Chapter 300: Do You Still Love Your Civilization?
The office fell silent for a while, until after a high-pitched moan, Fan Ren’s voice, slightly breathless, rang out again.
“Then it’s settled. Later, order the entire army to enter combat readiness state. The Azure Phoenix Legion needs to prepare two plans: one is the operational plan after successfully cooperating with Mai Si next, and the other is the full-scale offensive plan if cooperation fails.”
Jin Qiaoying’s dazed, seductive eyes fell on the sharp jawline of the man before her. At this moment, her flushed face resembled that after drunkenness, and her breathing was even more rapid than Fan Ren’s, but upon hearing this, she forced herself to focus her chaotic thoughts on the matter at hand.
“Isn’t it too fast? Although our current warp engines have paused listing, if the subsequent battleship supplements stop, with our current war reserve materials, we are fully capable of handling a full-scale war.”
Hearing this, Fan Ren gently held her and shook his head: “It is somewhat related to these, but mainly because Mai Si’s Prime Minister side already knows that a mysterious force has offensive intentions toward the Hans Civilization. Although he doesn’t know our origins, one thing to know is that the Hans Civilization itself is already in the pocket of the Sirius Civilization.”
Deep profundity shone in his eyes as he continued: “Moreover, another point to note is that with the last two mines of the Hans Civilization about to be depleted, their civilization will gradually attract close attention from various surrounding second level civilizations. If this situation continues to develop, perhaps those second level civilizations will have some ideas.”
Jin Qiaoying nodded along, her gaze gradually becoming infatuated.
Fan Ren did not stop: “It’s decided then. Our primary purpose is to take down the Hans Civilization premised on low-intensity, deterrence-based small-scale warfare, which will inevitably require Mai Si’s help.
Of course, contacting the Emperor of the Hans Civilization would be the best solution, but according to the information held by Dan Qin, Hans Ming still has over 200 years of lifespan left, and he is extremely arrogant. We currently may not have any conditions that would satisfy him.”
At this point, Fan Ren sighed, but then his gaze firmed again: “No matter what, even if cooperation with Mai Si unexpectedly terminates, after our detailed deliberation, with our current strength, we are fully capable of consuming the Hans Civilization.
For economy and trade, thank you for your hard work.”
Fan Ren turned his head, looking at the stunning face before him, where several wrinkles deliberately concealed by makeup were visible, and the guilt in his heart was hard to hide.
As if seeing through his thoughts, Jin Qiaoying extended her fair, slender fingers, gracefully pinning up her long hair, and exhaled softly with red lips: “I started working for you at 28. Now at over 170, old and faded, how will you compensate me?”
In the office, following her seductive words, silence fell, and soon after, accompanied by Jin Qiaoying’s exclamation, Fan Ren made amends to the woman before him with actual actions.
Sirius Prime Star, Star Gate District, Starfield Market.
In a trading room with an anonymous number, there were currently a team of special duty personnel from the Fox Pirate Group, as well as several Prime Minister’s Mansion undercover agents from the Hans Civilization led by Mai Dao.
Unlike ordinary normal humans, these selected special duty personnel were deliberately chosen from short-statured individuals during selection, and through specific disguise techniques, they now stood here looking not at all human, paired with their short leather jackets and the unique pirate emblem on their chests.
Decades passed in a flash. Mai Er and Fox, as captives, spent most of their time in hibernation pods.
For him, it was merely less than a year. The Hans Civilization, which was originally struggling to survive, was now at the end of its road.
At this moment, looking at Mai Dao opposite him who made no disguise, his expression was very calm.
After permission from the Fox Pirate Group special duty personnel, Mai Dao’s escorts took out verification equipment, drew a tube of blood from Mai Er’s arm, and after testing, verified the identity of the person before them.
He glanced at his old friend whom he hadn’t seen in many years, then said flatly: “Mai Er, regarding the previous defeat of the expeditionary force, the Empire has removed you from all positions and issued a wanted order for you.”
