by <unknown>
"This is like a program made of countless people. As long as all the triggers are reasonably set, nothing will go wrong, and the deterrence will always be maintained."
Xiaoming said, "Ironically, people would rather turn into a program to control the Gold Crystal Pyramid than to let a real program do the job. In fact, is there really any difference between them?"
Chapter 2673: New Balance! |
"Wait, wait, wait! I've thought too much about philosophical stuff in the past days. My head hurts."
Rubbing his temples, Li Yao narrowed his eyes and said, "Let me take a rest first before we handle the tricky problem and see how we can increase our deterrence, alright?"
"I'm afraid not."
Xiaoming's eyes were flashing quickly. "Uncle Fist King has just sent a message. A communication channel among the Arsonist Fleet, the Astounding Thunder Fleet, and the Gold Crystal Pyramid has been established. Boss Bai and General Lei are both eager to talk to you. Also, Boss Bai asked you to be wary of the Astounding Thunder Fleet!"
"What do you mean by wary?"
Li Yao's head hurt even more badly. He said, "It's not like Lei Chenghu is already ending our cooperation, is he?"
"I don't think he is, but all in all…"
Xiaoming said, "You can talk to Boss Bai and General Lei in person!"
Motivated by the two children, a dozen battle puppets stepped forward and surrounded Li Yao before shooting out rays that formed Boss Bai's look from their eyes.
"Li Yao!"
Boss Bai seemed to be pissed. He cried the moment he saw Li Yao, "How well have you controlled the capital? Make sure that the key facilities are not transferred to the Astounding Thunder Fleet. You cannot even allow the Astounding Thunder Fleet to land, do you understand?"
"What's up, Boss Bai?"
Li Yao was greatly surprised. "You and General Lei are not having conflicts while you're dealing with the ace fleets of the four families, are you?"
"Humph. We're about to!"
Gloomily, Boss Bai gnashed his teeth and said, "Lei Chenghu forbade the Arsonist Fleet from reaching the No. 1 base on the orbit of the capital planet and drove us away to the No. 9 base which is furthest away from the capital planet. He's obviously going to turn his back against us!"
"Well…"
Before Li Yao figured out what was going on, Lei Chenghu had appeared on the light beam enshrouded in the smoke of war.
He stared at Li Yao angrily as if he were going to eat Li Yao alive.
Crept out, Li Yao managed a smile. "Why, General Lei, are you still angry about me? Like I said, playing the… romantic action movie starring Blackstar the Great in a sacred place such as the capital was only a last resort. I never meant to strike the faith of the Immortal Cultivators. Actually, I really respect the true path of immortality. You don't have to act as if you're going to kill me every time you see me, do you?"
After staring at Li Yao for a long time, Lei Chenghu finally moved his eyes back. "We appreciate your assistance in quelling the chaos in the capital, but it doesn't mean that you can do anything you want. After all, this is the capital of the Imperium of True Human Beings, and we should be in charge!
"Considering your remarkable contribution, we have tried to give you more trophies. Most of the warships in the four families' fleets have been allocated to you, and the No. 9 base, which is the biggest base of all, has been cleared for you to stay in! We have done our best! If you are unsatisfied with the arrangement, we won't be responsible for the fallout of our alliance!"
"Hehe. General Lei, do you think that I'm a three-year-old?"
Boss Bai sneered when he heard Lei Chenghu's accusation. "You too know that the Arsonist Fleet is a guest troop in the Imperium that has no allies. Even if you give me all the warships of the four families, they'll be nothing but garbage due to the lack of ammo, fuel, and crew members. Is the garbage of any use to me?
"The most spacious No. 9 base that you described is utterly empty. Once my fleet is anchored there, we have to count on you to supply the resources we need. You'll be able to choke us whenever you want to!
"I certainly won't be an idiot who places himself on a chopping block. The Arsonist Fleet has to move into the No. 1 base and establish our own logistical channel between the surface of the planet and the orbiting base. This is not a request, but a notification!"
"Only for resources?"
Lei Chenghu narrowed his eyes and sneered in disdain. "You insist on occupying the No. 1 base because it is closest to the surface of the planet and most convenient for you to launch an attack at the capital planet, don't you?"
