According to the information Yang Ming received, the Military Intelligence Bureau was going crazy with its arrests.
After all the recent turmoil, the Empire’s rule seemed to be more consolidated.
The robot maid’s communicator popped up with a call invitation.
It was Lieutenant Colonel Atro from the Military Intelligence Bureau. Ever since Yang Ming returned to Yaha Star, this lieutenant colonel had been calling every few days. While greeting Yang Ming, he’d also bring some interesting, non-public news.
Yang Ming gestured for the maid to accept the call, and Atro’s upper body appeared before Yang Ming, still in his military uniform.
"Colonel Hanton! Congratulations,"
"I just got the news that the Military Department has signed the official document. They resisted the pressure from the Elder Court and promoted your rank to colonel!
"The youngest colonel in the Empire!
"And this sets a precedent; in the future, all you need to do is continue to make contributions to the Empire, repel the Insect Race, strike against the New Federation, and your rank can be further promoted. You will have the opportunity to become a general of the Empire! Oh! This is simply the best reward for a hero."
Yang Ming nodded with a smile, almost laughing out loud.
Just an hour ago, Director Riva had also called him, saying almost the same thing.
’The Elder Court has signed the executive order; we resisted the pressure from the Military Department and have raised your noble rank to Viscount of the Empire.’
"Thank you," Yang Ming said warmly, "I hope for your continued support in the future."
"You speak as if you’re an outsider," Atro laughed, "You’re on Yaha Star, right? I’ll be going there for official duties soon, and I’ve got several banquet invitations. If you don’t mind, you can choose one to attend; I have prepared some specialties from our homeland for you."
Yang Ming cleared his throat, "No need for specialties, I’m very dedicated when in love."
Atro laughed and asked, "So you’re agreeing to come?"
"I’ll try to make time; if I’m free, I’ll definitely come," Yang Ming laughed, "I need to start mingling with the Empire’s noble circles as well, and to establish a place there, one has to be sociable."
"That’s great! I’ll send you the list of banquets right away, today is a lucky day for the nobles and officials of Yaha Star."
Yang Ming smiled and shook his head.
At the staircase, Catherine, dressed in a silk nightgown, peeked out, newly groomed and having applied the delicate makeup Yang Ming loved most.
At times , Yang Ming knew he had to demonstrate some manly prowess.
He exchanged a few curt words with Atro and took a brisk stride to Catherine, scooping her up in his arms amid her light exclamation, and jovially carried her to the indoor pool.
They were on vacation, specifically taken to enjoy their time alone at the villa.
Outside Yaha Star, a satellite adjusted its instruments to focus and transmitted the blurry image of the villa to the most core locations of the Empire’s territories.
Deep within Emperor Star, in the core area of the Imperial Defense System module, the black box had closed again, and the girl curled up quietly inside the box.
This body, between virtual and real, seemed not to have completely fallen asleep, her eyelashes fluttering slightly.
She murmured, seemingly baffled by the concept, which after a long while turned into a sigh, disappearing into the near-infinite darkness surrounding the black box.
At the edge of the Milky Way.
The massive figure of the queen slowly dissolved, and under the control of dozens of Fake Mother Insects, swarms of insects flew toward several Constant Star Systems in this region of space.
The queen’s true form emerged as she turned her head to gaze in the direction of the Milky Way, her eyes contemplative.
If translated into a language comprehendible by humans, the information currently being processed in her neural system might cause the most powerful human supercomputers to crash.
A faint grey silhouette appeared around the queen, and her massive body gradually vanished from sight.
Threat: not eradicated.