The Land of Light and other survivors from various Ultra Stars are currently taking refuge in the Land of Spark in the Z95 Nebula. This is the second most powerful Ultra force after the Land of Light. They possess extensive research on Ultra power.
It is also one of the very few places in the universe that Ultraman Zero and many New Generation Ultramen believe can resist Belial and other dark forces. The Land of Spark in the Z95 Nebula is a mysterious place for the many worlds protected by Ultramen.
Many people are not even aware of its existence.
People always associate Ultraman with the Land of Light.
Little do they know that the Land of Light is merely the most powerful branch of the Ultraman forces, not the entirety. There is no clear governing body among Ultramen; instead, it's a loose alliance.
Of course, those who can wield Ultra power do not care much for empty titles.
Even now, with the popularization of Ultra power, the requirements for one's disposition are no longer as stringent as on primitive planets like Earth, where strong willpower and a kind heart were essential.
Yet, Ultra power still subtly makes the human hosts kind and indifferent to fame and fortune. This is why, when out in the universe, many Ultramen tacitly allow ignorant beings to consider them part of the Land of Light. They don't care about these empty titles; they merely fulfill their duty to protect.
After escaping to the Land of Spark, Zero remained pessimistic. The power of darkness was too formidable. The Land of Light had already fallen; now, it was up to the Land of Spark to withstand the tide of darkness.
If they couldn't, then there would truly be no hope left.
Several leaders of the Land of Spark were already discussing how to resist the dark tide.
Zero sincerely hoped that the Land of Spark had some means to resist that terrifying dark tide. The planetary defense system of the Land of Spark's home planet was very well-developed. They not only utilized the power of Ultraman but also various technological advancements.
Battleships, fighter jets, and various types of destructive weapons were also employed in their battles against monsters. They even developed mechs as a supplement to Ultraman's combat capabilities. The planet was encircled by three orbital rings.
Each orbital ring was incredibly massive, with a diameter of tens of thousands of kilometers, encompassing the planet.
Standing on the ground, one could see the luminous orbital rings rotating in the sky.
Within the Land of Spark, towering buildings were ubiquitous, stretching like continuous mountain ranges across the land.
Unlike the Land of Light, which used crystals for its architecture,
the buildings in the Land of Spark were mostly constructed from metal and special rocks, making them extremely sturdy.
Various transport ships shuttled between these buildings.
At the orbital spaceport, there were also colossal battleships. These were integrated with the latest technology of the Land of Spark, possessing terrifying power capable of easily destroying a world or formidable monsters. The combined military might of Ultramen and battleships was exceptionally strong, second only to the Land of Light among all Ultra Stars.
"Zero."
A muffled voice rang in Zero's ear, who was in his human form. The Land of Spark was different from the Land of Light. They did not have a Plasma Spark Tower providing continuous power, making it impossible to sustain their energy consumption on the planet.
When active on the planet's surface, they would maintain their human forms. They would not transform into Ultramen.
Zero turned his head and saw that it was Ultraman Zearth.
Zearth had carried out missions in many worlds.
His relationship with Zero was also quite good. They had once performed a mission together.
"Zearth." Zero stood up, put away the Plasma Spark Tower, and stored it in his Ultra Space. This was a special space that all Ultramen possessed, allowing them to store objects there.
It was limited to inanimate objects and could not store living beings.
Unless the living being was put into a deep sleep, a state of suspended animation.
"News has come from the outer detection stations; the enemy is coming." Zearth whispered, "You must continue your journey."
Zero, hearing this, was momentarily stunned.
"Journey?"
"Yes, the enemy's scale is immense. Even the High Priest admits that this is the largest dark tide in history. The Ultraman Killer is leading them, and they are coming fiercely. The Land of Spark cannot stop them. You must take the Plasma Spark Tower and leave. If this falls into enemy hands, the consequences are unimaginable. It could very likely be twisted into a Dark Spark Tower, becoming the foundation for the dark forces to rule the universe."
