# Chapter 35: Hearts Turned Homeward
“…We cannot face the future with ignorance.”
On the other side of the star river, in the world of Shalt, the strongest among the Shalt people, Zesel, spoke thus: “The Mycroft people wish to journey to the other side of the World Star River? We will absolutely support them, but we cannot remain completely ignorant of this. Selma, you once communicated with that strong one from Mycroft, named Radcliffe. Now I appoint you as an ambassador to inquire about their purpose.”
“As rescued followers, whatever their purpose, we will support them. But we also wish to know information about the otherworldly star river. If possible, we want to know at the earliest moment what exactly the destination of our fleet will be.”
The Shalt people were a race similar in appearance to beast-kin, but the Shalt civilization was not one composed of a single race. Besides the primary feline beast-kin as the main race, there were also numerous minority races similar to snake-people, bird-people, dog-people, bear-people, and so on. These races could interbreed by bloodline naturally, without any reproductive isolation. Apart from differences in appearance, they were almost identical. Thus, by now, the bloodline of the Shalt civilization had become a complete hodgepodge.
Among them, Zesel, the strongest of the civilization, possessed a great deal of snake-people bloodline, while Selma, appointed as the ambassador for communication, had some bear-people bloodline.
At this moment, they were located in the void shipyard of the Shalt people. Technicians from the Mycroft world were here, exchanging knowledge with local technicians and jointly repairing a large number of damaged and malfunctioning void warships.
For the Shalt people, the image of Mycroft passed down in their memories was one of arrogance and conceit, but their strength matched this arrogance as a flourishing civilization. However, now that they had personally witnessed the individuals of the Mycroft people and had cordial exchanges with them, the Shalt people were astonished to discover that this was completely different from the Mycroft people in their inherited memories.
They possessed superb technology (gaochao de jishu), but were unclear about certain basic knowledge. Although they appeared arrogant, this was mainly due to communication difficulties caused by language barriers.
“Will they tell us?” Selma silently accepted her mission. As a high-ranking member of the Shalt provisional government, she already knew the current situation of her civilization. The once-vast void fleet had now become a burden to the civilization. Being able to give it to the Mycroft people was actually a help to the current Shalt world. Their world, already in ruins, simply could not bear such military force.
“They will tell us.” Zesel controlled his two rows of snake pupils, gazing at the golden fleet being repaired in the shipyard. He spoke softly: “They disdain to deceive us… The strong do not deceive the weak. The Mycroft people still hold this most basic arrogance. On this point alone, I can be certain.”
“…They will not lie to us. On this point alone, I can be certain.”
In the pitch-black star domain, the fleet of the Star Shepherds slowly flew toward one silent world after another, conducting resource replenishment again and again. The Great Khan controlled the eyes of the Void Behemoth, gazing at the distant other star rivers beyond the dark void. This racial leader spoke calmly: “We want to enter because the Lost Star River is a peaceful harbor in our hearts. They want to leave because in their eyes, this place is a narrow prison. The former prestige of the ancestor civilization spread across myriad realms. Even if they have declined to their current state, they are unwilling to be mere bystanders of the multiverse.”
“They will go out, and they will go out as quickly as possible. They will make their decision without hesitation, faster than we did when we were nearly destroyed by natural disasters and calamities. Because for the arrogant them, understanding why the multiverse has become what it is now is a more urgent problem than ‘future threats.’ The Mycroft people absolutely cannot accept facing the future with ignorance.”
“Then, Great Khan, are we really going to obey their words like this and just return like this?”
Behind the Great Khan’s white spiritual body, a black eight-legged fungus respectfully listened to the king’s words. At this point, it could not help but ask: “We spent hundreds of years to reach this place, but now we must give a third of our race’s elite to the enemy who defeated us, letting them return to that star river full of flames… Is this really good?”
Was the fate of the race being controlled by others really a fate that the eight-legged fungi could accept?
“There is no good or bad. Because we can only accept it.”
The Great Khan showed no emotional fluctuation. Even recalling the strong one of the ancestor civilization who had defeated him, the Great Khan’s heart did not give rise to the slightest regret or unwillingness. He answered easily: “Moreover, my King of the Void Realm, do you really think that returning to the homeland together with the Mycroft people is a bad thing?”
Saying this, the white eight-legged fungus turned its head, transmitting information with a playful spiritual fluctuation: “Don’t you think this is a good opportunity?”
Following behind the strong, joining them to defeat the former powerful enemies, to crush one by one those who drove us from the pastures, who swept us away like garbage, forcing them to also swear allegiance to the Mycroft people… My King of the Void Realm, don’t you think this is also a rather twisted form of amusement?
“That we did not become the strong is the failure of our race and civilization, and also our sorrow. But looking at it from another angle, as long as we can join the strong and become one of their members, that is also a good choice, isn’t it?”
