Chapter 458.1: How About It Bro? Are You Satisfied With All Your Free Kills?

Back in the Outpost, in the Reception Room.

Rushing in from Embassy Street, Yichuan finally caught Chu Guang just as he was leaving the shelter. Upon seeing him, he cut straight to the point. “Do you have McClennan?”

Chu Guang glanced at him and nodded. “That’s right.”

Yichuan was slightly taken aback.

He had expected Chu Guang to deflect or pretend not to know, but unexpectedly, he admitted it without hesitation.

Seeing him fall silent, Chu Guang could more or less guess what he was about to say but still asked politely, “Is there a problem?”

Snapping back to reality, Yichuan coughed lightly. “Uh, it’s not a big issue. The Highest Council asked me to inquire if we can get McClennan transferred to our custody? After all, he’s a major war criminal. Sending him to dig coal... It’s a bit inappropriate and could impact future ceasefire negotiations.”

“Ceasefire negotiations?” Chu Guang gave him a strange look. “Isn’t it a bit too early for that?”

As expected, Yichuan had anticipated his reaction and patiently continued, “We’ve already liberated Oasis No.9, and we’ve captured McClennan... The bargaining chips we hold should be enough to get the Army to the negotiating table.”

“To talk about what?”

“A withdrawal, of course. Their supply lines are paralyzed, they can’t continue their offensive, and we’re not in a position to breach their defenses immediately either. Continuing the fight would just be a war of attrition, draining forces of both sides. A ceasefire has a solid basis now. They’ll consider it.”

Seeing that Chu Guang was about to respond, Yichuan quickly added, “Please, don’t reject this immediately. Why not hear our proposal first?”

Chu Guang nodded slightly, gesturing for him to go on.

Yichuan paused, organized his thoughts before he continued, “We plan to exchange McClennan and the other prisoners, along with the Heart of Steel, for the crew of the Pioneer. As for the matter of Shelter No.0, we can temporarily put it aside... Of course, the Heart of Steel is currently in your command, and we won’t let you suffer a loss. As compensation, we’ll let you keep the Pioneer. What do you think?”

Objectively, the offer was quite sincere.

The Pioneer was certainly more useful to the Alliance than a repurposed airship like the Heart of Steel. The land fortress was essentially a mobile industrial zone. As long as raw materials were supplied, it could easily support the logistics of an entire division.

Otherwise, the Army wouldn’t have coveted it so desperately, chasing it relentlessly, and even sending the Heart of Steel after Luo Hua.

However, Chu Guang still revealed a look of displeasure.

Did they think he was the kind of person who would sell out an ally for profit?

“What about Oasis No.3?” He asked casually.

Yichuan was stunned. He stared at Chu Guang with a baffled expression, as if surprised he brought up such an irrelevant-sounding place.

Seeing Chu Guang wasn’t joking, Yichuan steadied himself and answered seriously, “It’s unrealistic to expect the Army to abandon an area they already occupy. But we could pressure them to have their own forces withdraw from Oasis No.3... And to leave the rest to the survivors in the Sunset Province.”

Although it was a tactful way of saying it, the implication was obvious, they were ready to sell out the Honey Badger Kingdom.

That wasn’t exactly unreasonable.

The enemy of my enemy was a friend, only while there was still a fight to finish. Once the chance for peace arises, sacrificing an oasis was entirely acceptable from the Enterprise’s perspective.

Those people weren’t part of their war chariot to begin with. They just happened to be in the same trench. If they couldn’t even last a week, they had no one but themselves to blame.

Frankly speaking, Chu Guang didn’t want war either. The New Alliance was still in its early stages. It was a time to grow. Peace aligned more with their interests.

However... Only real peace mattered, not one where both sides could just catch their breath before resuming the fight.

“Even if we’re leaving it to the survivors of Sunset Province, it should be after we’ve liberated Oasis No.3 and dismantled the Falcon Kingdom’s military forces.”

Yichuan froze for a couple of seconds, then gave a wry smile. “My friend... Do you think that’s realistic?”