“As expected, but it’s meaningless now.”
The special duty personnel stared intently at the two before them. Their mission this time was merely to witness and handle the intelligence exchange.
Hearing this, Mai Dao was silent for a moment, then said again: “The Prime Minister fought hard to exempt you from all faults.”
“Heh, actually it was you, right?” Mai Er raised his head, a trace of barely perceptible gratitude in his eyes, then returned to his flat demeanor: “Before coming, someone told me that if this cooperation is facilitated, I will be granted freedom. Let me guess, it’s to have the Prime Minister cooperate with this side for an inside-outside pincer?”
Mai Er nodded; there was nothing to hide. Those standing here were undoubtedly highly trusted personnel from both sides.
He said: “Yes, meeting you is just to solicit your opinion.”
After speaking, he turned his gaze to the special duty personnel behind him and smiled slightly: “You don’t mind if I ask some questions about your force, right? Of course, I know you must have countermeasures prepared, but I still hope you understand that this cooperation is not a small matter.”
After his words, the lead special duty personnel behind Mai Er nodded slightly. Their orders were just to monitor and exchange intelligence afterward, nothing more.
“Thank you.”
“Mai Er, about their force, do you know anything that you’re allowed to tell us?”
As the words fell, Mai Er’s brows furrowed slightly. Before coming, that woman in charge of the entire intelligence system had indeed told him some content.
At this moment, recalling the woman’s words, a trace of fear appeared on his face.
The self-destruct chip in his brain had been upgraded, incorporating a logic judgment system. If his words deviated from the preset, the logic chip would promptly activate the self-destruct system.
And all dialogue content had been preset with him in advance.
Thinking of this, his face paled as he said: “What you want to know is nothing more than their strength, whether they have the ability to consume the Hans Civilization, where they come from, and other such related information.”
Mai Dao watched the changing expressions on his face and knew the other side had absolutely left a backup. Helplessly, he nodded.
Mai Er nodded, sighed, and said: “I’ll only say what I can. In their words, as a basis for cooperation, you are qualified to know some of their situation.”
Saying this, he turned and pointed to the emblem on the chest of the special duty personnel behind him: “Do you recognize this badge?”
Mai Dao followed his hand, puzzlement in his eyes, then one of his undercover agents stepped forward and whispered a few words in his ear.
“Fox Pirate Group? Impossible!”
Mai Dao’s incredulous voice cried out, while Mai Er before him showed a helpless smile and replied: “Impossible? But this is reality. They come from the civilization that 500 years ago waged a full-scale civilization war with the Sirius Civilization. At that time, both sides had one foot in the threshold of third level civilization.”
“But they”
“Yes, in the intelligence we’ve received, after that campaign, the Fox Civilization was completely exterminated, with only one former soldier surviving, who inherited their civilization’s most prominent asset—a dreadnought now quite recognized in the Starfield Market.”
As Mai Er spoke, an inexplicable expression appeared in his eyes.
These words were true, and all he could say, but some things he dared not reveal at all.
Thinking of this, he continued: “What I can tell you is that all this is obviously deliberately concealed by them. The current Fox Civilization, even without cooperating with us, is fully capable of completely annihilating the Hans Civilization.
This point, from their performance during my captivity and that interception battle, is beyond doubt.
You know what it means in interstellar space for 5000 battleships to suddenly appear.”
“I know, only that thing can do it.”
Mai Dao nodded in response, undisguised envy in his eyes.
Titan!
Only that unique super flagship in the universe, the Titan-class Battleship, possesses pinpoint strategic delivery capability.
This is also the absolute strategic-level ability that can sway the strategic situation in war.
If not for this, the war between the Fox Civilization and Sirius Civilization back then could not have reached a white-hot war of attrition, only for one Titan-class Battleship to appear and change the course of the war, ultimately leading to victory for the Sirius Civilization.
Sitting opposite, Mai Er’s lips moved, but the words he wanted to say were ultimately suppressed by the chip at the back of his head.
