Bai Zongqi sat at the head of the grand circular chamber, his expression composed yet firm. He surveyed those seated in their respective positions, gave a brief nod, and then spoke in a measured tone.

“Now, let us discuss the promise we have made to the Void Fleet. What, and how much, should we disclose about them? We are not to mention our emerging alliance, as it has yet to be fully organized and set into motion. There are still many concessions to be met—by both us and the Void Fleet. For now, let us focus on them.”

He then turned his gaze to his advisor, Yao Shen, who immediately understood his intent. Rising from his seat, Yao Shen spoke with a calm yet authoritative tone.

“The emergence of the Void Fleet has changed the strategic landscape,” he said. “They made their initial stance clear to us during the virtual summit we had not too long ago, and their details are known to everyone present here.”

He paused for a moment before continuing, “They have shown us goodwill, treating us as equals, even though they are far more powerful and superior to us. The advantages they offer are tempting and lucrative—ones we have accepted, as rejecting them would be foolish. However, while their intentions seem good, we still don’t know them well enough to fully trust them.

Therefore, we must maintain a cautious stance for now. As for their intention to be disclosed—or, in simpler terms, advertised—to Earth through our alliance, that matter will soon become irrelevant once the Void Star Alliance is officially formed and our current alliance is dismantled.”

Yu Tong added, “Our alliance, the Jiang Dynasty, will question this, and other powers will raise concerns about why we have not revealed this earlier.”

To this, Yao Shen replied, “That is for the Void Fleet to handle, not us. They have asked us to make their presence public, and that is exactly what we will do—while maintaining our own stance. However, we cannot disclose this information directly to the public, as it could create a negative scenario that we must avoid. We have already caused quite a stir upon our arrival, and while things have stabilized thanks to our common link with Earth, the same may not be true for the Void Fleet.”

Saying this, he turned his gaze toward Yu Tong, as if subtly blaming her for the trouble caused.

Noticing his look, Yu Tong crossed her arms and huffed. “Hey, what are you looking at me for? It wasn’t my fault, okay?” she said in a controlled yet defensive tone before snorting in annoyance.

She was clearly annoyed by this, and her ever-fiery temperament didn’t help—it only fueled her frustration further.

But she chose to remain silent, knowing she was in the presence of Chancellor Bai Zongqi—a leader she deeply respected. Despite her fiery temperament, she understood the importance of this discussion and restrained herself.

Seeing that Yu Tong remained silent, Yao Shen smirked before continuing.

He paused briefly, then said, “I suggest that we first hold a meeting with the senior members and royalty of the Jiang Dynasty, disclosing the information to them first. From there, they can approach other powers in a controlled manner. Meanwhile, we…”

Yao Shen began laying out the details of their next course of action after disclosing the information to their allies, the Jiang Dynasty. As he spoke, everyone listened intently, nodding in agreement. Even Bai Zongqi, who was often critical, seemed impressed.

“Always so meticulous, aren’t you, Advisor Yao?” Bai Zongqi remarked with a slight smile. Then, his expression turned serious. “When you present this information to the senior members and royals of the Jiang Dynasty, ensure they pay special attention to the Indra Empire. Among all the nations, they require the most cautious approach.”

Yu Tong furrowed her brows in confusion. “Why should the Jiang Dynasty be particularly wary of the Indra Empire?”

Both Chancellor Bai and Advisor Yao exchanged a glance before shaking their heads.

Yu Tong sighed inwardly. She knew this reaction well—it meant she had overlooked something obvious again. She took a moment to think, but before she could piece it together, Bai Zongqi spoke up instead of answering directly.

“Commander Yu,” he said, his voice firm, “what makes a civilization progress and develop?”

Yu Tong’s confusion deepened. She couldn’t understand how this question was even relevant to the discussion. Still, after a brief pause, she answered, “Resources, technology, and ability.”

Kallus shook his head. “You’re partially right, Yu Tong,” he said. “But the rise and fall of a civilization depend on its people. Even if a nation isn’t technologically advanced now, it can develop in the future—so long as it has sufficient human resources. And isn’t that the very reason we first allied with the Jiang Dynasty? To capitalize on this crucial resource, among other reasons?”

He glanced around the room before adding, “I believe even the Void Fleet had a similar intention—or at least, that’s what I suspect. So if the Jiang Dynasty approaches the Indra Empire, they may find an opportunity that benefits them as well.”

Listening to Bai’s explanation, realization dawned on Yu Tong. How did I not see something this obvious? she thought, frustrated with herself. Damn it. A flush of embarrassment crept onto her face.

Seeing her reaction, Bai and Advisor Yao chose not to say much, letting the moment pass. Meanwhile, the others in the room couldn’t help but smile at Yu Tong’s simple mistake, amused by her usual struggle to catch on to such matters

The meeting continued for a while before Chancellor Bai finally concluded and adjourned it. Before leaving, he entrusted Yu Tong with the responsibility of informing the senior members and royals of the Jiang Dynasty. It was a deliberate decision—an opportunity for her to gain more experience in diplomacy and understand the nuances of political dealings.

As soon as Bai entered his private quarters, he reflected on the discussion, his mind lingering on Kallus’s intentions regarding the Indra Empire and other major powers like the State of Avalon and the Bear Empire.

…

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