Chapter 84: Negotiation

Words : 1458 Updated : Sep 17th, 2025

For the first time since the start of the conflict, the two fleets initiated communication. Superluminal communication, based on the principle of quantum entanglement, required entangled quantum pairs—one for each party—to enable direct contact. Since Xiao Yu hadn’t installed specific Superluminal Communication Devices on Luka ships, conventional communication methods had to be used in this situation. Along with the message Xiao Yu sent, he included a dictionary to assist the Luka Civilization in decoding the message’s content. After transmitting the message, Xiao Yu waited in silence. In war, logistics and supply lines were paramount, whether in planetary or interstellar battles. For instance, Xiao Yu could dismantle ships to extract sufficient energy to sustain his operations. The Luka fleet, with its limited numbers, had no such option. Given time, Xiao Yu knew he would inevitably catch up with them. This reality was apparent not only to Xiao Yu but also to the Luka Civilization. The situation had distilled into two possibilities for the Luka fleet: surrender or destruction—there was no third option. An hour passed without a response from the Luka fleet. Instead, their ships began slowing down and arranging themselves into a combat formation. “Still unwilling to yield?” Xiao Yu sneered, reorganizing his ships into formation and advancing. The ensuing battle was lopsided: Xiao Yu’s 40,000 ships against the Luka fleet’s mere 3,000. The Luka Civilization’s technological edge was utterly overwhelmed by Xiao Yu’s numerical superiority. After an hour of combat, the Luka fleet had dwindled to fewer than 2,000 ships, while Xiao Yu still commanded 35,000. At that moment, Xiao Yu received a message via radio waves. As the message arrived, the 1,900 remaining Luka ships began retreating in unison. Xiao Yu did not pursue them, allowing them to disengage from the battlefield. Across the vast void of space, separated by several thousand kilometers, the two fleets silently faced off. Accompanying the message was a dictionary, which Xiao Yu used to swiftly decode its content: “To the unknown Mechanical Civilization, we must concede that you have won this war. Survival is the primary instinct of all living beings. To preserve our existence, we choose to surrender. However, we have several conditions for you to consider.” Xiao Yu smirked and sent back a message. “Speak. I will consider your conditions carefully.” After a pause, another radio message was received. “First, we request that our living conditions be preserved to the maximum extent possible. We have only tens of thousands of people left and will not consume excessive resources. Second, we ask for as much freedom as you deem safe to provide. Third, should our civilization seek to reclaim us, we request your cooperation. Rest assured, our civilization would offer you terms that you will find more than satisfactory.” “In exchange for these terms, we offer the following. Full access to our technological knowledge and intelligence. If provided with adequate research facilities, we will contribute our expertise to further your technological advancements. In dealing with other unknown civilizations, we will serve as your advisory council, offering strategies aligned with your best interests. These are our conditions and what we can provide. We hope you understand our value. Ensuring our survival benefits you without any harm.” Reading this, Xiao Yu fell into deep thought. “It seems reasonable. If they’re being truthful, this deal is worth considering. With only tens of thousands of them, I could build a specialized City-Class ship without weapon systems just for them. Keeping them alive indeed offers more benefits than wiping them out. The ships they destroyed can be rebuilt in a resource-rich star system within decades, whereas I’ve already decimated their population.” With this rationale, Xiao Yu sent a reply: “I am pleased with your prudence. This spares both of us further losses. I accept your conditions. However, to demonstrate your sincerity, I require you to first deactivate your ships’ Energy Shields and destroy all Energy Cannon ports.” While Xiao Yu preferred a low-effort resolution, he wasn’t naive. In the dark void of the cosmic forest, he had learned to assume the worst about others’ intentions. Until his safety was ensured, Xiao Yu would maintain complete control over the situation. The Luka fleet remained silent for five minutes before Xiao Yu received a response. “As you wish.” Xiao Yu observed from thousands of kilometers away