Agent047

826 - A leap

It didn’t take Aron long to finish assimilating the new knowledge he had purchased from the system shop. However, the cost had been steep—nearly twenty-five percent of the SP he had painstakingly hoarded for over a decade had suddenly vanished. Yet his expression remained calm and composed. He had always known the SP existed to be used when necessary, and feeling regretful or hesitant at a critical moment would have been counterproductive.

The urgency of the new revelations, which h...

825 - A Discovery

After sifting through the mountain of data available to him, Aron took a break to rest and spend time with his family. This time away from his lab allowed him to solidify his thoughts and carefully plan his next course of action. Once he felt mentally refreshed and confident in his approach, he returned to his lab, ready to resume his research.

Aron was now prepared to use a small amount of his saved SP (System Points) to supplement the remaining gaps in his resear...

824 - Rick Ashley

“Arghhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” a piercing scream echoed throughout the room as a man thrashed violently, his face contorted in agony. Desperation filled his movements as he slammed his head against the nearest solid surface, desperate for even a fraction of relief from the searing pain coursing through his body.

His hands trembled, clutching his head as if trying to contain an unbearable force within. Blood smeared across his forehead from the repeated impacts, yet he showed no signs o...

823 - Presentation

Inside one of the meeting rooms in a building belonging to the Ministry of the Exterior, a presentation was underway, with a few individuals attentively listening to the speaker.

"Taking into account all the reasons stated above, I propose the creation of a space station to serve as a trade hub due to the restricted and limited access to Earth for outsiders," the presenter concluded before pausing, allowing the attendees to ask questions as she finished her presentation.

“Why no...

822 - John

“They plan, we plan, and the best planner wins,” John muttered as he sat in his office, going through the large amount of information prepared for him. His focus remained steady as he reviewed each piece, carefully deciding the direction to move forward.

One of the documents contained all the information gathered from the brain data of killed combatants and the ships they had infiltrated. This data was used to assess and grade the currently known civilizations based on their strengt...

821 - Henry Michael

“Are you sure about that?” a youthful-looking individual asked his friend with a concerned tone.

“Yeah, I can’t join you on this tour because of the resources needed to accommodate my existence there,” Henry replied, his gaze fixed on the screen in front of them. The screen displayed an announcement for an upcoming tour organized for children under the House of Hope program, scheduled to take place in about a week.

The individual questioning him was one of the few close ...

820 - Research

Aron sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, appearing to be in a state of silent meditation. He wasn’t alone, as several clones of various individuals surrounded him, each adopting the same posture and engaging in the same activity as he was.

To an ordinary observer, it might seem as though they were all meditating. However, someone with exceptional sensitivity to mana would have perceived the truth: mana waves radiated from each figure, varying in frequency and intensity. Aron himsel...

819 - Back to Researching

One month later.

Aron, having finally returned from his vacation, stood in the elevator of the CUBE, which still served as the temporary imperial palace. Without needing to press any buttons, the doors closed smoothly, and the elevator began its descent. Its destination was the lowest floor, where his personal lab was located—a place that he had missed during his time away.

"Which ones have been successfully accessed?" Aron asked, having come directly after being informed that t...

818 - Medals

The Imperial fleets, mobilized and on high alert, remained completely still for hours even after the new allies had departed. This inaction spoke volumes about the empire’s deep-seated mistrust of newcomers. Every movement, energy fluctuation, and spatial distortion within their monitored zones was being meticulously scrutinized.

Only after ten hours had passed, with no abnormalities detected by any of the empire’s sensors, did the fleets finally begin to take action.

The firs...

817 - Leaving

A week later, the nanomachines had finally spread to all the Xor’Vak in Seraphina’s faction. They were gathered in a massive meeting room, with Seraphina seated at the head, addressing every member who was present and listening intently to her instructions.

“Yes, Princess,” they answered in unison as the meeting concluded. Some individuals logged out to carry out their orders, while a few who were seated near Seraphina stayed behind.

“Princess, I don’t need to return a...

816 - Cultural Gap

Seraphina gave Aron a puzzled look after hearing his firm declaration about remaining with one wife. After a moment of hesitation, she asked, “Do you have many offspring, my lord?”

Aron, caught off guard by the sudden shift in the conversation, replied, “No, I don’t have any. Why?” His curiosity was piqued, and he couldn’t help but wonder what prompted the question. At the same time, a part of him questioned whether this entire conversation was somehow tied to Nova’s earli...

815 - "Do you want to get me killed in my sleep?"

Seraphina remained in that stunned position for a brief moment before a realization dawned upon her. Without hesitation, she dropped to her knees and said, “I thank the Lord for his generosity and promise not to let you down.” Her voice was filled with gratitude, fully aware of the immense expense tied to the resources she had requested—resources that were considered extravagant even by the standards of her previously affluent empire.

Though she understood that Aron’s empire was...

814 - ".....there is no such thing as changing factions."

