Battle Of Planets

Chapter 78: We did it!
”Be quiet. We’re talking here, Albert,” Max said calmly, his voice holding an undeniable weight.Albert hesitated for a moment, his anger temporarily suppressed. He knew precisely what that self-righteous bastard was thinking.

Max had been waiting for this moment—Utopia’s golden opportunity—and now it was right before him.

However, one obstacle remained: the legitimacy of this so-called method.

If it weren’t as revolutionary as Elria asserted, nothing would change.

Albert couldn’t openly oppose the proposal—it would make him appear desperate. Instead, he’d humiliate Elria, expose their bluff, and show everyone that their so-called discovery was nothing but a fantasy.

”Do you honestly believe your method is that effective?” Albert smirked, leaning back in his chair. ”Relocating the Research Department is not a decision to be taken lightly.”

”He’s right,” Julian affirmed, his tone steady yet assertive. ”We shouldn’t make any decisions until we determine if this method is really necessary.”

”Really, old man?” Max chuckled, his eyes gleaming with amusement. ”After all these years, are you still opposed to relocating R&D to Utopia?”

Julian stayed expressionless, but the tension in the room grew.

He has always opposed the idea.

Utopia was already one of the most powerful nations. If they also controlled the Research Department, they would elevate their status further, disrupting the delicate balance among the cities.

Victor had maintained the status quo, his genius and influence ensuring that R&D remained in Babylon. But Victor was gone now.

Julian exhaled slowly and pushed himself up from his mat. His body was frail, bearing the weight of years of battle. He stumbled slightly, and for a brief moment, the world’s strongest warriors saw not the monk, not the second-strongest human alive, but a man nearing the end of his days.

”I hardly have three... maybe five years left,” Julian admitted, his voice soft yet steady. ”Unlike you, Max, my time is drawing to a close. But that doesn’t mean I will stop worrying about my people.”

Max’s expression stayed substandard. ”I’ve never done anything to make you suspicious of me, Julian,” he said. ”And yet, you’ve always been cautious around me.”

Julian sighed. ”I was.” Then, softly said, ”Not anymore.”

Silence fell upon the room.

”I simply seek peace, Max. At this moment, you are the one keeping that peace intact.”

Max inclined his body closer. ”So, what’s the issue?”

Before Julian could respond, Albert interrupted.

”The issue lies with them!” Albert exclaimed, his anger reaching a peak. ”They’re pitting us against one another—what’s the point? We haven’t even uncovered their method! For all we know, they might have nothing to offer.”

Edward laughed. A sudden burst of amusement echoed across the room, capturing everyone’s attention directed toward him.

Seraphina was taken by surprise.

She knew her father-in-law was fearless, but today—today she witnessed it for herself.

She had been struggling to breathe under the pressure of this meeting, afraid that one misstep could cost them everything. But Edward?

He felt entirely at ease. He wasn’t just unafraid; he was actually enjoying this.

”You’re desperate, Albert,” Edward finally said as he rose. His voice was calm, yet his smirk was razor-sharp. ”Too desperate.”

He let the words sink in, appreciating the way Albert’s face contorted with irritation before delivering his final blow.

”We have discovered a method that enables us to increase power points by at least four to five.”

The room became still. Max’s eyes narrowed, suspicion flickering across his face.

Julian turned, his usual calm breaking into pure shock.

Albert appeared speechless.

”N-No, that’s not possible!” Albert exclaimed, his tone edged with panic. ”You’re lying! Creating something like that is impossible! Don’t pay attention to him!”

”Show us,” Max interrupted quickly, his curiosity piqued.

Edward just nodded at Seraphina. ”Sera, can you please enlighten our friends?”

She steadied herself before stepping forward and projecting the intricate diagrams and methodologies onto the screen.

The process was intricate, crafted to be nearly impossible to duplicate without specific knowledge. However, as the steps unfolded, it became evident—if executed correctly, it would elevate Meta-bots beyond anything humanity had ever witnessed.

Max exhaled sharply, his breath unsteady. ”This is... revolutionary, Edward.”

”Absolutely marvelous,” Julian murmured, shaking his head with a rare, sincere smile.

Edward’s smirk grew wider. ”So, do you agree to our terms and conditions?” he inquired. ”There’s more, but you can go over the details with my daughter-in-law at a later time.”

But Albert—his face had turned ashen. He knew this method.

