Showdown

At noon the next day, the Federation's negotiators arrived at the outpost.

They came in a small transport aircraft. When the hatch opened, three people stepped down.

The leader was a gray-haired old man dressed in a dark gray Zhongshan suit. His face was lean, his gaze profound.

He carried a black briefcase in one hand. His pace was unhurried, yet steady.

Following behind him were a young man and woman. The man wore a military uniform, the woman casual clothes, and each carried a metal case.

Yang Shuyan greeted them at the landing pad. At the sight of the old man, she gave a slight bow.

"Elder Chen, you must have had a tiring journey."

The old man waved a hand. His voice was aged but clear. "Tiring? I would only be sitting around in Xingjing anyway. Getting out to stretch these old bones is good too."

He turned to look toward the outpost core, his eyes carrying a trace of emotion.

"So this is X-1173? It is even bigger than the reports described. You built it to this extent in just two months. You have all worked hard."

Yang Shuyan said, "The credit belongs to the engineering troops and the garrison."

The old man nodded, then asked, "Where are the people from the Dawn Empire?"

Yang Shuyan pointed southeast. "They are camped about one hundred and eighty kilometers from the outpost core. Five people: one Divine Intent and four domain-level fighters. Their leader is Xiao Hanyuan, deputy commander of the Dawn Empire Royal Guards."

The old man's brows shifted slightly. "Xiao Hanyuan... so it is him. He was the Dawn Empire's representative during that resource-site negotiation seven years ago. He is not easy to deal with—meticulous in everything he does, and extremely patient. Since he came in person,