Him and their stars.

Chapter 2082 I Can Too
The heavy solid wood door of the private room shut out the outside noise, placing Amida Berencaster back into a state of tranquility. She watched with great interest the holographic image projected on the terminal.

It was clear that the ceremony took place in a simple space base. The walls and ceiling had a cold, hard metallic sheen, and the facilities inside were simple and old, but they were cleaned very well and were in good order.

Claire Belmont, the young master of the Belmont family, a current rear admiral in the Alliance Space Fleet and the executive officer of the Administration Bureau, and the young master who owns several talent agencies and a large group of girl groups, known by someone as the "Alliance's number one pimp," Hua Congsheng, a mysterious model worker who always presents a duality between progress and depravity, are currently wearing a slightly bulky spacesuit and standing in the very center of the first row of the crowd.

He's practically a born flag bearer now. Just look at the divine light shining on his face; it's as if he can stand firmly amidst cannon fodder, and even if his head is sliced ​​off by shrapnel and shockwaves, he will still remain standing.

Beside him stood his comrades, all wearing the same spacesuits, standing in neat rows in the steel hall, their firm and high-spirited gazes fixed ahead.

There were only a few hundred people, but their ranks were so neatly arranged that it looked as if they had been measured with a ruler. They came from different races all over the universe, but they shared the same full and fulfilling spirit, as well as a firm and resolute temperament, like a group of monuments forged from steel.

They were being led by a tall, dark-skinned Lumina man, swearing an oath before the flag. And so, a voice filled with determination and strength resonated in Yani's ears.

"I agree with the organization's principles and regard its goals as my lifelong pursuit. From this moment forward, guided by the spirit of the universe and witnessed by all my comrades, I volunteer to join the interstellar organization. We will..."

The resounding oaths mingled with the chaotic noise of the scene, some parts distorted, some parts disordered, but the unwavering determination remained exceptionally clear. Thus, that burning resolve almost ignited the entire scene, the flag in the background seemingly burning silently.

Several witnesses to the ceremony stood on one side of the hall. One of them was none other than the former Bracer named Ash Stern. He was supposed to be one of the Association's rising stars, but due to his "long-term involvement with the extremely vicious terrorist 'Son of Korhal,' it can be confirmed that he has become an important member of the organization," and now he has finally been expelled.

Not only that, this once outstanding young guerrilla fighter has even become a wanted criminal with a seven-figure bounty.

Now, Krell Belmont, an active-duty first-level inspector of the Extraordinary Bureau, is standing less than 30 meters away from this "extremely vicious terrorist," and it would only take a blink of an eye for him to take action.

Yet he still stood tall among the crowd taking the oath, in front of the man who should have been his enemy.

Princess Rainbow Rose watched this scene quietly, as if enjoying a surreal, absurd comedy. Only after the oath-taking scene finished playing did Claire Belmont's face once again become the focus of the screen.

This is a face with a slightly awkward and ingratiating smile, very social, very business-like, and full of the sense that it is the culmination of a well-honed art of facial expression management.

In short, this is completely different from the martyr who was taking the oath before.

"This happened yesterday. I just happened to hear from you on the phone, so I thought I'd share it with you," Claire said, a hint of pride still lingering in her voice.

“So, Claire, are you expecting my praise?” Princess Rainbow Rose responded with a calm, unwavering smile: “Very well, it’s not easy for a person to find a career they are willing to dedicate their life to. In that respect, my cousin, you are far superior to ninety percent of our peers, and even our elders. You are remarkable.”

Krell's professional smile froze for a moment, then she was clearly moved: "Waaah, Annie... it's been over ten years since you last called me cousin."

“There’s nothing I can do. I saw your depravity when you were eight,” Yani said. “Not having my respect is your own problem. But at least I didn’t use a business-like attitude, which means I think you’re redeemable. Isn’t that something to be grateful for?”

"Well, it's a little uncomfortable to say it like that, but when you think about it, it's really true..." Krell nodded subconsciously, but then wanted to slap himself.

My old friend was right; I really was like a well-trained and loyal dog, and I didn't even have the heart to express my dissatisfaction.

“But, Claire, are you serious? Or is this just another typical case of diversified investment?” Yani suddenly asked.

"...People always say that we like to take sides, like to sit on the fence, and like to put ourselves on the side of progress and victory."

"We are," Princess Rainbow Rose said frankly.

Krell's lips twitched, his smile slightly stiff, and he gave a similarly candid answer: "Whether it's taking sides or being genuinely willing to give everything for this cause, I can't say for sure myself. I can only be sure that their ideals are very pure, and they are very powerful."

