112 Lord's Compilation 24 Daron 4 Assault

Thanks to Ayame’s meddling, we finally got the intel on the Daron IV-class vessel.

That ship had been transferred from Prince Riot’s正规 army to Baron Bykovsky’s command, served as a flagship for a while, then retired to patrol duty—ancient, worn-out, and long past its prime.

Confirmed: the sample is from a clone lineage of the Personal Ship X-class mothership.

The component's genetic lineage is the same as the X lineage. Therefore, the production site of the clone's Personal Ship is estimated to be Daron 4.

The鉴定 of the factory flagship confirmed that the Personal Ship and clone systems collected by Majo-uzu from Daron 4 were identical.

The destination for clones, and also the place where Personal Ships were built.

That’s enough to say they’re deeply involved in abducting Earthlings.

"Didn’t get a reply to that inquiry I sent over earlier?"

"Yeah, if it were just about suspicion being used... I’d be fine with rushing to cooperate with the investigation. But instead, I’m met with neither denial nor confirmation—just ignored."

This might just be something we need to settle with a duel.

But reaching into a single-digit prince’s system? The other princes’ reactions are what scare me.

The first, second, and third princes are cooperative in the effort to reclaim Earth—but only because it weakens the power of the prince who threatens them.

If they decide I’m the threat… the focus might turn this way.

At the very least, I’d be grateful if they’d just stop hindering us...

That’s exactly why we should push our own legitimacy.

Upload this incident to the Imperial Network. Criticize Prince Eighth on my behalf for refusing to cooperate with the investigation.

Announce that the clone’s destination is the Eighth Prince’s Home System, the Daron System, and that the Personal Ship was constructed at Daron 4.

If the Eighth Prince Riot doesn’t release a formal, satisfactory comment, we’ll declare open defiance—no holding back!

Well then, now we’re serious. What’s it gonna be, Eighth Prince?

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Somewhere. A secret conference chamber in the neural web.

In front of the four thrones of the Four Heavenly Kings—now missing two—sat the Supreme Leader’s throne, this time.

I, Benjamin, the Ninth Prince, await the Supreme Leader’s arrival.

The Eighth Prince Riot, my equal among the Four Heavenly Kings, is cornered—named outright by Akira.

The stigma of being the mastermind behind an act so taboo even within the Empire has driven even neutral lords away, and worse—turned allies against him.

Let the disinherited prince be. The Eighth Prince Riot, me—Ninth Prince Benjamin, and the exiled Tenth Prince Cain were now in the same boat.

Even with all three of us combined, we couldn’t stand against Akira’s army.

So we decided to bring in the Supreme Commander.

The Supreme Commander—Fourth Prince Lucas. The one who’d united us lesser princes, aiming to overthrow the top three.

I believed he’d step forward and lead us in battle when we needed him most.

“Not coming…?”

“We might’ve been abandoned.”

The Eighth Prince Riot let out a weary sigh.

Riot was my age—same year, same birthday.

Same father, Emperor. Different mothers. But since we were the same age, we’d always been close.

So even after we’d both been eliminated from the succession race, we chose to serve the same lord together.

"The first, second, and third princes are sending reinforcements to support Akira."

"Has the Supreme Commander fled?"

"Looks like it..."

"Will he surrender?"

"Good thing we weren’t challenged to a duel just now."

If it had been a duel, Riot would’ve been stripped of succession rights on the spot.

Now, at least they’d probably let him keep his territory.

And when that happens, I’ll drag the fourth prince down with him.

"Huh? Someone’s coming... falling now."

"Same here. Surrender’s best done early."

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In response to our official statement, the first, second, and third princes publicly declared support for me (Akira). They criticized the eighth prince.

I thought they were just playing nice on the surface—turns out they’re sending actual reinforcements.

Still no reply from the eighth prince.

The deadline’s finally here. Guess I’ve got no choice but to issue the challenge.

Politely declined reinforcements from the top three princes, with thanks.

We’ll crush the enemy with our own strength.

The duel was officially declared. We marched our forces toward the eighth prince’s home system—Daron Sector.

From the sub-space just before the Dimensional Jump Gate, we boldly declared war. No response.

I activated my Personal Ship’s shielding field, then warped through the Dimensional Jump Gate into the Daron Sector.

The shielding field is a new addition—fully integrated into my Personal Ship.

I adopted it after realizing that hiding within the field while warping made enemy reconnaissance much easier.

With my Personal Ship and the unmanned fleet stored in the Dimensional Storage Vault, I can launch coordinated assaults on enemy territory—fleet by fleet.

So, for the first time in a while, I’m operating solo.

Emerging from dimensional jump (warp) at the Daron system, I found the battlefield already over.

The industrial planet had been bombed to ruin. Orbital production facilities were reduced to wreckage.

The fleet of the Eighth Prince floated in pieces, exposed.

Only one vessel remained on the field—elegant, adorned, a Personal Ship.

I deactivated the Personal Ship’s shield and sent a signal.

“This is the Sixth Prince Akira. What in the void is going on?”

“Hey, this is the Fourth Prince Lucas. Took care of those idiot Princes Eight and Nine.”

“…Huh?”

“Kidnapping Earthlings and turning them into clones? That’s a step too far. My justice wouldn’t let them live.

So I took care of them. Clean and quick. As rightful claim to the duel, the system’s now yours.

No thanks needed. Just count it as a favor. Later.”

Lucas’s Personal Ship vanished into dimensional jump (warp).

Nice little Prince, huh… I don’t think that at all.

The words he said about the Ninth Prince—finished off, too.

I didn’t know the Ninth Prince was a collaborator in the Earthling abduction scheme.

A fact only the guilty could know—exposure of secrets.

“You’re the main culprit, aren’t you!”

Thanks for the rating, thanks for the bookmark.

I’ll keep pushing, inspired by your support.

The Prince is about two hundred years old.

His younger brother reeks of old age because he announced his withdrawal from the succession battle—no life extension treatment was given.