CHAPTER 39: CH 39 A DECLARATION OF SOLIDARITY

There was a pause as those titles hung in the air, momentarily heavy with meaning. The name, the titles—they painted a far clearer picture of William than anything he had revealed to Kallus or others so far.

But then, as if acknowledging the present reality, he added with a faint smile,

"Of course, those titles have little weight here. There is no Terra Empire in this universe...."

The Grand Admiral was momentarily taken aback by the titles William had just revealed—titles he was certain had never been mentioned in Kevin’s report. If they had, Kevin would have made a note of it. And it wasn’t just him. Admiral Natasha, his wife, mirrored his stunned reaction.

There was a reason for their surprise—and it was immense.

If what this man claimed was true—if he had truly given them Tier-7 technologies and commanded the colossal vessel floating in front of them, a ship that was clearly far beyond Tier-7 in design—then that could only mean one thing: the Terra Empire was a civilization operating on a level far beyond the Federation.

The Federation, even at its peak, was a Tier-6 power. But this... this was something vastly superior.

And now, this William was revealing that he was the Supreme Commander of the Terra Empire’s naval forces, a man of royal rank second only to the Empress herself. That placed him above them not just in military power, but in hierarchy and influence as well.

Even if they weren’t citizens of the Terra Empire and had never heard of it before, they couldn’t dismiss the significance of what he had just said. The fact that William claimed to be from a different universe only deepened the weight of his presence. He was no ordinary visitor.

Their expressions grew serious. Grand Admiral John finally broke the silence.

"Mr. William," he began cautiously, "are you saying you came from a different universe? How can you be so certain? And more importantly—why are you even here? Was your arrival accidental? Or were you sent for a reason beyond your control?"

His voice carried a note of skepticism, but also a trace of curiosity—because deep down, he was beginning to believe it. In a world where technology could rewrite the laws of reality, even inter-universal travel no longer sounded impossible.

William responded with the same calm smile that had never left his face.

"Indeed, Grand Admiral John. I can see that you’re just as skeptical as Admiral Kevin was," he said, his tone relaxed but assured. "But I see no reason to lie to any of you. What I’ve told you is the truth."

He folded his arms behind his back as he continued, "As for your question—yes, my arrival was... accidental."

He paused briefly, then began explaining, "I was en route from one region of my empire to another aboard the Ragnarök when an unexpected hyperspace disturbance occurred. We were forced to exit hyperspace prematurely. Unfortunately—or perhaps fortunately—at the exact location we emerged, a quantum wormhole opened. My ship and I were pulled in before we could react... and that’s how we ended up here."

John and Natasha exchanged glances as William continued.

"You asked how I know this is a different universe altogether," he said, his tone now slightly more serious. "The answer lies in the quantum charge. Every universe has its own unique quantum signature—its fundamental constants and background radiation values. And this one... is vastly different from my own. If I had simply jumped galaxies, the difference would’ve been negligible. But here, the shift was massive—undeniable. That’s how we’re certain: this is not just another galaxy... it’s an entirely different universe."

He let that sink in for a moment before finishing with a shrug.

"As for why I’m here... well, I didn’t exactly have a choice, did I? I don’t have access to quantum tuning-class equipment that could let me return to my original universe. I’m stranded here."

His eyes flicked between the admirals. "Once I realized that, I began searching the stars, hoping to find any sign of the human race. Eventually, I came across your Red Horizon fleet... and when I saw they were under attack, I intervened.

A flicker of thought passed across Grand Admiral John’s face as he silently processed everything William had just revealed. He couldn’t help but feel a sliver of doubt. The story—though detailed—seemed too conveniently aligned.

A hyperspace instability... followed immediately by the sudden appearance of a quantum portal... and then a jump into an entirely different universe? The sequence of events felt too precise, almost scripted.

And yet, space was vast. As immeasurable as it was, it was also filled with unknowns—phenomena beyond current comprehension. Could such a string of events, improbable as they sounded, actually happen? Perhaps.

In the great expanse of the cosmos, where probability danced with mystery, even the rarest outcomes had a chance.

William noticed the flicker in John’s expression—subtle, but telling. He could see the Grand Admiral was contemplating something, perhaps questioning the logic of his story. But William didn’t give him much time to dwell on it.

He continued in the same calm, carefree tone, as if the weight of inter-universal travel was just another day’s work. "As for what happened afterward... I trust Admiral Kevin has already debriefed you about that, hasn’t he?"

As he finished speaking, his gaze shifted toward Grand Admiral John, silently inviting confirmation.

John felt William’s gaze lock onto him, and even though they were communicating across a vast distance, he could still sense it—sharp, focused, almost as if William were standing right in front of him. It was a strange sensation, and for a brief moment, it unsettled him.

Strange... he thought, but chose to ignore the feeling.

He gave a slight nod and finally responded, "Yes, Kevin did brief me. That’s why I’ve already expressed my gratitude to you, Mister William. And... forgive the questions. I couldn’t help myself after everything you’ve revealed."

William simply smiled and gave a small shake of his head. "I understand," he said casually.

But before the conversation could settle, William tilted his head slightly, and with a sudden shift in energy—almost playfully—he steered the discussion in a new direction.

"I know you didn’t reach out to me just for this, did you, Mr. John?" he asked, voice still light, but the question was direct.

And William didn’t stop there. He continued smoothly, his voice unwavering:

"I’m quite certain Kevin told you much more than just that, didn’t he?" he said, still wearing that effortless smile. "So if I’m right... why don’t we skip the formalities and get to the main point, hmm?"

His tone was polite, even friendly—but there was no mistaking the confidence behind his words. William was in control of the conversation, and he knew it.

Grand Admiral John let out a light cough before speaking. "Indeed, Kevin told me everything—particularly about the discussions during your verification process," he said, straightening slightly. "And as you just said, you’re right. We should skip the formalities and focus on what truly matters."

There was a faint trace of embarrassment in his tone—not from disrespect, but from the quiet realization that, for once, he wasn’t fully in control of the conversation. He was a man used to leading, commanding, being the one others looked up to. But now, he could only sigh inwardly as an old quote passed through his mind: There is always a mountain taller than you.

And William... William was a mountain so vast that John couldn’t even see the peak.

William, hearing this, offered a knowing smile and made a small, welcoming gesture—wordlessly inviting John to continue.

Clearing his throat again, John leaned forward slightly and asked, "Mr. William... do you truly mean to offer our Federation two Tier-7 technologies—without any conditions or reservations?"

William nodded slowly. "Indeed, Grand Admiral John. I truly meant what I said when I spoke with Kevin regarding this matter," he began, his tone shifting from casual to firm.

This time, his expression turned serious—solemn, even—as if he wanted to ensure there was no room for doubt. He wasn’t speaking just to John, but to the entire Federation through him.

"I understand that my sudden appearance—and the power I represent—might be overwhelming. It’s only natural that the Federation would feel uncertain, perhaps even uneasy. That’s why I’m repeating myself now—so there’s no misunderstanding."

He paused for a breath, his eyes steady.

"Through this gift, I want to make it clear that I am sincere in my desire to support the Federation... and humanity as a whole. While I hold no sentimental attachment to your organization, I am, above all else, a conscious human being. And I will not stand by while our species faces extinction at the hands of alien forces—no matter the universe."

William straightened, his voice now commanding.

"So yes, I’m entirely serious. I will gift the Federation two Tier-7 warships—one frigate and one destroyer. No conditions. No hidden clauses. This isn’t a gesture of charity... it’s a declaration of solidarity."