Chapter 1224: This Is Called Mercy

Luojia stood up and walked to the edge of the holographic projection.

"True toughness would have been to dispatch a fleet to annihilate all of you the moment you opened that rift.

True toughness would have been to declare an indiscriminate strike against the Fengqi Civilization the moment your Commander-in-Chief Valken spread forbidden knowledge to the entire Bode Star System and beyond.

True toughness would have been to wipe you completely from the star map the moment you looked at our world with your three eyes."

He turned around and looked at Kun.

"But we did not do that. The Emperor went to Shenyuan Star in person to close that rift. My brothers slowed their advance to give you a chance to surrender. I am sitting here, negotiating with you, giving you the right to choose."

"Is this called toughness, Alien Kun? This is called mercy."

Complex emotions flashed through Kun's three eyes.

Mercy?

These terms are called mercy?

But he knew that Luojia was telling the truth.

If they wanted to, they really could destroy the Feng Qi Xing Alliance.

No need for negotiations, no need for terms, just keep advancing, keep killing, until the last Fengqi fell.

And now, they were negotiating terms.

Giving choices.

"I... I need to consult with the Council."

Kun finally said.

"I need to submit these terms for discussion."

Luojia nodded.

"Of course. This is your right."

He looked at a timer nearby.

"But I must remind you, Alien Kun. Our fleet has not stopped advancing. According to the current progress, in about... thirty-six hours, my brother's fleet will be able to enter the orbit of the Capital Star."

He looked at Kun, a gentle smile still on the corners of his mouth.

"So, you had better be quick. Once the fleet is at the gates, surrender will have no meaning."

Kun's throat tightened, and he replied.

"I understand. I will be as quick as possible."

"Very good."

Luojia nodded.

"I await your reply."

The holographic projection dissipated.

Kun stood in the room, staring at the light and shadow that had already vanished, remaining motionless for a long time.

An assistant walked over.

"Mr. Ke'en, those terms... are we really going to accept them?"

Kun did not answer.

He turned and walked toward the direction of the Parliament Building.

Feng Qi Xing Alliance, Supreme Council Meeting Hall.

The interim Speaker, General Geke, the acting director, and over a dozen surviving councilors sat around the oval conference table.

Kun stood before the holographic projection, reading the terms proposed by Luojia word for word.

When he reached the twentieth article, a young councilor finally could not hold back.

"This is too much!"

He slammed the table and stood up.

"They want us to completely abandon our sovereignty! They want us to become their vassals, never to rise again!"

A low murmur of discussion erupted in the meeting hall.

General Geke sat in Silence, his three eyes fixed on the tabletop, wondering what he was thinking.

The acting director recorded rapidly on a Data Pad, but his fingers trembled slightly.

The interim Speaker raised a hand to signal for quiet, and spoke.

"Mr. Kun, in your conversation with Luojia, was there any... room for maneuver? Any space for negotiation?"

Kun shook his head.

"None. His attitude is very clear: either accept, or continue the war."

"But these terms..."

The young councilor still wanted to say something.

"Enough."

Geke suddenly spoke.

Everyone looked at him.

The old general stood up and walked to the center of the meeting hall.

"Do you know what will happen in thirty-six hours?"

No one answered.

"Guilliman's fleet will arrive at the Capital Star. Horus's fleet will flank from another direction. Their orbital bombardment can wipe this planet from the star map. Their Space Marines will search for every survivor in the ruins, and then... dispose of them."

He looked at everyone present.

"I have fought on the front lines for forty years. I have seen true destruction. I have seen what a whole planet looks like when it is razed to the ground. I have seen those planets under orbital bombardment."

He walked back to his seat, but did not sit down.

"So, stop talking about 'excessive,' 'harsh,' or 'lack of sovereignty.' We are still alive, that is sovereignty. Our civilization can still continue, that is victory. As for the conditions..."

"Those stationed supervisors cannot be diligent and conscientious forever, those reviewed laws will become our own laws, and those recorded identity details will become the historical records of our descendants. As long as we are alive, there is hope."

The interim Speaker let out a long sigh.

"General Geke is right."

He said.

"We are not making choices for the present, we are making choices for the future."

He looked at Kun.

"Mr. Kun, tell Luojia that we... accept these conditions."

Kun nodded and turned to prepare to leave.

"Wait."

The acting director of the Intelligence Bureau suddenly spoke up.

Kun stopped.

The acting director's three eyes stared at him.

"When you were conversing with Luojia, did you... sense anything? About him as a person, about their civilization, about the... essence of this war?"

Kun was in Silence for a few seconds.

Then he said.

"When he spoke, he was smiling the whole time."

"Smiling?"

"Yes. Not a mocking smile, not a smug smile, it was... a calm smile. Just like stating a fact, just like telling a lost person the correct direction."

He paused.

"That kind of smile is more terrifying than any anger."

The acting director fell into Silence.

Kun turned and left.

Three hours later.

Kun returned to his office and reopened the Communication Device.

The holographic projection lit up again, and Luojia's figure appeared in the center of the room.

His posture was exactly the same as it was three hours ago.

"Kun. Does the council have a conclusion?"

Kun took a deep breath.

"Yes, Lord Luojia. We... accept the surrender conditions. All of them."

Luojia nodded, his expression still calm.

"A wise choice."

Ke'en looked at him, his three eyes filled with complex emotions.

"Lord Luojia, may I ask you a question?"

"Please."

"Do you... not think these conditions are too harsh? Do you not think that a civilization that has already surrendered should be granted more... respect?"

"Kun, civilizations are like rivers. Some rivers will dry up, some rivers will flow into the sea. The dried-up rivers disappear; the rivers that flow into the sea become a part of the sea."

"You can choose to dry up. You can also choose to flow into the sea. Flowing into the sea is your honor. Are the conditions harsh? Perhaps. But the sea does not care about the feelings of a river. The sea simply exists, and the river can choose to join it, or... disappear."