"Rest assured, we won't attack the capital planet, which would be a stupid suicide move."
Boss Bai said, "However, we have to take precautions in case anyone tears apart the bridge after they pass the river, which is what you Immortal Cultivators are best at. Now that Wuying Qi is dead and the reformists have got everything under their control, the Cultivators are no longer of any use for you, right? How do I know that you wouldn't get rid of us since we're no longer needed?"
"Then how do I know that you wouldn't do anything stupid after you claim the best location to attack the capital planet?"
Enraged, Lei Chenghu bashed his chest with his iron arm. "I swear with my dignity as a soldier that I've never planned to turn against you. The Astounding Thunder Fleet and I will try our best to protect your safety!
"But you must consider my pressure. I am not the monarch of the Imperium, and the soldiers obey and admire me on conditions! To temporarily cooperate with some Cultivators in order to destroy enemies who are eviler than them is one thing, but to let those Cultivators stay at the heart of the Imperium like a threatening dagger is a whole other thing! It's utterly impossible!
"I won't be able to answer to the Immortal Cultivators if I allow it to happen. Can you Cultivators imagine a fleet of Immortal Cultivators that can be stationed above your capital all the time?"
"That's different. The Imperium is far more powerful than the federation at this moment. We can only achieve a temporary balance if we are a deterrence to the Imperium's heart."
Unmoved, Boss Bai continued coldly, "Only a balance of mutual deterrence can we expect peace and cooperation. This is my boundary!"
"Then—"
Lei Chenghu sighed and said, "Our alliance seems to have fallen out in advance."
"Seems so."
Boss Bai beamed with excitement, and his eyes glowed. "Last time we fought, we were only pretending and neither of us did our best. Now, let's see if the God of War really deserves his name!"
Seeing that the two fleet commanders were about to burst into war, Li Yao hurried to interrupt them.
"Wait, wait, wait. Let's not rush into anything. Though the ace fleets of the four families are crushed, the four families' nests are still undamaged, the civil war is not over yet, and the fleets of the Covenant Alliance are nowhere to be seen. You aren't so stupid as to fight right now, are you?
"Boss Bai, not that I'm blaming you, but I don't think you're right. It's true that the Arsonist Fleet is a guest troop that has been invited by the queen and General Lei to help. Now, we're incapable of claiming their place, nor do we want to, right?
"The capital has to be returned to the reformists, and this includes General Lei. As guests, we have to follow the host's instructions and anchor our ships where the host wants us to be.
"Besides, it's already hard enough for most Immortal Cultivators to accept that a fleet of Cultivators is fighting on their side. If you appear so aggressive that you may attack the capital planet any moment, I wouldn't be able to tolerate it either even if I were an Immortal Cultivator."
"Li Yao, you—"
Boss Bai looked at Li Yao in disbelief. "I remember that you played the trick of a balance of mutual deterrence skillfully when we first met in the Flying Star Sector. Why have you turned into a moron after all this time?
"Yes, Wuying Qi is dead, but the secrets about the Cultivators an
d the Star Glory Federation have been exposed to the Immortal Cultivators. The Arsonist Fleet is no longer confidential either. How can the Imperium and the federation cooperate when they're so unbalanced? Are you going to tie the future of the federation and the fate of billions of compatriots to Lei Chenghu's promise?
"This is not a matter of whether or not we can believe Lei Chenghu; it's that we do not have the power to believe Lei Chenghu, don't you understand?"
"Of course I do."
Li Yao said gloomily, "However, even if the Arsonist Fleet claims the No. 1 base, it will be unnecessary and redundant, so I strongly suggest you follow General Lei's instruction to avoid the friction between allies.
"Of course, in exchange, General Lei, while the Arsonist Fleet can be docked anywhere you want, and the critical infrastructures on the whole capital planet can be transferred to you in one piece, there is one place that you cannot have: the Gold Crystal Pyramid. I'm sorry, but it's too important. I'm hoping that it can be recognized as a 'demilitarized zone' where no troops will be stationed. We can wait until we completely settle the four families and the Covenant Alliance before we decide how to deal with the Gold Crystal Pyramid."
