As soon as Hu Baili heard that Zhang Fan still had a vast army, he thought of their people enslaved by the Nagang People across the star systems.
"Without weapons, they can't fight at all. Sending them into an actual battle would only get them killed."
White Forehead suddenly said, "We can deliver weapons to them. I know a secret route opened specifically for commanders."
Hu Baili sighed. "After a thousand years of slavery, I'm afraid they've already lost the ability to fight."
"I could still feel their anger toward the Nagang People on Huo Planet. Send them weapons according to White Forehead's plan. If they have no will to fight, I'll turn them into weapons!"
Hu Baili asked in alarm, "Overlord, are you planning to..."
Yata took out a suit of biological armor and placed it in front of Hu Baili. Only then did Zhang Fan continue, "This is our biological armor..."
Several tiny black bugs suddenly crawled out onto Zhang Fan's arm. They attached themselves to the biological armor, and the suit actually began moving on its own.
"I call these little things {Zombie Bugs}. They have no attack power of their own, but they can control their hosts. They were originally meant for use against the Nagang People. I'll modify them slightly."
Hu Baili looked at the suit of biological armor, then at Zhang Fan. "You want the slaves to put on the biological armor, then have the {Zombie Bugs} control them in battle."
"Yes. Biological armor is only armor, after all. It needs an operator to unleash its power. Let Lilvara's slaves fight of their own free will if they have it. Otherwise, let the {Zombie Bugs} control them!"
King Pamir objected again. "How does that make you any different from the Nagang People? These slaves have already suffered enough, and now you want to force them to fight."
Zhang Fan spread his hands. "Suit yourself. Everyone only has six days left to live anyway. I'll give you a day to think it over. I've already obtained what I wanted. Give me an answer within a day so my Insect Race can decide whether to leave."
With that, Zhang Fan turned and left. Only after he was far away did Yata address King Pamir. "King Pamir, this is war, not the time for mercy. I could clearly sense just now that the Overlord was already considering leaving. Without the Insect Race's help, death is your only outcome."
In the Myriad Demon Hall...
King Pamir summoned all his ministers and announced his decision.
"Surrender?"
"Your Majesty... you're joking, aren't you?"
"I won't surrender. I'd rather die fighting!"
"Surrender... might at least preserve Lilvara's bloodline. The survival of our race comes before everything else."
"Have you lost your mind?"
"Even mining would be better. At least we wouldn't be killed."
The hall erupted into arguments. Only Hu Baili stood silently in its center.
Thud... thud... thud... Three strikes of his cane echoed throughout the hall. The ministers immediately returned to their places and bowed their heads in silence.
Hu Baili looked around and roared, "Look at yourselves! Do you have even a shred of the Liruwara People's courage left?"
"Haven't you had enough of cowering in a corner, clinging to life?"
Hu Baili slowly approached the throne. Staring at the silver-haired King Pamir, he shook his head. "Your Majesty... you've disappointed me terribly."
The Five-Clawed Golden Dragon coiled around King Pamir seemed to sense the threat from Hu Baili. It bared its teeth and let out a series of low growls at him.
"You... what are you trying to do?"
Hu Baili clenched his teeth and bowed deeply to King Pamir. Then, in a loud, firm voice, he declared, "For the sake of Lilvara, I implore Your Majesty to abdicate!"
His words sent the entire hall into an uproar.
Chiwila led a squad of fully armed royal guards into the hall in single file. At the sight of her, King Pamir shouted excitedly, "Quickly... seize that traitor Hu Baili! He's trying to seize power and usurp the throne!"
Chiwila slithered across the hall and bowed to Hu Baili. "High Priest, the royal guards are all under our control. The entire royal city has been sealed off."
"You... you've betrayed me too?" King Pamir could hardly believe it. The two people he trusted most, Hu Baili and Chiwila, had both betrayed him.
Chiwila bowed respectfully to King Pamir. "Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. You truly don't possess even a fraction of the late king's ability."
Ignoring the bewildered King Pamir, Hu Baili loudly announced, "King Pamir has abdicated. The throne is vacant. I will exercise royal authority in his stead."
Seeing the situation before them, no one in the hall dared say another word. They dropped to one knee and cried in unison, "We obey the High Priest's royal command!"
King Pamir slumped on his throne, endlessly muttering, "Was I wrong?"
In the Insect Race's territory on Myriad Demon Star, Zhang Fan was observing trillions of {Zombie Bug} eggs when Hu Baili slowly walked in, looking somewhat dejected.
Before Zhang Fan could speak, he volunteered, "I seized royal authority."
"You should have done that long ago... What should I call the new king?"
Hu Baili hastily waved his hands. "No, I won't proclaim myself king. After we defeat the Nagang People, I... just keep calling me priest."
Zhang Fan understood his intentions and said no more about it. He smiled. "Then, High Priest, let's discuss our attack on the four star systems."
After half a day of discussion, Zhang Fan and Hu Baili decided that Chiwila would lead the fleet in the main assault, attacking the Purple Moon System where Nu Feng was stationed with full force.
White Forehead would lead a small squad through the secret route to infiltrate the other star systems, distribute weapons and equipment, release {Zombie Bugs}, and recruit slaves of the various races there to sow chaos.
Hu Baili and Yata, with Wolf 800's assistance, would attack Huo Planet. Their survival would hinge on this battle.
Zhang Fan entered the Command Center in the Thunderflame Star System and calmly asked, "What's the situation?"
A rabbit-faced adjutant, snow-white all over and clad in energy armor, immediately reported, "Overlord, everything is proceeding according to plan."
She glanced at the screen in her hand, then said, "The slave armies on White Mist, Yellow Sand, Feather Autumn, and Flowing Dye have already seized the Nasteel command posts."
"Fighting is still underway on the other sixteen planets. The battles on Cloudfall, Sparse Wind, and Tail Knot are nearing their end. So far, only the slave army on Flowing Flame Star in the Red Spirit Star System has been suppressed. General White Forehead has already gone to reinforce them."
Zhang Fan scanned the hundreds of screens displaying the fighting on the various planets. "How are things in the Purple Moon System?"
The rabbit-faced adjutant immediately answered, "The fighting in the Purple Moon System has reached a fever pitch. Based on our current calculations, we won't be able to destroy Moros's Staff before it activates."
She continued, "One thing has taken us by surprise. The Purple Moon System's defending forces are completely ignoring the losses in the other star systems. It looks like they're staking everything on destroying the Thunderflame Star System and Myriad Demon Star."
"Hahaha! Huobao really doesn't have much of a brain. Hu Baili's move to make him supreme commander was absolutely brilliant."
Zhang Fan ordered, "Order all the Liruwara People on Myriad Demon Star to board Rebecca."
The rabbit-faced adjutant asked in alarm, "Overlord, are you abandoning Myriad Demon Star and the Thunderflame Star System?"
Zhang Fan countered, "What? Can't bear to leave?"
"No, but Myriad Demon Star... is our home."
Zhang Fan laughed heartily. "Relax. I guarantee Myriad Demon Star will remain completely intact."
Zhang Fan told the communications officer, "Transmit footage of Myriad Demon Star's evacuation to the Nagang People as quickly as possible, and send them one word: goodbye!"
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