Defining the Sphere of Influence! The Price!
After a long while, Sparkle finally stopped, panting, and looked up at him with her rosy face and hazy eyes, asking as if seeking praise:
"How's it going? Has morale been boosted enough?"
Lin Hai looked into her bright eyes and gently wiped away the traces from the corner of her lips.
"The results are remarkable. It seems your academic exchange with Phantylia has been very fruitful."
Sparkle was overjoyed and wrinkled her nose smugly. "Of course! I'm a genius!"
She snuggled against him, whispering, "From now on... I'll encourage you like this every day, okay?"
Lin Hai chuckled and patted her back, "Okay. But now, I need to go and deal with those two guests first."
Sparkle reluctantly let go of his hand, straightened his slightly disheveled collar, and said with a grin:
"Go ahead! Talk it out! Even if things fall apart, it's okay, I'll encourage you again!"
Looking at her vibrant appearance, Lin Hai felt all the gloom in his heart vanish.
He pinched her cheek, turned around, and continued walking towards the tightly closed alloy door at the end of the corridor.
His steps seemed more steady and powerful than before.
Deep within Qlipoth Fort, the heavy doors of the meditation room slid open silently.
The interior was bathed in cold, white light, and the furnishings were so simple they were almost icy, consisting of only a long metal table and a few chairs.
The air circulation system emitted a low hum, adding to the oppressive atmosphere.
Lin Hai entered the room, his gaze calmly sweeping over the two people sitting upright across the table.
Topaz and Aventurine stood up almost simultaneously. Although they tried their best to remain calm, their slightly tense shoulders, pale faces, and the fleeting tension in their eyes revealed the immense pressure they were under.
The immense, intangible pressure emanating from Lin Hai, which seemed to merge with the gravity of the entire space, made this secret room feel like a deep-sea prison.
"Mr. Lin," Topaz spoke first, his voice slightly hoarse, "On behalf of the highest board of directors of Interastral Peace Corporation, we apologize for this... unconventional method of contact. We reiterate that the company sent us here with absolutely no hostility, but with the utmost sincerity, hoping to initiate a new dialogue with you and with Belobog."
Aventurine stood slightly behind her, nodded slightly, and added:
"The company acknowledges that some past decisions may have contained... misjudgments. We are willing to reassess our relationship with Belobog and seek a... mutually beneficial and sustainable model of coexistence."
Lin Hai walked to the head seat and sat down, his posture casual, yet he naturally became the center of attention in the entire space.
He didn't rush to respond to the other person's opening remarks, but simply tapped his fingertips lightly on the cold metal tabletop, producing a rhythmic tapping sound.
Each sound seemed to strike the heartstrings of Topaz and Aventurine.
The silence lasted for several seconds, oppressively so.
Finally, Lin Hai raised his eyes, his gaze as tangible as a physical object, and slowly spoke:
"Sincerity needs to be demonstrated through concrete terms. My request is simple: a spherical airspace with a radius of one hundred light-years centered on Jarilo-VI- VI shall henceforth be designated as the autonomous territory of Belobog. All armed forces, intelligence personnel, and unregistered research vessels of the Interastral Peace Corporation shall permanently withdraw from this area. Within this territory, the will of Belobog shall be the supreme law."
One hundred light-years!
Topaz and Aventurine's pupils suddenly contracted!
Despite having prepared for the worst before coming, hearing the number still made their hearts sink!
What does 100 light-years mean?
That means taking over the vast star system that the company has operated in for thousands of years, encompassing dozens of important resource star systems, several key trade routes, and multiple cutting-edge observation stations...
We'll hand it over!
This is no longer a matter of ceding territory and paying reparations; it's practically a dismantling of the company's hegemony in the northern border region of Xinghai!
Topaz's breathing quickened instantly, and she instinctively wanted to retort:
"Mr. Lin! Isn't this scope... a bit too broad? It involves too many interest groups and strategic pivots; I'm afraid the company..."
