The so-called request for instructions was, of course, just an excuse. Since Marvin was the plenipotentiary negotiator sent by Earth, he had naturally been authorized. To put it bluntly, in negotiations, regardless of the other party, one's own side must first unify their thoughts.
However, this was not an easy task.
That evening, in the conference room across the river, temporarily requisitioned by the negotiation team, the second-in-command began banging on the table at the chief negotiator. The banging was so loud that the other members felt immense pressure and hid far away, not even daring to eavesdrop, leaving the conference room entirely to the two big shots.
“What on Earth are you thinking? Did those two Serabi girls someone slipped into your room yesterday swallow your brain and your sense of right and wrong along with them?”
Marvin’s face alternated between green and red, but he still said sternly, “Nonsense! They wanted to come and learn a foreign language from me, but I sent them away on the spot to avoid suspicion! I am the chief negotiator for this mission! Your insult is not just an insult to me personally, but an insult to the country! This time, I’ll pretend I didn’t hear it, but there will absolutely be no next time!”
“Mr. Marvin, so you’re saying that colluding with that beautiful His Highness Prince Su Wang to betray our country’s rightful interests and our soldiers? Is that also the job of a chief negotiator? So, whose will are you representing? The Commonwealth’s? The Empire’s?” Lina sneered.
“I represent everyone’s will!” Marvin roared, then realizing he had lost his composure, he quickly picked up his coffee cup and took a sip, using it to hide his twisted expression. Then he softened his tone and said, “Lina, it’s not that serious. Our losses are almost negligible, and the Star Gate is foolproof. Plus, we captured so many spoils of war. The Kaitai’s United Fleet was also crippled; those big cats won’t dare to look at us for decades. How can you even talk about betrayal? It’s still the same old saying: since we have achieved a de facto victory, there’s no need to quibble too much over minor issues.”
“Has diplomatic face become a minor issue?”
“If we failed, then no; if we won, then yes!” Marvin said in a matter-of-fact tone.
“So, what does their ‘explanation’ mean? And what does ‘taking responsibility’ mean? What, are you really going to treat that old man as a war criminal? Tie him up and send him over to them?”
He turned his head a little guiltily: “This, how is that possible? I’m not Qin… Uh, but to be honest, I personally feel that General Paris was too rash this time! This old man is so impulsive at his age. As expected, he’s just acting recklessly relying on his old seniority from the Independent War! Honestly, Lina, he’s not really suitable to stay in this position anymore. Although the President hasn’t said it directly to me, I understand his meaning, and it’s actually the view of most people.”
It’s just the view of you Empire faction, isn’t it? Lina Weilbate thought.
The independence of the Commonwealth, while certainly due to the valiant efforts of Marshal Li and his comrades, also arose opportunely thanks to the international situation of that era. As a result, who knows how many old remnants transformed themselves and became powerful figures in the new dynasty. These people are now primarily concentrated in the Blue Friendship Party, which is the current ruling party.
Under the pressure of the Independent War heroes, they reluctantly endured for decades, but now that they are close to controlling the government, they naturally find old people like General Paris very displeasing.
Of course, the Blue Friendship Party would certainly not admit that they are “pro-Empire,” but rather that they simply wish for the Commonwealth to return to the right track, mend relations with the Empire, let go of Past history, and restore harmonious and mutually beneficial co-prosperity with the other half of the All-Galaxy.
Since the founding father established a fence-sitting foreign policy for us, we naturally cannot tear face with the other side.
Yes, we must stabilize the Empire now; my judgment is correct! Marvin was so certain, and then said, “The current problem is that the Empire is clearly protecting the Kaitai. We have gained the substance, so it’s best to quit while we’re ahead and give them some face, isn’t that good? As for old Paris… well, he is a hero of the Independent War and a hero who defended the Star Gate. Given that, he should be able to understand our difficulties even more. I will personally go talk to him.”
