The fleets of the Astral Conclave civilizations, carrying the exchanged mana stones, departed a day after the trade was completed. This time, the process was far smoother than before, as the exchange had taken place inside the Trade Hub itself. Their representatives, along with their close entourages, remained behind, unsure when their negotiations with the Empire would conclude, but aware that the importance of the talks warranted their continued presence.While discussions around the VR network had stalled, pending approval from their respective governments. During this period, the empire requested individual meetings with each representative to discuss separate matters.Now that VR access was granted, those who accepted the invitation found themselves summoned to private virtual meeting rooms, far from the watchful eyes of other representatives. This allowed each nation to negotiate without the risk of backlash from the top ten civilizations, who might otherwise view one-on-one mee

After gathering every last body from the wreckage and laying them in the hangar, Dreznor finally broke the silence.“Do you have any way we can cover them for burial?”{I can print them for you if you want,} Little Protagonist replied gently.“Please do so,” he said, his voice subdued as he turned back to kneel before the body of his son, small, still, and cold, with a gaping hole in his chest where the energy round had ended his young life. Dreznor lowered his head and placed a cloth over his son's face with shaking hands.“Rest in peace. I’ll join you after I’m done with all of them,” he whispered.He moved to his wife next, then to his mother, repeating the same words, the same gesture, each time slower than the last. Each time it felt harder to let go.Half an hour later, the 3D printer beeped softly, indicating that the burial cloths were ready. One by one, he wrapped the bodies in the printed covers, each fold done with reverence and care. The process was slow, painful, six hour

{He is currently in a transit period and should arrive at his destination in about three months,} Nyx reported, her holographic form flickering slightly as she finished delivering her update to Aron, John, and Youssef—some of the few individuals aware of the operation from the start.“What plans and objectives do you have for him? What is his theme?” Aron asked, leaning forward slightly. He knew full well that there was a reason Dreznor had been selected the moment the ship confirmed he was the sole survivor.Each individual chosen by the little protagonist had a specific theme, a guiding principle, a source of conflict, and growth. It wasn’t just about assigning a role; it was a bond that aligned motivations on both sides, ensuring the endeavor didn’t become a one-sided arrangement.{Although not yet set in stone, we’re aiming to shape him into a revolutionary figure within the Conclave, someone who pushes for the abolition of slavery, and later, the emancipation and compensation of

BAM!The interrogation room door burst open as a formation of guards marched in, splitting off with practiced precision. Each moved to a corner of the room, securing their positions, while two remained at the entrance, stepping aside and standing at attention to allow passage.Dreznor didn’t flinch. His eyes stayed closed, his expression calm, as if the sudden intrusion meant nothing to him.A man in richly adorned garments entered, his posture regal, each step deliberate. Authority radiated from his very presence. He took the seat across from Dreznor without a word.A tense silence followed before Dreznor finally opened his eyes and said, “I greet Your Excellency,” in a tone of respectful acknowledgment. The man before him was the planetary leader—the most powerful individual on this world, whose distance from the central government gave him near-sovereign control.“Let’s begin with introductions. Who are you?” the man asked.“As your officers have already reported, my name is Drezno

“Starting tomorrow, we will begin providing the mana stones for the creation of the first semi-permanent wormholes and assembling the planning committee. We will spend a year in VR accelerated time to finalize the plans based on the maps you must submit within the week,” Masmibi said, addressing the Conclave representatives. With those words, the long-standing negotiations had finally concluded, leaving only the implementation ahead.For the past three months, the Empire had been locked in tense negotiations with the Coalition, an alliance consisting of representatives who had finally agreed to accept the wormhole and VR technologies, deeming their benefits too significant to ignore despite the potential risks.At the start, the Coalition's demands were aggressive. They pushed for control over VR sectors that mirrored their civilizations' territories, and for a larger share of the profits from both the VR system and the proposed wormhole highway network. However, the Empire stood firm