68: Chapter 68 Passage

Xia Xingchen looked at the portrait in front of him.

Could there be a passage behind it?

However, what Xia Xingchen didn't expect was that the mechanism here was even more advanced than he had imagined.

Frankie then pressed a spot behind the corner of the picture frame.

The next second, the entire wall slid open to both sides, revealing a passage half a meter wide.

It was about 1.2 meters high, only enough to accommodate one person at a time.

Frankie took the initiative to lead the way at the very front.

Just as Xia Xingchen was about to step in second, the Star Guard Company Commander blocked the Archon's path and gestured to him:

"You should be careful; let us go first."

Xia Xingchen nodded upon hearing this.

Immediately after, the Star Guard Company Commander entered the passage first, followed by Xia Xingchen.

The passage was too narrow, so it was ultimately decided that only five people would enter.

Frankie walked ahead. The path was much shorter than expected—only about a hundred meters—before he pushed open a door at the end.

When Xia Xingchen entered, he saw only a shivering fat man curled up on the bed, covered from head to toe with a quilt, as if that would prevent danger from befalling him.

Xia Xingchen and the Star Guard exchanged glances, then rushed to the bedside and yanked the quilt off.

The Governor, dressed in ornate noble attire, rolled onto the floor like a fat pig.

Governor Waka Thomas hadn't even reacted yet; as soon as he opened his eyes, he saw the muzzle of a laser gun pointed at his face.

Governor Waka Thomas's fat trembled with fear. He looked around and realized that the traitor Frankie had actually led Xia Xingchen in through a secret passage.

"Frankie! You traitor! Your family swore to serve the Thomas Family for generations!"

Governor Waka Thomas shouted abuse at Frankie, who merely kept his head down and said nothing.

After all, betraying a superior, regardless of the reason, never sounds good when word gets out.

Xia Xingchen didn't make things difficult for Frankie; he simply gave a signal, and the Star Guard immediately gagged Governor Waka Thomas while pressing a dagger against his neck.

Governor Waka Thomas grunted a few times like a wild boar but didn't dare move an inch, fearing the sharp blade would slit his throat.

Xia Xingchen walked up to him and took off his helmet.

His cold eyes stared intently at Governor Waka Thomas as he spoke in an unquestionable tone:

"Frankie isn't the traitor; you are. Don't forget, your family also swore allegiance to the Empire. Supreme loyalty should be offered to the Emperor and the Empire, not to you alone."

"You betrayed the Emperor and the Empire, while Frankie chose to return to the right path. Do you understand?"

Frankie hadn't expected Xia Xingchen to speak up for him. By framing it from the perspective of Imperial righteousness, Xia Xingchen instantly dispelled all the guilt and unease in his heart.

Governor Waka Thomas looked at Xia Xingchen with resentful eyes; he clearly wanted to say something but didn't dare open his mouth.

Xia Xingchen then looked at Governor Waka Thomas and announced his sentence:

"Governor Waka Thomas, you have betrayed the God-Emperor."

"I hereby sentence you to public execution in the Hive City's central plaza for the crimes of treason, betraying the God-Emperor, and heresy."

"At that time, countless nobles and commoners will witness the moment your head is severed from your body."

As Xia Xingchen spoke, he made a chopping motion with his hand.

"Do you have any objections?"

After speaking, Xia Xingchen gave Governor Waka Thomas one last chance to defend himself, but the man's mouth was gagged so tightly he couldn't make a sound.

Xia Xingchen waited for thirty seconds. After confirming that Governor Waka Thomas had no objections, he made the public proclamation:

"Governor Waka Thomas has no objections."

Having completed the final sentencing, Xia Xingchen signaled the soldiers to take him away.

And so, Governor Waka Thomas was hauled up by the soldiers like a fat pig destined for slaughter.

"Frankie."

Hearing Xia Xingchen call him, Frankie immediately turned around.

"You are to take over all the troops and simultaneously hand over supreme military command to us."

At this point, Frankie had no choice but to pledge his loyalty to his new master.

"By your command, Archon."

After handling these matters, Xia Xingchen began the process of taking over the entire Vanad Planet.

As Xia Xingchen walked through the passage, a message suddenly came through the communication channel.

"What is it, Nuwa?"

Nuwa's cold, mechanical voice soon rang out, reporting the situation at Hive City No. 3 to Xia Xingchen:

"A rebellion has broken out in the lower levels of Hive City No. 3, which is an important energy production base for the Vanad System."

Xia Xingchen sighed helplessly upon hearing this; despite all his precautions, he still couldn't prevent a rebellion in the Hive City.

Xia Xingchen stopped and leaned against the wall, ready to hear the details.

"What are the details?"

Nuwa then organized the reports from the Hive City No. 3 garrison:

"Members of Governor Waka Thomas's family have rallied some remnant forces and incited a rebellion in the lower levels of Hive City No. 3, seizing control of the lower district. However, the troops that surrendered to us have successfully blocked them at the junction of the middle and upper levels."

Hearing this, Xia Xingchen immediately issued instructions:

"Dispatch the Fifth Division to Hive City No. 3 for suppression."

Nuwa responded:

"Understood. Are there any other instructions, Archon?"

"Deploy the First Division and Second Division to Hive City No. 1 and Hive City No. 2 to quickly control the situation and prevent a repeat of what happened in Hive City No. 3."

Noticing that Xia Xingchen hadn't mentioned the Third or Fourth Divisions, Nuwa asked:

"Where should the Third Division be sent?"

In fact, Xia Xingchen had already made arrangements:

"Recall the Third Division to the Spaceport's ground base. The Fourth Division will protect the Spaceport and ensure the normal operation of the Space Cargo Elevator. Under no circumstances should anything go wrong with it."

Xia Xingchen's first priority was to ensure the stability of the Space Cargo Elevator. After all, only with it in operation could he continuously transport troops and supplies from space to Vanad Planet.

"By your command, my lord."

Xia Xingchen took a deep breath, as if slowly exhaling all the fatigue accumulated in his chest.

It seemed he would have to spend some time gaining control over Hive City No. 3 of Vanad Planet.

As Xia Xingchen was thinking, footsteps echoed in the passage.

The footsteps were steady and heavy; Xia Xingchen instantly turned his gaze toward the source of the sound.