Shua! Shua! Shua! Shua!
Li Yao displayed the data that had been changed by the mental devil to Lei Chenghu and Boss Bai, demonstrating to them the current status of the Gold Crystal Pyramid as well as his identity as the master of the Gold Crystal Pyramid.
Chapter 2674: Who's the Deterrent? |
As rows of data flashed in Boss Bai's and Lei Chenghu's eyes, Boss Bai was gradually relaxed, but the fury on Lei Chenghu's face was almost bursting out like black magma.
"What's the meaning of this?"
Clenching his fists so hard that his metal parts were cracking, Lei Chenghu demanded.
"Exactly what you're seeing, General Lei."
Li Yao smiled and said, "I'll return the entirety of the capital planet to the reformists, but not the Gold Crystal Pyramid. Technically, the range within ten kilometers from the Gold Crystal Pyramid will be established as a demilitarized area. Please note that the entrance of any armed force into this area will trigger the severest reaction."
"You want to claim the Gold Crystal Pyramid for yourself?"
Lei Chenghu was enraged. "What exactly are you trying to do?"
"Rest assured, I know the horror as well as you do, and I do not want to activate such a dreadful weapon."
Li Yao sighed and said, "However, Boss Bai is right that an alliance is steady only when the parties in it are balanced. Now, since the Imperium is so much more powerful than the federation, and we believe in opposite things, how can our temporary alliance last without a 'failsafe'?
"This is just a safety measure for our alliance. Otherwise, even if we believe in your integrity, it's still possible that some of the malicious Immortal Cultivators will try to conquer the federation, and that some Cultivators will plan to attack the Imperium first before those Immortal Cultivators attack them. In this case, the alliance will fall out, and we can never finish off the four families and the Alliance of the Holy Covenant.
"Besides, we're only cooperating with you in order to renew the Imperium, and we have to ensure that we're capable of supervising your renewal and that this renewal is in the best interest of the general public of the Imperium. Otherwise, why would we have helped you defeat Wuying Qi if you are no different from him?
"The Gold Crystal Pyramid is very important for us as supervisors. It's the treasure of all human beings including the underground hominoids. Like what Boss Bai just said, I'm neither qualified nor do I have the power to give it to you."
"Supervise our renewal…"
Narrowing his eyes, Lei Chenghu gnashed his teeth in obvious fury. "Li Yao, are you threatening me?"
"It's not a threat, but it's indeed a deterrent."
Li Yao was not scared at all. Actually, after the life-and-death battle with Wuying Qi, few people in the entire Imperium could scare him now. "Don't you Immortal Cultivators believe in survival of the fittest and winner taking all? Why would you work with the Cultivators on equal terms if we do not have the power to intimidate the capital?"
"I knew it! I knew it!"
Lei Chenghu roared, "I knew that the Cultivators were not to be trusted! Your purpose has never been to eliminate Wuying Qi! At first, you struck the faith of the Immortal Cultivators with the despicable pictures of Wuying Qi, tarnishing the glorious image of our founding emperor. Now, you're even claiming the secret treasure of the Imperium. Li Yao, you shameless scoundrel. Don't presume that I would not attack you because you saved me!"
"You're wrong about that, General Lei Chenghu. The Gold Crystal Pyramid does not belong to the Imperium. Technically speaking, it's the legacy for mankind from the primeval civilizations. Naturally, whoever finds it first has the right to it!"
Li Yao continued with a smile, "As for my shamelessness, you should've known it a long time ago. I've never pretended to be an honorable gentleman, have I?
"You knew that I was not a good man, but you still cooperated with me. Why? Because you didn't have a choice!
"Since you chose to cooperate with me, and I finished off Wuying Qi as I promised, I'm naturally entitled to some reward. Do you think you can get the capital back without paying anything? Nice thinking!"
Lei Chenghu took a deep breath, and his fury and aggression were all retracted, as if he had been bluffing.
However, his eyes were flashing more and more dangerously, indicating that he had made a cruel decision.
"Tell me, Li Yao."