Victor had worked on something similar before his death. However, after the tournament, it vanished. Albert searched everywhere for it.

He had systematically eliminated all evidence of Victor’s digital files. He bribed R&D members, coerced them to disregard Victor’s research, undermined his projects, and intimidated anyone who attempted to advance Victor’s ideas.

When Victor passed away, Albert believed he had triumphed. He seized control of Babylon. However, he never discovered that method again, as if Victor had cleaned it thoroughly before they drafted to tournaments.

Now, here it was—right before him. His suspicions had been correct. Victor’s family had hidden it, kept it off the digital grid, and protected it beyond his reach. His blood boiled.

”You... thieves!” Albert shouted, pounding his fist on the table. ”That’s Victor’s method! It’s from Babylon! Return it!”

The room fell silent.

Seraphina’s breath hitched. How did he know? What do we do now? She looked at Edward in panic, but he just smiled.

”What evidence do you possess?” Edward inquired, his tone casual and slightly derisive. ”If this genuinely belonged to Victor, why is it with us?”

”As the General, you must have access to all the records maintained by your predecessor, right?” He leaned in closer, his eyes shining with intrigue. ”So, Albert...” Edward grinned. ”How is it possible that you don’t?”

Max chuckled, his amusement barely hidden. ”Don’t tell me, Albert... you knew about this method all along?” His eyes sparkled with intrigue. ”Is that why you were so eager to get your hands on Victor’s family?”

Albert stiffened, a dark expression crossing his face. ”Don’t talk nonsense!” he snapped, though his voice carried an unmistakable hint of panic. ”This is none of your business, Max! Victor belonged to Babylon—his family, his legacy, everything associated with him is rightfully ours!”

Edward released another booming laugh. ”So now we’re supposed to listen to a man who spent years undermining Victor from the shadows?” His smirk broadened. ”You truly are a hypocritical bastard, Albert.”

Julian, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke. His voice was slow and measured. ”It seems we are reaching an agreement.”

”You have entrusted us with a secret that could alter the course of humanity,” Julian continued, looking at Edward. ”For that, I am thankful. I will leave this matter in your hands, Max... just don’t intimidate people too much.”

Albert jumped up from his seat, his face flushed with anger. ”No! Julian, you must support me!” His tone was filled with desperation. ”I want that girl! I want that method! It’s mine—”

”Albert,” Julian interrupted, his tone as steady as a rock, ”I don’t engage in politics, but that doesn’t mean I’m blind to your situation.”

”We all understand how it is,” Julian added. ”However, this isn’t just about you or me anymore.” he continued, ”This is for humanity.”

The screen cut out.

Albert’s face lost all color. ”J-Julian...”

Max stretched lazily as he stood up. ”Well, well... I need to start expanding the Research Department in my city.” He smirked at Seraphina. ”I’ll have my president reach out to you. It’s been a pleasure doing business with you, Madame President.”

Seraphina smiled, calm and composed. ”Thank you, Senior.”

Albert sat still, his anger simmering just below the surface. He had been defeated by them.

Max chuckled, his voice filled with amusement. ”And remember, whatever issues you have remaining, address them in a civilized manner.” With that, he went offline, allowing the tension in the room to settle.

Seraphina and Edward shared triumphant smiles.

”Checkmate, huh?” Edward leaned back, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. ”How sad, Albert. You can’t do anything now. You got beaten by me here—and in the future, you’ll be defeated from within your own city. Your days are numbered, no matter what you do.”

Albert’s fists tightened as he glared fiercely at Edward, ”This isn’t finished, Edward. You’ll regret this.”

Edward tilted his head, his tone a mock casual. ”How?”

Albert stiffened.

”You can’t isolate us any further. You can’t wage war. Your sanctions won’t work. And we’ll continue earning power stones through this deal—consistently.” Edward smirked, relishing the way Albert’s face twisted in frustration. ”You have no power over us. So do yourself a favor—go cry somewhere else.”

He leaned forward slightly, his eyes gleaming with challenge. ”And before long, I’ll take your spot as the third strongest. Just wait and see.”

The AI severed the connection. Silence enveloped the room for a moment.

Then Seraphina exhaled, turning to Edward, her eyes glistening with relief. ”We did it, Dad... we made it through this mess.”

Edward smiled, nodding. ”Yeah, we did.”