"Then what about you?" Zero asked.
"This is another favor I ask of you, Zero. The High Priest intends to send some children away from the Land of Spark. The warp-capable transport ships are ready, and they need your protection, Zero. We, on the other hand, will stay and fight until the very last moment."
Hearing this, Zero's face showed a hint of bitterness. The Z95 Nebula was already the strongest Ultra force besides the Land of Light.
If even they couldn't stop the dark tide, was this universe truly destined to be ruled by darkness?
Where else could they escape to?
"Is there anywhere else to go?" Zero said with a bitter tone. "Many Ultra Stars have fallen. The Land of Spark is already the strongest. If even you can't stop them, what hope does this universe have? Why not just fight to the death here?"
Flickering appeared in the air, and an elder, protected by two guards in combat suits, materialized from above.
He wore a white robe, characteristic of ancient Greece, adorned with simple patterns.
His stature was tall and upright, his steps steady, and his brows exuded a calm and solemn aura.
His wrinkled skin indicated he had endured the trials of time.
His thick, smooth, and long beard and hair had turned white, yet his eyes remained firm and powerful, full of spirit, profound, and wise.
He held a meticulously carved long staff, and his demeanor was kind and approachable.
"Messenger of the Land of Light." The elder bowed slightly. "I am the High Priest of the Land of Spark."
"High Priest." Zero's tone was very respectful.
Once, Zero was young and impetuous, often acting foolishly on impulse.
But after the destruction of the Land of Light, Zero matured instantly.
He learned to handle various matters in the way his elders did, becoming a being he once didn't want to be.
But this was reality.
Even Ultramen, in the vast universe, were merely insignificant specks of dust.
A kind heart alone could not solve any problems.
"The Ultraman Killer has already brought a group of monsters here. They are expected to enter the Land of Spark's main planet defense perimeter in about a week." The High Priest said, "Many powerful monsters have united, including the Four Evil Generals, the daemon Beasts, and other terrifying evil entities. For the Land of Spark to defeat those guys is an impossible task."
"Then do we truly have no hope at all?" Zero asked urgently, "Will this universe truly be enveloped by darkness?"
The High Priest shook his head. "I don't know, but I know this universe will not be enveloped by darkness. Light will not disappear. I received a small amount of information from a prophecy: the dark tide will eventually be blocked and dispersed, and a savior will rescue this dying universe."
"Savior? Will there really be a savior?" Zero, in his human form, showed a puzzled expression. The High Priest nodded.
"Yes, a savior."
"Then where is he? I'll go find him." Zero asked eagerly.
"I cannot see him." The High Priest sighed. "I can only see a sun piercing through the darkness, re-shining light upon all the planets in this universe. Even those planets overrun by monsters and evil spirits will be liberated, and this universe will experience a complete rebirth. Countless Ultramen will stand in the galaxy, like an army."
"An Ultraman army? That's impossible, how could kind Ultramen form an army?" Zero said incredulously. If it weren't for the other party's esteemed status, he would have wanted to question him.
"This is a prophecy; I am merely stating what I can see." The High Priest said, "I don't know why those Ultramen would form an army, perhaps it has something to do with that savior. Regardless, being able to repel the darkness is always a good thing. Leave here, messenger of the Land of Light, preserve your useful body. When that savior appears, that will be your opportunity to throw yourself into battle. Zearth and other Ultramen will also leave with you."
"No, High Priest. I said I would stay and protect the Land of Spark." Zearth said, "As an Ultraman in human form, how can I abandon my home and leave alone? That would go against my heart of guardianship."
"Staying here serves no purpose." The High Priest said, "The fall of the Land of Spark is an unavoidable outcome. Everyone who remains here is merely fighting to allow you to escape further. Rather than sacrificing yourselves meaninglessly, it is better to live and await the opportunity to counterattack the darkness in the future."
"The heart of guardianship compels you to protect hope, to protect the future, not to throw your life away meaninglessly. You can defeat one monster, but can you defeat ten, a hundred, a thousand? Do you know how many daemon gods and evil generals are in the tide of darkness?"
