In the territory of the Gale family, within the vast mountainside estate of Earl Mountain on Mukana Planet.
Burton Gale, leisurely sipping a cup of premium red tea, was perusing the latest issue of the financial magazine "The Financial Empire in the Barnard Star System" this afternoon.
On the cover of this magazine was a striking full-body image of him, Burton Gale.
He was quite pleased with the shooting effect for this issue of the magazine, and his mood was rather good.
As for the Sky Communication he received from Nigel Gale seeking help a while ago, it hadn't put him in a bad mood.
"Who could have imagined an illegitimate child would actually raise the banner of the Gale family. That bastard... actually said he's close to dying."
Thinking of this brought irritation; this unworthy legitimate son!
If he himself intervened in the struggles of the younger generation, that would indeed diminish his value.
Fortunately, Sebu Gale, both in character and means, deeply appealed to him. Despite being born of a concubine, he made Burton increasingly satisfied.
"Indeed, the path of trials is what a man should choose. The Outer Domain Galaxy is truly a place of temperance..."
Satisfied, he took a sip of red tea and turned to the next page.
This afternoon, he had canceled arrangements just to enjoy this rare tranquility, waiting for Sebu Gale to report good news.
Then he could rightfully bring this illegitimate child to the forefront.
He chuckled, "After all, the blood flowing in you is of the Gale family."
With sharp insight, how could Burton Gale let pass such enormous resources?
Others may not know the forces behind Gale's Tiger, but he knew them clearly.
Merely touching that leviathan's legs would be noteworthy, let alone having the chance to firmly grasp them.
At that moment, a figure stumbled over, knocking over an invaluable vase in its panic.
The sound of the porcelain shattering instantly caught Burton Gale's attention, prompting him to angrily fling the magazine in his hand.
"That was a precious item bought for 800,000! You couldn't repay it even if skinned alive!"
The servant was so terrified that their face turned white, hurriedly kneeling and repeatedly bowing, unaware of the blood seeping from their forehead.
Burton Gale looked at the servant with disgust and waved his hand: "Speak, what's the matter? If you don't have a good explanation, I'll sell you to the slave market of the Hinchlo Business Alliance today."
The servant hastily lifted their head, looking at Burton Gale, the sole clan leader of the family.
"Master Burton, the news that just arrived... the fleet has been completely annihilated... Young masters Sebu and Nigel... all died in battle."
The voice cried out, and the servant prostrated fully on the ground, not daring to rise.
Burton Gale's mind spun with a slight dizziness; unable to steady himself, he fell back onto the sofa.
He shook his head, trying to regain clarity, then attempted to probe with the calmest voice he could muster:
"Repeat yourself, word for word, all of it. If you miss a single word, today I'll skin you alive."
Thus, the servant sobbed as they repeated the information, taking out an image recording panel from their pocket and handing it over with both hands.
A youth with a still demeanor appeared on the screen, his silhouette completely shrouded in darkness, revealing nothing else.
However, what he said drew all attention towards him.
"Federation Captain Mu Fan, here for a visit."
"Nigel Gale, Sebu Gale, Sun Ruo, Sun Zhan, and others attempted to attack Federation officers and have been executed in space. This visit is to pursue the main culprit. Anyone who obstructs..."
The youth's indifferent gaze paused for less than half a second, then coldly spat out three words:
"No mercy."
Following which, amid the youth's calm gaze... the screen went dark.
The hall was silent.
No one dared to speak; only Burton Gale's urgent breathing remained.
Blankly gazing at the bare recording panel in his hand, he turned his head with an expressionless face and asked, "Where did this message come from?"
The servant glanced at the clan head's dead-looking eyes, shivering all over, and hastily replied, "Reporting to the master, it's from the Planet Defense Department."
A bitter taste welled in the throat, and Burton Gale felt a blackness before his eyes, unable to contain the blood in his chest any longer.
His right hand covered his mouth fiercely, yet the blood wouldn't stop flowing through his fingers.
"Family Head!"
"Family Head, sir!"
The entire hall suddenly fell into chaos, leaving everyone stunned.
