Sovereign of the Ashes-Chapter 1606: The Black Merlot Civilization

While Leena and the other black mages wreaked havoc deep within the Gallant Federation’s territory, this top-tier technological civilization continued to operate like a finely tuned machine, methodically handling every aspect of the war.

Troop deployments, chaos suppression, support coordination, territorial defense, supply transport, logistics, and conscription...

In many operational areas, the Gallant Federation’s efficiency, bolstered by its ultimate quantum computer, even surpassed that of the Magus Alliance.

At this moment, a special correspondent from the federation was dispatched to the Grand Apocalypse World Star Domain to carry out a secret mission.

Jared Bond did not go alone. Accompanying him were dozens of federal generals, more than ten war fleets, and an angel-type robot legion numbering over one million units.

Their objective was to investigate the top-tier civilizational ruins recently discovered within the Grand Apocalypse World Star Domain.

Humans were selfish, and civilizations were no different.

The Grand Apocalypse World had been a staunch supporter of the Gallant Federation for tens of thousands of years, surviving under its care. Yet its loyalty, it seemed, was not as absolute as once believed.

In other words, it was not loyal enough!

The ruins discovered within the Grand Apocalypse World Star Domain belonged to an ancient top-tier civilization known as the Black Merlot Civilization.[1]

According to current investigations, this cultivation-based civilization existed tens of millions of years ago.

The Grand Apocalypse World itself also followed a cultivation path.

Through evidence gathered by the Gallant Federation, it turned out that certain high-ranking powerhouses from the Grand Apocalypse World had discovered at least two such ruins long ago. Yet, they deliberately concealed this information.

It was only after the Clash of Civilizations erupted, and federal agents were deployed to Grand Apocalypse World in accordance with wartime protocols, that fragments of information about the Black Merlot Civilization were inadvertently uncovered.

The conduct of these Grand Apocalypse World powerhouses was disappointing!

Several high-ranking federal officials were enraged upon learning the truth.

In truth, this issue was not unique to the Gallant Federation. Similar situations undoubtedly existed within the Magus Alliance as well.

After all, how could the Magus Civilization ever guarantee the unwavering loyalty of every allied plane?

At least the Grand Apocalypse World had concealed the matter only because it involved the interests of top-tier civilizational ruins.

Since this was not an open rebellion against the Gallant Federation, the federation could not just sever ties with the Grand Apocalypse World outright.

Instead, it issued a verbal reprimand and promptly dispatched a special correspondent along with a war fleet to investigate the Grand Apocalypse World Star Domain.

Once it became clear that news of the Black Merlot Civilization ruins had been exposed, the Grand Apocalypse World acknowledged its fault and voluntarily offered up several unlucky individuals to take responsibility.

Among them were two Rank Four natives.

They would not be executed. The federation maintained a veneer of fairness.

Instead, the final fate of these two unfortunate Rank Four beings was forced deployment to the frontlines of the civilizational war, where they would serve as cannon fodder.

The Gallant Federation was not worried that these Rank Four creatures might lash out in desperation.

Miniature particle bombs, developed by the federation, had been implanted in both their skulls and hearts. These devices could instantly kill any Rank Four or higher being.

The Gallant Federation’s control over its many planar civilizations relied on far more than economic dominance alone.

Still, it was obvious to everyone that the discovery of top-tier civilizational ruins could not have gone unnoticed by the Rank Five or Six beings of the Grand Apocalypse World, much less the Apocalypse Overlord.

However, considering the broader implications, the Gallant Federation chose not to press the Rank Seven Apocalypse Overlord further. The matter was quietly set aside.

The Apocalypse Overlord was immensely powerful, stronger even than the overlord of the Zeak Empire under the federation’s control.

Moreover, the Apocalypse Overlord’s performance had been exemplary during the previous conflict with the Magus Civilization.

For the time being, the Gallant Federation had no reason to doubt his loyalty.

“Bond, you’ve done very well to uncover the Black Merlot Civilization’s ruins. Have you considered joining my fleet?” a federal general asked with open admiration as they traveled toward the Grand Apocalypse World.

Jared Bond, the federation’s special correspondent, had once served as a secret agent.

Through experimental modifications conducted by the military’s special division, Bond had gained Rank Four strength despite his young age.

A review of his service record revealed a career of near-flawless performance within the federation’s special military department.

Every civilization, after all, produces its share of geniuses and rising talents, especially under the crucible of war.

The scientists behind the Gallant Federation’s next-generation war machines were geniuses, and Bond was also a genius. No, perhaps “talent” might be more accurate!

His near-perfect mission record had earned him repeated access to the federation’s most advanced augmentation and genetic modification programs.

Today, he stood at the peak of Rank Four.

Yet Bond was less than five thousand years old, making him younger than most of the federal generals present.

This discovery within the Grand Apocalypse World marked yet another major milestone in his career.

Once the details of the Black Merlot Civilization ruins were fully confirmed and his contributions formally recognized, Bond would finally undergo the genetic modification process that could elevate him to Rank Five.

In a civilization famed for warships, mobile suits, and other technological marvels, Bond’s path of advancement in this way was relatively uncommon.

It was a pity his current identity remained so highly classified.

Otherwise, given the nature of the federation’s society, where the underclass idolized heroes, a figure like him would have been perfect propaganda material for films and television.

The federation happened to be struggling with conscription in recent years and was in dire need of such heroic figures to boost enlistment...

At the five-star general’s invitation, Bond smiled politely. “If Madam Jemma agrees, I wouldn’t mind serving under your command.”

A five-star general ranked among the highest echelons of the federal military. Above them were the marshals, who commanded overlord-class fleets.

Within the task force bound for the Grand Apocalypse World, a conqueror-class war fleet operated under this five-star general’s command.

In raw combat power, it exceeded even most peak Rank Six entities, approaching the might of an overlord.

Bond’s reply drew a laugh from the five-star general, who shook his head and playfully replied, “I wouldn’t dare ask Jemma for her best man. She’d kick my ass with her high heel in front of everyone.”

His words amused the other generals.

The federation’s society was surprisingly warm, especially within the military.

Many generals had risen through the ranks themselves, and moments of lighthearted banter were not uncommon. They were not as cold as outsiders often imagined.

Jemma was Bond’s direct superior, holding full authority over a special division within the military. Though her formal rank was only that of a four-star general, the nature of her duties frequently brought her into contact with five-star generals and even marshals.

Their personal relationship was, by all accounts, quite cordial.

After the laughter faded, the five-star general’s expression turned serious as he addressed Bond.

“You understand that the discovered ruins of the Black Merlot Civilization are no longer Apocalypse Civilization’s business, yes?”

Bond nodded.

1. Translator’s Note: Black Merlot Civilization has an unusual name in the raws. The characters used are “黑殷”. The first character means “Black”. The second character can be pronounced in two ways: most commonly “Yin”, meaning flourishing or thriving, or “Yan,” meaning dark red. After reading future chapters, I decided to name it Black Merlot Civilization for a (hopefully good) reason. Also today, I learn that Merlot is a shade of red named after a type of wine! ☜