Ceasefire Agreement

Speaking of Mission 3 issued by the system, Lin Fan had quite a few guesses.

First of all, the system would never issue meaningless missions, nor would it give meaningless rewards.

Last time, it had suddenly given him a personal ability, Mech Piloting, and this time it had suddenly issued another mission, with the reward being an upgrade of Mech Piloting to A-rank.

That made Lin Fan pay close attention.

As a human with an off-the-charts IQ and an extremely high degree of brain development, Lin Fan quickly came up with hundreds of possibilities.

However, Lin Fan believed the most likely possibility was that he would encounter some situation in the future that required Mech Piloting.

But that was not what Lin Fan needed to consider right now. At this moment, he was more curious about the Oakes Empire's military commander mentioned in the system mission.

He remembered that they had said there would only be ordinary negotiators, but Lin Fan would not doubt the system. Since the system had said so, it had to be certain.

Soon, both sides entered the temporarily constructed space station. A long table had been set up inside, with a row of six chairs on each side.

After taking his seat, Lin Fan looked at the six Oakes people across from him and quickly, keenly locked onto the one seated at the head of the table.

The air of authority around him was obvious. This should be Commander Adams mentioned by the system.

Sensing Lin Fan's gaze, Adams looked back at him with his piercing eyes.

"This gentleman does not seem to be a negotiator, does he?"

After looking at Lin Fan for several seconds, Adams smiled and spoke casually.

"Indeed. He is the Fleet Commander who escorted me here, not a negotiator. The five of us are responsible for the negotiations. He is merely observing, so there is no need for you to concern yourself, sir."

Ed, who was likewise seated at the head of the table, immediately replied.

However, Ed was still somewhat surprised inwardly. The other side was truly sharp. These negotiations would not be easy.

"If you say so, then so be it! We may begin!"

"Very well. The main topic today is the handling of the Ninth Prince of your Empire."

"Hmph. Speak plainly. What are your conditions?"

"Very simple. Your side withdraws from the Solar System. You have already occupied all our extrastellar territories. There is no need to drive us to extinction, is there?"

"That is impossible. If I agree to that today, the Emperor will have me executed tomorrow. Propose another condition."

"Our Federation has only this one condition. If anything happens to the Ninth Prince, I doubt you can bear the consequences either."

"I will say it again. If the Ninth Prince dies, the Emperor will execute me. But if I agree to withdraw from the Solar System, the Emperor will also execute me. So you should propose a more realistic condition. Otherwise, there is no way these talks can continue."

As expected, he was difficult to deal with, Ed thought silently.

Still, judging from his expression, Ed did not think he was lying. But if that was truly the case, making them withdraw from the Solar System was destined to be impossible.

Since death awaited him either way, he would choose a death that at least preserved his reputation. After all, being forced to withdraw his troops under threat was hardly honorable.

Then where was the breakthrough? Ed could not help feeling a headache coming on.

"If that is the case, how about changing the condition to a ten-year ceasefire?"

At that moment, Lin Fan, seated at the far end, spoke up. Ed and the four people he had brought all turned toward Lin Fan in surprise.

"Apologies, but we need to discuss this internally."

"As you wish!"

There was a room on each side of the space station, specifically set up for situations like this.

After signaling Lin Fan with his eyes, Ed immediately led the way into one of the rooms on his side.

Lin Fan gave a wry smile, stood up, and followed him inside.

"Lin Fan, I believe I said you were only here to observe!"

"Uncle Ed, I think it is necessary for me to explain some things to you from a military perspective! Otherwise, you will make the wrong judgment!"

"Hm?"

After hearing Lin Fan's answer,

Ed's initial displeasure gradually turned into curiosity. Had he really overlooked some important factor?

"Uncle Ed, why do you think we have been able to maintain this temporary standoff with them?"

"Because six years ago, Liang Xingchen hurt them badly in the Asteroid Belt. So until they are confident, they will not be willing to fight another major battle with us inside the Asteroid Belt!"

"Exactly. Then, if they agree to withdraw from the Solar System, would the Federation dare to leave the Asteroid Belt? If we would not, what use would there be in making them withdraw?"

"Uh!"

Lin Fan's words immediately stunned Ed. That was right. Even if they withdrew from the Solar System, would they dare to leave the protective barrier of the Asteroid Belt?

Leaving everything else aside, just look at the Federation's only remaining Fourth Fleet.

The moment it left the Asteroid Belt, if the enemy doubled back, humanity would no longer have any troops capable of fighting.

After all, outside the Asteroid Belt, how could Liang Xingchen's twenty thousand warships possibly fight more than a hundred thousand enemy warships? Would that not be seeking death?

In space, where there was no environment or terrain to exploit, the two sides competed in warship performance, the commander's formations, bombardment, evasive maneuvers, and other capabilities.

If the commanders on both sides were not far apart in ability, then warship performance became the decisive factor. And everyone knew that the Federation's warships were not as advanced as those of the Oakes Empire.

That was why the First through Third Fleets had never won a single battle at Proxima, Barnard's Star, or Epsilon Eridani.

They could not match the enemy in numbers, could not match them in warship performance, and their commanders did not have more experience either. What could they use to win?

So, was there really any meaning in demanding that the enemy withdraw from the Solar System now?

There was no meaning at all. Not only that, it would waste one of the cards in their hand.

"Uncle Ed, you know about the Warp Drive Engine, right?"

Seeing that Ed's expression seemed to show that he had figured it out, Lin Fan continued.

"I do. Your old man has certainly shown off about it in front of me often enough!"

"Uh, so the old man has that side to him too? I really did not know. Back to the point: what we need right now is not for them to withdraw from the Solar System, but time."

"Time?"

"That is right. Once our Warp Drive Engines are fully deployed, that will be when our counterattack begins. Uncle Ed, you should also know about Industrial Robots. Once we use them on a large scale, our shipbuilding speed will increase severalfold."

"So what we truly need is time?"

"That is right. Time. Nothing else has any meaning!"

"Good, I understand. I am truly convinced by you now, kid. A monster in military affairs, a monster in scientific research, and even your perspective on matters is monstrous."

"Heh, you flatter me, Uncle. Let us go back out!"

Soon, the two returned to the negotiating table.

"Apologies for the discourtesy. Let us continue!"

"That is fine, but do not bring up impossible conditions again. Otherwise, it is merely a waste of time."

"Then let us go with what Lin Fan just said and change the condition to a ten-year ceasefire!"

"I can agree to that condition. But when do you intend to return the Ninth Prince?"

"Naturally, he will be returned after the ten-year period ends."

"Impossible. What if you use the Ninth Prince to threaten us again after ten years?"

"Then what is your opinion, sir?"

"If you return him afterward, I can agree to five years at most. If you return him now, I can agree to ten years!"

"Returning him now is impossible. What if you go back on your word?"

"Fine, then five years!"

Lin Fan no longer wanted to listen to what followed. It was much like haggling at a marketplace.

After all, whether it was five years or ten years made no difference to Lin Fan. What both sides were fighting over now was nothing more than the final diplomatic victory.

If they ultimately agreed on ten years, it would feel as though Lin Fan had won these negotiations. But if they settled on five years, it would feel like a victory for the Oakes Empire.

By Lin Fan's estimate, it would most likely end up being seven or eight years, with both sides taking a step back to reach an agreement.

Just as Lin Fan had expected, the final agreement reached by both sides was seven years.

But just as everyone was preparing to sign the formal agreement, another accident occurred.