Chapter 1003

Chapter 1003

Every time she’d thought about it since coming to this place, Juli had the exact same thoughts about the Scarlet Alliance’s information network. And she wasn’t talking spies, but the stuff that was available to everyone.

“I can’t believe how much stuff they just let people see,” Juli commented to her brother for perhaps the thousandth time. “These techniques are just...” she shook her head. “And how will they maintain any sort of power if the planet development methods are security level 0?”

“Ah, but the thing about that is... that’s what got them here,” Misi shrugged. “That’s what earned the loyalty of all of their citizens. Can you imagine anywhere in the Trigold Cluster making use of that stuff? Sharing resources across a whole planet?”

“Well, the sects and stuff, yeah,” Juli said. “Why not?”

“Because it’s literally everyone. Seriously,” Misi said. “It doesn’t work if you don’t let your menial laborers train in energy. And if you try to restrict them from growing too strong, you limit the effectiveness. So, yeah it could work against them if the established sects were willing to implement a new power structure from the ground up. But unless literally all of them do it, it will create internal instability. It’s just... not going to happen.”

“I mean, not everyone is a powerful cultivator,” Juli pointed out. “It doesn’t really matter how many Body Tempering or Spirit Building people are up against an Integration cultivator, I don’t think they could possibly win.”

“I’m pretty sure I saw a janitor in Integration,” Misi said.

“What do you mean by that? That it’s possible they weren’t a janitor?”

“I mean I’m not sure I saw them,” Misi shook his head. “It’s possible I hallucinated it. I was walking along and then bam. Something passed me in the hallway and it was clean. I literally couldn’t react.”

“... But you’re an Integration cultivator,” Juli said. “You have to have been able to see them.”

He shook his head. “Early Integration, yeah. And... they had no intent towards me, you know? Maybe if we were fighting it would be different. I could predict something there. But that level of power, even if focused away from martial abilities, is still significant.”

“Why would anyone even put so much effort into other pursuits?” Juli asked.

“I mean... why did we learn to fight?” Misi countered.

“Because we had to.”

“And that hasn’t changed,” his sister replied. “Though... I guess if we just wanted to continue existing...?”

“I’m learning so much about formations,” Misi said. “I... don’t know how I compare to the great formation masters here, but I’m able to experiment without spending huge piles of treasure. And all I have to do for that learning privilege? Not cause trouble.”

“And fight in an inevitable war,” Juli pointed out.

“Well, yeah. But that’s pretty normal. Besides, we can opt for non-frontlines roles. And... isn’t this something worth fighting for?”

Juli looked at the device she held in her hands. “I have so much knowledge at my fingertips I’m honestly baffled. They don’t even charge for it. Well, they kind of do indirectly.” Apparently those who provided information could get paid whenever it was accessed. The whole system was supported by taxes. Taxes that seemed strangely low sometimes, though perhaps that was the various layers of sects she was used to dealing with.

When she sent a message to the sect, she expected to get an automatic rejection. Or no response at all. Her message hadn’t even been a good one, idly sent. “I think I know one of your elders” wasn’t exactly her best work, but she’d kind of been in a daze as new memories came to the surface.

So when Prospero himself showed up on her planet two weeks later, Jyotsana was surprised.

-----

“So it is you,” Prospero nodded. “Good.”

“Why...?” Jyotsana had many questions. “Why did I end up... with my new parents?” She didn’t know a better way to say that. “I thought I would... have parents chosen for me.” Strangely, part of her felt like she wouldn’t have wanted that, even though she seemed to be part of a perfectly average household and not related to anyone important.

“That’s not possible,” Prospero said. “Or rather... it’s not something we would do. We don’t have the expertise to do anything but confine a reincarnating soul to our greater domain. Even if we could, we wouldn’t have replaced an ensouled child.”

“Ah, that’s...” Jyotsana was still lacking many memories. Her strongest ones were still from her current body, so she still felt like a young woman. “Good. I’m glad you didn’t.” She really was. Some part of her very distantly screamed that she’d lost years due to some sort of inefficiency. But, had she? More importantly, did years matter?

“I’m glad to see your memories aren’t overwhelming you too much,” Prospero said.

“I don’t know, they seem kind of overwhelming to me?”

“You’re not rolling around on the floor in agony, so I’d say it’s good. Regardless... I merely came her to confirm your status.” He held out a storage bag. Her storage bag. “Here are your things. As promised, you will have support in cultivating. Though I think pretty much any sect would happily pick you up.”

“Do I... have to decide now?”

He shook his head. “I’ll give you my personal message code. Stay in touch. Oh, and promote the things about yourself you like most. You won’t ever regret that, as long as you give it a good ponder before picking out what seems best.”

-----

News from the upper realms- ultimately coming from Crossed Antennae and the void ants- indicated steadily growing forces at the borders. While the fact that they were beginning to build up already indicated that the invasion might indeed be as significant as they feared, it was also helpful. They could begin determining where the largest invasions might occur, based on their growing understanding of potential pathways during the shift in the Tides of the World.

So while there was much trepidation, there was also something of a morbid anticipation. They were ready, if it happened now. But they could be more prepared. Their forces, better proportioned between necessary locations. Ready to optimally fend off each and every invasion force depending on which planet they attacked.

Actually, they might be able to manage that without the void ants rising up and attacking enemy forces. But most of them recognized such thoughts as a bit arrogant. It would be foolish to give up any advantages against the might of the Exalted Quadrant and the Trigold Cluster.

Still, that left a balance to strike. What forces could the void ants destroy without getting themselves annihilated? In some ways, it would be preferable if the invasions were called off- but in others, it was better to maximize the losses the upper realms took during the invasion, the resources remaining in the lower realms. If the damage was heavy enough, they could cripple them to make future attempts impossible.

They also had to consider what the impact would be for the Scarlet Alliance. It was unlikely that their connection was completely secret, and even if it was now by some miracle, remaining that way would be difficult. Would causing too much destruction result in greater retaliation, or begrudging acceptance of their presence? That was not an easy question to answers.

Fortunately, they had considered such matters before and still had a couple centuries. Yet the years continued to slip past, day after day.