Chapter 251 The enemy in the shadows. {2}

Words : 1068 Updated : Oct 7th, 2025

"This is time I will never get back, and if I'm not seeing any credits come out of this, I won't be joining. Time is money, after all." Percival clenched his jaw internally but kept his pleasant smile. {Tsk. This damn money rat... I'll kill him next... after the human slave} But on the outside, he simply let out a lighthearted chuckle. "Oh, but of course, Viceroy Pax!" he exclaimed. His hands spread in a welcoming gesture. "Everything the traitor owns, from his ships, his factories, his resources... EVERYTHING!! can be divided among all of you once we have dealt with him." He smiled warmly. "After all, I seek only to eliminate a traitor for the greater good of our corporation." He gave a light shrug. "Riches? Pfft, what use are they to me?" Pax studied him for a moment. Then, he smirked. "Hmm... I see. If that's the case, then I'll join your war." His mind was already running through potential profits, calculating how much he could strip from Kael Vortigan's assets. Percival grinned. "Marvelous! I knew you were a reasonable man!" He gestured dramatically, arms wide. Then, his gaze flickered to the remaining three Viceroys. "Now then," he said smoothly. "What do the rest of you say?" The fate of Kael Vortigan and the corporation itself hung on their answer. The first to break the silence was Viceroy Isolde Blackthorn, Percival's own mother. She let out a soft, sultry chuckle before speaking. "You know I'm always on your side, my dear son~." Percival's smile widened ever so slightly. {Ahh~ My beautiful mother... I knew I could always count on you. Such loyalty... such elegance... If only you weren't my mother... Haa~ Just the thought of it excites me...} Keeping his composure, he nodded. "Mm, I expected nothing less from you." His gaze then shifted to the remaining two Viceroys, Madame Rose and the old muscle-headed midget, Zedekiah Blackwire. "And what about you two?" Zedekiah grumbled while crossing his thick arms. "Bah, I'll join too," he muttered. "I always wanted that old bastard's long-range cannon technology. If you promise to hand it over to me, I'm in!" Percival's smile never wavered. "Of course, Viceroy Blackwire. Consider it yours already." With that, he turned toward Madame Rose, the only one left to answer. "Now, Madame Rose," he said smoothly. "What would it take for you to join us?" The elderly woman scoffed, gripping her cane tighter. "Hmph! I don't want anything from that old man," she sneered. "Unlike the rest of you, I'm not a damn thief!" She lifted her cane, pointing it toward everyone in the room. "All I want is a written promise. Signed by every single one of you, including you, sissy CEO."@@@@ She narrowed her eyes. "A guarantee on paper that none of you will ever touch my assets or my family." "Doesn't matter. We always knew our ranks were riddled with his spies. Let him think we're playing into his hands for now." His sharp gaze flickered toward another officer. "More importantly, what about our spies? Any new intelligence?" Before the officer could answer, the command room doors suddenly burst open. A soldier sprinted in, his breath ragged. "Sir! I have urgent news from one of our spies sent before he was killed!" The room fell silent. Kael turned sharply, his expression darkening. "Out with it! Now!" The soldier gulped before blurting out the devastating report. "The CEO of Nexum has finished his meeting with the four Viceroys... and they've all agreed to aid him in attacking us!" A heavy silence followed. Some officers exchanged nervous glances, while others clenched their fists, their jaws tightening. Kael, however, remained unshaken. After a long moment, he let out a slow exhale, as if this outcome had already been expected. "So, it's war then." His voice was cold. Resigned. But within it burned a fierce resolve. He turned back toward his console, issuing orders without hesitation. "Continue with the civilian evacuation plan. Get as many people off-world as possible." His eyes hardened. "Even if we fall today... we'll make damn sure we take as many of them with us as we can!" A roar of determination erupted from the officers and soldiers around him, their fear momentarily replaced with steeled resolve. A Moment of Reflection As his men hurried to execute his commands, Kael reached inside his uniform, pulling out a small silver pendant. He clicked it open, revealing an old photograph inside. It was a paper photo, a rarity in this age of holograms. Inside, a younger version of himself stood beside Sharon's mother, who cradled baby Sharon in her arms. A soft, bitter chuckle escaped his lips. {You always loved old things... paper photos instead of holograms. You said it made memories feel real.} He traced his thumb over the face of his late wife, memories of her warmth flashing through his mind. For the first time in years, Kael allowed himself a moment of weakness, a moment of grief. But the moment was cut short. A loud alarm suddenly blared across the underground facility, its urgent wail sending the base into high alert. An officer shouted over the noise. "Sir! The Nexum fleet has arrived!" Kael's nostalgia vanished instantly, his war instincts snapping back into place. His silver pendant clicked shut, and he tucked it back into his chest pocket before turning sharply. "Numbers! Get me a visual!" Another officer quickly tapped into their stealth satellites, broadcasting the live feed onto the main screen. The image was staggering. A vast fleet loomed in orbit, blotting out the stars like a massive storm front. Another officer began shouting updates. "Enemy fleet count—200... 432... 788... 1,200... Their numbers keep increasing!" Kael clenched his jaw. He had expected overwhelming forces, but to see it was something else. "Tch... Doesn't matter," he growled. "We knew this wouldn't be a fair fight." He turned to face his soldiers, his voice carrying across the room. "Our best estimates put them at 10,000 effective units. If anyone here wants to flee, now is your only chance. But mark my words, anyone who deserts once the battle starts will not be forgiven." The room remained quiet. No one moved. No one ran.

Chapter 251 The enemy in the shadows. {2}

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