as the Luka ships suddenly deactivated their dim black Energy Shields, revealing their vulnerability. At this sight, Xiao Yu exhaled in relief. Without their Energy Shields, the Luka fleet’s overall combat strength dropped by at least 40%. At such close range, only a fraction of a second was needed for Xiao Yu’s Energy Cannons to reach their targets. This act of disarming displayed the Luka Civilization’s sincerity. Next, Xiao Yu witnessed the systematic dismantling of all visible weapons from the ships’ exteriors, including Energy Cannons, Laser Cannons, and hydrogen missile launchers. The Luka Civilization had fully disarmed their fleet. Xiao Yu, having gained an intimate understanding of their ship designs through the course of the war, knew precisely which weapons were equipped on ships of different tonnage and where they were located. It was impossible for the Luka Civilization to fake compliance during the disarmament process. After completing this task, Xiao Yu received a message. “We have followed your instructions to remove the Energy Shields and weapon systems. Do you have any further requests?” “I will send robots aboard your ships to inspect them for hidden weapons. Open your docking ports and cooperate with their work,” Xiao Yu replied coldly. Caution was paramount. Xiao Yu adhered to a principle of viewing all other civilizations with the utmost suspicion, never trusting their words without verification. The Luka Civilization responded. “Your request is excessive, but to demonstrate our sincerity, we will comply.” Xiao Yu quickly modified a batch of robots, equipping them with all available detection instruments. These robots were then distributed among 1,900 Village-Class ships, one for each surviving Luka ship. He piloted these vessels to approach the Luka fleet. To demonstrate his good faith, Xiao Yu disarmed the weapons systems of the Village-Class ships sent for inspection. He reasoned that even if these ships were destroyed, the loss would be negligible. The 1,900 Village-Class ships slowly closed in, and the Luka ships opened their docking ports. Xiao Yu directed 2 million robots to board the Luka ships, splitting them into 1,900 groups to match the number of target vessels. For the first time, Xiao Yu saw the interior of a Luka ship. The Luka Civilization appeared to be adapted to the X-ray spectrum, fundamentally different from humans. Light, in its broadest sense, includes visible and invisible spectra. Based on frequency, light is categorized into infrared, visible light, X-rays, and gamma rays. Humans perceive only visible light, but for the Luka Civilization, it seemed that X-rays served as their visible spectrum. Xiao Yu noticed equipment akin to human lighting systems, except that Luka lighting emitted X-rays instead of visible light. “What a diverse universe,” Xiao Yu mused, guiding his robots deeper into the ship. For the first time, Xiao Yu also encountered the Luka beings themselves. The Luka resembled depictions of aliens from human science fiction—large heads, big eyes, slender torsos, and an average height of about 1.4 meters. Like humans, they had arms and legs. Their appearance was so stereotypically alien that Xiao Yu almost laughed. From their expressions, Xiao Yu perceived a mix of sorrow and indignation, but he paid no mind, focusing entirely on his inspection. If they had intended to capture him, they should have prepared for the possibility of being defeated and captured themselves. During his exploration, Xiao Yu examined the Luka Energy Shield system. It consisted of numerous small devices embedded along the ship’s inner hull. Though Xiao Yu didn’t yet understand the precise mechanics, he wasn’t in a hurry. Once he secured the Luka fleet and its personnel, he would have all the time in the world for research. Xiao Yu methodically inspected every corner of the Luka ships. After completing the checks, he even confiscated all hydrogen missiles and any energy reserves not critical to basic ship operation. His reasoning was straightforward: without energy, even if hidden weapons remained, they would pose no threat. The Luka beings protested this action, but Xiao Yu dismissed their complaints with indifference. Over several days of rigorous inspections, Xiao Yu ensured that every Luka ship was stripped of potential threats. Satisfied, he finally issued a new order. “Next, I will retrofit fifty County-Class ships to serve as your residences. During this period, you will return to Tianyuan IV under the supervision of my fleet.”

Chapter 84: Negotiation

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