Chapter 995: The Endless Dispute of the Council

"A misunderstanding?"

Horn's voice rose sharply.

"Look at what you have done! Invading our home, destroying our fleet, slaughtering our soldiers! From the Sixth Star Sector to the Eighth Star Sector, how many planets have been reduced to scorched earth under your gunfire! How many Fengqi citizens have been displaced, their homes destroyed and families broken! Is this what you call 'liberation'? Liberation from what? Being 'liberated' from life itself?!"

Horn's words echoed in the empty room; Horus listened quietly, his face devoid of any ripples.

Only when Horn gasped for breath due to his agitation did he speak slowly.

"You only see the war, Horn. You only see the casualties of the soldiers under your command, and you only care about the territorial losses of your Feng Qi Xing Alliance. But have you, or rather, the high-ranking officials of your Feng Qi Xing Alliance, ever lowered your heads to look at those humans under your rule who are treated as Secondary Citizens or even slaves?"

Horus's gaze became sharp.

"Do you know how many human brethren are toiling day and night in Alien factories on the planets you control, until they are worked to death? How many human families are forced to pay heavy taxes, struggling to maintain even the most basic survival? How many humans have been deprived of the right to education, promotion, or even free movement because of your 'superior race' policy?"

Horus took a step forward, making Horn feel his breath hitch.

"What we destroyed was not 'your' planets, but the cages imprisoning our human brethren! What we eliminated was not 'your' soldiers, but the shackles suppressing human liberation! Human miners dig the ores you need under the lash; the vast majority of the food that human farmers toil to grow is requisitioned by you, while they themselves go hungry; in your capital planet, which you are so proud of, humans are not even allowed to enter the core area! Have you ever seen these things? Or did you choose to turn a blind eye and enjoy all of this with a clear conscience?"

Horn opened his mouth, wanting to retort, but did not know what to say.

In the propaganda and inherent concepts of the Feng Qi Xing Alliance, these were all "necessary costs to maintain order," and humans, as a "lower-class allied race," should naturally serve the more advanced Fengqi Civilization.

"So... so what? We... we brought order! Without us, those planets would only fall into chaos and barbarism! We provided protection and warded off foreign enemies! We..."

Horus interrupted Horn's words.

"Order? Protection? Order built upon oppression and slavery is the greatest chaos! Protection that treats humans like livestock is the greatest insult! Your so-called 'order' is nothing but a bridle placed around the necks of humans, making them content to be enslaved!"

Horus stared into Horn's eyes and said word by word.

"The Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance, under the guidance of the Emperor, exists for the sole purpose of liberating all of humanity, allowing humans to stand once again at the pinnacle of the star sea, no longer subject to the oppression and enslavement of any Alien forces! This is a sacred mission, an inevitable historical outcome! Any obstacle standing in the way of this great process, no matter who it is, will be ruthlessly swept away."

Horn was shaken by the absolute conviction and immense will contained in Horus's words, feeling a chill.

Horn tried to retort from another angle.

"But... but our Feng Qi Xing Alliance is not without factions willing to live in peace! If... if you are willing to negotiate, perhaps we can find a way to coexist..."

"Live in peace? That is only because we are strong enough! When you trampled humans under your feet, did you ever think of 'coexistence'? When you enjoyed the prosperity brought by human blood and sweat, did you ever propose 'negotiations'?

Listen, Horn, remember my words and take them to any Alien who still harbors illusions about 'peace'.

The Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance, the will of the Emperor, is not for equal coexistence with Aliens. If you want to show friendliness and avoid destruction, then first, you must set your position straight.

Kneel and submit. Unconditionally accept the leadership of humanity and the will of the Emperor.

Abandon your ridiculous 'superior race' rhetoric, hand over all armaments and power, and provide a certain value for the development of Human Civilization.

Perhaps, in the future map, we can leave you a reservation, allowing you to continue your race's lineage as vassals. After all, we love peace.

This is the only possible 'way out' for you. Beyond this, there is only total purification."

Horus straightened up and continued.

"This is the reality, General Horn. This is the outcome you have provoked this war for and must inevitably face.

Aliens... either submit or be destroyed."

Lieutenant General Horn collapsed completely into his chair, his face pale, sweat pouring down like rain.

Horn looked at Horus's calm face and realized that the Feng Qi Xing Alliance was facing a terrifying enemy completely different from their understanding.

Horus stopped looking at him and turned to walk toward the door.

