Chapter 2880: Sincerity from the Empire
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Gui Hanshou’s words cast the meeting into even greater silence. Many experts who had been fighting in the frontline since the ‘old federation era’ were deep in thought. Even Bai Kaixin was silent, his eyes focused on the front. He seemed to be recalling the days when he, Lei Dalu, and the members of the
‘Great Horn Exo Society’ hunted the most brutal enemies to the ends of the earth for a bag of food.
But times had changed!
As a Cultivator, Bai Kaixin could sacrifice his own life without any hesitation, but what about the lives of billions of people of the federation?
“Lagree with Mr. Gui. Also, don’t forget that Li Yao is still on the other side of the sea of stars.
“A few years ago, Li Yao went to the imperium by himself for the purpose of spreading the tinder of Cultivation in the center of the sea of stars. n.o.body thought highly of him at that time. Everybody thought that it was impossible to spread the knowledge of Cultivation in the imperium. The fact that he
was able to collect some intelligence about the center of the sea of stars for the federation was already a great achievement.
“I didn’t expect that Li Yao would create one miracle after another in just a few years. He created a small world of Cultivators in the harsh environment at the center of the sea of stars. Even many people below the ground of the Empyrean Terminus Sector and the Empyrean Terminus Sector, the heart of
the Imperium of True Human Beings, became believers of the Great Dao of Cultivation!
“The great situation is hard to come by, and the fire of cultivation can die down at any time. If we don’t follow closely behind and do everything we can to make the fire burn brighter and brighter, how can we face Li Yao’s efforts? When will we be able to implement the Great Dao of Cultivation in the sea of
stars?
“Besides, Li Yao’s whereabouts are unknown right now. There is no telling whether he is dead or alive. He must be waiting for us and his compatriots of the federation to rescue him! If we turn a blind eye to him when he needs us most and watch him… die behind the stars, how are we going to explain it to
the thousands of citizens of the federation when the news spreads?
“Today, Li Yao’s influence has far exceeded his own. He has become the symbol of the federation and the idol of countless ordinary people. There’s no way that we can keep it a secret. It will leak out sooner or later. Do we have to stir the public opinion before we take action?”
A stone raises a thousand ripples. When the topic of ‘Li Yao’ was brought up, the experts present were all more agitated than before.
Of course, there were many people who insisted on rescuing Li Yao, but most of them were worried that Li Yao was too mysterious to be seen. G.o.d knows where he was hiding and what earthshaking things he had been up to, just like when he snuck into the Flying Star Sector, the Blood Demon Sector, and
the Ancient Saint World.
Besides, this time, he had even abandoned his body of flesh and blood. All that was left of him were ghosts that were wandering in the sea of stars. Even the G.o.ds of the universe could not find him, much less the federal army!
‘There was nothing that could be done. The rescue operation was like an arrow that had been nocked and had to be launched. Otherwise, it would be an extremely serious blow to the morale of the army, the hearts of the people, and their beliefs. It was impossible for Li Yao to be the only one charging
forward in the vast federation while everyone else was hiding in the back and cheering for him. If so, what kind of people would they be called “the sabers of the human civilization”?
For a moment, the crowd was heated and at loggerheads with each other. Their voices grew louder and louder, and no one was able to convince the other party. Ding Lingdang could only announce that the meeting would be adjourned for the time being. Everyone would take a moment to rest and think
over the details again.
“Your opinions are all very precious. It is not something that can be decided in a few words. Why don’t we take a rest and ask the chief to release the latest briefing on the imperium? We will discuss it then.
Ding Lingdang paused for a moment. Her eyes turned slightly red as she took a deep breath and said, “However, there is one thing—whether to end the battle quickly, to prepare for a few more years, to acc.u.mulate more strength, to send out an expedition army that is small in number, or to mobilize all
the forces of the federation. These are all normal strategical discussions. Everyone can speak freely without any worries.
“However, I hope that you will start from a point of view that is either based on the interests of the nation or based on our beliefs. Do not go. Do not go. Do not consider Li Yao’s personal safety.
“The blood of the strong flows for the weak. It has been the belief of the federation for hundreds of years. Experts such as Li Yao were prepared to sacrifice themselves before they set off to explore the center of the sea of stars. He would never want us to sacrifice countless people and the lives of the people
he should protect just to save him.
“Besides, I believe in G.o.d. He will be fine. Just like so many times in the past, he will certainly create a new… miracle this time.
Ding Lingdang stopped talking.
Her face pale, she looked at the experts and was the first to leave the meeting room.
When Jin Xinyue and Guo Chunfeng chased after her, they found that Ding Lingdang had not returned to the temporary office of the Speaker of Parliament next to the captain’s room of Kunlun but to her own room.
The two of them looked at each other. Jin Xinyue knocked on the door anyway. Pondering for a moment, she called tentatively, “Master’s wife?”
