Chapter 1285: A Knife Held to Our Throats

Haliwusi nodded.

"Your wisdom is profound, my lord."

Corax shook his head.

"It is not wisdom, but acting in accordance with the trend. The Ash People revealed their own flaws, and I merely seized upon them."

He turned and walked to the command table to sit down.

"Tell me about those Ash People. What is the reaction of the Archon of Wa'erduosi Star?"

Wa'erduosi City, Archon's residence.

This building is located in the center of the city and is one of the most luxurious structures on Wa'erduosi Star.

The outer walls are built from dark red volcanic rock, and the interior is decorated with various sculptures and murals in the shape of flames, symbolizing the Ash civilization's worship of destruction and rebirth.

At this moment, Archon Sewiusi is sitting in his office, his expression as gloomy as the sky before a storm.

His Adjutant stands to the side, not daring to even breathe loudly.

"That base, is it finished?"

Sewiusi spoke, his voice hoarse.

The Adjutant nodded.

"Yes, Archon. In the early hours of this morning, the final batch of equipment arrived. The Cadian Shock Troops 72nd Regiment has fully moved in."

Sewiusi's fists tightened.

"An Alien Race army, stationed on our planet. At our doorstep. Right under our noses."

The Adjutant said cautiously.

"Archon, this is a decision by the Central Council. Lord Salmox personally approved it..."

"I know!"

Sewiusi slammed his hand on the table.

"I know it is a decision by the Central Council! I know it was Salmox who signed it! But do you know why I agreed?"

The Adjutant shook his head.

Sewiusi stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the gray sky outside.

"Because I had no choice. Their people were assassinated on our territory, and the assassin has yet to be caught. That fellow Corax, he is polite on the surface, but every word he says is a knife. He said, 'I believe it wasn't you,' but turned around and demanded a garrison. He said, 'This is for the safety of both sides,' but everyone knows this is just putting a noose around our necks."

He turned and looked at the Adjutant.

"What can I do? Refuse? To refuse is to show a guilty conscience. To refuse is to tell Corax, 'Yes, the assassination was done by us.' To refuse is to give the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance an excuse for war."

He walked back to the table and sat down.

"So I agreed. I could only agree."

The Adjutant was silent for a few seconds.

"Archon, what do we do now?"

Sewiusi looked at him.

"What do we do? We do nothing."

The Adjutant was stunned for a moment.

"Do nothing?"

Sewiusi nodded.

"Correct. Do nothing. That base is built there; we will not provoke them, we will not challenge them, and we will not do anything that might cause a misunderstanding. If they want to garrison, let them garrison. If they want to patrol, let them patrol. As long as they do not interfere with our internal affairs, we will pretend not to see them."

He leaned back in his chair.

"All we can do is wait. Wait for the storm to pass, wait for the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance to turn their attention elsewhere, and wait for the Central Council to find an opportunity to get these garrison troops to leave."

The Adjutant asked cautiously.

"What if they don't leave?"

Sewiusi was silent for a long time.

Then he said.

"Then we endure."

His voice was very low, so low it was almost inaudible.

"Endure until we can endure no more."

On the streets of Wa'erduosi City, the atmosphere was more oppressive than usual.

The residents of this border city are mostly lower-to-middle-class citizens of the Ash Star Alliance, who make a living through mining and trade.

They are not well-informed about outside news, but they have seen the establishment of the base with their own eyes.

Those gray barracks, those towering turrets, those Human soldiers wearing Cadian standard military uniforms—they have never been this close to the Ash People before.

In a tavern in the east of the city, several Ash People miners were drinking.

Their skin was dark red, they had horns on their heads, and their four eyes were filled with exhaustion and dissatisfaction.

"Have you heard? That base in the north is already finished."

A burly miner said.

Another, thinner miner gulped down a large mouthful of alcohol.

"I heard. A Xiuluo army is right under our noses."

The burly miner gritted his teeth.

"Those people in the Central Council are all cowards. They let others put a knife to our necks and don't even dare to let out a fart."

The thin miner shook his head.

"And what if we did let out a fart? Fight? With what would we fight? Haven't you seen the fate of the Fengqi Star Alliance? How much stronger are we than the Fengqi?"

Silence fell in the tavern for a few seconds.

An old miner spoke up.

His horns had already turned white, and his three eyes were filled with turbidity.

"I have lived for four hundred years and have seen too many things. When I was young, I also thought that a hard fist was the truth. Later, I discovered that no matter how hard a fist is, there is always one harder."

He took a sip of wine.

"Those Humans are harder than us. Much harder. So, just endure it. Being alive is better than anything else."

The burly miner wanted to say something, but in the end, he said nothing and just drank the wine in his cup in one gulp.

The tavern owner wiped a cup and interjected.

"I heard that those garrison troops only stay in the base and do not come out. They don't enter the city, don't disturb the people, and don't do anything."

The thin miner sneered.

"They don't come out now, but what about later? They don't come out today, but what about tomorrow? Or the day after? As long as they are there, it is like a knife held to our throats. When to put the knife away is up to them, not us."

The tavern owner was silent for a few seconds.

"So what can be done? All we can do is live our own lives well. Mine when it's time to mine, and drink when it's time to drink. Let those big shots worry about their own affairs."

The burly miner downed his third cup of wine.

"Drink! Drinking is better than anything else!"

The tavern became lively again.

Wa'erduosi Star, Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance garrison base.

In the office on the third floor of the Command Center, Corax was reviewing the garrison report that had just been delivered.

"My lord."

Haliwusi walked in.

"The garrison plan for the 72nd Regiment has been completed and requires your review."

Corax took the Data Pad and browsed through it quickly.

The plan was very detailed. The base's daily patrol range, alert areas, communication mechanism with the Ash Star Alliance, emergency plans for unexpected incidents... every item was written clearly.

"Not bad."

Corax put down the Data Pad.

"Who is the Commander of the 72nd Regiment?"

Haliwusi said.

"Cadian Shock Troops 72nd Regiment Colonel, Aketesi Waluolian."

Corax nodded.

"Call him over."

A few minutes later, a burly Human officer with a cold and stern face walked into the office.

"Lord Corax."

Aketesi stood at attention and saluted, his voice loud and clear.

"Cadian Shock Troops 72nd Regiment Colonel Aketesi Waluolian, reporting to you."

Corax looked at him.

"Colonel Waluolian, I have read your garrison plan. It is written very well. But I have one question."

Aketesi stood straight.

"Please speak, my lord."

Corax leaned back in his chair.

"If the Ash People go back on their word and suddenly attack our base, what will you do?"

Aketesi did not hesitate at all.

"Counterattack."

Corax asked.

"How will you counterattack?"

A cold light flashed in Aketesi's eyes.

"The base's defensive fortifications can withstand a frontal assault from at least three regiments. If the enemy's force exceeds the defensive limit, I will organize the troops to break out and request reinforcements from the garrison on Kalidusi Star or Nuowa Star. If the breakout fails, I will hold the position and wait for reinforcements until the last man."

The corners of Corax's mouth lifted slightly.

"Good. Go. Remember, your Task is to hold this planet and monitor the military movements of the Ash Star Alliance. Do not provoke them, but do not show weakness either. If they want to make a move, let them know that the iron wall of Cadian is not so easy to ram."

Aketesi saluted again.

"Yes, my lord!"