The Creators: From Night City

Page 491

Before the Great Expedition, the Emperor signed the Treaty of Olympus with the other side, thus forming an alliance. The treaty stipulated that Mars would provide the Empire with war machines, starships and technology, while Terra would provide raw materials and human resources. The two sides were equal and friendly, with no distinction between superior and inferior.

Fortunately, after the treaty was signed, the two sides cooperated very closely, gradually becoming intertwined. Even today, the route between the two planets is the busiest in the solar system.

As for Holy Terra, the planet that Jiang Bing knew so well, it was now devoid of any greenery. From Jupiter, all that could be seen was cold steel enveloping the planet.

Even the sun, this magnificent creation, has been surrounded by the Mechanicus with an unimaginable network of giant orbital stations and energy collectors. Those space stations, which are large enough to blot out the sun, are just tiny silhouettes in front of the sun, like a group of moths dancing around a fire, forming a rudimentary "Dyson cloud" trying to draw energy from the sun's almost limitless energy.

All of this is merely the lingering glow of a fallen human empire.

Chapter 996 Expressing Attitudes

The crisp sound of footsteps came from behind, precise, regular, and without any hesitation.

Jiang Bing knew immediately that it was the former Imperial Guard Valerius. Valerius's high standards for himself were ingrained in his very being, and he strictly adhered to the rules of combat with every step he took.

"Your Excellency Sabur..."

"Have you ever heard of the 'salami slicing tactic'?" Jiang Bing interrupted the other person's speech, calmly looking down at the group of mechanical priests and court staff standing at the entrance waiting to board the ship for inspection.

Despite the thick, sturdy armor blocking the way, the forceful and overbearing legal threats still reached Jiang Bing's ears.

The imposing former Imperial Guards narrowed their eyes and remained silent.

"As the name suggests, this tactic is implemented like slicing a sausage. No one tries to swallow the whole sausage in one bite, but rather slices it off piece by piece and eats it gradually."

"This is a classic gradualist strategy from the ancient Terran era. Essentially, it involves using a series of small, incremental, seemingly isolated, and non-threatening steps and probes to gradually achieve a major goal that would have met with strong opposition and resistance if proposed all at once initially," Jiang Bing patiently explained the tactic to the other party, which they already understood.

"This tactic perfectly exploits the weaknesses of human nature, and your emperor is clearly a master of tactics and a master of understanding human nature."

The former Imperial Guard in front of him remained silent, and his exceptional body control prevented him from displaying any subtle expressions.

“If I’m not mistaken, you’re here to persuade me to accept their inspection,” Jiang Bing said, tapping the observation window with his cane and gesturing for the burly man to look at the 'government personnel' on the docking platform.

“Perhaps you can find a thousand more reasons why you have to do this,” Jiang Bing said calmly, staring at the other person without any light in his eyes, nor any anger or questioning.

He gazed at the other man calmly, but the Imperial Guard's heart began to beat faster and faster.

Finally, Jiang Bing let out a heavy sigh.

"You have 24 standard Terra times left. If the 'Jack Raven' is not cleared by then, this planet will be permanently lost from the universe."

Jiang Bing calmly issued his final ultimatum.

"Do you see it?"

The glass was struck, and the cane guided the other person's pupils, which had shrunk to pinpoints, to look in a certain direction. In the starry sky, as clear as black velvet, hung a red star radiating endless light and heat.

"If a similar situation occurs again before the Emperor, I'll tell you frankly, I'll blow this thing up."

If someone is glaring at you with their eyes wide open, baring their teeth and yelling these words, there's a very high chance they're trying to use threats as leverage to get what they want in return.

When someone calmly states these words to you, it can only mean that they are informing you, not negotiating.

Valerius didn't know whether Jiang Bing had the ability to pose a threat, but he dared not gamble on it, nor would he.

He didn't try to argue or make excuses, nor did he show any guilt or shame. He simply turned around decisively, ran, and seized every minute to complete his duties.

As it turned out, everything along the way was indeed a test set up by that cunning old emperor.

After Jiang Bing clearly expressed his 'ideas', the 'Jack Raven' was released without hesitation in less than 24 Terra hours, or in fact, in just 17 Terra hours and 23 standard points.

This time, without the obstruction of the Imperial Navy, without the inspection of the Imperial Ministry of Justice, and without even the final security check for entering the inner solar system, the 'Jack Raven' swaggered straight ahead, seemingly oblivious to the crowds in the bustling solar system, carving a straight path directly to the moon.

It is important to know that all foreign armed ships heading to Terra usually need to register in Mars orbit first. After the Mechanicus technicians thoroughly inspect the ship's engines and weapon systems, they install the corresponding "technical locks" to ensure that the ship cannot perform any tactical maneuvers or fire when approaching Terra before it is allowed to sail on the final pilgrimage route.

But Valerius clearly took Jiang Bing's words to heart.

The Moon, Terra's last line of defense and the gateway to Terra's starry sky, is a place where all ships, including the Jackdaw, are prohibited from passing.

