Him and their stars.

Chapter 2200 Why Me Again?
Jaeger Sobyk probably didn't even realize that when he figured this out, his loyalty to His Highness King Suryuka suddenly surged dramatically.
"Your Highness." Sobaek stood at attention and gave an impeccable military salute.

Brunhilde looked up, a faint smile on his face. "Sir Sobyk, no need for formalities. Please sit wherever you like and eat whatever you like."

She pointed to the refreshments on the table and chairs next to her and continued watering.

Even though Sobek was relaxed, he didn't dare to be "casual," so he carefully pressed half of his buttocks onto the chair and straightened his back.

“You’re being too reserved,” Brunhilde chuckled. “You should start getting familiar with the place now. I’ll be leaving the capital within a week and won’t be back for at least a year. If things get really dangerous, you might have to be the one to protect my Sacred Tree Palace and my Rose Garden.”

"This...Your Highness, I..."

“Of course I was joking,” Brunhilde laughed. “Besides, sending you away from the fleet you’re loyal to to work in an office is a compromise I made with some of my adversaries. I hope you don’t mind.”

"I'm trying to adapt to a life surrounded by data and reports," he said sincerely.

No matter what, it's still much better than being surrounded by energy beams and artillery shells and missiles, right?
Sitting in an office with a stable gravity simulation, a comfortable natural temperature, and unlimited coffee, tea, and pastries, with a luxurious restaurant just downstairs, staring blankly at the budget, material list, and project progress report flashing on the screen, isn't this the life I've always dreamed of?
This isn't a compromise; it's clearly a reward for my military achievements!
If I actually had that thing.

"I will do my best in my duties, Your Highness, please rest assured." Sobek stood up at attention to show his determination.

“Very good, very spirited,” Brunhilde praised. “Furthermore, you must believe, Jaeger, that I placed you in this position not merely as a compromise. I trust your prudence, pragmatism, and judgment in combat, when facing your ‘arch-enemy’ and the Void Realm behemoth. And your courage to choose conscience in crucial moments! Yes, compared to your ‘arch-enemy,’ your resolute choice to attack that Void Realm behemoth upon entering the Celestial Realm is what earns me even greater respect. You have the talent to become a renowned general, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you can surpass Gilly and the others.”

I dare not try to extort money from anyone. Sobek thought, I just want to do some peaceful and harmonious work.

"The team in charge of equipment development needs someone like you—someone who can unite people, knows when to advance and retreat, yet maintains a bottom line and conscience. Coordinate effectively between the various research institutes and universities, and produce results. One day, you might even be qualified to be a prime minister."

How could someone like me become prime minister? Please, have mercy on me!
Sobek dared not take this as a joke. He immediately felt immense pressure and was speechless. He could only solemnly reply, "Your Highness... I will do my utmost to live up to your trust."

His voice was somewhat dry due to his guilty conscience.

“I’m not sending you to the battlefield, so there’s no need to make it sound like you’re signing a pledge. Just give me the final results before I return to the Celestial Realm.” Brunhilde’s tone was gentle, still as if he were comforting someone: “It’s mainly the research on the arc cannon.”

Sobek's spirits lifted. He knew this was the crux of today's conversation.

This deputy minister, who hadn't even officially taken office yet, was certainly aware of the analyses from various military experts. They had confirmed that the Silent Ship used a conceptual weapon, which was currently still just blueprints in the Imperial and Alliance laboratories.

Currently, the research is being led by the Empire, with the participation of several top military-industrial complexes, and is progressing steadily.

"Planning, overseeing progress, and acceptance testing—these will all be your responsibilities from now on."

"No, isn't it His Highness Prince Wei?"

“He’s the chairman of the Regency Council now.” Brunhilde put down his spray bottle. “I’ve seen the test data for the latest version of the Arc Cannon’s laboratory prototype. The energy output stability is seven percent better than expected, which is good news. But miniaturization, shipboard adaptation, heat dissipation during continuous firing, and the final optimization of energy efficiency and power ratio are still a long way off. Keep it up, this isn’t just for us, it’s for the Tyreiro people and the Galactic Empire.”

Sobek felt the weight of responsibility on his shoulders, but strangely, after clearly feeling the immense pressure, a calm and firm sense of mission welled up deep within him.

Perhaps it's because they don't have to fight unpredictable enemies on the battlefield, which gives them a sense of security and a sense of responsibility.

