Chapter 1053: Selective Consent

"Perhaps... this is exactly the result they want."

General Hanren spoke suddenly, looking toward Ailamande.

"Your Majesty, Grand Duke Moge is right; we cannot take the initiative to attack the diplomatic mission, that would be equivalent to suicide. But Count Kainuo's concerns are not without reason; sitting and waiting for death is also a dead end."

"We... need to find a balance, a strategy that can temporarily satisfy some of their demands to avoid immediate war, while also preserving our core secrets and strength."

Ailamande was silent for a long time, and the other nobles were all waiting for Ailamande's final decision.

"We... agree to their demands."

After a long while, Ailamande finally spoke.

"What? Your Majesty!"

Count Kainuo exclaimed in shock.

"Your Majesty, please reconsider!"

The other nobles also spoke up one after another to dissuade him.

Ailamande raised his hand, stopping the commotion of the crowd.

"Not agreeing to everything, but... agreeing selectively and with control."

Ailamande stood up and looked at General Hanren and Grand Duke Moge.

"First, regarding the inspection. Hanren, you go and arrange it immediately; hide all our true core facilities, especially the Shipyard, Weapon Testing Ground, and High-level Crystal Core Cultivation Area deep in the polar regions, using the strongest Spiritual Energy Locking Mechanisms and physical partition layers."

"Open up the 'exhibition areas' we have prepared—those old mines, basic Energy Nodes, and unimportant Scientific Research Outposts—to them. Let them inspect, but control their routes and limit their detection depth. Moge, you are responsible for coordination; send 'reliable' people to 'accompany' them the whole time. You must appear cooperative while ensuring they do not see anything they shouldn't."

General Hanren nodded heavily.

"Understood, Your Majesty. I will set up the 'stage' so they only see the 'poverty' and 'backwardness' we want them to see."

Grand Duke Moge also nodded.

"This old subject will select the most clever clansmen to be responsible for guiding and explaining."

"Secondly, regarding the questioning."

Ailamande's gaze swept over every noble present.

"I and all of you will be 'ready at any time' to accept questioning."

"But we can 'flexibly' control the specific time, location, and method."

"We can appear busy with government affairs and arrange some trivial meetings to delay time."

"Most importantly, no matter what they ask or how they provoke, you must remember to endure!"

"We are a 'weak' civilization 'longing for protection,' and we must have the corresponding posture and answers. Kainuo,"

Ailamande looked specifically at the impulsive Count.

"Especially you; if you cannot control your temper, then claim illness for the time being and do not appear before Li Fengmin!"

Count Kainuo opened his mouth, eventually wrapping his lips over his Liaya, and lowered his head in resentment.

"... Yes, Your Majesty."

"Finally, and most crucially, regarding handing over the Crystal Core Masters... we... agree."

Seeing the nobles below wanting to say something, Ailamande raised his hand to stop their actions and spoke.

"But not our true core masters. From the collateral branches, select three clansmen whose skills are passable but who know little about the core secret transmissions, and who... are willing to sacrifice for the clan."

"Tell them they are going for the future of Saikeshan, and the clansmen will forever remember their contributions."

"At the same time, prepare a 'processed' set of Crystal Core Cultivation Technology data. It can contain some real but non-core basic principles, while the rest should be plausible-sounding, even containing hidden errors and traps."

"Let them take it away to 'verify.' Want our technology? Fine, but whether they can get the real thing depends on their own ability."

This was undoubtedly the most rational choice under the current situation.

Trading space for time, and using partial, secondary sacrifices to preserve the most core interests and strength.

But everyone knew the humiliation and risks involved in this.

Ailamande looked around at the various nobles below and spoke.

"Everyone, I know this is difficult and humiliating. We were born in frost and grew up in the bitter cold; our blood flows with unyielding pride. But we must bury this pride beneath the ice for the sake of a better future."

"Remember our goal! Remember the plunder and oppression the Fengqi brought upon us; what the Xiuluo Saint is showing now is another form of Devour! We must never fall!"

"Today's humiliation will turn into the ice that tempers our will! Today's concession will be for a more violent eruption tomorrow! Let the Xiuluo Saint continue to immerse themselves in their 'superior civilization' sense of superiority; let them think we are just a group of cowardly ice-field natives who can be manipulated at will!"

"When they think victory is in their grasp, and when our accumulated strength is enough to tear the starry sky apart..."

The dark purple Crystal Core on Ailamande's forehead erupted with dazzling light, and a powerful spiritual energy pressure permeated the area.

"We will make the entire Ninth Star Sector, the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance, and all existences attempting to enslave us remember one truth..."

"The winter of Saikeshan will eventually cover the galaxy!"

All the nobles bowed in unison to respond.

"For the Winter Awakening! For the eternal winter of Saikeshan!"

Several days later, in the orbit of Yongshuang Star, the Xiuluo Diplomatic Escort Ship.

Li Fengmin stood before the observation window, gazing at the blue-white frozen planet below.

"The latest report summary from the supervision team, Diplomat Li."

An Adjutant stood behind Li Fengmin, reporting while holding a Data Pad.

"Read it."

"Yes. Regarding inspection: They opened four Energy Nodes, three Scientific Research Outposts, and two old mines on the surface according to the 'random' areas we designated. Our technicians conducted preliminary scans and sampling and found no abnormal energy reactions or hidden structures. However, the Dark Angels escorting Safo Sergeant reported that the detection depth was interfered with by an unknown spiritual energy field, unable to penetrate areas deeper than three kilometers underground, and all guides appeared 'too cooperative,' with fixed routes, suspected to be carefully designed."

"Regarding questioning: Frost King Ailamande postponed the formal questioning originally scheduled for yesterday on the grounds of 'handling urgent clan affairs.' Grand Duke Moge appeared in his stead, his wording was cautious when answering questions, repeatedly emphasizing the 'tragic history' and 'sincerity of submission' of the Saikeshan clan, while regarding technical details and military deployments, he brushed them off with 'the era is too distant, records are missing' or 'insufficient authority.' Count Kainuo claimed illness and did not appear. General Hanren appeared once, but his aura was oppressive, and he said almost nothing."

"Regarding Crystal Core Masters: Three Saikeshan clansmen were handed over to our Frigate yesterday. Preliminary testing shows stable vital signs, and the spiritual energy fluctuations in their bodies are of the same origin as the Condensed Essence Crystal Core, but the intensity is average. They claim to be 'senior cultivators,' but in inquiries involving core catalytic processes, their answers were contradictory, and they could not explain the principles of several key Energy Circuits."

"The technical data has been received; preliminary analysis shows that the content is mostly basic theory, the key parts are vague, and there are at least seventeen logical gaps, suspected to be artificially tampered with or missing."

After the Adjutant finished reporting, Li Fengmin slowly turned around, his gaze falling on the Data Pad in the Adjutant's hand.