This was not an intentional obstruction by the Emperor, but rather a normal provision of the Empire's ironclad laws, a sufficiently spacious warning zone was left between the Earth and the Moon to ensure the absolute safety of Holy Terra.

The once uneven lunar surface is now covered with massive defensive emplacements, missile silos, and military bases. The entire moon has essentially been hollowed out, transformed into a human empire version of the 'Battle Moon,' whose fierce firepower is enough to annihilate an entire fleet in an instant. Any unauthorized ship attempting to approach Terra will be reduced to ashes by the moon and surrounding defense platforms before even entering its orbit, without any prior warning.

In fact, all armed ships, including all Astartes, are theoretically not allowed to approach the lunar warning line. The fact that the 'Jack Raven' was able to dock at Tranquil Harbor already broke the Empire's rules.

All foreign ships are also prohibited from entering the inner ring of the Earth-Moon. Anyone who wants to land on Terra can only take a special ferry between the Earth and the Moon.

Tranquil Harbor, the largest spaceport on the moon and the 'customs gate' of Holy Terra, is the only place that pilgrims, officials, travelers, and visitors must pass through on their way to Terra.

However, Jinghai Port is less of a port and more of a dome-shaped city covering the surface of the moon.

The majority of the residents here are pilgrims from all over the galaxy who spend their life savings just to be able to make a pilgrimage to Terra.

However, the empire’s extremely complex censorship mechanisms have caused many pilgrims to be stranded in the port’s waiting area for years, decades, or even a lifetime.

Many pilgrims thus exhaust their savings and die here from old age or disease, never able to set foot on the sacred Terra of their dreams.

This is just one aspect of the brutal reality of the empire.

Upper track area, where ships are moored.

After the large hull of the 'Jack Raven' was precisely secured by the long mechanical arm, the energy field of its berth immediately unfolded, isolating this 'heretic' ship from the outside world.

As is customary, the port guard captain led his naval soldiers to guard every entrance and exit of the ship, ensuring that no one could leave before the inspection was completed.

Before the arrival of the port inspection officers' clerk team, the conspicuous style of the 'Jack Raven' immediately attracted the 'judges' hidden in the shadows.

These plainclothes officers belong to the Inquisition, an intelligence agency similar to the Embroidered Uniform Guard. These judges have supreme jurisdiction, wielding the power of life and death with a single word.

The lengthy review processes and results of all these departments—the Navy, the Executive Yuan, the Ministry of Justice, the Mechanicus, the State Religion—are merely 'reference opinions' in front of the judge's representative. He has the right to halt, overturn, or disregard the decisions of any other department at any stage and insist on his own opinion.

It's no wonder that the 'Jack the Raven' was targeted by the other side.

The 'Jack Raven' was the only ship in the harbor that was covered with Gothic towers and reliefs, with imperial statues and sacred words and prayers of the state religion. It was completely bare and showed no respect for the emperor. From its design to its overall style, it exuded a strong sense of heresy.

In this situation, who else would they be monitoring if not you?

Chapter 997 'Holy' Terra

As the most powerful legal department in the entire galaxy, the judges are all exceptionally talented.

This title is not derogatory. Becoming a judge is much more difficult than becoming an Astartes; it requires the right timing, location, and people.

This Imperial Inquisitor, named Hausar, was one of the best among them.

"Servo skull, retrieve the port entry data for berth F331." The judge walked toward the ship while reviewing the relevant data.

"You are not authorized to access this, sir." But soon, the cold, mechanical voice made him stop in his tracks.

"No right to access?" Hausar was quite surprised that there were things he had no right to access in Jinghai Port.

"Authorize the Sword of Judgment!"

The servo skull flew in front of the judge and began scanning. After a series of verifications, including facial features and genetic information, the servo skull smoothly granted the judge exclusive deep access privileges.

"You are not authorized to access this site, sir."

The identical response left the judge speechless. He stared at the strange-looking spaceship, wondering if it was the vehicle of some Primarch.

Just as he was lost in thought, a magnificent aircraft leaped over his head and landed gracefully beside the ship.

This is a very unique small vessel. It is longer and more elegant than a typical assault boat, with sharp fuselage lines and covered with Gothic flying buttresses, spires and reliefs. Purple-gold stripes are also outlined on the wing edges and bow, with fine cryptic text etched on them.

What is most impossible to ignore is the imperial crest engraved on the bow of the ship.

"Forbidden Court" assault boat!

Hausar's heart skipped a beat.

'How did those imperial guards, who never leave the palace, suddenly appear here?'

The naval soldiers stationed there received a message from their superiors and began to withdraw. By the time the Forbidden Court assault boat, known as the "Messenger of the Throne," successfully landed, all irrelevant personnel had been cleared from the ship's berth.

So when its hatch opened, apart from the high and mighty judge, the harbor was utterly silent.

Several tall Imperial Guards clad in golden power armor disembarked from the spaceship. Two remained to watch over the ship, while the rest went inside the strange-looking vessel.

