Yu Lian was pleased by everyone's fearless spirit, but still thought he should give them one last chance to choose:
"However, this is the last chance you'll get. If we continue along our planned route, we can reach the border of the Lightbreak Sector, where it'll become increasingly difficult for the enemy to pursue us. If we make one more wide loop, I'm at least seventy percent confident I can get everyone out of the Empire safely."
A few people did look hesitant, but no one spoke up.
"If we take this route, will we have to fight our way through the Six Realms Mountain Fortress in the Lightbreak Sector?" Ina glanced at the star map.
"If the Marshal's willing to say so, he must have at least nine ways to get around that fortress, right?" Fifi said with a laugh.
That was an exaggeration. He certainly didn't have nine ways, but more than three wasn't a problem.
"So why are you so familiar with the Empire that you seem to know it like the back of your hand?" Ina couldn't help asking.
There wasn't a trace of confusion on her face. She sounded more like she was stating an objective fact. So Yu Lian didn't bother answering.
Eleanor smiled. "Then your journey from the Diamond Nebula, where you fought your way through the Talai Sector to meet us at Glory's Gate, was pointless."
Yu Lian looked toward the distant stars. Perhaps it was just his imagination, but the stars seemed much brighter over there. The Tirilloans' history of conquering the universe had begun there.
"Then we'll have to turn back and enter the Thousand Sails Sector. But I have to warn you all: from here on, we'll be in what the Galactic Empire traditionally considers its heartland. We'll face