"Fighting to the last moment with mere courage, do you think that's a heroic act? No, that's an act of cowardice. Those who seek death simply don't want to bear the heavier responsibilities of living. Zearth, you are an Ultraman; you are destined to endure hardships and pain that ordinary people cannot. You must live, carrying the pain of your home's destruction and your loved ones fighting to their deaths for your escape, and in the future, counterattack to make all sacrifices worthwhile."
Zaias' face flushed crimson after the High Priest's words.
If he stayed any longer, even if he died in battle, he would be seen as a coward.
"If we can't find the savior, what can we do? Are we just going to keep running and running?" Zero asked. "What if the so-called savior never appears? Are we just going to wait until we die, too afraid to fight back?"
"The enemy's power is too strong," the High Priest said. "To fight them, you must find the four legendary Ultramen: Ultraman King, Ultraman Regulos, Ultraman Noa, and Ultraman Saga. Legend has it that once the four mysterious Ultramen gather, they can unleash a powerful force capable of reversing a cosmic crisis. You can also seek methods to transform into Ultimate Ultramen to enhance your own strength."
The birth of an Ultraman not only requires a kind and firm heart but also a very strict requirement: the presence of Ultraman Factor. This is equivalent to the ancient warrior genetic factor within Daigo.
Without the genetic factor, no matter how kind one is, they cannot become an Ultraman.
It's like having excellent cultivation talent but no spiritual root, thus only being able to remain a mortal.
Different Ultraman Factors awaken different Ultraman powers. These Ultraman powers are also very mysterious and can merge together to form even stronger Ultraman powers.
During their battle against Belial, the Ultra Brothers of the Land of Light's Space Garrison merged together to form a new Ultraman. This Ultraman unleashed power not inferior to that of Ultraman Father, blocking Belial and his dark army, allowing Zero and the others to escape.
An Ultimate Ultraman is formed by merging the powers of multiple Ultramen, resulting in a super powerful Ultraman.
Of course, such fusion requires ancient relics or special connections between different Ultramen; in short, certain special conditions must be met to complete the fusion.
Zero could only nod upon hearing the High Priest's words.
But he also knew that searching for the mysterious Four Ultras and fusing into an Ultimate Ultraman were extremely difficult tasks with slim chances of success.
It was merely hope given by the High Priest to prevent him from falling into despair. The mysterious Four Ultras appear and disappear like ghosts; every encounter is initiated by them.
Sometimes, when facing unimaginably powerful enemies, they suddenly appear, bestow power, and then silently depart after victory.
Zero had lived for so long, yet the number of times he had seen the mysterious Four Ultras could be counted on one's fingers.
Even the active Ultraman King was elusive, showing his tail but never his head.
After being injured in battle with Belial, he returned to the King Star, causing the entire planet to enter a dimensional space to recuperate. The power of an Ultimate Ultraman is incredibly terrifying; even against the mysterious Four Ultras, they would not be at a disadvantage.
Monster legions could also be easily annihilated with a mere flick of the wrist. They were completely different from ordinary Ultramen.
However, this kind of fusion is extremely difficult and requires many external conditions to be met before it can be achieved.
"Either surrender? Or die."
This was the warning received by every human colony.
A letter sealed with a double-headed eagle wax stamp was delivered to the hands of those in power. There was nothing inside but this single sentence.
Earth demanded that they abandon all resistance and unconditionally become citizens of the Imperium. This was a very arrogant act.
Keigo Masaki had become the Imperium's representative in this universe.
Guilliman's statues stood in every city.
Everyone had to pledge loyalty to this mysterious ruler of the Imperium. Those who dared to slander and mock ultimately ended up being sent to factories, becoming slave laborers who knew nothing but toil.
Freedom of speech no longer existed.
Absolute dictatorship hung like a pall over everyone's hearts.
Other colonies also had human hosts for Ultramen.