This kind of work, coordinating construction from the rear and forging a sharp weapon for the empire, sounds arduous, but it's really suitable for me. I'm willing to dedicate myself to it wholeheartedly!
I assure the spirit of the universe that this time it is absolutely the truth.

"That's why I told you to sit down. You don't always have to put on that heroic, death-ready act. If I really asked you to be the first to charge into battle, could you do it?"

"It's absolutely impossible, not even in my next life. I've even wanted to stay away from the battlefield as far as I can in this life." Jaeger Sobek quickly shook his head.

“You are quite frank, which is very much like him.” King Suliuka chuckled. “However, although you are now his acknowledged nemesis, Lord Sobek, you are still too unreliable.”

Sobek quickly adjusted his posture again.

“However, this is for the best. To govern an army with integrity, to treat the people with conscience, and to serve one’s sovereign with such character is truly a rare talent. In that case, I will have no choice but to make good use of you in the future.” Brunhilde nodded with satisfaction, his expression softening.

She smiled slightly, and an invisible force swept over her like a majestic breeze.

A delicate chip, about the size of a thumb, floated up from the small table beside him and landed directly in Sobek's hand. It was imprinted with the words "All Ocean Star" and exquisite carvings.

Even someone as far removed from high society as Sobek knew that this was the empire's renowned resort destination. To own property there required not only wealth, but also status.

"On Continent 3 of the All-Starry Sky, in the Azure Dream Bay area, there's a seaside villa with beautiful scenery and a quiet atmosphere. Consider it an early wedding gift for you, and a reward for your hard work over the years."

Sobek stared blankly at the shimmering chip, unsure of what expression to make.

He was indeed overwhelmed with joy and gratitude; the positive emotions almost overwhelmed his reason. His eyes welled up uncontrollably, and the hairs on the back of his head seemed to stand on end.

However, amidst his surprise, he also thought back to when he was a young man in a colonial town.

My father, who had gone to heaven, built his own house on the colonial coast. It was a spacious, bright, and sturdy house. He loved it.

But his father told him, "Actually, Jaeger, our Sobek family used to have an entire beach and a coastal palace in the faraway All-Ocean Resort Star. But now, we only have this little self-built house. Jaeger, this is all because our ancestors were unfilial!"

Now, five hundred years later, the Sobek family has finally regained a foothold on that planet.

Our ancestors, though you were unfilial, your virtuous descendants have finally helped you regain the honor you lost!
Despite saying that, amidst his excitement, he always felt a subtle sense of surrealism.

"Your Highness...this...this is too precious! I am unworthy of such a gift...I...uh, wait, what wedding gift?" Sobek asked in confusion.

Of course, he regretted it as soon as the words left his mouth.

So my first reaction was to question instead of apologize? Jaeger, Jaeger, has your emotional intelligence been eaten by a dog?

Brunhilde, however, looked at his subordinate with amusement: "Does he feel nothing at all, or is he really too afraid to feel anything?"

Sobek gave a forced smile. He couldn't answer. "I've prepared a seaside villa for every meritorious official; it's what you deserve, Minister Sobek."

Well, all I can say is that His Highness is incredibly wealthy and generous.

"Speaking of which, your 'arch-rival' is here too. Without him, I wouldn't have noticed your talent so quickly," Brunhilde chuckled. "Want to come over and have a drink?"

Sobek really didn't know how to answer, but then he heard his lord say, "However, that guy has everything done for him every day, he lives a life that is even more decadent than 'Mead King' Jericho."

This "Mead King" Jahril was a famous artist emperor in the history of the Galactic Empire. Although he was a demigod, he was mediocre in martial arts, but he was very effective in governing the country. He built a variety of architectural wonders and organized hundreds of music festivals, drama festivals, food competitions, wine fairs, beauty pageants, and so on.

While countless gold dragons were spent, it did create brilliant results for the empire's cultural export.

Of course, considering that this person is actually a hedonist who indulges in pleasure, the above achievements are more like byproducts of various forms of enjoyment.

“He should still be asleep. Should I wake him up?” Brunhilde asked.

Her attitude was exactly like that of a submissive, obedient wife, but she acted as if it were perfectly normal.

Sobek couldn't help but say, "Your Highness, General Yu is a respectable man... no, what I mean is that he is a man with firm ideals at heart. He could never be a decadent person at any time."

