Meteor Fall Master in the 'Starry Abyss'-Chapter 1367 - 287: Void Route – Toward the [White Wolf] Ending (12)

Leoz's words were incredibly calm, his tone slow, his demeanor steady, as if he were speaking of something trivial.

"In terms of loyalty, I have not taken a single cent or meal from the Will of the Starry Abyss, fighting relentlessly for a billion years. In terms of love for the people, I have eradicated corrupt officials and exerted my utmost effort to liberate Zhou Yuan at the smallest cost—May I ask, Your Excellency the God of Vanquishing Delusion, Gio Zieou, I, Leoz, the Supreme Ruler of the stars, the secret Blacksmith, am I not considered a qualified Starry Abyss person?"

Gio Zieou opened his mouth, always wanting to say something in rebuttal.

Rationality told him that Leoz was wrong.

Over the past few months, Leoz did not hide his actions, nor did he limit Gio's understanding of the Primordial Abyss Federation.

Or rather, Leoz disdained to hide his populist views.

Gio Zieou had read the textbooks of the Primordial Abyss Federation, most of which were personally compiled by Leoz, and even if not, were completed under his supervision. Leoz continuously demanded federal citizens to enhance their awareness as masters of the nation, calling for their absolute loyalty to their motherland, not allowing any impure thoughts to emerge.

In the Federation, officials from civilian and impoverished backgrounds were given priority in selection, and local self-governing bureaucrats were all elected by the grassroots. These people had no backing, and under the surveillance of Leoz's different-world counterparts, they had no way to contact the Federation's elite interest groups. Civil official, martial generals, Engineers, and intellectuals could only choose to cling tightly to Leoz alone.

Because they couldn't attain help from interest groups, their paths of promotion were entirely dependent on their political achievements—and those reviewing these achievements were none other than Your Excellency the Great Commander and the ruling party, who controlled personnel appointment and dismissal rights.

Even though Gio Zieou was a mere Warrior, or even someone completely uninterested in politics, he clearly understood what this meant.

Even the Lai Anding Group, at least, still had 'imperial authority not extending to the county'; Lai Anding had no way to control the Will of every Spiritual Warrior reincarnated.

He could at most control his own Favored Clan and use the Qiqiao Network and Cognition Filter to win over some leaders among the Spiritual Warriors.

——These people all emerged from the War Beyond the Abyss, bloodied and armed; Lai Anding also knew that if he pushed them too far, not just the True Martial Party would emerge.

But Leoz was different.

Leoz was already the uncrowned Emperor of the new Federation, his centralization directly built upon personal authority, martial force, religious belief, party factions, special agencies, and all levels of bureaucrats, surpassing any Sovereign Emperor of both Earth and Starry Abyss eras.

His legal rationale was above the Imperial Emperor, his image surpassed the religious Prophet, his authority surpassed that of the Head of State, his mobilization power overshadowed party factions, not to mention his martial force could crush national armies at any moment.

For a moment, Gio Zieou couldn't even find an apt word to describe Leoz's image.

Finally, he could only say:

"Your Excellency Dumfis back then, was just like this."

"Are you saying my rule over you is akin to a Chief God's?"

"Interpret it however you like... After being in this long imprisonment of the Void, hearing and seeing all, I've come to understand many things."

Gio Zieou said, leaning against the nearby railing, hanging his head low:

"Do you know that cumin powder from the Fragrant Chicken Squad?"

"Who is that?" Leoz asked.

"A girl I liked, and who liked me."

Gio Zieou said:

"She died in the Azure Star defense battle, amidst the struggle with Earth Senators, a falling metal pillar crushed her to dust—Lai Anding's cognition filter was pierced, and her real body's death followed."

"I have no impression, too many people died back then, the Sky Ring Republic was directly annihilated, hundreds of millions of military and civilians died defending Azure Star's future. I myself was erased of future by Lord Entropy."

Leoz said indifferently:

"Those who achieve great things must be prepared to sacrifice. Otherwise, don't come out here, go home and plant sweet potatoes."

"Yes, many people died, many sacrificed for a noble goal... But just like you don't know the person I love, I also don't know them."

Gio Zieou clenched his fists, and softly said:

"You know, when billions of people die, it's just a number. But the one I loved was killed and erased right in front of me."

"Let me put it harshly, Lord Leoz, those billions of Azure Star People who died in the Entropy battle, I don't care at all; their sacrifice is pitiful, but I don't know them, and they didn't die for us, rather we! We fought for those people."

"All they lost was life, but what I lost was the person in this world who loved me the most, she died to defend Azure Star, to guard the Starry Abyss, to aid your ambition to control Azure Star—and you don't even remember her name!"

"Not to mention the cumin powder, how many people who died for your ambition can you still remember?"

Gio Zieou clenched his fists and looked at Leoz:

"Even now, do you still intend to let more people die for your ambition, and not even care yourself? What made you become like this? Where did that Hero Leoz, who took us to space and defended our homeland and comrades, go? Do you still have a shred of humanity left?"

"I don't hate you for making me lose her, nor do I blame you for forgetting, because these matters are my private concern."

"I'm just short of a girl who would pat my shoulder from behind to greet me, just short of a friend who would embrace me while I sobbed, just short of a spicy girl who was only gentle to me, just short of one internet friend who shared my funny videos, just short of a little girl who ran to welcome me when she knew I was coming, just short of the moon in my night sky, just short of the sun in my day, just short of a heart in my chest..."

"I don't blame you for anything at all— I don't blame you for the annihilation of Ziluo Star. Because I share a common enemy with you—Earth."

"I don't blame you for pushing me into the Void twice, imprisoning me for a century, because I owe you, I could never understand your ideals and actions."

"I even don't blame you for planning the unification war of Starry Abyss."

"This is what Starry Abyss owes you, a billion years of battle with invaders, even if you wish to proclaim emperor, I would support it."

Leoz's cold gaze fell upon Gio Zieou, as scorching as a Scorching Sun, seemingly ready to consume him in the next moment.

Endless pressure seeped into Gio Zieou's soul, as Leoz poured out his past and the fate of the Spiritual Deer.