So, in Black Stone Kingdom's plans, the Blackstone Defender would not be exposed too early.
Instead, it would serve as an important bargaining chip to further stabilize the situation after the larger conflict had been settled.
"From the looks of it, the situation developing within the New Song Kingdom isn't much different from what we expected.
Until they've fully annexed and absorbed the territories formerly controlled by the Royal Alliance, the Snow-like Defense Line will remain on the defensive.
Things should stay peaceful for a while."
Wang Dong reached his conclusion.
"Those people in the Three Kingdoms of the River Disk Area in the Changpan River System really aren't decisive enough.
Looks like the final showdown is still some time away.
This is kind of boring."
Shi Zunhou sounded dissatisfied.
At first, everyone paid little attention to the "warmonger's" complaint.
But then Mada said something that startled them all.
"Suspicious activity possibly connected to the Mechanical God Cult has been detected in the Wuche River System."
Mada's expression remained as impassive as ever.
But that didn't stop everyone from understanding the implications of his words!
"It's probably the Mechanical God Cult reacting to the Blackstone Defender's disappearance in the Wuche River System. It was the Armored Cuirassier before we captured it.
The timing fits."
Xu Zhenzhi mused.
"Exactly. We captured the Armored Cuirassier in the territory of the Purple River Kingdom in the Wuche River System, under the name of the Purple River Guardian. We also deliberately let a fast ship escape.
With such an obvious trail to follow, it'd be strange if the Mechanical God Cult didn't come looking in the Wuche River System.
I wonder how much force the Mechanical God Cult sent this time."
Wu Baiyi rubbed his chin with interest.
"An elite Death Starship vanished without