Intergalactic conquest with an AI-Chapter 317: Memories.{3}

Carlos let out a loud sigh, his shoulders slumping as he took a long gulp from his beer bottle. "Those Nexum bastards ambushed us," he began speaking, his voice heavy with the weight of the memory.

"In that fight, the maid who was with Sharon... she didn’t make it. She died in the crossfire. As for me, I ended up with several gunshots across my body. Thankfully, I’ve got cybernetic organs, so I didn’t die from that."

He paused, his grip tightening around the bottle. "After that, Argos took care of them easily while I provided cover fire. We finally managed to kill them all, and we found one of their transport ships nearby."

"It seems they came there specifically to ambush us, not to escape. They had orders to completely eradicate that old man’s family line..." Carlos took another swig of his beer while his expression darkened.

Rex listened intently, his wings flickering faintly as he absorbed the story. "Mmm, I see. But thankfully, they failed. Sharon’s alive, and she’s being treated thanks to Ys. So, what happened to that monster?"

Carlos set the bottle down, his eyes being distant. "When we finally took off from the planet, we could see Sharon’s father using all his power to buy us time to escape. Argos told me the old man was staring at us while holding off that beast... At the end of the day, it’s true that he released the monster, but the reason was the Nexum megacorp’s invasion."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small memory device, tossing it to Rex. "Here. Take this."

Rex caught it, turning it over in his hands. "What’s this?"

"It’s the recorded memory of Argos. All the footage of what happened on that world is in there." Carlos clenched his fist, his voice trembling as tears began to fall.

"Rex, I know you think of me as your brother, and I think of you the same way. So, as my brother..." He stood up suddenly, his voice rising to a shout. "As my brother, help me take revenge on those motherfuckers!"

Rex stood as well and placed a hand on Carlos’s shoulder. His wings glowed faintly as he met Carlos’s gaze. "Don’t worry, Carlos. They’ll pay for touching our family. I’ll make sure of it. Now, try to rest. I’ll do the same, and I’ll inform you later about what we’ll do next."

Carlos nodded while his shoulders relaxed slightly as he wiped away his tears. "Thanks, Rex. I mean it."

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Rex gave him a reassuring smile before heading back to the Cleopatra. His energy levels were in the red, and he needed to recharge. The battles ahead would require everything he had.

Weeks passed, and the events in the mist world spread like wildfire among the survivors of the other factions. Some sold footage of the battle to information brokers, while others spread rumors of vast riches hidden on the planet.

The nobles, as always, were quick to place a bounty on Rex’s head. They despised him for attacking one of their own with such ferocity and for inflicting heavy losses on their fleets, reducing them to shadows of their former strength.

Meanwhile, Rex, the man at the center of it all, was sitting in a restaurant on one of Nexum’s controlled worlds. The establishment was sleek and modern, its walls lined with holographic displays showcasing the latest news and entertainment. Rex sat at a table with Ys and Lilla, enjoying a rare moment of peace.

Ys leaned back in her chair, her green eyes scanning the room. "You know, darling, you’ve got a real talent for making enemies. Half the galaxy wants your head on a platter."

Rex chuckled while taking a bite of his meal. "What can I say? I’m just that charming."

Lilla rolled her eyes. "More like a trouble magnet. But I have to admit, you’ve got style. Taking on a noble fleet and living to tell the tale? That’s impressive."

Rex grinned. "Thanks, Lilla. But this is just the beginning. We’ve got a lot of work to do."

Ys raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a sly smile. "Oh? And what’s the next move, oh great leader?"

Rex leaned forward, his expression turning serious. "We’re going to hit Nexum where it hurts. They think they can hit us and get away with it? They’re about to learn just how wrong they are."

"And how do you plan to do that, darling?" Ys asked while her green eyes gleamed with curiosity as she hugged Rex’s arm. Her tone was playful, but there was a sharp edge to it, like a reminder that she was always calculating, always looking for something fun to do.

Rex smirked while patting Ys’s head affectionately. "Well, it’s simple, actually. Since the news channels keep calling me ’Conqueror,’ why don’t I live up to the name?"

Lilla, who had been quietly sipping her tea or something that looked like tea, paused mid-sip. "You mean... you want to conquer new worlds?" she asked with her voice tinged with skepticism.

