Chapter 911: Faith

Chapter 911: Faith



"[These three planets are empty]," Lord Exr explained, tapping on the holograms to highlight three dots. "[The Empire sent automated outposts, but its conquest stopped there]."

"[What do the initial scans show]?" Khan questioned.

"[Hililles]," Lord Exr announced, pointing at one of the bright dots, "[Has unlivable weather. Lightning storms, hurricanes, earthquakes, and tsunamis constantly afflict its surface]."

"[Water and energy then]," Khan commented. "[Maybe minerals, too. It's just a matter of planting the factories]."

"[Indeed]," Lord Exr confirmed. "[More extensive scans might be necessary, but we don't expect to get much else from the planet]."

Lord Exr had made it sound like a minor thing, but Khan's more limited perspective generated a higher evaluation of Hililles. His domain was small, so having a whole planet dedicated to harnessing water and energy was no small matter. A fraction of that would already greatly benefit him.

"[Vuter]," Lord Exr continued, pointing at another bright dot, "[Is cold, almost completely frozen. Still, initial scans show rich mines underneath the layer of ice]."

"[Water, excavators, and refineries]," Khan commented, "[Ideally with limited personnel. That's easy]."

"[Correct]," Lord Exr nodded. "[Its potential trade routes are also convenient if we include Baoway]."

"[It's obviously included]," Khan reassured. He wouldn't miss the chance to elevate Baoway's already great business status.

"[Lastly]," Lord Exr continued, pointing at the last bright dot, "[Senerth. This will require manpower]."

"[Troublesome fauna]?" Khan asked.

"[Ah]!" Lord Exr cried. "[You can say that. Its dominant species is violent, bloodthirsty, and big. It's numerous, too]."

The slight grin on Lord Exr's face revealed his desire to fight that battle. The Thilku was a soldier at his core, and those habits were hard to shake off.

The short explanation told Khan everything he needed to know. Senerth probably was the main reason behind the Empire's request. Hililles and Vuter were relatively easy to handle and required limited manpower, but Senerth demanded proper armies, which the Empire couldn't deploy without slowing down its expansion.

Khan tapped on Senerth, and the star map zoomed in, highlighting the planet and showing the initial scans' results. The red light from the Thilku language shone on his face, fighting against his eyes' blue glow, but he faced no problem reading it.

Khan skimmed through those general reports before tapping on the holograms again, summoning a different picture. A dog-like creature with long spikes stretching from its head to its tail shone above the interactive desk, listing its data below. The beast was huge, but the Empire had yet to discover its abilities.

Lord Exr would usually continue his explanation, but Khan's immersion in the reports gave birth to different thoughts. He seemed able to read that alien language like a native, and the red cape on his back intensified that impression. Khan had become more Thilku than some of Lord Exr's fellow specimens in mere years.

"[What do you think, Blue Shaman]?" Lord Exr eventually asked.

"[Do I have a timeline to respect]?" Khan wondered as various ideas filled his mind.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"[Nothing precise]," Lord Exr replied. "[Though, the sooner, the better]."

"[Is bombing the planet out of the question]?" Khan questioned.

"[Senerth's ground seems to have special properties]," Lord Exr explained. "[These creatures

eat it when they can't find anything else. Also, some nests are underground]."

"You stink of booze," Khan commented, his sense of smell stretching past his mere nose. "Didn't you leave early yesterday?"

"Can't a man celebrate in the privacy of his bedroom anymore?" Lieutenant Dyester cursed. "And I happened to hit the brothels with other guests, too. I was socializing."

"Brothels?" Khan repeated. "I didn't think you'd be interested in those."

"I'm also a man," Lieutenant Dyester snorted.

Truth be told, Khan knew the issue had deeper layers. Lieutenant Dyester had given up on life

back in Ylaco's training camp. Yet, joining Khan's organization had forced him to sort himself out, eventually rekindling dormant urges.

"I can find you a woman if you want," Khan commented. "I'm overwhelmed with marriage proposals from great families."

"Mind your own business, brat," Lieutenant Dyester scoffed. "What do you want?"

"Clean yourself up," Khan ordered. "I need you fully awake for this stuff."

Khan left the bedroom and settled in the living room, casually stealing a bottle from

Lieutenant Dyester's stash. Meanwhile, the Lieutenant headed for one of the bathrooms, quickly washing himself up before joining Khan.

"What's the issue?" Lieutenant Dyester asked, occupying an armchair before Khan's. "Is this

about the Empire's mission?"

"Yes, I just came out from the meeting with Lord Exr," Khan revealed. "They want me to

occupy three planets, all promising."

"So?" Lieutenant Dyester wondered. "What does this have to do with me? It sounds like something your Uncle would be more prepared to handle."

"One planet requires an army," Khan explained, "And I plan to use mine. It's only natural to

ask the guy training it."

Lieutenant Dyester fell silent. Khan didn't specify it, but his words were clear. He wanted to deploy the Scalqa, and only Lieutenant Dyester knew how ready they were.

"They have barely flown inside ships," Lieutenant Dyester pointed out. "None ever left

Baoway, and you want to send them to another planet?"

"That's why I'm asking you," Khan declared. "Can they do it?"

"Why can't you use human troops?" Lieutenant Dyester questioned. "You have plenty, and

they won't require much preparation."

"What's the point of training Scalqa if they don't fight when needed?" Khan asked. "It's their time to show what they can do, not only to me. Besides, nothing like a war to bolster their

faith in me."