The power of Trailblaze is the power of Expansion. This applies to both horizontal and vertical expansion. Leveraging this other side of Trailblaze, Osvaldo Schneider achieved mastery over the Path through chaotic expansion.
Perhaps narrow, but undeniably 'faster' than the other path of Trailblaze pursued by countless successive Nameless.
However... when it comes to expansion, in this universe, besides the unavoidable force of Nihility, what could possibly compare to 'Propagation'?
The absolute qualitative superiority allowed Jiang Qiao to easily break through this incredibly weak restraint—even though it had reached the level of an Emanator.
But he chose another method to resolve it.
"What did you do?!" Osvaldo exclaimed. "Wait... This is Trailblaze power?... This feeling? Are you an Emanator of Trailblaze?!" From confusion to shock, as someone who had walked far along the Path of Trailblaze, the former Nameless gentleman finally recognized the power that had neutralized his own... no, more accurately, counter-controlled and taken over his own power.
"Although different from Propagation... this power is surprisingly easy to handle," [Firefly] mused. "Alright, Brunhilde, take him away."
Without allowing the slightest resistance, the power Osvaldo prided himself on turned against him, binding him. Like handling trash, he was tossed to Brunhilde.
"Your Majesty, facing such an audacious madman, shouldn't we just kill him directly?" Pheebe asked.
"Your hands do not deserve to be stained with the blood of one as vile as him. The sins he committed should not end in such a cursory manner."
"Publicize all his 'glorious achievements,' then set a date for a public trial."
Osvaldo's eyes widened. These hateful creatures! Not only will they kill me, but they intend to humiliate me like this?! For someone as arrogant as Osvaldo, while death might indeed be among his fears... being judged in the eyes of those he despised as lowly commoners?
This was worse than death; it was utter degradation!
They were even maximizing the 'value'—using his head to intimidate and appease those planets he had persecuted!
But he had no room left to struggle.
---||---
After Brunhilde led him away, the matter of the Corporation needed arranging.
Undoubtedly, since someone like Osvaldo was sentenced to public execution, figures like Diamond and Pearl wouldn't face any serious harm. They were merely captives.
Except...
"Diamond, Pearl, the Corporation's affairs are now entirely in your hands."
Amidst Diamond and Pearl's stunned expressions, they heard these words. Entrusting matters to them, prisoners of war?
"While the Interastral Peace Corporation has done much wrong, it has also provided considerable convenience to the beings of the universe," [Firefly] continued. "The universe cannot be without the Corporation's existence."
"My subordinates are unfamiliar with the Corporation's situation. Therefore, it is best left to those most familiar with it—you."
"So, what is your answer?"
Diamond and Pearl didn't hesitate for even half a second.
Two words: Loyalty!
Were they kidding? Not only were they spared after defeat, but they were being entrusted with the entire Corporation? This was practically mana from heaven! Only a fool would refuse!
"I trust you will not disappoint me." The girl smiled.
---||---
Amber Era 2157.
War erupted between the Celestial Empire of Glamoth and the Interastral Peace Corporation, the behemoth whose business spanned the universe. Most factions believed the scales of victory would inevitably tip towards the latter.
However, to everyone's astonishment, in less than half a month, the colossal Interastral Peace Corporation was crushed and overturned in an incredibly short time by the Glamoth Empire, a power everyone assumed was a small, newly emerged faction.
Post-war, the Interastral Peace Corporation announced a change in affiliation, becoming part of the Glamoth Empire. Simultaneously, the Chairman's name changed: Glamoth Empress 'Firefly.'
The Aeon of Preservation, Qlipoth, retired to become Honorary Chairman. According to informed sources, the Amber Lord had no objections.
Furthermore, the Interastral Peace Corporation's businesses were reorganized. The Material Logistics Department—the Amber Lord Support Team—re-emerged onto the stage.
Though still under the Glamoth Empire, they maintained their faith in Qlipoth.
