Chapter 159 He's Going to Seize Power

“Master, there is no one else in these ruins besides the four of us,” Kross replied earnestly.

No one else? Ning Shuyin's heart sank.

"What's the ambush at the ruins all about?" she pressed. "Who was behind those people who came out of the Alliance prison, and Huangfu Desen?"

Kross looked at Situ Linchen, his gaze shifting from humble to playful.

"Those were all gifts from your alliance."

After saying that, he took something out of his waist with his long, slender fingers.

He casually tossed the thing into the air.

Situ Linchen's pupils contracted.

It was a small metal plate covered with fine lines. He was very familiar with this; it was the Alliance's latest miniature surveillance and positioning device.

Kross raised his hand and gently squeezed it in mid-air, instantly turning the device into dust.

Situ Linchen's face was grim.

This trap seems to have been prepared specifically for him.

His combat terminal beeped; it was an urgent intelligence report from the Alliance's central intelligence system.

After the screen lights up, a video plays.

This was the scene inside the ruins just a few minutes ago.

Countless thick black chains erupted from Ning Shuyin's body, like tentacles from the abyss, binding the arrogant Kross tightly.

The scene is dark and eerie; any ordinary person would probably be terrified at the sight of it.

The video was short, ending with the mechanical-footed prince carefully embracing her and offering his heartfelt greetings.

The intelligence report below the video details: The enchantress lying beside the marshal can control mechanical royalty. The Alliance Council has temporarily declared a Level 1 alert and ordered the enchantress to be killed.

Loran turned and glanced at Situ.

A ruthless glint flashed in Situ Linchen's eyes, a look that conveyed only two words: silence.

If Klose is silenced, the video will be irretrievable, leaving room for negotiation.

Loran pointed to the rooftop: "The fact that this video can be transmitted in real time means that there is at least a large fleet waiting outside."

The person behind this meticulously prepared trap is hardly a gentleman and most likely wouldn't bother with evidence.

Situ Linchen's body trembled with energy as he retracted his supernatural weapon into his body.

He looked intently at Ning Shuyin.

Although everything that happened today is hard to explain, he remembered his own words: she deserved all his trust.

“Ning Shuyin,” he asked in a low voice, “can your servants be trusted?”

Klose looked as if he had suffered a great humiliation, his teeth clenched tightly, but he couldn't utter a single word of rebuttal.

Ning Shuyin turned her head and glanced at Kross, who immediately composed himself and bowed his head humbly, saying, "I am willing to obey any command from my master."

Situ Linchen suddenly chuckled softly.

This laugh contained too many emotions, ultimately settling on mocking himself for being bound by the identity of the Alliance Marshal.

He looked at Ning Shuyin, his eyes seeming to hold a thousand words.

Resolute, apologetic, reluctant.

He is a man who has decided countless lives and deaths on the ever-changing battlefield, and he is used to making quick decisions and choices.

The existence of Ning Shuyin, who can control the mechanical prince, is enough to give the council an opportunity to stir up a storm.

The problem must be solved thoroughly by him personally.

Thoughts raced, and the decision was made.

He turned on his combat terminal, switched to a special frequency, and issued the command: "Activate Shadow Protocol."

Ning Shuyin had no idea what it was. But Luo Lan was clearly taken aback when she heard it.

"Situ, you've gone mad!" Loran hissed.

“I’m perfectly sober.” Situ Linchen grasped Ning Shuyin’s wrist and pulled her to his side.

The Shadow Protocol is a legendary, top-secret protocol in the Alliance Fleet.

Most people believe that it is just a legend.

This agreement, which was only used once before in a secret operation thousands of years ago, has allowed the current parliament to gain a foothold in the alliance.

Once the agreement is activated, it means that some special combat units in the fleet will disappear directly from radar and communications, becoming Situ Linchen's shadows, obeying only his orders.

After the operation is over, these combat units will completely disappear, like shadows cast by light.

The protocol is initiated.

All communication requests on Situ Linchen's personal computer were blocked.

A black shield icon appears on the screen, signifying absolute isolation and the start of a covert operation.

