Offering Up

Bouquets of white flowers were gently laid before the gravestones.

A light rain fell from the sky.

At Wulan Star's cosmic cemetery.

Wei He and Bilian attended the funeral of their senior brother, Florent.

Florent's death had come too suddenly, leaving him dazed even now.

The last time he had felt this way was back in his home star system.

Bilian silently stepped forward, laid down a bouquet on Wei He's behalf, then returned to his side.

"Is there anything we can help with?" she asked softly.

"..." Wei He shook his head and looked toward the right side of the cemetery, at the slender figure sitting alone in a wheelchair.

Although Kashulia had successfully killed Knosus's Number One Dragon Machine, Tyrant Dragon, in the previous decisive battle, Tyrant Dragon's self-destruction had destroyed both her legs and permanently damaged her psychic power.

She gazed quietly at her brother's gravestone, tears once more blurring her vision without her noticing.

Friends and colleagues from the past stepped forward one after another, setting down bouquets and bowing slightly.

Everything seemed to be playing out like a silent pantomime.

"Kashulia Andi. Under the Imperial Constitution, you are suspected of disobeying military orders, resulting in injuries or disabilities to more than a thousand people during the campaign, widespread damage to state-owned Dragon Machine bodies, and other offenses. You face a total of eleven charges."

Behind the wheelchair, a squad of Gendarmerie units with red rings marked around their arms stepped forward and spoke in deep voices.

The gendarmes bore extremely conspicuous markings.

They were dressed entirely in black, with red circular markings around their upper arms and smooth silver masks over their faces.

The masks had no features at all, completely smooth and blank.

Kashulia slowly turned around and looked at the gendarmes behind her.