Chapter 303: Mask of Peace

Yanhuang Civilization, Command Center.

A top‑level diplomatic document jointly signed by the two great Empires floated in the center of the holographic projection.

"Peaceful Visit".

The entire Command Center fell silent for more than ten seconds.

Then came a roar of euphoria like a mountain‑shouting, sea‑sweeping wave!

"We won!"

Zhou Shaoqing slammed his fist onto the table, the massive force making the metal surface emit a muffled thud!

But he cared not, his face alight with uncontainable zeal and excitement.

"We won! They bowed their heads! They are coming to visit us!"

He looked around, his voice trembling slightly with excitement:

"This is a plea for peace! A disguised plea for peace! They can no longer fight, they are afraid to fight! Now they must acknowledge our existence!"

"This is the greatest victory of Yanhuang Civilization!"

Luo Lao and Zhang Yunfeng, the two elders, also showed an excited flush on their faces.

They exchanged glances, seeing mutual satisfaction and emotion in each other's eyes.

From Earth, secluded in a corner, to now receiving a joint visit from the two great galactic overlords.

The journey so far has been both exceedingly arduous and fantastical.

"Indeed, this is a historic moment."

Mao Xin Yang's voice rang out; although he could hardly hide his joy, years of caution gave him an instinctive hint of composure,

"However, the two Empires' attitude has shifted so quickly; we should still remain vigilant."

"Vigilant? Xin Yang, you are overthinking!"

Zhou Shaoqing waved his hand broadly,

"The whole Milky Way Galaxy knows they have ceased hostilities, their fleets are retreating; this is intelligence we have witnessed with our own eyes! How could this be false?"

"They now truly desire peace, because if they keep fighting, they will fall from the throne of a fourth‑level civilization!

At this moment, forging good relations with our emerging, limitless‑potential power is the choice that best serves their interests!"

"I agree with Shaoqing's view."

Luo Lao, who had been silent, finally spoke.

He stood up, his gaze sweeping over everyone present.

"Yanhuang Civilization cannot hide behind the scenes forever. Sooner or later we must step onto the stage, showing the whole Milky Way Galaxy our power and ideals."

"And now is the best opportunity."

Zhang Yunfeng also nodded in agreement:

"Accepting the visit is the best way to declare our status to the whole Milky Way Galaxy.

We can use this chance to truly spread the concept of the 'Interstellar Civilization Community', which is more effective than a hundred years of our own propaganda!"

Inside the Command Center, the overwhelming majority of people were infected by this optimistic mood.

Indeed.

Victory has arrived.

Now is the time to taste the fruit of victory.

However,

Amidst this jubilation, an untimely voice sounded.

"I oppose."

Everyone looked, and it turned out to be Qin Hao.

All eyes focused on him, bearing confusion, even a hint of displeasure.

Zhou Shaoqing's brows furrowed:

"Xiao Qin, what do you mean? This is a monumental good thing!"

"A good thing?"

A curve lifted Qin Hao's mouth.

"A conflict that lasted decades, with both sides suffering heavy losses, ended completely because of a single statement?"

"A madman like Ke Huang, the Starshine Legion severely battered by Bijialie, their hatred simply evaporates so easily?"

"Don't you think... this is absurd?"

Qin Hao's words made the others calm down..

"That is illogical."

"Hatred does not vanish into thin air; it is only replaced by greater hatred or greater interests."

Qin Hao's gaze sharpened.

"They cease hostilities not because they now love peace."

"But because they have found a common enemy more important and more lethal than each other."

He extended a finger, lightly pointing at the "Peaceful Visit" document.

"And that enemy is us."

A dead silence fell over the Command Center.

The ecstatic atmosphere that had just overflowed was instantly replaced by a chill.

After a long while, Luo Lao finally spoke slowly, his voice a bit hoarse: "Xiao Qin, this... is only your speculation, right? You have no direct evidence."

"No."

Qin Hao calmly admitted.

"But, logic is my biggest evidence. The rationality of Bi Jiale and the madness of Ke Huang could never allow them to make such a 'benevolent' decision. Behind this, there must be a huge conspiracy."

"This is absolutely not a peaceful visit."

"This is a... decapitation operation carried out under the guise of a 'visit'."

Zhou Shaoqing opened his mouth, wanting to rebut, but found he couldn't utter a word.

Qin Hao's analysis was very reasonable.

However...

Admitting this is too difficult.

This means that the "great victory" they just achieved is merely a self-deceptive joke.

"But... but, what if they are really sincere?"

A young staff officer couldn't help but whisper, "If we refuse, it would be tantamount to missing the best development opportunity, and might even provoke them..."

This sentence voiced the thoughts of most people.

Opportunity.

An opportunity that would let the Yanhuang Civilization officially become the third pole of the Milky Way Galaxy, a once-in-a-millennium chance!

The risk is great.

But the benefit is equally great, impossible to refuse.

Finally, after a lengthy and fierce debate.

A vote was taken.

Accept the peace visit request of the two great empires.

The votes in favor formed an overwhelming majority.

Qin Hao looked at the final result and said nothing more. He merely gave a deep glance at the screen, at the colleagues who sighed in relief as the resolution passed.

When fervor and huge interests lie before us, the voice of reason always seems utterly insignificant.

He respected the collective decision.

But.

He must prepare for the worst-case scenario.

After the meeting ended, Qin Hao immediately returned to his office.

He hesitated not at all, and directly, using his highest authority, issued a series of encrypted orders to all military units of the Yanhuang Civilization.

"Order: The First, Third, and Seventh Mixed Fleets, under the pretext of 'routine rotation and combat readiness maintenance,' shall immediately deviate from their set course, enter the preset 'Ghost Channel,' and stand by covertly."

"Order: All 'Heavenly Sword'-class warships, detach conventional weapon loads, immediately switch to Level-1 Combat Readiness. Until my direct order, maintain absolute silence."

"Order: All border military bases, starports, and defense arrays, activate 'Dormant Mode,' shift power systems underground, outwardly show maintenance status, internally enter the highest combat readiness level."

Order after order spread silently to every corner of the Yanhuang Civilization.

What he did was prepare a coffin for the entire civilization.

Or, to prepare for the enemy.

Several years, in the grand scale of the Milky Way Galaxy, are merely a snap of the fingers.

This day finally arrived.

At the border of the two great empires' territories lies the dark star region named "Harmony."

A united fleet of unprecedented scale completed its final assembly.

Over two billion warships, a dense forest of steel, obscured every inch of starlight.

On the icy hulls were etched the star emblem of the Biteen Empire and the scarlet throne of the Ke Luo Empire.

This invincible force, named the "Holy Purification Fleet," had its engines ignite simultaneously under the gaze of the two emperors.

Energy sufficient to rend spacetime converged into a torrent.

The next second.