CHAPTER 1178: CHAPTER 1177: THIS WORLD DOESN’T BELONG ONLY TO YOU

Within a few short hours, a piece of breaking major news spread to every corner of Mid Zhilanda’s streets and alleys.

Mid Zhilanda’s strongest ace, the Golden Fleet, was wiped out!

At first, people thought it was some kind of joke, or fake news broadcast by a host who had taken the wrong medicine, but soon, with the disclosure of video images and media reports, more and more people learned the truth of the matter.

The Space-Time Bureau dispatched a fleet to apprehend a criminal in an outworld under administration. However, it unilaterally invaded the territory of another mysterious force without permission. After the warning proved ineffective, that mysterious force’s army attacked the Space-Time Bureau’s fleet. The attacked Space-Time Bureau fleet was defeated and retreated, simultaneously seeking reinforcement.

With more and more Dimensional Battleships joining, the battle gradually expanded. Eventually, the Space-Time Bureau had to dispatch the Golden Fleet to rescue those Dimensional Fleets trapped on the battlefield.

However... they were completely wiped out by the opponent.

Although after defeating the Golden Fleet, the opposition did not launch any further attacks on the Space-Time Bureau, which allowed the other remaining Dimensional Battleships to escape the battlefield. However... the matter didn’t end there.

Because right when these surviving battleships finally managed to return to Mid Zhilanda through the space tunnel, they were horrified to find that right behind them, that mysterious force’s fleet actually appeared as well!

And now, this mysterious fleet is advancing towards the capital of Mid Zhilanda—Mid!

"What should we do now?!"

At this moment, inside the Space-Time Bureau, it was already a big mess. Ever since the news of the Golden Fleet’s destruction arrived, the upper echelons of the Space-Time Bureau had been plunged into the Abyss of despair and fear. Upon learning that the mysterious fleet followed their remaining warships to Mid Zhilanda, these executives were even more at a loss.

"We should immediately send a representative to communicate with them and choose to seek peace!"

"Seek peace? What a joke! They crushed our Golden Fleet; this is an obvious act of hostility! Now that this fleet dares to invade our Mid Zhilanda, they are our enemies, and we should resist to the death!"

"Even the Golden Fleet is no match for them. What do we have to resist with?"

Upon hearing this, one of the top executives angrily slammed the table.

"Haven’t we already got the specifics from the Admiral of the Fifth Fleet? The other side had already issued a warning, but those idiots in the Fifth Fleet completely disregarded it and still attempted to enter their territory forcibly! How is this different from an invasion?! Now that we are no match for them, you still don’t want to seek peace? Do you want to drag the entire Mid Zhilanda into this?!"

Hearing this, several of the executives who had been shouting the loudest also fell silent. After all, they had already heard about the events from the survivors of the Fifth Fleet. Indeed, forcibly entering unknown territory and ignoring warnings could rightly be considered an invasion...

Now what? Have you stirred up a hornet’s nest?

The only thing that reassured everyone a bit was that after entering Mid Zhilanda, this fleet headed straight for their capital and showed no intent to touch other planets and territories, which implied at least that the other side... should not be here to invade Mid Zhilanda.

Of course, Fang Zheng wouldn’t choose to do so. He didn’t have any goodwill towards the Space-Time Bureau, but at least he knew some people from the animation. Considering it as the protagonist’s residence, Fang Zheng didn’t plan to occupy territory here. Otherwise, if Fang Zheng releases a Swarm, taking over the entire Mid would just be a matter of time.

But for now... in consideration of Viviore, Einhart, Corona, and other little girls, let’s cut you some slack.

However, a lesson must still be taught.

Sitting on the chair, looking out at the Galaxy and starry sky, Fang Zheng yawned. Around the fleet, one could see the warships of the Space-Time Bureau’s Dimensional Fleet hovering, but these warships weren’t foolish; after the previous battle, they dared not act rashly. Apart from following the fleet from a distance, they dared not do anything.

"Report to the Captain."

However, at this moment, Iona, who was operating the battleship, suddenly spoke up.

"Detected a communication request from the Dimensional Battleship Asura, the applicant is Lindy Harowan."

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, Fang Zheng adjusted his posture on the chair, and after a moment of thought, gave his response.

"Put it through."

"Yes."

Soon, the screen in front flickered, and Lindy’s face appeared before Fang Zheng’s eyes. Seeing Fang Zheng sitting in the chair, Lindy was slightly surprised, but quickly regained her composure.

"It indeed is you, Mr. Fang Zheng."

"Hello, Ms. Lindy."

Fang Zheng put down the teacup in his hand and nodded towards Lindy.

"I didn’t expect we would meet again so soon."

"I didn’t expect it either..."

