Chapter 199: A Steamed Bun Sparks Gratitude

Then he used a trembling voice, carefully asking:

"Honorable Human Federal Envoy."

"I... I have a question I want to confirm."

"You just said, freedom of person... is that true?"

"We... are we really no longer slaves?"

"Can we really, like an equal intelligent life, communicate with you..."

This question voiced the hearts of all the representatives.

This is also their most concerned, most core issue.

Li Ge looked at it, and a gentle smile reappeared on his face.

He did not answer directly.

Instead, he whispered something to a staff member beside him.

Soon, that staff member walked over holding a tray.

On the tray lay a virtual steamed bun still emitting heat, and a cup of clear water.

In the bewildered gazes of all the alien representatives.

He personally brought the tray to the front of the Mantis person representative.

"I don't know if your species likes this flavor."

Li Ge smiled and said.

"This is the most ordinary kind of food for us humans. I hope you can try it first."

The Mantis person representative was stunned.

It looked at the food emitting a strange wheat aroma before it, then glanced at Li Ge's sincere smile, and its mind went completely blank.

Under the rule of the Mo Yun Empire, these enslaved races always ate that foul-smelling scraps that even dogs wouldn't eat.

That stuff could only keep them from starving to death.

And their slave masters, the Moyun Civilization, had never regarded them as equal lives.

Not to mention giving them food; even giving them an extra glance was filled with contempt and disgust.

But now, this human civilization envoy, powerful enough to destroy the Mo Yun Empire,

actually brought it a serving of food.

This food, perhaps ordinary.

but what it represents behind it— that thing called "respect"— is as weighty as Mount Tai!

The Mantis person representative's body trembled violently.

Its sharp forelimbs carefully lifted the bun that still retained warmth.

Then it opened its mouth and gently took a small bite.

A faint grain-like sweetness spread through its taste sensors.

This was a flavor it had never tasted since becoming a slave.

Although he knew this was all simulated sensation, it did not affect his excitement in the slightest.

"Plop" sound.

In the astonished gazes of everyone.

This Mantis person representative actually knelt down straight.

It buried its head deep into the ground.

A stream of murky liquid representing tears flowed from its compound eyes.

"I... the Mantis people civilization, thirteenth-generation survivor leader, Kasading... representing all my people..."

"Willing to accept all conditions of the Human Federal!"

"We are willing to devote all our strength to the Federal!"

"We only ask that all our people can eat such a clean bite of food!"

Its voice was full of excitement and choking emotion.

This scene deeply shocked all the other representatives present.

They understood.

They understood completely.

The Human Federal and the Mo Yun Empire are truly different!

They may be strong or overbearing, but they have a bottom line, they have respect!

They truly regard themselves as an equal intelligent life capable of communication!

That is enough!

For those civilizations that have struggled in darkness for hundreds, even thousands of years,

this little bit of respect, this little bit of light, is enough to make them willingly give everything!

"We... the Slime people, also willingly accept!"

"The Rock tribe, willingly accept!"

"We... we also willingly accept!"

……

For a moment, voices of declaration rose one after another in the conference room.

All the representatives vied to express their submission.

Their faces no longer showed the previous fear and numbness.

But it was a feeling of excitement and gratitude that came from the heart.

Li Ge silently watched all this, his heart also filled with myriad emotions.

He also never expected that a steamed bun could have such a great effect.

But he also understood clearly.

This is not just a matter of a steamed bun.

This is human civilization demonstrating its values to other civilizations.

We are strong, but we do not bully.

We conquer, but we do not enslave.

This might be the human "Dao".

After all the representatives had stated their positions.

Li Ge then slowly rose to his feet.

The smile on his face slowly faded, replaced by an expression of extreme solemnity, even carrying a hint of icy killing intent.

"Good."

"Since you have all made wise choices."

"So from today on, you are the Human Federal's first batch of 'Protected Civilizations'."

"I hope you will cherish this hard-won status."

His gaze was like a sharp sword, sweeping over each representative.

"The Federal will honor our promise, giving you respect and opportunity."

"But at the same time, I will say this only once."

"The Federal's mercy is for friends only; for enemies, we never stint on thunderous means."

"If any civilization, after receiving the Federal's protection, does anything harmful or detrimental to the Federal..."

"Then your fate will not be exile."

"But will be the same as the Mo Yun Empire."

"To be completely, thoroughly wiped out from this universe!"

"Believe me, we do what we say."

A wave of cold chill instantly enveloped the entire conference room.

The alien representatives who had just been immersed in excitement and gratitude instantly felt as if they had fallen into an ice cellar.

They looked at Li Ge's icy eyes, without doubting a word he said.

He combined grace and authority.

First give a sweet date, then strike hard with a stick.

This is the true way to rule over subordinates.

All the representatives lowered their heads even further.

In their hearts, toward this new master who is unpredictable yet immensely powerful, there grew a deeper... awe.

The meeting ended.

Thirty-seven civilization representatives, with indescribably complex feelings, returned to reality.

What they brought back was not only the Federal's terms.

But also the story of a steamed bun, and that final icy warning.

It can be foreseen that, for a long time to come, this vast star field, under the Human Federal's rules, will enter a completely new and orderly era.

And the Human Federal can finally free its hands to begin processing the expedition's greatest spoil—the Mo Yun Mother Star System.

God Dragon Chief Commander's Chamber.

Zhang Xianzhong stood before the massive holographic star map, full of vigor, issuing orders one after another.

"Order! First and Second Engineering Corps, immediately carry out full disassembly and remodeling of the mother brain planet!"

"This planet itself is a massive biomass energy source, cannot be wasted!"

"Extract all valuable biological tissue, have me pull it out, sort and ship it back to the rear scientific academy!"

"Turn the remaining wreckage directly into our forward base! I want to see, within three months here, a gigantic starport capable of docking five hundred thousand warships!"