He turned to say: “If you ask about the current difference between the Fox Pirate Group and the Sirius Civilization, I don’t know that. After all, I’m just a failed war captive.”
“That’s enough.” Mai Dao interrupted him, giving a meaningful glance to the special duty personnel behind Mai Er.
“How is the Empire’s current situation?” Mai Er countered.
Hearing this, Mai Dao showed no betrayal in his demeanor: “If it were only facing the Sirius Civilization before, even if the Prime Minister opposed declaring war on Human Civilization, with the Empire’s massive force of 150,000 battleships, defeating them would not be difficult.
Relying on their abundant resources, perhaps the Empire could struggle on for a few more centuries, or perhaps find another way out during those centuries.
But now, it seems there is no hope at all. Perhaps the Prime Minister is right.”
After speaking, Mai Dao’s gaze fell again on the several special duty personnel who had not spoken, his face full of helplessness.
But Mai Er shook his head: “I don’t think so. Even surviving a few more centuries won’t solve the fundamental problems. In my view, cooperating with them might be a good choice.”
At this point, he couldn’t help recalling in Human Civilization how mineral workers only needed to work over 2000 hours a year, with ample vacations and leisure time for travel and entertainment.
This was unbelievable to him.
“I take back my earlier words. Cooperating with them is the only correct choice!”
Mai Er’s face suddenly became firm, and Mai Dao opposite him was slightly stunned, then looked solemnly at this cousin and friend he had known since childhood.
“Believe me, whether joining the Sirius Civilization or letting the Imperial Family win the war, the final result is actually no real change. Only they are the factor that can lead our civilization out of the predicament.”
Behind him, several special duty personnel furrowed their brows slightly, unsure why this captive was saying words so favorable to them at this time.
Hearing this, Mai Dao was silent for a long time, as if pondering the true meaning of Mai Er’s words.
After a long while, he slowly nodded: “I understand. One last question.”
“Ask. I’ll not conceal what I can say.” Mai Er calmed down.
“Do you still love our civilization?”
“Forever!”
Hans System, Space City, Imperial Palace.
“Your Majesty, as of now, aside from the remaining 30,000 battleships not yet completed assembly, our army has finished full equipment assembly for 130,000 battleships.
According to the predetermined plan, the remaining two or three empty ships will complete assembly within two years.
All expenses were allocated from Your private treasury.”
Luo Er respectfully finished reporting, then looked up at Hans Ming on the throne, appearing hesitant.
Seeing his demeanor, Hans Ming’s good mood instantly dissipated, his face darkening.
“Speak.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
Luo Er bowed and hurriedly said: “Your Majesty, those Imperial Family descendants you previously ordered placed in the military headquarters, a large portion still have not completed the corresponding procedures.”
‘Bang’ Hearing this, though Hans Ming was mentally prepared, he couldn’t suppress the rising anger upon hearing the result.
His orders weren’t some shake-up of the Ministry of War’s interests, but even these ordinary appointment lists had been stalled by the Ministry of War for years, still not completing all procedures.
He was the supreme emperor of a civilization, yet he couldn’t even appoint a minor Ministry of War official.
In the vast Imperial Palace, as his hand slammed heavily on the throne, the entire palace soon held only his heavy breathing.
After a long while.
“Understood. Anything else?”
Luo Er bowed, hearing Hans Ming’s cold voice, trembling inwardly.
He didn’t know when it started, but this emperor, whom he saw as mild-tempered, had become very unfamiliar, as if the harmless emperor from moments ago had instantly turned into this namelessly terrifying existence.
“Reporting to Your Majesty, I worry that if this continues”
“No need for your concern. Continue gathering intelligence on the Prime Minister. Withdraw.”
Luo Er was stunned. He knew Hans Ming must have a backup plan, but he couldn’t imagine, in this situation with the Ministry of War’s military power unprecedentedly strong, what means this young emperor would use to turn the tables.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Unable to figure it out, he could only withdraw for now.
