Intergalactic conquest with an AI-Chapter 204 Human council.

"And now..." Ys's voice perked up, brimming with excitement. "For the good news! Rex finally woke up! And he's calling for you! That's it! See you~!"

"Wait—!" Lilla wanted to say something, but the recording kept going.

In the background, Ys's voice could still be heard shouting. "Hey, you two! How long are you going to lie faint on the ground!? Wake up already!"

The next few minutes were filled with bizarre background noises. Thumps, muffled protests, and what sounded suspiciously like the twins groaning in pain filled the recording. Occasionally, Ys could be heard giving orders or taunting the pair with funny remarks.

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"Stop kicking me, Ys!"

"That's what you get for calling me short!"

"This is abuse! I'm telling Rex!"

"No one will believe you, Lyra!"

"Nyra, wake up and help me!"

"I'd rather die here..."

Finally, after several more minutes of incoherent chaos, the message cut off with a faint click as someone finally turned it off.

<<End of the second recorded message.

The bird clicked its beak shut, returning to its neutral, inanimate state. The room was once again enveloped in silence.

The maids stared at Lilla cautiously, waiting for her reaction. One of them bit her lip, clearly struggling not to laugh, while another busied herself tidying up an already spotless shelf to avoid making eye contact.

Lilla sat perfectly still, her face calm and serene as usual. But her slightly trembling hands betrayed the faint frustration she was trying to suppress. Her ears, now fully red, twitched slightly.

After a moment she let out a long, measured sigh. "I see... Ys hasn't changed at all," she murmured, her voice soft but resigned.

One of the braver maids stepped forward. "Saintess... should we prepare a response?"

Lilla shook her head, rubbing her temples as if trying to banish the lingering echoes of Ys's antics from her mind. "No. I'll deal with them later."

The maid bowed and stepped back, but another one hesitated before asking, "The... the good news, Saintess. Should we... prepare for your departure?"

Lilla nodded slightly with her composure returning. "Yes. Notify my brother and the council. If Rex is awake, then it's time we meet him again." She paused, her gray eyes drifting toward the window. "And I'll need to have a long talk with Ys and the twins about how to properly send a message."

The maids bowed and quickly left the room, leaving Lilla alone with the robotic bird. She glanced at it, her lips curling into a faint smile despite herself.

"Rex, awake..." she whispered to herself, a flicker of hope and determination glimmering in her usually calm expression.

Lilla walked gracefully through the corridors of the flagship, her golden hair flowing gently behind her. She was flanked by her maids and a group of elite female templars, their presence commanding respect and awe.

These templars were her personal guard, the most loyal and skilled warriors in the human army, sworn to protect her at all costs.

Unlike the standard black-and-red power armor worn by most templars, Lilla's guards donned white-and-red power armor, symbolizing their elevated status as the Saintess's protectors. The distinct armor not only marked their authority but also served as a warning to others, insult them, and you insult the Saintess herself.

As the group moved through the polished halls of the ship, soldiers and crew members stopped in their tracks, saluting with solemn reverence as Lilla passed by. Her presence was almost ethereal, her serene expression and radiant aura commanding respect without a single word.

After a few minutes, Lilla and her entourage reached the meeting room, a vast chamber with a large round table at its center.

The captains of the other destroyers in the fleet were already present, their faces a mix of anticipation and professionalism. Some were physically seated at the table, while others appeared as 4D holograms, their forms flickering faintly as they joined remotely from distant ships.

The moment Lilla entered the room, every individual present stood from their seats and saluted her in unison.

Their salute was one Lilla herself had designed; it was a gesture of devotion and unity. They placed their hands over their hearts, their fingers spread wide to resemble wings, a symbol of the hope and faith humanity now carried under her leadership.

"We greet the holy maiden," they all said in perfect unison, their voices echoing throughout the chamber.

Lilla nodded graciously, her golden hair shimmering under the room's soft lighting. "Good work, everyone. You may take your seats," she said while gesturing gently with her hand. Her voice was calm, melodious, and carried the warmth of a leader who truly cared for her people.

