Free Web NovelChapter 499: A Necessary Discussion
"Young disciples often assume exploration is about strength. It is not"
With his hands clasped behind his back, the attendant continues.
"It is about preparation, logistics, information, navigation and restraint"
"You may possess enough strength to kill a beast"
"But can you survive six months stranded in dead space after your vessel malfunctions?"
Ezra remained silent.
"Can you navigate spatial distortions? Can you identify different astral races before they detect you?"
Ezra sank into contemplation, because while his unique skillset nullified many of the astral seas dangers, this had forced him to realize that his preparations were half baked, paltry measures.
And that would not do at all.
Seeing the look in Ezra’s eye, the attendant headed out of the compartment feeling satisfied with himself for having gotten his point across.
"Regardless, good luck on your endeavours. You are going to need it"
With that, the attendant returns to the main hall with Ezra in tow, dismissing him.
Done with his enquiry, Ezra looks over the missions for Radiant star cluster, before putting it away.
With no time limit, he need not rush.
He leaves the scarlet dragon main base before entering the Sovereign Universe.
Rather, as his plans were now modified, Ezra felt in need of advice.
++++++
’Well. This certainly wasn’t the plan’ Ezra thought, looking over the familiar faces arraigned around the stretched-out conference-style table.
With how much needs to be said, Ezra thought it best to speak in person having been away for a while.
Yet things took an unexpected turn following his arrival at AlphaNova’s headquarters, as he overheard familiar voices booming, locked in a heated exchange.
Checking to understand the issue out of curiosity, the whole room goes silent with the intense gaze of seven familiar faces latching onto him.
Frederick, Theron, Johan, Ashton, Roxanne, Velora and Valentine all in attendance.
Following which Frederick promptly pulls him in for an impromptu meeting.
"What is even going on?" Ezra questions the room, bewilderment present in his expression.
Taking a glance around, he couldn’t help but notice the unfriendly glares directed towards, particularly from the siblings.
Asking this, the room’s tense atmosphere cools over into a chilling one, when all of a sudden...
"Hmph!" Roxanne snorts, glaring at Ezra, "How splendid for the man of the hour to arrive in such a fashion"
"What?!" Ezra bristles in his chair, feeling his anger rise.
"What! He says!" She remarks, laughing in irritation, all while glaring at him.
"Aren’t you about to debrief us on your oh-so-amazing new plan you just came up with?!" raising her voice to crescendo as she spoke.
Before spreading her hands wide. "Well, please get on with it then"
Staring at Roxanne’s sharp, smiling face, Ezra forcefully restrained himself from having a verbal spat with her.
"Roxanne" he says, staring back with a chilling glare of his own. "It seems I have given you quite a few grievances in my absence. But I will not tolerate that tone of yours! Have I made myself clear?!"
Exuding pressure as he enunciates every word, Roxanne nods stiffly in reply.
"Yes" she mutters in a much lower tone.
Once his emotions cooled, Ezra requested a debriefing of the meeting up until his arrival.
Volunteering, Theron gives Ezra the rundown of things.
++++++
Cutting a long story short, whilst Ezra made himself busy in the main universe, the others took their time to comb through the sovereign universe, checking its planets and had even become acquainted with Zydrax.
In the course of their exploration, they found a planetary civilization already approaching interplanetary travel, and this had caused them to worry.
After a joint deliberation, since wiping out civilizations was ruled out, they agree that it would be best if they used the resources available to them from the main universe to push for the advancement of their planet’s civilization and give them a good boost over others.
It was this issue that caused a divide as they were unable to reach an agreement regarding the way forward.
One side thought that it would be better to have their planet’s civilization united under a unitary government through which the resources from the main universe would then be efficiently funneled into civilization.
The other side advocated to simply hand over the resources into the hands of the already established kingdoms, while they act as a guiding hand, nudging them in the right direction.
On the other hand, Theron let it be known that Ezra’s absence was another cause for contention. freēwēbnovel.com
With Ezra evidently surprised by this, Theron gestures to Roxanne to air her grievances.
She leans forward.
"Do you know what the issue is?"
Before Ezra could answer, she continued.
"For all we know, our planet exists within your soul"
Her eyes narrowed into a sharp glint. "If you die out there somewhere, what happens to it? What happens to us?!"
The words caused the room to quieten.
