Yingyang stood before the holographic control console, staring at the holographic projection in silence for a long time, thinking about what to do next!!
The senior commanders of the Tau Empire felt the same way.
The Earth Caste scientists repeatedly replayed the battlefield footage and data, trying to find flaws, but found nothing.
This was not an illusion or magic. It was something that had actually happened—a miracle that completely ignored the laws of physics.
"Perhaps," an elderly Earth Caste scientist said in a hoarse voice, "it's our sensors that are malfunctioning?"
Or perhaps it's some technology we still don't understand…
"We conducted a comprehensive analysis of the data obtained from this tank," another Earth Caste member interrupted his colleague who was trying to deceive himself.
His finger traced a set of data.
"Analysis was performed across multiple data dimensions—molecular structure, alloy density, energy measurements, etc."
"This tank originally had only two wheels, yet it is truly a high-performance tank."
"The other side used mysterious technology we know nothing about. Human Imperium technology is terrifying!!"
"How does the Human Imperium have such technology? We've never seen them use it before."
Other Earth Caste scientists refuted this.
"The facts are right in front of us. Why deceive yourself?"
"Fake. Definitely all fake."
"..."
Yingyang's fingertips lightly tapped the edge of the control panel, but the sound was drowned out by the arguments of the other executives.
Only after both sides grew heated did Yingyang finally speak.
"We have encountered an enemy we have never seen before, whose capabilities are beyond our belief."
"We must immediately determine who he is and issue orders to all intelligence personnel infiltrating the Human Imperium."
"No matter what, uncover the true identity of that golden figure."
"Yingyang is right. Arguing is useless. We must take action," Ammonium Sha also chose to support Yingyang.
Seeing that the Ethereal and the expeditionary force's supreme commanders shared the same view, the other senior officials said nothing more.
Thus, intelligence-gathering orders were sent through encrypted channels.
They crossed the star sea and were captured by agents hidden in the shadows, who then began operations.
In the following days, an unknown intelligence war quietly unfolded in the shadows of the Imperium.
Infiltrating investigators contacted informants, bribed officials, infiltrated archives, and risked exposure to obtain unknown information.
As a result, some were arrested and tortured in interrogation rooms, their eyes forever closed.
Others vanished into the vast sea of people with fragments of precious information.
In the end, a thin file was delivered to Yingyang.
The file contained only a few words.
[Nameless One, senior judge of the Inquisition, specific abilities unknown, first appeared on Ryoon IV.]
"Many intelligence operatives were sacrificed, yet we still know nothing about the Nameless One," Yingyang said, slightly disappointed. This Nameless One was hidden far too deeply.
He had sacrificed much to obtain the other party's name and basic information.
They still had no idea how the other party had been born or how he had accomplished those miraculous feats.
Ammonium Sha stood beside Yingyang. After reading the file, he made a suggestion.
"If we can't win, let's communicate and hear the other party's true thoughts. Perhaps we can win them over."
Yingyang was the supreme commander of the expeditionary force, while Ammonium Sha was a high-ranking official.
He also had to consider the other party's proposal.
"You're right. Perhaps we can have our humans contact them again and try to persuade them."
To counter the invading Tyranids and Abaddon's Thirteenth Black Crusade,
the Human Imperium had no choice but to end the Damocles Gulf War.
Many ground forces were abandoned and taken prisoner by the Tau Empire.
Many of the prisoners became residents of the Tau Empire and the main members of the current Tau auxiliary forces.
Among them were members of the Inquisition.
These members contributed to the Tau Empire's intelligence system, which was used to counter infiltration and subversion by the Human Imperium.
The most outstanding among them was Lucien von Diem.
This man had once been an Inquisitor but was left behind on the ground and nearly died during the Damocles War.
He was subsequently captured by the Tau Empire.
At first, he chose death over submission.
Until he witnessed the prosperity and enlightenment of the Tau Empire, he chose to betray and fight for the Greater Good.
Leveraging years of knowledge and experience, Lucien helped the Tau Empire establish a strict anti-stealth plan.
With his help, many Human Imperium agents attempting to infiltrate their homeworld were exposed.
Precisely because of these outstanding achievements, this judge held a high position and even possessed the authority to mobilize Fire Caste units.
This was special treatment not granted to other allies.
After discussion, Yingyang and Onsha decided to have the Inquisitor lead a delegation to negotiate with the Nameless One and try to gain their trust as much as possible.
"For the Greater Good."
When Lucien learned he had been sent to negotiate, he did not refuse.
On the contrary, he was filled with anticipation and eager to promote the enlightened and advanced Tau Empire.
He would encourage more Imperium members to abandon their original beliefs and join the Tau Empire.
Lucien quickly organized the delegation.
They boarded a Tau transport and headed for Ryoon IV.
At the same time, he ordered preparations for negotiation documents to bring Leon Four and the Nameless One into the Tau Empire.
Meanwhile, on Ryoon IV, everything was changing dramatically.
Datch stood at the highest point of Charonchao, looking down at the city that had once been on the brink of death.
All the ancient machinery of Chao City had been fully restored. The massive ventilation systems that had been dormant for centuries were operating again.
They extracted polluted air from the bottom and lower hives and replaced it with clean, fresh, filtered airflow.
The fusion energy reactors possessed unprecedented stability and efficiency, and power flowed to every region along the restored power lines.
Food production had also increased dramatically. Hydroponic farms saw crops growing at a visible rate, meeting the food needs of the entire planet.
Even the sky had changed from a dim yellow to a deep blue, and the clouds were as white as fresh cotton.
Orbital space stations and interstellar ports had been restored to like-new condition.
The once-damaged massive metal structures now radiated new light. Defensive cannons activated.
