Chapter 137: A 750,000-Ton Reply
Four hours later, the mighty Cang Yuan convoy, under the cover of two hummingbird reconnaissance planes, arrived at the vast Desert 260 kilometers east of the camp, at the pre-arranged meeting point.
This spot was the midpoint of the line connecting Cang Yuan and Oasis City, symbolizing equality in negotiations.
But it was merely a “symbol.”
A month ago, this area was a “forbidden zone” designated by Apollo, with threats of immediate engagement if Cang Yuan showed up.
Now, players who came along to watch the show sat on the hoods of their all-terrain vehicles, eagerly awaiting the other party's appearance.
Most of them had bought their vehicles with beginner loans.
“Target spotted, they’re here.”
The pilot said in the public channel.
Soon after, Apollo’s negotiation team crested a sand dune.
The other side had only sent three all-terrain vehicles manufactured in Oasis City, with no aircraft in the sky, clearly not daring to fly them. Unlike Cang Yuan’s side, their vehicles weren't equipped with weapons or light armor.
It was clear that the entire Apollo Li Star branch now only had power armor to maintain its facade.
The stances of both sides had completely reversed.
Apollo stopped about 500 meters away. After a brief radio communication, a person identifying himself as Minister Omar, wearing a full suit of power armor, walked towards them.
“Ha! I knew it, cowards!”
Players from Cang Yuan’s side burst into jeers.
No one knew what Omar looked like; they had only heard his voice. It would be too naive to think that the person inside the power armor was actually him.
From Cang Yuan’s side, Ma Lou was representing Lu Yuan in the negotiations. He also wore power armor and walked to meet Omar. The two ultimately stood in a low-lying area between the two convoys, in full view of everyone.
“To avoid further war losses for both sides, my side offers your side options for peace talks.”
Omar’s voice came from inside his power armor helmet.
This tone, relayed through Ma Lou’s audio equipment, immediately reached all players on the planetary surface, causing widespread anger. If it weren't for the fact that this was a crucial main storyline event, many would have surrounded him on the spot.
“Damn it!”
“I find these people—they really deserve a beating!”
“Continue.”
Lu Yuan said through Ma Lou’s microphone.
“Your side must immediately cease fire and return all previously plundered Apollo assets as soon as possible. Our side will grant your side the status of an Apollo Strategic Partner.
“On this planet, your side will gain territory west of Oasis City, accounting for forty-five percent of the total Desert area, and simultaneously acquire cooperative development rights for all natural resources within the star system; your personnel may reside in Oasis City in the future and engage in commercial activities, but no weapons may be carried.”
260 kilometers away, Lu Yuan listened in his office, marveling.
It was as if they had won the war!
Even the butler scratched his head, completely baffled.
“Sir, your previous series of sneak attacks and false intelligence may have caused irreversible mental damage to this Minister.”
“Surely I wasn’t that bad?”
Lu Yuan quietly pondered, thinking things might not be so simple.
“Alright, now I’ll state our terms for peace.” He pressed the talk button.
“Please.”
“Apollo needs to immediately withdraw from this star system, as well as all 10 adjacent star systems along the wormhole jump route,
and fully transfer sovereignty of these star systems to Cang Yuan.”
“Impossible!” Omar replied bluntly, “This would make me and my branch completely lose the hard-earned status within the company; it’s unacceptable.”
“Oh, really? But it seems to me that exchanging it for your own lives is more than worth it.”
Lu Yuan deliberately proposed conditions that the other party could not, or rather, simply could not, meet.
The ten adjacent star systems likely extended beyond Apollo’s sphere of influence; even if it wanted to cede them, it wouldn’t have the authority.
Lu Yuan said this to prompt Omar to continue revealing his bargaining chips.
And the other party had precisely that intention.
“Ha—” Omar sighed.
“You call yourself an Executive Officer, right? I must admit, Executive Officer, you have a certain talent for tactical deception.
