LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 95 Part 2
“Minato-sama, just like Korpiana, what is the reason for conquering such a remote planet?”
Sachi, a female officer, asked Minato while they were aboard the colossal space battleship *Yamato*, a flagship of the Sakura Empire. The ship, over 1,500 meters long, was equipped with an overwhelming number of guns, earning it the nickname “hedgehog” from enemy nations. Its most formidable weapon, the triple-barrel 46-centimeter heavy ion cannon, had a range of hundreds of thousands of kilometers, boasting the greatest firepower in the galaxy.
In terms of defense, *Yamato* was equally unrivaled. It housed two of the latest stellar reactors, generating a powerful energy-neutralizing field that could shrug off enemy attacks while charging into fleets. This made its defensive capabilities superior even to dedicated defense vessels.
The ship’s crew was a hand-picked elite, selected from various military divisions. During the last war, *Yamato* had led the charge into enemy lines, generating its energy field to deflect attacks, while its heavy ion cannons tore through enemy ships. The ship alone had sunk two battleships, four cruisers, and one carrier, solidifying the Sakura Empire’s status as a military powerhouse.
Inside the captain’s quarters, Minato, gazing at the starless black sea displayed on the monitor, responded to Sachi’s question.
“The planets Korpiana and Hao’ro—neither of these are hostile to the Sakura Empire. They’re neutral worlds, with no notable strategic value or unique geographical importance… Is that what you’re trying to say, Sachi?”
“Y-Yes… While Korpiana does have a gate to access Galaxy Alpha 14, it’s mostly made up of minor foreign nations. I can’t see any value in conquering it.”
Despite her modest demeanor, Sachi’s thoughts were sharp, the result of her rising to the rank of major despite being a woman. She questioned the decision with the rationale and intelligence that brought her to such a position.
Minato, appreciating her assertiveness even as he detected a fundamental misunderstanding, decided to reveal information that had not been shared with those of her rank.
“This is classified information that hasn’t been passed down to officers of your rank. I’m allowed to disclose it, but be aware that if you leak this, there will be severe consequences. Understand?”
“Classified information… not even shared with officers?”
In the Sakura Empire’s vast military of 80 million soldiers, only a few tens of thousands achieved the rank of officer. Even though Sachi was at the lowest officer rank of major, she commanded battalions and regiments of up to 10,000 soldiers. Her position was a crucial one, far removed from the lower ranks.
Now, she was about to learn something even she had never been told. She felt a chill run down her spine as she took a deep breath and prepared for Minato’s next words.
“My family, the Saioji main house, has issued a directive to secure a route to Galaxy Alpha 14. They seem to have business with the resource planet owned by the Roifana Holy Kingdom.”
“A resource planet in a neighboring galaxy?”
The Sakura Empire possessed dozens of resource planets, large and small. The *Yamato* itself was built from minerals mined on those planets. Resource planets were an essential part of modern life, containing rare materials that often sparked conflicts.
But even so, the idea of launching an all-out attack on two planets just to secure one resource world seemed excessive to Sachi.
“Is there some kind of rare material on that planet?”
“No, it’s a regular resource planet.”
“Then why…?”
The Sakura Empire was a venerable nation, tracing its origins back to humanity’s time on Earth. It had endured countless hardships during the age of space exploration, overcoming them to become a great power that now controlled most of the galaxy.
Throughout its history, the empire had fought and won numerous wars, gaining and losing territory. But using the latest *Yamato*-class battleships and the first fleet for an attack on such insignificant planets seemed unnecessary to Sachi. A small diplomatic effort or political pressure could have easily caused these nations to capitulate without the need for such an expensive war.
“The reason is the oracle of the Miko. In one month’s time, a figure sent by the gods will descend upon the resource planet Zerad in Galaxy Alpha 14. And accompanying this figure will be the criminal Nias.”
“The Miko’s oracle?”
Minato’s words were direct, leaving no room for misinterpretation.
At the mention of the Miko, Sachi immediately understood. She now had some clarity on the baffling war plans.
Since humanity’s advance into space, there had been occasional instances of individuals possessing powers beyond normal human capabilities. In the Sakura Empire, the Fuji family had inherited such powers for generations. Although the family was smaller than the influential Saioji family, it was counted among the Five Great Houses due to this lineage of special abilities.
The Fuji family’s Miko, a priestess with the power to see the future, was closely allied with Minato’s own Saioji family. In exchange for protection from the Saioji family’s immense wealth and political influence, the Miko would share glimpses of her foresight.
Though officially a partnership, in reality, the Fuji family was under the control of the Saioji family. The previous Miko had even married into the Saioji family, and rumors suggested that the current Miko was engaged to Minato himself.
“The Eternal Witch, Nias, is reason enough to launch a war to control the planets on the route. But the Miko seems particularly interested in this individual sent by the gods.”
With a Miko—whose foresight had guided the Sakura Empire’s growth—showing such keen interest, it became an issue that the Saioji family, as her guardians, could not ignore.
The fact that two planets were attacked simply because of the prophecy of a young girl left Minato both exasperated and slightly amused. He smiled wryly, but there was an undeniable hint of excitement in his expression.