```
If one word could describe the current state of mind of both King Luman and Gu Ming, it would be this:
Panic-stricken.
When Perbov saw the orange-red tail flame slicing through the night sky, he still didn't quite dare to confirm what it was. After all, the starship communication equipment he owned had been destroyed in a prior bombing, and he himself had barely escaped with his life, while Leroy had gone deaf in one ear, which was already considered lucky. The immobile communication equipment certainly couldn't be saved.
But Gu Ming was different.
He had an open line of communication with the four Chamber of Commerce fleets still under his control, and even had an independent Star Language Tower that could make interstellar calls.
He knew for certain that the Blade Tiger, a starship belonging to the Empire Navy Pegasus Fleet, wasn't approaching to help him.