Chapter 1050: Committing an Unforgivable Sin

Li Fengmin's words made Count Kainuo almost unable to refrain from speaking out in rebuttal, but he was firmly held back by a look from Grand Duke Moge beside him.

Ailamande maintained his composure.

"... I understand the envoy's meaning. This matter is of great importance; allow me to consult with my ministers later..."

"Second,"

Li Fengmin interrupted again, giving Ailamande no chance to speak at all.

"Regarding the Condensed Essence Crystal Core. The production volume we have seen is far from reflecting its true value, nor can it match the costs required for the 'protection' the Star Alliance might provide you.

I need to know the locations and reserves of all your crystal core veins, as well as the complete cultivation technical data. The Star Alliance needs to evaluate its true value."

The light of the crystal core on Ailamande's forehead flickered noticeably.

"Your Excellency the Envoy! The Condensed Essence Crystal Core is the foundation of our race's survival, and its cultivation technology is a secret passed down by our ancestors! This..."

"Foundation of survival?"

Li Fengmin sneered.

"If you cannot even preserve your civilization, how can you speak of a foundation of survival? Or is it that your so-called 'submission' is merely lip service, and you have no intention of paying any substantive price? The Star Alliance's protection is not free."

Ailamande felt an unprecedented humiliation, his fists clenching quietly within the sleeves of his wide royal robe, but he had to endure it.

"... The technical data involves ancient heritage and requires time to organize... The distribution of the veins also requires detailed exploration..."

"We do not have much time to wait, Ailamande. The Star Alliance fleet will not remain at the border forever.

My evaluation report will directly determine the Star Alliance's attitude toward you. Whether it is sincere acceptance, or... other methods of handling."

Although Li Fengmin did not explicitly state what "other methods of handling" were, the threatening implication was already very clear.

Sergeant Safo and his squad members' Power Armor servo systems emitted a faint hum.

Pressure weighed on the heart of every Saikeshan noble.

Their originally planned strategy of feigning weakness to elicit sympathy seemed very powerless in the face of Li Fengmin's relentless, and even humiliating, assertiveness.

Ailamande looked at the Human Diplomat below, whose stature was far less imposing than his own yet who exuded an astonishing aura, and then glanced at those few Dark Angels.

At this moment, any intense rebuttal or refusal could lead to the plan being exposed and all previous efforts being wasted.

He had to endure.

Finally, the Frost King Ailamande leaned back on his throne and squeezed out these words.

"Your Excellency... what you say... is very reasonable.

I... the Saikeshan race... are indeed sincerely submitting. The conditions of the Star Alliance... we... will do our best to meet. The technical data... the vein information... allow us... to prepare as soon as possible and present them to you, Excellency."

Ailamande uttered a nearly humiliating promise. The nobles on both sides lowered their heads one after another, not daring to let the anger in their eyes be seen by the other party.

Li Fengmin looked at the Frost King on the throne who had been forced to bow his head, his face devoid of any expression as he nodded faintly.

"Very good. I hope your 'as soon as possible' will not make us wait too long."

Li Fengmin paused and added one last sentence.

"Remember, Frost King. The Star Alliance gives opportunities, but it never gives a second one. Conduct yourself accordingly."

Having said this, he did not look again at Ailamande on the throne or the nobles on either side who dared to be angry but dared not speak, turned directly, signaled to Sergeant Safo, and left the Linding Zheng Dian with the members of the diplomatic mission.

Not until the figures of the Xiuluo Saint diplomatic mission had completely disappeared outside the hall did the Frost King Ailamande slam his fist onto the armrest of the throne!

"Yo... Your Majesty, please calm your anger!"

Aisi Wense hurriedly stepped forward, his voice trembling.

"Calm my anger?!"

Count Kainuo could not help but roar out.

"Your Majesty! Are we just going to let these arrogant fools humiliate us like this?!"

Ailamande raised his head, flames burning in his eyes.

"Endure! We must endure!

For the 'Linding Awakening'! For the future of the Saikeshan! Today's humiliation, another day... will be repaid a hundredfold!"

"Accelerate the progress of the plan! I want to make them pay an eternal price for today's arrogance before the Xiuluo Saint realizes it!"

"Thunderhawk" Gunship Cabin

The cabin door slowly closed behind Li Fengmin, Sergeant Safo, and the others.

Without a moment's rest, Li Fengmin walked directly toward the encrypted Communication Room at the front of the gunship; Sergeant Safo signaled his squad members to remain on alert in the cabin while he followed closely behind Li Fengmin.

The communication equipment was quickly activated, connecting to Horus and the Lion on the Capital Ship "Loyal Soul" far at the edge of the star sector.

The holographic image stabilized, and the figures of Horus and the Lion appeared in the center of the Communication Room.

"My two Lords."

After standing at attention and saluting, Li Fengmin went straight to the point.

"We have completed the initial contact and pressure on the Saikeshan Royal Court as planned. The situation... is somewhat subtle."

Li Fengmin recounted the entire process of meeting the Frost King Ailamande, including how the other party maintained etiquette, his own step-by-step pressing of harsh conditions, and the other party's final reaction of being forced to endure and compromise.

"... Ultimately, the Frost King Ailamande chose to endure even while clearly feeling humiliated and oppressed, verbally promising to do his best to meet our requirements."

Li Fengmin summarized, his brows slightly furrowed.

"This level of forbearance is somewhat abnormal for a civilization that possesses an ancient heritage and calls itself a Royal Court. Either they are truly at their wit's end and urgently need to attach themselves to us; or... they are plotting something grand and are waiting for a certain opportunity."

Sergeant Safo added from the side.

"We observed the Alien nobles on both sides of the hall, especially a few young and hot-headed ones, who could barely suppress their rage.

The Alien King's own psionic fluctuations showed violent undulations when you requested the crystal core technology and vein information; he was trying his best to control it.

Based on a comprehensive judgment, the sincerity of their submission is highly suspect."

After hearing the report, Horus and the Lion exchanged a look; there was not much surprise in their eyes.

"Diplomat Li, Sergeant Safo, you have done well."

Horus spoke first.

"Your assessment corroborates our intelligence. The Saikashan race is indeed not as simple as they appear."

After a pause, Horus continued.

"At the same time you were heading to Yongshuang Star, our Intelligence Department's deep file retrieval yielded a new discovery."

"Approximately before the founding of the Star Alliance, Aliens suspected to be Saikashan committed unforgivable atrocities on the then-Asura Holy Star."

Lion took over the conversation.

"Through technical reconstruction and comparison, the residual energy signature has an eighty-seven percent match with the energy spectrum of the 'Condensed Essence Crystal Core' used by the Saikashan race."

This news made the gazes of Li Fengmin and Safo sharpen.