Gaia, Agul, Trigger, Zett, and others. They each protected a planet.
However, facing the Ultraman legion under the Imperium's control, which numbered over a hundred, their existence seemed isolated. This plunged many colonies into despair.
Being ruled by the dictatorial empire had become an unavoidable reality.
At the Imperium's Earth branch.
Camilla, in her miko robes, was as alluring as ever.
Hard work paid off; through her strong and decisive methods,
She had gained the attention and trust of Sigma Magos, and the newly born and recruited Ultramen had all become her subordinates.
Over a hundred Ultramen bowed before her, making her feel, for a moment, as if she had returned to thirty million years ago.
With these Ultramen, who in this universe could stand against her?
The only pity was that these guys were too loyal to the Imperium.
She couldn't turn them into her private army.
But at least it was a good start.
She was one step closer to being on equal footing with the Emperor and reigning supreme over all universes.
She walked into the branch office's main entrance with her two most capable subordinates, heading down the corridor towards the conference room.
Staff members came and went along the way. The walls glowed with the light of various screens. The screens displayed different parts of Earth and the solar system, as well as images simulating celestial body movements.
"If you ask me, we shouldn't have given those guys a chance. It would have been better to just send in the army. A hundred Ultramen pressing down would definitely make them wet their pants," Hudra said, standing to Camilla's right, his voice venomous. "Imagine, the Imperium's double-headed eagle flag planted on those ruins, how beautiful a scene that would be."
"Yeah, Big Sister, you should propose that we go all out," Darram also said. "This is just a waste of time. Wasting time is disrespectful to the Holy Emperor's will."
"Don't say that name, you fool," Camilla whispered, lowering her voice. "Do you want to invite punishment?"
Darram's body trembled slightly, and he cautiously glanced around. Seeing that no one was paying attention to him, he breathed a sigh of relief.
"You two, stop talking nonsense. I have my own plans," Camilla said in a low voice. "Times have changed. Fighting and killing are just for brutes. We need to learn to play politics."
When they entered the conference room, Megumi Iruma, Keigo Masaki, and others were already inside. They were seated in different positions.
In addition, there were some envoys from other colonies. They were there to discuss the threatening letter.
Some news media reporters stood to one side, recording the contents of the meeting.
And broadcasting it live to the outside world.
"Are you going to start a human civil war?" an envoy loudly denounced. "Do you still think this is the Middle Ages? So barbaric, so vulgar."
"It is precisely because we don't want to start a civil war that we are sitting here," Megumi Iruma said indifferently. "Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a threatening letter, but an Ultraman army."
"Either obey, or be annihilated by you. What's the difference between such a declaration and war?" another envoy said, dissatisfied. "If you want us to join the Imperium, we have conditions. First, the Imperium is not allowed to interfere in our internal affairs in any form; every colony shall enjoy independent financial, monetary, and military rights. Second, the Imperium needs to unconditionally provide us with any advanced technological assistance we require. Third, the Imperium needs to unconditionally guarantee that every colony will have a representative to participate in the Imperium's highest-level meetings. Fourth, the Imperium needs to unconditionally guarantee the safety of all colonies. Fif—"
"Enough."
Keigo Masaki interrupted the man from continuing, stood up, and looked at the envoy who dared to propose such outrageous conditions, then scanned the nodding individuals.
"Are you dreaming? Do you really think the Imperium would beg you to join? To dare to propose such outrageous conditions."
"We don't need any dictators," a man said, filled with indignation, righteousness, and powerful conviction. "If you are willing to be ruled by that empire, then be ruled by that empire, but we are not. Your only choice is either to accept our conditions or to get lost. If it really comes to war, then we will unite and resist you. Even if it means destruction, we will not hesitate."
Keigo Masaki looked at the man and showed a cruel smile.
He casually pulled out a pulse laser pistol.
"I'll give you a choice too: either I kill you, and then let the Ultramen kill the high-ranking officials of each colony and destroy all the factories, and then you surrender. Or, you surrender peacefully now, and let humanity achieve true unification."
