From cannon fodder to sweeping across thousands of stars.

Chapter 826 The Hidden Dangers of the Imperial Nobles

After the warp ended once again, Saint-Sonière, the capital of the Star Dragon Empire, floated silently in front of the Allied Fleet.

Unlike Aldarram, a planet brimming with the harmonious beauty of nature and psychic energy, Saint-Sonière presents an ultimate beauty of industry and order.

Countless orbital docks, space stations, and orbital defense platforms, like loyal guardians, are densely distributed in the planet's synchronous orbit.

During the period when the imperial capital was taken over and rebuilt by the Atlas Group, a massive number of civilian and military ships constantly moved along fixed waterways, creating a dazzlingly prosperous scene.

However, in the distance, the two massive fleets appeared somewhat discordant in this 'picture'.

"Two large noble fleets have been detected in Master's orbit, belonging to the families of Duke Soren and Duke Duke. Their numbers clearly exceed the limit permitted by the Imperial Noble Basic Law, which allows a duke to lead a fleet when traveling to the capital."

"Wow, this number is almost as many as when they last came to Saint-Sonière!"

Amber pursed her lips, then looked at the holographic star map in the center of the core command room.

The red insignia representing the two fleets, like two sharp knives, stand in confrontation with the newly arrived Crown Fortress, like hunters who have been waiting there for a long time, finally welcoming their returning prey.

"Bastard!"

Natalia's anger was instantly ignited upon seeing this scene. She immediately understood what the two dukes wanted to do, and her face turned frosty.

Amber remained calm. He frowned and asked, "Have you contacted Dukes Hastings and Artesia?"

The latter immediately nodded: "Of course, we contacted them after discovering the information leak. However, Duke Hastings was directing the suppression of the rebellion on the frontier, and Duke Artesia was overseeing the renovation of Tranquil Fortress. So even if they assembled their fleet and set off immediately, it would still take some time for them to arrive."

As Natalia spoke, she gritted her teeth and stared at the distant fleet, her anger growing ever stronger.

She strode over to the android communications officer in the core command center and said politely, "Please connect me to Soren and Duke's flagship!"

A moment later, two holographic projections appeared in the center of the command room.

On the left is Duke Soren, dressed in an impeccably tailored suit, with an arrogant demeanor and a subtle, scrutinizing look in his eyes.

Duke Duke on the right wore a 'kind' smile, but his narrowed eyes clearly gleamed with shrewdness and calculation.

"Commander Natalia, how have you been?"

Duke Soren spoke first, his tone slow and deliberate, as if he were entertaining guests in his own living room.

"Upon hearing of the unforeseen events that occurred during His Majesty's visit to Eldaram, the capital of the Thousand Star Empire, Duke and I were extremely anxious and led our troops here to prevent any unscrupulous individuals from taking advantage of the situation and endangering the safety of the Empire."

These words were spoken in a grand and impeccable manner.

"Serving the Emperor?" Natalia sneered, making no attempt to hide her contempt. "The Imperial Noble Basic Law clearly stipulates that no noble fleet may enter the capital star system without the special permission of the royal family! The two dukes are blocking the gates of Saint Sonée with an extra fleet. Is this to guard against petty treachery, or are they planning to force the emperor to abdicate?"

Hearing Natalia's blunt words, Duke Duke's smile remained unchanged as he shrugged.

"Commander Natalia, you are mistaken. This was a helpless measure under special circumstances! After all, His Majesty's safety is related to the foundation of the empire, and as the pillars of the empire, we naturally cannot sit idly by."

Natalia's gaze sharpened further. "So, you admit to having spies planted within His Majesty's Imperial Guard and accompanying fleet?"

Duke Soren raised an eyebrow slightly, and Duke Duke's smile froze for a moment. They hadn't expected Natalia to be so direct, tearing away their hypocritical facade with just one sentence.

For a moment, the communication channel fell into a brief silence.

"It seems the two dukes have nothing to explain." A calm voice broke the deadlock, and then Amber's figure appeared in the holographic projection.

Soren and Duke's gazes instantly focused on Amber. When they saw Natalia step aside and stand to Amber's side and behind her, their expressions clearly changed.

They had already conducted countless investigations into this man who had suddenly risen to power and had an ambiguous relationship with the Empress, but each investigation pointed to the same conclusion—he was unfathomable.

