Chapter 198: You are free, but not completely free

Lan Ge's gaze turned solemn.

He no longer wore a smile, and his tone became authoritative and businesslike.

"According to a resolution passed by the Human Federal Supreme Council's nationwide referendum, we now promulgate the 'Regulations on the Post-War Disposition and Management of All Civilizations.'"

"Article 1: Effective from the date of promulgation of these regulations, all slave systems from the Mo Yun Empire era are abolished."

"All individuals of civilizations shall gain freedom in their personhood."

"The Human Federal will not regard any sentient life as private property or slaves."

"These words were like a depth charge bomb, exploding loudly in the minds of all the representatives."

"Freedom?"

"They are free?"

"The mantis-person representative suddenly lifted his head, looking at Lan Ge in disbelief."

"The slime-person representative's gelatinous body shuddered violently."

"The stone-tribe representative's hard body also emitted a faint vibration."

"They had been enslaved for too long, to the point of forgetting what freedom felt like."

"Now, hearing this word from their new masters, they felt waves of unreality."

"This……is it really true?"

"It……won't be……a new scam, will it?"

"However, before they could recover from the immense shock, Lan Ge's voice continued."

"Article 2: All civilizations must unconditionally disarm and destroy all weapons of mass destruction."

"The Federal will dispatch inspection teams to station on your homeworlds for supervision; any attempt to conceal or retain armed forces will be regarded as an open provocation against the Federal."

"Article 3: The technological development of all civilizations will be under strict Federal supervision. Without Federal permission, it is strictly forbidden to conduct any research on space technology, advanced artificial intelligence, weapons of mass destruction,"

"and any technological research that could threaten Federal security. All scientific activities must be carried out under Federal supervision."

"If the first article is a heavenly blessing, then the second and third are icy shackles."

"The just‑arisen hint of hope was instantly doused with a bucket of cold water."

"Disarmament, technology restriction."

"Isn't this just pulling out all their fangs and claws, then putting on them an unbreakable collar?"

"What kind of freedom is this?"

"Many representatives showed expressions of disappointment and anger."

"But they dared to be angry, not to speak."

"Because they clearly knew they had no qualifications to bargain."

"Article 4: As the price for obtaining basic survival rights and Federal protection, all civilizations must provide a certain quota of labor,"

"participating in the Federal's various infrastructure construction and resource extraction work."

"The Federal will formulate detailed labor contribution indicators based on each civilization's population base and labor capacity."

"As remuneration, the Federal will provide to every individual participating in labor sufficient food, energy, and a safe living environment to sustain life."

"At the same time, for civilizations that perform outstandingly and make outstanding contributions in labor, the Federal will grant extra rewards."

"Including improved living conditions, provision of more advanced civilian technology, and even allowing them, under Federal supervision, to restore their own cultural traditions on a small scale."

"This article makes everything crystal clear."

"There is no free lunch under heaven."

"If you want to survive, if you want to live well, you must work."

"Exchange labor for everything."

"This sounds somewhat better than slavery."

"At least there is now a clear, visible path upward."

"But essentially, they remain the lower‑level laborers of this powerful civilization."

"Lan Ge finished reading all the clauses, one by one, clearly."

"Afterward he leaned back against the virtual chair, gazing at the thirty‑seven alien representatives with varied expressions, and calmly said:"

"These are the Federal's complete terms."

"In short: you are free, but not completely free."

"Your lives and personhood are respected, but everything about you still falls under our control."

"You need to work for us, but we will also pay you wages; those wages are your right to survive and a chance at a better future."

"Now I give you ten minutes for internal discussion."

"Ten minutes later, I need to receive your answer."

"Agree, or disagree."

"Having said that, Lan Ge closed his eyes and fell silent."

"His advisory team behind him remained still as statues."

"The whole conference hall now held only those alien representatives, staring at each other."

"The translator automatically activated the group discussion mode."

"Each civilization's representative could privately converse with their own compatriots or with representatives of other civilizations."

"This is nothing but old wine in a new bottle—slavery! We cannot accept it!"

"A representative who looked hot‑tempered and resembled a red rhinoceros let out an angry voice."

"Not accepting? Then what?"

"The slime‑person representative was full of pessimism."

"And then we were completely annihilated by this Human Federal, crushed like a bug? Didn't you see their fleet? Didn't you see how the Mo Yun Empire met its end?"

"But are we supposed to remain like this forever, serving them as cattle and horses?"

"At least we are still alive, and they said our personhood is free, unlike the Mo Yun Empire, which treated us as fodder and consumables; that's a huge difference!"

The praying mantis representative offered a relatively calm opinion.

"They also said that as long as we work hard, we have a chance to restore our culture; is that true?"

A representative whose body resembled a plant asked cautiously.

"Who knows? But this is our only hope now, isn't it?"

"Compared with living under the Mo Yun Empire's rule, in endless darkness and despair, this is at least a road where we can see light."

"Even though this road may be long and humble."

……

The discussion was unusually intense.

There were the resentful, the angry, the pessimistic, and those who saw a glimmer of hope.

But in the end, all the discussion pointed to an unavoidable reality.

That is, they have no choice.

Disagreeing means death.

Agreeing, at least, means they can live.

Moreover, they would live as a "person", not as a "beast of burden".

Ten minutes passed quickly.

Shuang Ge slowly opened his eyes and looked at them.

"Everyone, time's up."

"What is your decision?"

The conference room fell silent.

All the representatives hesitated; none wanted to be the first to speak.

At that moment, the mantis representative took a deep breath and shakily rose from his seat.

It was the first, and the only, representative daring to stand.

Everyone's gaze focused on the mantis representative.

Including Shuang Ge.

He watched the large mantis with keen interest, eager to hear what it would say.

Complex emotions filled the mantis representative's compound eyes.

First, it performed an ancient ritual of reverence toward Shuang Ge, a custom of its own species.