Lei Chenghu said coldly, "If I refuse to admit your so-called… 'demilitarized area' and send a troop to take over the Gold Crystal Pyramid, what will you do?"
"If so, I'm afraid that the Arsonist Fleet will attack the Astounding Thunder Fleet immediately, and I, as well as my legion of puppets, will resist until none of us remains."
Li Yao said, "We'll do whatever it takes to defend the Gold Crystal Pyramid, including… the last resort."
"The last resort?"
Lei Chenghu chuckled. "Are you talking about reactivating the Gold Crystal Pyramid and infuriating the sun again?"
Li Yao's eyelashes shivered quickly. "Yes, if you really attack the Gold Crystal Pyramid, I will reactivate it."
"Hehe, Li Yao, despite your shamelessness, you are still a Cultivator, which is both your most precious part and your fatal weakness."
Lei Chenghu laughed. "Let me tell you, I don't believe it. I don't believe that you'll reactivate the Gold Crystal Pyramid and deal with me while putting the lives of billions of people at risk, especially not after you just saved them from Wuying Qi! Your belief won't allow you to do that.
"Maybe you are an excellent spy and deceiver, but you are too soft-hearted to be a deterrent. Your threat and deterrent are basically zero.
"Let me tell you how to be a qualified deterrent. Now, I'm offering my own deterrence—
"I'll give you half an hour for you to make a final choice. You have two options.
"Firstly, you will fly the Arsonist Fleet to the No. 9 base and submit the highest control permissions of all the key infrastructures on the ground, including the Gold Crystal Pyramid, and I'll ensure your safety and power as I promised.
"You, Li Yao, will be acknowledged by me and the military of the Imperium as the King of Black Wind. The Black Wind Sector and the neighboring worlds can be regarded as a special area for Cultivators, and the fleets of the Cultivators can move in the Imperium under the name of the Black Wind Legion.
"This is the best the Immortal Cultivators and I can tolerate.
"Secondly, if the Arsonist Fleet does not fly to the No. 9 base within half an hour, and you refuse to submit the highest control permissions, my troops will land on the capital force and take over all facilities. What happens next will be beyond anyone's control."
"Lei Chenghu, you're playing with fire!"
Boss Bai roared, "You're giving away our hard-earned victory!"
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"Exactly, but that's how deterrence works."
Folding his arms, Lei Chenghu said casually, "This will definitely cause great trouble to the cause of the reformists and the rebirth of the Imperium, but I believe that the Cultivators will be struck ten times more badly. I'm just wagering on the possibility that you dare not really end the cooperation, but of course, if I lose the bet, I'll put my threats into action without hesitation. That's what a qualified deterrent should do."
Boss Bai fell into silence and looked at Li Yao.
Li Yao was pale and in a panic, as if he did not know what to do at all.
"Look, Li Yao, it's in your nature."
Seeing through Li Yao's weakness, Lei Chenghu smiled and said, "It's not exactly a weakness, but more like inappropriateness. Everybody has a suitable role for them, and yours is not a deterrent. You can't play a game where the lives of billions of people are at stake.
"In any case, my troops will land half an hour later. If you want to reactivate the Gold Crystal Pyramid, be my guest. I'll watch you press the button of destruction. But will you?"
"I-I won't."
Li Yao sweated heavily, as if he would have a meltdown at any moment. Biting his lips hard, Li Yao heaved a sigh. "You're right, General Lei. I'm truly no deterrent material. You've seen through my threat so easily. How useless I am!
"It's true that I won't reactivate the Gold Crystal Pyramid in any case. If I do that, my belief will probably collapse in 0.1 seconds. I can't handle the pressure, which is too brutal and… stimulating."
"That's alright. It's not your fault. It's even your advantage."
Lei Chenghu smiled. "It seems that we have agreed that you are not a qualified deterrence, and I'm a better candidate to control the Gold Crystal Pyramid than you, right?"
"You're absolutely correct."
Blinking his eyes, Li Yao wiped the sweat on his forehead while he put on a vague smile. "However, since I'm too indecisive and undetermined, there are a lot of people who are more suitable as the deterrent than I am, so I do not have to give the Gold Crystal Pyramid to you, do I?