Deposed Crown Prince: After three years of service on the frontier, the entire court knelt and begge

For your laughable 'Federal dignity,' you're willing to gamble away thousands of elite troops and several precious capital ships from the Seventh Fleet?

It could even drag the Federation into a quagmire of a war that will last for a century and whose outcome is uncertain.

Can Yang Xing afford this price?!

“Marianne is right!”

The tall, thin congressman from the Budget Department immediately voiced his support, his gold-rimmed glasses reflecting a cold light, his eyes revealing nothing but calculation!

"Dignity needs to be supported by strength!"

Xiao Ce uses the coldest reality to tell us that at this distance and in this time difference, he possesses relative strength!

A thousandfold return! Ladies and gentlemen, our initial investment was only ten million spirit crystals!

He has now promised a stable supply of 10% of the spiritual essence, which is worth far more than 10 billion!

And it's a continuous stream! This is already an astronomical profit!

What more could we ask for?

Gambling with the lives of the fleet and soldiers on that uncertain 80% chance?

If we win, we might gain more, but the losses will be devastating, and we will completely lose a 'partner' with huge potential.

If we lose, we will lose everything, lose face, and may even have a powerful enemy in the future!

No matter how you look at it, accepting this is definitely more cost-effective!

"Partners? What a joke!"

Another hawkish general scoffed:

"To discuss cooperation with a traitor who openly betrays us?"

Trying to get something from a tiger!

Today he dares to cut off the Star Hub and demand sovereignty, tomorrow he will dare to turn around and threaten the home planet with his fleet and the Abyss!

This precedent must not be set!

Otherwise, what if the governors of the resource-rich planets who were sent out to explore follow suit?

If everyone only pays 10% tax, how can the federal government function? What will be the foundation of its rule?!

"Will not!"

A senator who had been relatively silent, representing interstellar sociology research, suddenly spoke up:

"Gentlemen, let's analyze this calmly."

Planets like XZ-07, which simultaneously possess a powerful figure like Xiao Ce, unexpectedly acquire the core of the Abyss Roar, and contain such an exceptionally rich spiritual marrow vein, are extremely rare and unique cases in the entire history of the Federation's expansion!

It's an almost unrepeatable miracle!

Other peripheral colonies are either resource-poor, lack strong leaders, or lack key technologies or formidable enemies to whet their teeth.

They simply do not have the conditions or ability to replicate Xiao Ce's model!

Using this rare, isolated case to worry about a widespread risk of rebellion is like throwing the baby out with the bathwater!

He looked around at everyone and emphasized:

"Furthermore, what Xiao Ce said makes sense."

He was the one who first discovered that planet and sought help from it; the Federation did not pay for the initial exploration costs.

The seeds we planted bore fruit beyond imagination in Xiao Ce's hands.

The 10% he promised is already a thousandfold return, which is reasonable and justifiable!

From an investment perspective, the federal government has already made a fortune. Demanding more is not about upholding dignity, but rather greed leading to disaster!

He turned to the blue planet on the star map, his eyes gleaming with rationality:

"From a factual standpoint, Strucker's report has painted an unmistakably clear picture of the desperate prospects of the expedition."

Time, distance, logistics, and the rapidly developing war potential of Xiao Ce's homeland... these are all absolute disadvantages that we cannot overcome.

By accepting this offer, we gain a stable, long-term, and extremely valuable source of resources, and perhaps even a powerful potential ally in a distant galaxy in the future.

If we reject it, we will not only lose everything immediately, but also create a formidable enemy out of thin air and throw our precious fleet into an abyss of almost certain defeat.

Lord of Yangxing, esteemed members of parliament, please consider the true interests of the Federation!

"An ally? He doesn't deserve that title!"

Carlton roared, but his momentum was not as strong as before.

Whether someone is a good match or not cannot be determined by words alone.

Marian said coldly, "His current strength and potential are enough to make us consider this option! It's better than having another mortal enemy!"

Parliament was once again embroiled in heated debate, but the balance had begun to tip.

Hardliners continue to roar about dignity, precedent, and the need for punishment, but their voices lack conviction.

Many more people fell into deep thought, repeatedly looking at Strucker's alarming risk assessment and Xiao Ce's proposed thousand-fold return data.

The lure of enormous profits and the unbearable risks of war, like icy seawater, extinguished the anger in many people's hearts.

The Lord of Yang Star, seated at the highest point, listened in silence. His fingers slowly traced the star map relief armrest, his fingertips lingering on the point of light in the XZ-07 star system.

The fierce debate between the two sides, the despairing words in the Strucker report, and Xiao Ce's absolute confidence and control in the holographic meeting!

And the sociology-focused legislator's rational analysis of "isolated cases" and "thousandfold returns" collided, surged, and settled like a surging torrent in his profound mind.

When Congressman Carlton once again slammed his fist on the table, attempting to refute the claim with the "Federal Cornerstone," the Lord of the Sun Star raised his hand.

