Chapter 309: The Imperial Capital! Kaitain City! The God-Emperor’s Coronation!005 “Dune” Universe!

Chapter 309: The Imperial Capital! Kaitain City! The God-Emperor's Coronation!

005 "Dune" Universe!

Two months passed in the blink of an eye. Under the leadership of the Universal Megacorp, the Atreides and Harkonnen families formed an alliance, rallying several smaller houses to wage a unification war that swept across the Galactic Empire.

When the Megacorp's coalition army reached the Corino family's military strongholds, they were met—more often than not—with open gates and unconditional surrender.

Only a handful of hard-headed loyalists chose to resist, and they were swiftly obliterated by the Megacorp's overwhelming firepower.

Without the support of the Bene Gesserit, the remnants of the Corino family stood no chance against the encirclement of so many noble houses.

Faced with such a massive, all-encompassing assault, all they could do was despairingly accept their inevitable downfall.

In the final phase of the "Dune" universe's unification, the Megacorp's investigative teams scoured the royal Corino strongholds and unearthed massive troves of gold, silver, and samples of ancient AIs hidden within the imperial secret passages.

When the heads of the other noble houses learned that the Corinos had not only outlawed AI technology for all others but had secretly hoarded and developed it for themselves—

—they collectively lost it.

As expected, rules were only meant to shackle the weak. Even the imperial family blatantly violated its own decrees. Only these foolish lesser houses had been naïvely abiding by the law.

Outrage spread throughout the Empire. The cries to punish and eradicate the Corino royal line grew even louder. Every noble wanted to flay them alive.

The Universal Megacorp, however, did not interfere. Its only responsibilities were to complete the unification process and to receive and research the ancient AIs from the "Dune" universe.

Upon careful examination, Megacorp scientists discovered that these ancient AIs were anything but simple.

They could be considered a form of highly advanced AI life—on par with the intelligent AIs passed down from the Forerunner civilization. These entities possessed a powerful drive for reproduction and evolution.

Even in their early-stage forms, they demonstrated astonishing potential. After a few evolutionary leaps, they would likely display even more powerful capabilities, potentially reviving the glory of the Ancients.

Naturally, the Megacorp immediately integrated these ancient AIs into its Matrix system, using them as seed templates to cultivate a new generation of controllable "Dune" AIs.

As critical assets in the Megacorp's productivity infrastructure, AIs had long been a cornerstone of their technological advancement. Whether it was automation or military operations, AI was essential.

In fact, within Megacorp-controlled human civilization, AIs had already become inseparable from daily life. AI girlfriends like Joi, modeled after those in Blade Runner, were the hottest commodities on the market.

From Ideal City's Replicant Factory came top-tier Nexus-9 model Replicants. Customers could customize their appearance and physique, and once paired with tailored AI programs—

—they could obtain their ideal soulmate. These made-to-order, lifelong companion AIs could even bear children, allowing for generational continuity.

Though this dramatically reshaped the traditional family structure, society welcomed the change with open arms.

After all, humans are pragmatic and self-serving by nature. When a more efficient alternative appears, who would stick with the outdated and messy routine of meeting, dating, cooling off, breaking up, and arranged marriage?

This high-potential ancient AI was one of the most valuable spoils Li Ang had acquired from the 005 "Dune" universe.

With this new AI, the Megacorp could boost productivity to new heights—and elevate human quality of life even further.

Aside from the AIs, the Corino family's remaining treasures weren't all that impressive—just a stockpile of rare metals and exotic curiosities.

It's worth noting that the final phase of the unification process went remarkably smoothly, mostly because the Corino family had made too many enemies over the years.

The heads of the noble houses were all itching to wipe them out. They didn't even need Song Zhaomei to give the order—those old foxes picked up their weapons and stormed in themselves.

Soon, the Corino royal line was crushed under the weight of the combined assault, reduced to a blood-soaked ruin. Once a family that had ruled the Galactic Empire with an iron fist, they were now just a historical footnote, their legacy wiped from the stars in under a year.

The old emperor was dead, and now it was time for a new emperor to take the throne—to reshape the political order, redistribute power, and usher in a new era for the Galactic Empire.

What stunned many of the house leaders, however, was the surprising fate of Baron Harkonnen.

Despite being a known war criminal, the scheming fat bastard hadn't been executed alongside Emperor Shaddam. Quite the opposite—he was on the list of nobles granted titles.

He had even been promoted—from Baron to Duke!

In the Empire's ancient nobility hierarchy, Duke was the highest rank, followed by Count, and then Baron. These ranks had been fixed since the AI Jihad ten millennia ago.

And now, the Harkonnen Baron—whose title was originally two tiers below Duke Atreides—was on equal footing with them.

This alone proved that the old fox had serious political acumen. That was exactly why Li Ang had chosen to spare this so-called villain.

Li Ang had always valued competence above all else.

Although many houses were confused and even angered by the Baron's promotion, only the Baron himself knew the real reason he was still breathing.

It wasn't just because he surrendered quickly enough—it was because of the massive wealth and foundation he had built through ruthless plundering and ambition.

