As expected, the journey to base #1 ended swiftly. Aside from the few captains that had followed after Victoria and Michael’s squad, Roy also appeared.
When Evelyn learned that the higher-ups had sacked a great number of the generals, she made sure to recruit every single one in her ranks. If before the ranking for the bases’ power had been in question, now no one could deny that base #1 was worthy of the spot with several Masters.
’If I had entered base #1 in my prior life, I would have been overjoyed, but now it doesn’t feel that special.’ Michael mused.
As a cruel twist of fate, after the alien invasion and the death of numerous common soldiers, there were a lot of empty barracks to spare for the new arrivals.
"Thank you for your hospitality." They showed their appreciation to Evelyn.
She waved her hand dismissively. "It’s not that big of a deal. I still can’t fathom why the higher-ups would let go of such talented people. In the end it will only bite them back later."
The bases in Triton had two primary functions. The first was to ensure that the moon remained under humanity’s rule. It would be catastrophic if they lost it, since retaking it will be a daunting task.
The second task, and arguably the only reason the bases existed in the first place, was to train the soldiers for the recapture of Neptune.
If the alien invasion that had come to their doorstep were to be compared with the alien forces stationed at Neptune, the difference would be like heaven and earth.
From Evelyn’s point of view, she had hit the jackpot. With so many Masters in her base, they could train her troops, increasing their mastery of cultivation and cybernetics.
"Make yourself at home and rest. There are a lot of new arrivals; it will take time to sort out the duties between us." Evelyn reassured before going to deal with increasing paperwork.
Victoria took it as a sign to get going as well. She often felt restless when she wasn’t working. In simpler terms, she was a workaholic.
"Let’s take Evelyn’s advice, alright?" However, Michael gripped her hand, stopping her in place.
"Last time you listened to me and rested, the results were good, right? Let’s do it again." He added.
A hesitation passed over her face.
"Come on, you aren’t a general right now... At least temporarily, so you are coming with us!" Ava sealed the deal when she took hold of her other hand and began to guide her.
"Cute junior..." A smile formed on Victoria’s face.
Leo, Enzo, and Amelia followed after the trio with nothing better to do. While Bryce and Claire went to explore on their own, they were at the most revered base, after all. They were curious to see how it differed from the others.
The difference was made quite apparent. The first place they stopped at was a café. Even if they were close to enemy borders, it was important to keep the minds of the soldiers relaxed lest they go insane. As such, most bases were equipped with varying entertaining facilities.
"Can I take your order?" The second they sat, a white robot approached them.
Michael couldn’t help but flinch when he heard the robotic AI voice.
’Now that reminded me, I also have to deal with the AI uprising. Since something like this has happened in history before, people aren’t going to be that alarmed. However, that neglect on our part will cost us Venus, and last time we never managed to get it back.’
He sighed. At times it looked like humans and their innovations were a bigger threat to them than the alien invaders.
’Let’s forget about it now. I should still have several years, and even if the AI uprising were to happen faster than expected with Bypasser, I should be able to shut it down before it gets out of hand.’ He reasoned.
After placing the orders, Ava looked at Victoria. Now that the two technically had the same rank, she felt more confident to speak her heart.
"I have to ask, wasn’t your grandfather a big shot? Why didn’t you ask him for help?" Ava couldn’t help but blurt out.
If Immortal Legion were to play dirty to get her base in Ava’s eyes, it was natural for Victoria to use the help of the Golden Vanguard to strike back.
Victoria chuckled, finding her little junior’s words reasonable. She recalled her grandfather’s words.
"As a member of the Golden Vanguard and a carrier of my blood, you are destined for greatness. However, I have no intentions of spoon-feeding you anything. Just because you were born in our family does not make you worthy. If you want to experience the benefits of your bloodline, you should strive to prove yourself."
"Ridiculous!" Ava hit the table in frustration. "Even if he wants to be harsh on you, there has to be a limit! Oliver was clearly trying to take your chastity. Shouldn’t your family aid you at least then?"
"Our family is different from most." Victoria sighed. "I can foresee the words of my grandfather. He would say something along the lines of: Your beauty is both a blessing and a curse; you must learn to wield it, or it will be your demise."
"..."
The table quickly went silent. No one envisioned that being born in the Golden Vanguard could hold so many disadvantages.
"Aren’t you going to comment on it?" Ava turned to Michael, hoping that he had something to say.
The entire time his eyes were dead cold. Whether it was out of concern for Victoria or because he was recalling an unpleasant memory was unknown.
"I will never understand it." He said emotionlessly. "It’s fine to push your heirs to achieve great things. But at the end of the day, you should be prepared to step in if things go wrong... The consequences for neglect can be dire."
"..."
Silence stretched until their order arrived. The entire time a faint smile was on Victoria’s face; this was the first time she had shared so much about her life and the expectations that had been put on her.
’My heart feels lighter...’ She realized, her breathing becoming easier.
The rest of the day passed like a flash, everyone taking a well-deserved breather.
The next day they were called by Evelyn.
"Even with all its costs, the alien invasion gave us something invaluable. There are several alien ships that crashed on the surface of the moon. It’s the perfect time to investigate their technology."
Michael’s eyes began to glimmer. It seems that he was going to use the Bypasser technique for the first time. Not to mention on alien tech, no less!