"Running away?"

In the conference room, the top brass of the New Federation watched the 'taillights' of the massive Imperial Fleet on the projection screen and, for a moment, were at a loss for words.

Just half an hour ago, the Insect Swarm had appeared for the second time, destroying one of the New Federation's Class B Administrative Stars.

The so-called destruction here was actually just the annihilation of humans on the planet's surface; the Swarm didn't harm the planet itself, merely extinguished the fire of human civilization upon it.

If one were to open the full-scale map sandbox of the New Federation and draw a straight line through the two Administrative Stars which had been successively destroyed, the line would pass through the Constant Star System...

Where Minter City was located!

The New Federation Fleet, having just undergone the Empire's artillery bombardment, was forced to enter the highest state of combat readiness again.

Now, a problem lay before the New Federation Government.

Whether their fleet should take the initiative to strike.

The Insect Swarm was not like the Imperial Fleet, which hadn't harassed any of the New Federation's Administrative Stars on its way straight to Minter City, indicating a desire for a major battle with the New Federation; but the Insect Swarm would directly destroy any found human civilizations, and thus the sooner they were eliminated, the lower their losses would be.

The New Federation Government also found itself in an unspeakable plight.

Conventional equipment couldn't detect this Insect Swarm.

The presence of the queen in the Swarm made the New Federation, which could not possess mobile Constant Star Cannons, tremble with fear.

Adding insult to injury, the New Federation Government had begun to appeal to the Empire, from the standpoint of the whole human civilization, to help them fight this bug infestation, but the Empire had not given an official response.

The idea of the Empire compensating them with ships and personnel to battle the bugs was unrealistic in the first place.

But the New Federation hadn't expected that the moment before they were about to morally and through public opinion coerce the Empire into joining the fight against the infestation, the Empire's Invincible Fleet had run away, not even waiting for war reparations negotiations!

The retreat was extremely decisive, without any hesitation or delay.

"Comfortable."

Inside the Poisoned Stinger Ship, Yang Ming sat on the couch, swirling a bottle of juice in his hand, continuously teasing his taste buds with the sour and sweet flavor.

He had been worried that the Empire might actually dispatch him, the pest-killing ace, to make an appearance in the New Federation.

In that case, he would probably have to face dual threats from both the New Federation and the Great Queen.

Unexpectedly, after returning to the Poisoned Stinger Ship, they quickly received the order to head back, and both this Poisoned Stinger Ship and the transport vessel Griss was on were among the first batch to warp out.

—Transformed people were also a cost; they were the Empire's precious military force.

Catherine held the communicator in her hand, which projected a small holographic screen, currently viewing it with a furrowed brow.

"Hanton," she turned to ask, "Is this really okay?"

Yang Ming looked puzzled. "What's wrong?"

"The bug disaster in the New Federation," Catherine said, "It's still part of human civilization."

"That," Yang Ming coughed, "Of course, we can't deny the existence of great justice, the humans of the Milky Way are a community, the only difference is the political systems. But dear, this issue was caused by the New Federation themselves."

"Why is that?" Catherine was somewhat confused.

"It's because the New Federation tried to control the infestation to destroy the Empire, and it wasn't the Empire controlling it to destroy the New Federation," Yang Ming said earnestly, "The New Federation is now suffering a backlash because the Empire withstood the pressure given by the Great Queen. If the queen had broken through into the Emperor Star Circle last time, that would have been a disaster."

Catherine asked, "But if, and I mean if, the fleets of the Empire and the New Federation joined forces, wouldn't they be able to defeat this queen with ease?"

Yang Ming countered, "Can you be sure the New Federation wouldn't sell out Minter City and use the Insect Swarm to bury the Empire's Invincible Fleet?"

"That..."

"From any perspective, the Empire wouldn't possibly fight this battle in the core area of the New Federation unless the old heads of the Imperial Military Department had their brains kicked by a mule."

Catherine sighed softly and closed her communicator.

"Alright, come here."

Yang Ming extended his arm, and Catherine gently leaned over and rested in Yang Ming's arms.

Yang Ming gently stroked her back, speaking in a soothing voice:

"It's quite normal for us to have a difference of opinion on this matter; even within the Empire, there are two different voices. In the end, it's just that our levels of idealism differ.

"However, our duty is to follow orders from above.

"Since the Empire has decided to withdraw quickly, all we need to do is follow orders."

"Mmm," Catherine closed her eyes, her expression gradually softening and becoming tender as her breathing soon became steady.

Yang Ming held her quietly, looking out the porthole at the rapidly passing stars, his thoughts seemingly drifting beyond the current dimensions of the universe, contemplating some abstract, boundless, yet rather intriguing matters.

He hadn't expected that the Empire's expedition to the New Federation would end so abruptly amidst the Insect Race's meddling.

Naturally, the Empire emerged victorious, though sacrificing millions of soldiers and losing close to two thousand ships of various types, which for the powerful Empire did not affect its vitality.

The New Federation's combatant casualties were six to seven times that of the Empire's, with their major fleets suffering heavy losses, and the three comprehensive firepower fortresses defending Minter City were left one crippled and two destroyed.

The New Federation's self-proclaimed advanced warship technology had been stripped of its guise by this war.

More importantly, this battle directly curtailed the previously unstoppable momentum of the New Federation, allowing the two or three hundred human nations of the Galaxy to once again directly feel the strength of the Imperial Fleet.

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