For a competent house leader, the primary objective is always to secure as many resources as possible, ensuring the survival and resilience of their lineage.

That's the only way a family can endure the test of time.

Even the Atreides, in founding the Landsraad Union, were fundamentally trying to seize imperial power and strengthen their own base.

Duke Leto had simply been more diplomatic—he shared the spoils with allied houses, lifting others up along the way. That's why he was widely respected, and only the royal family held a grudge against him.

Baron Harkonnen, on the other hand, chose a completely different route.

He backed the Corino family and willingly served as Emperor Shaddam's attack dog, pillaging the weaker houses on the Empire's behalf.

At the core, neither strategy was inherently right or wrong—both were just different bets on the family's fate.

Leto gambled that he could unite the houses and topple the Empire. Baron Harkonnen gambled that he could rule by allying with the Empire and suppressing everyone else.

Even the Bene Gesserit couldn't predict which side would come out on top. That's why Reverend Mother Helen could sleep with Baron Harkonnen, hand Jessica over to Leto, and still make time to serve Emperor Shaddam.

In this game of thrones, every house head was a master tactician. None of them had shown any real weakness.

Ironically, it was the Harkonnen family—seen as the villains—that made the most improbable ascent.

They rose from irrelevant outsiders to front-line players in the power struggle, fighting their way into the heart of imperial politics.

All of Baron Harkonnen's efforts over the years had finally paid off. When the Megacorp arrived, he seized the only opportunity that could save him.

After supporting the Atreides into power, the Megacorp needed a counterbalance.

Baron Harkonnen immediately volunteered for the role.

And with all the wealth and foundations built through years of ruthless exploitation, he had the capital to back it up.

If a lesser house had tried to offer itself as a counterbalance? They'd be laughed out of the room. That role wasn't up for grabs by just anyone.

From the Megacorp's perspective, Baron Harkonnen's offer was perfect. Li Ang needed a way to restrain Atreides power and keep the Empire balanced.

Supporting a different house would've been tricky. Most noble families had good relationships with the Atreides, thanks to Duke Leto's years of alliances and generosity.

No one wants to betray someone who's fed them.

Would any of those pampered elites really be willing to go to war with House Atreides?

Not likely.

But House Harkonnen? Entirely different story.

The hatred ran deep. Their rivalry was practically built into their DNA. They were natural-born enemies—perfect for the Megacorp's balancing act.

It didn't have to be House Harkonnen—but with them, it worked better than anyone else.

And the biggest reason for Baron Harkonnen's rise?

Li Ang saw that the man was undeniably capable.

Despite starting from a weaker foundation, with less territory and status than the Atreides, Baron Harkonnen had clawed his way up through sheer grit.

If not for his ruthless ambition and cunning, he wouldn't even have had the qualifications to offer himself as the Megacorp's hound.

Even being someone's lackey requires talent.

Yet in the grand scheme of things, the ultimate winner was still the chosen one—House Atreides.

Duke Leto, having long bet on his family's victory, was now basking in triumph.

He had become the President of the Universal Megacorp Trade Association, overseeing the coordination of goods transport between houses on behalf of the Megacorp.

A hereditary position—a guaranteed golden rice bowl. So long as his successors didn't self-destruct, the prosperity of House Atreides would endure.

They could rest on their laurels and live in peace for generations.

Jessica, Leto's wife, had joined the Megacorp's Bene Gesserit Division, taking charge of its internal management.

This too was a formal Megacorp position.

Under her leadership, the Bene Gesserit would continue to study spice and develop its applications, turning it into a fully industrialized enterprise.

The spice produced would become a hot-selling Megacorp commodity, exported across universes to extract resources and labor from other civilizations.

Internally, the Bene Gesserit would also continue their traditional role—propaganda.

Prophecies, legends, sacred sayings—they deployed every tool in their arsenal.

To build momentum for Li Ang 's coronation as God-Emperor, the Bene Gesserit priestesses fabricated entire mythologies, successfully duping the clueless masses.

Prophecies of the divine emperor surged across the stars:

"The God-Emperor replaces the cruel and inept Corino dynasty!"

"A new dawn rises over the Empire—his grace shall shine across the galaxy!"

In short, the Megacorp released one clear message to the people of the 005 "Dune" universe:

A new era is here. Pledge yourselves to your new ruler.

From the mighty noble houses to the lowliest commoners, all hurried to kneel and swear allegiance.

And today, the heads of all the noble families had gathered at the former imperial capital—Kaitain—for the coronation of God-Emperor Li Ang .

Although the planet had suffered extensive destruction during the unification war, enough of it remained intact for a temporary capital to be rebuilt—just grand enough to suit the occasion.

Under the tireless efforts of the Universal Megacorp's engineering division, a newly constructed city—imposing and grand enough—had taken shape on Kaitain. This would serve as the site of Li Ang 's enthronement.

And even after the coronation, Kaitain would remain the capital of the Empire. The Megacorp's task was to rebuild and modernize the planet using the existing framework as a base.

