Xu Lanzhou, as the Commander of the fleet, headed to the C sector of the Snow Dragon Galaxy. The Knight only took with him the brigade he led, while the remaining three brigades were still stationed at Nuoye Star. Xu Lanzhou understood Bai Zhongqi's intentions, following the Snow Dragon Alliance into battle not to fight, but to gather intelligence. When the time came to take action, Bai Zhongqi would deploy those three brigades to join the battle.
Bai Zhongqi could jump to wherever he wished without any hindrance.
The decision by the people of Iridium Star, however, failed to bring much joy to Barbaro. While he had managed to rope in the Iridium Star people to participate in the war, the Iridium Star didn't deploy their entire army. Even Barbaro himself, as a Commander, probably wouldn't bet all his chips at once. But considering personal gains, if he, Barbaro, could have brought five thousand warships as reinforcements all at once, he might very well have become the hero of this war. Not only would his name be passed down through the Steel Ancient Civilization for ages, but he would also be immortalized in the history of the entire Snow Dragon Galaxy.
At the frontline of Juhe Star in the C sector, the Snow Dragon Alliance had already preliminarily assembled about ten thousand warships in readiness to battle the Spiral Mosquito people. These warships came from several dozen different civilizations, with the fleets of two High Level Civilizations being the largest.
Barbaro had already arrived at Juhe Star ahead of time, bringing with him the letter of the Iridium Star Chancellor, stating that the Iridium Star United Empire intended to fight alongside the Snow Dragon Alliance against the Spiral Mosquito Civilization, which threatened universal peace, hence they would dispatch a fleet to assist.
The Steel Ancient people were all excited. Their diplomats had helped the Alliance by pulling in a powerful ally, which was clearly a good thing. However, the representatives of other civilizations at Juhe Star had different thoughts.
The most pointed criticism came from the representatives of civilizations who directly questioned the veracity of the events. An Kui, the representative of the Lusong Civilization, which had once waged war with the Steel Ancient Civilization, was particularly distrustful. He said, "This Iridium Star United Empire is simply something you've made up, isn't it? Our Snow Dragon Galaxy doesn't have this civilization at all."
Barbaro, who had originally been hot-headed, thinking he had accomplished a great feat, did not expect to face censure upon his return.
His anger at its peak, he looked at his old nemesis, trying hard not to appear decorum-less, and said, "I've explained from the beginning that the Iridium Star United Empire is not a civilization from the Snow Dragon Galaxy, but their influence has always been there. The Silver Feather Army, which serves Iridium Star, has lived in our galaxy for a thousand years, cooperating with the Zhalan Civilization all along."
Another skeptical representative queried, "I know of the Silver Feather Army, but I thought they were a vassal of the Zhalan people, right? How come they've now become a vassal to what you call the Iridium Star United Empire?"
Barbaro, pushing through his embarrassment, said, "I'm not quite privy to the secrets involved, but that the Silver Feather Army now belongs to the Iridium Star United Empire is correct. The Iridium Star United Empire possesses a stronghold named Nuoye Star, located within the original sphere of influence of the Zhalan Civilization."
His claim was once again interrupted, this time by a general of the Light Valley Civilization, Di Maquan. Di Maquan said, "I am very familiar with how many celestial bodies are in the Zhalan's domain and their names. I've never heard of a planet called Nuoye Star."
This caught Barbaro off guard, and he stammered in response, "Perhaps, they occupied a Zhalan civilization's planet and renamed it?"
An Kui laughed loudly, mocking, "Mr. Barbaro, are you joking? The Spiral Mosquito people have bombed every planet of the Zhalan Civilization. Where else could there be planets suitable for habitation, which also happen to match your claims?"
Di Maquan didn't have much resentment towards the Steel Ancient Civilization; he merely raised issues from a military standpoint. He continued, "Juhe Star is at least six thousand light-years away from the Zhalan Civilization's sphere of influence. How could you travel between the two locations in such a short time? Does this Iridium Star also possess spacetime tunnel navigation technology?"
"It's not that. The ship that brought me back is a reconnaissance ship of Iridium Star. Its speed is quite fast; it took only about ten days to bring me here," Barbaro explained.
"Ten days? That's something even our Light Valley Civilization can't achieve," sighed Di Maquan, losing confidence in what Barbaro was saying.
Barbaro looked at Di Maquan, very anxious. He couldn't say that what the Light Valley Civilization couldn't achieve, others could. After all, the Light Valley Civilization had significant influence in the C sector, and the Steel Ancient Civilization couldn't afford to offend them. To insist that the Iridium Star United Empire was stronger than the Light Valley Civilization would be akin to slapping their face.
Yet, if he didn't say that, then Barbaro currently had no other way to prove his claims, aside from the letter Bai Zhongqi had given him. He wasn't allowed to record any video materials at that time, and Bai Zhongqi hadn't given him any materials to persuade others, leaving Barbaro now empty-handed, like a fraud.
Knowing he could no longer prove his point either way, Barbaro clenched his teeth and said, "If you do not trust my words, then wait a few days. The fleet that His Excellency the Chancellor has sent will arrive at Juhe Star and join our battle ranks. That will naturally prove the truth of my words."
An Kui seized on this issue to erupt, pointing at Barbaro and accusing, "You still want to buy time? Are you planning to flee? Mr. Barbaro, you have now committed a great sin of deceiving the Alliance, and both you and the Steel Ancient Civilization will have to pay the price for this!"
With his prodding, other civilizations not particularly friendly to the Steel Ancient Civilization also joined the commotion.
"With a formidable enemy at our doors, to deceive the Alliance is unforgivable."
"Who knows how much truth there is to this man's words," they chattered.
Barbaro, now truly without a defense, could only keep repeating, "The Iridium Star United Empire does exist! They are incredibly powerful with five thousand warships. If we have their help, we can certainly defeat the Spiral Mosquito people."
Di Maquan, shaking his head, said to Barbaro, "At least until the arrival of the so-called Iridium Star United Empire's support fleet, we cannot believe such preposterous claims. I understand your desire to help the Alliance, Mr. Barbaro, but twisting facts will not lead us to victory."
Barbaro was so anxious he felt like bursting. He knew he would probably not be able to convince these people no matter what he said.
Thus, this man, originally believing himself to be the great hero bringing reinforcements, became a laughingstock within a few days of arriving at Juhe Star. Even his own people of the Steel Ancient Civilization felt that Barbaro had disgraced them.