"Take him down and guard him strictly."

Horus ordered the Luna Wolves Space Marine at the door, his voice returning to its usual steadiness.

"His fate shall be decided by the Emperor."

"Yes! Father!"

Feng Qi Xing Alliance core star region, Supreme Council Hall.

Inside the circular Conference Hall, Speaker Ravenna stood at the podium.

The massive Holographic Star Map in front was currently displaying the tragic state of the Southern Theater; the Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Star Sectors had already turned into the gray color symbolizing defeat, with only sporadic light points still flickering.

And the movements of the Xiuluosheng Fleet had not stopped; they were conducting a brief rest at the border, ready to continue pushing into the territory of the Feng Qi Xing Alliance at any time.

Ravenna broke the silence.

"Respected councilors, the latest battle reports have been submitted to you all. Following the Seventh Star Sector, the Sixth and Eighth Star Sectors have fallen one after another in a very short time. General Metake, Lieutenant General Horn... and the 500,000-strong vanguard of the Guardian Legion we sent... have been almost completely wiped out."

As soon as Ravenna finished speaking, a buzz of discussion erupted in the Conference Hall.

The previous fall of Fengrao Starport could be attributed to a surprise attack and General Suo'er's underestimation of the enemy, but the rapid loss of three consecutive star sectors and the destruction of the 500,000-strong Guardian Legion could no longer be explained as "accidental" or a "local conflict."

Councilor Aolusi, who was in charge of internal affairs, was the first to speak, unable to contain himself.

"This is impossible! 500,000 Guardians!! Even if they couldn't win, couldn't they at least delay the enemy? What exactly is General Gelan doing?!"

Chairman of the Military Committee, Valken, responded in a deep voice.

"Councilor Aolusi, intelligence shows that the enemy has deployed a type of 'Super Soldier' unit we have never seen before, whose combat power far exceeds expectations. Furthermore, their fleet tactics and equipment levels are also... far beyond our previous estimates. General Gelan has done his best, but the gap between the enemy and us may be larger than we imagined."

Another councilor representing the industrial group questioned.

"Gap? How large could it be? Our Feng Qi Xing Alliance has stood in the star sea for thousands of years; what storms have we not seen? Could this 'Xiuluo' that suddenly appeared be stronger than the two old rivals we face in the West combined?"

Valken pulled up some blurry combat footage clips sent back by reconnaissance ships at the risk of their lives, which showed the destructive power of the Primarch-class units.

"From current performance, at least in terms of military efficiency and the combat power of cutting-edge units, it is highly likely that... they are indeed so. They are not pirates, not border barbarians; they are a highly specialized, purposeful... war machine. The target seems to be our entire Star Alliance."

The Conference Hall fell into silence again.

Speaker Ravenna tapped the table lightly and spoke.

"Now is not the time to assign blame or question. We must face reality; the threat level of this 'Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance' that has appeared in the Southern Theater has been adjusted to the highest. They have the capability, and the intention, to destroy all our presence in the South and may continue to push inland."

After a pause, Ravenna swept her gaze over every councilor present and said slowly.

"This means we may no longer be able to maintain large-scale warfare on both the southwest fronts simultaneously."

Councilor Aolusi's expression changed, and he said.

"Speaker, do you mean... we are going to... compromise in the Western Theater?"

A council member from the western star sector stood up excitedly and objected.

"This is absolutely impossible! We have invested countless blood and resources in the west! Countless soldiers have sacrificed their lives there! Now that we are on the verge of a breakthrough, how can we compromise with the Ash Star Alliance and the Canaan Star Alliance?!"

Another council member who leaned toward prioritizing the resolution of the new threat retorted.

"No compromise? Do you expect us to watch our southern hinterland be pierced through by this inexplicable 'Xiuluosheng'? The war in the west has been deadlocked for years, with huge investments but minimal gains! Yet this Xiuluosheng has crushed three of our star sectors in just a few months! Can you not tell which is more important and which is less?"

"The south is merely a border star sector, vast and sparsely populated! The west is where our core interests lie in the struggle against our old rivals! Once we retreat, all our efforts over the past few decades will go down the drain!"

"Core interests? If our very home is taken, what core interests are there left to talk about?! This Xiuluosheng is clearly here with ill intent! Their goal is conquest, not pillaging!"

The Conference Hall immediately erupted into chaos, with the pro-war faction, the compromise faction, and the wait-and-see faction each holding their own ground, arguing endlessly.