Chapter 448 - 314: Hundred Battle Royal Court
The Hundred Battle Royal Court was an ancient Royal Court with a history spanning more than four hundred years. Its territory’s development followed a science-fiction path. After four centuries of progress, its population now exceeded six hundred million, and it had long since developed aerospace, spaceship, and Mecha technologies.
However, despite mastering advanced science and technology and possessing powerful conventional weaponry, the Hundred Battle Royal Court was still a weak Royal Court, unable to even get on the territory leaderboards of the Fourth Dimension.
In truth, the Hundred Battle Royal Court had been plagued by disasters. The territory had suffered all sorts of invasions, and its development had been fraught with hardship.
For instance, it was once invaded by a Cultivation Player over level 300. That Player was a Star Pirate who, after the invasion, pillaged, raped, and committed every imaginable evil. He even sacrificed the territory’s residents to refine a Magical Treasure, single-handedly destroyed several cities, and finally left as he pleased once he grew bored.
Another time, a Starry Giant Beast invaded. The creature chose to make its nest and lay eggs in a city, killing countless residents. Even after its death, it released a deadly toxin that poisoned a million people!
There were also invasions by Superpower Users, Pirate Gangs, and so on.
At one point, two Starry Giant Beasts even fought a battle here, destroying several cities. Millions died as a result, and their technological civilization was nearly brought to the brink of collapse.
In its four hundred-plus years of development, the Hundred Battle Royal Court had faced more than ten crises that brought it to the brink of annihilation, but it had stubbornly pulled through every time.
The reason for all this was simple: Mortals were too weak and their lives too short. Technological development cannot be achieved overnight; it requires continuous research passed down from one generation to the next, a process that is all too easily disrupted.
In recent decades, however, the Hundred Battle Royal Court’s situation had improved. Its technology advanced, research breakthroughs emerged one after another, and the conveniences that technology brought to daily life became more and more apparent.
Of course, technology also brought with it formidable military power.
With its own Mecha, the Hundred Battle Royal Court no longer feared powerful Starry Sky Gods and Starry Giant Beasts. The advent of Cosmic Spaceships allowed them to explore the Starry Sky, shifting from a passive defense to a proactive offense. They could now venture beyond their territory to plunder resources.
Furthermore, the Hundred Battle Royal Court had recently made a major breakthrough in its research on cloning and resurrection. Resurrection through cloning was no longer a dream!
At that moment, a report about the discovery of an asteroid carrying a Mysterious Shop was delivered to the Lord of the Royal Court, You Dazhi.
He was gaunt and bald, with thick glasses perched on his face. He had high cheekbones, sunken eyes, and a piercing gaze. Draped in a robe and leaning on a cane, he exuded a sinister and ferocious aura.
"The time has come. My Hundred Battle Royal Court is no longer the long-suffering territory that was once at the mercy of others. Now, we too can be the ones who plunder!"
You Dazhi spoke in a low voice. Before him was a large screen displaying a map of the Starry Sky, and behind him stood numerous high-ranking officials of the Royal Court dressed in military uniforms.
"Our technological development is flourishing, its momentum unstoppable. Give us another ten years of peace, and I am confident that the Hundred Battle Royal Court will enter the territory leaderboards! Our foreign policy boils down to two simple points: trade and plunder!"
You Dazhi spoke as if he were giving a lecture. Everyone listened in silence, not daring to interrupt.
"When facing powerful factions, we will pursue trade, exchanging our technological products for their resources. When facing weak factions, we will enslave and plunder!"
You Dazhi turned to face them.
Among the crowd were his family members and his students, but none were his contemporaries.
You Dazhi was the Lord of the Hundred Battle Royal Court. At over four hundred years old and LV 260, he was also the most ancient among them.
You Dazhi originally had a few Player subordinates, but none of them lasted. They either died during foreign invasions or left to seek a more promising Lord.
The residents of the territory had short lifespans. Only You Dazhi had endured, outliving one generation after another.
His authority was absolute. As his gaze swept over them, no one dared to meet his eyes.
"I have just received a report. The Sixth Fleet’s radar station has detected an asteroid carrying a Mysterious Shop. All data indicates that this is most likely a boon granted to a newly established Royal Court. My orders are as follows: seize that asteroid, find the new Royal Court, and conquer it!"
You Dazhi continued, "This is a world where the strong prey on the weak. Weakness itself is the original sin. You must act without mercy. Now, I am tired. Who will take responsibility for this matter? Step forward. The rest of you, dismissed."
One man raised his hand. His name was Yodari, and he was You Dazhi’s fourteenth-generation descendant. He was also a Standing Councilor of the Hundred Battle Royal Court’s Department of Defense. Though only twenty-four, his capabilities were outstanding. Unfortunately, he had no military accomplishments to his name and had never commanded a corps in battle.
"Ancestor, I wish to lead the expedition!"
Yodari said in a low voice. ’This is an excellent opportunity to prove myself,’ he thought. ’If I succeed, my position might be elevated.’
However, Yodari was no fool. He added, "Ancestor, the new Royal Court’s strength is unknown. I request that the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Fleets be dispatched together for this operation, just to be safe!"
"The Fourth Fleet is unavailable, but you may have the Fifth," You Dazhi said. "In my experience, new Royal Courts are usually quite weak. Two fleets should be more than enough to handle it. There is no time to waste. Move as quickly as possible, lest someone else beat you to it. I will follow shortly."
Yodari said, "Rest assured, Ancestor. I will handle this perfectly. Before long, I shall be at that Mysterious Shop, waiting to welcome you for your shopping!"
"Mm," You Dazhi nodded. "I await your good news."
Yodari acted swiftly. He issued a series of commands, and a moment later, thousands of Cosmic Spaceships launched from within the Hundred Battle Royal Court, soaring one after another into the Starry Sky.