“…At least, joining them, being treated by the Mycroft people as a fierce watchdog, is definitely much better than being exterminated as a dangerous beast.”
Sixth Abyss, Tear Valley Fortress. The Demon King Goliath spoke to his subordinate Demon Lords in a toneless voice: “I know you might find this hard to accept, but this is reality. The weak who do not submit to the strong can only face destruction. I believe you won’t think that ‘dying proudly’ is better than ‘living on in humiliation.’ If we were such creatures, then we would have died long ago when the insect-man civilization was exterminated, when the world died and became the abyss.”
“Deep in our bloodline is this gene that must survive no matter what. So put away your indignant expressions, restrain your dissatisfied thoughts. We will collectively merge into the void fleet of the Mycroft people. If I discover any of you making small moves behind the scenes, then before the Mycroft people act, I will act first.”
Goliath’s shadow avatar swept over the five Demon Lords before him. He knew that his subordinates would understand his deeper meaning. Although they appeared indignant, that was merely a posture. Ever since witnessing the Mycroft people’s luxurious legendary lineup, seeing their seven gods jointly suppress the abyss, and even shattering the Extreme Dark Abyss, both they and Goliath himself knew that the abyss demons had no chance left.
Were there any other choices? If the Mycroft civilization were in civil strife, with all the strong dead and the gods not intervening, perhaps the demons might have a sliver of a chance. But now, they could only choose to submit.
“This is not a bad thing at all.”
Goliath turned around, his back to his Demon Lords. He said calmly: “At least this way, we still have a future.”
The Gluttony Demon King had already tried the creation technology from Joshua van Radcliffe. It had successfully created a small patch of normal forest and soil in the Sixth Abyss. Although this forest and soil were quickly assimilated and eroded by the abyss, this was enough to prove that the other party had not held back.
Now, it could only send those orderly demons to the Bloodmoon Abyss, allowing them to have a perfect and normal environment to survive. But in the future, Goliath believed that he would transform his own world completely, making it suitable for demon habitation. Eventually, the future of demons could be nurtured and created in the hands of demons themselves, rather than relying on plunder and the grace of the strong.
At the same time.
Joshua and Eagle were also conversing in the “Superconductive Magical Silver World.”
Just now, the two of them had sent away the Elite Squad where Priest was located. That enormous thunder elemental crystal had also been purchased by Joshua in an official capacity, valued at 150,000 exchange points plus two S-rank exchange permissions. And this was merely the foundation. If the research institute of Winterfell Academy discovered any special engine structure from it, there would be additional exchange point rewards later.
This was not exactly preferential treatment for his student. This high-density elemental crystal mixed with superconductive magical silver was worth this value. And Priest receiving exchange points directly from Joshua as the official representative was naturally much more stable than going to the private market for auction.
After the space-time fluctuations from Priest and the others’ departure completely calmed down, Eagle turned his head, his gaze serious as he looked at Joshua.
“Number 3 is not by your side… How are you suppressing the mental deviation value?”
The old Pope’s tone carried doubt, somewhat dissatisfied as he said: “You told me this was a very important matter, but you yourself haven’t made one hundred percent preparations!”
The old Pope’s accusation was very reasonable. Everyone knew that without the support of the magic net’s computational power, Joshua could basically be described as half-mad. Appearing alone in other places in such a state was not only irresponsible to himself but also irresponsible to other innocent worlds and innocent civilizations.
Heaven knows what terrible things a mad Joshua might do to those innocent worlds.
“When the deviation value is below 70, I can suppress it for a period of time.” Joshua answered calmly. “Having fought with chaotic memories and divinity for so long, I have experience. Rest assured, I came here this time fully prepared.”
“As long as you are confident.” Hearing this, Eagle could only sigh. It was no wonder he was so nervous. Because if Joshua went mad, and if the seven gods did not intervene, he would probably have to go and beat the warrior back to his senses himself. This troublesome matter he did not want to do. “Alright, aside from what we discussed before and the matter of the otherworldly watcher, do you have anything else? If not, I need to return to the Holy Mountain Fortress to prepare logistical work.”
Speaking of this, the old Pope could not help but complain a few words about the void fleet issue, such as insufficient personnel, insufficient personnel, and insufficient personnel. Even with the addition of the Shalt people, the Star Shepherds, and the abyss demons, the main ships of the Mycroft fleet still lacked personnel.
Even now, experienced fleet members from all over the world were gathered together, teaching experience about void navigation. But such a small number was still a drop in the bucket. Even though basically the entire world had opened a new discipline called “Void Fleet Studies,” it would take at least six or seven years to harvest a large number of students from it.
The Mycroft civilization could wait six or seven years, but could they afford the cost of delaying six or seven years?
Eagle did not want to try, so even if it meant forcing growth, he had to solve this problem.