Chapter 1235: Talks Between the Ash Star Alliance and the Canaan Star Alliance

Yingzhou said with a smile.

"Ferrus made a robot for her. A little robot that can talk, walk, and play with her. Yingxin likes it very much and named it 'Xiaotie'."

Jaghatai raised an eyebrow.

"Ferrus? Making toys? He has a side like that?"

"So that robot..."

Yingzhou paused.

"While 'playing with her,' it can also serve as a bodyguard. It is said to have seventeen built-in weapon systems and can tear an armored vehicle apart with its bare hands."

Jaghatai was silent for a second, then burst into a fit of laughter.

"Seventeen weapon systems! Is Ferrus making a toy for Yingxin or a bodyguard?"

"Both."

Yingzhou also laughed.

"He said Yingxin's safety is the most important thing. A toy can be played with, a bodyguard can protect her, and combining the two is best."

Jaghatai laughed until he had tears in his eyes.

"Ferrus is just Ferrus. He thinks of war and safety in everything he does."

He looked at Yingzhou, a hint of playfulness in his eyes.

"Father, what about you?"

Yingzhou was stunned for a moment, then smiled.

"Me? I'm not as good at coaxing children as you all are. I just accompany her for meals, go for walks with her, and occasionally tell her stories. She seems to like me quite a bit, too."

Jaghatai smiled.

"Father, you are too modest. The little one likes you the best. Luojia said that the little one often asks, 'When will Uncle be back?', 'Will Uncle come to have dinner with me today?', 'Uncle's stories are the best'."

A flash of warmth crossed Yingzhou's eyes.

"That child... is indeed very lovable."

He was silent for a few seconds, then said.

"When I go back this time, I should spend more time with her. I've been out fighting wars for so long that I haven't had time to see her."

Jaghatai nodded.

"Father, you really should get some rest. At least spend some time with the little princess and relax."

Jaghatai stood up and walked to the observation window, looking at the endless starry sky outside.

"Come to think of it, I haven't seen her in a long time either. I really want to go back soon, see how tall she's grown, see her new drawings, and hear the stories she tells."

Yingzhou looked at him, his eyes full of understanding.

"Soon. We will be back at Xiuluo Holy Star very soon."

Jaghatai nodded.

"Yes, soon."

He turned around and looked at Yingzhou.

"Father, after we go back, let's have a meal with her together. Call all the brothers who are on Xiuluo Holy Star, and let the whole family get together for a proper meal."

Yingzhou smiled.

"Good. A family, having a proper meal together."

The fleet continued to sail through the warp channel.

Yingzhou and Jaghatai talked a lot more.

But no matter what they talked about, the topic would always circle back to Yingxin.

"Last time Sanguinius sent me a message,"

Jaghatai said.

"He said Yingxin asked him why the uncles don't come back to keep her company. Sanguinius didn't know how to answer, so he had to say that the brothers were all fighting in a war and would come back when the war was over. Yingxin asked, then when will you be done fighting? Sanguinius said, soon. Yingxin said, you said soon last time too, but it's still not over."

Yingzhou laughed.

"That child is indeed smart."

"Smart is one thing, but she also misses us."

Jaghatai sighed.

"We brothers have indeed spent too little time with her."

Yingzhou was silent for a few seconds.

"There is no help for it. We have responsibilities, missions, and things we must protect. She will understand when she grows up."

Jaghatai nodded.

"I know. But sometimes I also think, if Uncle were still here, how good that would be. He would surely be a good father, accompanying Yingxin as she grows up, teaching her to read, teaching her to ride, and teaching her everything she should learn."

A flash of sadness crossed Yingzhou's eyes.

Big Brother. The one who should have watched his own daughter grow up.

"Big Brother..."

Yingzhou said in a low voice.

"He would indeed have been a good father."

Ash Star Alliance, Supreme Council Chamber.

This building is located in the core area of the Ash Star Alliance's Capital Star, "Fenmie," and is built entirely of volcanic rock.

The interior of the building is decorated with various flame-shaped sculptures and murals.

At this moment, sitting in the main seat of the Council Chamber is the Supreme Archon of the Ash Star Alliance, Xanos.

He possessed the typical features of the Ash People: dark red skin, orange-yellow light burning in his four eyes, and three pairs of curved horns on his head, symbolizing his status within the Ashes civilization.

"Canaan."

Xanos spoke, his voice low.

"You are finally willing to talk."

In the holographic projection opposite him was a figure vastly different from Xanos.

The Supreme Speaker of the Canaan Star Alliance, Weiliwusi.

He had the light gray skin common to the Canaanite, and his two eyes showed not the slightest change.

His attire was simple, without any decoration, save for a small badge pinned to his chest, which was the honorary emblem of the Academy of Sciences of Canaan.

"Xanos."

Weiliwusi nodded slightly.

"I have received your invitation. Although I do not believe that holding high-level talks at this time is a wise choice, since you insist, I am willing to hear your thoughts."

A mocking smile appeared at the corner of Xanos's mouth.

"Wise? Weiliwusi, you are always so cautious. So cautious that you dare not make a sound even when your neighbor is wiped out."

Viridius's brows furrowed slightly.

"Neighbor? You mean the Fengqi Star Alliance? Xanos, we and the Fengqi Star Alliance were never good neighbors. We once fought several wars together."

Xanos looked at Weiliwusi.

"Your neighbor was wiped out; do you have no thoughts on this?"

Weiliwusi's gaze remained calm.

"Xanos, do you know why the Fengqi Star Alliance was wiped out?"

"Because they were stupid. Because that Valken thought he could threaten the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance."

"No."

Weiliwusi shook his head.

"Because they did not know how stupid they were. Those completely annihilated star systems, the leaders there, each of them thought they had some 'special quality' that would make the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance wary. And the result?"

He paused.

"The result was that they were all wiped out. After being wiped out, those so-called 'special qualities' were of no use at all."

Xanos was in Silence for a few seconds.

"So what? Do you mean we should do nothing and wait for the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance to come for us?"

"I said nothing of the sort."

Viridius shook his head.

"I am merely stating facts. The Fengqi Star Alliance was wiped out not because the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance is too strong, but because they were too stupid.

We are not stupid, so we still have time."

"Time?"

Xanos sneered.

"Time for what? To study that so-called mirror rift? To wait for the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance to attack others first? Or to wait for death?"

Weiliwusi looked at him, a flicker of emotion flashing in his eyes.

"Xanos, I know what you want to say. You want to ask me how I view the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance. You want to ask me what Canaan will do if they take action against the Ashes. You want to ask me if we can stand together as we did before and fight against that common enemy."

Xanos nodded.

"That is correct. That is what I want to ask. We once attacked the Fengqi Star Alliance together."

Weiliwusi was in Silence for a few seconds.

"Xanos, have you ever thought about why the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance only attacked the Fengqi Star Alliance and not us?"

Xanos raised an eyebrow.

"Because they haven't had the chance to spare the hands yet?"

"No."

Weiliwusi shook his head.

"Because they have a choice. That idiot Valken of the Fengqi Star Alliance spread the mirror rift technology everywhere, trying to drag everyone down with him. And the result? The Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance only attacked him, not the factions that received the technology."

He leaned forward, his three eyes staring at Xanos.

"Do you know why? Because those factions that received the technology have done nothing to this day. They have no research, no experiments, and have not opened the rift. They simply locked those materials in a safe and pretended that nothing had happened."

Xanos's expression changed slightly.

"You mean..."

"I mean that the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance is watching."

Weiliwusi said.

"They are watching to see which factions will touch that taboo. Those who touch it will be the next Fengqi Star Alliance. Those who do not can continue to live."