“I can also see that you are not content with this planet and wish to expand your influence into space. Such ambition is extremely rare among natives.
“But unfortunately, even in this post-apocalyptic universe, your surrounding living space has already been occupied. True space is a rather cruel, rather terrifying place. You need friends, you need guides.
“Apollo can play this role perfectly. We are a ‘Council-level force’ within the Star Alliance’s territory. Do you know what that means?”
“No, please enlighten me.”
Lu Yuan answered truthfully.
Omar: “Hmph, no problem. It means we are one of the few forces in the Star Alliance with a naval fleet and capital ships.
We maintain good cooperative relationships with major forces, and we have a home base that is difficult for any force to breach.
“Executive Officer, you should know that the Star Alliance has been developing for three centuries since the apocalypse. Why do you think you, a newcomer, can stand on equal footing with these forces with 300 years of history?”
“Because I have a cheat,” Lu Yuan really wanted to answer him that way, but there was no need.
Especially at this moment, in this place.
Omar continued: “In fact, even as you and I are speaking, the fleet I called earlier is already on its way.
“If you can accept the peace terms I proposed, then you will be invited to board the ship as a guest for a visit; if you do not accept…”
“Oh, a fleet! Great!”
Upon hearing that word, the players instantly perked up.
After three months of intense grinding, Cang Yuan had made significant progress in the players' hands, but in certain high-tech fields, it hadn't yet had the chance to venture.
Space stations were one of them.
Large spacecraft, including warships, and the corresponding space shipbuilding industry, were practically non-existent, with no corresponding blueprints in the industrial ship.
There was an urgent need for a physical example.
“I already know what will happen next.”
“The transport captain is still going strong!”
“In a way, this is also a form of loyalty.”
Hearing that the punitive fleet was approaching, no one was afraid; there was only anticipation.
“Executive Officer, your reply?”
Seeing Lu Yuan’s prolonged silence, Omar pressed him.
Then, suddenly, the ground began to tremble slightly.
The trembling grew more intense, and large amounts of sand rolled down the surface of the dunes. Under the setting sun, it looked like golden gauze being dragged along.
A red light cast down from the sky.
Everyone looked up and saw a large expanse of the sky appearing to be on fire. Immediately after, from the very center of that red light, an even brighter, hotter, colossal object gradually appeared, rapidly diving downwards.
The industrial ship was descending from a polar synchronous orbit towards Red Iron Town, passing directly over the negotiation point.
It was followed by an escort formation consisting of a transport plane and multiple space fighters, an astonishing sight, full of oppressive power.
“This is our reply!”
“Woohoo~~”
Seeing this spectacular scene, the players were completely hyped.
Apollo’s side was the complete opposite. The negotiators thought they were about to be bombed, and forgetting to maintain their composure, they all ducked into their vehicles with their heads in their hands, utterly flustered.
“Minister, whether I’m invited or not, I will be visiting your warship.”
After Lu Yuan finished speaking, Ma Lou knew there was nothing left to discuss, so he turned and waved, signaling the players to return.
At this moment, in the Oasis City air-raid shelter, Omar rubbed his temples, his face filled with pain and confusion.
“What the hell! Where did these people find such a massive ship!?
It clearly couldn’t have been dug out from underground.
Magic!?
Could it—could it really be the remnants of Cang Yuan?!”
He couldn't tell if the object in the sky was a warship or a civilian vessel, but it no longer mattered. Its immense size and power were evident; no matter what it was, it was terrifying enough.
It was no exaggeration to say that even if it were a civilian vessel, the high-temperature jet from its main engine would be enough to incinerate Oasis City.
After Lu Yuan finished speaking, Ma Lou knew there was nothing left to discuss, so he turned and waved, signaling the players to return, “Don’t mind these idiots, let’s go!”
“I also need to depart for Red Iron Town.” Lu Yuan stood up and said to the butler, “Prepare my aircraft.”