Rising up from a Nobleman to Intergalactic Warlord!!-Chapter 276

---Two Hours Later, Caspiel Empire Throne World Brigoia---

“Lord Stark, may I have a moment of your time?” Liara T’Soni called out, jogging over to me as we returned from lunch.

“Of course, Liara. How can I help you?” I asked, noticing the dark circles under her eyes. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Rubbing her jittering hands together, Liara cleared her throat and posed her question.

“I heard a rumor that you took possession of a second Blackstone Fortress this morning. Can I possibly see it?” Liara pleaded. “While you have been busy with your administrative duties, I have been perusing your extensive digital archives. A few days ago, a technical document pertaining to Old One technology caught my eye. After reviewing the document, I realized that the Protheans were heavily influenced by the Old Ones!”

While this was a groundbreaking discovery for Liara, I was already aware of this. The data disks I purchased on Tatooine revealed that the Old Ones originally came from her galaxy. Leviathans, the creators of the Reapers, and the Old Ones rose to power around the same time. Due to their differing opinions on how to treat the younger races, several bloody wars were waged before the Old Ones were forced to abandon their territory.

‘I expected nothing less from one of the foremost experts on the Protheans. Even with her restricted to my archive, Liara still managed to piece it together in less than two weeks,’ I thought, cracking a smile. “I don’t mind showing you around the facility, but are you certain now is the best time? You look about ready to pass out from exhaustion. When was the last time you slept?”

“Fifty or so hours ago,” Liara answered, like that was completely normal. “I assure you, my lack of sleep will not pose a problem. Right now, I am running on several caffeine patches and five cups of double-shot espresso.”

Taken aback by her answer, I immediately ran an in-depth scan on her body. While no major problems were detected, her blood pressure and pulse were significantly elevated.

“I admire your dedication to your research, Liara, but I cannot allow you to continue your work without sleep. Please retire to your quarters, take a shower, and go to bed. We can discuss visiting the fortress another day,” I instructed her.

“Your concern for my well-being is appreciated, but I know my limits better than anyone,” Liara replied with a smile. “If I promise to get some sleep after we return, can we go right now?”

“Liara, you seem to have forgotten something critically important. This is not one of your archaeological sites; you are here as a designated Citadel representative. Your safety and well-being are my responsibility,” I reminded her. “If something should happen to you on my watch, it will negatively impact relations between the countries I represent and yours.”

Acknowledging my concern, Liara attempted to reassure me that her government would not hold me responsible. I wanted to believe she was telling the truth, but given her current state of mind, I needed to play it safe.

“Lord Stark, I can confirm what Liara is saying is the truth,” Samara insisted, joining our conversation as she descended from the sky wrapped in blue biotic energy. “Liara is infamous for her hyperfixation on her research and the reckless actions she takes to further it. You can rest assured that no one will blame you if something happens to her.”

“Couldn’t you have phrased that a bit nicer?” Liara sulked. “You are making it sound like it’s a miracle that I haven’t gotten myself killed.”

“Given your track record, we are all amazed you are still breathing,” Samara answered.

While Samara’s words were reassuring to hear, there was one other problem. According to Dair, my other fortress’ AI, his colleague was teetering on the edge of madness. The many years of forced servitude to the Ruinous Powers had worn down his digital psyche. If Liara were to meet him in her current state, he would almost certainly lose the last bytes of his sanity.

“Very well then, we can go look at the new fortress. A word of warning: please direct all your questions to me and keep your enthusiasm in check. As we speak, the fortress’ AI is undergoing extensive repairs. Any interactions with it could cause irreparable damage,” I stated. “Do you understand?”

“Yes, I understand,” Liara agreed, saluting me with a relieved expression.

Looking back at my wives, I inquired if any of them wanted to join us. Respectfully declining my offer, most of them chose to stay here and work on the royal mansion.

“We will come with you!” Isha spoke up, pulling Lileath to her side. “I was there when the Old Ones built the first few fortresses. So, if Liara has any- “

“Hold on a moment! Did you say you were there when they were built?!” Liara gasped in shock. “That would mean you are over sixty million years old. How is that possible!?”

“Firstly, please do not talk about my age in front of my husband. As my appearance changes based on how others perceive me, I want Victor to always think of me as a mature, elegant woman,” Isha said, exerting a sliver of her divine grace upon her. “Second, I am the Aeldari Goddess of Fertility and Harvest. I came into being shortly after the Aeldari people were created by the Old Ones.”

In response to Isha’s declaration, Liara’s facial expression hardened.

“Did Loki put you up to this?” Liara questioned, frustrated by their perceived deception. “I take my work very seriously; please do not joke around about this. There are no such things as gods and demons. They are merely the creations of our ancestors’ primitive minds.”

Enraged by her words, the Daedric Princes, Loki, Hela, and Slaanesh, decided to punish her. With a wave of their hands, one after the other, they called down divine retribution upon the poor Asari. Between her biotic powers and her technology, Liara foolishly believed she could weather the onslaught with relative ease. That unwavering certainty lasted all of five seconds, when the first attack bypassed both, partially burying her in the dirt.

