SSS-Tier Extraction: From Outcast to Overgod!-Chapter 95: A Governor’s Responsibilities

Being the Sector Lord wasn’t all celebrations and creating amazing holographic monster gyms.

A lot of the job was just... management. It was like being the boss of a very large, very complicated company where some of the employees were angry wolf-people and others were highly disciplined soldiers who still weren’t entirely sure if they liked you.

The day after he unveiled the Training Matrix, Ryan spent the morning doing what he now thought of as his "vassal check-ins." He sat in his quiet office at the top of the god Spire, the holographic map of the sector glowing softly in front of him.

He opened a secure communication channel to his first vassal, Outpost #12.

The face of Tom Kane, leader of the Crimson Banner, appeared on the screen. He looked tired and grim, and his usual pristine uniform was smudged with dirt. Behind him, Ryan could see the strange, twisted landscape of the Deep god Zones.

"Stone," Kane said, his voice a low grumble. He had stopped calling him "Governor" or "Lord." It was just "Stone." Ryan took it as a sign of grudging respect.

"Kane," Ryan replied, keeping his own voice even. "Report."

"My scouts have covered three of the five designated zones," Kane began, his tone all business. "The areas are highly unstable, as predicted. The local monsters are... creative. We lost a transport skiff to something that looked like a giant, flying jellyfish with teeth." He paused, his expression darkening. "But that’s not the main issue. We’ve found something else. Something worse."

He brought up a fuzzy image on the screen. It was a picture of a crude, ugly-looking altar made of dark, sharp rocks. Strange, unsettling symbols were painted on it in what looked like dried blood.

"We found a dozen of these," Kane said. "They radiate a faint, chaotic energy. It feels... sick. Wrong." He zoomed in on the background of the image. "And we found this. It’s right on the border we share with the Technocratic Imperium."

The image now showed footprints. A lot of them. And they weren’t from any known monster. They were human-shaped, but they shuffled and dragged in strange patterns.

"Schism Cults," Ryan said, the words leaving a bad taste in his mouth.

"Exactly," Kane confirmed. "They’re active out here, far from the civilized parts of the Sector. And their presence this close to a major power like the Technocratic Imperium is a problem waiting to happen. freёnovelkiss-com

If their chaos spills over the border, the Imperium will see it as an act of aggression from us. They won’t care that it’s just a bunch of crazies in a cave. They’ll see it as a threat from your Sector."

Ryan nodded slowly. "Good work, Kane. Stay cautious. Document everything, but do not engage the cultists directly. Not yet. I’ll handle the political side of things."

Kane gave a curt nod. "Understood." The communication line went dead.

Ryan leaned back in his chair, a frown on his face. This was a serious problem. The Schism Cults were like a disease, and if it spread, it could start a war with one of his powerful, and not very friendly, neighbors.

He sighed and opened the next channel. It was time to check in on his other vassal.

The face that appeared on the screen was that of Ilsa "Steelheart" Varkov. She was standing in a training yard, sweat beading on her forehead.

In the background, Ryan could see her Iron Wolves training alongside Scarlett’s defense force. They were running drills, practicing formations. They were no longer a wild, raging horde. They were a disciplined, organized army.

Ilsa looked directly at him, her one good eye and her red cybernetic one both holding an expression of fierce intensity. "Lord Stone," she said, her voice a low growl of respect. She had seen his power firsthand, and she, more than anyone, respected pure strength.

"Ilsa," Ryan said. "How are your people fitting in?"

"Commander Scarlett is a harsh teacher," Ilsa said, and for a moment, a hint of a smile touched her scarred lips. "She has the spirit of a true alpha. My Wolves complained at first. They are not used to so much... practice.

They prefer to just hit things." She gestured to the soldiers behind her. "But they are learning. They are stronger now. Faster. They move like a pack, not a mob. She has forged them into a proper weapon."

She looked back at him, her gaze unwavering. "We are your weapon now, Lord Stone. Point us at your enemies, and we will break them for you. It is the Iron Wolf way."

Ryan was taken aback. This was not the same woman who had screamed for his head just a few weeks ago. She was still fierce, still dangerous, but her rage had been focused. It had been turned into a powerful loyalty. He had not just defeated her; he had earned her respect.

"I’m glad to hear it, Ilsa," he said. "Your strength will be needed soon."

He ended the call, feeling a strange mix of pride and unease. He had a disciplined scouting force and a powerful heavy army. His military was growing stronger every day. But his political problems were growing too.

As if on cue, his personal assistant, Ace Striker, burst into the room. Ace had appointed himself to this role, and he took his duties very, very seriously. He wore a crisp new uniform and carried a datapad, which he mostly used to write down all of Ryan’s "heroic and wise sayings."

"My Lord!" Ace announced, his voice filled with importance. "A ship has arrived! They are a diplomatic envoy from a neighboring sector, Sector Phi! They say they represent an Outpost called ’Sanctuary’ and that their leader, the Matriarch Isabella Vancroft, wishes to discuss an alliance!"

Ryan raised an eyebrow. An envoy from another sector? This was new. His reputation was clearly spreading.

"Show them to the main reception hall, Ace," Ryan said. "Tell them I will be there shortly."

"At once, my Lord! I shall inform them of the great honor you are bestowing upon them by gracing them with your presence!" Ace said with a dramatic bow, and then hurried out of the room.

Ryan shook his head with a small smile. He stood up and straightened his own simple, practical uniform. An alliance with a new sector could be a great opportunity. Sanctuary. It sounded peaceful.

He walked into the grand reception hall. Standing in the center of the room were two women. The first was older, with kind, intelligent eyes and long, silver hair braided with glowing blue flowers. She carried herself with a quiet, powerful grace.

The woman standing next to her was younger, but no less impressive. She was tall, with sharp, clever features and a confident smile. She was breathtakingly beautiful, with an aura of sharp intelligence that was almost as intimidating as Ilsa’s battle armor.

The Older woman stepped forward and bowed her head slightly. "Sector Lord Stone," she said, her voice warm and melodic. "I am Matriarch Isabella. Thank you for agreeing to see us. We have heard great things about you and your growing alliance."

"Matriarch," Ryan replied with a nod. "Welcome to Sector Gamma. What can I do for you?"

The beautiful younger woman spoke up, her voice smooth and confident. "My name is Seraphina, lead diplomat of Sanctuary. Our Matriarch has a proposal for you, Lord Stone. One we believe will be of great benefit to us both."

Ryan looked at the two women. They were powerful, confident, and they had come a long way to speak with him. He had a feeling that his quiet, simple day of management was officially over. Things were about to get much more complicated.

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