The entire domed hall instantly became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

All eyes, filled with awe, anxiety, and anticipation, were focused on the hand that symbolized the final verdict.

The Lord of Yangxing slowly swept his gaze over the tense faces below!

Finally, his voice returned to the image of that azure planet, deep and steady, yet carrying the absolute power to end all debate:

"The debate ends here."

"Xiao Ce is a ruthless and ambitious man. His actions are rebellious and his heart is unfathomable. He should be executed."

He first set the tone, giving the hawks a slight boost. But then, his tone abruptly shifted:

"However, the price of killing him is not something our Federation can easily pay at present."

The Strucker Report was a tearful and heart-wrenching piece.

Forcing an expedition is not a punishment, but a funeral.

The fleet is the backbone of the Federation; it must not be damaged by vanity or empty pride.

He paused, as if weighing the final weight, his voice carrying a worldly wisdom and pragmatism:

"Although his proposal is like a thorn in my side, upon closer examination, it is indeed as he said: the Federation gave him little, but he reciprocated with great generosity."

A thousandfold profit is already a gift from heaven. To demand 80% is unwise greed and will only bring about ruin.

"As for the concern that this trend of imitation will become widespread..."

The Lord of Yangxing turned his gaze to the sociology councilor and nodded slightly.

“Your words are very good. Xiao Ce’s case is an isolated one. He had the perfect timing, location, and popular support, which cannot be replicated by an ordinary person. It is foolish to abandon real benefits for vain concerns.”

He finally looked at the solemn and desperate look in Strucker's eyes as the image of him froze in its final frame, and made his final judgment:

"Grant his request."

"The Yangxing Federation accepts Xiao Ce's conditions. One of them is a share of the spiritual marrow resources, which will be used as a resource mining license tax and will be received by a federally designated agency."

The reopening of the Star Pivot Channel will be led by them, with our cooperation. The relationship between the two parties is tentatively positioned as a 'strategic resource partnership.'

These words caused an uproar below, but it quickly subsided.

The hawkish lawmakers looked ashamed, but none dared to voice their opposition. The pragmatists, on the other hand, secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

The Lord of Yangxing's voice suddenly turned sharp, carrying an undeniable majesty, his gaze seemingly piercing through space, fixed directly on the mission Strucker was about to face:

"Send a message to Commander-in-Chief Strucker:"

"Since this is a peace talk, there should be proper etiquette! Put away your past arrogance and abandon your so-called superior status as a celestial empire!"

Xiao Ce is a man who is known for his strength and domineering manner, but everything he says and does is within the rules, and he speaks based on his strength.

Such people, whose strength and trustworthiness are respected, can be considered partners.

"Meet with Xiao Ce again one day later. Be sure to be sincere in your attitude!"

Your stance must be clear!

To convey the federal government's decision on the terms of acceptance and to discuss the specific details of the handover.

If your improper attitude causes further trouble and this agreement cannot be reached...

"Strucker, you and the entire Seventh Squadron need not return!"

The cold judgment, like a royal decree, instantly reached the "Yuanwang" ship, which was sitting on pins and needles at the edge of subspace, via hyperspace communication.

When Strucker received this order from the highest will!

His tense nerves suddenly relaxed, and he almost collapsed into the command chair, his uniform soaked with cold sweat.

He looked at the words in the order, such as granting his request, strategic resource partner, requiring a sincere attitude, and no need to return, and felt a mix of emotions.

Was it humiliating? Of course it was.

But more than anything, it's a feeling of exhaustion after surviving a disaster and a helpless surrender to reality.

He slowly stood up, his gaze sweeping over the officers on the bridge who had also received the order summary and whose expressions were complicated, especially Model, whose face was full of resentment but dared not lash out.

"The order has been issued."

Strucker's voice was filled with unprecedented exhaustion, yet also a hint of relief!

"Supreme order: Accept Xiao Ce's conditions. One day later, I will represent the Federation to finalize the details with him."

He took a deep breath, as if to etch the admonition from the Lord of Yangxing into his very bones, and said in a solemn voice to the core communications team:

"Prepare the highest-level diplomatic communication protocol module. With 'strategic partner' level privileges, send an encrypted message to the XZ-07 star network hub anchor point confirming our acceptance of the terms and requesting a formal meeting one day later."

The wording... must reflect respect and a sincere desire for cooperation.

He paused, then added, his voice slightly hoarse:

"On my personal behalf, Strucker, I would like to add: ...I look forward to discussing the future with His Excellency Xiao Ce."

The message packet, carrying an almost humble tone never before seen in the Yangxing Federation, was sent toward the star region that had already closed its doors to them.

next day

At the core of the Star Network Mechanism, Xiao Ce looked at the respectfully worded confirmation message projected by Ling Xu, as well as Strucker's postscript. A faint, satisfied look of complete control finally flashed across his deep eyes.

He gently stroked the armrest of the throne and whispered to Yin Pan'er beside him, his voice calm and even:

"It seems that the Lord of Yangxing is ultimately a wise man."