"Yes, kill them, I love bloodshed," Hudra, beside Camilla, lowered his excited voice.
Keigo Masaki's words and actions provoked the anger of many envoys.
"Do you think such threats can make us yield? I tell you, even if we shed our last drop of blood, we will never compromise."
"Yes, don't even dream of ruling us. Dream on."
"Give me liberty, or give me death."
"Fight to the last moment."
"Keigo Masaki, you are just a dog of the Imperium. Bark all you want, no one is afraid of you."
Keigo Masaki was about to say something more. Two uniformed officials hurried in, their faces grim, and whispered something into the ears of Keigo Masaki and Megumi Iruma. This caused a slight change in their expressions.
In the cold, boundless universe, darkness is the eternal theme.
Ignorant beings always use various sacred words to describe light. They believe that in this universe, light will inevitably conquer darkness.
Unfortunately, in a sense, light is the anomaly of the universe.
In the universe, darkness occupies most of the regions.
Only when approaching those galaxies can one see the light emitted by stars.
However, the light from stars cannot travel very far, unable to illuminate the vast and boundless dark void.
At this moment, the illusory light from the other dimension illuminated the dark void.
A rift appeared in the real universe.
Light from the illusory world poured down like a bursting dam, spreading out like an ocean. Thousands of warships rushed out of the rift, flying towards the solar system propelled by their engines.
By the time the last ship left the rift,
the real universe slowly began to mend that terrifying gash. The eerie glow was once again blocked by a barrier, and the void became dark once more.
Only the light emitted from the tail engines of those warships dotted the dark void. These warships bore terrifying flesh and blood organizations and strange, evil insignia.
One could tell at a glance that they were the minions of Belial.
On a strange, circular disc-shaped spacecraft with a single giant black eye,
Groza, the Frozen Alien, one of the Four Heavenly Kings under the Dark Space Emperor, Alien Empera, was on board.
Belial, leading his dark legion, defeated the Land of Light and unleashed an endless wave of darkness.
Planets across the entire universe were like lone boats in a storm, swaying precariously in the waves, on the verge of being completely swallowed.
However, Groza received news that his subordinate had been killed on a small planet called Earth.
Such news enraged Groza, who had been full of ambition. They were subordinates of the Dark Space Emperor; how dare someone attack them? Did they have a death wish?
To completely destroy the enemy, he decided to personally lead a team to obliterate that damned Earth.
He wanted those foolish Earthlings to know how terrifying and cruel the Dark Space Emperor truly was. The Dark Space Emperor was on equal footing with the most evil, cruel, and depraved Dark Ultraman in this universe, the leader of the Dark Legion—Belial. To dare to attack the subordinates of the Dark Space Emperor was to trample on the Dark Emperor's face. Those Earthlings would face the most terrifying doomsday.
Groza stood in the main control room, filled with writhing biological organs, watching a pulsating, heavily wrinkled mass of flesh, resembling a chrysanthemum, puffing out gas. The gas ignited in the air, forming a star map. Their target—Earth—was already within reach; it would only take a few days to reach that star system.
Groza was one of the Four Heavenly Kings who instilled fear and dread in countless civilizations.
His strength surpassed that of Yapool, Desrem, and Mephilas, the other Heavenly Kings. The cooling device he spat out could freeze the surface of the sea.
If he unleashed his full power, he could even plunge an unprepared planet into an ice age.
A Dark Heavenly King personally leading the expedition, coupled with the mechanical giant beast created by the Space Emperor—Impalizer—and numerous well-known cosmic beings and monsters,
this army was despair-inducing for most civilizations.
No matter how strong the will to resist, it would be shattered by this force. They simply couldn't stop them.
Groza would give humanity two choices: either hand over the culprit and become slaves, or be annihilated and vanish from the universe. This was the price of offending them.
In the conference room.
Megumi Iruma and Keigo Masaki exchanged glances. Megumi nodded and then exited directly.
