Akashi: Bad News!

"Cooperation?"

Akashi didn't chime in; Su Luo took over the conversation.

Angel Yan nodded at Su Luo's question.

"That's right, we represent the Angel Civilization and are here to seek cooperation with you!"

Su Luo nodded, indicating he had heard.

"So... at first, when Akashi asked you to prove you were harmless to us, your actions were actually an attempt to achieve a marriage alliance with me, to tie me to you... is that correct?"

Su Luo's voice was calm, without any fluctuation, as he had already considered this possibility.

Akashi, on the other hand, finally understood and stared at the two Angels opposite them.

Hearing Su Luo mention this, Angel Yan and Angel Zhixin's expressions stiffened.

"That's right, that was our initial idea!"

Angel Yan sighed inwardly and finally nodded to Su Luo.

"I'm sorry, Su Luo, but for the Angel Civilization, this was the most beneficial method and the quickest way to bring you into our ranks!"

Angel Yan chose to be honest. She remembered her Queen's instructions very clearly: the foundation for seeking good cooperation or true love... is honesty!

"So, initially, you planned to directly pull me into your ranks. What about now? Why is it cooperation now?"

Mentioning this, Angel Zhixin and Angel Yan both looked somewhat defeated, with Zhixin showing a hint of disappointment.

"Su Luo, we apologize for not considering your feelings beforehand. We were too arrogant!"

Feeling Akashi clinging to his arm, Su Luo gently rubbed Akashi's small head with his other hand, patting her arm to signal her not to be so nervous.

"Too arrogant... meaning you initially thought you were incredibly charming, that even if I hadn't met you before, I would be attracted to you the moment you arrived and wouldn't refuse your vows..."

"You even thought I'd accept your vows with a 'take advantage' mentality, didn't you?"

As Su Luo spoke, he re-examined Angel Yan and Angel Zhixin. Indeed, for ordinary people, they were charming. No wonder the Angels were confident in their allure!

But he wasn't an ordinary person! Did they know what a port commander was? Did they know what a cube succubus was!

Testing him like this... was he that easily tested?!

Not to mention, he was currently in his Sage's recovery phase.

Angel Yan nodded, not denying it!

"Heh, I'm truly... underestimated!"

Although he was slightly displeased with the Angels' attitude of trying to recruit him at the drop of a hat.

However, Angel Yan's current attitude of admitting fault satisfied Su Luo.

"Heh... tell me, what kind of cooperation are you proposing?"

Having mostly figured out the Angels' intentions, Su Luo didn't press further.

After all, they were currently on someone else's territory, and they hadn't contacted the port yet. To be safe, being too arrogant wasn't a good idea right now!

"You're willing to cooperate with us?"

Angel Yan looked slightly surprised. Su Luo's tone had been growing colder, and her expectations of him agreeing directly were low. She had already prepared to follow Su Luo and see if she could soften his attitude...

"Depending on the content of your proposed cooperation."

Su Luo didn't give a definite answer, only indicating he would listen first.

Angel Yan nodded, exchanged a glance with Zhixin, and finally spoke.

"Queen Keisha wishes to find a new future for the Angel Civilization through cooperation with you!"

Su Luo nodded.

"You just said, a new future?"

Su Luo's tone seemed to be confirming. Angel Yan nodded.

"So... you believe, or rather, you've concluded, that if we don't cooperate with you, the Angel Civilization's original future isn't good?"

Akashi looked at Angel Yan with some confusion and inferred.

"Can I assume that?"

Angel Yan nodded.

"According to Queen Keisha's calculations, it's not good! Or rather, according to the Queen's deductions, the future known universe, all civilizations, will not have a peaceful existence."

"So, you mean that in the near future, a certain force or entity might sweep across the entire universe in a short period? This force or entity will affect all civilizations in the universe?"

Akashi confirmed further.

Angel Yan nodded, then shook her head.

"The current order in the known universe, the Justice Order promoted by the Angels, was established by Queen Keisha in..."

As if a special switch had been flipped, Angel Yan's expression became very serious as she began to explain the Justice Order to Su Luo and Akashi.

A moment later, Angel Yan stopped speaking, and Su Luo coughed lightly.

"Cough, I think I understand. Your so-called Justice Order... although you call it 'Justice,' it's actually different from the 'Justice' understood by universal values! Your Justice Order might ensure that whatever your Angel Civilization does falls within 'Justice,' but your Justice Order is definitely not 'Justice' itself!"

"From what you've just said, I can infer that your Justice Order has at least three obvious connotations."

Su Luo said, extending a finger.

"First, the Justice Order respects natural laws! Your Queen denies the existence of higher intelligent beings outside the known universe!"

Saying this, Su Luo extended his second finger.

"Second, your Justice Order highly acknowledges and affirms the value of life to the universe. In other words, it advocates that everyone should cherish their hard-won and precious lives!"

Su Luo paused and continued.

"The first two points are the 'Justice' in your so-called Justice Order, and the third point is the embodiment of order."

Su Luo extended his third finger.

"Third, and last. The Justice Order stipulates the absolute authority of the Angel Civilization! In other words, you believe that the Angel Civilization is the ruler of the known universe."

