Chapter 332

Chapter 332: Another Attack

If the forward base had been discovered by coincidence, that wouldn’t have posed a problem. Countless methods existed to handle such accidents.

Currently, dragged by eight Poison Sting Destroyers and six Wind Tooth Destroyers, the floating island housing the forward base had completely shifted from its original position. Like a carriage pulled through the sky, it now drifted in entirely different airspace. Within days, all traces of its path would vanish.

But if this wasn’t mere coincidence—if the Blue Truth Sect truly possessed the ability to scan the entire Star Ocean—then all precautions became meaningless.

Midi approached the situation from this worst-case assumption. He chose to attack precisely because offense served as both the best defense and the most effective way to test enemy capabilities.

Understanding this logic, Reinhardt gave a firm nod. "Let me assist. At minimum, my negotiations with Blood Purification should yield better results than most alternatives."

The fourth prince made this claim not just from confidence in his diplomatic skills, but because he remained the only viable candidate.

Avril and Emil’s sisterly duo lacked political acumen. Wiseman showed neither interest nor talent for delicate talks.

Though Midi possessed both negotiation skills and overwhelming Personal Power to intimidate opponents, his reputation in Blood Purification lay in ruins. After all, few would trust someone who ransacked their home and evicted its masters on first meeting.

Thus Reinhardt became the sole option.

His strategy focused on Judge Marcel as the entry point—first earning favor with the High Ranking Judge, then convincing Sandur and his Junior Sister Shelly. Bringing Avril for "girl diplomacy" might help too; Shelly might lower her guard when conversing with the "Holy Maiden" recognized by Blood Purification.

Reinhardt began formulating plans with the natural ease of a Delos Empire royal born to such intrigues. But before he could deploy his charm, disaster struck.

An urgent distress signal blared from Blood Hell Island. Six perimeter outposts fell instantly as the sect headquarters’ aerial fleet advanced—four Magic Griffin-class cruisers, sixteen Poison Sting Destroyers, and one Wild Dragon-class heavy cruiser leading the charge.

Though not an ancient warship, the Wild Dragon-class matched Midi’s Wind King Warship in firepower thanks to cutting-edge armaments. Support vessels rivaling Rothschild Tiger Shark-class Skyships swarmed alongside them.

Even Midi, the reincarnated veteran of countless battles, recognized this as a devastating force. If unleashed from the Stormy Region, it could dominate the entire Sea of Clouds. Against Blood Hell Island’s defenses? Hopeless—especially with Heart-Seizing Demons commanding the bridges.

This marked Blood Purification’s greatest existential crisis since its founding, unavoidable and demanding direct confrontation.

"Those damned outsiders!" Sandur roared, smashing a fist through the council table. "They allied with octopus-headed freaks to steal Mind Maze secrets, then betrayed them! Let’s seize their Poison Sting Destroyers and crush their forward base!"

His fiery words ignited the younger elites. But Marcel’s icy gaze froze the rising fervor. "Foolishness. Why would outsiders collude with our sect’s mortal enemies? Control yourselves."

The High Ranking Judge interjected warily: "Their interests conflict, true… but what if they leaked our location? Letting us and the sect headquarters weaken each other for their gain?"

Distrust hung thick between the factions. Yet Marcel shook his head. Though viewing Midi as a threat, the Blood Purification ruler understood: exposing their headquarters wouldn’t cause mutual attrition—it meant annihilation.

The crane and clam may fight, letting the fisherman profit, but only if they’re equally matched. Though Blood Purification had clashed with the sect headquarters for fifty years, they’d mostly fought guerrilla wars. A direct confrontation would be like an egg smashing against a rock—utter destruction.

Midi’s forward base couldn’t benefit either, for he wasn’t the fisherman but a minnow beneath even the crane and clam. Rather than raging at new allies, the real priority was surviving this crisis. Marcel silently reasoned.

“Instead of pointless slander and tantrums, focus on surviving this crisis!” A cold, commanding voice cut through the hall—not Marcel’s, but Midi’s uninvited interruption.

“You!” Sandur leapt up, hostility blazing in his eyes. Even Blood Purification’s higher-ups tensed at the Legendary Thought Capturer’s presence.

Only Judge Marcel remained composed, nodding at Midi. “You see our plight. No niceties or games—state your terms.”

“Terms?” Midi paused, then grasped Marcel’s meaning. When Midi’s base had been threatened, Marcel had extorted rather than aided. Now Marcel expected retaliation during Blood Hell Island’s crisis.

Unlike Midi’s reality-shifting power, Marcel needed the Legendary Thought Capturer’s help. Better to negotiate openly than endure blackmail. This blunt pragmatism defined Marcel’s leadership.

But Marcel erred in one assumption—Midi never planned extortion.

“Direct as ever. My condition’s simple: the Hawk Brigade joins this fight against the sect headquarters.” Midi’s icy stare swept the room. “Since you doubt me, I’ll lead the charge myself to prove my intent.”

Gasps filled the hall. Even Marcel blinked. This wasn’t the schemer they knew—why offer such terms when holding all leverage?

Reading their confusion, Midi smirked. “My ambitions outweigh petty extortion. Crush the Blue Truth Sect together, and Blood Purification becomes my true ally.”

“What after victory?” a High Ranking Judge challenged.

“We’ll bridge the Sea of Clouds and Stormy Region. Your people would merge into the wider world then.” Midi’s reply came smooth as oil.

Compared to the sect’s vast reach, Blood Purification was minnows. Post-victory, they’d dissolve into larger factions—exactly Midi’s design, and precisely what their leaders secretly craved.

“Pretty words,” Sandur sneered. “Can you deliver? Or will you cheat like during the trials?”

“Irrelevant. You’ve no choice but to accept my ‘kindness’.” Midi’s glance dismissed Sandur before locking on Marcel. Here, only the Judge warranted his attention.

Marcel scrutinized Midi as if peeling back his skull. Finally, he sighed and offered his hand. “No alternatives remain. As Blood Purification’s Ruler, I grant you second-in-command authority.”

Midi gripped the outstretched hand. “Let’s give those octopus-headed fools a reckoning they’ll never forget.”