The smile on Jane's glass-sphere head remained unchanged. Smiling, he closed the article projected from the Star Sea Network and asked Ralph, who stood before him,
"I imagine Ambassador Ralph must have something very important to discuss to have come to my Thousand Mechanisms Star."
Ralph looked at the robot before him and ground his teeth in hatred. How many years had it been? Throughout his years as Shatra's ambassador to Star Sea City, this very robot had gotten the better of him time and time again.
But remembering the important task entrusted to him, Ralph let out a heavy breath.
He looked at Jane and said earnestly,
"Ambassador Jane and I are at least somewhat acquainted. I've come to discuss compensation from the Mechanicus to the Gonzales Co-Link."
Without waiting for Jane to speak, Ralph continued,
"Of course! I can't simply demand that your civilization compensate Gonzales, especially when your civilization has complied with every regulation and act!"
Ralph could not help feeling aggrieved as he spoke of the Mechanicus having complied with every regulation and act. Ever since the Star Sea Alliance's founding, the Six Giants had been the ones playing word games. This was the first time a lesser civilization had used the Star Sea Regulations Act to make its case.
But Ralph had no choice. Supreme Leader Duke and the entire Shatra leadership were focused on the coming campaign to plunder Balchik. Yet Shatra could not be allowed to lose face, so his superiors had simply instructed him to put on a coordinated performance with the Mechanicus.
Jane seemed unsurprised. His synthesized voice sounded,
"So, what does Ambassador Ralph propose?"
Ralph's expression darkened as he said quietly,
"Return all the resources plundered from the Gonzales Co-Link."
Jane replied,
"Everything has a price. How much does the