Yani stared directly at Krell behind the screen, her gaze calm yet seemingly able to see right through him: "You're actually saying that they're even purer than the founder of the theory, that guy who's rampaging through the inner circle of the empire, right?"

Krell was speechless. He felt that if he told the truth, he would offend not only his cousin whom he couldn't afford to offend, but also that "old friend" whom he didn't even dare to look at directly.

"So, Mr. Babaru and Ash have already betrayed that poor fish?" A malicious glint flashed in Yanina's sapphire-blue eyes. If it weren't for the fact that that guy was wandering deep into the Empire, and any communication could potentially expose his location, she might have actually made a call and teased him a bit.
"At first, what did the people on the Independence say? Chester Rozes just watched?"

“He didn’t betray me,” Krell said helplessly. “Please, Annie, my intuition tells me this is a very deep-seated belief. Please forgive me.”

“Alright, let’s use a different phrase then. Where will their… no, your power be?” Yani’s tone remained calm: “The Titan you brought to Femor, with its twenty or thirty thousand remnants who escaped from Earth, or those hundreds of thousands of refugees that the former Bracers brought from the border of the Lothark Sector?”

Surprisingly, after a brief silence, Krell on the other end of the terminal repeated, "They are very powerful."

"Oh, you mean the New Independence? Chester Rozes is that guy's old subordinate, an excellent officer with the potential to be a great general, and his troops are all elite. Even if they are all remnants of defeated soldiers, they are all battle-hardened veterans. The New Independence is, after all, an Imperial Titan. In Femor's territory, with just this warship, you are a little tyrant."

Of course, this is all predicated on not attracting the attention of the empire.

If the Galactic Empire can maintain a strong military presence in the Femo Nebula, the Red Star's room for development will always be limited.

Whether this emerging organization, or rather, this emerging political group, can truly develop depends ultimately on the self-play and competition among major powers.

However, Krell calmly replied, "No, I'm talking about those, um, refugees!"

Yani didn't answer immediately, but leaned forward slightly, her bright blue eyes seeming to pierce through the screen as she looked at Claire Belmont behind the terminal with great interest.

"How nostalgic! Cousin, it's like seeing you when you were ten years old."

This was the second time Yani had called him that today, but Krell couldn't tell whether she was praising him or scolding him.

"Very good, this oath-taking ceremony is over. Now that you've become their 'trusted' comrade, you should at least be a very effective communicator, right?"

Krell's expression also turned serious. Even though he knew the communication was absolutely encrypted, he subconsciously glanced around: "Yes, I am now an alternate member of the committee, even though I only joined the organization yesterday."

"No offense intended, but it sounds like a really amateurish operation."

"After all, the organization is newly established and needs manpower. Even with the group that took the oath yesterday, our Red Star only has a little over a thousand people."

“Very well, since you consider yourselves the purest and most powerful pioneering team, it’s normal for you to have a smaller number of people,” Yani said, offering a fair assessment.

"Besides, I was elected as a committee member by everyone." Krell has always been very confident in his popularity. Not to mention, he was once a model worker at the Tulon factory.

"So both of them agree?"

"Well... Mr. Babaru does have some doubts, but Mr. Ash agrees."

"I see. One has a firm and pure ideal yet is not lacking in imagination, while the other is very sensible. Aren't they the best partners? This red interstellar organization is probably more promising than all the original resistance forces within the Empire combined. Maybe even more so than the Pioneers..."

"Please don't try to sow discord from this angle. We're all just pure idealists right now, and we shouldn't be subjected to such malicious provocation!" Krell interrupted him, unusually showing his obvious displeasure.

He realized he seemed to be getting a little carried away, and muttered softly, "Well, at least not now."

“Idealism is exhausting; it’s hard to sustain for long. But it’s always powerful when it exists.” Yani smiled gently. “Then, tell your new comrades. Krell, the plan is almost ready to go. I’ll create opportunities for you. Once it succeeds, you can try to establish your own country, right? That’s Stern and Mr. Babaru’s ultimate goal, isn’t it?”

Actually, I also have high hopes for this ultimate goal. Wouldn't it be really cool to get a founding father title? Krell thought, then shouted, "Because we can!"

"Oh?"

"They actually deserve it."

"Then go and prove your worth and strength. Once the plan succeeds, the Alliance will recognize the regime established by the Red Interstellar Organization in the Femo Starfield and provide it with all necessary diplomatic support and security guarantees to ensure that your 'nation' can become a formal member of the Galactic Civilization Council within five years."

(End of this chapter)