Primordial Expanse: I have the Strongest Talent! - Chapter 627

Chapter 627: A familiar face
For a brief moment, there was only static crossing over the communication line.

Then – connection.

The screen stabilised itself, revealing a familiar image that Alex still had some getting used to. Speaking one on one with your girlfriend’s parents was always awkward… right?

In the background, Federation officers snapped into attention the instant Alex’s face appeared on their end, with murmurs rippling through the background where Alex couldn’t see.

Both of the two on the call ignored all the fuss and chatter though.

Althea looked… tired.

That was the first thing Alex noticed about her. Not physically, her posture was straight and her uniform was just as immaculate as Alex suspected it always was. As an S tier and one of the strongest of the Federation at that, few things in this backwards sector of the universe could cause her to show physical exhaustion.

But Alex could see it in her eyes, this war in the Andromeda Galaxy was taking a toll on her, mentally.

Perhaps it was the constant battles. The neverending loss of life that came with wars like this. Alex couldn’t know, and neither did he plan on bringing it up either.

They both stared at each other for a short moment, as Althea no doubt examined Alex just as he did her.

“Alex.” She finally broke the silence.

Despite her mental exhaustion, her voice was incredibly steady and her charisma as the general and leader of humanity’s first expedition outside of their own galaxy exploded outwards through the call.

But it was unmistakably different from before. It was colder, much less emotional even though Althea wasn’t really one for emotions in the first place.

Alex nodded. “I’ve returned.” He replied simply.

He hadn’t made anyone aware of his choice to re-enter the Primordial Expanse, so he could hazard a guess at how Althea was feeling right now, staring at his projection.

Especially after what had happened in the New Dawn system before his departure.

Brontes’ complete slaughter of the Lux’s powerhouses and entire fleet upon his birth had no doubt sent shockwaves all over the Federation’s chain of command, perhaps even the Federation as a whole.

There were thousands of Federation ships present at the scene, who had witnessed it all from afar. Despite how much they must have wanted to keep it all a secret, it was impossible to stop word from spreading.

And now, seeing the man who had tamed such a creature standing calmly on the other side of the call must have caused quite a few adverse reactions in some of the officers behind Althea.

His reputation already wasn’t the best before leaving the Milky Way, with his refusal to give himself up to the Overseers. Despite the Red Demon race already having been eradicated, the damage was already done.

The Federation was fractured in more ways than one, with this expedition to the Andromeda galaxy being their way of fighting back for their control over humanity.

With the added news that he now controlled a beast so powerful that even S tiers feared it, he had no clue how humanity even thought of him. Perhaps the dissenters were too scared to cuss him out anymore? Perhaps the outrage only grew even further.

Some people already viewed him as a ‘traitor’ (despite this being a ploy from those just wanting to stir up trouble in their favour), but they might see him as a genuine threat to take out now.

After all, in their eyes, it was his beast that was strong, not him.

Alex didn’t let the silence stretch for a heartbeat longer.

“I’m aware that my disappearance must have caused some concern. That wasn’t my intention.”

Althea’s gaze sharpened slightly.

As the mother of his girlfriend, she probably knew best just how much concern there was for his disappearance.

“Concern isn’t a word I’d use.” She replied coolly. “You vanished in the midst of an active war zone.”

A murmur rippled though the bridge behind her. The people were clearly talking, with some eagerness to know where he’d gone spreading, and some cautiousness from others.

“Let me take a guess. You chose to enter the Primordial Expanse?” she asked him, already knowing the answer to the question.

“Yes.”

A ripple went through Althea’s side of the communication once again. Entering the Primordial Expanse was a normal thing in today’s society, and its something all Awakened did in their lives.

But things were different for Higher Lifeforms who’d suppased C tier.

Every trip to the Primordial Expanse was deadly, and the Federation lost numerous B and A tiers whenever they chose to go there.

Alex could tell that Althea wanted to scold him for such a reckless decision, for going against the chain of command. But she knew better to voice her annoyances.

It was abundantly clear to her that Alex was no longer just another powerful Awakened in the Federation. Even before he’d obtained Brontes as a tame, his power allowed him to fight others a whole tier above his own.

Now, not even she could see through him, which spoke volumes of the things he must have experienced on the other side.

She studied him intently as her gaze flicked briefly to the side as an officer presented her with tactical data, likely showing Lux fleet movements, projected losses and other engagements across Andromeda.

Despite being on a call, she still had her duties as the commander of the army to fulfill.

“So, to what do I owe the pleasure of this call then? Surely you could have just left a message to inform us of your return? I’m quite the busy woman, you know. I have a whole war to oversee.” She spoke rather curtly, but despite this, her intentions were clear.

Alex wouldn’t have called her over something trivial like returning from the Primordial Expanse, and despite how important he was to their efforts, leaving a message like she’d just suggested was far more effective to get his point across.

“The New Dawn system is gone.” Alex responded in a flat, emotionless tone.

Beating around the bush was just going to continue their conversation for longer than it needed to last.

Like he’d expected, Althea’s gaze grimaced in a frown.

“Explain.”