Resurrection Empire

Chapter 1524: Chapter 573: Liu An Bows His Head

In just a few short years, the situation for Nanxiang’s Earldom has visibly deteriorated.

Within the Nanxiang Star Cluster, more and more of his once-loyal lackeys ignored his prohibitions, secretly establishing trade contacts with the Red Blade Clan.

There were also increasingly more workers from the Red Blade Clan entering various forces within the Nanxiang Star Cluster. Some took on important projects, while others, after immigrating, were even placed in positions of substantial power.

The sharp blade within the Nanxiang Earl Mansion—Liu Jin—died inexplicably in a sudden "spacecraft incident."

On the surface, it appeared as though an unmanned cargo ship belonging to the Red Peak Earl Mansion suddenly went out of control and collided with Liu Jin’s flagship. As misfortune would have it, the unmanned cargo ship was carrying a large amount of cheap and high-quality fission radiation materials.

Liu Jin’s death was not sudden, but rather he was flooded with radiation materials into his cockpit, was submerged, and under an overwhelming level of radiation, he quickly found it hard to breathe, consciousness fading, organs failing.

Liu Jin’s death lasted a full ten minutes, dying slowly with a horrific appearance, and undoubtedly, the process was painful.

Anyone with brains knew that this was revenge from the Red Peak Earl Mansion.

Yet, the Empire Super Network Hub in the Nanxiang Star Cluster found no evidence; data retrieval suggested it was indeed a peculiar accident.

Had it not been for Liu Jin’s habit of being domineering during navigation, attempting to force the unmanned ship to give way and allow himself first entry to the dock, this accident would never have happened.

For many years, Liu Jin had behaved this way, but this time, he failed.

This is absurd.

Even more absurd is that after the accident, the Red Peak Earl Mansion not only did not offer any compensation, but didn’t even make a symbolic apology, and instead, sent a letter of accountability to Nanxiang’s Earldom, demanding compensation for the ship and cargo.

Liu An, of course, would not pay, pretending as if nothing happened.

But he knew in his heart, this was a warning from the Red Peak Earl Mansion, a bloody test.

After this test, the many forces that had been on the sidelines within the Nanxiang Star Cluster finally accepted the objective fact that the Star Cluster was about to change and began openly aligning themselves with Earl Red Blade.

In the past, Liu An could undoubtedly use the pirates in the Shattered Star Ring to teach these uncooperative merchants and low-ranking nobles how to behave properly.

But now, not only had the entire Shattered Star Ring long since escaped his control, it had also been managed into a unified whole by the Red Blade Clan.

"I can’t let this continue. I have to think of a way."

Recently awakened, Liu An gritted his teeth as he muttered to himself.

A moment later, he summoned the new Chief of Internal Affairs and asked, "Where is the messenger now?"

"The messenger is currently traveling in the Fold Jump Subspace Channel and will arrive at the number seven hub star in the Warm Star Domain in three days."

"Good. I await his good news."

After dismissing the Chief of Internal Affairs, Liu An reopened the intelligence summary and began reviewing it.

Bang!

Moments later, he angrily shattered the projection in front of him, trying to calm his mind by not seeing it while occasionally sighing deeply and becoming violently angry.

Since Ren Zhong was formally ennobled as Earl, Liu An had been preparing to connect with the Duke Wenle Mansion.

To avoid leaking the news under the monitoring of the Empire Super Network, Liu An deliberately selected a trusted confidant to carry his message directly to the planet of Duke Wenle Mansion, calculating the days, it should be about time now.

If it weren’t for the fact that, coincidentally, Duke Wenle happened to be absent from the number one hub star under his command, leading the messenger to miss him after leaving the Star Gate, and forcing him to reroute using the much slower Fold Jump Subspace Channel, this communication should have been completed two years ago.

Now, two more years later, Liu An’s situation has worsened, but fortunately, months ago, the messenger had already returned with an encrypted conversation. After deciphering it, Liu An learned that Duke Ivan Romanov of Wenle had an interest in communicating with him.

A good meal is worth the wait.

Liu An’s empty heart felt somewhat steadier, and so he chose to remain in cryosleep until now.

Liu An awoke three days before the messenger’s arrival.

He thought that leaving only three days would reduce the stimulation, but it only accumulated harm instead.

Three days later, Liu An’s messenger finally smoothly entered Duke Ivan’s palace.

Of course, the Duke would not personally meet the messenger of a mere Earl but had made arrangements in advance.

The one who actually had a face-to-face meeting with the messenger was Sena Romanov, who had completely lost her status within Duke Wenle Mansion.