Transmigrated as the Villainess Princess - Chapter 182

Chapter 182: Look for the Ore
The war council convened in the largest tactical hall within the command center. The room was vast, its walls lined with holographic displays of battlefronts across the Sirius Kingdom.

At the center, a long table projected a three-dimensional map of the affected territories, with pulsating red zones indicating the most recent Zerg attacks.

Ahcehera stood at the head of the table, her golden eyes sharp and calculating as she observed the gathering of military leaders, strategists, and planetary governors who had responded to her summons.

Some were present in person, clad in armor or military uniforms, while others appeared as shimmering holograms, their signals linked from distant planets under Sirius rule.

Among them were the battle-worn General Soren of Aldrith, the cold and methodical Admiral Velyssa of the Starborne Fleet, and Chancellor Ilrich of the Androsian Council, who oversaw trade and resources across multiple star systems.

Their expressions were grim, their postures tense. The war against the Zergs had already pushed them to their limits, any new threat would stretch them even thinner.

Ahcehera wasted no time.

“As many of you are aware, the Zerg incursions have been escalating at an alarming rate,” she began, her voice even but commanding.

“However, last night, I confirmed our worst suspicion, these attacks are not random.”

She gestured to Joseph, who activated a projection from her optical brain.

A life-sized model of the Zerg portal appeared in the air above the table, along with the mineral formations she had recorded.

The gathered leaders leaned in, murmuring among themselves.

“These mineral ores,” Ahcehera continued, pointing to the crystalline formations arranged around the portal, “contain traces of dark energy.”

“I believe they are being used to stabilize and expand these rifts, allowing the Zerg to invade our planets with greater frequency and intensity.”

Chancellor Ilrich adjusted his monocle, frowning. “Dark energy? That’s impossible. The known sources of such energy have been sealed away for centuries.”

Admiral Velyssa folded her arms. “And yet, there it is.”

“Exactly.” Ahcehera’s gaze swept across the room. “Which means someone is mining these minerals and distributing them. If we want to stop the Zerg, we must first control the supply.”

General Soren, a scarred veteran with graying hair, leaned forward. “Do we know where these minerals are being extracted?”

Ahcehera shook her head. “Not yet, but we have leads. Several of our trading ports have seen an unusual influx of rare minerals being sold in the underground markets.”

“We need to investigate these trades and identify which deposits are rich in dark energy.”

Chancellor Ilrich’s face darkened. “Stopping trade isn’t simple.”

“The moment we impose restrictions, smugglers will flood the black market with even more activity. We need a precise method to filter out the dangerous ores.”

“I agree,” Ahcehera said. “That’s why we need a dual approach, analyzing ore samples to determine which contain dark energy, and simultaneously securing known mining locations before the enemy can exploit them further.”

Admiral Velyssa exhaled sharply. “That’s going to take a ridiculous amount of manpower. If these deposits are widespread, our forces will be stretched too thin.”

Ahcehera nodded. “That’s why we must coordinate our efforts across all planets. Each governor and military leader here must allocate resources to investigate their own territories.”

“Focus on regions where rare minerals are abundant, especially those with histories of strange anomalies.”

General Soren tapped the table, his expression thoughtful. “And once we locate these deposits?”

“We shut them down,” Ahcehera said firmly.

“Place them under military control, ensure no unregulated mining continues, and prevent any further distribution of dark-energy-infused minerals.”

A murmur of agreement spread through the room, but it was clear that not all were convinced. Chancellor Ilrich still appeared troubled.

“What about those who have already come into possession of these minerals? If they are being sold in markets, there may already be private collectors, research institutions, or, gods forbid, criminal organizations experimenting with them.”

Ahcehera had considered this. “Then we must act swiftly. We need a task force dedicated to tracking these minerals through trade records. Every transaction, every shipment, it must all be traced back to the source.”

Admiral Velyssa’s gaze sharpened. “I can assign my fleet’s intelligence division to monitor interstellar trade routes. If these minerals are moving through official channels, we’ll know.”

“I will mobilize ground forces to secure suspected mining sites,” General Soren added. “No unauthorized personnel will get through.”

Chancellor Ilrich hesitated before nodding. “I’ll draft an emergency directive to suspend the sale of all rare minerals until further notice. It will upset many traders, but it’s necessary.”

Ahcehera met his gaze. “We’re fighting for survival. The market can recover, our people cannot.”

Silence settled over the room for a moment before General Soren leaned back in his seat. “Then it’s settled. We contain the supply, control the trade, and secure the mines.”

Ahcehera nodded. “Good. We don’t have time to waste. I will personally oversee the investigation of the most suspicious sites.”

Joseph, who had been standing silently by her side, suddenly spoke up. “Shall I assign additional security for you, Commander?”

Ahcehera shook her head. “I’ll move faster alone. But I need you to keep a close watch on the new officer who recently joined our ranks. Something about him doesn’t add up.”

Joseph’s brows furrowed. “You think he’s connected to this?”

“I don’t know,” Ahcehera admitted. “But I want to be sure.”

The meeting wrapped up with each faction preparing their next steps. Orders were dispatched, fleets were mobilized, and investigations began across the entire kingdom.

As the holograms flickered out and the leaders departed, Ahcehera remained standing at the table, staring at the map of Sirius.

Dark energy, hidden trade, and an unknown enemy lurking in the shadows. She exhaled slowly. This was just the beginning.

As the room emptied, Ahcehera remained still, her mind racing through the countless possibilities.

The enemy was cunning, hiding in plain sight, manipulating the very resources of the kingdom.

If they didn’t act fast, the balance of power would tip, and the Zerg invasion would become unstoppable.

Joseph stepped closer, his voice low. “Commander, do you think we’re too late?”

Ahcehera’s golden eyes burned with resolve. “No. But we’re running out of time.”

She clenched her fists. The war wasn’t just against the Zerg, it was against something far more insidious. And she intended to uncover every shadowy force behind it.