Yet when they rushed forward to assist Burton Gale, the middle-aged head raised the blood-covered palm over his head, chilling them to the bone.
"Inform... Clifford, today this is... the Gale family's business. Whoever dares intervene will find me, Burton, relentless and indomitable against them."
"The Gale family declares war."
A middle-aged man loses his sons, both legitimate and illegitimate, slain outside the stars.
Sitting in this position seems utterly meaningless now.
"Sir, is there..."
Bang!
A huge burst of flame rose from Burton Gale's hand, and a servant who was about to offer advice only got out five words before his head exploded into a mist of blood.
Blood mixed with brain matter splattered all over the faces of those nearby.
Those people were stunned, their minds blank, staring at the Family Head, then their legs gave way, kneeling on the ground.
"Notify the clan assembly. Everyone must gather in 3 minutes. Anyone who doesn't show will be executed on the spot."
"Heh... my son is dead, and no one will have it easy."
The large-caliber golden hand cannon in his hand emitted wisps of smoke, and Burton Gale's expression was icy. At this moment, he finally regained the heroic demeanor from when he first took over the family.
Within minutes, the fully mobilized Gale family had completely alarmed Planet Defense Chief Clifford, and also thoroughly shocked those major nobles who had just received the news.
Mukana Planet, quiet for so many years, was about to erupt into war?
The Gale family, which owns the Red Fire Group and Qi Fire Heavy Industry, has gone mad!
"Sir, should we stop the Gale Family?"
An official blankly asked his superior—Clifford.
This brown curly-haired Defense Chief, now angry and yet despondent, shook his head.
"Stop them? With what can we stop them?"
"Mecha, warships? We're still using the second-class ones provided by their family."
Hearing the Defense Chief's answer, the official couldn't help but ask:
"Then should we request aid from several other planets?"
Clifford shook his head, looking at the official, "Connect with the Embassy's Sky Communication and contact the Galaxy Federation's military high command as quickly as possible."
"We must do this before anyone else. Otherwise, your and my career will come to an end."
"Ah..." The young official was somewhat confused, not understanding.
"Get moving! Do I need to carry you, huh?" Clifford's temper flared suddenly.
"Oh, oh, oh." The official ran away in panic.
Once alone in the office, Clifford closed his eyes, rubbing his temples.
Today's affair can be summed up in two words... exploded.
He had heard about the incident with the Federal officer, but hadn't expected both major families' heirs to end up completely taken down in the end.
Even the Mining Minister on Mukana Planet has been taken out!
This, this...
Having not experienced war for a long time, Clifford felt a hint of fear rising in his heart.
What he feared was the Galaxy Federation, that enormous entity.
"The Planet Councilman invites you over, Minister Clifford." A guard approached, saying respectfully.
"I understand, I'll go in a moment."
Exhaling a breath, Clifford's heart tried to calm down before he got up and walked out.
The winds of change across the entire planet had finally been stirred up.
Not just Mukana, as part of a supermassive star system conglomerate.
The hidden foundations of the Gale family finally came to light.
The network cultivated by the Gale family through arms trading finally played a huge role at this moment.
Countless messages began transmitting to the Military Department of the Capital Star.
Numerous fleets started navigating towards Mukana.
By contrast, the Sun Clan, due to the death of Clan Leader Sun Zhan, was completely like a headless fly, at this moment even experiencing internal conflict.
As the Clan Leader of the Gale family, the ruthless Burton completely ignored the Sun Family.
His plan was first to deal with that meddling Federal officer...
Then handle the Sun Family, who were like the worst allies possible.
His son was dead, and he was very angry.
And so, many people were bound to die.
...
In space, twenty thousand kilometers outside Mukana Planet's atmosphere, a huge red mecha was slowly flying forward.
Inside the cockpit, a young girl was frantically operating the mecha.
The girl's forehead was covered with a fine sheen of sweat from tension, carefully controlling the throttle stick.
Just as the power rose from 30% to 40%, her body was thrust heavily against the seat.
"Ma-master, are you sure you want me to pilot this?"