Lina Weilbate actually didn’t like that stubborn old man, unyielding like granite, or rather, no professional politician would like such a person. But she disliked even more such “Empire faction” specificities from the other side, and sneered, “Aren’t you considering what the officers and soldiers of the Outer Rim Fleet, who just won a great victory, will react if this is how it’s handled?”
“Then I’d like to ask even more, is the Outer Rim Fleet the Commonwealth’s army? Or someone’s private army? For such a big matter, they only belatedly notified Earth two hours after the battle had already begun. Active self-defense rights? This kind of thinking, where a general outside does not have to obey the king’s orders, existing in the sacred Commonwealth, this is the greatest irony to a republic! Member Lina Weilbate, isn’t this even more terrifying?”
As he said this, Marvin felt as if he were a defender of democracy and freedom, with noble glory flowing from his mouth to his backside!
He thought back to a few years ago, when he had just become a member and had not yet entered the Foreign Affairs Committee, and had voted in favor of closing a military sub-light engine design company during a hearing.
Heaven knows, he truly considered it from the economic perspective of sustainable development. That engine company had spent so much national funding, and the prototypes it produced were always a notch below the Alliance and the Empire.
Anyway, we already have the manufacturing license for Alliance sub-light engines, so wouldn’t it be better to close this money-losing venture and use the limited funds for other industries that generate foreign exchange and taxes?
But as a result, General Paris, as a witness for the opposition, stood up at the hearing. The old man berated all the members who had voted in favor, then threw the hundreds of pages of documents he had prepared at the members’ seats.
He was sitting closest and got hit directly…
Oh, right, Mr. Marvin stated that he was absolutely not targeting General Paris because of this tiny personal grudge. Everything was to prevent the military from becoming warlords, and this was also the intention of most of his comrades on Earth! It was the will of the party! It was the will of democratic republicanism!
Lina Weilbate was silent for a moment, then scoffed noncommittally, and suddenly changed the subject: “Before I rushed here, I spoke with Mr. Qi, who is stationed in the Empire. He told me that the Royal Fleet and the main forces of the Serabi Kings are planning the twelfth Great Expedition against the Raiders, and it’s impossible for them to have the strength to interfere with our actions here.”
“Qi, Mr. Qi?” When the Commonwealth Ambassador to the Empire was mentioned, Mr. Marvin’s expression became a bit strange, his mouth twitched as if his teeth were aching, and his expression was very complex, with guilt, disgust, but more than anything, a helpless irritation.
“I am very touched by Mr. Qi’s efforts! However, he is not a professional in intelligence, and as you know, the reason he became the Ambassador to the Empire is because we all… respect him. Uh, the Empire nobles also respect him.”
“Are you trying to say mascot?”
Marvin pretended not to hear and continued, “Moreover, even if it’s true, with the Empire’s national strength, they will eventually free up their hands. Precisely because of this, we must ensure the purity of our political system; only then can we have the strongest weapon against the Empire’s tyranny! Therefore, some people must be held responsible…”
His words were interrupted by a sudden communication.
Marvin glanced irritably at his personal terminal, and his expression instantly froze, with a hint of shock and confusion in his eyes. He couldn’t help but look up at Member Lina opposite him, seeing that she had a completely playful and amused expression, as if watching a good show.
Marvin gritted his teeth and still answered the call: “…Chairman Nishita? Yes, it is I! What? Hmm, yes. Okay, I understand, right…”
He put down the terminal and said to Lina, “Alliance NOB, news channel.”
NOB is the abbreviation for Nephe Star Network Broadcast, and it is the largest television network media in the All-Galaxy.
Member Lina opened her information terminal. The scene that appeared on the screen was very familiar to both professional politicians and diplomats. It was Saint Elan Street in Tianyu, the Empire’s capital, which is where the embassy district is located.
They saw a thin, vigorous middle-aged Earth man standing at the main gate outside the embassy, where the Kaitai national flag was flying, holding a lantern.
A considerable number of onlookers and reporters had already gathered nearby. Seeing the man stop, a large group of reporters surged forward.
