All the organized legions merged to form an incredibly large fleet, escorting all the Kunde Race ships towards Lighthouse Star.
The countless warships, trailing streaks of warp light, formed a dense formation, their tail flames reflecting each other, creating a moving sea of light that stirred up dazzling waves in the dark universe.
Imperial warships were mainly deployed on the outer perimeter, while within the encirclement were tens of millions of Kunde Race ships, carrying the entire Kunde Race population.
All shipboard weapons have been unloaded, the power of the energy core has been limited to the minimum level required to keep the ship running, the thin shields can be pierced with a single blow, the ship has lost all its armed forces and has been completely taken over by Imperial soldiers—these Kunde Race ships have been converted into prison ships.
The Kunde Race flagship underwent the most thorough transformation, with its cabins converted into prison cells and all facilities completely removed. It collapsed from a heavy industrial mechanical style to a minimalist style, leaving basically only the load-bearing walls.
The command hall had been taken over by Imperial soldiers, and two remote projections suddenly appeared in the hall, showing Han Xiao and Tarrokov.
"Greetings, Commander-in-Chief."
As soon as the two logged on, the sound of Imperial soldiers saluting in unison rang out all around them.
Han Xiao was lucky; Old Tar had just made plans to inspect the prisoners today and had already issued a notice, so the soldiers on the ship were waiting to greet him.
The high-ranking imperial officers who commanded the various legions were also present, all accompanied by their adjutants, and gathered together via remote projection.
"Thank you all for your hard work." Tarrokov smiled, nodded, and was very friendly.
These young, elite officers are the rising stars of the Imperial military, and will be the successors to these veterans in the future. Tarrokov was quite pleased to see the abundance of talent in the Empire.
Han Xiao glanced at the officers present and couldn't help but twitch his overly dramatic eyebrows.
Wow, they're all big brands!
A group of future generals and military leaders stood before me, awaiting inspection, as if they were portraits of people hanging in the Imperial Hall of Merit walking down from the wall.
Knowing the future identities of these people, Han Xiao felt that the scene before him was quite memorable and couldn't help but want to take a group photo.
"Lord Black Star, you've arrived too."
Tenny was among them, and greeted them with a smile, clearly in a good mood.
"We meet again." Han Xiao nodded in greeting, and seeing that all the officers were looking at him, he simply said loudly, "Congratulations to all of you on winning this war. It is an honor for the Empire to have such outstanding military talents as you."
A wide-area PY attack, with extraordinary effects!
Black Star's status is evident; although he is an ally, in terms of rank alone, he now surpasses these young, elite officers who have not yet reached their peak.
No one dislikes compliments, and upon hearing the big shot's praise, everyone wore a smile of being flattered.
"Not at all, Lord Black Star's intelligence was the cornerstone of victory. In terms of merit, you are the greatest."
"We did all the hard labor; it was Lord Black Star's contributions that were the main reason we won this war so easily."
"It is impolite not to reciprocate," some immediately began exchanging pleasantries, while others, more reserved and taciturn, remained silent, simply nodding in agreement.
Han Xiao responded with a smile, then suddenly paused, his gaze locking onto the adjutant beside an imperial general, Gaud, who wore a subtle smile.
"Huh, you are...?"
He narrowed his eyes, glanced at the person briefly, and found he didn't recognize him.
Seeing this, Gaud smiled faintly and took the initiative to speak, "I've long admired your name, Lord Black Star."
"Let me introduce you. This is Gaud, one of the superhumans the Empire is focusing on developing. I heard he survived the Primal Psionic Energy self-destruction; he's exceptionally talented," Tarrokov said with a smile as he Han Xiao.
Hello, Gaud.
Upon hearing this, Han Xiao casually greeted him, secretly entered the Quantum Network Vision, opened the Empire's internal interface, logged into his account, and checked Gaud's information registered with the Empire's military.
Checking someone's background as soon as they meet is a habit he's developed.
