"That’s right, it’s not over yet." The representative from the Federation also stood up to reassure everyone.
The Azure Dragon hasn’t appeared, and people were getting restless. How could this be allowed?
With the two of them speaking up, the people of the Empire and the Federation were somewhat reassured, as their numbers were considerable.
However, Anduin and the others gradually regained composure. Since the Azure Dragon had already taken action by diverting Kashmir’s Spear,
there must be more moves to come.
Although, he was also puzzled about what could make the Star Alliance withdraw at the risk of offending the Federation and the Empire.
Sheffield, however, was pondering something else. Since the recent event was not directed by the Azure Dragon, and it was even intended to kill him, what was the purpose of the performance?
And Li Ming... he actually tried to stop Hemod at the last moment.
Under external circumstances, he should have been completely unaware as well.
The recent events were abrupt and disorienting, but since they involved his safety, he had to think about them.
The Empire and Federation had stabilized the situation, but for the moment, neither dared to act rashly, and their expressions showed extreme vigilance.
Some were mobilizing energy to fill every corner of the palace, ensuring that not a single shadow remained, for fear that a purple hammer might strike from some hidden spot.
One could say it was a situation of nerves on edge.
But this was only for a moment. Li Ming’s previously calm expression immediately became focused.
"Look!"
The others sensed the change as well, looking up and shouting.
Anduin also looked over, his heart tightening suddenly, his face changing drastically. Why... has it stopped again?
Those Star Alliance United Fleets, already in jump transition, had now halted.
The light strands that had been drawn into a spiral state gradually returned to the somber figure of the mothership.
Typical civilizations do not possess the technology to stop a jump; interrupting a jump could potentially cause significant damage.
"Ha..." Someone from the Empire let out a long sigh, for these x-level life forms had not experienced such emotional ups and downs for a long time.
"What... is happening now?" Barbaro questioned in bewilderment.
No one could give him an answer, as Sheffield’s brows remained furrowed and his face tense.
Sven’s face had dulled, but in the embers extinguished just now, a faint flame seemed ready to reignite.
Whoosh--
At the moment when the Star Alliance fleets exited jump state, a golden flowing light pierced the Starfield—it was Kashmir’s Spear.
Everyone looked up, watching Kashmir’s Spear quickly enlarge in their eyes, like a spiral spear winding through the Star River.
Where the spearhead crossed, starlight extinguished in patches, with remaining light tails being absorbed by the spear shaft, turning into blood-red patterns wrapping its metallic surface.
The ensuing storm gashed the void, surrounded by tens of thousands of warships blaring alarms.
Rivaling the size of a regular star, the central node’s surface suddenly split into massive chasms, broken rocks pulverized into dust by the storm.
Their overhead palace similarly dissipated into particles, oppression rolling in like a tangible tide, seeming to promise indiscriminate devastation.
But ultimately, it simply hovered above, though the spearhead reflected in their eyes kept magnifying as if to pierce through the entire Universe and stake itself on them.
The blood-red lines on the spear body suddenly came to life, transforming into billions of red snakes slithering out.
This is Kashmir’s Spear!
Everyone felt cold sweat all along their spines, realizing that Hemod had been behind the spear all along, with nine streaks of light weaving behind.
"He didn’t leave..." Li Ming’s expression darkened slightly.
He understood, nothing could go exactly as planned.
Yet the whole situation had felt peculiar from the start, with prior probing and Hemod’s sudden return.
Could it be that Gutierrez hadn’t involved the Red River Star Stream’s secret with the Empire and Federation as he assumed?
Is he that altruistic?
No, otherwise he wouldn’t have needed Hemod to leave—an unnecessary move.
Unless... the Empire and Federation offered him what he wanted?
Even he couldn’t help but marvel.
From Hemod’s departure to his return, it spanned no more than fifteen minutes.
Did Malcolm and Adam digest the bad news about the Dominator Laboratory’s coordinates leaking within those fifteen minutes?
And decide not to let Gutierrez take advantage of the situation, providing him satisfactory answers that brought Hemod back?
Did Adam and Malcolm possess such decisiveness?
"The Azure Dragon hasn’t appeared yet?" Hemod scanned the surroundings, his gaze landing on Li Ming, "Chairman Gutierrez asked me to tell you, your mentor’s craft is remarkable."
"However, those few are by no means inferior."
What does this mean—did the Three Great Civilizations win where they could not be seen?