Saying this, Lindy felt a complex mix of emotions. In fact, upon learning that the Space-Time Bureau’s Dimensional Fleet had been attacked, Lindy suspected it might have been Fang Zheng’s doing, especially since he had previously warned her. But Lindy didn’t expect that Fang Zheng would escalate things to such a degree, turning a localized conflict into a full-blown war and even crushing the Golden Fleet!

Now even Lindy herself didn’t know what to do, but... regardless, she had to try.

"I admit, this time the Space-Time Bureau was at fault first, but Lord Fang Zheng, don’t you think your current actions are excessive?"

"Excessive?"

Hearing Lindy’s protest, Fang Zheng raised an eyebrow.

"Ms. Lindy, I remember telling you before, if you dare to enter the territory of the Heavenly Dao Palace without permission again, the consequences would be on your own heads. I believe you must have communicated my intention to them, yet even so, your Space-Time Bureau’s Fifth Fleet still tried to forcibly invade our territory, completely ignoring our repeated warnings, so... do you think the Heavenly Dao Palace is so easy to bully?"

"That’s not what I meant..."

Upon hearing Fang Zheng’s cold question, Lindy was momentarily speechless. At its core, the whole issue stemmed from the Space-Time Bureau’s arrogance and disregard for the Heavenly Dao Palace, ultimately bringing trouble upon themselves.

"I won’t harm civilians, after all, they are innocent."

Fang Zheng stared at Lindy, and after a moment, he continued speaking.

"However, I believe that the higher-ups of Mid need a lesson. You must understand that this universe does not belong to you. Just because you’ve named yourselves the Space-Time Bureau doesn’t mean you can manage anyone... You must realize that there are far more powerful beings in this universe than you. If you don’t know how to position yourselves correctly, then I don’t mind teaching you what proper communication is."

"Wait, Fang..."

Upon hearing this, Lindy’s face changed dramatically, but as she opened her mouth to say something, she saw Fang Zheng wave his hand, and the connection between them was abruptly cut off.

For a moment, the entire command room fell into a deathly silence.

"Captain... what should we do now?"

After a while, Crono helplessly asked, and Lindy sighed deeply.

"Let’s return to Mid... No matter what, I hope the Bureau’s headquarters and the Council won’t cause any more trouble!"

Watching the Asura Ship turn away, Fang Zheng snorted.

As he told Lindy, a lesson was needed for Mid, but Fang Zheng knew well that humans are forgetful. Sometimes a simple lesson isn’t enough to change anything.

Therefore, he had his own plans.

Thinking of this, Fang Zheng raised his hand and snapped his fingers.

"Swoosh———!"

The next moment, he vanished from the warship and appeared in a bizarre space.

This place was filled with various panels, and on the largest platform were three oval nutrient tanks, with three brains floating in the nutrient solution, bubbling intermittently. In front of these brains, a long-haired woman stood on the platform, occasionally tapping on something. When she saw Fang Zheng suddenly appear, she was taken aback.

"Who are you? How did you get here?"

However, as soon as the woman finished speaking, Fang Zheng swung his hand, and a pitch-black giant sword penetrated her body, pinning her firmly to the ground. Then bright red flames erupted, reducing her to a pile of charcoal amid her screams.

"Who are you...?"

At this moment, an aged voice sounded. Upon hearing this voice, Fang Zheng glanced at the three brains in front of him.

"You must be the three old guys secretly controlling the Council and the Space-Time Bureau. Hmm, it seems I’ve found the right place... Let me introduce myself, I am Fang Zheng, the supreme ruler of the Heavenly Dao Palace. I am here to negotiate regarding Mid Zhilanda’s Space-Time Bureau’s unauthorized invasion of our Heavenly Dao Palace."

"Negotiate?"

At this moment, another voice sounded, carrying a hint of urgency and unease.

"If you mean..."

"Oh, but these have nothing to do with you."

However, Fang Zheng was obviously not interested in listening to what these three brains had to say and just waved his hand.

"So-called negotiations are just a formality. To be honest, I personally have no interest in Mid Zhilanda, but I’m worried that you might have ill intentions towards our Heavenly Dao Palace, so I plan to act first to gain the upper hand..."

As he spoke, Fang Zheng spread his hands open.

"I invite you, Mid Zhilanda, to become a vassal territory of our Heavenly Dao Palace."

"What did you say?"

"That’s simply wishful thinking!"

Upon hearing this, the aged voice suddenly became angry.

"We will never agree!"

"No."

However, in the face of the three brains’ opposition, Fang Zheng shook his head.

"You will agree..."

As Fang Zheng spoke, several amoebas crawled out from his shadow, sneaking into the nutrient tanks through the pipes. In the next moment, these amoebas tightly enveloped the brains floating within the nutrient tanks.

Seeing this, Fang Zheng slightly curled his lips.

"From now on, you belong to the Swarm."