She takes a deep breath.
"If we’re lucky, it might be that we simply wouldn’t be able to leave anymore and everything just goes on fine, but if not! The Sovereign Universe might just cease to exist entirely or perhaps something even worse can happen!"
"And yet" Roxanne continues "You continue acting alone as though only your life is at stake"
Ezra’s expression hardened slightly.
"We are no longer children, Ezra. And we all wish you would stop treating us as such"
A brief silence followed.
Then Roxanne spoke again, though this time her voice was calmer.
"I have been asking you something that has been bothering me for a while now" she paused. Her intense gaze bearing into him.
"What exactly do you think of me and my siblings? Do you think of us as mindless subordinates? Because that is how I have perceived your treatment of us so far!"
Here, Ezra felt his body heat up in fury.
"I do not understand" he states. "I have pulled you along with me because you are people dear to me. I think of you as companions"
"I have kept you away from my matters so that you all could grow stronger with little risk—
"And that" Roxanne cuts him off, "is exactly what frustrates us"
Her crimson eyes locked onto his.
"Our feelings toward you are... complicated"
The room became slightly tense.
"Your father killed ours" she said plainly. "No matter what circumstances existed, that truth does not disappear"
"BUT" she says. "You’ve shown us that there exists a path in which we can still be companions despite the fact that we are all here by your side"
"Which is why it is even more frustrating that you keep making decisions alone despite the we are all here by your side"
"Let us help you" her gaze softens. "Let us share in your burdens"
"You are no longer responsible solely for yourself" Frederick interjects.
"The lives of millions now rest on your continued existence. You cannot expect us to simply be comfortable with you putting yourself at risk while we do nothing"
"Hmmm...."
For perhaps the first time, Ezra grasps the implications of his existence.
If something were to happen to him...
The Sovereign Universe could be destroyed.
The realization left him quiet for a long moment.
Then finally—
"...I understand"
The tension in the room eased slightly.
Frederick smiled faintly.
"Good"
What followed afterward lasted for over two hours.
For the first time, Ezra thoroughly brought them up to speed.
His encounter with Vorath.
His future plans.
His intentions to establish supply chains, information channels and secure methods of traversal.
The siblings listened intently throughout.
Questions were raised constantly, suggestions followed.
A few arguments broke out and were settled.
And slowly, what had initially begun as a confrontation evolved into something else entirely.
A council.
A team.
Perhaps still imperfect, still burdened by complicated history.
But a team nonetheless.
The discussion only truly came to an end once the atmosphere within the conference hall had completely transformed.
Ezra leaned back slightly in his chair, fingers interlocked as he stared across the table at the people gathered before him.
For the first time since obtaining the Sovereign Universe, he no longer felt like a solitary existence dragging others behind him.
Rather, he now had people capable of standing beside him.
People willing to shoulder responsibility alongside him.
That realization settled strangely within his chest.
"Alright" Ezra finally says. "If we are truly doing this together, then everyone will need a clear role moving forward"
"The issue concerning our home comes first"
Several expressions immediately grew serious.
Ezra turns toward Frederick.
"I agree with your stand earlier. "Fragmented kingdoms will only slow development and waste resources through infighting"
Roxanne opened her mouth as if intending to argue before ultimately remaining silent.
"The technological disparity between the Sovereign Universe and the main universe is too vast" Ezra continues.
"If we carelessly distribute advanced technology among fragmented powers, wars will inevitably erupt"
Ezra taps the table once.
"So we centralize authority first"
Frederick’s eyes narrow thoughtfully.
"You want me to handle it?"
"Yes"
Out of everyone present, Frederick possessed the greatest experience in administration and large-scale coordination due to his management of Black Sky.
Unlike Ezra, Frederick understood systems, people, infrastructure, supply chains,
"I expect you to oversee the unification process and establishment of a unitary world government" Ezra states. "Political integration, resource management, technological distribution and military oversight as well"
Frederick nods. "I will get it done"
"You’ll also determine which technologies can safely be introduced without destabilizing civilization"
"That part will be troublesome"
"I know"
The older man gives a faint smile.
Satisfied, Ezra turns toward Theron and Johan.
"I might need you two to head to the Radiant Star Cluster ahead of me"
The brothers glanced at one another before Theron put a question forward.
"Might I ask why?"
