Just then, the piercing alarm suddenly blared in his mind! This sound, though initially suppressed to a low volume, possessed an unnerving penetrative force; its low thrumming echoed and resonated deep within the chest, inducing a nauseating urge to vomit blood.

“This is… a Level One Alert?!!” Archer spun around in astonishment, knocking over a nearby water glass without even noticing it shatter on the floor!

“Why would a Level One Alert sound now? Did the Alliance forces invade? They’re separated by two major war zones! Or is this the Iron Blood Star race striking back? But our pre-arranged early warning system shouldn't have remained silent.”

Fang Senyan knew perfectly well that trouble had erupted. Mr. Arno's disappearance must have triggered a state of alarm that was now spreading like a contagion. He smiled faintly, narrowing his eyes as he watched the hastily retreating, thoroughly flustered personnel outside.

The exterior of Alpine Base Seven began to rapidly transform. Vast amounts of armor plating slid into place, and electromagnetic railguns and high-caliber particle cannons sprang forth from the base’s core like cards flipped in a deck, ultimately assembling into the Empire's most advanced and terrifying "Stonehenge" Firepower Integration System!

In a matter of mere minutes, this colossal base had morphed into a heavily armed, tooth-and-nail steel behemoth!

From Archer’s vantage point, it was clear that the streets were being swiftly cleared. Large contingents of soldiers marched into the thoroughfares, initiating an armed lockdown. The scale of the response was unprecedentedly harsh, immediately followed by house-to-house inspections. The rough handling and arbitrary actions of the troops revealed one thing: they were under immense pressure themselves.

However, barely twenty minutes later, Fang Senyan overheard a nearby lieutenant stand up abruptly and state urgently:

“Report: A signal has arrived from thirty thousand kilometers out. Formation A-71 requests docking clearance at Alpine Space Station Seven. They furthermore command us to provide five adjacent berths within ten minutes, berths capable of supporting at least three Pacific-class battleships and two Atlantic-class battleships.”

Fang Senyan didn't grasp the implication of Fleet A-7’s request. But those familiar with the system knew one crucial fact: any designation beginning with ‘A’ was invariably connected to the Royal Family. Fleet designations from other war zones were strictly forbidden from crossing this threshold. Furthermore, those beginning with ‘S’ belonged to the Empire's most mysterious and enigmatic institution: the Big Ben Research Institute.

The Imperial Emperor’s personal guard fleet (Doomsday) was numbered from A-01 to A-10. Therefore, A-71 signified the flagship formation of the seventh most distinguished figure in the Empire!! This meant that the esteemed Prince Pombal himself had personally arrived at Alpine Base Seven!!!

It must be noted that while a rank of seventh in the Imperial royal lineage might sound relatively low, in a period where the Crown Prince had yet to be officially determined, the seventh sequence held tremendous significance.

The most honored, undoubtedly, was the Emperor. The second was likely the Emperor’s surviving birth mother, the Empress Dowager Hellefin. The third would be Prince Balestar, who commanded the three western war zones and held back the momentum of the Alliance forces. The fourth position belonged to the Shadow Director of the Big Ben Research Institute!

This Shadow Director was notoriously mysterious; he was a faceless man, hence his moniker, the Faceless One. This tragic state of affairs arose because he had once been the strongest contender against the current Emperor for the throne, with the final outcome decided only at the last moment.

The current Emperor possessed a remarkably magnanimous spirit. Pitying the director's stunning talent, he chose not to execute him but instead ordered his face to be seared away by lasers as punishment before banishing him to the Big Ben Institute.

Incredibly, this Faceless One required only fifteen years to rise, through sheer force of will, to the position of Shadow Director. Furthermore, he was already around forty when his face was destroyed, meaning his mind and worldview were fully matured. Consequently, despite this calamity, he did not devolve into a figure like Lin Pingzhi—someone psychologically shattered by early emasculation and driven to societal revenge—but instead dedicated his power silently to the Empire. Of course, it could not be ruled out that the current Emperor's overwhelming strategic brilliance simply left the Director no other viable course of action.

By this calculation, Prince Pombal had effectively become the third-in-line successor!

And if the probability of the first-in-line succeeding to the throne was 50%, and the second-in-line 40%, the third-in-line’s 35% chance was far from negligible. Moreover, the Emperor was currently in robust health, and Prince Pombal was already on an upward trajectory; should he avoid any missteps, his rank might even climb higher.

