"So we should have left them to die?"
Jason asked this with a disbelieving frown on his face, and the Machina spoke seriously.
"The ethics and morals of your actions are not our concern, and they do not add or remove from the punishments that have been imposed. The laws were written to guide all members of this Primordial Domain; therefore, they must be upheld."
"But you knew about the state of our world. The people of Earth helped to liberate us from a tyrant, and it was the same tyrant that sent the army to Earth! None of us had the intention of manipulating or influencing anyone politically or economically!"
Riyala tried her best to keep her voice even as she spoke up, but even she wasn’t able to keep her calm! The entire situation was getting on her nerves, and there was a deep frown on her face as she watched the Machina’s impassive face turn to her. It was obvious that he didn’t give a damn about anything that they were saying. He had already made up his mind, and he would not change it.
"Once more, the ethics or morals behind your actions make no difference to your punishments. I shall be expecting your response within the next week."
"You knew they were being oppressed, didn’t you?"
Everyone turned to Jason when he spoke, and Jason caught the slightest twitch from the Machina’s eyebrow. Jason’s eyes narrowed, and he stepped forward while talking.
"You and your Supreme Overlord knew what the Sovereign was doing to this world, but instead of stepping in to help them, you waited for someone else to do your job for you. If you aren’t even looking out for the worlds under your command, then why should they have to obey your commands? Why are you the Supreme Overlord of this world if you’re willing to sit back and allow them to be killed by a madman?"
The Machina’s eyes narrowed.
"You dare to question the Supreme Overlord?"
"Yes. I dare."
[The system advises the user to proceed with caution. The Machina race is a very dangerous species, and they possess the military might to eradicate Earth and Radagan in a single day if they wish to.]
Jason grit his teeth in annoyance once this message came from the system, and he cursed internally! Jason remembered his father sending him this same message to be careful with the Machina in the last [Book of the Apocalypse], but Jason was just so pissed at that moment!
The Machina race was a very controversial race in the Primordial Expanse. A long time ago, during a lawless period before the treaties and laws governing the various worlds were drafted and put into action, there were a few races that were known as the Invaders. These races thrived on their ability to travel across worlds and take control of any world that they wanted without anyone being able to do anything about it. One of the races that did this very efficiently was the Avaran race, and the Avarans were treated as demons in most parts of the Primordial Expanse for their actions during this lawless period. But another race that also carried out various invasions and subjugations of worlds was the Machina Race. The Machina Race are a species of bio-mechanical beings that have a similar appearance to humans. Every Machina in existence was born with a specific gene called the [Cybertron Gene], and this gene allowed them to remove parts of their body and replace them with machines in order to significantly improve their fighting stats.
The Cybertron Gene was different for every Machina, and the strength of your Cybertron Gene would determine how much machinery your body could accept before it would break down. The Emissary that was speaking to Jason and Riyala was only able to augment his body to the level of an S Rank because his Cybertron Gene only allowed that many augumentations, but the King of the Machina, Rubik, possesses such a powerful Cybertron Gene that he is already a Rank II Titan, and yet, he is still actively increasing his power by adding more augmentations.
After the period of lawlessness ended and the treaties were created to govern how worlds would interact with one another, the Machina race rebranded themselves as a willing governor of their Domain, and with their large power, they were able to easily gain the sixth seat in the council, and Rubik became one of the most important voices in the Primordial Expanse. So the system’s warning to Jason was very valid. If Jason went out of line, there was every chance that the Machina would begin to target Earth with various sanctions or made-up crimes, and that would only end badly for Earth since Earth was a Rank II world while Machina was a Rank III world.
But even if Jason knew all of this, he still wouldn’t bow his head and allow the Machina to just do whatever they wanted! Who the fuck did these bastards think they were going to exploit!? Did they think that having power was enough reason for them to take whatever they wanted from everyone below them!? That was bullshit! Jason knew that the Machina must’ve been aware of the coup! They wouldn’t have come here this quickly if they didn’t know about it! They knew that the Sovereign was oppressing the dragonborn, and yet they didn’t do a thing all this time! That meant that there was something else behind all this! They didn’t come here just to impose the law! They had a fucking ulterior motive!
The Machina stepped up to Jason and stood face-to-face with him. Neither of them looked like they had any intention of backing down, and the nobles around them began to take steps back as they realized how dangerous the situation was getting! Even though the Machina Emmissary knew that Jason was stronger than him, he had more than enough audacity since he knew that one mistake from Jason would mean the end for Jason’s world!
"You, Jason Marc, have been on our radar for a while before now. We have watched your actions, and the only reason why we have not classified you as a Black Enigma is because you have not crossed any significant lines in your rise to power. But you are about to cross a line that will see you branded as an enemy to the Machina and every world we oversee. You will do what we tell you to, or you will face the consequences of your foolishness. Make the mistake of underestimating the Machina, and I promise you that it will be the last time."
The Machina seethed at Jason with vitriol, and Jason clicked his tongue at the man! Jason’s right hand twitched as he thought about stabbing the bastard in the fucking eye, but before anyone could attack, Riyala spoke up quickly.
"I request an audience with the Council of Nine and One for an appeal. This is within our right as a Rank III world, and you will allow it."
Riyala’s eyes were narrowed as she glared at the Machina, and he turned to her calmly, before he finally turned away from everyone and stepped back towards the Dimensional Tear that was still open behind him.
"Very well, you may call for your appeal, but Earth is a Rank II world; therefore, it cannot call for an appeal."
Riyala stepped forward so she was standing beside Jason.
"This is a joint matter between our two worlds. Radagan will stand as the Shieldbearer for Earth, and we will shoulder the responsibilities required of them so they can appear in the council. We request that you approve this request and provide a date for the hearing."
Jason was completely lost at that moment, but he did his best not to show any reaction since he knew that Riyala was basically buying them time. The intricacies of the Primordial Domains and their laws were still new to Jason, but he decided that he would learn as much as possible once he was done here.