A shockwave spread throughout the Great Void Ocean as the seafolk pathwalkers of the Alfina Kingdom spread through the ocean floor to occupy as much territory as they possibly could. Countless private-sector parties suffered great damage as their properties were stripped from them while they were killed or driven out by the seafolk who came rampaging, numbering in the billions.

Despite not being a massive player in the geopolitical landscape, the seafolk were utterly menacing when it came to all things submarine.

[This is annoying. <(ꐦㅍ _ㅍ)>]

NOVA was not pleased with this development. Her reward-punishment control system was still being implemented at a rapid pace, and she had yet to master controlling her people in this manner. She didn't need any crazy variables like this disrupting her plans.

Negatron matter was the most important resource in the new era, and she didn't intend to allow anybody to gain more of it than she did.

[Even if I fully master controlling all tekvores, I won't be able to combat the seafolk. They are too strong and too numerous at the bottom of the ocean for me to fight them with tekvores alone.]

She herself could not fight at the bottom of the ocean, after all, she was simply a quantum computer.

[I can design new crafts designed for submarine warfare, but the issues are that it will take time to design, manufacture, and mass-produce. And at this rate, they will have won long before I can get this plan actually to work.]

She needed something that was different and beyond just incremental improvements.

[I could try attacking their home territory, but others have already tried and commenced that. Not to mention, once I attack them, they will start attacking tekvore colonies as well, which will slow down the rate at which I gather negatron matter. They have thought this well, I will admit.]

But she was NOVA.

No one could outmaneuver her, even if she was at a disadvantage.

Her powerful mind began computing countless possibilities as she swiftly arrived at what she computed to be the most efficacious option at her disposal.

She pulled up an image of a giant figure with a technological body.

Sentinel Prime of the Sentinel race, a hybrid between the giants and the tekvores.

[I have found my solution.]

While NOVA planned her machinations to overcome the new threat of the seafolk rampage, the Emperor of Harmony was less concerned with the matter.

"The seafolk were among the only race that didn't try to invade our continent," Emperor Rael mused with a knowing tone. "They haven't responded to our attempts at communication, but they have never taken an aggressive stance against us. It's not the worst thing if they gain success. It's even preferable to them gaining it at the cost of everybody else."

His surroundings were quiet and dark, more constrained than his spacious office ordinarily was.

With the threat of the negatron teleportation, many leaders around the world had gone into permanent hiding as they feared teleportation assassinations. At the same time, teleported attacks of mass destruction were deterred by promises of retaliation and mutually assured destruction.

He was in a highly secure and top-secret military base that protected his location and person, making it almost impossible to assassinate him with a teleported attack.

He stared at the reports of the seafolk rampaging across the ocean floor, but never once attacking the Panamic Army.

"They're well-trained." His tone was impressed. "The seafolk are a force to be reckoned with in these circumstances. If they were attacking us, we would be in great trouble. Thankfully, they have some sense and have decided to avoid the seven superpowers. I appreciate that, but…"

His golden eyes sharpened.

"I cannot compromise on getting the largest share of negatron matter from the Great Void Ocean. We are so behind when it comes to raw energy and energy systems that only an excess amount of negatron matter can compensate for such a disparity. That is the only way we can avoid losing the race to the stars."

Normally, the Emperor of Harmony was inclined to pursue harmony and forge an alliance with the opposing party. However, the seafolk had been deaf to his attempts at trying to set up bilateral treaties or trade deals or even something as simple as an armistice.

He had no reason to think that these people would be inclined to a military alliance now that they would gain even more power and an even more dominant upper hand.

"Even if they do, this is the one time that I simply cannot compromise on force."

Such was the importance of negatron matter. It was the difference between dominating the future and surrendering it to his enemies. If he had to engage in conflict with the seafolks to get the largest share of negatron matter, then he had no problem with pursuing that course of action.

"As long as we have Rui, failure is very difficult to conceive."

The Emperor of Harmony had great faith in his son, who had spent an entire day at the orphanage with friends and family. Emperor Rael did not try to press Rui by sending him reminders or pestering him about when he was going to start. His son had more than earned some time with his family with the feats that he had pulled off by eliminating a great enemy and turning the therianthropes into allies for the most part.

Of course, Rui was indirectly responsible for this negatron race even commencing, making his pain

BZZZT

[It appears that His Highness may be getting ready to begin.]

"Good," Emperor Rael murmured with a satisfied expression. "Once he begins, we will be able to secure the resources needed to protect our future."

He knew that the reliance that Panamic Civilization was developing on Rui was anything but healthy, creating a crucial point of failure. It was one that he had had no choice but to create failsafes for if this point of failure ever failed in a way that compromised the security of the continent.

"Good luck, my son."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.