After the restructuring, all planets under the Interastral Peace Corporation's jurisdiction experienced great liberation.
Specific changes included the 'complete abolition of inhumane working hours' and 'clear legal punishment for exploitative practices.'
For planets unsuitable for survival, the Corporation, following Glamoth Empire directives, would reasonably plan and relocate native populations to specially constructed residential planets co-built by the Corporation and the Glamoth Empire.
For natives unwilling to accept the Empire's arrangements, the Corporation would provide basic humanitarian aid to help them adapt to harsh environments.
Many who had witnessed the Corporation's previous ruthlessness were stunned by the change. Since when did these flesh-eating monsters start doing charity?
Corporation employees explained they had no choice.
If they dared engage in any deceitful practices, those tin cans shouting "Long live the Empress!" would actually deliver righteous flaming fists!
Even before that, the newly established supervisory department, headed by the new Corporation Director Pearl, would come knocking.
Those stubborn androids were almost as uncompromising as the Empress herself... Honestly, the Intellitron population within the Empire already regarded the Glamoth Empress as the new 'Intellitron Emperor.'
Under her rule, the Glamoth Empire treated both inorganic and organic life with complete equality.
As for the Intellitron Emperor needing to be mechanical... Laughable! According to Intelligentsia Guild research, Emperor Rupert II was organic life! If he could be Emperor, why couldn't Her Majesty?!
However, the New Glamoth Iron Cavalry clearly had strong opinions on this. What? Her Majesty is OUR Swarm Empress! Get lost, you bucket heads!
Amidst the disputes between the two zealous factions, [Firefly]'s title wavered between 'Swarm Empress' and 'Intellitron Emperor.'
Fortunately, Jiang Qiao strictly forbade conflicts arising from this matter—or rather, if there was a problem, settle it in the arena!
Bound by the Empress's decree, these two factions, the most compliant with Glamoth law (treating it almost as sacred scripture), frequently appeared in the specially built interstellar arena to vent their strange rivalry.
Additionally, the old high-ranking officials of the Interastral Peace Corporation faced judgment during this process. Depending on their crimes, they received public trials of varying severity.
The most typical example was the former Director of Market Development, Osvaldo Schneider, convicted of 'Crimes Against Life.'
When his crimes were made public, the universe was in an uproar. The victimized populations were particularly enraged. Some Galaxy Rangers even offered to sponsor bullets.
However, arriving Glamoth Iron Cavalry stopped them—according to Glamoth law, his sentence was death by fire. While some suggested learning from the Xianzhou's 'Sword Jail Verdant Tree' punishment, unfortunately, the prisoner's life force clearly wouldn't support it.
Amidst regrets, Osvaldo Schneider endured endless humiliation.
After all his crimes were read aloud and all his honors stripped away, he was nailed to a cross and consumed by fire. Mr. Osvaldo Schneider, whose name meant 'God's Power,' received a disposition befitting his name.
---||---
"Your Majesty, the Corporation's asset inventory is nearly complete... The liberation efforts are also mostly finished." The blonde Intellitron woman—Pearl—looked up with reverence at [Firefly], who was processing documents piled high enough to fill a small planet, reporting her work progress.
As an Intellitron valuing fairness, upon understanding the noble principles of the Glamoth Empire and its noble Empress, even the rational Pearl hadn't hesitated for a moment before becoming her supporter.
Although, from a certain perspective, this ideal was perhaps even more unattainable than the Amber Lord's, it was demonstrably being put into practice.
"Mm, well done."
After absorbing the Interastral Peace Corporation, the Glamoth Empire rapidly evolved beyond the initial makeshift structure Jiang Qiao and Silver Wolf had slapped together, flourishing day by day.
The terrifying achievement of defeating the Corporation instantly earned the name 'Glamoth' immense respect from all other factions. Undoubtedly, even the Antimatter Legion had never achieved such a feat.