In the holographic projection beamed from a distance, three massive Pacific-class battleships advanced through space in a silent triangular formation, like gargantuan steel beasts. Though their cold muzzles appeared utterly inert at the moment, the streamlined guidance lights tracing along their barrels pulsed continuously, signaling that these were no mere decorations, but instruments capable of planetary annihilation with a single strike.

Above and below the Pacific-class formation, a Atlantic-class vessel maintained a steady escort speed. They shared one distinctive trait: a clear, massive purple stripe emblazoned across their forward hulls. This stripe elegantly formed the pattern of a blooming pansy.

This was the symbol of the Imperial House!! Across the terrifying interstellar expanse, spanning hundreds of millions of light-years, the pansy motif symbolized conquest, the embodiment of singular monarchical authority! It was a symbol that commanded reverence and demanded prostration from all others!

Understanding the gravity of the situation, Fang Senyan asked with sudden curiosity:

“Weren’t they saying the Royal Fleet would arrive four or five hours ago? Why the delay?”

Archer sighed. “They encountered some trouble traversing the wormhole. These incidents have become frequent lately; it’s likely related to the Iron Blood Star race’s retaliation. Those devils are elusive; ever since their initial confrontation with us, they’ve avoided any direct engagement...”

Fang Senyan nodded, a phantom smile touching his lips. “Oh, I see. But if the Imperial forces arrive at this critical juncture, then… how Monty feels will certainly be worse than being roasted over hot coals…” Monty felt his temples throbbing violently, his entire head throbbing with intense pain!

In his entire life, he had never faced such an acutely embarrassing predicament! He felt utterly stifled and irritable, yet there was absolutely no outlet for his frustration!

The Arno family inherently held a psychological advantage over Monty. He had been promoted by them, nurtured by them, like a dog raised from puppyhood. No matter how fierce this dog might become, when the master who knew its origins and to whom it owed its existence appeared in person, it could only tuck its tail between its legs.

First, the direct lineal representative of the Arno family, Arno Fabian Monson. Lucy, simply disdained to negotiate with Monty, sending someone else entirely. This inherent, bone-deep condescension ignited a blazing fire in Monty’s gut, yet he couldn't vent any of it—that alone was infuriating enough.

But then, ten minutes after the meeting concluded, a young man kicked open his office door, his face livid, and ordered a full lockdown and Level One combat readiness immediately! And he did this in front of most of Monty’s subordinates! This was beyond mere public humiliation; it was spitting directly in his face and demanding he lick it clean...

Yet Monty had to endure it!

Because the person issuing the order, and indeed the catalyst for this entire affair, was someone he could not openly oppose...

Arno Fabian Monchi. Keber, the eldest son of the Arno family, issuing an order to him could hardly be considered overstepping his authority, especially as the command was to investigate the bizarre disappearance of his younger brother, Arno Fabian Monson. Lucy!

One must remember that an organization like the Arno family, which even the Emperor deeply feared, had become a massive, deeply entrenched entity. The protection afforded to their heirs was incredibly stringent, involving tracking chips implanted within their bodies.

When the Arno family realized that Arno Fabian Monson, who was supposedly out enjoying himself, had lost contact for three hours, they immediately activated the tracking system. At that moment, the most unwelcome possibility materialized…. The tracking system could not locate a matching signal! And this included the signals of his entourage!

Frankly, this outcome only occurred if the chips were simultaneously destroyed. The only other probability was that the party had entered an area with extreme signal interference. However, the tracking chips were a high-end technological achievement of the Big Ben Research Institute, and when they sold this technology, the Institute guaranteed its robust anti-interference capabilities. No one doubted the credibility of a promise made by the Big Ben Institute.

Monty’s frustration was already at its peak when Archer suddenly demanded a communication, delivering news that briefly rendered Monty’s mind blank:

“Prince Pombal’s A-71 Royal Formation is now twenty-five thousand kilometers out and requests immediate berth allocation. Since Alpine Base Seven is currently at Level One readiness, we cannot process this request. Awaiting instruction for next action.”

Monty stared blankly for a full two minutes, his brain seemingly ceasing all function. At that precise moment, the LCD screen in his office flickered violently, and indeed, every screen across Alpine Base Seven simultaneously glitched, displaying intense signal interference. (Your support is my greatest motivation.)RV