The captains sat down with their eyes fixed on her as they awaited her words.

"So," began one of the captains, a tall man with piercing blue eyes and an expression that betrayed his admiration for Lilla, "to what do we owe the honor of your presence today, holy maiden?"

His voice was polite, but the undertone of personal interest was clear. It was no secret among the fleet that he harbored deeper feelings for her, though Lilla remained oblivious... or chose to ignore it.

Lilla's gaze swept across the room as she spoke. "I have received a message from our allies. The Angel... has awakened." Her voice was calm, but the weight of her words hung heavily in the air.

Murmurs immediately erupted around the table. The name "Angel" carried significant weight among the humans since it was a being both revered and feared, someone who represented power and hope but also mystery and uncertainty.

One of the holographic captains leaned forward, his digital projection flickering slightly. "Can we see the message, holy maiden?" he asked, his tone neutral but curious. Sharing important messages was a standard practice during meetings, especially when it came to matters of such importance.

But this message was far from standard.

Lilla hesitated, her composure momentarily faltering. Her ears, already red with embarrassment, were thankfully hidden by the golden waves of her hair. "I'm sorry," she said after a moment, her voice remaining steady despite her shame. "The message was... a one-time use. I no longer have it."

A few captains exchanged glances, surprised but not questioning her further. Still, Lilla could feel the weight of their curiosity, and she silently cursed Ys and the twins for the chaos they had caused with their recording.

Clearing her throat, Lilla quickly redirected the conversation. "I think we've strayed slightly from the main topic," she said with her serene tone, reasserting control over the room.

"The reason I've called this meeting is to discuss two important matters: the full assault on the oceanic world and the ongoing efforts to secure and expand the facilities on Nakor."

She paused for a moment, allowing the murmurs to settle. Then, with a graceful wave of her hand, one of her templars stepped forward. The templar placed a small device in the center of the table, and within seconds, several holo screens sprang to life, displaying footage of Rex during his infamous battle on the oceanic world.

The footage showed Rex locked in combat with a massive aquatic beast, his movements precise and ferocious as he wielded weapons of immense power. The battle was both brutal and awe-inspiring, the kind of fight that seemed ripped from legend.

But as the footage progressed, it became clear that Rex's victory had come at great cost. Both he and the beast had inflicted devastating damage on each other, and the final moments of the battle showed the two collapsing into the ocean together, one dead and the other heavely injured.

The room fell silent as the footage ended. Lilla's gray eyes scanned the captain's faces, searching for their reactions. "And so," she said softly, "I want to hear everyone's opinions about the Angel."

One of the destroyer captains, a grizzled veteran with a scar running down his cheek, leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. "If I'm being honest," he began, his voice blunt but respectful, "this angel you speak of doesn't seem as impressive as the stories claim."

Gasps echoed from a few captains, but the man continued, unfazed. "Yes, it's true that he fought that beast head-on, and I'll admit that's no small feat. But in the end, the result was a draw—they took each other out. I don't see how that qualifies him as the 'savior' some of you claim him to be."

Another captain, a younger man with fiery red hair, immediately countered. "That's not a fair assessment," he said sharply.

"The fact that he could even match a creature of that size and power is proof of his strength. If anything, it shows his potential. With proper resources and recovery time, he could become the greatest weapon humanity has."

The room quickly descended into debate, captains voicing their opinions both for and against Rex's importance. Lilla remained silent, letting the discussion flow as she carefully observed each speaker.

After a few minutes, she raised her hand, and the room fell silent once more.

"I understand your concerns," she said gently with her voice, cutting through the tension like a blade.

"And I value your opinions, but remember that the angel is more than just a warrior; he is a symbol of hope. Hope for humanity's survival and future, and whether or not you believe in his strength now, know that his return marks the beginning of a new chapter for all of us."

The captains nodded solemnly, her words resonating deeply with them.

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"Now," Lilla continued, her tone steady and commanding, "let us focus on the tasks at hand. The oceanic world and Nakor's facilities will be vital to our survival. We must ensure their security and efficiency. And for that, I'll need all of your cooperation."