"We can't leave any room for ambiguity here." Amida Berenkest gently swirled her red wine. "You can leave the galaxy. You can leave a small number of communities and lords behind, but you must accept our supervision."
"'We'? Who do you mean by 'we'?" Fifi smiled.
"The Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, the Institute for Spiritual Research... and, of course, the Inquisition." Yani glanced at Brunhilde, then at Yu Lian, as though waiting for the latter's final verdict.
Yu Lian said nothing. He neither agreed nor objected.
Brunhilde gave an almost imperceptible nod. "If there really are cosmic organisms that can produce sweet milk, that would certainly be a good thing for the universe. But while we consider the economic impact, we do need to consider the social impact as well."
"Scientific research and cosmic exploration both require boldness, but politics requires caution." Amida turned to Shali. "You and your main force of Leviathan warships must stay away from all stargates and colonies. I know the swarm is more sensitive to gravity wells than we are, and far better adapted to narrow passages. You can certainly keep pressing onward to the far side of the galaxy, but I won't stop our adventurers from clashing with you."
Fifi glanced at Shali, hiding a trace of sympathy. "Agreed. Besides, you kept a backup plan."
She had seen that half-bear girl named Sonia on Losa back then—and though people called her a bear-person, her physique had long since become that of a swarm lord.
A hive had only one queen, but any proper hive always had a successor in reserve.
Yani continued, "It's foreseeable that for the next hundred years, the Alliance Fleet will operate mainly in the New World. If they discover any outposts you leave behind, I certainly won't interfere with their