328: Congratulations, You're Going to Have to Clean House

Actually, he also had some personal ideas.

At this point, Lioz can basically give up. His overwhelming strength has exceeded the Verrazzi Company's current control. If they want to find another opportunity to enslave Lioz, they might have to get the Deep Abyss Squad.

But Andrew believed that Lioz would definitely dive into the Star Abyss, just not now.

If Lioz is well-informed, he should also know about the crisis of Silent Uncontact... The Deep Abyss Squad has basically not been open to the public for the past few years, which has given them a new opportunity to replan the enslavement of Lioz.

In Andrew's view, Lioz's value was at least at the Omega-rank, and whether he could become a god depended on his own choice.

In the Abyss, the Omega-rank (24) is not used for inter-civilization warfare, nor is the Kappa-rank (10) and above. Everyone tacitly agrees not to participate in worldly conflicts, which is also a form of protection for the Star Abyss.

The significance of Omega lies in combating [societies], especially Marauder-type [societies], whose leaders possess extremely strong combat capabilities, requiring a sufficient number of Omega-rank to contend with them.

With social activities rampant today, more Omega elements are needed to anchor the core narrative.

There was just one thing he still couldn't understand.

Why does Nalia, such a calm and ruthless person, become like that when she faces Lioz?

Is it the power of divinity... or an unknown ability?

"Lioz, what a pity."

Andrew shook his head.

He respected Lioz as a great talent and always gave it his all, but the results were never very good.

All I can say is that it's best to let go for now.

"By the way, Andrew, we can put Lioz's matter aside for now."

As he spoke, the subordinate handed Andrew a black document:

"Someone from higher up in the group has spoken."

Andrew glanced down and immediately noticed the pale gold dragon-patterned signature at the bottom of the document.

"Headquarters Executive Committee. This is the top-level decision."

Andrew murmured, then opened the folder and quickly scanned the contents. The more he read, the stranger his expression became. "... This is really strange. The Silent Uncontact of the Deep Abyss Squad are happening one after another. The three narratives have already lost a total of 327 Abyss Seeds."

Andrew rubbed his temples and pondered, "Once could be a coincidence, twice could be a coincidence, but more than three times, it is definitely someone plotting in secret."

The document's contents were simple: Verrazzi currently riding high, and the bigwigs above had decided to put them in charge of investigating the Deep Abyss Squad's Silent Uncontact.

This should be considered a good thing, indicating that Verrazzi is steadily climbing the corporate ladder within the group, and even the two accidents cannot overshadow the fact that the group is making huge profits overall.

But Andrew was actually more worried about something else. "With such a big problem, are the Narrative Civilization below deaf? They haven't explained anything clearly."

"Could it be... that the narrative of the lower realm has decided to break ties with us? No, it shouldn't be like this. Decades ago, they should have already experienced the ravages of society. There's no reason for them to be so foolish as to isolate the upper Star Abyss and passively take a beating."

"After all... [Society] doesn't need nodes; it can dive into and rise from the Star Abyss at any time."

It's quite ironic that the original inhabitants of the Star Abyss find it difficult to communicate with each other, but the "society" of invaders from outside the Abyss doesn't need nodes. They can simply bear the curse and dive into the Star Abyss from any location.

For this reason, when facing society, Narrative Civilization are like agricultural peoples facing nomadic peoples—lacking mobility and the ability to pursue. Ninety-nine percent of the time, they can only stay within their Fixed Time Domain and passively take hits.

Although the strength of the Star Abyss is severely suppressed at the upper levels, the strength of [Society] is relatively weak. The lower you go, the greater the harm caused by [Society].

Therefore, Andrew concludes that the following narrative will not do so.

The frequent occurrence of these Silent Uncontact suggests only one possibility, unless the following narrative is deliberately obstructing the conversation.

"Citizens with a social identity have infiltrated the Narrative Civilization."

Andrew took a deep breath. Facing this harsh reality, he began to feel a growing headache.

This means that the higher-ups intend for you to be the bad guy and investigate all of this.

Clearly, for a long time to come, I will be a pariah, someone everyone hates and beats.

Andrew said with a pained expression:

"My finances are not doing well..."

"Your fortune is excellent!"

With gauze wrapped around his ear, Li Aoz was happily taking stock of his haul from this line of work.

The destroyed Intelligent Battleship still has a lot of equipment that can be studied and is quite valuable.

Upon gaining her freedom for the first time, Nefthys Cleopatra was quickly sent back to White Candle Star by Li Aoz.

With Dia Lan and Nefes, two Zeta-rank warriors, protecting White Candle Star, Li Aoz no longer needs to worry about his home base being attacked.

The way Dia Lan looked at him was strange, especially when he looked at Nefes; there was a subtle feeling about it.

That doesn't matter. At worst, it'll just be a chaotic scene. With such high charm, it's only natural that people like me and want to possess me.

Li Aoz isn't interested in choosing a partner. They're already in space, why would they talk about love? Their vision is too narrow.

He would be going to be on his own for a long time. Sending Nefes over there would allow her to gradually familiarize herself with the environment of White Candle Star and settle down there.

The biggest gain from this trip was, of course, the life-saving money that Nalia had transferred so efficiently—a whopping 940 million Ammonium Gold.

As soon as the money arrived, Li Aoz quickly invested it in the construction of the second phase of the Expedition Fleet.

The X Fleet has been reporting a string of victories recently and will soon conquer the entire Red Eye System. Once the first star system is completely conquered and incorporated into their territory, Li Aoz can begin to divide the spoils—to carve out his own fiefdom.

Players are becoming increasingly valuable, and with version 2.0 coming soon, the player Level Cap will likely reach Zeta (6).

At that time, the 400,000 undead legion under Li Aoz's command will actually be equivalent to 1.2 million people. Moreover, they will have no fear, never retreat, and will not even be afraid of lacking supplies.

What does this mean?

The Crystal Tower possesses five large star clusters and a standing Zeta-rank force of about 1 million, which can increase to 2.5 million at most during wartime, including those Deified Person through the common people.

This is the third-rate civilization of Sogen.

In the next version, Li Aoz's power, at least in terms of Combat Power, will quickly reach the level of a third-rate civilization.

It could even be said that... at this point, Li Aoz has lived out his value in the united front, and the White Candle Star Autonomous State is now qualified to join the Narrative Civilization and merge into the Fixed Time Domain.

Of course, Li Aoz's ambitions don't stop there.

Players are a group that values interests, Li Aoz needs to give them enough land to keep them firmly on his side, lest they be poached by other Narrative-level Civilization.

In the next version, Li Aoz will focus on a direct confrontation with Entropy, and he doesn't have much time left.

It could take up to 5 years, or as little as 3 years.

"In these three years, I must descend into the Star Abyss and return, and as the [Bishop], officially participate in the final battle against Entropy."