I Am The Swarm

Chapter 427: Rule Revisions

The Swarm’s refusal took Elder Humes by surprise.

Despite the Swarm’s unique talents, he had expected his status as a Ji elder, coupled with his deliberately humble demeanor and repeated requests, to yield a different result. To him, being turned down at this stage was nothing short of an insult.

Though furious, Humes maintained a veneer of decorum. However, he wasted no time in departing from the Swarm.

Before leaving, he left a pointed remark. “Your Majesty, if the Swarm continues to act this way, you’ll find it difficult to make any friends.”

As the Ji vessel faded into the distance, Luo Wen chuckled. “Judging by that old fox’s expression, if the Swarm weren’t so inscrutable, he’d be rallying forces to dethrone you the moment he returned.”

His laughter quickly faded, replaced by a contemplative look.

Sarah, standing nearby, appeared uneasy. “Overlord, was this really the right decision?”

“It’s fine,” Luo Wen replied reassuringly.

“But Humes will undoubtedly stir up trouble upon his return. I fear our forces in the Riken System might be compromised,” Sarah said, her worry evident.

Luo Wen shook his head. “Sarah, Humes is just another pawn. His will can’t change anything. Offending him doesn’t matter.”

“But what about those he represents?”

“That doesn’t matter either,” Luo Wen said calmly. “Even if we relinquish the Riken System to the Riken themselves, how does that harm us? In fact, I’ve been planning to use this situation as a pretext to withdraw the Swarm from the Riken System entirely.”

“Why would we do that?” Sarah asked, confused.

“The Riken System has too many outsiders now, and among them are plenty with malicious intent. Even a few years ago, some attempted to infiltrate Swarm bases. Their actions have only grown bolder.”

The influx of people into the Riken System, spurred by the Ji laboratories and the thriving Trade City, made it easy for troublemakers to slip in unnoticed.

“Unacceptable! Can’t we block their access to the system or outright make them disappear?” Sarah suggested angrily.

The Swarm controlled the Riken System’s periphery, and every vessel entering or leaving Riken space had to pass through Swarm-controlled territory. Technically, Sarah’s proposal was feasible.

But Luo Wen shook his head again. “That would be pointless. It would only create unnecessary enemies. Those pulling the strings behind the scenes would love nothing more than for us to do that, as it would give them even more justification to attack us.”

The Swarm’s current troubles with public opinion were already a lingering issue from history. On this matter, the Swarm wasn’t entirely in the wrong. However, if they were to block trade routes or harm Confederation personnel, they’d be handing their opponents a golden opportunity. The resulting backlash would make the current situation look trivial in comparison.

Sarah understood the logic but couldn’t hide her frustration. “Isn’t there another way?”

“Sarah, don’t let your emotions cloud your judgment. If they approach us with goodwill and sincerity, we will reciprocate in kind. But if they attempt to humiliate us, we will remember—and repay them accordingly. For now, though, we lack the strength to act. What we need most is time,” Luo Wen said, pausing briefly before continuing.

“Our current priority is to minimize our presence. They’ve used the issue with the Riken to push us into the spotlight, but arguments require two active participants. If we remain silent and handle this passively, the matter will fade soon enough.”

“But what if the manipulator doesn’t give up?” Sarah asked.

“As long as we avoid creating new incidents, these existing issues won’t cause us any substantial harm. If they persist in their schemes, all they’re doing is buying us time. I wouldn’t mind if they keep this topic trending for centuries.”

Hearing this, Sarah and Luo Wen exchanged a knowing smile.

Of course, Sarah had already considered these points—she was no stranger to the intricacies of such matters after living for centuries. But she also understood that Luo Wen sometimes needed to voice these thoughts to clarify his own perspective.

Whether it was due to Humes’s anger or the Swarm’s perceived insolence, the disputes between the Swarm and the Riken remained the most discussed topic within the Interstellar Technological Confederation for an extended period. Increasing numbers of factions took an interest in the situation.

For the Riken, this period was akin to becoming celebrities. Their officials and spokespersons were constantly occupied with interviews and statements, basking in the attention.

In stark contrast, the Swarm behaved as if completely detached from the outside world. They made no official responses, ignored all interview requests, and refrained from participating in any debates. This deliberate silence, manipulated by interested parties, further stoked resentment against the Swarm.

But the Swarm left no openings for their detractors to exploit.

In the Riken System, Swarm forces had already scaled back operations. Foreign vessels that trespassed under the pretense of being “lost” were captured and unceremoniously expelled. This left those intruders at fault, not the Swarm.

As for attempts to infiltrate other Swarm-controlled star systems, such endeavors were doomed to fail. Those regions were entirely closed to outsiders, and claims of accidental trespassing would hold no weight. Anyone who ventured there uninvited would simply be eliminated, with their deaths deemed inconsequential.

The Trade City, however, remained a potential weak point. Despite the limited range of products the Swarm sold, their offerings—such as the bound bio-armor—were always in high demand, perpetually sold out. However, with the Swarm showing no interest in foreign goods, the Trade City’s activity levels were far from bustling.

While it did see occasional disturbances due to its status as a development zone, Luo Wen’s orders ensured no significant incidents occurred.

In this way, the Swarm eluded all attempts to provoke or entrap them, slipping through the fingers of their adversaries like an elusive eel. Meanwhile, under the spotlight of public scrutiny, the Ji moved quickly. Within just five years, the Council of Elders reached a consensus and amended the relevant regulations.

Unsurprisingly, the changes were unfavorable to the Swarm, at least in the eyes of outsiders. The new rules mandated that the Swarm withdraw from the Riken System within twenty years.

The announcement was met with euphoric celebrations among the so-called “altruists,” who treated the decision as a triumph of righteousness. Numerous factions eagerly awaited the Swarm’s reaction, expecting anger, defiance, and potentially even formal appeals. Elder Humes, in particular, felt vindicated.

“Hah! Let’s see how arrogant you are now!” Humes laughed uproariously, his long-simmering frustration finally dissipating.

But the Swarm didn’t lodge any appeals or protests. Instead, they adopted a stance of passive compliance.

The day after the announcement, they began withdrawing from the Riken System in earnest. Troops were recalled, supplies packed, and facilities dismantled—all with methodical efficiency.

This behavior left many factions stunned. They had anticipated a fierce response from the Swarm, hoping to ridicule them further when their appeals inevitably failed.

Instead, the Swarm robbed them of that opportunity entirely by leaving without resistance.