Chapter 1446: What Changed Your Minds?

The holographic screen lit up, and the face of Guilliman appeared in the frame.

"Speaker Viridius, members of the Canaan Star Alliance, what is the matter?"

Speaker Viridius nodded and began to speak.

"Lord Guilliman, the Canaan Star Alliance formally applies to join the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance."

Guilliman's brows furrowed slightly.

"Join? You expressed interest before, but there was no follow-up later; we assumed you had changed your minds."

Speaker Viridius said.

"Lord Guilliman, we have not changed our minds, we simply needed time to discuss and provide an explanation to our people. Now, the discussion has reached a conclusion. The Canaan Star Alliance is willing to accept all conditions of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance. Secondary Citizen status, garrisoning... we accept all conditions."

The corners of Guilliman's mouth lifted slightly; it seemed the destruction of the Broken Bone Empire had made the Canaan Star Alliance feel the crisis as well.

"Speaker Viridius, what made you change your attitude?"

Seeing that Guilliman was asking despite knowing the answer, Speaker Viridius chose to speak the truth.

"The Broken Bone Empire has been destroyed, and the Capital Star of the Sargon Free Territory, the Zelar Commercial Alliance, and the Viridian United Kingdom have been erased; we do not wish to be the next."

Guilliman said with a smile.

"How could that be? You are not the next; the Broken Bone Empire was an enemy, you are not. You are willing to join, and the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance welcomes it, but the conditions are mandatory. It safeguards the interests of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance, and it also safeguards your safety."

Speaker Viridius said.

"We understand, we accept."

Guilliman said.

"Good, I will report this to the Emperor. There will be specialists to discuss the specific details; prepare yourselves, and organize all data on the Canaan Star Alliance's planets, population, resources, fleets, and so on. After joining, the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance will send people to take over."

Speaker Viridius nodded.

"Understood, we will cooperate fully in the preparations."

Guilliman said.

"One more thing, you should have received the news about the Broken Bone Empire as well. You should also be clear on the Emperor's attitude toward Aliens. The Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance is not a charity; after joining, you must abide by the laws of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance, otherwise, you will bear the consequences."

Speaker Viridius said.

"We know, we will not repeat the same mistakes."

Guilliman nodded.

"Good, then that is all."

The communication cut off, and the holographic screen went dark.

The council chamber fell into Silence once again.

Speaker Viridius leaned back in his chair and let out a long breath.

Morax looked at him.

"Speaker, what did Guilliman mean by that last sentence? Was 'bear the consequences' meant for us, or for everyone?"

Speaker Viridius said.

"For the Canaan Star Alliance, and for other factions still watching from the sidelines. The Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance does not need us; we need the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance. We have no qualifications to negotiate terms; we can only accept."

Tailesi said.

"Secondary Citizen—our people will no longer be citizens of the Canaan Star Alliance, but Secondary Citizens of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance. No right to vote, cannot hold public office, cannot serve as officers in the military."

Selephon said.

"As long as we are alive; the Orcs of the Broken Bone Empire found even survival to be a luxury. A Secondary Citizen is still a citizen, not livestock."

Speaker Viridius stood up.

"Notify all departments to prepare for the handover. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for organizing diplomatic records, the Ministry of Internal Affairs for population data, the Ministry of National Defense for fleet and military data, and the Ministry of Science and Technology for research materials."

All data must be complete and accurate. Do not hide anything, and do not attempt to deceive. The Intelligence Department of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance is more powerful than we imagine."

Everyone nodded.

Speaker Viridius closed his eyes, his thoughts in turmoil.

Soon, this place would no longer be the Capital Star of the Canaan Star Alliance, but an administrative center of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance.

The banner of the Emperor would be raised here, and the statue of a Primarch would stand here.

His people would become Secondary Citizens, and he would no longer be the Speaker; perhaps he would become an Administrator, perhaps he would be transferred away, or perhaps he would be left idle.

Seeing Viridius's state, Morax spoke up.

"Speaker, do you regret it? Do you regret not joining sooner?"

Speaker Viridius said.

"I regret it. We hesitated back then because the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance was not the only choice. Now, the independence of the Canaan Star Alliance ends today."

Morax was silent.

Speaker Viridius opened his eyes and looked at everyone.

"Go and prepare, the meeting is adjourned."

Everyone stood up and left one after another.

Xiuluo Holy Star, Yingzhou's study.

Yingzhou sat before the desk with several documents spread out in front of him.

The application for the Canaan Star Alliance to join had already been sent over by Guilliman.

He read through it once and set it aside.

The door was knocked on gently.

"Come in."

Guilliman pushed the door open and walked in, sitting down in the chair opposite the desk.

"Father, have you looked over the application for membership from the Canaan Star Alliance?"

Yingzhou nodded.

"I have looked it over; Viridius says they are willing to accept all conditions."

Guilliman said.

"Yes, their attitude changed very quickly after the fall of the Broken Bone Empire. They dragged it out for so long before, but now they are in a rush to join. In the communication, Viridius said they needed time to discuss it and give their citizens an explanation."

The corners of Yingzhou's mouth curled up slightly.

"With the Broken Bone Empire gone, they panicked; otherwise, they wouldn't have been so straightforward. However, being able to resolve the issue this way certainly saves a lot of trouble."

Guilliman nodded.

"Father, how should we handle the Canaan Star Alliance's fleet and military?"

Yingzhou said.

"The entire fleet is to be incorporated into the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance's auxiliary fleet, and the soldiers are all to be disbanded. From now on, the territory of the Canaan Star Alliance will be defended by the Astra Militarum of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance."

Guilliman recorded this.

"Understood. Father, regarding the citizens of the Canaan Star Alliance, are there any restrictions other than their status as Secondary Citizens?"

Yingzhou thought for a moment.

"There will be no restrictions on their daily lives. They may retain their own language, script, festivals, and customs. But they must not violate the laws of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance; there are no loopholes in the law to exploit."

Guilliman's pen stopped.

"Father, what do you mean?"

Yingzhou looked at him.

"The law stipulates what can be done and what cannot be done. Anything not stipulated as permissible is prohibited. For example, if their traditional festivals are not prohibited by law, they may celebrate them. But if their festivals involve acts like sacrifice or violence, which the law prohibits, then they cannot celebrate them."

Guilliman nodded. "Understood, I will make this point clear during the integration process."

Yingzhou said.

"Also, their language, script, books, and audiovisual works must be audited. Those that pass the audit may be kept; those that do not must be destroyed."

Guilliman recorded this.

"Understood, Father."

Yingzhou stood up and walked to the window.

"After the Canaan Star Alliance joins, the territory of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance will have expanded significantly. The new territory needs to be managed, and the new citizens need to be pacified and made to understand the rules. Once the rules are established, they will naturally comply; those who do not will be dealt with."

Guilliman said.

"Father, how should the high-level officials of the Canaan Star Alliance be arranged?"

Yingzhou turned around.

"Viridius may remain in an administrative position, but he will no longer be the Speaker. The Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance will send a Governor there, and he will serve as the deputy."