Rex leaned back in his chair. "You almost got it right, Lilla. But no... I’m not going to conquer new worlds. I’m going to conquer Nexum worlds."

Lilla’s eyes widened. "But that’s impossible, Rex! Every Nexum world has a Tier 5 planetary champion governing it. You can’t just waltz in and take over!"

Rex’s smirk widened as he leaned closer to Lilla, his voice dropping to a whisper. "You’re right about that, little Lilla. But you’ve forgotten one important detail."

His breath tickled her ear, and though her face was hidden behind her veil, her ears turned a bright red. "This planet doesn’t have a Tier 5 protecting it. Nexum lost dozens of their Tier 5 champions in the fight against that huge monster. This world is now... unprotected."

Lilla’s ears twitched again, and she quickly took another sip of her tea to hide her flustered expression. "I see... so it’s like that," she said with her voice being unusually sweet.

Ys, who had been watching the exchange with a devilish smirk, couldn’t resist teasing. "Oh, Lilla, your ears are so red. Is it the tea, or is someone getting a little too close for comfort?" Explore new worlds at novelbuddy

Lilla shot Ys a glare. "Shut it, Ys. This is serious."

Rex, oblivious to the tension, leaned back and continued. "Well, even though I’d love to take credit for this idea, it was Cleo who did all the annoying work to make this plan a reality. So, here’s what we’re going to do: we’ll rally the forces around here that aren’t happy with Nexum’s administration and start a revolt big enough to cover the planet."

Ys tilted her head while her eyes narrowed slightly. "And how do you plan to do that, exactly? Nexum may be weakened, but they’re not helpless."

Rex grinned. "We’ll start small. Find the local resistance groups, the disgruntled workers, the people who’ve been pushed too far. We’ll give them the tools, the leadership, and the motivation to rise up. And once the fire starts, it’ll spread faster than Nexum can contain it."

Lilla set her teacup down, her expression becoming thoughtful. "It’s risky. If we’re caught, Nexum will throw everything they have at us."

Rex’s grin didn’t waver. "That’s why we’ll be smart about it. We’ll hit them where they least expect it, and by the time they realize what’s happening, it’ll be too late."

Ys leaned closer, her lips curling into a sly smile. "You’ve got a plan, don’t you?"

"Of course I have a plan," Rex said as he leaned back in his chair. "And that’s why I brought the two of you with me. Ys, since you love to play, you’ll be in charge of unifying all the criminal groups under your control. Use your charm, your wit, and whatever else you need to bring them to our side."

Ys’s eyes lit up with excitement, and she leaned in to kiss Rex’s cheek. "Leave it to me, darling! I’ll finally have some fun!"

Rex turned to Lilla, his expression serious but encouraging. "Lilla, you’ll take charge of the middle classes in this world. Open your church here and gain their support. I’ve seen how good you are at converting people to your cause. If anyone can win them over, it’s you."

"Mmm, I’ll do my best. But I’m not sure how well my religion will resonate with non-human races. Still, since this aligns with my personal goals and doesn’t conflict with my cult’s wishes, you have my full support."

Rex nodded with a satisfied smile on his face. "Well then, since we’ve finished discussing the plan, let’s finish eating and get down to business."

As they resumed their meal, Ys tilted her head, her eyes narrowing playfully. "But darling, what will you be doing while we’re out there working?"

Rex grinned, "Oh, me? I’ll be lazing around."

Ys’s eyes widened, and before Rex could react, she bit his arm hard. "Hey! Are you really going to bite your husband to death!? Those teeth of yours can tear through metal!" Rex exclaimed while trying to push her away.

Ys finally let go while pouting as she crossed her arms. "Hmph! That’s what you get for lying to me!"

Rex rubbed the spot where she’d bitten him, wincing slightly. "I wasn’t lying! I’ll seriously be lazing around... at high-society parties in the upper districts. I need to make connections with the rich merchants and nobles. It’s an important part of the plan."

Ys’s pout turned into a sly smile. "Oh? So you’ll be schmoozing with the elite while we do all the hard work? Typical."

Rex chuckled, his golden eyes gleaming with mischief. "Hey, someone’s got to wine and dine the people who control the money and influence. Besides, you know I’m good at it."