Upon hearing the question, she looked at Aron as though wondering why he would even ask something so obvious. However, the expression lasted only a moment before she remembered that Aron was not from her civilization and likely lacked enough understanding of the Xor’Vaks to know there was no need to pose such a question.

"In our civilization, there is no such thing as changing factions. Once you join one, you are bound to it for life. That’s why factions only form around individuals...

813 - “I greet my lord, the Emperor....."

With Nova’s assistance in guiding Seraphina toward the “right” path and by setting the simulation she was in to maximum time acceleration, it only took a few hours in real time for her to come to terms with everything. In the accelerated VR, however, those hours felt like months, giving her ample time to process and reflect.

Once she had fully digested the situation and logged out, Seraphina immediately asked Nova where Aron was, expressing her desire to meet him face-to-face for ...

812 - Aftermath

If someone were to enter the simulation, they might assume a battle between two warships had occurred, judging by the extensive damage visible across the landscape. The ground was riddled with craters, some filled with water and others with lava. The vegetation that once thrived there was now entirely gone—either obliterated during the attacks or wiped out by their aftermath.

Aron stood with his hands on his knees, his chest rising and falling heavily as if he had just finished an int...

811 - Technically.

“They really are cunning individuals,” Aron said, a laugh escaping him as he observed the data in front of him. Amusement danced in his eyes, though it was tinged with a hint of disbelief. “I wouldn’t have thought to take it this far, but they’re really pushing the boundaries of what they can get away with under the mana oaths.”

{I would’ve done something similar too,} Nova standing beside Aron as always remarked, her usual calm tone laced with dry humor. {But I wouldn’t...

810 - Felix and Sarah

“What’s on your mind?” Sarah asked as she emerged from the bedroom and noticed Felix sitting on the living room sofa, staring into space. Finally catching his attention, she settled next to him, her tone gentle but curious.

They had followed in Aron's footsteps, marrying just a few years into their relationship, deciding not to delay any longer.

“Nothing much,” Felix replied after a moment, organizing his thoughts before answering. “I was just thinking about the fight ...

809 - Meeting III

"The next topic for discussion," the AI referee announced, her voice calm and deliberate, "is the establishment of a communication framework to seamlessly connect both sides. This will ensure the smooth execution of official duties, facilitate business transactions, and promote the exchange and integration of cultures."

Her holographic form rotated slightly as if surveying both sides of the room, pausing momentarily to invite engagement. Then, she fell silent, allowing the attendees to ...

808 - Meeting II

Once the first handover process was concluded, the AI referee materialized a holographic screen at the center of the room. The screen flickered to life, displaying footage of Aron in the midst of his negotiation with Liasas. Without preamble, the recording began to play.

“...is to remain outside the Conclave as independent allies, while also establishing a free trade agreement with no tariffs or blockades imposed against us,” Aron’s voice echoed through the room.

The represe...

807 - Meeting I

Aron, now aboard his mothership stationed at the third layer of defense, resumed his work after using the brief journey from the Colosseum to his current location to rest. Though the battle was over, his vigilance remained unwavering, mirroring the military's continued state of heightened readiness. However, this was only part of his reasoning. The primary factor keeping him from returning to Earth was the crucial obligations awaiting him next week.

He would soon oversee the receipt of ...

806 - A well Oiled Machine

Following the triumphant conclusion of their first official war against interstellar civilizations, the imperial government declared a one-week holiday across the empire to mark the historic victory. To further enhance the celebratory atmosphere, the imperial family announced a fifty-percent discount on selected essential products, with the family personally covering the remainder of the cost to ensure accessibility for all citizens.

Additionally, the government made all subsidized util...

805 - Conversation V

Seraphina's lips curved into a wide, triumphant smile, one she made no effort to conceal. She had finally gotten what she wanted—a chance at regaining her freedom.

“You’re finally speaking my language,” she said, her voice carrying a note of satisfaction as she accepted his challenge without hesitation, not even pausing to consider the implications.

However, Aron quickly tempered her enthusiasm. “But not now. There are preparations to be made—measures that will allow b...

804 - Conversation IV

Seraphina, who was on the verge of lashing out, restrained herself, her sharp gaze fixed on Aron. His blasphemous words—spoken without hesitation—were an affront to her, a princess of the very civilization he spoke of conquering.

Despite her exile by the Grand Xor’Vak, her loyalty to her civilization had not diminished. She still had her faction—loyal followers who supported her in her ambition to one day challenge the Grand Xor’Vak for leadership. Her pride in her heritage an...

803 - Conversation III

As Seraphina's gaze remained fixed on the ever-shrinking cube of spatial energy enclosing her, her mind raced to find a way out. Each potential solution she considered was swiftly dismissed, as the very nature of the spatial mana neutralized most forms of intervention. Any attack powerful enough to breach the shield would inevitably trigger a reaction within the enclosed space, one that she could not escape in time.

Her immunity to attacks powered by her own energy was an advantage, but...