Chapter 1258: Thank You for Your Trust

The third day after the assassination incident occurred.

Valdos Star diplomatic reception station, Xiqu Huiyishi.

Salmox sat in the main seat, his eyes bloodshot.

He had not closed his eyes for two full days, spending every minute and every second in torment.

The Adjutant pushed the door open and entered, his face even paler than yesterday.

"Sir, Corax... has finally agreed to see us."

Salmox lifted his head abruptly.

"When?"

"Now. He had Haliwusi pass the word that he is willing to talk."

Salmox stood up and straightened his wrinkled diplomatic uniform.

"Call everyone. Military, economic, intelligence, all of them come with me."

The Adjutant was stunned for a moment.

"All of them? Sir, isn't that too..."

"Too what? Too grand? Too humble?"

Salmox gave a bitter smile.

"Now is not the time to worry about that. That Corax is willing to talk is already a stroke of luck. We must let him see that the Ash Star Alliance is serious."

Five minutes later, the delegation of the Ash Star Alliance gathered at the entrance of the East District Xiuxiqu.

The door opened.

Haliwusi stood at the entrance, his expression calm, revealing no emotion.

"Lord Salmox, please enter. The others, wait outside."

Salmox nodded and walked into the room alone.

In the main hall of the East District Xiuxiqu, Corax sat on the sofa in the main seat, his posture relaxed.

He was not wearing Power Armor, only a set of black casual clothes, but the sense of oppression remained undiminished.

Five Raven Guard warriors stood scattered throughout the room.

Salmox could feel their hostility.

Their brother had died, and the murderer remained at large.

"Lord Corax."

Salmox bowed slightly.

"Thank you for agreeing to see me."

Corax looked at him.

"Lord Salmox, please sit."

Salmox sat on the opposite sofa, his body held straight.

Corax picked up a teacup and took a light sip.

"The tea is good. The service of you Ash People has always been very attentive."

Salmox's throat moved.

He knew what Corax was implying; attentive service, so attentive that an assassin could blend in.

"Lord Corax, regarding the assassination incident that day, I once again express my deepest apologies to you and your warriors."

Corax set down the teacup and looked at him.

"Apologies? Lord Salmox, do you think that is what I need?"

Salmox took a deep breath.

"Lord Corax, I know apologies are far from enough. But we are truly doing our utmost to track down the murderer. Our Intelligence Department is working day and night, our search teams have scoured the entire reception station, and we have even utilized all our secret lines at the border. But that assassin... he just vanished into thin air."

The corners of Corax's mouth lifted slightly.

"Vanished into thin air? Lord Salmox, are you telling me that an assassin, on your turf, under the noses of your security systems, under the gaze of dozens of soldiers, shot at me and then vanished into thin air?"

Salmox's back was already soaked with cold sweat.

"Lord Corax, I know this sounds like an excuse. But I swear, the Ash Star Alliance absolutely did not plan this assassination. We have no reason to do so. If you die here, we will only bring upon ourselves total destruction. We are not that stupid."

Corax looked at him, the light in his eyes flickering.

"Not that stupid? Lord Salmox, do you know why the Fengqi Star Alliance was destroyed?"

Salmox's throat moved.

"Because... because they were stupid."

Corax nodded.

"Yes. Stupid beyond redemption."

He stood up, walked to in front of Salmox, and looked down at him.

"Lord Salmox, you say you are not stupid. Then I ask you, how did an assassin manage to blend in with your service staff?"

Salmox opened his mouth, but could not make a sound.

Corax continued.

"Your recruitment system, your background checks, your daily management, your security protocols—with so many links, one link failed, and the assassin got in. You tell me, is this not called stupid?"

Salmox lowered his head.

"Lord Corax, we indeed had negligence..."

"Negligence?"

Corax interrupted him.

"My warrior is dead. Dead on your territory. Dead under your 'negligence.' You're telling me about negligence now?"

Salmox's hands were trembling slightly.

"Lord Corax, I know... I know no explanation can make up for this loss. But please believe that we are truly willing to bear all responsibility and provide all compensation."

Corax turned around and walked back to his seat.

"Compensation? How will you compensate?"

Salmox was in Silence for a few seconds, then raised his head.

"Lord Corax, whatever conditions you have, just name them. As long as the Ash Star Alliance can do it, we will certainly do it."

"Your Excellency Salmox, are you asking me to name a price?"

Salmox gritted his teeth.

"Yes. As long as it can make you believe in our sincerity, and as long as it can allow this negotiation to continue, any condition can be discussed."

Corax was in Silence for a few seconds.

Finally, Corax spoke.

"Your Excellency Salmox, that dead warrior, he had children, he had family, he was even my most prized warrior. You actually want me to name a price for a warrior? You are insulting me!"

Salmox was stunned for a moment.

"No, that is not what I meant."

Seeing that the timing was about right, Corax continued.

"Actually, I don't believe you would assassinate me either."

"You... you don't believe it?"

Corax shook his head.

"If you really wanted to kill me, you wouldn't use that kind of micro Energy Gun. That sort of thing can't even penetrate my Power Armor."

Salmox's eyes widened slightly.

"Then why did you..."

"Because my warrior is dead. He died on your territory. That fact cannot be changed. You cannot shirk responsibility for this matter."

Salmox fell into Silence.

Corax continued.

"Moreover, the fact that the assassin could sneak in shows that your security system has loopholes."

"Lord Corax, thank you for your trust. I guarantee you that we will thoroughly investigate this incident and plug all loopholes. At the same time, we will do our utmost to cooperate with you in tracking down the real culprit."

Corax nodded.

"That is good."