Starting from the Planetary Governor

Ou Juren needs to deal with 'Iron Fury Stone', and Gu Hang thinks it's only natural.

This aligns with their centralized political ideology.

At the same time, after arriving at Holy Terra, Gu Hang realizes that tackling the 'Iron Fury Stone' also brings significant political dividends. If someone could rise to the top a hundred years ago by 'suppressing' rebellions, then after a century, of course, someone can do it again to gain huge merits.

Even more so, this is not a solo act driven by Ou Juren and Galaraldo. Gu Hang believes that their mention of 'multiple parties' is genuine.

Behind the scenes, the shadow of the Imperial Prime Minister cannot be ignored.

After the death of the Sun Lord, the current Prime Minister, named Zebert, holds theoretically the highest position in the Empire. The position of Prime Minister is not only one of the thirteen High Lords but also the highest responsible person of the Empire Government, and all four chief ministers have to report to him.

Once the 'Iron Fury Stone' is finished, the Silver Tribunal will be in big trouble if they pick the wrong side, and even if they choose correctly, they can't avoid being severely damaged. Ou Juren could take over a lot of the Legal Department's powers overlapping with the Tribunal across several Cosmos Domains in the East.

At the same time, Norberto, who rose to prominence during the big Cercis Flower rebellion, would also be purged, and his entire faction might be uprooted.

The many vacancies that arise are spoils of war for the factions involved. Among them, the most coveted is the position of Military Affairs Department's Chief, which Galaraldo drools over.

Everyone has a bright future, needing only for 'Iron Fury Stone', the Silver Tribunal, and Norberto to 'contribute' themselves.

But their results are also from their own doing. The expansion and dominance of 'Iron Fury Stone' are simply too outrageous.

In this matter, Gu Hang is merely a pawn, a knife in the hands of those 'big players' behind the scenes.

The huge benefits are taken by them, but the desperate struggle is left to himself?

Gu Hang doesn't feel too unbalanced about it.

First off, he will not be, nor is he willing to be, on the front line against the Iron Armor Battle Group.

Fighting Furyflame is different from fighting Iron Armor.

To enter into the tightly controlled Princess Star Domain and face potentially tens of thousands of Interstellar Warriors, along with billions of specialized forces coordinating with the Interstellar Warriors?

Gu Hang definitely won't agree.

According to intelligence from all parties, the auxiliary forces of Iron Armor might even be of higher quality than those of the Imperial Star Realm Army. Naval-wise, they blatantly possess 18 battleships and 3 Zhuge-class aircraft carriers, staggeringly powerful.

What can the current Alliance put against that?

However, dealing with the 'Iron Fury Stone' isn't about jumping straight into action now. The bigwigs of Holy Terra still need time to unify thoughts, remove 'Iron Fury Stone's' protective umbrella, and mobilize forces to prepare for war.

Perhaps by then, the Alliance's forces will be one of the participants, but they shouldn't be the main force, and Gu Hang is not willing to be that main force.

It should be well compensated.

However, the first to fire the shots should be the Alliance.

In the secret meeting, after Gu Hang declared 'irrefutable duty', Ou Juren and Galaraldo had already indicated that before acting against 'Iron Fury Stone', Furyflame must be eliminated first.

Conveniently, their main forces, at least the official ones, are in the Dragonhawk Star Domain.

Conveniently, they are confronting the Alliance.

Conveniently, they already have ready-made accusations of 'manipulating Star Domain Government' and 'fabricating evidence to slander Imperial Loyalists'.

Taking down Furyflame, for Gu Hang, was indeed an irrefutable duty, he would do it even without payment.

Let alone, there is a payment.

Other issues can be ignored, but the recognition of the Alliance as an officially sanctioned entity by higher authorities, no longer the temporary political structure previously orchestrated by Galaraldo, immediately legitimizes it.

At least, no one would be able to trouble him in this matter anymore—unless the Central Empire issues a decree terminating his position.

If that really happens, it would either mean a fallout between Gu Hang and the political faction of Ou Juren and Galaraldo, or that this political faction has been overturned.

Currently, neither seems likely.

Thus far, the purpose of Gu Hang's visit to Holy Terra has almost been fully accomplished.

The only remaining task is to patiently wait for the Marshal's inauguration ceremony in a short while.

After that, he can return home with his Marshal's baton and then strike hard at Furyflame.

...

The Marshal's inauguration ceremony was grand and prepared swiftly.

Mainly because, despite few mentions, there are actually quite a number of Marshals of the Empire. Each Cosmos Domain, including both the navy and the Star Realm Army, has at least two to three, and up to five to six Marshals, possibly more in key areas. Across the entire Empire, there are about three to five hundred Marshals.

Though it might appear plentiful, it corresponds to the Empire's endless territories, limitless population, and infinite armies. From a proportional perspective, it is quite rare.

At least, the status of an individual Marshal is not inferior to a senior commissioner of one of the Central Government's four major departments.

Moreover, most of these Marshals have military achievements, so a special, grand inauguration ceremony is only appropriate.

The grandeur and quick preparation are naturally due to a dedicated team within Terra Imperial Palace responsible for this task. There is a specially constructed majestic structure called 'Marshal's Terrace' designed for this purpose.

All necessary preparations had been long completed, and even if needed, they could immediately pull out the whole setup and set it up quickly.