Chapter 1454: Chapter 549: A Man Must Travel Far, Returning Still as a Youth

Although he felt a pang of sorrow in his heart, Ren Zhong kept a calm demeanor. He merely lamented that it was a pity he hadn’t been born half a million years earlier, missing the chance to charge alongside Marquis Zhenjiang on the battlefield and to witness the Marquis’s prowess firsthand, which he found truly regrettable.

Marvell immediately seized the opportunity, laughing heartily as he said, "Brother Ren Zhong, there’s no need to regret, as the Marquis often says, there’s plenty of time in the future. Opportunities will come."

Ren Zhong replied, "That’s true, I hope that day comes soon."

In reality, Marvell had already accomplished his task ahead of schedule. He hadn’t expected that upon meeting, he’d probe out Ren Zhong’s apparent intention to join Marquis Zhenjiang, which immediately put him in a good mood.

The two continued their casual conversation, unwittingly entering the core cabin of the long-range ship.

It was a simply adorned conference room, with Marvell’s living quarters right next to it. Ren Zhong’s gaze passed through the open door, observing the layout inside, which was truly modest: just an ordinary alloy bed, a bedside table, a small desk, and a particularly simple bookshelf filled with paper books, devoid of any decorations. Such a layout seemed entirely unbefitting of an Earl from the Empire Core, subtly revealing the lifestyle of Marquis Zhenjiang’s faction, which indeed was unlike traditional imperial nobility.

Despite their long exchange of pleasantries, Ren Zhong’s regard for Marquis Zhenjiang rose significantly because of this room. If Marvell knew what Ren Zhong thought, he might be a little smug.

As Ren Zhong had suspected, Marquis Zhenjiang himself and his direct ancestors hailed from what is now an enemy-occupied area controlled by the Ascended. Driven by a yearning for their homeland and a strong sense of unwillingness, Marquis Zhenjiang and his wandering family didn’t have the mind to enjoy life before realizing their ambitions.

In the conference room, Marvell Louis first briefly explained the enfeoffment ceremony’s process to Ren Zhong and also discussed in detail the specifics of his battle merit evaluation.

Although the Red Peak Fleet had engaged in numerous battles large and small after arriving in the Nanxiang Star Cluster, meriting their anti-piracy efforts, the battle merits from these encounters were not significant. Ren Zhong’s elevation to Earl mainly relied on the giant reproductive cells of the Fourth-Class Mother Empress.

The "Divine Level Demon Descendant" Ren Zhong killed on Source Star seemed like a considerable accomplishment, but due to the lack of concrete evidence and the incident occurring in the Tracer’s colonial area, its significance was downplayed, far less important than the giant reproductive cells.

According to Marvell Louis, over time, the value of the giant reproductive cells Ren Zhong provided to the Empire had not diminished but instead became increasingly important.

During nearly a century, the Royal Academy of Sciences had, through in-depth analysis of the giant reproductive cells, figured out many recent biological technological achievements of the Ascended. Now, the Empire is quietly preparing, with its vast productivity secretly in full swing, rapidly converting results and manufacturing a large number of targeted equipment. In the quartet of nations, the Mechanical Empire, although relatively weaker, can still somewhat defend itself.

Without a doubt, the Empire is planning a war significant enough to alter the geopolitical landscape.

Marquis Zhenjiang hasn’t received explicit notification yet, as this matter remains confidential, a conclusion Marvell Louis reached after observing resource movements within the Empire. So telling Ren Zhong doesn’t constitute a leak.

After hearing Marvell’s analysis, Ren Zhong exhibited a suitably excited and combative stance, resolutely stating, "According to the Empire’s military laws, should a genuine large-scale war erupt, the Nanxiang Star Cluster fleet would be incorporated into Marquis Zhenjiang’s army group. At that time, I ask Marvell, my brother, to apply to the Marquis on my behalf. I don’t want to be trapped under Liu An, constantly guarding against him stabbing me in the back. It’s better to transfer my Red Peak Army to the Marquis’s direct command, where I am willing to be the vanguard."

Ren Zhong’s statement appeared somewhat reckless.

Marvell also found it slightly strange in his heart.

Your conflict with the Nanxiang Marquis is well-known. That’s true enough.

But we’ve only just met. How can you trust us so much? Aren’t you afraid we might turn on you instead? With your wisdom and experience, shouldn’t you maintain at least some caution toward us?

You, Earl Red Blade, don’t come across as such a naive individual.

Could it be because my performance today was so exceptional that it felt like deja vu to you?

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