Chapter 331

Chapter 331: Expedition Preparation

The true size of the Star Ocean remains unknown.

Though lying at the core of the Stormy Region, this place exists as a separate realm—a mysterious space overflowing with riches, dangers, and opportunities.

Past explorations revealed its expanse surpasses even the entire Sea of Clouds.

Among Star Ocean’s wonders, neither the pure mineral veins nor rare herb-filled valleys draw the most awe. That distinction belongs to floating "land masses" possessing consciousness and mobility.

These are called Behemoths.

As legendary lifeforms, these Behemoths dwarf even the Monsoon Fleet. Too vast to be mere floating islands, they rank as flying continents.

The largest among them—a whale-shaped colossus stretching hundreds of kilometers—carries mountains, rivers, and ancient ruins on its back. Rumors claim this Behemoth served as celestial war weaponry until the Tyrant Dragon cast it down millennia ago, its crash forming both the Storms and Star Ocean itself.

When explorer Leslie first breached the Stormy Region, this Behemoth became headquarters for the Blue Truth Exploration Society. Now, after a thousand years, it anchors the Blue Truth Sect’s power.

This mobile continent—rich in resources, sentient, and impregnable—remains Midi’s ultimate target.

To rule the Sea of Clouds, one must control the Behemoth. Failure means perpetual vulnerability to Sect attacks, dooming any chance of peace or growth.

Though the flying fortress seems unconquerable and the Sect headquarters holds supreme experts, Midi has no alternative. He must attack—using every skill at his disposal.

Yet when proposed, this plan drew universal opposition.

Reinhardt (the human from Arad), Avril and Emil (native to Sea of Clouds), and even new allies from Blood Purification all deemed it reckless.

Capturing eight Poison Sting Destroyers counted as luck, not true strength against a thousand-year Sect entrenched in Star Ocean’s wealth. Blood Purification’s fifty-year rebellion and the newly arrived Hawk Brigade paled in comparison.

The forward base needed repairs after recent battles. Worse, Blood Purification’s youth—still hostile after the Mind Maze trial—showed open contempt for Midi’s Hawk Brigade. Only Patrol Team’s Rot proved cooperative.

Such division cripples armies—especially against the Sect’s might. Early successes might hold, but real pressure would shatter their fragile alliance.

Every commander objected.

"Why attack now?" Reinhardt asked in the base, seeking understanding rather than challenging. The once-proud fourth prince now recognized his own limitations, constantly learning from Midi’s decisions.

As for Midi, he didn’t fear others learning his tactical ideas. Holding back techniques wasn’t his style – creating entirely new strategies was his trademark.

Whenever Reinhardt asked, Midi always answered.

This time proved no exception.

"Only two months since entering Star Ocean, yet our forward base at the outermost edge already suffered attacks. Something’s definitely wrong here," Midi stated with conviction.

True, one could dismiss this as coincidence. The Blue Truth Sect’s patrol fleet constantly scoured Star Ocean for enemies like Blood Purification. Frequent resource harvesting near the base increased exposure risks.

But Midi refused to blame unpredictable luck. As a top commander, he demanded control over all variables. When facing unknowns like this attack’s origin, he prepared for worst-case scenarios.

"Fair enough," Reinhardt shrugged, "but shouldn’t we investigate internally first? Offensive actions seem riskier."

He suspected undercover agents in their ranks. Though Midi’s faction vetted members thoroughly during formation, Blue Truth Sect spies might have infiltrated the Sea of Clouds. Additionally, Heart-Seizing Demons could mind-control previously loyal personnel.

During his Thought Capturer trials, Reinhardt himself had used mind control – as did all trial participants hosting Heart-Seizing Demons. Now a senior Thought Capturer, this possibility naturally occurred to him after the base’s exposure.

Midi shook his head. "Unlikely. I already scanned everyone." He tapped his forehead where mind-related abilities originate.

Reinhardt blinked, then chuckled ruefully. He’d forgotten Midi’s formidable psychic energy while stuck on basic deductions.

"In that recent battle, I delayed attacking to search for psychic tethers controlling puppets. Found nothing," Midi explained. "As for initial infiltration during our faction’s formation – our security procedures were airtight."

"Could the problem lie with them?" Reinhardt gestured through the window glass at Blood Purification’s six Wind Tooth warships docked nearby.

Midi simply smiled without answering.

Moments later, Reinhardt’s pale cheeks flushed with rare embarrassment. Blood Purification couldn’t harbor traitors – any spies in this fifty-year rebel group would’ve been rooted out decades before Midi’s arrival.

Nor would they sabotage Midi’s weaker faction already at negotiation disadvantage. They’d never known the forward base’s location anyway.

"Not them or us… external forces then?" Reinhardt concluded.

"Likely new Blue Truth Sect methods." Midi’s eyes turned frosty.

Searching his memories, Midi recalled no such incidents in his past life. For years after adventurers reached Star Ocean, the sect lacked notable reconnaissance tactics – letting him employ surprise attacks against Heart-Seizing Demons despite lacking Thought Capturers.

But now things changed. Maybe Dusk Graveyard’s battle made the demons wary of Sea of Clouds. Perhaps research accidents yielded breakthroughs. Regardless, the sect grew stronger than he remembered.

This eroded Midi’s reincarnator advantage. They needed active intelligence-gathering through controlled engagements. Hiding at the base might seem productive, but resembled frogs in wells building useless contraptions. Wrong choices against the strengthened sect meant doom for both factions.

Face fears. Cast aside doubts. Fight repeatedly. Gain experience. Grow stronger.

That was Midi’s way.