Another piece of information that had not yet been made public—and which would likewise stir up a wave of worldwide public opinion once revealed—came from Xiao Ran's mouth. It left everyone present who heard it dizzy with shock. They had never imagined that the Federation's surrender would end in such a manner. It was practically as if the Federation, which had once dominated Earth, had suddenly become someone else's lackey.
The key point was the surrender of military authority, something those present found difficult to accept. Even with Xiao Ran's earlier remarks preparing them for it, though they still found it hard to accept, they quickly recovered. However, the looks they gave Xiao Ran became even stranger.
"The military restructuring will require enormous investment from us, but for all of you, it will be a tremendous opportunity." Xiao Ran lightly tapped the armrest and said, "New military bases, units, warships, weapons—along with all kinds of technologies involving energy, materials, and more—will all be prerequisites for our cooperation.
"As things stand, aside from those specially customized units, the Revenant is, in my vision, at most a unit for local forces. When we face threats from beyond Earth, those units will be incapable of providing any real assistance beyond being used as expendable assets. Those warships will be nothing more than targets as well.
"Therefore, during the military integration phase, I need new units, warships, and weapons to equip the entire military. That includes the renovation of the White Star, transforming it into a true fortress of war. Because of the time constraints, neither the Federation nor any single Heavy Industry Enterprise present can meet my demands alone. That is why I hope everyone can unite and contribute their share to this military integration.
"As for how we cooperate, you may formulate