Chapter 285: Erakos! The Emperor! Submission!
At this moment, Duke Leto sat with his brow furrowed, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the table. The anxiety gnawing at him was growing heavier by the minute.
He had come to a grim realization: the Atreides family was caught in a deathtrap. No matter which path he chose, the outcome seemed to lead to ruin.
There was simply no way to break this deadlock with the Atreides family's own strength. They needed outside help—something far more powerful.
And that variable... was the Galactic Megacorp.
After a long pause, Leto finally looked over at Hawat and asked in a deep voice, "This so-called Galactic Megacorp claims to have unified several universes. How credible do you think that is?"
To be honest, Leto found the idea absurd. The sudden appearance of a power claiming to span multiple universes and offering salvation to the Atreides sounded like pure fantasy.
It was simply too far-fetched!
From the very beginning, Leto had suspected this might be an elaborate trap laid by the Imperial House or the Harkonnens—one scheme hidden within another.
But the web of information was so intricate and dazzling that Leto couldn't untangle it on his own. So he turned to Hawat for his opinion.
"The design and scale of the Megacorp's warships are completely different from ours. Even their soldiers' gear and power armor have unique characteristics," Hawat said.
"Maybe they really are a powerful civilization from another universe. Right now, our intelligence on the Galactic Megacorp is virtually zero. I can't give you a definitive answer."
Hawat had assessed all the available information. While the Megacorp's sudden emergence was hard to believe, there was a high probability that everything they said was true.
Unless new intel surfaced to prove otherwise, Hawat had no choice but to take them at their word.
The scale and size of the Megacorp's expeditionary fleet were immense. If some noble house had poured resources into building such a fleet, the Atreides—as one of the major players on the Landsraad Council—would've heard something about it.
But they hadn't.
Which meant this fleet couldn't have been secretly built by any known house.
The only power capable of creating such a fleet under a complete veil of secrecy was the Corrino Imperial House. Not even the Harkonnens could pull that off!
But if the Megacorp were a front for the Emperor, there would've been no need for them to go out of their way to warn the Atreides.
Even following the original plan, the Atreides could have simply been crushed on Arrakis.
"If everything the Megacorp says is true, then that would mean…" Hawat trailed off. He glanced at Duke Leto, who already knew what he was going to say.
If Andrew's words were all true, then the Galactic Megacorp was the Atreides' only hope—the only force that could pull them back from the brink of extinction.
"For now, don't alert the Harkonnens or the Imperial House. Keep everything business as usual."
"As for the Megacorp in near orbit, just keep monitoring them. Supply them with the necessities for now. Keep them stable."
"I want to see whether Shaddam really does send an envoy ordering us to Arrakis!"
Leto's strategy was measured and precise.
If Emperor Shaddam specifically named the Atreides to take over spice operations on Arrakis, Leto would then have to seriously consider working with the Megacorp.
"Yes, my lord. Your judgment is impeccable," Hawat replied respectfully.
From the current political situation, this was the best possible course. Whether it would prove correct or not—only time would tell.
While they waited for word from Emperor Shaddam, the various departments of the Galactic Megacorp were actively preparing for war. If the Atreides refused to cooperate, the Megacorp would be forced to act covertly.
Their plan: wait until the Emperor and Harkonnens jointly moved against the Atreides—then swoop in and save Duke Leto at the last moment.
The Megacorp's goal was to swiftly consolidate control over the Dune universe and complete their mission as efficiently as possible. But to do that, they needed the Atreides' cooperation.
Ironically, it wasn't the Megacorp that was in a hurry—it was Leto.
Because one month later, Duke Leto Atreides did indeed receive the Emperor's summons. And just as Andrew had predicted, the contents were exactly as foretold.
Bang—!
In his private study, Duke Leto slammed a heavy fist down on the desk. His breathing was ragged, and his face had turned ashen.
Just moments ago, a minister of Emperor Shaddam had contacted him through a communicator to formally congratulate House Atreides on becoming the new ruler of Arrakis—the new master of Dune—and promised them a life of endless wealth and glory.
