Deep Space Wandering Fleet
Chapter 652 - 648: Tension Crackles Like Swords Drawn and Crossbows Bent

Chapter 652: Chapter 648: Tension Crackles Like Swords Drawn and Crossbows Bent

The Foreign Minister, Yang Fan, after hearing the other party’s conditions and perceiving Zhang Yuan’s hint, nodded slightly.

He still patiently explained, "Lord Al Star Six, the papers we have given to you absolutely cannot have any problems! Because we have used this technology before, to help our own allies, and have also tested it on ourselves!"

"If your scientists have any doubts, our representatives can provide a series of explanations, but compensation is absolutely out of the question!"

"We have come with sincerity, and if your side still harbors this oppressive and defamatory attitude, then there’s nothing more to discuss."

The intention of the New Human Civilization was clear. Everyone knew that the so-called rulings of the interstellar court were nothing more than empty talk, and they understood what was really going on with those papers. If they truly wanted to negotiate, they should stop dragging these things out and wasting time.

What a joke-- three thousand AmiBa Points could buy several semi-finished War Stars, and since the other party had already acquired the knowledge, how could they think of a refund for a deal that was made willingly? Impossible!

Could they really expect the other party to forget this knowledge? No way!

Lord Al Star Six hesitated for a moment as advice from his staff came through his earpiece.

"...Your Excellency, the New Human Side has proposed further explanations of these papers, which is a favorable condition."

Those papers indeed held great value; that’s why they had paid a hefty price for them in the first place. If the New Human Civilization side was willing to take the time to further explain, that would be a valuable prize indeed.

But it was still far from their ultimate goal...

Perhaps, with more pressure, the other side would offer even more?

With this thought in mind, Lord Al Star Six incessantly demanded a refund from the Humans, insisting that the papers were fake and stubbornly refusing to budge.

This caused the negotiations to reach an impasse, and the atmosphere gradually became more serious, even tense with the possibility of conflict.

After some time, someone proposed a solution, but before it could be discussed, the other side rejected it.

"Too greedy! That damned Squid!"

Zhang Yuan noticed some soldiers from the Apollo Civilization fidgeting around, deliberately flashing their various weapons.

This act was most likely a deliberate display by the other side, intending to pressure the negotiators through psychological warfare.

He scoffed internally, "They really still want to threaten our lives! Would they dare?"

Being on foreign territory, Zhang Yuan wasn’t sure whether the other side would respect the unwritten rule of "not striking a messenger."

But under the scrutiny of so many cameras and hidden Laser Weapons, 20 Humans could be squashed in an instant, as simply as crushing mosquitoes.

However, one must not underestimate the Humans; their Power Armors were installed with miniature nuclear bombs, ready to detonate at any moment!

Should those nuclear bombs be detonated, the outer ring of New Human armed spaceships would instantly blow up this spaceship from the Apollo Civilization, leading to mutual destruction.

"Lord Al Star Six, our negotiation time this round is 4 hours and 13 minutes, please use the time wisely. If we are unable to return on time, it means the negotiations have failed... and your spaceship shouldn’t expect to make it back either."

Old Yang showed unprecedented firmness this time, revealing this piece of information.

Then he alluded to the fact that they were carrying bombs, suggesting that any treacherous schemes would be pointless, as mutual destruction would be meaningless.

Upon hearing this, Lord Al Star Six’s face darkened instantly, but it was obscured by his helmet and invisible to outsiders.

Meanwhile, in the control room where several Big Squids were observing the negotiations, they fell into silence.

"No wonder the cunning New Human Civilization agreed to have the negotiations take place on our spaceship..."

"They brought a nuclear bomb? What do we do now?"

"Let’s negotiate properly."

Although Lord Al Star Six was angry, as a qualified ruler, he still had enough composure to sit at the forefront.

Opposite him, Old Yang straightened his back, but couldn’t help breaking out in a cold sweat.

At this moment, Zhang Yuan spoke for the first time, slightly easing the stiff atmosphere, extending a hand and showing five fingers, "... Fifty AmiBa Points! We are willing to compensate with fifty AmiBa Points for the unmanned control center we destroyed."

Zhang Yuan’s words shocked Lord Al Star Six, who couldn’t believe this man’s audacity to slash the price from three thousand to fifty!

Of course, he never really expected to extort three thousand AmiBa Points. If he could get eight hundred or a thousand, that would be acceptable to settle the matter.

But fifty was far too little!

"Fifty is impossible!"

"Three thousand is also impossible!"

"... We take a step back. Your New Human Civilization side only needs to pay 2950 AmiBa Points, and our side will immediately withdraw the troops! Alternatively, some sensing technology would also suffice..."

Zhang Yuan frowned slightly, not understanding the reasoning of the other side at all; how was this stepping back?

With that attitude, the Humans could only stay firm, even resorting to bluster.

No money! No technology!

Only their lives at stake!

If even fifty AmiBa Points were unacceptable, then they might as well go to war!

Some Human diplomats began to play the good cop, inventing stories about a major Human base behind them, claiming that this War Star must be preserved at all costs, or all those involved would face severe punishment!

All the New Human high-levels would be executed!

This fabricated story was for Lord Al Star Six’s ears, to make it clear that if it was going to hurt either way, they might as well fight to the end.

Others, like Zhang Yuan and his colleagues, kept on haggling, insisting on only compensating fifty AmiBa Points, refusing to give up.

The first day of negotiations ended amidst this great division, and the outcome was naturally inconclusive.

Lord Al Star Six watched the twenty departing Humans, wishing he could order their execution.

But a shred of remaining rationale stopped him.

After going through the decontamination chamber and a lengthy bio-processing, Lord Al Star Six turned to the other Big Squids in the room and asked with a dark face, "What do you think?"

These were his brain trust, the team behind the scenes skilled in negotiations.

One of the Squids considered for a moment then said, "Your Highness, although the negotiations are not going smoothly right now, it doesn’t mean future ones will be the same."

"Our current demand for a high compensation is obviously something the other side will not agree to. I think there is still room for discussion..."

Upon hearing this, Lord Al Star Six’s expression eased slightly.