Carmilla was also called out.
Outside, she learned that the detectors placed at the edge of the star system had detected abnormal warp energy fluctuations and signals from many powerful life forms.
It was clear that the monster invaders had arrived.
It was estimated that in a short while, those monsters would descend upon the solar system.
"Have the Ultramen prepare for battle." Megumi Iruma left this message and turned to leave. "I'll coordinate with the other units. Be careful, don't cause any trouble."
"What's so great about her?" Carmilla muttered to herself, "Someday, I'll make you kneel and lick my feet, Yullian."
"Damn, this woman is too arrogant," Hitra said sinisterly, "Big sister, should we kill her?"
"Then you go, just don't give us away when you're cut into pieces." Carmilla glanced at Hitra, who spoke without thinking.
Hitra immediately fell silent. The Imperium was like a towering mountain; even as an Ultraman, he dared not speak carelessly.
He could easily be crushed.
"Let's go, someone will get us even." Carmilla also walked out.
Let Megumi Iruma smile for a while today; surely, there would come a day when she would beg on her knees.
Keigo Masaki remained in the conference hall.
He scrutinized the representatives of the colonies, who were filled with righteous indignation. The contempt in his eyes was undisguised. Their vision was limited to their own immediate interests. The inherent flaws of humanity were fully displayed in them.
Among the numerous colonies, only a minority dared to fight for the interests of those they represented.
Most were more motivated by fear of the Imperium's laws. The Imperium's dictatorial nature was underpinned by absolute fairness.
Regardless of one's birth class, the only condition to become a superior person was ability.
Without ability, even if one's father was a planetary governor, they could only work in a factory and would not obtain those lucrative and easy professions. Those people publicly decried dictatorship, but in their hearts, what they truly feared was the fairness under the name of dictatorship.
Such conflicts of interest have never had a good way to be avoided.
If the other party was determined and relentlessly used various propaganda offensives to deceive their constituents, they could absolutely raise an army that would fight to the death for the great cause of protecting their homeland. Throughout history, how many ambitious individuals have used such tactics!!
As long as they controlled public opinion, they could beautify wars of aggression into righteous acts of liberating local civilians. They could label a war fought for their own interests as a war necessary for all people.
Keigo Masaki had no expectations for the discernment of those civilians.
At that time, if someone misled them, they might pick up guns to fight against the evil imperial invaders.
Reform is not a dinner party; only through bloodshed and sacrifice can sufficient achievements be made.
But now there was an opportunity, if used well,
it might be possible to achieve the great cause of human unification in this universe without direct confrontation.
Several envoys discussed Megumi Iruma's departure. They speculated that something must have happened in the Imperium.
Otherwise, why would one of the Imperium's spokespersons suddenly leave the conference?
Thinking of this, they couldn't help but straighten their backs, feeling more confident.
If the Imperium's backyard was on fire, their asking price would be even higher.
If the Imperium refused, they would organize an army and fight the Imperium. They would fight until it was a ruin rather than compromise with imperialism. The people of the colonies were tenacious and resolute.
Imperialism would surely be crushed by the iron fist of the people.
"Your attitude disappoints me," Keigo Masaki said. "You are threatening the Imperium with the lives of your subjects."
"You, a dictator's dog, what right do you have to say that?" an envoy angrily stood up and said, "How much blood did our ancestors shed to fight for democracy and freedom? They advanced precariously on the tightrope of war to achieve today's results, and you have destroyed all of it. You've packaged the entire human race and offered it to an emperor of unknown origin."
"Traitor!" a voice came from the crowd. This voice sparked cheers from the crowd. They pointed at Keigo Masaki and shouted all sorts of insults at him.
"Human traitor!"
"Shameful dog!"
Keigo Masaki remained unperturbed by praise or criticism.
Having reached this position, he had been called a human traitor, a renegade, and other such names countless times, with people pointing fingers at him.
But he simply didn't care.