The Megacorp's prophecy had come true.
The Emperor's envoy was already on the way to Caladan and would soon read aloud the imperial decree officially assigning the Atreides to take over operations on Arrakis.
At that point, whether Leto accepted or not, the countdown to the Atreides' downfall had begun.
Truthfully, even without the Megacorp's warning, Leto would have quickly realized that there's no such thing as a free lunch.
The Harkonnens had ruled Arrakis for years. In the face of such a decree, they were bound to sabotage the Atreides' takeover.
But when it came to the Harkonnens, Leto felt confident in holding the line.
He'd battled House Harkonnen for most of his life. He knew exactly what they were capable of.
Fighting only the Harkonnens—Leto could handle that.
But add in the might of the Imperial House Corrino? That was an entirely different story.
Ten full Sardaukar legions, plus the Harkonnen troops? That was more than House Atreides could ever withstand.
A month ago, Leto and Hawat had run a full military simulation. The result: Atreides forces would be completely annihilated.
"No. We absolutely cannot accept this order. We cannot go to Arrakis."
Leto's voice rang out firm and resolute in the study. The senior officers of House Atreides all wore grim, contemplative expressions.
Clearly, they too were torn over the decision to go to Arrakis.
"We cannot risk the extinction of our house for a business opportunity. I'd rather forgo the spice trade."
Leto made his stance clear.
Had it not been for the Megacorp's warning, he might have been tempted to seize the opportunity, thinking fortune favors the bold, and accepted the assignment to manage the spice operations.
After all, Arrakis was the only known source of melange—spice—the golden mine of the Galactic Empire.
If the Atreides could gain a foothold there, riches would be theirs for the taking.
Even if the Harkonnens were hostile—so what? The Atreides guard wasn't weak.
But if Sardaukar legions joined the fight, everything changed.
Once the Atreides set foot on Arrakis, they'd be walking into their own grave.
"The Emperor's envoy is already on the way. If we refuse the imperial order, we'll also suffer backlash from both the Emperor and the Harkonnens," said Lady Jessica, breaking the silence.
As a high-ranking member of the Bene Gesserit, her political insight was sharp.
Defying an imperial order would damage House Atreides' reputation and provoke dangerous consequences.
Of course Leto understood all this. He let out a sigh, but remained firm. "Regardless of what the Imperial House wants, we will not go to Arrakis."
Leto had made up his mind. When the Emperor's envoy arrived, he would feign illness and politely decline. He would even recommend another house to take over the job.
In short, he'd dodge the assignment however he could.
"My Duke, I think you're worrying too much about the Emperor and the Harkonnens. Why would they suddenly join forces just to target House Atreides?"
The elegant and still-beautiful Lady Jessica took his calloused hand and offered a gentle smile.
"Without us, who could possibly keep the Harkonnens in check?"
In truth, Jessica wasn't entirely wrong.
For the Corrino Empire, the best way to manage the noble houses was through balance—controlling them without crushing them.
Oppress them too harshly, and they'd rebel.
Let them run wild, and a single house might rise to dangerous heights.
Worse yet, if the noble houses formed alliances and rallied the minor houses, they could become a real threat to imperial authority.
---
That's why every noble house needed a rival force to oppose and check it—just like the Atreides and Harkonnens. These two families were the textbook example.
Whichever side grew too powerful or fell, the other would reap the benefits.
After all, who could guarantee that if House Atreides were destroyed, House Harkonnen wouldn't just follow the same path and lead the Landsraad against the Imperial House?
From Lady Jessica's perspective, standing in the Emperor Shaddam's shoes, there was absolutely no need for the throne to eliminate House Atreides. Doing so would only destabilize the delicate balance.
However, Duke Leto remained firm. He shook his head and said, "No. We can't take that risk."
As the head of House Atreides, Leto had to stay cautious and meticulous at all times. Women and children might afford to be careless—but not men.
The reason House Atreides had lasted for millennia wasn't just due to ancestral blessings; it was thanks to the vigilance and reverence maintained by generations of leaders.
