114 Lord's Compilation 26: Internal Affairs

The territories of the 8th Prince Riot and the 9th Prince Benjamin became mine through duels.

The 8th Prince's home star system, the Daron System, including the Bikoovsky Baronet's planet Uglich-3, the Uglich System; the direct-controlled systems of Livinsk and Lyubim.

The 9th Prince's home star system, the Grayd System, including the Attinborough Baronet's planet Reading-2, the Reading System; the direct-controlled systems of Durham and Gloucester.

The home star systems of the princes each held a hub Dimensional Jump Gate, with other star systems' Dimensional Jump Gates hanging beneath them like nodes in a cluster.

This makes two of the four hub Dimensional Jump Gates—the ones used as relay points for abducting Earth people.

The other was the Dimensional Jump Gate hub in the Anoi System—the territory of Prince Thirteenth. The other was the Dimensional Jump Gate hub in the Bribeey Fortress system, seized from Prince Tenth, Cain.

A message had just reached Prince Tenth Cain, en route to the Bribeey Fortress. Content: a protection request.

After broadcasting Propaganda Video across the controlled systems, Prince Cain seemed to have realized he was now a target himself—specifically, the Fourth Prince, Lucas, was after him.

He figured out that if I let the Fourth Prince Lucas pass through the Bribeey Gate, he’d suffer the same fate as Princes Eighth and Ninth.

But openly protecting Prince Tenth Cain now would just push the Fourth Prince too far.

And if that happened, the Fourth Prince would stop holding back—would do anything to survive.

If he’d really meant to fight me, he’d have come at me head-on, not abandoned his allies.

That he didn’t do it—that’s exactly what shows how much he values the power balance with the top three princes.

The existence of clone soldiers really was a liability.

If it became known that the Fourth Prince was involved with clone troops, the top three would have a perfect excuse to crush him.

That’s why the Tenth Prince is such a nuisance.

“So if I find out the truth, I’ll be the next obstacle, right?”

I’ll publicly reject protecting the Tenth Prince.

I’ll make sure everyone knows we’re at odds—won’t lift the system blockade.

And I’ll block the Fourth Prince from entering the Tenth Prince’s home system, Kein.

Maintain that status quo—call it protection.

I know nothing. So I’ll keep up appearances, interact with the Fourth Prince.

Stoke him. Get more aid out of him.

Fourth Prince, you’re awesome—*facepalm*—let’s go.

The Earth return operation is going smoothly.

Missing persons had mostly been figures who'd played roles in the SFO.

In my sister's case, it wasn't just the Emperor's Factor—her Personal Ship's specialized equipment likely made her a target too.

Abductions targeting such equipment were common among missing persons.

There was something else surprising.

Over fifty years before the SFO abductions, there had been a survivor among the Earth-born taken.

Lived happily. Underwent life extension treatments.

Still looks young. Long life ahead. But doesn’t want to go back to Earth.

Just hearing that most others taken around the same time had died… was enough.

New nobles and governors from the star system now under my control have declared their allegiance.

Baron Bivkovsky seems to care little who rules the system—as long as he’s recognized as planetary lord.

Ugritch III was originally famous as a fashion planet—apparently the only thing they cared about was keeping economic freedoms intact.

Baron Attanborough seems to have had a bad blood feud with Prince Benjamin, the ninth son who originally became system lord. So now, as planetary lord, he just wants the people of Reading II protected. Seems simple enough.

If we exempt his troops from service, he’ll even send us taxes.

We’d be fine with just interstellar trade and guarding the Reading system—no taxes at all.

As long as the steward isn’t pulling any shenanigans, we’ll leave him be.

More controlled systems mean more fleets to defend them—more crew, more supplies. It’s a drain.

Honestly, I don’t see the point of taking on another system. They send taxes? I’ll be spending more on defense than I get back.

So if a noble’s willing to run their own territory independently and handle everything themselves… I’d be happy to hand it all over.

Running my sector of dominion means increasing the population, developing productive planets, encouraging immigration, exploiting resources, building starships to boost military strength, training new pilots—standard stuff.

Need to have an economic sphere and military strength on par with the top three princes.

Until then, the True Imperial Restoration was nothing but a dream within a dream.

The Earthling retrieval continues... but it's reached a stalemate.

Already stepping into that dilemma—willing to sacrifice the people of the conquered star systems just to reclaim them?

Sure I want to help. After all, her older sister’s still missing….

But then again, is it really worth risking a bloody duel with the Fourth Prince just to reclaim it? The face of a friend I might lose flashes before my eyes—hesitation sets in.

So for now, I guess I just have to focus on pacifying the territory.

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It really keeps me going.