Merlin thought about it for a moment, and finally did not agree to the well-built man's request, keeping the hatch closed.

"Your Excellency Merlin, please be rest assured. After joining our First Battalion, you won't regret joining the Rebellion Army. Only the First Battalion is the hope and future of the Rebellion Army!"

Bellio seemed to value Merlin highly or to be more accurate, he valued the full-intelligence empire-level warship. An ordinary empire-level warship was already a formidable military force in the Rebellion Army. Moreover, Merlin's warship was not an average one, equipped with a full-intelligence system. A powerful warship like this did not require anyone to operate it. This was highly useful to the Rebellion Army who did not have many people.

If they could decode this full-intelligence system, the Rebellion Army would not need to worry about nurturing talents to control the warships. After all, a warship could not be controlled by just anyone. Only an expert who had long hours of training would be able to control it.

"Where's the station of the First Battalion?"

Merlin asked immediately. He no longer wished to follow behind those armed spaceships.

Bellio answered right away, "The First Battalion's station is further away but with this warship's speed, we can still reach there quickly. There's no need to be courteous to these scoundrels of the Second Battalion. Just shake them off directly."

Bellio did not like those from the Second Battalion, making a disdainful expression each time he mentioned them. One could well imagine how deep the conflict was between the First and Second Battalion.

With such deep conflict, they could still live alongside each other. It must be due to the intimidation from that dimension-level warship owned by the leader of the Rebellion Army, Medrick.

If ever the First or the Second Battalion obtained a dimension-level warship or Medrick died due to some accident, disturbing the balance of power, the First and Second Battalion would start fighting at once. The Rebellion Army had expanded blindly to reinforce its strength, causing an irreconcilable internal conflict.

In the pitch-dark space, the massive warship started to speed up, paying no mind to those armed spaceships in front, barging forward in a straight line.

How would these armed spaceships dare to clash against this enormous warship? Therefore, they quickly dodged to one side. They could not match the warship's speed at all, and could only watch helplessly as the warship drew further away.

"Leader, the warship had flown away. What do we do?"

These armed spaceships were flown by the Second Battalion. They were rather stupefied when they saw the warship leaving suddenly. Without the warship, Lombass' previous promise was null.

"D*mn it. It must be the instigation of Bellio and the rest in the warship. We must quickly report this to His Excellency the Commander."

Thus, the well-built man hurriedly contacted Lombass.

"Your Excellency Commander Lombass, things don't look good. That empire-level warship, thanks to the poison words of Bellio from the First Battalion, had left us behind. The warship is too fast, and we can't catch up at all. I'm afraid they're heading directly for the First Battalion's station."

The well-built man swiftly reported the situation in detail to Lombass, the Commander of the Second Battalion.

Lombass was somewhat irritable, bellowing furiously, "You trash, what are you waiting for? Forget it, there's no point in you chasing after them. I'll send a warship to intercept this empire-level warship. Humph, being in the territory of my Second Battalion, you wish to slip away to Keno's hands? How delusional!"

After Lombass' enraged rant, the communication was cut off. Everyone exchanged dismayed looks. Their leader's dream had been shattered. He could forget about becoming the captain of a warship.

"D*mn that Bellio, ruining my good fortune. D*mn the First Battalion…"

This lowly group leader's resentment encompassed the First Battalion but he was powerless as he stared at the receding empire-level warship.

…

In a black warship, the First Battalion's Commander Keno was wearing a gray-green military outfit. He was slim but he appeared full of vitality, standing ramrod straight, looking just like a military officer.

"Your Excellency, you don't have to greet Bellio yourself. Although an empire-level warship is valuable, it's enough to send us. Why the big fanfare?"

The adjutant asked, puzzled. Greeting an empire-level warship was still justified. After all, empire-level warships were the main forces of the First Battalion. In the entire First Battalion, there were only eighteen empire-level warships.

