Chapter 1233 - Dust Settled (2/2)
“I’m the vice president. I only did what I should have done. Don’t have to be so formal, guys.
“That won’t do. I have to properly thank you!” Lucie suddenly bowed toward Han Xiao. He said with an appreciative tone, “If not for you, God only knows when I’d be free. You’re being too humble.”
He had been caught tracking Gaud by the dynasty, and the dynasty had captured him. Lucie had spent many days in fear and only been released not long ago.
With such an experience, Lucie knew more clearly than anyone that without Black Star’s help and the association’s protection, he would most likely have died in the dynasty’s hands. There was no way he could regain freedom. Therefore, although he was a secret member of a Super Star Cluster civilization, the appreciation he was displaying now was not fake.
Lucie’s words were recognized by the others. Everyone had a balance in their heart. By placing the president and the vice president on the two sides of the balance, they could easily see that Black Star had brought more benefits to the association than the Mechanic Emperor.
Putting those purposes and claims on paper aside, they had joined the association for safety and benefits. They were willing to have anyone who could bring more benefits as their representative.
Not only was the president, Manison, of no use at all, he even caused the association to be suspected. The comparison was way too stark.
“Alright, alright, don’t get so excited guys. It’s good to not be wrongly affected. At least Manison cleared his suspicion. Don’t target him for today. Wait till tomorrow.”
Han Xiao coughed and interrupted.
Although this was an act of building his reputation, this was enough. He was worried that if these members got too excited, he would be wearing a golden robe very soon.
Hearing this, the others had extremely dumbfounded looks on their faces.
Black Star spoke for Manison‽
Our youth has ended!
The others could not believe it. Manison glanced at Han Xiao with a complicated expression but was less hostile than before.
The others had no idea, but how could he not know? After the Super Star Cluster Alliance took the blame, he knew that the mysterious force that secretly helped him was most likely Black Star.
He probably did this for the sake of the big picture.
Manison sighed.
Back when Hila was attacked, he had helped Black Star. Now, Black Star helped him in return.
The two of them had been in conflict for many days, but at this moment, Manison uncontrollably felt an indescribable emotion in his heart.
Han Xiao noticed Manison’s look too. He glanced at him and said, “What you looking at?”
“…Nothing.”
Manison looked away, closed his eyes, and hid his emotions.
Han Xiao ignored him, looked to the other side, and saw Sorokin.
Sorokin did not have his signature fake smile on but instead looked very concerned and was dazing off.
From the way he looks, the dynasty has probably made moves secretly.
Han Xiao snickered in his mind.
Letting the Super Star Cluster Alliance take the blame was only a short-term solution; his mission was not shown as completed. However, he was not very concerned about it.
Things had settled. The storm caused by him secretly beating Gaud up finally came to an end for the time being. Overall, he was quite satisfied with the current situation—he had cleared the hidden threat and did not get impacted. This result was quite good.
After the people spoke among themselves for quite a while, Han Xiao suddenly put on a serious expression and said, “Guys, we can’t be glad yet. The situation is clear now. The three Universal Civilizations will certainly win the war, and the Super Star Cluster Alliance won’t be able to last long. Once they lose, they’ll at least keep a low profile for many decades. When the three Universal Civilizations have more time on their hands, we’ll be their next target!
“Don’t forget, the three Universal Civilizations have been planning to do that since the start. It was only delayed by the Flickering War. We’ve been growing smoothly in the past years because the real obstacle has yet to arrive. Be mentally prepared… The day the three Universal Civilizations pressure us isn’t that far away.”
Hearing this, the others nodded with a serious expression.
…
After the direct members of the three Universal Civilizations joined the war, like the last straw, the battle rapidly became completely one-sided.
Most people predicted that the war would still go on for two to three years. However, due to the impact of what happened to Gaud, this duration was tremendously reduced.
In only eleven months, the three Universal Civilizations cleared out the Super Star Cluster Alliance’s military power in the Flickering World’s fourth exploration phase area, retrieving all territories.
The Flickering War ended with the Super Star Cluster Alliance’s tragic loss. They invested countless resources and ended up crushed. In the end, they could not change their fate and could only lick their wounds in the dark.
The Crimson Dynasty redistributed the fourth exploration phase’s territories. Those who participated in the war could keep their territory. Part of the remaining territory would be developed by the dynasty. The rest would be leased, sold, or rewarded to organizations who made contributions. This time, no Beyond Grade A ally was rewarded any territory.
Han Xiao, however, successfully bought the venue of the players’ national war, Planet Milton. He stationed a regiment of the army on the planet and only slightly modified it, keeping the marks left by the players during the national war.
As the flames of war extinguished, the Flickering World temporarily entered a time of peace. The three Universal Civilizations started to deal with the aftershock of the war, recover the law and order of the various territories, and rest.
However, the impact of what happened to Gaud did not end with the Super Star Cluster Alliance’s loss but continued to ferment where no one could see.
In this atmosphere, more than half a year passed.
On this day, the big event finally arrived for the Crimson Dynasty.
Urranrell retired. The new ruler had taken office!