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

Chapter 1054: Chapter 1053: That Will Require an Additional Fee

Inside the building serving as a temporary command center, it was a scene of busyness.

”There are still injured over there, move the injured to the hall, communication team, immediately send a signal to see if there are any soldiers still outside!”

After the Swarm took over the battle, Shupard and Anderson no longer needed to fight on the front lines, and with the stream of injured, civilians, and soldiers continuously arriving here, they immediately took on organizational duties—first gathering the injured, then settling the civilians, and finally finding ways to contact Star Alliance troops across Earth, assess battle damage, and issue orders.

The number of civilians rescued was considerable. In the past, it might not have been easy to settle them, but now, these civilians obediently took orders like children, mainly because the sudden attack today left them completely unaware of the situation, remaining bewildered.

And the other reason... was the Swarm surrounding them like a hungry predator.

”I really didn’t expect it to go this smoothly.”

After handling another official duty, Anderson stretched and walked to the window to look outside. It was already midnight, and fires could still be seen burning in the distance. However, the sounds of battle hadn’t been heard for a long time. It wasn’t because they failed, but because the Reapers that occupied the entire city had been completely swept away by those Swarm, whether it was those towering steel Reapers or the Corpse Puppets and drones they created, they had fallen under the Swarm.

”Yeah...”

Shupard, who had just led a team to search for survivors, took a sip of water and leaned against the wall. After the little girls from Heavenly Dao Palace saved the first batch of survivors, Shupard selected soldiers who could still move to join her in rescue operations. Then, they chose qualified soldiers from the rescued survivors to assist them, making the rescue work go more smoothly like a snowball rolling down a hill.

Especially because the Swarm mercilessly wiped out all the Reapers, people didn’t need to be distracted by facing enemies and could focus entirely on searching for and rescuing survivors, thus speeding up the rescue efficiency. At least for now, their work seemed to have been quite effective.

”How’s the situation?”

”Terrible.”

Hearing Shupard’s inquiry, Lieutenant General Anderson’s joy at the city’s imminent recovery instantly plummeted.

”We can’t contact any other Star Alliance divisions at all, only a few units responded, but... their situation obviously isn’t great.”

That’s to be expected, after all, not everyone would be so lucky to be rescued by the Swarm.

But speaking of which...

”We indeed made a wise decision back then.”

Looking at the dark red thick Fungal Carpet on the ground and the densely packed Flying Dragons standing on the rooftop not far away, Anderson also took a deep breath. As a soldier, a General, he naturally closely observed these mysterious entities from Heavenly Dao Palace, and from their actions, Anderson discerned the overall structure of Heavenly Dao Palace.

It was clear that these terrifying-looking Swarm were the true main force of Heavenly Dao Palace, while those little girls with strange mysterious powers seemed more like the elite force or Royal Guard of Heavenly Dao Palace. Moreover, according to Shupard’s report, the other side also had a powerful fleet far surpassing all current civilizations.

Anderson silently pondered for a moment, then he unwillingly realized that even if those little girls with mysterious powers did not appear on the battlefield, the Swarm alone could sweep the entire Star Alliance. If those little girls with mysterious powers and that fleet with powerful mysterious force also appeared, they would have... no chance of survival.

This force is even more terrifying than the Reapers!

Anderson knew that many of the people here were first discovered by the Swarm and then rescued by them. It’s not surprising; these bizarre-looking bugs don’t speak and seem unable to communicate with humans, and their appearance led many people to nearly have a mental breakdown upon first sight.

But fortunately, these bugs did follow orders, even if someone frightened would shoot at them, these bugs had no intention of retaliating.

Of course, more importantly, ordinary firearms couldn’t penetrate their exoskeletons at all...

Recalling the soldiers’ reports, Anderson couldn’t help but press his forehead. To be honest, from his perspective now, this Heavenly Dao Palace force was much more frightening than the Reapers. Not to mention anything else, the number of survivors they gathered speaks for itself. The Reapers’ tactic was to first paralyze the Star Alliance’s central core and then slowly sweep and harvest with ground troops and Corpse Puppets.

Which is why there are so many survivors.

But the Swarm...

Such a carpet-style invasion without a limit on their numbers is even scarier than locusts. If they launched an attack on humans, after they swept through this city, Anderson was sure there would be no living things left in this city except them!