‘When the two opened the door and entered, they discovered that Ding Lingdang was sitting by the bed in a daze. Her face was even paler than just a moment ago, and her eyes were so red that they were burning. Her pair of hands, which had remained motionless even after wringing the throat of a demon
beast, were slightly trembling.
“Te discovered that the Speaker, the leader of the Patriot Front, and the emperor are too important for ordinary people.
Seeing the concern on their faces, Ding Lingdang laughed in self-mockery and mumbled, “I am clearly the one who should care about Li Yao the most in the entire federation. I should be the one who calls for everyone to find and rescue Li Yao at all costs. At the very least, according to my own personality,
I should let go of everything and rush to the center of the sea of stars to find Li Yao, or die in battle with him.
“But I can’t.
“Not only can I not abandon all the responsibilities on my shoulders and go to the center of the sea of stars by myself to fight to my heart’s content, I can not even reveal the slightest bit of my true feelings, lest I interfere with everyone’s judgement and cause thousands of innocent people to sacrifice
themselves in vain.
“It doesn’t feel good. The feeling of death is even more painful than the worst wounds I’ve ever suffered!
“Master’s wife…”
Jin Xinyue, who was a smooth talker, did not know how to comfort Ding Lingdang, either. She simply replied drily, “As you said, I’ve always turned misfortune into fortune. Everything will be fine!”
“Thope so.”
Ding Lingdang clenched her trembling fists. She was still wearing the Red Lotus Ring that Li Yao had given her a hundred years ago. Pausing for a moment, she shook her head and smiled. “It seems that I’m not a good Speaker. A good Speaker shouldn’t have such complicated feelings at all. She shouldn’t
have been so sentimental and caught in a dilemma. n.o.body should have seen through her thoughts.
“Tell me, Jin Xinyue. Was my concern for Li Yao obvious just now? Did everybody see my confusion and anxiety?
“Hehe. Maybe you’re right. You are more suitable to be the Speaker of Parliaments than me. I’m better off being a simple, charging soldier like Li Yao.
“It’s not like that, Mistress.”
Jin Xinyue said solemnly, “In the past, I always believed that I was far more suitable to be the Speaker of Parliament than you. But after the ‘Federation Defense War’, I’ve discovered that it is better to be aboveboard in many things. Since the beginning of the federal defense war, you’ve been doing very well
and deserve to be the Speaker of Parliament!
“But the current situation is completely different from during the defense of the federation.
Ding Lingdang sighed softly and said, “During the defense of the federation, the Black Wind Fleet was marching close. We had no other options except to fight until the end. I didn’t have to hesitate, feel lost, or make any choice. I could’ve stretched out my head or shrunk my neck, but what was there to be
scared of?
“But right now, it is different. Right now, we seem to have two choices, and my choice will determine the life and death of billions of people. One moment of hesitation or rashness might ruin the civilization that has lasted six hundred years. II…”
“Whether or not we march into the center of the sea of stars will be decided by the parliament.
“You don’t have to shoulder all the burden,” Jin Xinyue said.
“But as the Speaker of Parliament, I have more influence on the parliament than anybody else. Once the parliament makes a decision, I will carry it out without any hesitation and accept all the… glory and blame.
Ding Lingdang took a deep breath and said, “This is the responsibility of the Speaker of Parliament. Why else would people choose a Speaker when they have wasted so much time, energy, and resources?
“Forget it. Let’s not talk about that… Director Jin, is the communication with the Star Ocean Imperium going well? If my memory serves me right, a few stars.h.i.+ps of the Star Ocean Imperium jumped to the vicinity of the Dragon Snake s.p.a.ce Zone this morning. Have you received them?”
After Ding Lingdang poured out the confusion and sorrow in her heart, she was suddenly a different person and regained her usual firmness and confidence.
He addressed Jin Xinyue as ‘Director Jin’, indicating that the conversation was getting serious.
Jin Xinyue used to be the president of the ‘Dark Moon Foundation’, an intelligence organization of the federation. But after the defense of the federation, she had resigned from all her official posts and retreated to reflect on her mistakes.
It was not until the Star Glory Federation started a dialogue with the Star Glory Federation that she was reinstated by Ding Lingdang as the director of the ‘Special Liaison Bureau between the two parties. In fact, her subordinates were still the original subordinates of the ‘Dark Moon Foundation’. They
were still doing the foreign intelligence work of the Star Glory Federation.
Right now, the federation was in a relatively favorable position in the communication between the two parties. In order to win over the Star Glory Federation, the revolutionaries had offered a lot of technology and advanced magical equipment as a sign of their ‘sincerity’. This morning, the first batch of
advanced magical equipment and the high-level negotiators of the imperium had crossed the sea of stars to the federation…