"Mr. Amber, I didn't expect to see you again." Duke Soren's tone turned colder. "However, this is an internal affair of our Star Dragon Empire, and it seems it's not up to an outsider to interfere."

"The capital of the Thousand Star Empire, Eldaram, has suffered a devastating upheaval, leaving His Majesty physically and mentally exhausted and in a coma."

Amber ignored his provocation and simply stated a fact with great enthusiasm. He paused and glanced at the faces of the two dukes.

“I think the two dukes are still unaware of what has happened in Eldram.”

Amber didn't give the two a chance to interrupt, and succinctly told them about the return beacon, the Elven sacrifice, and the threat of the 'Precursors'.

He didn't embellish the story; he simply presented the hellish scene and the imminent crisis to them objectively.

"Therefore, I am here today in the hope of uniting the strength of all survivors, including the Star Dragon Empire and the New Federation, so that we can work together to deal with this catastrophe that may sweep across the entire universe! Both dukes are pillars of the empire, and I think you should understand that now is not the time for infighting."

Amber's voice was sincere, and what he said truly came from the heart. Under the threat of the Forerunner civilization, he had really lost interest in these power struggles.

However, these words took on a different meaning when they reached the ears of the two dukes.

Duke Duke suddenly laughed and clapped his hands: "Brilliant, what a brilliant story! Mr. Amber thinks you can make us abandon our concern for the future of the Empire by threatening us with the so-called 'Forerunner Civilization'? Your argument is far too naive."

"Hmph! In the end, they're just trying to buy time with these vague threats."

The Duke of Soren was more direct and no longer concealed his thoughts.

"His Majesty is unconscious, and we are naturally very anxious. However, a country cannot be without a monarch for a day. Duke Duke, the nobles, and most of my colleagues in the Imperial Council, along with myself, believe that we should immediately convene an emergency meeting to establish a 'Provisional Regency Council' to act on behalf of the monarch and stabilize the situation!"

"Stabilize the overall situation?" Natalia laughed angrily. "I think it's an opportunity to seize power!"

"presumptuous!"

Duke Soren's face darkened, and he unleashed the full pressure of an old nobleman.

“Natalia, remember your place! Everything we do is for the future of the Empire! If His Majesty awakens, we will naturally return the power to him, but if not…”

He didn't say anything more, but the threat was obvious.

Amber watched them silently, his expression unchanged, because he knew that saying anything more to these people would be pointless.

The nobles of the Star Dragon Empire had long been blinded by their lust for power and were completely deaf to any advice.

In their view, the so-called 'first mover' threat is far less real than the power that is within reach.

But it doesn't matter, Amber's words were just a 'courtesy first, then force' tactic.

Now, he has fulfilled his duty of courtesy.

"In that case, there's nothing more to discuss."

Amber's tone remained calm, but the temperature in the command room seemed to drop several degrees: "Dukes, it is a fact that your fleet has violated the Imperial Noble Law by remaining in the capital star system. It is also a fact that you have planted spies within the Imperial Guard with ulterior motives. As His Majesty's most steadfast ally, I advise you both to leave with your fleet immediately, otherwise..."

"Or what?" Duke Duke asked with a sly smile, as if in provocation. Amber's lips curled into a faint smile, devoid of any warmth, only a cold, abyss-like indifference.

"Otherwise, this starry sky would probably have two more piles of space junk."

As soon as he finished speaking, Soren and Duke Duke's expressions changed drastically.

They read an undisguised, naked murderous intent in Amber's calm eyes.

That was not a bluffing threat, but a statement, a statement he could put into practice at any time.

"How dare you!" Duke Soren trembled with rage.

"You can try."

After Amber finished speaking, she stopped looking at them and turned directly to Natalia, saying:

"Let's cut off the communication; there's no point in talking to these insects."

Natalia shut down the communication channel without hesitation, and the angry, distorted faces of the two dukes vanished instantly.

The core command room was deathly silent.

“Mr. Amber, is this how you negotiate?” Natalia looked at Amber, her eyes showing both relief and a hint of worry.

"They don't dare to make a move, at least not now."

Amber turned and looked out the porthole at the two menacing fleets, his eyes filled with undisguised killing intent.

