Chapter 367 - News

Veda seems to be unaware that the Seiji's Alliance was planning to negotiate with the Empire.

"Just what did you tell them? How did they get an idea that they can ally with the Empire?"

Wallace asked as he's really curious about this. Veda is the one who mostly provided these people the information about the Aliens... 

After all, the A.I. has a much wider range of networks than Avalon when it comes to these nations

[ I provided them information about the power of the Empire. That's it. I showed them the advanced technology that they would have and the number of armies they can mobilize. I also included the possible gene enhancement they have so they'll have a good grasp on their power. ]

"How long was it when you stopped communicating with them?"

[ Well, we mostly have one-sided information. They are asking me, I'm answering them. ]

"I mean, about their plans to fight against the Empire… They didn't bother consulting you?"

[ No. After I helped them with the Terror Mages, Earth Mages, and Metal Mages, I left the decision-making to them… ] 

Wallace smiled wryly at this… It seems that Veda is truly unaware of the Seiji's Alliance plan…

"So you still have other types of experimented Mages…"

[ What do you mean? ] 

"The Mages aside from the Terrors… Their survivors are on one of my floating islands."

[ Is that so? They're the perfected ones that we have… The Earth and Metal Mages were a bit too unbalanced. These Terror Magicians you have can activate multiple Mana Artifacts and even using the Ancient Abyssal items is possible. ] 

"I understand… It seems that they'll be using these mages to confront the Empire, then… Do they have other trump cards they can use?"

[ Of course. Seiji and Utara have abundant Fire Mana Beasts in their lands. ]

"Hmm?" 

[ This means that they have mountains of Fire Beast Cores. You should know its purpose. ] 

Wallace blinked his eyes for a moment before understanding… This A.I. is actually making him guess instead of answering. This Veda doesn't feel like an Artificial Intelligence at all. 

"So you're saying they have tons of Molten Cores or Steel Knights."

Unlike Wallace's Mech Knights that uses the Reactor that he made with Avalon, the other nations use Molten Core as their source of energy for their Knights…

It was a shame that the cores of the Celestial Army – Iron Knight Brigade that was found in the northern continent can't be replicated…

If they could actually copy the Zaimphail Reactor used on the Iron Knights, the Steel Knights that they've made could surely equal his Mech Knights in terms of firepower.

[ Correct. Especially the Seiji, they have turned a whole city into a Steel Knight Factory… They are probably making 50 Steel Knights everyday… ]

"That fast?"

[ Yes… They are calling it Superior Knights which can be very embarrassing so I'm just calling it Seiji's Mech Knights. ]

Nevertheless, it was good to know that Veda has a clear picture of the power of their Alliance. 

"Can you upload to Avalon everything you know about the four nations? Especially about their military prowess."

Wallace is obviously referring to Seiji, Guwain, Utara, and Kazan.

[ Very well… It's done. What you only have to pay attention to is Seiji. The three nations were just supplying the country to create Mana Artifacts, Mech Knights, Airsh.i.p.s, and other weapons for them. Although they have armies of their own, they weren't that impressive and their Artifacts were already outdated. ] 

"I understand. Thank you for informing me."

[ Is there anything else? ] 

"Well, do you have a suggestion? If they really helped the Empire… I'll be killing them together with Empire… I'm pretty sure you've noticed the Khrusam Race, right?"

[ Correct… You're right… I don't mind if you kill them. Just make sure that they really allied to the Empire so you won't feel guilty later on. ] 

"Of course. I'll be the one observing them."

[ Very well. If that's all, I'll continue with the creations of the 7th Generation Mana Artifact. This is not easy, you know? ]

"Oh right… How was the progress?"

[ It's looking good. But I need more time. ]

"How many people have been sacrificed?" Wallace asked in a low voice… He's not clueless about the life of the Magicians being taken for Veda to experiment with and create the 7th Gen.

He knows it fully well that's why he wanted the A.I. to finish it as quickly as possible. It's not like there is an infinite number of criminal Magicians that deserve to die…

The Lucent Force that is currently supplying them may soon run out as well. 

***

Falcon went silent after hearing their young master's news… 

"Thank you for informing us, Young Master Aaron. You might be busy with the council works. I won't take much of your time now." 

He ended the conversation as he stared blankly at the hangar filled with incredible creations… He was lost in thought due to the sudden news.

Owl, who was beside him, noticed the man's unusual expression so he quickly inquired.

"What's the call about, Falcon? Don't put suspense now, would you?"

The latter smiled wryly at his friend and relayed the news to him. Although he's not supposed to spread the information, Aaron said that it's fine for the top-ranking Lucent Force members to know of this information.

After all, they are the ones mostly leading the operations to fight against the possible alien invasion in their country. They have many units of Lucent Force spread throughout the whole country and would act as the vanguard against the Meredith Empire.

Aside from that, the Lucent Force has a spy network across the enemy countries and they would surely have more information about them in case they truly have to fight against them. 

"The Seiji Alliance would most likely betray us..." Falcon informed the man in a few words.

"Betray?"

"Yes, they might be planning to negotiate with the Empire and help them conquer the planet as long as they were spared."

"What?! That's absurd… Who would negotiate with aliens?"

Owl couldn't believe what he just heard. Maybe because he played the Alien Invasion, he's accustomed that Aliens were synonymous with invaders of the other planets. 

However, based on the power that the Empire had shown in outer space, they surely have an advantage in this fight. 

"Haa~ I don't want to think about this for now… I'm sure that the Council would do something about it… No, perhaps Wallace is already thinking of something to deal with this… Let's just do what we can for now until we confirmed that they really allied themselves to the aliens. Anyway, the Seiji is only planning their move at this time."

"I hope you're right…"

Owl understood the gravity of this situation. 

If Seiji truly intends to cooperate with the Empire, all their secrets would be revealed. These secrets are numerous like the power of their Mana Artifacts, the levels of their Mana Spells, the restriction for using them, and many other things that should be an advantage for them if the aliens are not aware of it.

Clank! Clank! Clank!

The automatons that are working to build another spaceship can be seen applying the enhanced metals to the structure.

The Lucent Force looked at them and marveled at these automatons working nonstop.

Owl and Falcon can only sigh as they came here to see the spaceship that Wallace is willing to sell. 

If they managed to get this deal, their Lucent Knights and Magicians would have a decent carrier and would perhaps help them improve their battle performance…

***

In outer space, Ace and Escanor, who are at the command center noticed a sudden change in the Imperial Flagship's movements.

It is actually moving away from its entourage!

The Flagship may be extremely confident of surviving an ambush or perhaps it's just a technique to bait out the Providence and other magicians…

However, as they were guessing of the reason, they suddenly notice a white light being emitted in one of the spacesh.i.p.s.

It is the Black Sovereign to be precise.

The same spaceship that has a suspected Cube of Paradox within. 

Ace squinted his eyes and tried to understand what was going in. 

"Avalon… Do you have an idea?"

[ None. However, emitting white light is not new. It happened before when the Last Cycle Protocol was activated in your previous spaceship. ] 

"Ahh… I remember now…" Ace replied but he doubts that the Black Sovereign is about to fly at the speed of light.

If he would guess, they are perhaps attempting to communicate using the Dark Net or something similar.