Dimensional Codex System: I'm really not a cultist!

Chapter 1122: Chapter 1121: Journey to Jupiter

Looking at Yuffie in front of him, Fang Zheng wasn’t sure what to say.

As for Yuffie, she was staring at Fang Zheng, speechless for a while.

Things got a bit awkward...

”Do you guys know each other, Mr. Fang Zheng?”

Kurumi chimed in cheerfully, asking with a smile. Hearing her question, Fang Zheng could only give a helpless grin.

”I met her before leaving here to return to the Chinese Federation, but I never thought it would be such a coincidence...”

Although Fang Zheng had heard Yuffie’s name from Cornelia, he had never seen any photos of her. Honestly, Fang Zheng hadn’t cared much about this matter, so he wasn’t inclined to search for this Euphemia to see what kind of woman she was. Even with a slight interest in her and a quick search, he could have avoided the current awkward scenario.

Yuffie was equally awkward. Unlike Fang Zheng, who had many things to deal with daily, she was a captive and couldn’t communicate with the outside world. Had she not applied on her own initiative and been approved by Kurumi, Yuffie might never have met Fang Zheng. Although she had heard Fang Zheng’s name from Cornelia, she thought it might be a coincidence and didn’t connect him to the person she once knew.

But now...

”Mr. Fang Zheng, it’s been a long time.”

Euphemia, a bit blushing, nodded at Fang Zheng, who returned the gesture.

”It’s indeed been a long time, Miss Euphemia. I didn’t expect us to meet again under such circumstances.”

”Me neither...”

Upon hearing Fang Zheng’s response, Euphemia couldn’t help but sigh, and the two fell silent once again.

”Well, Mr. Fang Zheng... about...”

”I know, Miss Euphemia, I’ve already heard about this from Cornelia, but... sorry, I don’t plan on marrying at the moment.”

Even though this world is not monogamous, for instance, Britannia’s Emperor had several Imperial Concubines when he was alive. Yet, for Fang Zheng, marriage is still a significant affair, especially since he has quite a few girlfriends around him. Picking the first person to marry needs careful consideration, and Fang Zheng wouldn’t abandon a forest just for a single tree.

”I see...”

Upon hearing Fang Zheng’s response, Euphemia felt a mix of disappointment and relief, unlike Kagura Yaya, whose reactions were always quite dramatic. Although initially reluctant when hearing Shunazer wanted to marry her off as a diplomatic alliance from her sister, deep down, she felt a bit resistant. Even knowing her role as part of the Imperial Family, she was somewhat nervous.

Seeing Fang Zheng relaxed her somewhat, considering they knew each other, albeit briefly. If it were him... Euphemia wasn’t entirely opposed to the idea.

However, what surprised Euphemia was Fang Zheng’s first refusal, even though she hadn’t objected. This left Euphemia relieved but also slightly dissatisfied.

Where did I fall short...

You could say women’s minds... hmm, they’re genuinely hard to guess.

Fang Zheng didn’t say much more; whether he understood Euphemia’s feelings or not, he just comforted her with a few words before sending her off...

”Now you can all be at ease, right?”

Politely escorting Euphemia out, Fang Zheng shot Kurumi a slightly annoyed glance, while Kurumi chuckled softly.

”What are you talking about, Mr. Fang Zheng? We’ve always had faith in you.”

”Heh.”

Faced with Kurumi’s response, Fang Zheng rolled his eyes helplessly.

I truly believed your nonsense.

Time passed day by day, and finally, a month later, the interception fleet organized by the Chinese Federation fully gathered. Besides the Chinese Federation’s warships and VFs, Orb, PLANT, and Zeon contributed quite a few MS and warships. Even the Earth Federation reluctantly dispatched the Nadeshiko—they had no choice but to send it, considering the whole world was watching.

And so, this United Fleet under Fang Zheng’s command departed Earth for Jupiter.

”Remember, you only have one mission.”

Standing in the command room, Fang Zheng stared at the aces from various factions before him.

”Do your best to stop these ’Reapers’ and ensure our Secret Weapon can smoothly enter the target’s central zone for detonation.”

”Lord Fang Zheng, does this ’Secret Weapon’ really work?”

After hearing Fang Zheng’s detailed explanation of the plan, Cornelia was the first to question with doubt, and Natsuka beside her nodded in agreement.