Jaeger, oh Jaeger, what are you talking about?

Sure enough, King Suliuka laughed: "Ah ha, Lord Sobaek, are you advising me on my private life? I had no idea you had the potential to be an imperial censor."

Even if Sobek were thick-skinned, he knew it was time to leave, so he quickly got up and took his leave.

“Although I don’t like your last sentence, if things continue like this, I will have no choice but to rely on you even more.” Brunhilde looked at him meaningfully.

"Work hard, and live well. The Empire needs the right people like you, in the right place, doing the right things. I'm giving you three months' leave, then you can come back to work. You need to manage the Empire's military industry effectively, and fight for the rights and honors that researchers and workers deserve. You also need to protect the capital and maintain the order for all people to live and work in peace. Of course, you might need to protect me when necessary."

Is this really something a mere deputy director of the Star Casting Hall of the Grand Marshal's Mansion should be doing? Anyone who didn't know better would think it was some legendary profession like a regent or the Emperor's Hand.

Sobek was speechless; this time, he couldn't even manage a smile.

When he left the "Rose Hall" and returned to the port, looking at his Red Snow official ship, he finally regained some of his senses.

He was shocked to find that his heart was pounding so hard it felt like his blood vessels were about to burst. He quickly took a deep breath of warm air that still smelled of flowers, barely managing to calm his trembling heart.

"Yes, yes, anyway, I'm just a deputy minister in charge of equipment. Doing my job well, not being corrupt, and especially supervising the progress of the arc cannon—that should be enough to honor His Highness, right?"
Sobek decided to obey His Highness's orders. After completing all the reports and handover work, he would take a three-month vacation and travel on the "Red Snow" to the neighboring planet All Ocean for a holiday. That resort was right next to the capital, less than two hundred light-years away after three jumps, and the round trip would take at most a week.

If I invite the Viscountess to come along, she would probably be happy to, wouldn't she? Speaking of which, she was the one who helped me apply for this "Red Snow" official ship.

As a newly ennobled count, a ministerial-level official under the Grand Marshal's Office, a vice admiral in the Imperial Space Fleet, and the holder of an advisory seat in the Privy Council, he is entitled to own a Sky Shuttle-class cruise ship as his official vehicle.

Sobek named it Red Snow in honor of his first warship, the Blizzard, and his first longtime partner, Captain Redstone.

Speaking of which, that old captain from Chierling had retired two years ago. With Miss Selru's help, he obtained a lifelong noble title before retiring and actually bought a ranch in his hometown to raise horses.

If the holidays allowed, he would really like to go with Miss Sellu to take a look. Back then, during the blizzard, it was just the three of them working together to finally get to where they are today.

Only after his Red Snowship sailed out of the port of the Sacred Tree Palace did he finally make up his mind, nodding vigorously and saying, "Alright, once things are settled here, I'll propose. Anyway, I'm never fighting again, so now's the perfect time to propose."

He decided to be brave and dare to do things he never dared to imagine, understand, or recognize before.

"Yes, we can't always let the girls take the initiative. It's time for me to move on to the next stage..."

"So, what's your next step? Who are you going to propose to?" Sobek heard a familiar yet long-lost voice.

This time, it wasn't just his heart racing. He felt like his heart was about to stop.

He was like a robot with its springs stuck, stiffly turning his neck, his face frozen in a numb expression, but his eyes were gradually becoming dull.

He saw Yu Lian sitting in the driver's seat.

"You, me, this...we...you..."

"Ask me when I boarded the ship?"

Sobek felt as if something was choking him, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't utter a single word. He could only grit his teeth and nod with difficulty.

"It was just here. I was even steering the boat just now, you just didn't feel it."

Is this my fault? You were clearly standing under the loophole of gravity.

"But, this, I...they..."

"Your adjutant, orderly, bodyguard, and driver?"

Sobek continued to nod, his movements becoming increasingly difficult.

"Don't worry, they're all sleeping in the innermost part of the cabin. After all, I'm not a demon, and I don't have the bad habit of indiscriminately killing soldiers."

Sobek looked at Yu Lian, then at himself, blinked, and then squatted down, holding his head in his hands.

He let out a heart-wrenching scream: "Why? Why again? Why do you always target me? When did I ever offend you? All I want is to live a peaceful life. Why are you targeting me? Why? Why is this happening?"