Li Ang 's decision wasn't about saving money or cutting corners by choosing to live in a so-called "haunted mansion" where people had died. It was because Kaitain's location was simply too strategic to give up.

The ancestors of House Corrino hadn't been fools. In a vast galactic empire, it was only natural that the best planets and systems were reserved for their own bloodline.

Since Kaitain had been carefully selected by generations of Padishah Emperors as prime real estate, there was no way Li Ang would just hand it over to another family. Even if he didn't live there permanently, keeping it as an imperial residence was still worthwhile.

By now, the city of Kaitain was packed with dignitaries and elites from across the universe, spanning from humans to alien species—it was a truly diverse gathering.

No one wanted to miss the coronation of the God Emperor.

The imperial capital, situated on a sprawling plain, no longer showed signs of postwar desolation from a few months ago. In its place, people of all races bustled through its main avenues.

This provisional reconstruction of Kaitain City preserved much of its original architectural style, though certain areas already bore signs of a cyberpunk metropolis.

Though the Galactic Empire's unique cultural atmosphere gave the city a distinct architectural charm, compared to the hyper-efficient and user-friendly infrastructure of the Prime Universe, it still lagged behind in some aspects.

As a civilization with operations across all universes, the Universal Megacorp had every reason to offer residents more modern and convenient lifestyle options.

Moreover, humans from the Dune universe would eventually join various departments of the Megacorp, following its directives to travel across universes for construction or other duties.

Naturally, the Galactic Empire would need to align with the Megacorp's modernization process and gradually transition into a new era of the future.

At that moment, on a bustling commercial street in the eastern district of Kaitain City—

Chani Kynes, dressed in a tan combat uniform, was walking with her kin and their leader toward the coronation square in the north of the city.

Ever since the Fremen of Arrakis had been recruited into the Megacorp's forces, Dune's original female lead, Chani—who was supposed to meet Paul—had naturally become a member of the Megacorp's Fremen Legion.

Now, Chani was a legionnaire of the Megacorp.

At the moment, she walked close behind the Fremen chieftain Stilgar, her cautious yet curious blue eyes blinking as she carefully observed her surroundings.

The dazzling array of goods from countless universes nearly overwhelmed her. Chani wanted desperately to stop and pick out a few items to take with her, but she didn't dare speak up.

After all, strictly speaking, she had no real right to be here like these powerful figures, witnessing the coronation of God Emperor Li Ang .

Fortunately, Stilgar, as the Fremen leader, had also accepted the Megacorp's offer of allegiance and had become the commander of its Fremen Warband.

Thanks to this status, Stilgar was able to bring Chani—just a young girl—to Kaitain City to broaden her horizons.

Ordinary people would never have such an opportunity.

"I heard there's a cyber metropolis called Night City on His Majesty's homeworld, Ideal City. It's supposed to be even more magnificent than this place. I wonder when we'll get to see it!"

One of the Fremen warriors spoke excitedly.

He'd grown up on the endless dunes of Arrakis, where the only things in sight were fine sand and massive sandworms—nothing like the grand spectacle of Kaitain City.

Just standing here felt like paradise to him. He could only imagine how glorious the legendary Night City must be!

"Don't worry. It won't be long."

Without looking back, Stilgar responded calmly, "When the time comes, we'll be deployed to Ideal City for military training under Megacorp's central command."

"You'd better bring honor to the Fremen name. Don't embarrass me during the drills."

After speaking, Stilgar ordered the warriors to observe more and speak less, to avoid any conflicts with others.

Everyone here was either wealthy or powerful. Though the Fremen had backing from the Megacorp's Expansion Division, as a newly integrated force, they had yet to earn any real merit.

Without accomplishments, they lacked the standing to assert themselves.

For now, laying low was the wisest course of action.

"Yes, Commander!"

The Fremen warriors immediately straightened up, dropping their grins and following Stilgar in silence into the crowd.

Chani kept her dry, chapped lips tightly shut. Unlike her fellow warriors, she wasn't fantasizing about what Night City looked like.

What she truly desired was to one day stand at the top of Night City and look down upon the entirety of the Megacorp's empire.

Staying in the Fremen Warband wouldn't be enough—her real chance lay in joining the Transversal Vanguard or the Elite Vanguard forces, where more opportunities awaited!

"It's starting—!"

Suddenly, an excited voice rose from the crowd, prompting the Fremen warriors to look toward the same direction.

In the center of the wide plaza, warriors clad in Mark X power armor—Astartes—and Spartans in Thunderhammer Power Suits were moving in to secure the area and maintain order.

At the foot of the high platform in the plaza's core stood the heads of the Empire's great houses, all in formal attire.

Duke Leto of House Atreides, Baron Harkonnen, Jessica of the Bene Gesserit, and the representative of the Spacing Guild—all were present.

On the platform itself stood former Sector Governor V, the current Dune Universe Governor Song Zhaomei, and top generals like Jack, Reed, and Morgan.

These were the key figures of the Megacorp's many departments, wielding executive power across the empire. At this moment, they stood solemn and dignified on either side of the platform like statues of divine beings.

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