The Pirate King Gong Ao, the top name on the most-wanted list, truly wasn't to be underestimated! As a protagonist, he shouldn't have fallen for the same trick twice, but Yu Lian had indeed been left speechless by the man's words for a second time.
It took him a full three seconds to reach up and scratch his ear. Then he asked seriously, "You mean... your people? You want them to come to the Commonwealth as refugees?"
"Yes, but only to the New Shenzhou Sector, of course. And they wouldn't have to remain refugees for long. We'd just hope to become citizens after a while. They're a little unruly, sure, but they all have a skill or two. They'd make excellent additions to the population. What was it those big shots over in the Alliance called it? Right—'a highly qualified population'!"
"You're planning to have your people leave the Spiral Cross Nebula, and leave your protection?"
"No. From today onward, they should be your people." Gong Ao beamed, his face as radiant as a mass of peach blossoms. His bulldog-like face was plain, but it brimmed with joy; even the rust-colored wrinkles seemed to glow with happiness.
Yu Lian quickly schooled his face into an emotionless poker mask. "Lord Gong, you certainly know how to joke. I'm merely a soldier, just an ordinary instrument of society entrusted with the use of force, carrying out the carefully considered decisions of conscientious and intelligent politicians. I have a duty to protect the people, but the people aren't mine."
He paused, then said with irritation, "Only a king has the right to speak of his own people."
"Exactly! That's what I mean." Gong Ao slapped his thigh, looking as if he were saying, You finally get it.
"Lord Gong, you're certainly a man