"Ransom? I don't recall becoming your prisoner!"
Viscount Ironwall forcibly suppressed his rage.
When had the Iron Wall Fleet, which roamed the stars unchallenged, ever suffered such humiliation?
"I admit your strength far exceeded our expectations, but we're not at the point where you can do whatever you like to us!"
"Oh? Then would you like to try forcing your way through?" Nie Yun watched him with a faint, ambiguous smile.
"Um..."
Viscount Ironwall glanced through the viewport at the vast army of Legendary Mecha surrounding the enormous Long-Lived One like pinpricks of starlight, and his heart trembled.
Force our way through? How many warships would I have left?
Even if we got through, would I really lead a battered remnant to attack another civilization?
Wouldn't that just be handing them a gift basket of half-dead targets?
As for returning the way they had come... who knew whether the enemy had already cut off their retreat?
Besides, reopening the intermittent wormhole would take preparation time, making that option equally risky.
"Ahem! Of course I'd prefer to settle this peacefully... It was a misunderstanding, after all. We only wanted to pass through."
"A misunderstanding? Heh, that wasn't what you said earlier.
"I originally wanted peace as well. After all, there was no old grudge or recent enmity between us.
"Unfortunately, you declared that you believed in nothing but fists and naval guns, Viscount. I had no choice but to 'win you over with virtue.'" Nie Yun spread his hands helplessly.
Viscount Ironwall opened his mouth, feeling so aggrieved that he wanted to curse.
Win us over with virtue, my ass!
If you'd told me you had over ten thousand Legendary Mecha, to hell with fists and naval guns! I'd have converted to Buddhism and laid down my weapons ages ago!
*You