Bengtie: My death fueled their madness.

Seeing that Qi Zhimu had stopped everyone from having any means of attack without even moving his hand, Helena couldn't help but smile bitterly.

The unintentional revelation of her skill left her with no doubt about the truth of the words.

"Sir Magician, I do not have the highest decision-making authority. This matter requires the joint approval of representatives from multiple parties."

"You don't need to worry about that, no one will object." Qi Zhimu suddenly revealed a strange smile.

Apart from Black Tower, everyone else broke out in a cold sweat.

Nobody's a fool; how could they not understand the implied meaning?

"I personally have no objection to this. As a fellow Chongqing resident, I support Black Tower's decision."

Helena expressed her stance readily.

Qi Zhimu stared at her for a moment, and after finding the answer, he melted the ice off the rest of the people.

"Put away your weapons, or you'll face the consequences," Helena ordered, turning her head to the unsuspecting guards behind her.

Even without her saying it, no one dares to cause trouble now.

After warning her subordinates, Helena quickly made arrangements to relay the Black Tower's intentions back to the coalition government through unilateral notification, rather than through discussion.

The Azure Star has coexisted with ethereal life forms for so many years that it has long had a way to quantify and standardize their strength.

From the moment Qi Zhimu entered the council chamber, another connected detection device short-circuited instantly.

According to the historical records of Azure Star, it would not be difficult for a ethereal life form of this caliber to destroy half the planet.

Anyone who is not afraid of death and dares to face the sharp edge may die themselves, but if they implicate others, they will be remembered with infamy for eternity.

"Black Tower, can you tell me roughly what I've experienced in these past three years?" Helena asked cautiously.

Qi Zhimu didn't react to this.

Black Tower nodded and summarized the process in a few words.

After three years of searching for the correct spatial coordinates, the spaceship encounters a crisis on its return journey, crashing deep into a maze-like area, where it meets Qi Zhimu and makes a promise.

Under his escort, they overcame numerous obstacles and finally returned to their hometown.

Although the narrative is understated, Helena is well aware of the danger involved.

How terrifying the depths of the labyrinthine region beyond the Azure Star are remains a mystery.

Black Tower didn't go into details, and she didn't dare ask too many questions, but there was one thing she had to say no matter what.

"Did you encounter any rebels on your way back?"

Upon hearing this, Black Tower frowned.

She knew exactly what the rebels were.

Not everyone supports the Azure Star Leap Plan; the voices of opposition have never ceased.

They believe the red giant explosion is fabricated and that Azure Star is not actually in crisis.

To thwart the plan, the opponents gradually formed a rebel army and opposed the coalition government.

Years ago, the first failed jump to Azure Star had serious consequences, linking it to the Memory Void, and the rebels' reputation reached an unprecedented peak.

When she left to carry out her mission, the rebels were a force that could rival the coalition government.

If the coalition government had not maintained a firm stance on implementing the plan and continued to protect people whose lives were threatened by the virus, public opinion would likely have already turned against them.

"I haven't run into any rebels," Black Tower replied truthfully.

After the words are spoken, there's always a strange, indescribable feeling.

It's like... even she herself doesn't quite believe that this is true, but she really doesn't have any recollection of it.

Seeing Helena's surprised expression, Black Tower couldn't help but ask a question.

Why ask that?

"...Many of the ships that were tasked with the mission 356 years ago were lost to the rebels," Helena replied.

"The rebels' technological level is far inferior to that of the united government. Where does their claim to be able to threaten the highest level of aerospace technology on Azure Star come from?"

unless……

Thinking of a certain possibility, Black Tower's expression turned somewhat gloomy.

"Is it because of those with special abilities, the so-called 'Destined Ones' mentioned by extraterrestrial civilizations?"

Helena nodded: "Yes, that person is now the leader of the rebels and can brainwash people and even change their cognition through unknown means."

"When the plan was deployed, the other side had already taken control of a small number of key personnel and infiltrated them silently."

"Based on the results of interrogations conducted more than 300 years ago, at least 20 of those who carried out the mission belonged to the rebels."

"Of those who left Azure Star in their spaceships back then, you are the only one who has returned. I'm sure you know the answer to that."

"You must have passed through the equatorial defense fortress on your way back. Two years ago, it was the rebels who launched a large-scale attack, colluding with the attacking phantom life form, that led to the breach of the defense line."

Black Tower suddenly understood and nodded silently.

Before she could say anything, a piercing alarm sounded without warning.

Communication access.

"Ambassador Helena, the rebel fleet is approaching, and it is larger than ours. It is expected to reach the rendezvous point in 5 minutes."

"You're really well-informed." Helena's face darkened.

The rebels must have intercepted news of the Black Tower's return from the United Government and are now sending a fleet to intercept it.

For centuries, the rebels have relentlessly tried to prevent the coalition government from restarting the leap.

They claimed they didn't want to see a disaster even more terrible than the connection between memory voids.

"Activate the highest level of defensive formation and await reinforcements."

"yes!"

After the call ended, Helena looked at Heita and Qi Zhimu, her lips moved slightly, and finally left hastily after saying "Excuse me."

Qi Zhimu turned his neck, and Hei Ta shook his head slightly at him.

"Your reaction is unexpected."

"Only when my life is threatened can you take action to establish my authority and make it easier for me to take over the highest executive authority of the plan, thus reducing unnecessary conflicts."

"Not bad, not bad. It seems you've taken to heart what I said in Fog City." Qi Zhimu patted her head with satisfaction.

Everyone thought she would beg him to help.

However, on the other hand, this sudden crisis is enough to show how troublesome the rebels are.

Of course, the term "difficult" only applies to the coalition government.

In Qi Zhimu's eyes, he was hardly a threat.

Less than five minutes later, the vanguard fleet began a direct engagement with the rebel fleet.

Qi Zhimu listened for a while, then lazily got up.

His movement caused the guards who remained to "protect" them to tense up, wondering what he intended to do.

"Black Tower brat, I can establish your prestige even before your life is threatened."

"Once a person has accurate knowledge of the unknown, he will desperately try to convince himself of it, and besides—"

At this point, Qi Zhimu's expression instantly turned cold.

"You know, I'm... possessive of my food..."

"Dare to steal my food, or you'll die."

Hei Ta stared blankly at Qi Zhimu, his eyes unblinking.

Feeling a little uncomfortable under her gaze, Qi Zhimu turned his face away and let out a familiar cold snort.

"If everything goes smoothly, I can finally have some meat. Those rebels dared to interfere; they deserve to die a thousand times over."

"Um."

"Hmm what?"

"...It's nothing, just go ahead and do it, Mr. Creditor."