The Farming Saint in the Starry Wasteland (Elizabeth Schofield) novel Chapter 440

Chapter 440 Gregory’s Malice

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“I simply gave him an opening Gregory said, cutting him off. “What he chose to do with it, and how he executed it, that was his affair entirely. He was your deputy. You knew his capabilities better than I did.”

Deon shut his eyes.

Rupert’s capabilities. Yes, he knew them intimately.

The man had been audacious and precise in equal measure, the kind of soldier who didn’t just conceive of bold moves but carried them through without hesitation.

If Gregory had handed him that particular assignment, he would have found a way to complete it, even if completing it meant “accidentally” discharging a live round during a sanctioned inspection exercise.

What neither of them had accounted for was the round coming back.

“The question before us now,” Gregory’s voice drew him back to the present with clinical composure, “is what method that farm used. Not only did they deflect a Military Command vessel’s attack, they delivered a counterstrike of extraordinary force.”

Deon opened his eyes and spoke in a low, measured tone. “They’ve installed some kind of defense system on the ships.”

Gregory’s eyebrow moved, just slightly.

“What kind of defense system?”

“Unknown.” Deon shook his head. “A luminous field materialized directly from the hull surface, intercepted the main cannon’s energy discharge, and then reflected it back. The return velocity was ten times that of the original projectile, and the destructive yield was proportionally amplified.”

Gregory went quiet.

After a long pause, he asked, “You witnessed this firsthand?”

“Directly. I was at the control station monitoring the entire engagement.”

“Have you ever seen a defense system like that before?”

Γ

“Never.” Deon paused. “Sir, that technology doesn’t correspond to any existing defense apparatus in the Kingdom’s arsenal. It isn’t available through civilian markets either.”

ething shifted behind Gregory’s eyes.

ich means…”

“That farm may be in possession of technology we have no current knowledge of,” Deon said. “Whether it’s self–developed or acquired through other channels, I can’t say. But the capability itself…” He let the implication settle without finishing it. “You saw

what it did.”

Gregory was silent for an extended moment.

The only sound in the tent was the faint, persistent hum of the communication equipment.

Chapter 440 Gregory’s Malice

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“Deon” His Vuice, when it finally came, carried a little more weight than before. “I have a new assignment for you.”

Deon raised his head.

“Determine the nature of that defense system,” Gregory said. “Its operating principles, structural composition, energy source. Extract whatever you can.”

can’t?”

garded him, and something moved through his expression that Deon couldn’t fully decode.

detain the ships under the provisions for threats to Kingdom security,” he said. “A private farm in possession of defense y at this tier, do you genuinely believe the Kingdom would find that acceptable?”

ent still.

ats to Kingdom security.

hese were civilian vessels.

Farm transport ships.

They carried produce, not munitions.

“Sir, that’s…”

“Those are your orders.” Gregory’s tone closed off any further debate “Deon, I understand what’s going through your mind. But consider this: Rupert and the others are dead, and that demands accountability. If that farm’s operation is entirely above board, why do their ships carry defense capabilities of this magnitude? And if the technology truly is their own development, the provenance requires investigation. What if it was acquired through illicit channels?”

Deon opened his mouth, and nothing came out.

“Imperial law, Article one–thirty–seven,” Gregory said, each word deliberate and unhurried. “In protection of technological innovation, private parties retain rights over self–developed property. However, where such property bears upon matters of national security, the Kingdom reserves the authority to conduct inquiry.”

He paused.

“See it done whatever resources you require.”

didn’t move.

oughly.

second clause contained a critical addendum. “During the course of any inquiry, the assets of the party under not be subject to compulsory seizure, absent conclusive evidence that said assets constitute a direct and at to national security.”

dn’t mentioned that part.

osed his eyes and drew a long, steadying breath.

2/3

11:17 am

MA

Chapter 440 Gregory’s Malice

Then tre walked out of the tent and toward where Elizabeth was standing.

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