Chapter 1223: You May Refuse to Surrender

Feng Qi Xing Alliance Capital Star, Supreme Council building.

Three days have passed.

Ever since the surrender resolution was passed, the entire city has fallen into an eerie calm.

There are few pedestrians on the streets, most shops are closed, and only military patrol vehicles roar past from time to time, reminding people that the war has not truly ended.

The provisional council designated a specialized liaison group responsible for surrender negotiations with the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance.

The person in charge of the liaison group is named Verius Kuhn.

He is the last foreign ambassador of the Feng Qi Xing Alliance.

When the war broke out, he was performing a Task at a neutral space station in a border system; after learning of the upheaval on the Capital Star, he returned of his own volition, hoping to do something for his civilization at the final moment.

Kuhn is wearing his well-preserved diplomatic attire, sitting in a temporarily arranged office, with an encrypted Communication Device in front of him.

"Mr. Kuhn."

Kuhn's assistant walks in cautiously.

"A message has arrived from the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance. They have designated a negotiator."

Kuhn looks up.

"Who?"

"Luojia."

The assistant's voice is somewhat nervous.

"The Primarch of the Word Bearers Legion. According to intelligence, he is one of the sons of the supreme ruler of the Xiuluo Holy Star, holds an extremely high status, and is responsible for propaganda and Faith affairs... but it is said that he is more loyal to that Emperor than anyone else."

Kuhn's three eyes narrow slightly.

A Primarch.

Those monster-like existences. He has heard their names.

Guilliman, Horus, Jaghatai, Sanguinius... each one is an undefeated legend on the battlefield, and each one is the protagonist in the nightmares of Feng Qi soldiers.

And now, he has to negotiate with one of them.

"When?"

"Now. Their communication request is already online, waiting for you to connect."

Kuhn stands up and straightens his collar.

"Open it."

A holographic projection lights up in the center of the room.

A figure gradually coalesces.

He is wearing simple ceremonial robes and holding a red-covered book in his hand.

Luojia.

Kuhn's Third Eye instinctively wants to analyze the other party, but he quickly gives up.

This existence is beyond his range of understanding; any analysis is futile.

"Verius Kuhn."

Luojia speaks first.

"A Diplomat of the Feng Qi Xing Alliance. I have read your file; your performance at the neutral space station proves that you are a rational person."

Kuhn bows slightly.

"Lord Luojia, thank you for the audience. On behalf of the Supreme Council of the Feng Qi Xing Alliance, I express our sincere intention to surrender to the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance."

Luojia nods.

"Your intention has been received. The Emperor has personally inquired about this matter."

Kuhn's heart skips a beat.

The Emperor personally inquired? That means...

"Now,"

Luojia continues, his voice still gentle.

"Let me tell you the conditions for surrender."

He raises his hand, and a holographic document unfolds between the two.

Ke'en reads through it quickly.

Article One: All military forces must immediately cease resistance and hand over control of all weapon systems. This is consistent with the information previously speculated by the council.

Article Two: All high-ranking military officers and government officials must undergo vetting.

Article Three: All affairs of the Feng Qi Xing Alliance shall be managed uniformly by the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance.

But after the fourth article, there are the fifth, sixth, seventh...

Ke'en's pupils gradually contract.

Article Five: All military-industrial enterprises of the Feng Qi Xing Alliance shall have supervisors dispatched by the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance to ensure no further development of any threatening weapons.

Article Six: All scientific research institutions of the Feng Qi Xing Alliance must submit complete research archives, especially projects involving psionics, parallel worlds, and anomalous energy, to undergo vetting by the Xiuluosheng Academy of Sciences.

Article Seven: All Starports and transportation hubs of the Feng Qi Xing Alliance shall have management personnel dispatched by the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance to ensure the smooth flow of military mobilization and information transmission.

Article Eight: The Feng Qi Xing Alliance shall pay an annual protection fee to the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance, amounting to thirty percent of its annual fiscal revenue, used to compensate for war losses and maintain collective security.

Article Nine: All citizens of the Feng Qi Xing Alliance must re-register their identity information and undergo biometric data entry by the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance as official proof of their status as second-class residents.

Article Ten: The Supreme Council of the Feng Qi Xing Alliance retains legislative power, but all laws must be reviewed by commissioners dispatched by the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance to ensure there is no conflict with the Xiuluo Basic Law.

Article Eleven:...

Kuhn does not read any further.

He looks up, his three eyes staring at Luojia.

"Lord Luojia,"

He tried his best to keep his voice calm.

"These conditions... are... much harsher than we anticipated."

Luojia's expression did not change at all.

"Harsh? Kun, what do you consider not harsh?"

Kun took a deep breath.

"We originally thought that surrendering meant ending the war, meant accepting the reality of our defeat, meant becoming a protectorate of your side... but Article Twelve requires us to hand over all historical archives, Article Thirteen requires us to modify our education system, and Article Fourteen requires us to prohibit public discussion of the Mirror Rift... these have already exceeded the scope of a military surrender and touch upon our culture, our memories, our..."

"Your existence."

Luojia finished the sentence for him.

Kun fell into Silence.

Luojia looked at him and said in a gentle voice.

"Kun, let me ask you a question."

"Please speak."

"Why did you surrender?"

Kun was stunned for a moment.

"Because... because we could no longer continue to resist. Because continuing to fight would only bring more senseless casualties. Because..."

"Because you had no other choice."

Luojia interrupted him.

Kun fell into Silence.

Yes, they had no other choice.

"Since there is no other choice,"

Luojia continued.

"Then does it matter what the conditions are?"

Kun's Third Eye narrowed slightly.

"Lord Luojia, do you mean that we can only accept unconditionally?"

Luojia smiled.

It was a gentle smile, like a priest smiling at a lost lamb.

"No, Kun. You have a choice."

He leaned forward, and although it was only a holographic projection, the movement still made Ke'en feel oppressed.

"You can refuse to surrender. You can continue to fight. You can fight this war down to the last ship, the last soldier, the last civilian.

And then, when our fleet arrives at the Capital Star, we will raze this city to the ground with orbital bombardment."

Luojia's voice remained gentle, but the words he spoke made Kun's hair stand on end.

"This is your choice. Accept these conditions and live. Or refuse, and perish."

Kun's fingers trembled slightly.

"Lord Luojia, don't you think... this is too heavy-handed?"

"Heavy-handed?"

Luojia repeated the word, thoughtful.

"Alien Kun, do you know what true heavy-handedness is?"