Naturally, the Free Star River Alliance NOB reporter, a four-hoofed Perot Centaur, was the fastest.
He even used his strength to push a short Angmang reporter flying, directly extending his microphone.
At this moment, the camera naturally focused on the Earth person's front.
"Mr. Qi, it's broad daylight, and you're still carrying a lantern. What is this..."
"Darkness! How dark this Celestial Domain is. If I don't carry a lantern, I'm afraid I won't be able to see the road ahead," Mr. Qi on the screen said.
Marvin and Lina were both stunned.
The "Mr. Qi" on the screen was none other than Qi Bingwen, the Commonwealth's Ambassador to the Empire.
However, besides this, he had another identity: a cosmic-level super literary giant, winner of three Galaxy Awards and two Ausenro Awards.
He possessed top-tier skill in both serious literature and best-selling novels, with fans throughout the All-Galaxy and a total novel circulation exceeding 500 billion copies, making him a contemporary literary master.
It is said that quite a few Empire nobles, and even His Majesty the Emperor himself, were fans of Mr. Qi's books, which was also why the Commonwealth asked him to serve as the Ambassador to the Empire.
However, we must all know that successful literati are essentially artists, very spontaneous.
Moreover, perhaps because he started halfway, Mr. Qi Bingwen truly did not understand diplomatic etiquette.
Whether this appointment was right or wrong is still genuinely unclear at Present.
Another reporter asked, "Mr. Qi, by coming to the Kaitai Embassy at this time, are you here to protest?"
On the screen, this perhaps most famous Earth person in the All-Galaxy simply snorted coldly, "Protest? Of course not! If protesting was useful, what would we need the army for? Isn't this always the Empire's consistent way of doing things?"
"This, these words are too much. Mr. Qi, our Empire's consistent stance has always been to uphold justice, fairness, openness..." an Empire reporter said, biting the bullet.
"Yes! Only those who can kneel can have fairness, justice, and openness, right? But at my age, my knees are stiff, and I truly can't kneel down!" Mr. Qi sneered, then changed the subject, "Although I truly don't hesitate to estimate your country's arrogance with the greatest malice, I still distinguish between the Empire and the Empire people.
I hear that the Empire's people are full of martial virtue, upright, and Dreadnought; the nobles are trustworthy and polite, adhering to knightly virtues.
Is that really true?"
"Of course! This is the root of why the Empire is so powerful!" The Empire reporter instinctively became proud.
His words naturally drew cheers from the large crowd of Empire onlookers opposite.
"Very good, then be my witness."
"Wit-witness?"
Then, Mr. Qi suddenly put down his lantern, took off his coat, revealing his thin and frail upper body clad only in a vest, and then laboriously took a sword from his attendant's hand.
With trembling hands, he gripped the long sword, pointed it at the gate of the Kaitai Embassy opposite, and shouted, "Hey! You fat cats from Kaitai opposite, do you have the guts to come out and meet your Grandpa Qi in person?"
There was no movement from the embassy opposite, as if it were an uninhabited haunted house; only the two guards at the door were restless and at a loss.
"Hey! Come out quickly, just the two of us! Didn't you understand? I am challenging you to a duel of honor! Don't you even choose your King by dueling?
Since fighting once doesn't count, then fight me again! If you lose, take your broken ships and roll back!
If you win? If you win, I'll give you my old life! Then, please hang my eyes on the Celestial Wave Tower in the Celestial Domain; I want to see how this Galaxy perishes!
Anyway, you Kaitai fat cats and the Empire are in cahoots; my eyes can't see anything anymore!"
The two Kaitai guards had already pulled their heads back into the guard post.
"Open the door, Kaitai fat cats! You have the guts to ambush, but not the guts to open the door? Open the door, fat cats, I know you're in there!
You even dare to trample on your own sacred duels of honor, and yet you don't dare to open the door?"
Of course, they dared not open the door.
After all, Mr. Qi was truly a pure literati with no power to fight a chicken, and he had hundreds of billions of loyal book fans.
