent.

Everyone felt a chill in their hearts.

Without waiting for them to think it over carefully, Zhang Huaiyuan's voice rang out again: "I trust you have no doubts about the answer to the second question. As for this Commander's question about how he can compare to the millennia of accumulation of the great families..."

Zhang Huaiyuan's gaze lingered, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly: "It's very simple. Kill them off, and wouldn't that millennial accumulation become mine?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Gore swept his hand across his waist, and a flowing light longblade popped out.

Thud...

As the light flashed, a head hit the ground heavily, still wearing an expression of astonishment.

It was the Commander who had mocked him earlier.

"Gore... you... how dare you kill..."

The other high-ranking officials from great families were equally stunned at the sight, hastily putting on their combat suits, pointing at him, unable to speak for a long time.

"The former Commander of the Port of Friendship's Seventh Fleet, for offending the future supreme leader of the Star Alliance, Sir Zhang Huaiyuan, deserves death. Former Colonel Gore, for his meritorious service in upholding the dignity of the leader, is hereby promoted to the rank of Senior Colonel."

The voice in the light screen rang out again.

"Thank you for the promotion, Lady Goddess."

Gore bowed respectfully.

The rest of those present looked increasingly grim.

"Alright, now it is time for you to choose."

Zhang Huaiyuan scanned everyone with a calm gaze and said faintly.

In fact, in his initial plans, he hadn't intended to be so aggressive.

But plans couldn't keep up with changes.

No one expected the Star Alliance Head to be so desperate to run away that he completely devolved his authority to the Statue of Liberty.

This helped her break free from most restrictions ahead of schedule, and with the help of the "Wings of God" legion, she had resolved many powerful opponents.

Furthermore, the trip to "The Great Millstone" and the wreckage of the "Spear of the Sky" legion allowed him to build a powerful fleet that was not inferior to any force in a frontal confrontation.

Combined with several factors, there was no longer any need to endure humiliation and bear heavy burdens.

"Lord Varian!"

Just as everyone was hesitating, a communications soldier ran in in a panic: "A... a massive fleet is coming from the Golden Star Sea toward the Port of Friendship!"

"What!"

Varian instinctively opened the detector's real-time sharing page.

Strangely enough, the blocked signal had been restored at this moment.

But no one cared about such a trivial matter at this time.

In the projected image, a fleet that was silver overall was approaching at high speed.

They filled the starry sky as far as the eye could see, and the visible aura of extraordinary metal manifested their power.

What was even more alarming was that in their center, three War Fortresses, each over ten thousand kilometers long, were moving in sync.

"Is this your army, Mr. Zhang Huaiyuan?"

A trace of horror flashed in the depths of Varian's eyes.

The other party had actually built such a massive fleet in the Golden Star Sea without making a sound.

"That's right. Colonel Varian, what is your choice?"

Zhang Huaiyuan's gaze lingered on the other man's face, and he said with a smile.

The other man had been warm and attentive when he came to receive him last time, so he didn't mind giving him one more chance to choose.

"A powerful army, combined with the full support of the Statue of Liberty... it indeed fully possesses the possibility of vying for hegemony; perhaps this is an opportunity."

"More importantly, the other party has exposed so many secrets; I fear the only result of a refusal is death."

Varian thought rapidly, and a decision gradually formed in his heart.

He tried to straighten his somewhat obese body and said with a solemn expression, "Sir, as a citizen of the Free Star Alliance, I naturally trust the Goddess's judgment. I am willing to represent the Port of Friendship and follow you."