Experiencing the outside world firsthand was indeed a desire for both Firefly and Fairy Elysia.
But... being slapped with silver handcuffs shortly after arriving, apprehended by what seemed to be 'Firefly's' own Firefly IV Assault Armor, and then taken to the security bureau to sample public rations...
how should one put it?
This hardly qualified as a pleasant experience. Even the optimistic Firefly couldn't help feeling conflicted.
"What in the world is going on..." ER Elysia, the accomplice, sat on the chair beside Firefly. Though her miniature size made the scene somewhat comical, it couldn't hide the frustration on 'Mini' Elysia's face as she rested her chin on her hand.
Click
The highly automated door slid open slowly. Entering from outside was the same Firefly IV armor that had arrested them. It slowly sat down at the interrogation table.
"Spill it. How did you sneak into Imperial territory? What is your purpose? Where are your accomplices?" The synthesized mechanical voice, lacking much emotion but laced with sternness, questioned the two.
The familiar voice only complicated Ms. Firefly's feelings further. But... I used to be the one talking to others like this...
Though finding it hard to maintain composure, the currently disadvantaged Ms. Firefly could only whisper truthfully, "Sorry, we were just looking for someone here. We didn't know where this was..."
"Hm?"
"You don't know where this is?"
"Yes. Could you tell me where exactly this place is?" Firefly was very concerned. After all, the figure opposite her seemed to be wearing the Firefly armor that should be on Jiang Qiao, and the 'Empire' mentioned also piqued her curiosity.
However, the next answer left Firefly stunned.
"This is Nottung, the capital planet of the Glamoth Empire."
"..."
"Huh?" Her face was blank with disbelief. Beside her, Mini Elysia whispered, "Didn't you tell me the Glamoth Empire was completely fake?"
For the ever-curious ER Elysia, listening to stories from other worlds was a must. Unfortunately, Firefly's background wasn't the type to produce exciting tales. As a Glamoth Iron Cavalry, essentially a weapon, Firefly didn't have many 'stories' to share.
All she could offer was the 'false dream' of the Glamoth Empire fabricated by the Glamoth Republic for the Iron Cavalry.
Ms. Firefly naturally couldn't answer ER Elysia's question. She was completely baffled herself.
What the? Glamoth Empire? Where did you pull that from? Firefly almost thought she was still on active duty, and the figure before her was one of those big-talking council members from the Glamoth Republic.
But that Firefly armor was undeniably real.
"...Was I deceived?" Although her education level was on par with her companion ER Elysia—perhaps even lower, since Elysia at least had Mother Celia at the orphanage teaching literacy and preschool basics, while Firefly, produced as a cheap weapon, likely only had 'prenatal education'—she wasn't a foolish girl despite her lack of schooling.
Firefly instinctively assumed the Iron Cavalry before her might be a surviving comrade... though she couldn't figure out how another one could appear when the main force she was supposedly with had been wiped out, leaving her the sole survivor.
But having experienced deception by the Glamoth Republic before, this wasn't entirely incomprehensible. Perhaps some remnants of the Iron Cavalry survived and were taken in by this unknown faction.
Then, just like the Glamoth Republic... those people were pulling the same trick on the Iron Cavalry again, bringing out the 'Glamoth Empire PUA' stick, trying to use them for their own ends.
The more Firefly thought, the more convinced she became. Her initial relief—*'So I wasn't alone after all, I still have kin!'*—turned into anger towards those attempting to exploit her comrades, her kin.
"Um, you've been deceived," ER Elysia blurted out, her straightforward nature taking over without much thought.
"The Glamoth Empire is fake. The people here are probably just trying to use you. It's just a lie." Relief, anger, then anxiety—Ms. Firefly earnestly tried to rescue her apparent comrade from this unknown 'fiery pit.'
However... the previously silent Glamoth Iron Cavalry... became enraged!
Honestly, she already had a poor attitude towards those who violated the Empress's decrees. All the goodness of the New Glamoth Iron Cavalry should be reserved for those worthy of protection—this was Her Majesty's edict.
But out of civility, out of respect for Her Majesty's expectations, even upon hearing unpleasant things, she was willing to communicate calmly.
But... That pink-haired little one saying the Glamoth Empire was fake was one thing—ignorance, tolerable. But this one just wouldn't stop!
"Silence! You wretched stowaway!" the Iron Cavalry roared. "How dare you claim the sacred Glamoth Empire is false! You even try to shake my loyalty to Her Majesty the Empress! You truly are a silver-tongued, despicable stowaway!"
"...Don't you have any proof or something to show her? She won't believe you just based on words..." ER Elysia looked speechlessly at Firefly. Having spent time with her, she knew Firefly's skill level in 'negotiation.'
Beating the opponent into submission and then using fists to talk—that was probably Ms. Firefly's only... well, at least effective method of 'negotiation.' Even though ER Elysia tried to impart some of her own experience in the Elysian Realm, the results were clearly not ideal.
"...But all my data is stored in the Firefly armor..." Firefly sighed helplessly.
She did have proof regarding this issue—after the Glamoth Empire lie was exposed, the Iron Cavalry collectively stored that information in their armor data banks. But her armor, even her body, was still with someone else...
At this moment, she couldn't help but miss her own body. Even setting aside the armor data, just showing her face might have avoided this awkwardness (she was sure).
Firefly's voice wasn't loud, but the Glamoth Iron Cavalry heard it clearly.
"Hm?" Firefly armor? This person is Glamoth Iron Cavalry? Impossible. Every Glamoth Iron Cavalry had a registered number in the Imperial system, easily verifiable through identity authentication. Since this person wasn't registered...
In that instant, the Iron Cavalry understood. If he isn't Glamoth Iron Cavalry, how could he possess Firefly armor?