"Your courage is admirable," Keigo Masaki said, surveying the crowd. "I retract my previous suggestion for you to join the Imperium, and I promise never to ask you to join the Imperium again, but I will also not agree to any requests you make to join the Imperium."
"Do you think we would join this damned empire? Don't dream about it!"
"That's hilarious, who would want to be ruled by a dictator?"
Many envoys sneered inwardly, thinking Keigo Masaki was a big fool.
He abandoned sweetness and freedom, choosing instead to become a dog of that so-called emperor!
A despicable fellow, he even thought others would choose to join the Imperium like him. The meeting ultimately ended badly.
Not a single envoy was willing to give up their independence and join the Imperium.
If it hadn't been for the previously enacted law restricting access to outer space.
I'm afraid as soon as the meeting adjourns, the space tickets to the major colonies will be sold out.
Many people want to escape to other colonies. They would rather live in harsh colonies than be ruled by that damned empire.
Even with legal restrictions, demand will not be eliminated; it will only appear with higher stakes.
In the face of profit, how many people can meticulously execute the orders of their superiors?
Some gray areas have thus emerged.
Even though the Imperium's influence has penetrated Earth, some areas have not undergone a complete transformation.
Some old things are still rooted in the dark corners of society's operating rules.
North America City is one of the few spaceport cities on Earth.
Here, prosperity and decay coexist.
Before the Imperium descended, this was a center of technology, culture, and commercial economy.
Many corporate groups had branch offices here, just to better conduct their business.
In the prosperous commercial districts, villa areas, and various high-end schools, the people who came and went were either rich or powerful. They were either financial magnates or those in power.
And beneath the veneer of prosperity were shocking slums.
Before the Imperium descended, the security in many slums was extremely chaotic, with various violent crimes erupting almost daily.
Official power was almost non-existent.
Gangs ran rampant, and gunfights occasionally broke out. The wealth gap was unimaginably huge, yet it strangely coexisted. The upper echelons deliberately maintained the slums to sustain prosperous gray industries, attracting wealth owners from all over the world.
Organ trafficking, human trafficking, and so on.
All could be found in this prosperous city.
It just required some covert means. This place also frequently saw rags-to-riches stories.
Someone who couldn't even afford a bed in the slums, through their own efforts, became a top celebrity.
And someone else, who preferred to be a garbage collector rather than accept charity, whose noble character moved the daughter of a rich man, who then married him and brought a generous dowry, instantly making him a rich man.
Every year, countless people came from all directions, hoping to find their future in this bustling metropolis, yearning for a meteoric rise.
Unfortunately, with the arrival of the Imperium, this beautiful city underwent a major transformation.
Many rich people fell; their wealth was confiscated and collected. The slums also greatly improved; with the entry of security forces and the crackdown on gangs, the number of violent incidents decreased significantly.
Of course, the dark forces that had been entrenched for years could not be completely cleared out in a short time.
When Keigo Masaki publicly stated that he would no longer force those colonies to join the Imperium.
Some people began to stir.
Leaving Earth and going to various colonies might be a good way out.
Under a complex overpass, there was a bar.
Compared to its former prosperity, the bar's business now could be described as bleak. This was once North America City's largest underground information exchange.
Even the life of a country's president could be openly priced.
One can imagine how terrifyingly corrupt this place was in its heyday.
But with the arrival of imperial forces, several major shareholders behind this bar successively became slave laborers in factories.
However, people still exchanged information and sold illegal contraband from the gray areas here.
"I need six tickets," said a man shrouded in a hooded robe in a dark corner. "I can give six hundred thousand dollars."
"Hmph, what time is it now!! That stuff is no longer valuable, the price is falling every day. Either give imperial credits, or give gold or something," a flippant voice came from the darkness. The man frowned slightly.
"That's difficult, gold is hard to get now."
"Then give me imperial credits."
"If you want imperial credits, I can only give you one hundred thousand."