"Loran, what do you say?" Situ Linchen looked at the doctor who had gotten up and wiped the blood off his face.

Loran's gaze swept over the face that looked all the more pitiful due to its weakness.

In the end, he simply said to her in a low voice, "You helped me take a hit, so I owe you a favor. I won't act as a witness against you for your strange power in any situation. Just pretend I didn't see it."

"But if you dare to come near me again, don't blame me for being ruthless."

After saying that, he turned to Situ Linchen: "As for you, I don't want to get involved in the mess of the alliance's power circles. If you want to use force to sweep away the council, I won't follow you."

Situ Linchen nodded, not surprised by Luo Lan's choice. He said, "Ning Shuyin, have your servant take us back to the surface."

Ning Shuyin looked at the mechanical prince who was standing quietly to the side.

"Kross, clear the way."

"Yes, my master." Kross waved his hand, and the ten Plague Apostles transformed into ten silver shadows, beginning a coordinated transformation above everyone's heads.

The clanging sounds of metal structures being reassembled were incessant.

The ten mechanical warriors were divided into a tunneling group, a power group, and a manned platform group.

The entire process took only a few seconds. A meticulously designed composite tunneling vehicle appeared before everyone's eyes.

Situ Linchen was somewhat surprised.

He had seen too many mechanical warriors on the battlefield, but he never expected that the mechanical race's machines would have such a versatile and functional side.

Kross glanced at him disdainfully, then turned respectfully to Ning Shuyin: "Master, please ascend the ladder."

The manned platform was lowered to a suitable height.

The four men stepped onto the platform, and the deep roar intensified. The high-speed drill bit at the top easily cleaved through the hard rock.

The manned platform was extremely stable, carrying everyone upwards.

Finally, a dust storm from Gamma Star struck, telling them they had reached the ground.

Situ Linchen had issued numerous combat orders on his way back to the ground.

The roar of cannons from the Allied fleet was incessant.

"Marshal!" Fang Yan's voice came from afar.

Those mercenaries had long since disappeared.

Both the Explorer and the Panacia of Loran were blocked by the Alliance fleet on the outskirts and could not get close.

Under the dim sky of Gamma Star, the energy cannons of several Alliance warships were already aimed at them as they burst out of the ground.

But just as these cannons were about to charge up, several red energy beams shot out from behind the distant docking point.

The warships that were preparing to fire at Ning Shuyin were instantly shattered into scrap.

Suddenly, a colossal object appeared in the sky higher up.

It's the Starship.

Situ Linchen withdrew his gaze from the sky and made a special hand gesture towards the Starship.

Less than half a minute later, three armed assault ships detached from the belly of the Starship and flew towards him like arrows, stopping beside him.

“Ning Shuyin,” Situ Linchen led her to the door of one of the assault ships, “I will handle the Alliance Council. However, any action carries risks.”

His gaze passed over her shoulder and fell upon Cross, who was following with his eyes downcast: "Go beyond the boundary and find Caesar. Come back after I've cleared that sorceress's name from your name."

The assault ship, shaped like a black dagger, took off, followed by two autonomous escort ships.

"Master, please sit tight." Kross settled her in the passenger seat, then took the driver's seat and set the coordinates of the nearest jump point.

The assault ship began to accelerate, flying towards the direction of the Starship, and then passing it by as it approached.

It was like a small fish swimming past a giant whale and greeting it.

In the blink of an eye, the massive Starship was left far behind.

At this moment, Situ Linchen stood at the command post of the Starship.

A flood of combat intelligence flashed across the screen in front of him. He was going all in on this mission, using a long-accumulated shadow force to single-handedly seize power from the Alliance Council.

He will ruthlessly crush any obstacle in his path, whether it be a person or a ship.

The only tenderness in his eyes was as he chased after that tiny point of light that was rapidly moving away.

He wanted to use his power to bring her back.

Situ Linchen reached out, wanting to touch that light again from this great distance.

However, just a second before that point of light was about to jump and disappear—

boom!

A blinding fireball exploded at the stern of the assault ship.