Although she couldn't see the armor's summoner device on this man's body, it didn't stop the Iron Cavalry from analyzing the situation.
"So, you are thieves!"
"Aha! Not just stowaways, but daring to steal the Empire's weapons... You truly are spies sent here!"
"Confess! Where is the Firefly armor you stole? And who ordered you to steal Imperial weaponry!" The cold interrogation made Firefly and ER Elysia break out in a cold sweat. Seriously? How are the charges piling up like this?
Especially Ms. Firefly, who felt more wronged than Dou E right now. What do you mean, stole Firefly armor? That's mine, okay!
She just came to take a look while Jiang Qiao was around, how did things turn into this mess?
Her brain overloaded by the absurdity, ER Elysia could only tearfully attempt to explain, trying the sincerity approach. "Um, this is really a misunderstanding... I can vouch for her! Firefly really is a Glamoth Iron Cavalry, (s)he's your comrade!" Yes! Pure sincerity!
However, facing Elysia's heartfelt plea formula, the Iron Cavalry fell silent. Her body trembled continuously.
Eh? It's working! ER Elysia detected the subtle change and instantly beamed. See? It takes me, Elysia, to handle things!
Just as ER Elysia thought things were heading in the right direction, Firefly felt something was... not quite right.
After all, she was a Glamoth Iron Cavalry herself; she knew their mental state all too well. The comrade before her didn't seem to be contemplating anything... rather, she looked... very angry...
"Um..." Subconsciously, Firefly wanted to say something, though she had no idea what, as she didn't understand why the other party had become so agitated.
Until the next moment.
The Iron Cavalry roared in fury: "Insolence! How dare you speak Her Majesty the Empress's name directly!"
"..."
"..."
The air instantly fell deathly silent.
Firefly stared wide-eyed, as if unable to process.
"Despicable thieves! Stowaways! Not only stealing Imperial technology, but daring to speak Her Majesty's name... No, you even dare to use Her Majesty's name?! Simply unforgivable!!!"
Seriously, sister? You're this angry just because of a name? ER Elysia was baffled. Ms. Firefly, meanwhile, felt both baffled and slightly wronged.
What do you mean, 'your Empress's name'? That's my name! Mine!
Besides, even if your Empress is also named Firefly, so what? The universe is huge, can't people share names?! Or does your Empress own the name now, forbidding others from using it? What, is her face that big?
The very unhappy Firefly fumed internally. But ER Elysia nudged her... no reaction... nudged again... still confused... nudged again... It was as if she finally snapped back to reality, stunned.
She subconsciously asked, "The Empress of the Glamoth Empire... isn't her name supposed to be Titania?"
In response, although desperately wanting to give these two blasphemers a good pounding, constrained by the Empress's expectations and driven by the profound reverence and loyalty of a Glamoth Iron Cavalry towards the Imperial Empress, she suppressed her fury and stated coldly: "You two disrespectful ignoramuses! How dare you defile Her Majesty's name with some unknown, random moniker!"
"What Titania?"
"There are no two suns in the sky! The great Glamoth Empire has only ONE Empress!" With the fervor and reverence of a zealot, a pilgrim towards their object of faith, the Iron Cavalry's voice was high-pitched, resolute, and utterly decisive.
"And that is Her Majesty, Empress Firefly!"
Empress Firefly!
"..."
What the heck?
At this moment, Ms. Firefly's brain, predictably, short-circuited completely.
---||---
Meanwhile... countless light-years away, the Xianzhou Luofu was already like ants on a hot pan.
Within the Seat of Divine Foresight, Jing Yuan sat on the main seat, his brow deeply furrowed.
Living planets were typically creations of Yaoshi the Plaguelord or THEIR Emanators. For the Xianzhou Alliance, they were absolute enemies, each one practically equivalent to a full-scale Abundance War. Their difficulty level was comparable to facing an Emanator of Abundance.
According to the Xianzhou's principle of dealing with Abominations of Abundance, encountering such a thing meant it couldn't be ignored.
However... Only a dozen years or so had passed since the last battle against the living planet, Jiaoqiu.
The Third Abundance War and the subsequent arrival of Jiaoqiu had already severely damaged the Xianzhou Fanghu, leaving it with no defensive capabilities, forced into quiet recuperation.
Simultaneously, that war had also heavily drained the reinforcing Xianzhou Luofu. While there had been some time to recover... a dozen years of recovery, for long-life species like the Xianzhou, was barely anything.
The current Xianzhou Luofu was already facing a shortage of personnel. Fighting another living planet... Jing Yuan felt like it would be easier to just kill him now.
But avoiding the battle was impossible. That living planet was heading towards the Fanghu. The Fanghu was primarily inhabited by Vidyadhara... If another battle occurred, the Xianzhou Alliance might very well lose another flagship.
Therefore, according to the calculations and arrangements of the Xianzhou Yuque, and at the request of the Fanghu's Wave-Taming General, the Fanghu would not participate in this battle.
The other Xianzhou ships had to do their utmost to delay the living planet's advance, buying time for the Fanghu to escape and change course. The main forces for this task were the Xianzhou Yaoqing and Luofu.
Jing Yuan knew exactly what this meant. To attract the living planet, a mere Cloud Knight fleet was unlikely to halt its progress. Only a Xianzhou ship of comparable size, acting as bait, could potentially stop the living planet's advance.
However, the last Xianzhou ship to do this was the 'Fanghu.' The result? Once engaged, the ship was routed, forced to activate the Cloud-Piercer and request the Reignbow Arbiter's divine arrow to defeat the enemy. Afterward, half of the Xianzhou's Delves were destroyed...
"Sigh..." Jing Yuan sighed deeply. This General's seat truly carried immense pressure. Once this matter was resolved, it was really time to find a successor.