”Indeed, this Secret Weapon... what’s its capability exactly?”

It’s understandable that everyone would have such questions. Before departure, Fang Zheng had shown them the Chinese Federation’s so-called Secret Weapon claimed to destroy the Reapers in one fell swoop. But the issue was that this ’Secret Weapon’ didn’t look reassuring.

It appeared like a massive commercial transport rocket—essentially an ultra-large missile. Naturally, everyone had their concerns. After all, there are numerous ways to counter missiles, not to mention there’s only one of this ’missile.’ If it fails, there won’t be any chance to rectify the situation.

”It can generate a special strong magnetic field that attracts and destroys homogeneous objects around it.”

In response to everyone’s inquiries, Fang Zheng made up answers casually.

”Because its range is large, we must act cautiously. If it explodes outside the safe zone, even we would be caught in it.”

”To save all humanity, we do not fear death.”

Upon hearing Fang Zheng’s answer, Natsuka thought for a moment and shook his head.

”If it doesn’t explode in the Core Zone, we won’t be able to wipe out the Reapers, so whether we fear death is meaningless.”

Of course, Fang Zheng was well-prepared and quickly gave his answer.

”Beep———!”

However, at that moment, suddenly, the alarm sounded and the command screen quickly appeared.

”Report, Your Highness, the United Army has discovered the Reaper Legion!”

”Understood.”

Hearing the response, Fang Zheng quickly composed himself, clapped his hands.

”Then, according to the plan, focus on distracting the Reapers, try to separate their formations, leave the rest to us, let’s begin!”

In the boundless universe, the densely packed Reaper Legion slowly advanced, their numbers even greater than before, far exceeding those of the United Army.

”Why do these Reapers seem different?”

Driving his Zagoo, Natsuka watched the distant Reapers and frowned in puzzlement. He had fought against the Reapers before and knew these enemies well. Natsuka remembered that Reapers were supposed to be entirely deep blue metallic. But these Reapers were silver-white, though apart from the color, they looked exactly the same as those he fought before...

”—————!”

Yet, before Natsuka could think further, the battle had begun.

Like ”normal” Reapers, upon discovering the United Army fleet, the Reaper fleet’s drones first shot out, rushing toward the fleet. Meanwhile, the United Army fleet quickly launched MS, moving to meet the Reaper drones. Soon, both sides were caught in the battle.

Soon, everyone realized that hidden among these ”Reapers” was an even more terrifying threat.

”Boom!”

After destroying a Reaper drone, the blond pilot quickly turned and aimed at the next target. But suddenly, he saw a strange, missile-like creature rushing toward him.

What is that?

The blond pilot was equally shocked to see this bizarre thing and quickly created distance while swiftly shooting the odd ”missile” down. However, to the blond pilot’s surprise, this act seemed to stir a hornet’s nest, as instantly hundreds or even thousands of similar ”missiles” densely emerged from behind the Reapers, rushing toward him!

No good!

Seeing the swarm of silver-white metallic creatures rushing at him like a bees’ attack, the blond pilot was also shocked and quickly maneuvered his machine to dodge. But he was ultimately unable to keep up, narrowly evading twice before being hit by missiles from behind.

However......

No explosion?

The blond pilot, who had closed his eyes and prepared for the explosion, surprisingly opened his eyes, and then, he saw something almost unimaginable.

His cockpit, along with himself, was being gradually assimilated!

”What is this? What is this stuff!!”

The blond pilot screamed and tried to break free, but he could only watch in horror as his body slowly turned into silver-white metal crystals, from his legs gradually moving upward, then......accompanied by a scream, in the next moment, the blond pilot turned into a twisted, amorphous crystal cluster, completely dissolved.

Seeing this, other pilots in battle were also greatly astonished.

What the hell is this?

They had fought against Reapers before, but during those times, the Reapers didn’t show this kind of power to assimilate machines!

Moreover, in the next moment, something even more shocking happened.

After those silver-white things ”assimilated” the blond pilot’s MS, shortly after, the surrounding silver-white metallic objects suddenly seemed to magnetically pull together, twisting and morphing like clay, and then———transformed into the MS that the blond pilot was just driving!

Seeing this, everyone was dumbfounded.

This is deadly!