Du Kao's expression remained unchanged, his voice as steady as though he had prepared his speech long ago. "It's not that I want war. I want to avoid it too, but I have no choice. Blue Star belongs to its people, after all. I'm merely conveying their choice."
Yan chuckled, but there was not a trace of amusement in her golden eyes.
"Fine. Since you've made your choice, I only hope you won't regret it later. Now..."
She leaned back in her chair. "Let's discuss the direction of our future cooperation."
At those words, Du Kao straightened almost instinctively.
He knew everything before this had merely been a formality. The main event was only now beginning.
Whether the Angel Civilization was willing to continue investing in Ge Xiaolun was what concerned him most today.
Without the resources and technical support the angels provided, they would struggle to develop a fledgling Galaxy Power into a true chief god.
"May I ask what Divine Kaisa has in mind?"
Du Kao lowered his voice slightly, an unconscious earnestness creeping into it.
"Queen Kaisa's wishes are quite clear. You can have this Galaxy Power, Ge Xiaolun. The angels will no longer intervene in his future development."
"Before that, however, your Super God Academy must reimburse us angels for the resources we previously invested. Once payment is complete, we'll hand over the angels' share of the access backdoors." (A quick patch: the protagonist's genetic backdoors were already repaired using the Great Clock during his advancement to a third generation super soldier.)
"Impossible. Absolutely impossible!"
Du Kao's voice shot up, and he nearly rose from his wheelchair.
He braced both hands on the armrests, his chest heaving, his voice carrying a hysteria he could not suppress.
"How could Divine Kaisa give up on the Galaxy Power? Don't you want a better future? Doesn't the angels' Justice Order need an ally at the level of a chief god?"
He could not accept it.
He absolutely could not accept the angels suddenly withdrawing their investment, much less demanding repayment for the resources previously consumed in researching the Galaxy Power.
Those resources amounted to an astronomical sum. Even selling every last one of them might not cover it.
Though he desperately wanted the share of the access backdoors held by the angels, compared with that resource bill, losing a little pair of wings was no great loss.
At the sight, Yan's gaze turned cold.
She slowly stood, looking down at Du Kao with her golden eyes, her voice devoid of any warmth.
"These are Queen Kaisa's wishes. If you don't want to comply, take it up with her. If you dare."
Du Kao's Adam's apple bobbed.
He forcibly suppressed the emotions churning in his chest, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. When he opened them again, the hysteria in them had been replaced by cold deliberation.
"I know what you're thinking."
His voice steadied again, but carried a blade-sharp chill. "That Qin Feng may also be a Galaxy Power, but who can guarantee his origins are clean? What if he's a void creature? By doing this, you're undoubtedly dragging the angel race into an abyss beyond redemption!"
"How dare you!"
Yan slammed her palm onto the table, making the entire conference table shudder. Genuine fury surged in her golden eyes.
"Du Kao, let me tell you this: you need evidence for your claims. If you dare slander Qin Feng again, don't expect mercy from my Flame Sword!"
Behind her, Leng and A Zhui both took half a step forward, looking ready to fight at the slightest disagreement.
Standing behind Du Kao, A Jie immediately broke into a cold sweat at the sight.
Holy crap!
General, you really will say anything!
You know perfectly well those two sides are practically inseparable right now, yet you insist on driving a wedge between them. Who else would they beat up but you?
I don't think this little body of mine can take a thrashing from angels...
Du Kao also realized he had spoken too recklessly.
Whatever else Qin Feng might be, he was the ruler of a civilization. If Qin Feng learned that he had made such baseless accusations against him, Du Kao would be in serious trouble.
But he had been pushed too far just now, and the words had slipped out before he could think.
By the time he came to his senses from that hysterical state, it was already too late to take them back.
So he drew a deep breath, forced down his surging emotions, and softened his voice somewhat. "I'm not trying to slander Qin Feng. I only want you to give it more consideration. Investing carries risks, after all."
"Having another investment prospect is a good thing, but surely you shouldn't abandon your original stake? I'm not saying Ge Xiaolun is necessarily stronger than Qin Feng, but shouldn't you angels keep another option open?"
Yan stood there, her golden eyes regarding him coldly, as though looking at a prisoner whose sentence had already been passed.
Then she suddenly gave a soft laugh.
"Du Kao, that isn't something we soldiers need to consider. My answer remains the same. If you have any objections, you're welcome to take them up with Queen Kaisa."
She waved to the two behind her. "Let's go."
Leng and A Zhui both gave him a cold snort, then followed Yan out of the conference room.
The conference room's alloy door closed behind the three of them with a dull thud.
Du Kao sat alone in his wheelchair, his hands gripping the armrests tightly, his face ashen.
A Jie stood silently behind him, barely daring to breathe.
When Yan and her companions passed through the corridor and reached the training ground, they were greeted by a bustling scene of hauling.
Qin Feng reclined at an angle on his throne, watching leisurely as his Shadowkhan carried away the Dark Alloy Armor in an orderly fashion.
Ten suits of armor were stacked neatly on the ground, each gleaming with a dark metallic sheen.
Yan walked up to him and glanced at the pile of Dark Alloy Armor being carried away.
"Where did these come from?"
Qin Feng turned his head, saw her, and curved his lips slightly. "Nothing much. I acted as a sparring partner for a while. This is what they paid me."
Yan glanced at Lian Feng beside them, whose eye was twitching, and snickered.
"A sparring partner? You beat them all by yourself?"
"Not quite."
Qin Feng spread his hands. "I only sent one little soldier."
Yan raised an eyebrow but did not press him.
Qin Feng was not the one losing out, anyway.
She had no interest in getting involved in the Super Soldier Company's nonsense.
Just then, the hurried sound of a wheelchair rolling over the ground came from the direction of the base's main building.
With A Jie pushing him, Du Kao rushed to the training ground. The moment they rounded the corner, he saw a Shadowkhan dragging the final suit of Dark Alloy Armor into the shadows.
His eyes widened, and he nearly sprang out of his wheelchair. "What are you doing? Put that down! That belongs to our base!"
Before you continue