With his privileges, it wouldn't be a problem for him to look up basic information about some members of the Empire.
The next second, Gaud's information popped up in his mind. Han Xiao glanced through it and saw that it recorded Gaud's clean military service record, which seemed to be without any problems.
He swiped down, intending to see more detailed information, when a permission warning popped up on the screen.
"Can't see it? Looks like he's quite valued."
Han Xiao wouldn't idly hack into the Empire's network and risk displeasing the higher-ups. He closed the interface and began to ponder.
Old Tar said that Gaud has been added to the list of key superhumans to be cultivated? Given the size of the Empire, the targets of key cultivation are basically all aimed at becoming Beyond Grade A Seed or even Beyond Grade A. There are two types of superhumans to be cultivated: one is those with special abilities, and the other is those with outstanding potential. This guy is at most Calamity Grade. He was able to survive in the Primal Psionic Energy, so he is probably the former. I wonder what abilities he has... Han Xiao pondered to himself.
In his previous life, Master Han's main camp was the Crimson Dynasty. He was very familiar with the various important figures in the empire. If Gaud was indeed a superhuman being cultivated by the empire, he should have some impression of him.
But he was certain that he had never heard of this name before, and had absolutely no memory of Gaud in his mind. There was no Number One person in the Crimson Dynasty of his previous life.
"Has the plot changed again...?" Han Xiao muttered to himself, "I wonder where this new character has come from."
He was puzzled, but not too surprised.
Having done so much, I've already created a butterfly effect, so it's not surprising that some people who weren't famous in my previous life have suddenly appeared.
Putting everything else aside, Enterprise, which is currently running the Germinal Financial Group, is a good leek that I dug out from some obscure corner.
Staring at Han Xiao face, Gaud's lips curled up slightly:
"Lord Black Star, we might become colleagues in the future."
"Isn't it now?" Han Xiao pulled himself together and came back to his senses.
"Hehe, you know what I mean." Gaud smiled calmly.
"... You've got ambition, then I'll be waiting." Han Xiao raised an eyebrow.
Does he mean he's absolutely certain he can become Beyond Grade A? This guy's pretty confident...
Han Xiao secretly made a mental note of Gaud and then looked away.
After chatting with everyone for a few minutes, he finally resorted to the universal closing remark, "I'll treat you to a meal sometime," and only then did the officers log off.
Han Xiao and Tarrokov remained, and the two of them, led by the soldiers on the ship, inspected the entire spaceship.
The Kunde Race civilians on the ship were held together, while the high-ranking officers were imprisoned separately. Han Xiao followed Old Tar to inspect the civilians' holding area first.
It was cramped and crowded, like a refugee camp.
Countless Kunde Race civilians huddled together, their gazes, filled with fear, unease, and confusion, occasionally sweeping over the Imperial soldiers standing guard around them.
Before the war began, many civilians were unwilling to leave, having not even seen a glimpse of the enemy, and many believed that the so-called invaders were fictitious.
Now, the Kunde Race people are filled with fear, like prey waiting to be slaughtered, trembling with anxiety and unease.
The race that once reigned supreme and considered itself superior in this star cluster has become prisoners of a more advanced civilization. Every Kunde Race civilian feels a tremendous sense of loss.
After surveying the civilians, the two then arrived at the area where high-ranking officials were being held in solitary confinement. Standing outside the interrogation room of the Kunde Race leader, they observed him through a one-way window.
Although he had become a prisoner, the Kunde Race leader sat upright and maintained his composure, resting alone in the interrogation room with his eyes closed.
"When you ask your questions later, I'll just go in and listen in." Han Xiao glanced at the Kunde Race leader and then turned to Old Tar.
The interrogation was presided over by Old Tar, who was just there as a visitor, and the Kunde Race leaders probably didn't even know him.
Tarrokov nodded, indicating he had no objection, and gestured with his lip towards the soldier beside him.
