6 A Cunning Plan

The news also reached the ears of Planet Palladina's palace officials. They were furious, and even the King of Palladina, Arnea, became angry with his subordinates, including the senior general who commanded all the troops of Planet Palladina, Senior General Xyon.

Xyon, an immortal man with a tall stature and slightly muscular body, had purple hair with gray eyeballs and wore a white-purple shirt and gray trousers. He was the same age as Arnea, ninety years old.

Arnea, on the other hand, had dark blue hair with both eyeballs and the same-colored robes and wore a dark blue shirt and black trousers. He rules the planet with his wife, Her Majesty Queen Consort Klara. The queen had white hair and eyeballs, and wore a long sleeveless dress of the same color, and was ninety years old. The two of them had been on the throne for about sixty-six years.

Arnea called Xyon into the main hall of Planet Palladina's palace as soon as he got word of those Silverians' actions. His face was visibly upset, and he even frowned deeply as he waited for his senior general to arrive.

As soon as Xyon entered and knelt before him, Arnea asked with a face full of annoyance as he sat on the throne, "Senior General Xyon, did you know that Planet Silverian now has a king named Flerix?"

Xyon, with a serious face and a slight bow, then replied, "I'm sorry, Your Majesty. I just heard about it. It was all my fault and negligence, not being able to supervise my men properly, that those Silverians managed to destroy the small planets outside Goldinian Solar System."

"Senior General Xyon, I appointed you as the only senior general because you were my personal bodyguard. You are even free to choose the generals who will work under you. Then, have your four subordinates, General Arex, General Nordian, General Sey, and General Weim, been... rarely patrolling outside the Goldinian Solar System, or never at all?" the king asked with a face full of anger.

As Xyon remained silent, Arnea let out a long sigh and said, "Those four generals are indeed good friends with you, and you don't even call each other by titles. Their ages aren't even that different from yours. Is this what makes you... doubtful?"

Xyon was completely silent. His face did look serious as if he was thinking about the answer to the question. Arnea immediately walked and stopped in front of him. However, the senior general was still kneeling without daring to look at his king.

"Senior General Xyon. Your four subordinates are patrolling too much only in the inner area of Goldinian Solar System. You already know that we are the sole guardian of Metal Galaxy. Yes, I admit, our troops are limited. Even the small planets out there we may not be able to protect fully. However, I have high hopes for you!" Arnea exclaimed with a frown.

He then sighed and shouted, while pointing at the door, "You are my only pride! However, I was very disappointed to learn that those Silverians were already beating the drums of war with every planet in Metal Galaxy, not from your mouth, Senior General Xyon! Instead, from rumors circulating throughout the palace!"

Xyon sighed deeply. He was about to say something. Unfortunately, Arnea immediately walked away from him with an annoyed face.

"I will fight that Flerix alone. You will help me as soon as possible, Senior General. Call the other generals to come with you!" said Arnea in a high tone while stepping out of the main room.

"Very well, Your Majesty," Xyon replied firmly, though clearly holding back his emotions, then quickly stood up and ran outside.

He continued walking, heading for his private study at the back of the palace, hoping that those four generals were still there. A young man was walking slowly in the same hallway, accidentally catching sight of the senior general who was running in a hurry.

The man then shouted while waving his hand casually, "Hey, Xyon! Xyon!"

Hearing the shout, Xyon stopped his steps. He then turned his head toward a gray-haired man with brown eyes, wearing a black and white high-collared shirt and black trousers, who was walking toward him. With an annoyed face, the senior general then looked at the young man, General Arex.

Arex stood before the senior general and asked, "Have you heard the bad news, Xyon? The Silverians are finally starting to...."

"Yes, I know it because His Majesty is furious! You four, haven't I often ordered you to take turns patrolling both inside and outside Goldinian Solar System?" said Xyon in a high tone, cutting off Arex's words.

"What happened? Hasn't that planet been gone for a long time?" asked Arex again, with a puzzled look on his face.

Xyon then stated after a short sigh, "Never mind, now is not the time for blame. His Majesty has ordered us to go with him, as he himself will fight the Silverians! Hurry up and call the other generals to gather in the front courtyard right now!"

Arex nodded without replying and immediately ran to summon the other three generals, Weim, Nordian, and Sey. After all four generals had gathered in the front courtyard of the palace, Xyon went straight to them while still trying to hold back his emotions.

"We must catch up with His Majesty," Xyon said firmly.

"Very well," replied the four.

However, a woman in a white dress suddenly exclaimed from a distance, "Wait, Senior General Xyon!"

Meanwhile, inside a room of Planet Silverian's palace, a Silverian soldier was seen bowing before the king with an agitated face. He then sighed after reporting what he had just seen inside Planet Palladina's palace to the young gray-haired man who was sitting on a sofa next to the door.

"Ah, a dumb king will see me soon," Flerix said with a sarcastic smile, "and as it turns out, I've already managed to get him out of the nest, as well as scaring off another useless planet. Planet Silverian has even taken in a lot of resources from all of them. What a clever plan!"