"Afraid of what?" Lin Hai interrupted her, his tone still calm. "Is it that you're afraid you can't accept it, or... do you think I lack the strength to protect this territory?"
Aventurine quickly stepped forward, trying to ease the tension. "Mr. Lin, we are not questioning your strength. It's just that such a massive territorial change requires time to coordinate the interests of all parties, and also... more specific safeguards to ensure the long-term stability of the region. We can start with the core areas, such as the Jarilo system itself..."
"There's no room for negotiation," Lin Hai interrupted again, his gaze sharpening. "This isn't negotiation, this is notification. Accept, or... refuse."
The moment the word "refusal" was uttered, the temperature in the room seemed to plummet!
Topaz and Aventurine felt a chilling killing intent sweep across their skin, making their hair stand on end!
They had no doubt that if they uttered even a single word of dissent, they would have no chance of leaving this secret room alive today!
Topaz's face turned deathly pale, and he exchanged a desperate look with Aventurine.
They both saw the same answer in each other's eyes:
The significant concessions granted by the company headquarters appear ridiculously weak in the face of this blatant declaration of force.
Their mission at this moment is not to fight for profits, but... to preserve the company's dignity as much as possible and avoid immediate, devastating conflict.
After a long, agonizing silence, Topaz seemed to have all her strength drained away, and spoke in a hoarse voice:
"... the company... accepts your terms."
Every word carried immense weight, representing an unprecedented and humiliating concession by the Interastral Peace Corporation, which had dominated the cosmos for thousands of years.
Aventurine lowered his head with difficulty and added, "We will draft a plan as soon as possible regarding the relevant details and withdrawal timetable, and submit it to you for review."
Lin Hai wore a faint, indifferent smile, as if he had only accomplished a trivial task.
He leaned forward slightly. "The terms are settled. Now, let's talk about your other objective. This risky infiltration, besides conveying this so-called goodwill, is more importantly, to see for yourself... just how strong I really am, isn't it?"
Topaz and Aventurine froze, instinctively avoiding his gaze.
They both understood each other's intentions, but being so bluntly exposed still made them feel embarrassed.
Lin Hai didn't need their answers.
He slowly stood up. "Since you're here, I can't let you come for nothing. I'll let you, and everyone else in Xinghai who's watching... see things more clearly."
He took out his communicator and issued the command, "The Herta, Sparkle, activate global live stream, coordinates: Belobog, Everwinter Mountain Range."
The command was issued, and within moments, the wall in one corner of the secret room suddenly became transparent, transforming into a huge real-time video screen!
The screen displays the vast, undulating landscape of the Everwinter Mountain Range, covered in millennia-old ice and snow.
At the same time, a striking title appeared at the top of the screen: [Lord of Belobog, Lin Hai, Starry Sea Declaration].
The signal source was forcibly intercepted by the Herta with the highest authority, covering almost all mainstream and encrypted communication networks in the starry sea!
"Let's go." Lin Hai turned and walked out of the secret chamber. "I'll take you to a more open place."
Topaz and Aventurine exchanged glances, a strong sense of unease rising within them, yet they dared not disobey in the slightest and could only grit their teeth and follow.
A moment later.
A small aircraft carrying three people arrived above the main peak of the Everwinter Mountain Range.
The aircraft hovered, and the hatch opened.
A biting, cold wind rushed in instantly.
Lin Hai took a step forward, standing in mid-air, his clothes fluttering in the strong wind.
Topaz and Aventurine followed closely behind, standing at the hatch, feeling the chill of the bottomless abyss below and the godlike or demonic aura of the person in the air, their faces turning pale.
Below, a snow-covered mountain range stretches for thousands of miles, majestic yet deathly silent.
The live stream across the entire Star Ocean has begun!
Across the starry sea, in front of countless screens, whether it was the high-ranking officials of the Interastral Peace Corporation, the decision-makers of the Xianzhou Alliance, the nobles of Penacony, the war commanders of the Antimatter Legion... or the observers of countless small and medium-sized forces...
Everyone's attention was forcibly drawn to this icy, snowy landscape!