"Open the door."
In the interrogation room, the Kunde Race leader sat upright in his seat, trying his best to maintain a straight posture.
He was not as calm as he appeared, but he had to feign composure; in his eyes, he represented the last vestige of dignity for the Kunde Race.
"Brush--"
The door slid open, Kunde Race leader, hearing the noise, opened his eyes to see two figures enter.
One was Tarrokov, the enemy commander whom I had met before, while the other was a complete stranger, wearing an elaborate and gorgeous black trench coat with gold patterns. The way he wore the clothes made him look like a big shot, and I wondered what his background was.
"This is our second meeting." Tarrokov quickly got into character, his face stern, and said calmly, "We have kept our promise and have not carried out a massacre. Now you must tell me everything you know, including your thoughts and logic when making your decisions, the reasons for attacking us, and the whole story. Remember, your answers will affect how we deal with you, so it's best not to lie, or I won't be the one who regrets it."
Virtual technology can steal information from others, but it cannot reveal their judgment process and thoughts. This is the focus of today's interrogation.
The Kunde Race leader knew this would happen sooner or later, and dared not conceal it, nor was there any point in concealing it. With a heavy heart, he recounted the whole story.
As he listened to the other person's account, Tarrokov occasionally typed in his report. Han Xiao leaned over to take a look and saw several terms such as "xenophobia," "indigenous arrogance," "Revenge culture," and "coexistence maladjustment."
None of those are good words... He blinked.
This interrogation report could very well influence the Empire's final decision on how to deal with the Kunde Race, and those words are undoubtedly dangerous.
After a while, the Kunde Race leader finally came to the end:
"... Your arrival has robbed us of our space for development, so we would rather find a new home where we can live undisturbed than coexist with you. This would only lead us to a long period of passive competition, and would stifle the prospects for the development of our civilization."
Upon hearing this, Tarrokov nodded, not bothering to hide his agreement, "You're right, we will never allow you to rise to power."
Few civilizations are saints. The Crimson Dynasty developed Shattered World, certainly not with the intention of benefiting all living beings. It had no intention of allowing the natives to rise. Its maximum kindness was merely leaving some space for them to continue to survive.
For most of the backward natives, this was not a bad thing. The Three Universal Civilizations assimilated them with interstellar society, which was equivalent to giving them advanced enlightenment education. However, for the Kunde Race, a civilization that had reached a certain scale and had begun interstellar pioneering, it was an absolute disaster.
The Three Universal Civilizations had no interest in cultivating more rivals who coveted their dominance, and thus would inevitably hinder the development of the advanced indigenous civilization.
Deep down, the Crimson Dynasty didn't actually dislike the Kunde Race's initiative to start a war; it was a perfectly legitimate way to conquer their civilization by force.
"However..." Tarrokov changed the subject, "Now that things have come to this, you must have realized that the crashed spaceship you obtained was provided by some of our adversaries, whose purpose was to use you as pawns against us."
Their data contains real technology to enhance your military strength, but while the technology itself is real, the information about the empire is a bunch of Lie. They haven't told you what level of strength the Crimson Dynasty actually possesses, deliberately misleading you into believing you have the power to fight.
That crashed spaceship was like a poisoned fruit; beneath the sweet aroma of advanced technology lay a deadly toxin.
Therefore, in your view, acquiring Psionic Energy, warp drive, stargates, and other technologies has essentially closed most of the power gap between us. You believe that having the same weapons as us is like an ancient person fighting a modern person, both wielding cold weapons. Although the eras are different, the outcome of the battle is still uncertain. However, the truth is that our weapons are several iterations ahead of yours. It's like you're still wielding swords while we've already wiped out your planet and its inhabitants with a single planet-destroying cannon shot.
As you can see, we originally had the possibility of peaceful coexistence. Although you would lose your room for advancement, you could at least guarantee the independence of your civilization. Sometimes, compromising is not a bad choice.