“What they want is ‘legitimate’ power, not a civil war that would brand them as treason, so they will go through parliamentary procedures and use a softer approach to take their share.”

"Then what do we do next?"

Amber: "For Her Majesty's safety, I suggest that her life support pod be kept on the Crown Fortress until she awakens. The fortress's medical module is fully equipped to monitor her and ensure her safety."

"understand!"

Natalia immediately nodded in understanding, as she was well aware that the ground in Saint-Sonière was no longer safe.

After Natalia left, Amber pondered for a moment. He needed to know just how murky the waters were in the capital.

There is one person who can obviously help.

“Lilith, connect me to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jacques Cole, via encrypted communication.”

The communication request was quickly connected, and Isabel's uncle, Jacques Cole, the Finance Minister of the Star Dragon Empire, appeared in the holographic projection with a face full of fatigue and worry.

Judging from the background, the Chancellor of the Exchequer is likely still in his office, which is piled high with work.

“Mr. Amber, you’re finally back.” Jacques Cole’s voice was low, tinged with relief.

"Uncle, you've worked hard."

"Pfft cough cough"

Unsurprisingly, the Chancellor of the Exchequer spat out the tea he had just drunk.

Amber smiled and continued, "You should already know about the situation on orbit."

"understood."

Jacques Cole gave a wry smile, propped his arm on the table, and raised his hand to rub his throbbing temples.

"Those two old foxes, Soren and Duke, are moving even faster than we imagined. I even suspect that the person who leaked His Majesty's information wasn't a mole within our fleet at all, but rather an intelligence agent they had planted in the Thousand Star Empire long ago. After all, according to the information sent back by Commander Natalia, this disaster doesn't seem to have affected ordinary humans."

This guess made Amber's eyes turn colder. If that were true, then these two people were really quite scheming.

"What's the situation in the capital right now?" Amber asked, getting straight to the point.

Jacques Cole's expression grew even more grave: "It's terrible. Just an hour ago, the Imperial Chancellor, under the combined pressure of Soren and Duke Duke, as well as more than thirty noble families, relented."

"He agreed?"

He had no choice.

Jacques Cole sighed, then continued:

"Although the prime minister is loyal to His Majesty, he is essentially a politician who maintains the balance, not a warrior. Faced with a coup by almost the entire old aristocratic class, he has no choice but to compromise. Otherwise, the empire will immediately fall into paralysis."

“What did he agree to?” Amber asked, his voice still calm.

"The Imperial Diet will hold an expanded session in three days to hold a public vote on the proposal to 'establish a provisional regency council.' Duke Soren will be nominated as the candidate for regent speaker, and Duke Duke will be the vice speaker. They have already rallied the vast majority of the wavering minor nobles, and their votes are almost overwhelming."

"Good heavens, they're planning to steal the country!"

"No, procedurally they are perfectly legal."

Jacques Cole corrected him, his tone filled with helplessness.

"His Majesty is in a coma, and the Empire needs a temporary power center to deal with the 'crisis'—this is their stated reason, a plausible and irrefutable one."

“Once they control the ‘Regent Council’ through voting, they will have control of the empire’s cause. At that time, they can easily dismiss all officials loyal to His Majesty, take control of the army, and undermine the imperial power.”

"When His Majesty awakens in the future, he will be powerless to reverse the situation, facing an empire completely controlled by them."

Amber fell silent. The hidden dangers left by Agnes' hasty ascension to the throne were now fully exposed.

Relying on her strong personal skills and Amber's support behind the scenes, she forcefully suppressed these scheming nobles, but her foundation was not solid.

These nobles, especially those with the 'Old Saint-Saëns's Star and Dragon Banner' surrounding the Duke of Sauron.
Like a pack of hyenas lurking in the shadows, they dare not make a sound in ordinary times, but once they smell the blood of the wounded lion king, they will pounce without hesitation and tear the former ruler to pieces.

They also found it difficult to realize, like Amber and his group, in a short period of time just how terrifying the threat posed by the 'Precursor Civilization' truly was.

In their eyes, this was nothing more than a convenient political excuse to be exploited.

They might even be happy to see the situation become more chaotic, because only in chaos can they extract the greatest benefits.

“I understand, Uncle,” Amber said slowly. “I need your help with some things over the next three days.”

(End of this chapter)