Taneleer Tivan felt that this Earthling named Harry Osborn was insulting her.
She had come to make a deal, not sell her company—besides, Devan Group was the foundation that let her buy whatever she wanted. How could she possibly sell it so easily?
She lent money, planted a large batch of indentured laborers, then reaped Star Coin after Star Coin, buying whatever she wanted. Wasn't that wonderful?
"You really know how to joke..."
"I'm not joking. Furthermore, the Star Sea Community has passed an Interstellar Law prohibiting the mortgaging or trading of living beings in any form, as well as forcing living beings to perform labor."
Taneleer froze for a moment. "What does that have to do with me? I'm not a member of your Community."
"Of course it has something to do with you. You have violated the interests of species belonging to Community member states. In my capacity as Chair of the Star Sea Community, I order you to release them."
Harry brought up a news segment. The footage came from Osborn Cosmic Broadcasting and was reporting on the First Star Sea Assembly.
In addition to establishing the first Chair and the permanent member states, as well as setting certain standards, the Assembly had also passed several laws. One of them was the "Prohibition of Autonomous Lifeform Trade."
But over half of Devan Group's slaves... Indentured laborers came from species belonging to Star Sea Community member states. If she released those laborers, the group's production would practically be crippled by more than half!
"That's impossible, Mr. Osborn. Stop joking around," Taneleer said, her tone deeply displeased.
I'm talking business with you, and you're talking human rights? At Devan Group, human rights are things that can be bought and sold!
Yet the female slave behind her heard this exchange.