As long as they stayed put on Caladan, even if Emperor Shaddam wanted to punish them, the worst-case scenario would just mean losing some commercial assets and a few soldiers.
House Atreides could survive that.
Leto had already made up his mind: when the Emperor's envoy arrived, he would feign illness and politely decline the assignment, simultaneously signaling submission to the throne and emphasizing that he harbored no ambition.
Caladan was the homeworld of House Atreides. Even if the entire Sardaukar army were deployed, it wouldn't be easy to defeat Atreides forces in a short time.
On the contrary, should Shaddam make such a move, it would spark public outrage and criticism from other noble houses, plunging the Imperial House into a political firestorm.
But just then, Hawat—who had always sided with Leto—suddenly voiced a dissenting opinion.
"My Lord Duke, I agree with the Lady. Perhaps Arrakis isn't off the table after all."
Leto looked at him in surprise. Just earlier, they'd discussed in the study that there was no way they should go to Arrakis.
Why had Hawat changed his stance so suddenly? Could he have been bribed?
Sensing the suspicion in Leto's eyes, Hawat explained calmly, "I think it's time we engage with the Universal Megacorp for the next stage."
"If they're already aware of the Corrino family's moves, then surely they have a way to resolve it."
Hawat knew very well—if the Megacorp had sent a representative to leak that information to them, it was a clear sign they were looking to cooperate. If that was the case, why not go along with it?
In doing so, House Atreides could both take control of the spice trade on Arrakis and weather this crisis under the Megacorp's protection.
Wouldn't that be the better outcome?
Lady Jessica nodded repeatedly after hearing Hawat's sound reasoning, clearly pleased with his thinking.
As a high-ranking member of the Bene Gesserit Sisterhood, she found it hard to resist the lure of spice. After all, it was an irreplaceable resource for the Sisterhood.
If House Atreides took over spice production on Dune, then through Lady Jessica, the Sisterhood could easily acquire vast quantities of spice.
They could leverage it to rapidly expand their organizational strength and improve the overall quality of their members.
Meanwhile, House Atreides could ride the success of the spice trade to become the second most powerful house after the Corrino royal family—gaining both strength and prestige in one fell swoop.
So whether for personal or political reasons, Lady Jessica would push Leto to seize the administration of Arrakis.
Seeing both his trusted lieutenant and beloved partner take this stance, Duke Leto had no choice but to reassess the situation. Perhaps Hawat did have a point.
"If the Universal Megacorp has already made it clear that they're here to help us, then they must have a purpose. We should at least hear their terms before deciding."
Hawat understood the principle of balanced interests. As long as the Megacorp's terms were within acceptable bounds, there was no reason not to agree.
By now, Duke Leto's resolve had begun to waver.
If the Megacorp had anticipated the Emperor's decree, that meant they were prepared. It also implied they likely had a plan to save House Atreides in exchange for what they wanted.
If this Universal Megacorp truly unified powerful civilizations from multiple parallel universes, then perhaps they really could help House Atreides survive this ordeal.
"Very well. I'll meet with them myself."
After weighing all the available information and organizing his thoughts, Duke Leto decided to travel to near-Earth orbit to meet with the Universal Megacorp fleet before making his final decision.
Without delay, he ordered a thopter to be readied, handpicked several members of his personal guard, and set off toward the Megacorp fleet in orbit.
---
At that moment, Song Zhaomei—who had just finished a communication session with Li Ang aboard a dreadnought—was already prepared to receive Duke Leto.
Though Li Ang wasn't personally overseeing this affair, the strategic objectives he had set and the Megacorp interests were crystal clear.
There were three core takeaways from their recent conversation:
First: All rights to the planet Arrakis must belong to the Universal Megacorp.
The spice trade would be organized into a trade network under their management. All noble houses would get a share—but only as transporters, ferrying the spice to different universes for profit.
Even though the houses would receive only a tiny cut, the transport fees and token commissions would already far exceed their current earnings.
Li Ang 's reasoning was simple: in the Dune universe, aside from Arrakis, there wasn't much of value.
