Bombarding the Asteroid Belt

"No, no! Grandpa the Emperor would never do that." Lumina waved her hands.

Lucian kept his head down and said nothing. He knew the Antilan Empire's ways too well.

The empire was arrogant. It would never stoop to a secret attack, but it would find a respectable-sounding excuse to strike.

Even if Anse wiped out the Mind Flayer Empire with ease, the Antilan Empire would not be afraid of him.

The empire's nobles would simply assume Anse had an advantage over Mind Flayers, just as Mind Flayers had an advantage over Solar Mages.

Arrogant, but true to form.

Fortunately, the Mind Flayer Empire was powerful. Until it fell completely, the two sides had grounds for cooperation.

"Why did you bring up the Spirit Network?" Lucian thought back to Anse's words. He had a feeling there was more to them.

"Because I'm a staunch supporter of the Spirit Network." Anse smiled, stood, and settled into the Magic Rudder. "Let's go!"

"I'll be your copilot." Lumina carried the star chart to the secondary rudder and sat down.

She pressed the armrest, and a square crystal panel rose from the floor, tilted toward her.

She laid the star chart on it. It fit perfectly.

Anse shook his head slightly. This seemed primitive. "The star chart ought to be three-dimensional. A flat chart is far too much work."

"The kind of holographic projection you mean is only on capital ships. Escort ships don't travel long distances alone, so they aren't equipped with it," Lumina explained.

"So they do exist. Do they have automatic positioning and navigation?"

"No. Do you have those where you come from?"

"The Spirit Network does."

"Oh."

As they chatted, Anse steered the Crystal Warship toward the nearest Mind Flayer base.

The two Night Spiders being towed behind the warship slowed