Winning would certainly not gain them anything good, and losing (though unlikely) would be even more embarrassing.
Of course, to the onlookers, it naturally seemed that the Kaitai people were in the wrong.
Coupled with the fact that Mr. Qi's attendant had already started a live video broadcast, the content of which was the final stage of the battle, the scene of the agreed-upon duel of honor on the Steel Crown Prince.
In short, with this commotion, it is likely that trillions of people across the All-Galaxy were now watching simultaneously.
Of course, what even Mr. Qi himself, the person involved, might not have known was that among those watching this scene was also His Highness Prince Suliuka, who was currently in Gibraltar.
The Princess of Dawn watched the Commonwealth Ambassador, who was acting like a mischievous child throwing a tantrum in the video, shaking her head helplessly, her smile a little stiff.
At this moment, her subordinate's voice came from her terminal: "Your Highness. Miss Yamida Songer Belencase, the Free Star River Alliance trade representative, is online..."
"...Connect her."
Soon, a serene and gentle young female voice came from the other side: "Brunhild, did you see that? You know Mr. Qi's temper.
If you continue to be unreasonable, he can truly shout in the Kaitai Embassy for a whole day, or even spill blood on the Nine Dragon Cauldron in front of the Boundless Palace!"
Who is being unreasonable!
Brunhild said helplessly, "So, you're the one who leaked the negotiation progress to Mr. Qi? That was quick, Ya Mida!"
"Haha, our side's stance, of course, is just to want this Galaxy to quickly return to peace!"
"We suffered a great loss!"
"It's your big cats that suffered a great loss! But, wasn't that what they deserved? When did the Kaitai Kingdom's plan to ambush Gibraltar ever inform you?
Isn't it also against your aesthetics to let true heroes not have a good end? Anyway, your little tricks have failed, so be more generous."
Brunhild looked at the gentle and elegant girl of her own age opposite her, sighing.
Although the other party seemed delicate, she was also the only person of her age who could make her feel a sense of defeat.
If the two were not from different countries, perhaps they would truly become the best of friends.
"Alright, then I'll give you face... However, that old hero from the Commonwealth, staying here will truly make everyone uneasy.
It would be better for him to have a comfortable, but not troublesome, old age."
"Thank you, this is actually our expectation as well." The other side sincerely expressed her gratitude, then said in a relaxed tone, like between close friends: "By the way, I heard Jili got snubbed?"
"Haha, yes! But because of that, I discovered a very interesting little Earth Knight."
All in all, a great war involving over two million people and three thousand warships, with tens of thousands killed, seems to finally be on track for its subsequent developments.
This is truly cause for celebration!
Today's three updates are complete, and this chapter is still a large 4.5k chapter.
I'm asking everyone for votes and subscriptions.
Also, there will be a period of daily life scenes after this; there won't be any major battles, so I hope everyone is mentally prepared.
Also, also, the last chapter seemed to cause a lot of controversy!
It should be a problem with my writing skill, not clearly expressing what I wanted to say, overdoing it, so I made a slight adjustment.
However, I must regretfully tell everyone that the peak showdowns of Wisdom, courage, and eloquence that you imagine have never been the mainstream of national politics and diplomatic stages.
Our diplomatic personnel engaging in heated debates, relying on justified righteousness, finding loopholes in the other side's words and arguments, after countless peak battles of Wisdom, and then gaining the upper hand... I'm sorry, it's actually quite simple to write it that way.
However, writing it that way is what is called a political 'novice' novel.
There is never fairness and justice in interactions between nations; righteousness and legality are merely embellishments.
In fact, even one's own diplomatic personnel will have their own selfish motives, their own interests.
Basically, they primarily represent the interests of the political group behind them, not the nation.
After all, a nation can never be of one mind.
Everyone has lived in our country for too long, but I must regretfully tell you that our country is truly not the mainstream.
Furthermore, a hegemonic nation maintains its authority never by upholding justice, but by favoring one side.
Suppressing the disobedient, supporting the obedient, it's that simple, and that blatant.