Mission

At these words, everyone erupted.

After twenty-three days in the Recruit Company, they finally had a mission to carry out.

God knew how bored they had been these past few days.

"The mission objective is very simple."

"There is a planet forty million light-years away from the Viltrumite Empire called Big Mouth Star, inhabited by a group known as the Big-Mouthians."

"Our mission this time is to travel to that planet and negotiate with its leader."

"Afterward, we will remain there for several days, waiting to carry out the Empire's follow-up orders."

"Everyone, make your preparations. We depart in exactly half an hour."

With that, a star map appeared on the Holographic Projection strapped to Jayce's wrist, marking Big Mouth Star's precise location.

His fingertips swiped across the hologram, and before long, detailed information about the Big-Mouthians was projected into the air.

Sparta merely glanced at it before placing the book he had just taken out back on the return shelf.

It would have been a lie to say he was not excited.

No living creature could resist the mysteries of exploring the stars, especially a rookie like him who had never stepped beyond the Viltrumite Empire.

Aliens—he could finally see aliens. Big-Mouthians... just from the name, it was obvious their mouths were huge.

Although Viltrumites also counted as aliens, they looked no different from humans. Real aliens ought to look savage and bizarre.

Half an hour passed quickly. At Jayce's command, Sparta and the other recruits filed out of the dormitory.

The nine recruits arrived at the open ground and stood in a row while Jayce watched them from the front of the formation.

"The route has been locked. Everyone, prepare for unexpected situations."

"Now, hold your breath and follow closely behind me."

Jayce bent his legs slightly, then shot into the sky in an instant.

Sparta took a deep breath and held it. With a bang, his body blasted skyward like a cannonball and vanished into the heavens.

The other recruits followed suit, launching after him one by one.

Sparta emerged in outer space. Looking at the vastness of the universe and the tiny Viltrum Planet beneath his feet, he felt dizzy and awestruck.

Viltrum Planet, ten times larger than Earth, was no more than a speck of dust in the universe.

"Move out!"

Though Jayce had not opened his mouth, his voice strangely appeared in Sparta's mind.

This form of mental communication was not uncommon in the universe. Many races possessed such unique abilities.

"Yes!"

Sparta's voice and those of the recruits converged into a single line, appearing in one another's minds.

Jayce raised his wrist, confirmed Big Mouth Star's general direction, and took the lead in flying into the distance.

The others hurried after him.

The ten figures became streaks of light in the boundless universe, racing toward Big Mouth Star forty million light-years away at speeds beyond light.

This was the Viltrumites, the strongest race in the universe. Crossing the cosmos with their physical bodies, combined with the Smart Atoms within them, they could reach forty billion times the speed of light.

Theoretically, as long as one was powerful enough, one could even surpass forty billion times the speed of light. Reaching a hundred billion times the speed of light was not entirely impossible.

Sigh.

Sparta sighed inwardly. The universe was beautiful, a beauty beyond words, but unfortunately, he could not stop to admire it.

Before he could even make out what the other planets looked like, they had already flown far past them.

When he had the time in the future, he would definitely take his time admiring these planets he had never seen before.

They traveled swiftly, and before long, they stopped before a planet's atmosphere.

Jayce raised his arm and checked the location reported by his technological wristband, confirming that the planet beneath them was their destination.

"We have arrived at the mission site. Head to the Imperial Palace of Big Mouth Star immediately."

"Keep your speed below Mach 10. Do not damage the planet's surface. Before formal negotiations, keep conflicts to a minimum."

With that, Jayce flew into the atmosphere, with Sparta and the others following closely behind.

Meanwhile, inside the Imperial Palace.

A group of ugly Big-Mouthian ministers, each with especially enormous mouths, were anxiously pacing in circles.

Big Mouth Star's leader—the emperor.

At that moment, he sat upon a golden throne inlaid with gems, his face full of worry.

His head already ached, and the noise from the ministers around him only made it hurt worse.

Their planet's technological level was not particularly advanced, but they still had things like satellites.

Sparta's group had long since been detected by satellite.

The emperor and ministers had received the news as well, which was why they were so anxious.

After all, Viltrumites were notorious for being cold-blooded and hot-tempered.

In the universe, the number of races exterminated by Viltrumites was no fewer than six figures, while the planets they had destroyed were countless.

Now that the other side had come to Big Mouth Star, there was no need to guess that nothing good would come of it.

"Everyone, shut up!"

The Big-Mouth Emperor roared in reprimand.

At once, all the ministers fell silent. Yet they still could not remain calm, their faces filled with unease.

Before Viltrumites, all their weapons were mere decorations, incapable of inflicting even the slightest injury on them.

Forget unease—even not wetting themselves on the spot was already commendable courage.

The Big-Mouth Emperor stroked his long white beard with his only four fingers and ordered, "Spread the word: no one is to provoke a conflict with the Viltrumites! Any violator shall have ten generations of his family executed!"

"Your Majesty, what if the Viltrumites bully men and women, set mountains on fire, and commit every kind of evil?"

An elderly minister, his body bent with age, stepped forward.

"I have heard that Viltrumites enjoy eating children, and there are even rumors of them steaming, boiling, and roasting children."

"Th-this... what should we do? Are we ministers supposed to just stand by and watch?"

"Why not fight the Viltrumites? Even if I die, this general will die standing. I will never live on my knees."

"No, no. If you want to die, go ahead, but do not drag me into it. I am afraid of death."

"..."

Before the Big-Mouth Emperor could speak, the ministers below had already begun whispering among themselves.

"Bully men and women? Let them. Gold, silver, jewels? Give them whatever they want."

"I only know that as long as the green hills remain, there will be no shortage of firewood. Only by living can we accomplish more."

"In the future, overthrow the Vil—"

"Your Majesty! Watch your words!"

Before the Big-Mouth Emperor could finish, a minister stopped him.

If words like that reached the Viltrumites' ears, they would be in deep trouble.

Just as all the Big-Mouthians were panicking, furious shouts came from outside the Imperial Palace.

"I am Jayce, captain of the Recruit Company squad under the Military Department of the Viltrumite Empire!"

"Have Big Mouth Star's ruler come out and see me immediately!"

"I will give you ten minutes! Otherwise, you will bear the consequences!"

Hearing the voice outside, the Big-Mouth Emperor's face filled with panic.

"Quick, help me up. I will personally receive them."

Outside, Sparta's group of ten floated above the Imperial Palace.

Below them stood tens of thousands of Big-Mouthian soldiers armed with firearms.

They raised their weapons and aimed their gun barrels at Sparta's group, but trembled too much to make any rash move.