Chapter 364 - 338: Invasion and Leak

Chapter 364: Chapter 338: Invasion and Leak

"Warning. You have entered the territory of the Soloma Empire. Cease immediately, or you will be dealt with according to the law."

"Warning. You..."

On the eastern border of the Soloma Empire, a defensive line composed of hundreds of robots was being assaulted by a large number of black-robed individuals.

These black-robed individuals were all swift and agile, undoubtedly formidable Ascenders. They were like a black flood, carrying a terrifying force that smashed through and tore apart the defensive line in one fell swoop.

Though the robotic guards had sufficient firepower, they were quickly routed when faced with an assault team composed of over a thousand elite Ascenders.

"You have..."

CRACK!

Before a robotic soldier could finish its looped warning, its head was smashed by a weapon that looked like an iron rod.

The black-robed man carrying the iron rod looked down at the robotic soldier he had just felled. Its head was cracked open, flickering with electric sparks and exposing its internal circuitry and chipsets.

"A pile of electronic junk."

He snorted, raised the iron rod in his hand, and charged toward the next robotic soldier.

In just over ten minutes, Soloma’s eastern border fell completely. Hordes of black-robed Ascenders from the Fahe Country poured into the Empire, advancing rapidly toward its core cities.

The move shocked the world.

Soloma’s own Senate hadn’t expected the Fahe Country to launch a surprise attack and hastily convened a meeting.

"Those madmen from the Fire Worship Cult! Who gave them the nerve?!"

One senator said grimly, "This must be long-premeditated revenge. The Empire sent an elite squad to carry out a decapitation strike, and now they’re taking this opportunity to retaliate!"

The other senators nodded in agreement, their expressions grim.

Soloma had indeed previously dispatched a strike team to assassinate Joel I of the Fahe Country. The goal was to eliminate this unstable element on the same continent as the Empire.

The mission was a success. The strike team did not fail its duty; the assassination was successful.

However, the Fahe Country did not collapse as a result. On the contrary, less than three days after Joel I was assassinated, they appointed Joel II.

This came as a surprise to the Soloma Empire, and indeed the entire Human Federation.

The Human Federation had originally planned to dispatch a joint force, but the operation had to be temporarily shelved due to the influence of subsequent new rules.

Right now, the Human Federation’s greatest enemy is the Parasites. Thus, the allied army that had been assembled was immediately dispatched to the Black Banner Country, leaving them no time to deal with the Fahe Country.

The Fahe Country seized this opportunity, launching a decisive surprise attack on Soloma. And this offensive had already yielded results.

"A large number of the Empire’s elite soldiers are with the allied army now. Do those bastards from the Fahe Country think the Empire is vulnerable, and that’s why they dare to attack?"

"What is the Fahe Country’s objective? Is this just retaliation for the assassination, or do they actually want to seize our land?"

"Land doesn’t mean much these days. I think they’re after our people. They want us all to convert to the Fire Worship Cult... or to eliminate us, the ’infidels’ as they call us!"

"Our peripheral cities are practically undefended right now! Once those bastards break through the border, they’ll have a straight shot in. We have to respond immediately!"

This wasn’t just true for the Soloma Empire. Due to massive population decline, many cities across the nations of the Human Federation were already deserted and desolate.

In this situation, it was often the case that no city near the border towns had a larger population than the border towns themselves.

This meant that once the Empire’s border was breached, the Fahe Country’s forces could advance swiftly, pushing all the way to the populous core cities.

This was an unacceptable outcome for the Empire.

"But so many of our elite forces have been assigned to the allied army. Should we recall some of them?"

"The situation with the Parasites is critical as well. If we pull back now, how can we guarantee the capture of enough ’food’ to trade with the alien entity for answers?"

"Is asking questions more important than survival?!" the senator in charge of intelligence roared. "Those Fahe lunatics are serious this time! Their vanguard alone has over a thousand Ascenders!"

"That’s right. And don’t forget, Fahe is suspected of having an Ascender with Mind Control abilities. If that person gets into our cities and turns our people into followers of the Fire Worship Cult, then..."

"The elite troops with the allied army cannot be recalled."

Just then, a resolute voice came from outside.

The senators looked over and saw the King of the Empire walking in with a cane, his expression leaving no room for argument.

"Your Majesty, about the attack from the Fahe Country..."

"I will handle this."

The senators exchanged glances. One of them said, "Your Majesty, surely you don’t intend to mobilize your own troops? That’s your Royal Guard."

The King replied, "I have my own arrangements for this. Senators, you should keep your focus on capturing more Parasites."

He turned and left without another word of explanation.

The senators listened to the sound of his cane receding into the distance. After a moment, one of them spoke up.

"Does His Majesty... have some important question he intends to ask the Alien Intelligence? Why else would he be so insistent about capturing Parasites?"

"It’s certainly possible."

The senators exchanged glances again. They could all read the same thought on each other’s faces, yet no one dared to voice it.

Not long after leaving the Senate, the King of Soloma appeared in a large laboratory filled with machinery.

"Your Majesty, you’ve come."

A white-haired old man greeted him.

The King glanced at the old man’s arms, which glinted with a metallic luster.

"Dr. Heisen. It’s only been two months, but you look quite different."