"We humans have a saying: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. We can't cower in fear, Chieftain. If we find a way, we will definitely help you rescue your people. Prince Ninety-Seven saved us, and we should repay your kindness. But Chieftain, have you considered that with such a large-scale rescue operation for your people, do you think you can still hide?"
"This..." The Treefolk was speechless for a moment.
"If the chieftain trusts us, you can temporarily move to our territory. Once we are stronger, we will rescue your people together. We are a technologically advanced civilization. If any other advanced civilization attacks, we will immediately launch a space attack and use the Great Star Region Civilization Alliance to counterbalance them. If no other civilization attacks during this period, that would be even better. We will then pretend to be a Advanced Star System-Level Civilization and attack the Far Watcher Civilization."
"General, we are beset by misfortune and do not wish to cause you any trouble."
"Trouble? We humans have never been afraid. We've been teetering on the brink of death for years. If we were afraid, we wouldn't have achieved what we have today. Chieftain, you should lead your people to rally. If we have to fight, then fight. Even if we can't win, we should cripple them and make them tremble in fear. Besides, right now there's only one civilization openly Far Watcher Civilization. We know their location. They're in the open, we're in the shadows. We'll launch a surprise attack once we've developed our strength. Your people are huge, so rescuing them would be troublesome for us. We need your participation."
"Clan Chief, Great Elder, we can no longer be cowardly. A million years ago, I was still very naive, and I understand why people didn't accept my suggestion to leave the world. But after a million years of wandering, I have grown up. In these years, I have been hunted down by countless civilizations. If it weren't for the General, I wouldn't have returned alive. I agree with the General's opinion. Our Tree Race must become strong, or we will suffer annihilation sooner or later," Ninety-Seven said firmly.
After a pause, Ninety-Seven continued, "Chieftain, we can no longer live in hiding. The Small Star Sector Civilization covet our special abilities, and the Great Star Region Civilization allow them to attack us at will. Moreover, the Insect Race are becoming increasingly powerful. If we don't grow stronger in time, we'll either be wiped out by other civilizations or devoured by the Insect Race. Besides, if the General can't help us rescue our people, are we just going to watch them suffer and die? Two million years have passed; it's time we seriously consider this!"
Upon hearing these words, the Tree Race Chief, the Great Elder, and all the other elders present fell silent. Indeed, the Tree Race had been silent for far too long. Although two million years was only yesterday for the Tree Race, the thought of those clansmen captured by the Far Watcher Civilization made those two million years seem incredibly long.
Outside the council hall, the patriarch and the great elder's massive bodies began to emit energy, which quickly spread to all the planets. Then, all the other treants also began to unleash their energy. Hu Yu and the others felt a dizzying sensation, and they instinctively grabbed the branches next to them.
A few minutes later, the energy dissipated, and the planet's shaking stopped.
"General, our Tree Race agrees with your suggestion and has decided to break our silence and rise again! Even if you don't help us save our people, we will rely on our own strength to rescue them."
"Chief, since you are willing to pull yourselves together, I will tell you the truth. In fact, we humans have formed a Star Ring Alliance with six other civilizations. If you are willing to join, we will have a better chance of rescuing your people by using the power of the alliance."
"What? The seven civilizations have formed an alliance?"
"Yes, the power of a single civilization is always limited, but if we unite, we can form a tremendous force. With this force, we can gain a greater voice and a greater right to survival in the universe."
"General, I have decided to lead the Tree Race to rise again, and I agree to tell you how to cleave space if you help us rescue our people. However, we have decided to develop on our own. We will neither go to your civilized territory to cause you trouble, nor do we want to join your alliance."
"It seems the chieftain still doesn't trust us. In that case, we'll take our leave. Our previous promises remain valid. We'll leave equipment on the Far-Seers warship for scanning and copying. We'll notify you again once we find a rescue method. We'll continue to trouble the chieftain to treat our clansman."
"Thank you for your understanding, General. Rest assured, I will bring your people back safe and sound."
The universe is a jungle, and it's difficult to completely trust other civilizations. Even though the clan leader treated Hu Yu and his group with great courtesy because of Ninety-Seven, it was because the Tree Race's secrets could not be discovered. If the Tree Race were a technologically advanced civilization, Hu Yu and his group wouldn't have been welcomed into the Tree Race so easily.
Since the Tree Race Chief doesn't trust Human Civilization for the time being, Hu Yu can understand. It's not too late to persuade him later when there's an opportunity. With the connection to Ninety-Seven, it's only a matter of time before the Tree Race joins the alliance. After all, the Tree Race is currently the only advanced civilization that can be won over. As for other advanced civilizations, even if humans had an irresistible tongue, it would be difficult to persuade them to join the alliance. Moreover, even if a civilization that doesn't understand you wanted to join Hu Yu might not accept it.
Hu Yu and the others stood up, preparing to bid farewell to the Tree Race and leave. There was no point in continuing the conversation at this point; it would only make the Tree Race feel that they needed something from them.
Seeing Hu Yu and the others get up to leave, Ninety-Seven also followed them out of the council hall.
"Prince, see the general and his entourage out," the chieftain instructed. "My friends, please forgive my rudeness."
Goodbye, Chieftain.
"Chieftain, I will not see the general and the others off. I will leave with them. Once we reach human territory, I will ask Academician Xiao to create a human body for me. I have decided to join Human Civilization and leave the Tree Race forever!"
" Ninety-Seven, how could you do this?" Hu Yu exclaimed in shock.
"Prince!" the chieftain exclaimed angrily.
"Stop calling me prince. Humanity went through countless hardships to save me. The general and all the important figures in human society came in person, which is enough to prove humanity's sincerity. You bunch of senile old fools, do you really think you can rise up on your own? We now need Human Civilization. We not only need the general and the others to help us rescue our people, but we also need them to provide us with protection so that we can rise up quickly."
"Yes, you're right. There are no eternal friends or enemies in this world, only eternal interests. Our interests are now aligned with those of Human Civilization, and the benefits we gain from Human Civilization far outweigh the benefits Human Civilization gains from us. Even without our Treant Civilization, Human Civilization could still develop very well. It has taken us billions of years to develop to the equivalent of Intermediate Stage of Small Star Sector, while when the general rescued me, we were only at the Mid Star System-Level. Now, only 5,000 years have passed, and they have already entered the Small Star Sector Civilization. Aren't you ashamed?"