Resurrection Empire

Chapter 1451: Chapter 548: Hatred for the Homeland

In the Far Border Star Domain, everyone knows the Marquis Zhenjiang is a person of unpredictable moods, yet also deeply powerful.

Despite sitting on privileges, this lord chooses not to enjoy life at the Empire Core, instead spending hundreds of thousands of years asleep in a Static-Level Frozen Storage, overseeing the frontier star domain.

There is more than one marquis in the Far Border Star Domain; counting the nearby star domains, the number of marquises exceeds one hundred.

Normally, the Marquis Zhenjiang doesn’t hold any position in the star domain’s government, but once a major war breaks out and someone needs to oversee the overall situation, the Marquis is not only able to command the fleets in the Far Border Star Domain, but serving as the group army marshal of fleets from surrounding star domains is his rightful position.

His ability and status can be seen from this.

For hundreds of thousands of years, the Marquis Zhenjiang rarely activities outside, hardly anyone directly contacts him, making him extremely mysterious.

But each time this marquis wakes, it must be for truly significant matters.

Now not only has this lord awakened, but he has personally inquired into Ren Zhong’s matter, how could Liu An not be tense.

"Marquis... I... I..."

Liu An forced himself to remain calm, tried several times to speak in defense, but too much tension made his voice falter, appearing stammering.

Or perhaps he knew the opponent’s capabilities, understanding that any argument at this moment was meaningless, rather than saying more to make more mistakes, it was better to appear nonsensical, showing his panic.

That’s why he simply acted this way, devoid of the usual demeanor when facing subordinates within the Nanxiang Star Cluster.

The figure opposite saw through his sophisticated acting with merely a glance, speaking again: "No need for pretentious acts. What you have done in the Nanxiang Star Cluster, I am completely aware of. Your numerous deeds are enough to execute an ordinary Imperial Earl, but you are the Nanxiang Marquis Liu An, after all, with some privileges. Of course, the death penalty can be avoided, but the living penalty cannot be escaped."

"First, you will be stripped of one-third of your wartime merits. Second, effective immediately, you will no longer serve as the Chief Officer of the Nanxiang Military and Political Center, demoted to Fleet Commander of the regular defensive fleet. Third, ten feudal star systems of your Liu Family will be confiscated, and related assets will be taken into the royal family."

"Liu An, do you have any objections? Are you convinced?"

While announcing the punishment decision, the synthesized electronic voice remained flat and unperturbed.

Liu An, however, trembled all over and stood stiffly in place.

He had considered that the failed operation would cost him significantly, but did not expect the price to be so severe.

Being demoted and losing ten feudal star systems was painful, but wasn’t the main focus.

Being stripped of one-third of wartime merits was truly devastating.

Liu An had fully inherited the merits accumulated by generations of ancestors of the Liu Family, and after thousands of years of struggle, he had increased the family’s merits by nearly 30% after assuming leadership.

To deduct one-third from the existing base was tantamount to wiping out nearly a lifetime of Liu An’s hard work, and even losing quite a bit, making the marquis position, originally within his reach, suddenly unattainable in this life.

He naturally could not accept this.

"Earl, I... I’m not convinced!" No longer caring about maintaining composure and feigning weakness, Liu An sharply lifted his head to stare at the figure ahead, gritting his teeth, "My Liu Family rose from civilians to serve and sacrifice for the Empire for generations, endeavoring for nearly two hundred thousand years to earn the dignity of the earl’s rank, guarding the frontier Nanxiang Star Cluster for tens of thousands of years, finally reaching a step away from the marquis. Even though you are a respected Marquis Zhenjiang, you cannot treat me like this, it will only chill the hearts of other earls in the Empire! Not only am I not convinced, but others won’t be either!"

Marquis Zhenjiang: "Ha ha. So you can murder another earl deliberately for your personal gain? Do you think I can’t hear your subtext? You are merely trying to tell me, you the Nanxiang Marquis also have backing at the Empire Core, right? But, you wouldn’t think, this is merely a decision made by me alone as the Marquis Zhenjiang, would you?"

Still, the indifferent electronic voice, but the words seemed to carry a hint of impatience.

Hearing this, Liu An suddenly realized, and moments later as if all the strength was drained from him, sat weakly on the ground, muttering in a low voice: "I understand."

"Understanding is good."

After finishing, the remote projection of the Marquis Zhenjiang immediately vanished.

Liu An’s office returned to silence.

Long after, Liu An’s pale face finally emerged from the office, blood on his hands, headed straight for the frozen hibernation chamber.

After Liu An entered the frozen hibernation chamber, the people from the Nanxiang Marquis’s Internal Affairs Office dared to enter the office, only to see almost no intact items left, just scattered debris everywhere.