Upon hearing this, the Kunde Race leader shook his head and spoke in a deep voice:
"To stand idly by and watch our path be blocked is not the way of the Kunde Race; we would rather take a gamble."
"Well said. A civilization without ambition has no future. I understand you; abandoning your homeland is indeed heartbreaking."
Tarrokov did not object; instead, he nodded approvingly, then softened his tone and shook his head, saying, "However, your only mistake was choosing the wrong opponent."
The Kunde Race leader lowered his head.
He did not regret his Choice, but his heart was still filled with resentment.
However, what he hated most at this moment was not the Crimson Dynasty, but the mastermind behind using the Kunde Race as pawns!
In his eyes, that was the root cause of their clan's downfall!
"Okay, that's all for now. Thank you for your cooperation."
At this moment, Tarrokov stood up, beckoned to Han Xiao, and prepared to leave the interrogation room.
"Wait a minute!"
The Kunde Race leader suddenly spoke, his voice low and somber:
"You don't actually plan to wipe us out, you're planning to keep us at home, right?"
"Hmm, that's a possibility... However, we won't resort to the physical methods of intellectual castration you use; at most, we'll address it from a cultural perspective."
The Kunde Race leader understood, took a deep breath, and said, "So... I'm destined to die, right?"
Tarrokov paused, then, without concealing anything, nodded and said, "You are a symbol for people to vent their anger, a target for the people to despise, a lesson left in history, and a useful propaganda tool."
Han Xiao shook his head upon hearing this.
These people were speaking in a cryptic and ambiguous way, but luckily he could understand them.
If the Empire chooses cultural reform, it will need to select a puppet to lead the Kunde Race, and the puppet will definitely not be the Kunde Race leader.
This guy's role was to be used as a puppet by the empire, to perform a grand blame-shifting ceremony.
The play will end with his execution.
"I understand that someone has to bear the consequences of their mistakes, and I don't care about leaving a bad name behind." The Kunde Race leader had long been prepared to die. "I can fully cooperate with you in this charade, but I have two requests... Don't look at me like that. I know I have no right to make demands, but I can only tell you this: consider this my last wish."
"... Then you tell me."
"First, we have already surrendered. Killing me is fine, but I hope our other compatriots can be properly resettled and that no more lives are lost. Second..."
The Kunde Race leader's tone suddenly turned ferocious, "I will make those who manipulated us behind the scenes pay the price!"
After he finished speaking, Tarrokov remained unmoved, pretending not to have heard, and turned to leave.
Seeing this, the Kunde Race leader silently lowered his head.
He knew in his heart that the other party would not accept his request, but today might be the last chance to speak, and he had no choice.
Just then, a black figure suddenly appeared in his lowered field of vision.
The Kunde Race leader looked up and saw the man in black, who had been silent since entering and whose background was unknown, walk up to him and look down at him.
Before he could even wonder what was going on, what he heard next almost made him jump up in shock, wondering if there was something wrong with his ears.
"I have accepted your request."
"!!"
The Kunde Race leader was stunned.
Tarrokov stopped in his tracks, turned around abruptly, and a look of astonishment flashed in his eyes.
Han Xiao remained calm and continued:
"I will report this to the Empire and have your people settled in my territory, where I will take good care of them. As for making the mastermind behind this pay the price, that won't be difficult either."
He's the type who doesn't act without a reason, and just as the Kunde Race leader was making his last wish, a new mission popped up on the panel, just as he had guessed.
The moment Han Xiao saw the requirements and rewards, he made up his mind—he would accept this mission!
Who are you?!
Upon hearing these words, the Kunde Race leader finally couldn't help but inquire about Han Xiao's background.
"You can call me Black Star. As for who I am... well, my title is rather long, and I doubt you understand its meaning. So, you only need to know one thing..."
Han Xiao smiled slightly.
"I alone can wipe out your entire civilization."