Their barrels were fierce, ready to unleash destructive firepower at any moment.
Those who had sided with the Tau Empire and nobles who chose to flee faced reckoning.
Their territories were sealed, their property confiscated, and even their names erased.
Those who had committed grave crimes were even publicly executed to appease the people.
During this time, Datch also received mission completion notifications.
[Mission Complete! You have successfully helped Governor Glen Cole of Ryoon IV repel the invading Tau Empire forces.]
[Quest Rewards: 1,800 EXP, 1,800 Points, +400 Reputation, Big Rooster ×1]
With a thought, a giant rooster appeared before Datch.
The rooster stood over four meters tall, covered entirely in golden feathers. Its presence was extremely imposing.
Once it started running, it would always draw the gazes of people along the way.
Datch rode the giant rooster and galloped around, easily kicking over boxes along the way.
...
When the Tau Empire delegation's warship arrived at its destination,
the scene before them left everyone stunned.
Ryoon IV floated quietly in the void, surrounded by magnificent massive space stations.
These space stations far exceeded Imperial standards in scale. Various defensive cannons were active, their barrels towering fiercely.
Regarding the war that had just broken out,
the frontline forces had clearly destroyed Ryoon IV's void defenses.
And now everything had been restored to its original state.
Clearly, this was the masterpiece of the Nameless One.
Who on earth was that man? His power was terrifying!!
Lucien was also shocked.
But since he was here, he could not back down.
"Inform Ryoon IV that we wish to negotiate."
At this moment, Datch was riding the giant rooster, patrolling the streets of Chao City.
The rooster walked with its head held high, its steps slightly trembling.
Imperial soldiers and civilians along the way gaped at the sight.
The Nameless One was truly powerful—he could repair a tank with only wheels and turn it into a brand-new one.
He could also enslave terrifying daemons or advance alone into the abyss and decapitate Tau Empire commanders.
But abstract was truly abstract—who the hell was a judge riding a giant rooster and showing it off in public!!
Datch ignored the NPCs' gazes and wandered the streets completing side quests posted by ordinary people.
He simply kept walking around the minimap until a golden exclamation mark appeared.
Datch opened the minimap and confirmed it was Glen Cole's icon.
Clearly, this had triggered a new story quest.
Datch turned the rooster toward the destination, set the course, and let it run.
The rooster let out a cry, spread its two thick, long legs, and galloped fiercely.
Its speed was astonishing—each step covered more than ten meters.
A few minutes later, he rushed over to Glen Cole, who was directing the demolition of damaged buildings.
The governor was startled to see a golden-red rooster running fiercely and turning back as if about to charge.
The guards held tightly and warned their lord that the Nameless One had arrived and that the giant rooster was the Nameless One's mount.
Only then did Glen Cole stop, still shaken, his legs continuing to tremble.
He could not be blamed. Who wouldn't run upon seeing a four-meter rooster?
Or would he be treated like a little bug pecked by the other side if he stayed as he was?
"Governor Glen Cole, do you have a mission you'd like me to undertake?"
Datch jumped down from the rooster and asked Glen Cole.
Glen Cole took a deep breath and told himself not to look at the giant rooster staring at him.
He feared that if their eyes met, he would be pecked by the other party.
"An envoy has come from the other side. They say they wish to speak with us, Nameless Lord."
"But xenos cannot be trusted. Any agreement with them is meaningless. Through these negotiations, please make them withdraw from the God-Emperor's territory."
The moment he finished speaking, a new quest prompt appeared in Datch's vision.
[Mission: Assist Governor Glen Cole in demanding that the Tau Empire immediately cease their invasion of the Agrilan star system and withdraw from the God-Emperor's territory.]
After their devastating defeat, the Tau Empire sent a new negotiator to seek a peace treaty.
However, Glen Cole was determined to reclaim the God-Emperor's territory and drive out the xenos.
He hoped that in the upcoming negotiations he could persuade the Tau Empire to withdraw from the Agrilan region.
Quest Rewards: 2,000 EXP, 2,000 Points, +500 Reputation, Blade Queen – Kerrigan Summon Card ×10]
Datch's gaze fell on the reward item.
Blade Queen – Kerrigan Summon Card?
After use, could he summon Kerrigan, Queen of the Swarm, and Jim Raynor, leader of the rebellion, from the StarCraft IP universe?
He frowned.
"Eh… why can I still summon the duo?"
"Are you afraid someone will steal your wife?"
He opened the item details and checked just to be sure.
It really was a duo summon. Kerrigan and Raynor would appear simultaneously, and their interaction would grant special bonuses.
Datch stored the item description and glanced at the minimap. He noticed a golden exclamation mark at the watchtower location.
A new story quest had been triggered.
Oh no—both sides triggered new quests at the same time!!
If we stayed in the Agrilan star system and wasted too much time,
we wouldn't be able to keep up with the progress at the Vigilant Star.
Therefore, this problem had to be resolved quickly.
Using absolute power to make those blue-skinned xenos realize the terror of the Human Imperium!!
With that thought, Datch immediately opened the game shop.
He selected several items to show off his power and force the Tau to give up and return home obediently.
The Tau race was one that valued technology and rationality.
As long as he demonstrated unbelievable power, completely ignored the laws of physics, and shook their worldview to pieces,
they would surely collapse, retreat, and return to their homeworld.
Datch's finger swiped across the mall page and finally landed on an icon.
[Item: Ancient God's Pickaxe, from the Terraria IP universe.
It is said to have been forged from the spine of an ancient god and contains astonishing power.
It can shatter any theoretical substance, including planets, stars, and the universe itself.
Comment: "It is said this thing can pierce the true form of Azathoth."]
…
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