The name of the Glamoth Empress, 'Firefly,' now resonated throughout the universe.
"Hmm? This..." Jiang Qiao's eyes caught sight of observational intelligence submitted by the Intelligentsia Guild.
A living planet belonging to the Denizens of Abundance was approaching the flight paths of the Xianzhou Alliance's Yaoqing and Fanghu flagships.
During the recent Third Abundance War, the Corporation had some cooperative relationship with the heavily damaged Xianzhou Fanghu. Even the Intelligentsia Guild had sent troops to assist the Xianzhou.
Therefore, Glamoth could easily obtain information on the Xianzhou Alliance's movements.
"Ah, this, Your Majesty. According to Intelligentsia Guild calculations, the Xianzhou Alliance is expected to engage in battle with that living planet very soon."
The Xianzhou Alliance showed no mercy in combating the Abominations of Abundance. Coupled with the Xianzhou Fanghu being heavily damaged and having limited navigation capabilities after the Third Abundance War, a clash between the two sides was almost inevitable.
But Jiang Qiao, having swapped with Qingque, possessed her memories. He knew that at this point in time, only a few years had passed since the Xianzhou Alliance last fought a living planet—the battle where Yukong, later Sky-Faring Commission Helm Master, lost her colored wings.
During this period, the Xianzhou should have been recuperating after the major war.
However, this wasn't particularly strange.
After taking over the Corporation, although the Glamoth Empire entered a development phase, its principles meant inevitable conflict with factions like the Antimatter Legion and the Denizens of Abundance.
With the Corporation now assimilated and such a major power rising, such a huge butterfly effect influencing the Denizens of Abundance wasn't surprising.
"Brunhilde."
"Present, Your Majesty."
The silver-haired girl materialized a strange mask out of thin air, handed it to Brunhilde, and instructed, "Deliver this mask to the Xianzhou Luofu, give it to someone named Qingque. No need to say who it's from."
"Also, when the Xianzhou engages in battle, lend them a hand. Be discreet, do not reveal your presence."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
After Brunhilde left, Pearl looked puzzled. "Your Majesty, if you wish to help the Xianzhou, why not do so directly?"
For the current Glamoth, the current Corporation, aiding the Xianzhou Alliance wouldn't be an issue.
After all, Glamoth was inherently hostile towards factions like the Denizens of Abundance and the Antimatter Legion. Helping directly should be fine.
Jiang Qiao glanced at her and sighed. One of the Xianzhou Alliance's defining traits was their stubborn pride, often leading them to suffer unnecessarily. Unless absolutely forced, they generally didn't allow outsiders to participate in their wars.
The later involvement of the Astral Express on the Luofu was an exception, purely because Jing Yuan broke protocol, and the Express had a good reputation. Even then, there were repercussions afterward.
Even during the Third Abundance War, though the Intelligentsia Guild assisted, the Xianzhou Alliance only allowed them to handle difficult environmental cleanup; they yielded no ground on the main battlefield.
While Glamoth could certainly intervene forcibly, and the Xianzhou Alliance wouldn't dare complain afterward, doing so would inevitably make things awkward for them. It was best to avoid situations where helping forcefully led to resentment.
But helping was necessary. Setting aside his personal connection through Qingque, from Glamoth's strategic standpoint, preventing excessive losses for the Xianzhou Alliance was crucial.
In the fight against the Antimatter Legion and the Denizens of Abundance, Glamoth and the Xianzhou Alliance were natural political allies.
Besides, it was just one living planet. The mask containing a fragment of his 'self' should be sufficient. Combined with Brunhilde, the strongest Propagation Emanator, they could handle even a tenacious foe like Shuhu.
As for Jiang Qiao himself... As if sensing something, he glanced in a certain direction, feeling the troublesome entities awaiting him, and sighed.
"So troublesome."
But it couldn't be helped. After all, one had to clean up the messes one created.