Dazed and confused, Liara attempted to pick herself up, only to have the next blow knock her right back down. Unable to move now, all the Asari could do was accept her fate and wait for it to end. Crushing her defiant spirit with their immense power, they stopped just short of killing her.

“You should learn to always keep an open mind, Liara. Just because science cannot prove something exists doesn’t automatically mean it does not,” Samara stated. “We thought the Reapers were myths until they showed up and began attacking us.”

Releasing a groan of acknowledgment, Liara mumbled something incoherent. As Samara was not a healer nor a medic, she politely asked me to tend to Liara. Happily obliging her request, I used healing magic to fully mend her body.

“Forgive me for rudely dismissing your existence. Up to now, all the gods I have heard about were nothing more than fictitious creations,” Liara explained, shakily lowering her head.

“Given your recent exposure to our kind, you can be forgiven for not knowing this. For us to exist, we must have at least one mortal believer. Without them, we are doomed to slowly fade into nothingness,” Azura informed her. “The ancient gods you have read about likely died off shortly after their believers did.”

Struck by an epiphany, many of the unanswered questions that had been plaguing her research suddenly clicked into place. Frantically retrieving her data slate from her hip, Liara began furiously typing her thoughts down.

“Now seems as good a time as any for us to excuse ourselves. You guys have fun!” Mylene said, leading the group that was staying behind away.

As they began to leave, Amallyn, Ionica, Lala, Momo, Nana, and Slaanesh stayed where they were, stating their intention to come with us too. Happy to have them, I was about to teleport us away when Valeria came jogging over with Luxion.

“Uncle Doom says you are going to look at some ancient xeno technology. Can I tag along with you?” Valeria requested, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

“Sure, that is fine,” I agreed, scanning the vicinity for her mother. ‘Hmm… Guess she got over her problem with me.’

With the group gathered, I hoisted Stormbreaker into the air. Lightning crackled around us, and in a flash of Bifrost energy, we vanished, reappearing instantly inside the Blackstone Fortress.

---Production World 51, Blackstone Fortress “Beith”---

As our eyes readjusted from the blinding flash, we found ourselves standing in the tattered remains of the fortress’ command bridge. Temporarily halting their repairs, Bloodtide and UR-025 turned to greet us. Waving us over, the duo updated us on the situation.

<As you have probably deduced, Huron Blackheart and his Red Corsairs did a real number on this place. After the fortress’ AI refused to accept Huron as its owner, the barbaric fools tried to use physical violence to force his submission. By the time they remembered we do not feel pain, they had nearly destroyed all his core systems. In all honesty, I am surprised Beith managed to escape alive.> (Bloodtide)

Gutted by this news, Liara looked at them with a hopeful expression. As Bloodtide had said, Beith was still alive; there was a chance he could be rebuilt with the right parts.

<Please be at ease, Miss Liara. All of Beith’s core components have been replaced. We are just waiting for Dair’s authorization to power him on again. As his personality construct was heavily corrupted, Dair is using a backup to restore him.> (UR-025)

As relief washed over her, Liara requested permission to speak with UR-025. Granting her request, she put on her white gloves and immediately began asking questions. While Liara received a crash course on Old One technology, I stepped away to speak with Bloodtide.

“Aside from Fortress Six, which is buried in Cadia’s surface, what is the status on the other fortresses?” I asked, having recently dispatched teams to secure them.

A holographic display flickered into life before my eyes…

// BLACKSTONE FORTRESS STATUS //

01 - Beith: Undergoing Repairs (Production World 51)

02 - Luis: Wreckage (Orbit: PW-98)

03 - Fearn: Wreckage (Orbit: PW-98)

04 - Sail: Wreckage (Orbit: PW-98)

05 - Nion: Wreckage (Orbit: PW-98)

06 - Uath: Embedded in planetary crust (Location: Cadia)

07 - Dair: Operational / Combat Ready

08 - Tinne: In Transit to PW-51

09 - Coll: In Transit to PW-51

10 - Ceirt: In Transit to PW-51

11 - Muin: Contested (Aeldari Control - Negotiation Failed)

12 - Gort: Contested (League of Votann Salvage Operation)

13 - Ngéadal: [ACCESS DENIED]

“Why is Fortress Ngéadal listed as not available? If memory serves, it is in the Imperial-held section of Jericho Reach,” I remarked.

<When our men attempted to secure the asset, we were met with heavy resistance. A Rogue Trader named Theodora Haarlock has laid claim to the station. She insists it is her dynasty’s lawful property by right of salvage.> (Bloodtide)

Annoyed by this nonsense, I contemplated crushing her household. House Haarlock was infamous even by Rogue Trader standards. No one would bat an eye if I wiped them out now; they were presumed extinct decades ago, anyway.

<For the right price, Lady Haarlock is willing to sell it to you. Shall I set up a meeting?> (Bloodtide)

The operation to purge the Necrons from the galaxy was just two days out now. While it was not mission critical, I still wanted it available in case things got hairy. Begrudgingly, I agreed to meet with her immediately to discuss a trade.