"And absolute authority represents a high degree of centralization. Therefore, through the Justice Order, you have seized the right to rule the known universe, allowing you to better govern it."

"So, in essence, this so-called Justice Order is actually a management system or principle used by the Angel Civilization to rule the known universe you speak of..."

Su Luo looked at Angel Yan and thought for a moment, then gave an example.

"If we consider this known universe as a country, your Justice Order is the current legal system of this country, and your Angel Civilization is the enforcer, with your Queen as the ruler of this country... right?"

Angel Yan blinked, remained silent, and nodded, not denying it. In essence, it was indeed like that.

Su Luo also nodded. He didn't offer any particular opinion on this order, nor did he insist on arguing with Angel Yan whether the Justice Order was just or not... As he said, it was just a means for the Angel Civilization to rule the entire universe. If the Angels were in a good mood, they could even call it the Fallen Order!

Besides, as the Commander of the port, he wasn't from this universe. The Angels' order couldn't reach him, so it didn't matter, there was no need to dwell on it.

"Then, about the cooperation you just mentioned, finding a new future..."

"In other words... your rule over the known universe is about to be overthrown by other civilizations, isn't it?"

Angel Yan sighed and nodded again.

"A new civilization rises to power, overthrowing the old ruling civilization... This is normal! So, you want us to help you continue your rule?"

Su Luo looked at Angel Yan and spoke.

This time, Angel Yan didn't nod; instead, she shook her head.

"Angels do not fear any challenge. If the order that the civilization overthrowing the Justice Order intends to implement is better for the universe than the Angel Civilization's Justice Order, Queen Keisha will not object! But..."

Akashi, seeing that Su Luo had guessed so much correctly, became interested and interjected.

"Hmm... you said earlier that most civilizations in the future known universe will not have a peaceful time... meaning, the order that the civilization overthrowing the Justice Order intends to implement is not very friendly to you, or even to most civilizations! Right?"

Akashi looked at Angel Yan, awaiting her confirmation.

Seeing Akashi looking at her with her big, blinking eyes, Angel Yan turned her head away somewhat shyly. Su Luo, watching from the side, slightly curved his lips.

As Angel Yan became embarrassed by Akashi's gaze, Zhixin took over the conversation.

"That's right, Miss Akashi's guess is correct!"

"According to the Queen's speculation, in the future known universe, the order championed might be that of Demon Queen Morgana or Death God Karl."

"Morgana champions extreme depravity and freedom, while Death God Karl... he believes in death and the Void!"

Su Luo didn't have many questions, as he had some prior knowledge before stumbling upon this. However, Akashi, who was unclear, turned to Zhixin with a question.

"What is the Void?"

Zhixin thought for a moment, pointed to the sky outside, and explained to Akashi.

"This sky, below the naked eye, is the material sky. Below the Eye of Insight, it is the dark matter sky. Later, Death God Karl discovered that there is another sky that even the Angels' Eye of Insight cannot see. Karl called it the Void."

Akashi blinked her eyes and guessed.

"Hmm... different dimensions?"

Zhixin nodded.

"Indeed, scientists on some planets call it the sixth dimension."

"So, what exactly is this Death God Karl trying to do..."

Akashi blinked her eyes, still not quite understanding Death God Karl's intentions.

"Death God Karl believes that there are higher intelligences within the Void, and these higher intelligences have restricted the development of the known universe. The evidence is that the known universe has existed for 13.7 billion years, the Shenhe Civilization has a history of 200,000 years, and the Angel Civilization only has a history of 100,000 years... the history of other civilizations is even shorter!"

"He believes these civilizations are being restricted by these higher-dimensional intelligent beings? And he's trying to deal with them?"

Zhixin shook her head.

"No, actually, what I just said about what the Super Seminary called the ultimate fear, and researching ways to deal with them, was research conducted by the former Super Seminary. As for Death God Karl... he seems to be thinking about how to integrate into the Void... or, release the Void."

Akashi frowned, blinked for a long time, and felt something was off.

Earlier, she felt the relationship between the Angels' Sacred Knowledge Repository and the Angels was somewhat similar to the relationship between the Siren mainframe and its units. Now... what Death God Karl was doing also felt familiar.

The port wasn't without Ember ship girls, and she knew some things about how World Alpha disappeared.

The Void is the sixth dimension, and Karl is engrossed in researching the Void, possibly wanting to integrate into it and contact higher-dimensional intelligent beings...

Akashi made a mental comparison.

High-dimensional, high-intelligence lifeform—X; Karl, who wanted to contact high-dimensional intelligent lifeforms and might have even done so—Richard, a good person contaminated by X's memetics, Angels—Antix (Siren)...

Hiss, it matches, it all matches!

Akashi gasped.

She had a feeling something big was bound to happen in this universe sooner or later!

What about this universe's ship girls and Commander? Come save us quickly!

(X: An unknown enemy from Azur Lane, likely from a higher dimension. Its true form hasn't appeared in the story, though there are plenty of entities similar to its kin. Regardless, its true form should be of a high standing.)