"Then you can stay here and wait to die. Those people are intensifying their scrutiny, do you know what will happen? Even if you immediately kneel at the feet of the Holy Emperor and beg for his forgiveness, you won't escape being sent to a correctional factory by the Imperium and having your brain lobes removed."
These words made the man's face change. The voice continued from the darkness.
"If you take out six hundred thousand now, your loss is only six hundred thousand, but you can save your life and the rest of your property. When the Imperium acts, you will only have your brain lobes cut off, and not a single bit of your property will be left."
"Bastard," the man cursed in a low voice.
But he had no choice. The other party had him cornered.
Without boat tickets, they would be trapped here. They would only be stripped of all their property by the Imperium and be taken away to have their brain lobes removed.
"Alright," the man finally relented.
Both parties submitted a transaction request on their personal terminals.
As six hundred thousand imperial credits were transferred, the figure in the darkness also emerged.
It was a woman with a scar on her face.
She held six hard cards in her hand.
"Bearer tickets, you've hit the jackpot."
The man took them and inspected them, then glared at the woman, as if to remember the face that had extorted him, and then turned and left.
"People nowadays really have no gratitude," the scarred woman shrugged, not caring about his gaze. There were quite a few people boarding the ship. They were all high-ranking, once influential figures who had amassed vast wealth, enough to afford hundreds of thousands, even millions, of imperial credits.
Imperial credits were far more valuable than ordinary currency; they were the Imperium's universal currency. The only drawback was that they did not accept exchange with any currency, only in-kind exchanges. This was also why many colonies were unwilling to accept imperial rule.
Once ruled by the Imperium, much of their wealth would vanish.
Keigo Masaki forcefully demanded that large-scale cross-regional settlements of goods could only be settled using imperial credits. The influence of various currencies was rapidly declining and depreciating.
Many people were initially very happy, and then sad when they realized they could finally escape the Imperium's autocratic control.
But they regretted it after crossing the orbit of Mars.
A war news broadcast was played on this ship fleeing Earth.
"This is Imperial Daily time. Military spokesperson, Admiral Tianlong Gan, addresses the imperial citizens: The solar system will face an unprecedented invasion. Over ten thousand cosmic monsters and thousands of alien warships are advancing towards the solar system, expected to approach Pluto's orbit in one day. By the name of the Holy Emperor, the Imperial Army will fight to the last moment to defend the life, property, and dignity of the imperial citizens. Furthermore, non-imperial humans are requested to quickly swear allegiance to the Imperium and to the Holy Emperor, otherwise, in wartime, the Imperial Army will have no right or obligation to protect you."
"Imperial ships will evacuate imperial citizens from the regions where war will first break out, such as Pluto's orbit, Neptune's orbit, and Uranus' orbit. Please submit applications to imperial institutions in a timely manner, stating your address, and professional evacuation teams will assist you in evacuating."
Watching the news broadcast on the projection, everyone who had just been overjoyed and wanted to pop champagne bottles suddenly fell silent. The entire cabin became eerily quiet.
"They must be joking, right?" A fat woman's expression stiffened as she looked at the others. "Someone in my family works for the Imperium, and they never heard any news about a war breaking out!"
"It must be a scare tactic."
"Yes, it must be that, afraid that those elites will all run away, so they're spreading rumors. How could a war break out so suddenly without any warning at all!"
Others also nodded in agreement, echoing this statement.
As if their denial could make the event not happen. They had gone bankrupt and bled profusely to get on this ship; how much property had been sold off at a low price just to get this ticket away from the Imperium's autocracy.
Now, they're saying there's going to be a war??
What a joke!!
How could it be true!!
It's clearly fabricated information!!
The spaceship's speed was not fast. When they crossed Saturn's orbit, they saw the war erupting in Pluto's orbit.
Warships were torn apart, and the intense flashes of light produced by the explosions were like krypton flashes from tiny suns.
Even from a great distance, it was clearly visible.
When the first ray of light appeared, the people on the ship could no longer deceive themselves. These unprecedented fools, who had gone bankrupt, had sent themselves down a dead end.