Inside the command cabin of the reef zone, Martin's tense face was reflected on the holographic screen.
On the screen, the Matrix Galaxy was surrounded by densely packed ships, and the enemy's energy shields were connected together, like an airtight cocoon, wrapping the star field in the center.
"How about... retreat first?" Kage beside him suggested in a low voice, with hesitation in his voice.
Martin tapped his fingertips hard on the armrest, and the words of denial almost came out of his mouth.
"no."
He stared at the flashing lights on the screen. Those were the Allied Fleet coming to support.
It is obvious that they are determined to live and die with the Matrix Galaxy, and such fleets are constantly coming.
Evacuate? It's not like he hasn't thought about it.
But once he retreats, the territory he previously occupied may be handed over to others, not to mention that other superior forces and ancient races may decide to join forces to deal with him.
"If I force a breakthrough, I can actually reach the higher planes deep within the Matrix Galaxy..."
Martin frowned and ran his fingertips across the nodes on the screen.
"However, if we do this, we might just be creating a wedding dress for other forces that are waiting and watching."
The air in the command cabin was already stagnant due to the battle situation, and Eric's hurried footsteps added a bit of tension.
He stopped in front of Martin, bowed politely, and handed over a sealed envelope with both hands. The edge of the envelope was embossed with dark gold patterns, which looked unusual.
Martin didn't answer it immediately, but his eyes fell on Eric's face with scrutiny.
Eric understood and quickly explained, "Your Majesty, the letter has been checked three times. There are no hidden codes, no energy fluctuations, and no interlayers."
Martin then took the envelope, twisted the wax seal with his fingertips, and pulled out the letter inside.
The handwriting on the paper was sloppy but revealed a fierceness. Just a few words made his face darken little by little. His knuckles turned white due to the force, and several wrinkles were formed on the letter paper.
"Where is the messenger?" He put away the letter, his voice as cold as ice.
Eric shook his head, his tone somewhat helpless.
"It was delivered to the port by an anonymous drone. It was a very common model and its origin could not be traced. The drone self-destructed after dropping the letter, leaving no clues."
Martin was silent, tapping his fingers lightly on the table, making a "thump, thump" sound, and the rhythm became faster and faster.
His eyes were fixed on the empty envelope on the table, his expression shifting constantly - the contents of the letter pointed directly to his secret defense line in the reef zone.
He even mentioned the core nodes of the "Dark Star" plan. It was obvious that the other party knew his deployment very well.
The command cabin was so quiet that one could hear his own heartbeat. Eric stood aside, not daring to disturb them.
After a long time, Martin stopped tapping the table, looked up at the besieged matrix galaxy outside the porthole, and a hint of ruthlessness flashed in his eyes.
"It seems that someone doesn't want us to watch the show in peace."
He crumpled the envelope into a ball and threw it into the incinerator, where it was instantly engulfed by light blue flames.
"Pass the order down. Strengthen the investigation of hidden lines. Also, initiate the 'Dark Star' project ahead of schedule."
"Yes!" Eric responded and retreated.
Martin sat back in the command chair, sliding his fingertips across the tactical screen, calling up the densely packed coordinates.
The letter was like a thorn that pierced his seemingly stable layout, and he knew that the next game would be more dangerous than expected.
In the central palace of the Matrix Galaxy, the old emperor leaned on the obsidian throne, playing with a jade pendant engraved with a star map on his fingertips.
Hearing his subordinate's report, he didn't even raise his eyelids, but asked calmly: "Has the letter been delivered?"
"Your Majesty, it has been delivered to Martin. However... his fleet has not moved for the time being, and the defense deployment has not been adjusted." The subordinate bowed and replied with a hint of doubt in his tone.
The old emperor suddenly chuckled, and his laughter echoed in the empty palace with a hint of mockery.
"That's all right. Let him digest it slowly. The contents of that letter will give him enough to ponder for a while."
He waved his hand, signaling his subordinates to leave.
The moment the palace door closed, the smile on the old emperor's face faded and his eyes looked out the window - there, the coalition ships were slowly gathering, like a silent dark cloud.
He tapped his fingertips lightly on the armrest and murmured to himself, "Dark Star Project...Martin, oh Martin, you're so brave to think of it. But unfortunately, in this game, you and I are just pawns."
Three days later, the coalition forces from the higher planes and those long-dormant ancient races will arrive.
By then, both he and Martin will be caught up in a bigger storm.
"But that's fine."
A hint of interest flashed in the old emperor's eyes.
"Let me see how you plan to survive this catastrophe."
In the interrogation room in the reef zone, the metal walls reflected a cold, hard light.
Martin stood outside the one-way glass, looking at the several figures bound inside - they were once his trusted subordinates, but now they hung their heads, with dejection written all over their faces.
"Did he pry his mouth open?" Martin's voice was cold.
The captain of the guard beside him shook his head, his tone filled with annoyance.
"They revealed their contact information with the Skyrim Storm Force and admitted to secretly passing on regular defense intelligence. But when asked about the Dark Star Project... they flatly denied any knowledge of it."
Martin tapped his knuckles on the glass, his eyes sharp as a knife.
The level of these spies really cannot access the core of the Dark Star Plan, but the letter accurately points out the key nodes of the plan. It is obvious that the leaker is someone else, and his status is definitely not low.
"Continue the trial."
He turned and left.
"Even if we can't uncover the mastermind, we must find out how the Sky Storm Force got in touch with them."
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