However, Keno was now bringing no fewer than nine empire-level warships in addition to over twenty city-level warships. Such a gigantic fleet was nearly enough to form an attack fleet. Was this just to receive an empire-level warship? An outsider might think that a war was starting…

Commander Keno's expression did not shift, his eyes appearing quite inscrutable. Before this, he had communicated with Bellio. Although Bellio did not say anything, Keno had keenly discerned that this empire-level warship was something else.

Of course, he could send some warships to receive them without such great fanfare but it must not be forgotten – this time, Bellio and the rest were passing through an area controlled by the Second Battalion after the guard had been switched.

Based on the behavior of that scoundrel Lombass, he might act to seize a captive empire-level warship directly. After all, it would not be the first time he had snatched a warship.

"I'll go myself. Lombass won't dare to cross the line!"

Commander Keno spoke concisely but everyone could feel the steel in his voice. No one in the First Battalion did not loathe the Second Battalion. Those were an absolute bunch of criminals, scum, and scoundrels, unfit to join the Rebellion Army at all.

Only the First Battalion could represent the Rebellion Army. Nonetheless, although they despised the Second Battalion, it did not mean they would take the Second Battalion lightly. The First Battalion possessed eighteen empire-level warships, and though the Second Battalion was slightly weaker, they had sixteen empire-level warships too, which was not a huge disparity.

If Lombass were to gain this empire-level warship, the Second Battalion would have seventeen empire-level warships. That would be nearly no different from the First Battalion. Would the Second Battalion not act even more arrogantly?

"Your Excellency, we understand. However, we've just received some bad news."

"What is it? Speak."

Commander Keno knitted his brow.

"We've just received news that the Second Battalion's station had sent out three empire-level warships. Moreover, Lombass had ordered various stations to mobilize warships to intercept Bellio and the rest."

The adjutant reported nervously.

The furrow on Commander Keno's forehead deepened, and he said coldly, "Speed up instantly. Don't care about energy consumption and move at the greatest speed. We must reach before Lombass. Otherwise, if any clashes occur, that lunatic Lombass might do something foolish."

After Commander Keno gave the order, nine empire-level warships and more than twenty city-level warships formed a massive fleet. They poured on speed mightily, heading outside the headquarters.

…

"Hmm? Isn't that the warship His Excellency the Commander has asked us to look out for? Quick, report this to the Commander."

At a station of the Second Battalion, someone noticed a colossal empire-level warship in the air. This was the Second Battalion's defense area. Naturally, such a large warship could not be concealed no matter what.

Soon, the station had contacted Commander Lombass.

"Your Excellency, we at Station Eight have discovered that empire-level warship. Please instruct us on the next step."

Lombass felt a burst of delight, and said in a low voice, "Station Eight, you have eight city-level warships there, right? Send out all of them and surround that empire-level warship tightly."

"What, surround the warship? Your Excellency, that's an empire-level warship, and we're just small-sized city-level warships, this…"

The person in charge was in an awkward position. Anyone would know the disparity between a city-level and an empire-level warship. Even the defensive shield of the latter could not be defeated. If they started fighting, their eight city-level warships were no match for that huge empire-level warship at all.

"Humph, they want to join the Rebellion Army, so why would they attack? Besides, I'm bringing three empire-level warships. You'll be safe. How about this – if they want to pass your checkpoint, tell them you want to board the warship for inspection. If they don't obey, then stall them momentarily and don't allow them to pass. Got it?"

"Your Excellency, we understand."

The person in charge at Station Eight nodded. It looked like Commander Lombass attached great importance to this empire-level warship. Nonetheless, if one thought about it, if the empire-level warship joined the First Battalion, it would have nineteen empire-level warships while the Second Battalion only had sixteen. Under this trend, the Second Battalion's capability would grow weaker.

Therefore, of course, Lombass would use any means to hold on to this empire-level warship.

Currently, in the empire-level warship, Merlin and the rest were faced with a dilemma. On the large screen, there was a military checkpoint, asking them to open the hatch to allow inspection of the warship's interior.

