Half a month flashed by.
Proxima b.
The Central Academy of Sciences.
Augustus sat at ease in his chair, gently swinging his short, thick legs.
"Well? Have those invaders still not answered our communication requests?"
A Lair dressed in black quickly put down his work and jogged over to him.
"Your Excellency Augustus, we have sent a total of 109 communication requests during this period, but we have not received a single response."
Augustus's leisurely movements briefly paused.
"Are they still putting up a futile struggle?"
Hesitation appeared in the Lair's three pairs of eyes. "No."
"Hmm?"
Augustus sat upright, his expression growing a little graver. "Then what are they doing?!"
"Those invaders... seem to be waiting for something where they are." The confusion in the Lair's eyes deepened.
Without a word, Augustus stood and headed toward the distant observation room.
A few minutes later.
He stared at the image on the monitor, sinking into profound self-doubt.
"Are you sure their fleet has stayed in the same place for the past half month?"
The Lair nodded hastily. "Yes. Apart from their flagship and supply ships, their warships have established a blockade around us on all sides."
"It's just that..."
Under Augustus's grave gaze, the Lair said cautiously, "It's just that their flagship and supply ships have all gathered together."
"It looks as though they're concealing something."
"Concealing something?" Augustus froze for a moment. "What could they possibly have to conceal?"
"Can we observe the invaders' starships with an optical telescope?"
The Lair tapped the keyboard beside him a few times and brought up an image.
"We have tried observing them before, but unfortunately, whatever it is is completely concealed."
Augustus carefully studied the image before him.
"Let them do as they please."
Layers of folds appeared at the top of