“Why wouldn’t it be?” Chu Guang countered.

Yichuan reminded him, “The Army has deployed 10 divisions of clones to the frontlines.”

Chu Guang replied without hesitation. “We’ll deal with them.”

Yichuan grew anxious. “And what if they send another 10 after that? Those mass-produced clones come in batches every two years! They have as many as they want. Can you kill them all?”

𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

“That’s exactly why we plan to solve this once and for all,” Chu Guang looked into his eyes with unwavering seriousness. “My friend, didn’t we agree to drive every last one of those jackals out of here?”

“... That’s the long-term goal. We never expected to achieve it in one go, it’s unrealistic.” Yichuan shook his head and continued earnestly, “Let’s stop while we’re ahead.”

Chu Guang’s expression remained unchanged. “We’ll stop when the job is finished, not halfway. Our people have shed a lot of blood to gain this tiny advantage. We’ve got the wolf by the throat, if we don’t break its neck now, We can’t sleep at night.”

Yichuan was silent for a while.

Perhaps realizing he wouldn’t get anywhere if he pressed on, he sighed and conceded a little. “Then... Back to my first request. Can we at least have General McClennan transferred to us?”

Unfortunately, his concession did not earn a compromise. Chu Guang remained firm. “Now’s not the time to discuss prisoner transfers. Even if we do, it’ll be after the war is over.”

Seeing that the administrator wouldn’t give an inch, Yichuan almost spat blood in frustration. His face reddened and he growled, “I can’t explain this to the Highest Council!”

Seeing the look on his face, Chu Guang knew he had pushed him hard.

He softened his tone and explained, “It’s not that I want to make things hard for you, it’s just that no one in the New Alliance would agree to a ceasefire now... How about this? I promise you the war will be over before the end of the year.”

Yichuan clenched his teeth. “And if it’s not?”

Chu Guang responded calmly. “Then I’ll agree to your terms and sit down at the table with the Army for a negotiation.”

Personal friendship was one thing, collective interests were another. When representing the New Alliance in negotiations with the Enterprise, Chu Guang didn’t leave much room for sentiment.

The reason he threw McClennan into a coal mine wasn’t just to make things difficult, it was to avoid letting him have too much contact with the Enterprise and give their East Coast friends too much hope.

The Highest Council was made up of many people, and their majority opinion often swung with the vote.

‘Firm support’ and shit like ‘we’re spending too much money and don’t want to fight anymore’ might sound contradictory, but when it came to the Enterprise, both stances coexisted. They were basically pushing for both at the same time.

Chu Guang knew very well... When it was time to be tough, he couldn't give a single inch. He couldn’t be hesitant just because he was accepting help.

If he gave even a little and handed McClennan over to the Enterprise, the Highest Council would soon start arguing about how to use McClennan as leverage in separate peace talks with the Army. If they really argued their way into some absurd deal, it would only complicate the war further.

At least in this war, Chu Guang believed there was no room for that kind of debate.

...

After leaving Chu Guang, Yichuan returned to Embassy Street, struggling with how to write his report to the Highest Council.

Coincidentally, Yun Xiu was present. Seeing his troubled expression, she spoke up. “Any progress?”

Yichuan shook his head. “No.”

Yun Xiu frowned slightly and crossed her arms. “I’ll go talk to him.”

Yichuan quickly stopped her. “Don’t... Things were just starting to move. Let me handle this.”

Yun Xiu stared at him for a moment before suddenly speaking, “Forgive my bluntness, but you’re too soft on them.”

“We spent over a billion helping them fight this war, helping them upgrade their industry! We’re the investors! If you don’t speak firmly, those survivors will just think you’re a pushover and start walking all over you, just like they are now... If you can’t handle it, I’ll submit a report to the Highest Council recommending a representative who actually defends the Enterprise’s interests.”

Yichuan had no idea how to refute her and could only respond with a bitter smile. “I’ll keep trying... just give me some more time.”

...