Planets and colonies from the Halo universe alone were enough to supply the Megacorp's industrial needs; they had no shortage of raw materials.
Thus, in the Dune universe, the Megacorp only needed to control the crucial spice-producing planet of Arrakis.
The noble houses' fiefs and homeworlds held no value for the Megacorp, and they had no intention of snatching such meager scraps.
Of course, Li Ang wouldn't be the only one benefiting—he'd let the noble houses "drink a little soup" while he ate the meat. A bit of transport fees and minor profits would suffice.
Second: Li Ang wanted to become the God-Emperor of the Dune universe.
This would require not just overwhelming force, but also a reasonable exchange of interests to gain widespread acceptance.
In return, Li Ang would help House Atreides overthrow Emperor Shaddam's rule and redistribute the Corrino family's power and resources.
At that point, every house would receive more land and authority—an outcome most noble factions would welcome.
If any house refused or tried to challenge the Megacorp, it would simply be eliminated and its spoils divided among the rest.
The Megacorp didn't care about territory or resources. All they wanted was the authority of a God-Emperor over the nobility—and control over Arrakis.
Any house that chose to align with the Megacorp would only need to supply the stationed troops with resources and permit the construction of a military base.
And on each house's land, the Megacorp would build one beautiful, glowing "mini-Halo" megastructure.
These two minor demands were almost impossible for the houses to reject.
After all, how expensive could it be to support a garrison? Just treat it like hiring a personal bodyguard—it could even help defend against attacks from rival houses.
As for the construction of a "silly little Halo ring," if the Megacorp wanted to build it, so be it—just don't block the roads.
Third: Every noble house in the Dune universe must join the Megacorp's trade network and contribute to its business efforts.
The aim was straightforward: keep the houses busy running errands and making money for the Megacorp instead of scheming against each other.
Sending them out to trade reduced the Megacorp's logistical costs—essentially getting free labor.
And the noble houses had no reason to reject this. After all, their interests weren't being harmed. The Megacorp wasn't withholding profits—they'd be able to grow wealthy through interdimensional trade.
So why not?
By now, Duke Leto had arrived aboard the flagship where Song Zhaomei was stationed, guided by a dropship from the Megacorp fleet and flanked by his personal guard.
Song Zhaomei, a senior executive of the Megacorp, was tasked with handling the negotiations with Leto.
After brief introductions, she cut straight to the chase.
"My Lord Duke, it seems the Emperor's edict has arrived. Looks like we weren't wrong in our predictions."
Though Song Zhaomei's words carried a hint of mockery, Duke Leto kept a steady expression despite the embarrassment he felt.
He smiled and replied frankly:
"Director Song, it was our oversight this past month. Mainly because I had never heard of your Megacorp before and was skeptical of your intentions, which is why I didn't meet with you personally."
"But just recently, I received a royal order. We are to be transferred to Arrakis."
"If you were able to foresee the Emperor's actions, then I'd like to hear your advice."
"Should House Atreides go—or not?"
Song Zhaomei could tell from Leto's tone and demeanor that he was still uneasy and on guard.
Since the Megacorp intended to partner with House Atreides to quickly consolidate control over the Dune universe, it was necessary to put the Duke at ease—and lay out the Megacorp's expectations clearly.
This would prevent future conflicts or disputes over the terms of cooperation.
After all, Li Ang 's goals were very straightforward: control the spice, become Emperor, and make every house serve the Megacorp.
"My Lord Duke," Song Zhaomei said, "have you ever considered… replacing the Emperor?"
That one explosive line made Leto instinctively leap from his seat—just like Liu Bei when he heard "In all the land, only you and Cao Cao are heroes."
But seeing Song Zhaomei's unflinching expression, Leto fell silent for two seconds before replying coldly:
"I don't know what you mean by that."
He couldn't tell what Song Zhaomei was getting at—was she sent by House Corrino to test him, or was she truly proposing to elevate a new Emperor?
Unable to read her true intent, Leto played dumb. That was the safest move—never let anyone catch you making a verbal misstep.
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