Ceasefire Agreement

Lin Fan had many guesses about the System's third mission.

Firstly, the System would never issue meaningless tasks or provide meaningless rewards.

Last time, it had suddenly given him Mech Piloting, and this time it issued a mission with a reward of upgrading Mech Piloting to A.

This made Lin Fan very interested.

As a human with an exceptionally high IQ and a highly developed brain, Lin Fan quickly came up with hundreds of possibilities.

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

But this wasn't what Lin Fan needed to consider now. At the moment, he was more curious about the Oakes Empire's Legion Commander mentioned in the System's mission.

He remembered that the other party had stated they were just ordinary negotiators, but Lin Fan wouldn't doubt the System. If the System said it, then it was confirmed.

Soon, both parties entered the temporarily constructed space station. Inside, a long table was set up with a row of six chairs on each side.

After sitting down, Lin Fan looked at the six Oakes people opposite him and quickly and keenly locked onto the one sitting in the highest position.

It was obvious he exuded the aura of someone in command. This must be the Commander Adams the System mentioned.

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

"This gentleman isn't a negotiator, is he?"

After observing Lin Fan for a few seconds, Adams smiled and said nonchalantly.

"Indeed, he is the fleet commander who escorted me and is not a negotiator. These five of us are responsible for the negotiations; he is merely observing. You don't need to concern yourself with him, Your Excellency."

Ade, also seated at the head of the table, responded immediately.

However, Ade was somewhat surprised internally. The other party was truly perceptive. It seemed the negotiations wouldn't be easy.

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

"Alright, our main topic today is the handling of your empire's Ninth Prince."

"Hmph, get straight to the point. What are your terms?"

"It's very simple: your side withdraws from the Solar System. You have already occupied all our outer planetary territories. There's no need to be so ruthless!"

"That's impossible. If I agree to that today, I'll be executed by the Emperor tomorrow. Come up with another condition!"

"Our Federation only has this one condition. If the Ninth Prince suffers any accident, I don't think you can bear the consequences, can you?"

"As I said, 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, it's better for you to propose a more realistic condition, otherwise, we won't be able to reach an agreement."

"As expected, difficult," Ade thought to himself.

However, judging by their expressions, he didn't think the other party was lying. But if that were truly the case, then getting them to withdraw from the Solar System was destined to be impossible.

If it was a choice between death, the other party would also choose a death that would earn them a good reputation. After all, being threatened into retreating wasn't exactly a reputation booster.

So, where was the breakthrough? Ade couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.

"If that's the case, how about we change the condition to a ten-year ceasefire?"

At this moment, Lin Fan, sitting at the end of the table, spoke up. Ade and the four people with him turned to look at Lin Fan in surprise.

"Apologies, we need to discuss this internally."

"Take your time!"

In this space station, there were rooms on both sides specifically set up for such situations.

Ade signaled Lin Fan with his eyes and immediately led the way into one of the rooms on his side.

Lin Fan gave a wry smile, stood up, and followed them in.

"Lin Fan, I recall saying you were only here to observe!"

"Uncle Ade, I think it's necessary for me to educate you on some military matters from a military perspective! Otherwise, you might make the wrong judgment!"

"Oh?"

Upon hearing Lin Fan's answer, Ade's initial displeasure slowly turned into curiosity. Had he indeed overlooked some important aspect?

"Uncle Ade, why do you think we are able to maintain a temporary standoff with them at present?"

"Because six years ago, Liang Xingchen severely damaged them in the Asteroid Belt, so they won't be willing to engage in another major battle within the Asteroid Belt until they are confident!"

"That's right. Then, if they agree to withdraw from the Solar System, do you think the Federation would dare to venture out of the Asteroid Belt? If not, what's the point of making them withdraw?"

"Uh!"

Ade was stunned by Lin Fan's words. Yes, even if the other party withdrew from the Solar System, would they dare to leave the protection of the Asteroid Belt?

If nothing else, consider the Federation's only surviving Fourth Fleet.

Once they ventured out of the Asteroid Belt, if the enemy launched a swift counterattack, humanity would have no more fighting forces.

After all, if it weren't for the Asteroid Belt, sending Liang Xingchen's 20,000 warships against their more than 100,000 warships would be suicidal.

In the vacuum of space, where there were no environmental advantages or terrain, the battle came down to warship performance, commander formations, artillery fire, evasion, and other capabilities.

If the capabilities of both commanders were similar, warship performance would be the decisive factor. And everyone knew that the Federation's warships were not as advanced as those of the Oakes Empire.

This is why the First through Third Fleets never won a single battle at Proxima Centauri, Barnard's Star, or Epsilon Eridani.

They couldn't match the numbers, couldn't match the warships' performance, and lacked commanders with more experience. How could they possibly win?

So, does demanding the other side withdraw from the Solar System even make sense now?

It's completely meaningless. Not only that, but it would also waste one of the cards we hold.

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

Seeing Ade's expression, as if he had finally understood, Lin Fan continued speaking.

"I know. Your old man bragged about it to me enough!"

"Uh, so Dad had that side to him? I really didn't know. Anyway, that's beside the point. What we need right now isn't for them to leave the Solar System, but for time."

"Time?"

"Exactly. Once our Warp Drive Engines are fully deployed, that's when our counterattack will begin. And about the industrial robots, Uncle Ade, you should know about them too, right? Once we apply them on a large scale, our shipbuilding speed will increase several times over."

"So, what we truly need is time?"

"That's right, time. Nothing else matters!"

"Alright, I understand. I'm truly impressed by you, kid. You're a prodigy in military affairs, a prodigy in scientific research, and yet your insight into matters remains just as prodigious."

"Heh, thank you for the compliment, Uncle. Let's go out!"

Soon, the two returned to the negotiation table.

"Apologies for the interruption. Let's continue!"

"Certainly. But please don't bring up impossible conditions anymore; it's a waste of time."

"Then, as Lin Fan just suggested, let's change the condition to a ten-year ceasefire!"

"I can agree to that condition, but when do you plan to return the Ninth Prince?"

"Naturally, we will return him after the ten-year period concludes."

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

"Then what are your suggestions, sir?"

"If you want to 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 don't honor the agreement?"

"Fine, then five years!"

Lin Fan didn't want to listen to the rest. It was like haggling at a market.

After all, whether it was five years or ten years made no difference to Lin Fan. Both sides were just fighting for the ultimate diplomatic victory.

If the negotiation concluded with ten years, it would give the impression that Lin Fan had won. But if it ended with five years, it would seem as though the Oakes Empire had won.

Lin Fan estimated that the final agreement would likely be seven or eight years, with both sides compromising and reaching an accord.

Just as Lin Fan predicted, the final agreement reached was seven years.

However, just as everyone was preparing to sign the formal agreement, the unexpected happened again.