Colonial Suit

Humanity's temporary anchorage…

Outside the immense POS cluster, Eden…

The Speaker's garden remained as peaceful as ever, with only the sound of trickling water and wind rustling through the leaves. The Speaker sat in an old rocking chair, wearing reading glasses and engrossed in a book. He was so focused that he seemed not to notice the approaching footsteps from afar.

Sal Jones approached from behind, stopping behind the Speaker.

“We received news: the entrance to the lower level has been discovered, as well as the Susha Clan's anchorage.”

“Oh? They haven't entered the next level yet?” The Speaker raised his eyebrows in surprise, closing the book.

“No, here are the specifics.” Sal Jones lowered a card with a serious expression. The Speaker picked it up and examined it. It was an old-fashioned photograph obtained through a holographic scanner, but the image was very blurry, indicating that the energy was already low at the time. The photograph showed a massive ring-shaped structure surrounded by dense white noise.

“The pixel quality is very low. It seems our young man obtained this image under extremely difficult circumstances. Who did this?”

“Reconnaissance fleet, Seventh Battalion, Second Squad, a captain named Jack,” Sal Jones replied, adding, “He's the team's ace.”

“I like aces, whether they're space warriors or ordinary people. Tell their captain that I want to commend him! Let him enjoy the treatment of a hero.” "The never-ending radio waves."

Sal Jones' voice became somber, reflecting his mood.

Before him, the Speaker gradually fell silent, holding the pixelated photograph in his hand. The wind swept past from behind, ruffling his white hair, making him appear even older.

After an unknown amount of time, the Speaker shook his head and sighed. “When sacrifice becomes a habit, we may all forget the value of sacrifice.”

“I never take back what I say. A hero deserves a hero's treatment. Since he has departed, his descendants shall inherit it. This is humanity's justice.”

Sal Jones placed a hand over his chest and bowed. “As you wish.”

The Speaker nodded, turning his gaze back to the photograph… “Sal Jones, you know this may be our last war. Therefore, I don't want to see any behavior that defies my orders. So-called individuals, families, nations, or even interstellar groups cannot override the big picture.” “Yes!” Sal Jones bowed again.

Duke Monka was in charge of statistics. The Speaker's words were equal to establishing laws. Humans are a race with strong desires. Although there is a constant stream of heroes, it does not exclude those blinded by profit. In fact, humans have never been an easy race to unite. To unleash humanity's strongest power, in addition to wisdom, an iron fist is also needed.

The Speaker's hands were also stained with blood.

The wind gradually increased… The Speaker lowered his head, carefully examining the photograph, seemingly forgetting Sal Jones' presence. Sal Jones also remained silent, like the Speaker's shadow.

The Speaker was very focused, as if trying to discover something in the photograph, regardless of the low pixel quality.

Finally, the Speaker let out a soft exclamation, his finger gently stroking the white dots on the photograph.

“This isn't… noise…”

“Hmm?” Sal Jones raised an eyebrow. It should be known that this photograph had undergone multiple tests, and everyone believed that those white dots were caused by noise. After all, the reconnaissance aircraft was too far away, and the equipment power was insufficient due to the small size of the aircraft. In addition, there was energy depletion and interstellar wave interference. It was extremely fortunate to be able to transmit the image back. It was normal for noise to occur.

The information that Captain Jack sent back with his life was of course valued. It was impossible for those professional analysts to be mistaken.

However, it was clear that Sal Jones knew which side he should believe more compared to those analysts.

“If it's not noise, then what is it?”

His voice was very soft, not wanting to disturb the Speaker's train of thought. Sal Jones knew how powerful the Speaker was when he fully activated his analytical abilities. Even the slightest trace could be used to grasp the entire truth.

Sure enough, in just a few seconds, the Speaker raised his head and held up the photograph.

“They are ships.”

“Many, many, endless ships.”

“What!?” Sal Jones' expression changed drastically. There were more than a hundred million white dots on that photograph? If these were all ships, then even if all the Susha Clan's ships were added together, it wouldn't be enough… Could it be that there were other civilizations in this layer of Naraka?

“Don't overthink it. There are no native civilizations here. These ships are our old friends.” The Speaker's eyes narrowed, and a frightening cold light flashed in the gaps. His finger moved across the white dots on the photograph, from one to another. Finally, he put the photograph down to the side.

“They are the Boca and Susha clans' ships!”

“Hiss…” Sal Jones suddenly gasped, an unbelievable thought flashing through his mind. “Both clans' ships are there, surrounding the entrance regardless of each other. Could it be, could it be…”

“They have joined forces.” The Speaker finished his sentence for him, his face turning pale.

“To stop us, no, to eliminate us. They, these two ancient cosmic nobles, have abandoned their previous grudges…”

The Speaker suddenly fell silent, his white hair fluttering in the wind. He lowered his head, silently looking at his hands, looking at the aged lines and brown age spots on them. His back was slightly hunched, as if bearing an invisible weight, or as if carrying an infinite mountain.

Suddenly, he laughed, chuckling, sneering, laughing loudly.

“Ancient cosmic nobles… actually joining forces to deal with ants like us. How truly… haha, hahahaha…”

“Sal Jones, do you think we should feel proud, should we be excited?”

“This is the nobility… this is the so-called justice!”

“What do you think we should do? Should we surrender in tears, begging for a bit of charity, or should we rush up and show our fearlessness before death?”

“This is really… interesting…”

Sal Jones stood quietly beside him, a trace of sorrow on his face. He murmured to himself. “Speaker…”

Although he was very unwilling and did not lack the courage to die in battle, Sal Jones knew that humanity had already failed. From the moment the Boca and Susha clans stood together, humanity had failed. No matter how hard humanity tried, no matter how brave they were, it was impossible to fight two top civilizations at the same time. The Boca and Susha were originally the highest-level races in the current universe, and either of their powers could change the world. Now, they have joined forces, simply treating humanity as prey of the same level.

It is pride, and even more so, it is despair…

“No! The war is not over yet!! Do not talk about despair!!”

Just as Sal Jones was about to speak to comfort him, the Speaker suddenly stopped laughing, a cold look appearing on his face.

“Go and fetch Bloodshot.”