Of course, there was also someone who went up to the judge and gave him a 'confessional warning'.

The emperor is the type of person who responds to force but not to gentleness; if you treat him kindly, he'll take advantage of you.

You can say that the Emperor is a ruthless and inhumane person, but you absolutely cannot say that he is not a qualified human leader. He doesn't care about his reputation at all, and if necessary, he can openly expose his face to be trampled on, as long as it is beneficial to the human race.

Everything he did was based on the premise that the human race could survive in this cold universe, no matter how despicable his methods were, and of course, sometimes his methods were not entirely correct.

As soon as the 'Crow' landed at Jinghai Port, the Emperor's envoys arrived swiftly to escort Jiang Bing to the sacred palace, completely disregarding Jiang Bing's earlier threatening words.

Normally, having an audience with the emperor is an extremely sacred and complicated matter.

Hundreds of billions of pilgrims never even got to set foot in the palace, let alone meet the emperor.

But for Jiang Bing, everything was done quickly and simply.

Although the Emperor's reputation is resounding, and Holy Terra is sacred, it cannot compare to the Cartography Room and the Cartographer.

Therefore, Jiang Bing did not feel much tension until he boarded the "Forbidden Court" assault boat.

The main cabin of the Forbidden Court assault boat is a circular, cathedral-like space, and this luxurious Rolls-Royce limousine combines speed and majesty.

The Imperial Guards each stood at the magnetic locking station inside the cabin, reserving the best positions.

The entire cabin was filled with a sense of tranquility. There was no incense or prayers, as the powerful soundproof barrier blocked out all external noise, leaving only a comforting silence.

At Jiang Bing's request, the observation window was opened.

This was Jiang Bing's first time observing the Earth up close.

To be honest, its first impression is simply that it's ugly.

This planet is long dead; all that remains for humanity is its ugly shell.

The oceans that once covered most of the area have vanished without a trace, and every inch of the natural surface has disappeared. The entire planet is now covered by endless nests, magnificent imperial palaces, factories, and churches.

The entire planet was enveloped in steel structures, transforming into a planet-sized mega-nest structure.

A large number of weapons were placed on various mountain ranges familiar to Jiang Bing, so as to take advantage of the terrain to strike foreign enemies more efficiently.

His destination, the absolute core of the human empire, was located in the Himalayas.

The emperor's palace cannot be described by a few magnificent halls; it is a colossal complex that covers almost the entire Himalayan region.

This massive complex includes a full range of functional buildings such as barracks, factories, churches, archives, and laboratories.

Many more unseen architectural structures are buried deep beneath the mountains, and the towering peaks have long been hollowed out.

This colossal structure, commissioned by the emperor during the Great Expedition, underwent continuous reinforcement and renovation throughout the ten thousand years he sat on the Golden Throne, and has now become a vast and complex fortified city complex.

In Asia, countless Gothic buildings occupy every inch of land that Jiang Bing once knew, like deformed, proliferating scars, ugly and grotesque.

This place is no longer the land Jiang Bing remembered; not a single inch of soil resembles it.

Outside the emperor's palace were countless nests of varying sizes.

These nests cover the continents, and their height can even extend into space.

Looking down on Terra from outer space, you would find the entire world brightly lit, with bustling cargo ships and starships coming and going, intertwined with each other.

But Jiang Bing had better eyesight. He also saw that the seabed pits left by the dried-up oceans were full of highly toxic industrial waste, and that the highly toxic air was stubbornly restrained by the thin atmosphere, so much so that many nest worlds needed special air transport cargo ships to transport qualified air from other planets.

This planet is long dead. Hundreds of billions, even trillions of people are crammed onto this so-called human home planet, which has long since overburdened it.

Earth's resources alone are insufficient to support its population. The sacred Terra constantly draws sustenance from the Empire's other industrial, resource, and agricultural worlds in order to barely maintain its operation.

Like a human empire that is dead but not yet dead, it has been dead for a long time, its corpse emitting a foul stench and still rotting.

Valerius had taken off his black robe with the 'Emperor's Eye' and put on a pure white and luxurious gold robe. The magnificent embroidery on it alone would have taken a master artist several years to complete.

"Lord Sabur, is something wrong?" The Imperial Guard's keen senses allowed him to detect subtle changes in Jiang Bing's emotions, and he asked cautiously.

Jiang Bing turned his head, revealing a pair of golden eyes.

Countless desperate prayers, painful groans, licentious pleasures, and the wailing of death echoed in His ears, causing Him to furrow His brow involuntarily.

"It's nothing, just a little disappointed," Jiang Bing finally said, suppressing all his emotions.

Chapter 998 Meeting the Emperor

The ferry slowly landed on the dedicated helipad outside the palace.

As soon as he stepped off the boat, the pungent smell of burning incense and sacred candles filled Jiang Bing's nostrils.

The Imperial Palace is the most sacred place according to the doctrines of the Imperial State Religion.