This was a defensive checkpoint. An inspection was justifiable but the problem was the people at this checkpoint were from the Second Battalion. Of course, Bellio knew that they wanted to seize this chance to enter the warship and gain control.

"Your Excellency Merlin, we mustn't open the hatch. They won't dare to do anything to us."

Bellio said hoarsely.

"If we don't let them inspect, we can't get past this checkpoint. Don't you want to return to the First Battalion?"

Naturally, Merlin had figured out the Second Battalion's plan. They did not force their way on board the warship, merely using the eight city-level warships to surround Merlin's warship tightly. They were waiting for others from the Second Battalion to arrive.

"Commander Keno is sure to send someone from the First Battalion to receive us."

"How far away is the First Battalion? How about the Second Battalion? Look at these people. They've surrounded us, and are waiting for reinforcements from the Second Battalion."

Merlin shook his head powerlessly. If it were up to him, he might as well force his way through.

Bellio's face paled. He knew that what Merlin said made sense. If they were continually delayed here, those from the Second Battalion would surely arrive first. At that point, with a few empire-level warships cornering them, they would not be as "friendly" as they were now.

However, barging through the checkpoint would cause huge trouble. That would be an act of war. Even if it were brought before the leader Medrick, the First Battalion would be penalized.

Merlin shook his head. These people were too indecisive. He ordered the Matrix curtly, "Barge through the checkpoint!"

"Boom."

The gigantic warship started to move with complete disregard for this fortress checkpoint. It should be known that although city-level warships could not compare to an empire-level warship, this was still a fortress checkpoint, equipped with a fortress cannon.

A fortress cannon was quite a threat to an empire-level warship. To activate the fortress cannon, one must obtain permission from the battalion's highest commander.

"They're forcing their way through. Report to the Commander!"

Those from the Second Battalion who were at this station dared not fire. They had no authority to activate the fortress cannon, so they could only report to Lombass.

"What? Do they dare to force their way through? It looks like this warship is already controlled by the First Battalion, even disregarding the checkpoint to return to the First Battalion. In that case, I won't hold back. They ignored the checkpoint first. Even if we bring this to the leader, it's the First Battalion who will be punished. Send out an alert, saying there's an invasion by an enemy warship. I'll enable access to Station Eight's fortress cannon immediately. You can use the fortress cannon to destroy the invading enemy warship!"

Activating the fortress cannon to destroy the empire-level warship, one that was ready to join the Rebellion Army – this was truly an internal conflict.

Nonetheless, being part of the Second Battalion, naturally, they knew that the relationship between the First and Second Battalion was basically like fire and water. The conflict ran deep, and could not be resolved.

They must not let the First Battalion's forces increased. Furthermore, even Lombass had given the order. These people who were defending the fortress checkpoint dared not disobey.

"Activate the fortress cannon, lock onto the target."

"Beep, beep, beep. Warning, warning. Targeted by fortress cannon, danger, extreme danger. Destroy fortress cannon?"

In Merlin's warship, everyone's heart was pounding. Earlier, Merlin had easily barged forward, and they were still considering the possible penalty. However, they were now frightened by the words "fortress cannon" from the warning.

"What? Fortress cannon? My heavens, has Lombass gone insane? Has the Second Battalion lost their minds? Are they trying to start a full-on war with our First Battalion?"

Bellio could only scold furiously but this did not improve things.

As for Merlin, his expression was serene. He knew about the fortress cannon's fearsome power. It was certainly a threat to the empire-level warship. The empire-level warship he was in now was just an ordinary empire-level warship. It must not be hit by the fortress cannon. Otherwise, Merlin could not hide any longer, and could only reveal his true strength to resolve the crisis.

"Matrix, fire immediately. Destroy the fortress cannon and the surrounding warships!"

Merlin's gaze was icy. He would not wait helplessly to experience being blown up. He immediately struck first to gain the upper hand, ordering the Matrix to fire.