Chapter 672: Returning to Caelus

Finally, through the investigation of Ellers and the others, it was confirmed that the group secretly active inside the planet were the long-lost clones.

From the captured clones, they also learned the truth of what happened back then.

It turned out that the first person the young genius who’d awakened a talent for cloning had copied was himself.

When his ambition was exposed and he was thrown into prison, it was the young genius’s clone who broke him out.

From then on, these clones had been hiding and skulking across the galaxy.

However, the young genius never gave up on his ambition, and his clone’s ambition was even greater than his own.

The young genius only wanted to build a nation centered on himself to satisfy his ambition and desires, while his clone wanted the entire galaxy to bow at his feet.

When two people with the same immense ambitions and desires clashed, it was inevitable that the weaker would be consumed by the stronger.

And so, the young genius was eaten by his clone. That isn’t a figure of speech; he was literally, truly eaten.

Then, under the leadership of the young genius’s clone, this group of clones began making their own small efforts to conquer the galaxy.

What’s that? You ask why they’d achieved nothing after trying for so long, and why even this recent planetary pollution was just an accident?

While Moira and her group were on the outside trying to find a solution, the clones were actually trying to solve the problem from within as well.

As for why their efforts were completely fruitless, it was because, in all the years they had been gone, they had been in a constant state of civil war.

Yes, that’s right. A civil war.

The essence of the cloning ability is to replicate a person entirely, including their personality. But because they are clones, they also develop very pronounced character flaws.

Take the young genius’s clone, for instance. His ambition was even greater than that of the original.

These clones all blamed each other, with no one willing to submit to anyone else. This was especially true after their creator died, at which point they became completely uncontrollable.

If not for the fact that they were still wanted fugitives, they would have gone their separate ways long ago.

Now, so many years later, the clone of the young genius has been replaced several times over.

Yes, that’s right. The current leader of the clones is no longer the one personally created by the young genius, but a clone of a clone of a clone… of a clone.

It was much the same for the other clones.

But even so, the infighting among the clones never stopped. Perhaps that’s the price of having too many clever people in one place; no one was willing to lose out.

After hearing the entire story, Moira Lynch and the others were left speechless. They couldn’t help but think there was something wrong with these people’s heads.

Even Ellers and his men found the whole thing absurd.

Especially since these clones had lived underground for many years, their bodies had mutated and their eyes had degenerated.

Because they hadn’t seen sunlight for so long, their skin was almost transparently white. Though they had a human form, the resemblance was only skin deep.

“How will you deal with these people?” Moira Lynch asked Yarrow.

“If all goes as planned, to prevent the clone who possesses the cloning ability from stirring up any more trouble, he will be executed. The three of us will carry out the sentence personally. As for the rest…”

At this, Yarrow fell silent for a moment. These subsequent generations of clones were, in the end, innocent. The ones who had committed the crimes were the first batch.

But even for that first batch of clones, their creation hadn’t been their choice.

From the clones’ perspective, all they had ever wanted was a legal identity, even if they had gone about it the wrong way.

“They’re not innocent,” Dustin Foster said, walking over. His voice was heavy. “They’re the ones who turned this planet into what it is today.”

“Dustin, that was just an accident,” Yarrow said in a low voice.

“So? Just because it was an accident, you’re going to cover for those clones that look neither human nor ghost?” Dustin Foster retorted bluntly.

“I’m not,” Yarrow said, his expression serious and his gaze sharp. “I am merely stating the facts. Their crimes should be judged by a Federation court, not by us dishing out our own justice!”

Hearing this, Dustin Foster shot Yarrow a look, said nothing, then turned and left with a cold snort.

“You know he tends to get hung up on these things. Why do you have to provoke him?” Jeanette Norris said as she walked over, giving Yarrow a disapproving look.

“I was just reminding him not to act on emotion.”

Jeanette Norris shook her head at that, then immediately turned to Moira Lynch, who was standing nearby. A fawning smile appeared on her face as she said softly, “So, Moira, have you thought about my previous offer? Just join my army, and I guarantee I’ll give you the best benefits possible—even better than my own. Plus, I’ll even help you find a partner! All the soldiers under my command, you can take your pick. Whoever you want, however many you want. Even if you wanted your own imperial harem, it wouldn’t be a problem.”

Moira Lynch: …

‘On second thought, never mind.’

“I…”

Just as Moira Lynch started to speak, her hamster ball was slammed to the side by an immense force.

Seeing Moira Lynch get pushed away by the white lion, Jeanette Norris looked at Yarrow in a rage. “What is the meaning of this?” ‘I was so close to succeeding.’

Yarrow’s expression didn’t change. “My apologies. He suddenly stopped listening to me.”

The helpless, ‘what-can-I-do’ look on Yarrow’s face made Jeanette Norris absolutely livid.

‘As if anyone doesn’t know that a Spiritual Body is a manifestation of its master’s truest thoughts!’

‘The hell it stopped listening to you. I’d say it’s listening to you a little too well!’

In the end, Moira Lynch never agreed to join any of their armies.

Finally, the three compromised, having Moira Lynch listed as an affiliate in each of their armies and placing an order with her for a batch of weapons.

When they learned that Moira Lynch crafted firearms in addition to melee weapons, the three of them looked at her as if she were a priceless treasure.

When the thirty-day quarantine period was finally over, and after it was confirmed that none of them were carrying any contaminants, Moira Lynch and her companions were finally cleared to go home.

“What?! A victory banquet!”

“I can’t! I don’t want to! No!”

Upon learning that the people of Caelus were throwing a grand victory banquet to welcome them home, Moira Lynch got stage fright.

Heaven knew this was the exact kind of situation she dreaded most; otherwise, she wouldn’t have hidden her identity.

Although, a large part of that was also for her own protection.

“Moira, I’ve actually wanted to ask for a while now,” said Kai York. “When you agreed to be our friend back then, it wasn’t just because you wanted to use us for free labor, was it?”

Moira Lynch looked up at him. “Weren’t you two the ones who started pestering me first? I only agreed to let you hang around because I thought you were sensible.”