This might be the backing of Heavenly Dao Palace in daring to stand up to the Citadel. Frankly, if it weren’t for the Reapers, the Citadel would likely regard Heavenly Dao Palace as the most dangerous force in the Milky Way, even putting the Geth behind them.

But fortunately, they’re now our allies... well, calling them allies isn’t quite accurate, since they’re doing it for compensation.

Speaking of which...

”Shupard, how’s your side?”

”Pretty bad.”

Shupard shook her head.

”Almost every docked warship was destroyed by the Reapers immediately; we can’t even find a complete ship frame... How about you? Did you get in touch with the defensive fleet?”

”Don’t mention it, those cowards...”

Not saying anything was better, but mentioning Anderson made him furious. After exhausting every means possible to contact the defense fleet, he hoped they would provide support. However, those bastards refused to come, claiming that Earth was completely occupied by the Reapers, and their fleet was no match for the enemy. Then, they cut off contact with Anderson under the pretext of being afraid the Reapers would track them down.

Lieutenant General Anderson was nearly infuriated to death.

Fine, he also admitted the truth of their words. After all, the defense fleet had been battered to just a few kittens unable to fend for themselves...

That being said, it was Star Alliance’s own stupidity. Back when Shupard detected the Reapers were about to arrive, he immediately sent a warning to the Star Alliance. But those fools insisted on waiting for Shupard to return and report the details, merely ordering the fleet to stand by and raise alert levels?

Now look, they got wiped out!

However, grumbling about it now is meaningless since those fools have already been destroyed by the Reapers. Anderson must consider the current issues.

Now, the city where the headquarters is located has been regained, but this isn’t the most crucial thing. They must gain the support of other species. The Reapers came fiercely; relying only on the Star Alliance and humanity is absolutely impossible. They must unite the power of other species!

Thinking of this, Anderson clenched his fists and looked out the window again, just in time to see a Flying Dragon lowering its head, staring at him curiously.

...Well, maybe except for certain factions.

But in any case, they must leave Earth, and without warships, this is clearly impossible.

Anderson glanced at his universal tool and then looked at Shupard.

”Commander Shupard.”

”Yes, any instructions?”

”I remember you mentioned that organization called the Heavenly Dao Palace has a powerful fleet, right?”

”Yes, but... Anderson?”

Shupard wasn’t stupid. Hearing Anderson’s question, she knew his intentions.

”Are you really going to...?”

”What else? We can’t fly!”

Anderson rolled his eyes helplessly.

”This is a crisis for the entire Milky Way. We need to unite with the Citadel, with the Turui People, with the Asari, and with all species to fight the Reapers together! We need warships, we need fleets!”

”.........”

Hearing Anderson’s words, Shupard was silent for a moment. Then, she looked at Anderson again, cautiously asking a question.

”...Do you have money?”

”I’ll give, I’ll give, isn’t that enough?!”

Upon hearing this question, Anderson was immediately frustrated. The fifty kilograms of Element Zero he promised to the Heavenly Dao Palace had already been transported back by Tilia’s worker bees through the wormhole. However, they were true to their word, saying they’d help reclaim the city, and they really only helped reclaim the city...

Originally, Anderson wanted to get closer to Tilia, like negotiating some discount since they fought side by side... But then he thought...

Fought side by side, my foot, the battle was entirely handled by the Swarm, and they just stayed behind cheering!

Of course, from a mercenary’s perspective, the Heavenly Dao Palace did great, but from an emotional angle... Sigh, let’s just say the emotional card doesn’t work here.

Thinking about this, Anderson sighed in frustration, then turned and walked up the steps to the balcony on the second floor serving as a temporary command post. There, Tilia was sitting in a chair, enjoying the night view outside while leisurely sipping tea. Upon seeing Anderson’s arrival, Tilia smiled slightly.

”Lieutenant General Anderson, is there something you need?”

”That’s right, Miss Tilia.”

Having witnessed the power of the Heavenly Dao Palace firsthand, Anderson abandoned any plans to haggle and directly spoke.

”We hope the Heavenly Dao Palace could dispatch a fleet to assist us... This is a war threatening the entire Milky Way’s civilizations. We need more support, to unite all species, but right now we lack warships enough to combat the Reapers...”

”A fleet, huh...”

Hearing Anderson’s words, Tilia pondered for a moment, then put down her teacup and smiled slightly.

”That will require an additional fee.”