Chapter 1135: In Your System, What Does That Count As?

The deputy was silent for a moment: "What about the others in the 'Oathkeeper' fleet..."

"Martyrs. All posthumously awarded the highest honors."

Kailanisi said, "But the part in the recording about the 'Council preparing to surrender'... must be defined as a 'battlefield misjudgment' and 'the influence of enemy propaganda'."

"Understood."

Supreme Council of Fengqi, Office of Speaker Ravenna.

Ravenna stood before the viewing window, looking at the brilliant galaxy outside the capital of the Core World.

Countless lights were reflected in her three eyes, but those rays could not dispel the shadows in her heart.

"Speaker, a report from the Intelligence Department."

Deputy Speaker Tomakesi walked into the office, his expression grave.

"Olaf's recording has spread to at least four hundred planets. Although we have initiated the highest level of control, completely eliminating it... will take time."

"Public reaction?"

"Complex."

Tomakesi pulled up the public opinion data.

"58% support Olaf's 'heroic sacrifice', 22% believe his actions were 'reckless suicide', and the rest have an unclear attitude.

But there is a dangerous trend: among the refugees in the Southern Star Sector, the support rate is as high as 79%. And... voices of dissatisfaction with the Council have begun to appear."

Ravenna turned around.

"Specifically?"

"Some are questioning why a veteran like Olaf was 'forced into retirement', some are demanding the release of the full content of the negotiations, and others are asking... why the Southern Theater collapsed so quickly."

Tomakesi paused.

"There are even some fringe councilors beginning to connect privately, demanding the establishment of a 'War Responsibility Investigation Committee'."

The precursor to a political storm.

"Proposed solution?"

"According to the Intelligence Department's recommendation: shape Olaf into a tragic hero, and direct the responsibility toward the cunning of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance and the dereliction of duty by the Heavenly Flow Group. At the same time..."

Tomakesi lowered his voice.

"We need a victory. A clean, indisputable victory.

Only good news from the battlefield can divert public attention and restore confidence in the Council."

Ravenna nodded.

"When can Valken's southern counterattack plan be implemented?"

"The fleet is 78% assembled.

But we can launch some localized offensives first to capture a few key nodes and create an 'atmosphere of victory'."

"Do it."

Ravenna said.

"But remember: you must win, you cannot lose.

One more failure... and the Council may not be able to control the situation."

Tomakesi saluted and left.

The office fell back into silence.

Ravenna walked to the desk and pulled up the final message from the Carlyle Mission.

It was an encrypted report sent back six hours before the negotiations broke down, detailing the negotiation strategy of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance and the personal characteristics of Guilliman.

"Rational, process-oriented, rule-abiding... but will demonstrate ruthless decisiveness when necessary."

This sentence in the report was highlighted.

Ravenna read it repeatedly, her Third Eye throbbing with pain.

Rational people are the most dangerous, because the cruel things they do are all calculated.

Ravenna recalled another sentence from Olaf's recording.

"Some flames, even if the body turns to Ashes, the spirit will continue to burn."

The flame had already been lit.

The question now is: toward whom will this flame burn?

Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance fleet, detention area of the "Xiuluosheng Glory".

Kalaier sat in a narrow cell, the only light source being a dim blue lamp on the ceiling.

His right arm had been crudely bandaged, a fracture caused by the impact when the escape pod detached.

The cell door slid open.

Two Ultramarines walked in.

"Get up, Alien."

One Ultramarine said.

"Our Primarch wishes to see you."

Kalaier stood up slowly.

It had been three days; since being transferred from the escape pod to this Star Alliance detention ship, this was the first time Kalaier had been allowed to leave the cell.

Kalaier did not know where the other members of the mission were, nor did he know if Tal, Liana, or Weilan were dead or alive.

Kalaier was escorted through a long corridor.

Finally, he arrived before a set of double doors.

Carved on the lintel were the Star Alliance eagle emblem and the symbol of the Ultramarines.

The door slid open silently.

Inside was a spacious Meeting Room, or rather... an Inquisition.

The room was circular, with a sunken speaking area in the center surrounded by a ring of rising seats, but those seats were currently empty.

Only on the high platform at the end of the room sat a massive chair.

Roboute Guilliman sat there.

The Primarch wore a deep blue Archon ceremonial robe, with a gold-trimmed cloak draped over his shoulders.

Guilliman held a Data Pad in his hand, reading it with his head lowered.

When Kalaier was brought in, Guilliman did not even look up.

"Father, the prisoner has been brought."

The Ultramarines reported.

Guilliman waved his hand.

The Ultramarines saluted and retreated to the door, but did not leave.

Silence lasted for one minute.

Kalaier stood in the speaking area in the center of the room; the position was cleverly designed so that anyone standing there had to look up at the judge on the high platform.

Finally, Guilliman put down the Data Pad and raised his head.

"Kalaier."

Guilliman's voice echoed in the empty room.

"Councilor of the Supreme Council of the Feng Qi Xing Alliance, advisor to the Diplomatic Committee, head of the plenipotentiary negotiation delegation. Do these titles still have any meaning now?"

Kalaier took a deep breath.

"As titles for a Diplomat, they became invalid the moment your side detained the delegation. But as the status of a Fengqi citizen, it will never change."

The corners of Guilliman's mouth lifted slightly.

"Citizen. An interesting word. In the context of the Star Alliance, 'citizen' specifically refers to Human. Non-Human races... have different classifications. 'Subject races', 'protected species', 'civilization partners'... but never 'citizen'."

"So this is the truth of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance? Human supremacy?"

"Human is the cornerstone of the Star Alliance."

Guilliman admitted candidly.

"But that does not mean excluding other races. As long as they accept the dominant position of Human and are willing to integrate into the order of the Star Alliance, many races have found their place."

Kalaier said mockingly.

"As second-class members."

"As components of the system."

Guilliman corrected.

"The system has a hierarchy, which is natural. Just as the body has a brain and limbs, each with its own function and duty."

Kalaier felt a wave of nausea.

This rhetoric was too familiar.

"Then what position does the Feng Qi Xing Alliance hold in your system? The limbs? Or... a tumor that needs to be excised?"