Same light

Several months have passed since the first conflict between the Federation and the Empire, and today is the day when the Federation's diplomatic mission arrives.

Before Uni Studen served as the Federation's diplomatic ambassador to the Empire, he knew that the current rulers of the Empire, the young emperor and the new high priest, were not easy to deal with, and they were very unfriendly to the Federation.

Diplomatic ambassador, this is an ancient position that has long since disappeared into the galaxy of history.

Youni is a very young military officer. In fact, the average age of the missions sent by the Federation this time is very young, and most of them are young adults from the military like Youni.This is because they need to experience extremely long-distance space flight, and they have to endure several jumps in the middle, which is a great test of physical fitness.

For some reason, Mr. President hopes that the mission can maintain combat effectiveness when it arrives, at least the combat effectiveness that can escape unscathed.

This post-war negotiation—of course, the Federation officially called it a "friendly meeting"—was set to take place within the Empire, which was the result of the Empire's insistence.

Traditionally, the defeated side will send envoys to the victorious side for peace talks.Based on this understanding, although there is no war in the official rhetoric, both sides have fought for the host position.

The ending of the Federation’s mission to the Empire is due to the tough attitude of the high priest in charge of diplomacy in the Empire and his refusal to make concessions. One end of human civilization.

After all, last time, before a large amount of strategically valuable intelligence could be brought back to the Federation, it was personally intercepted by the then crown prince and the current emperor.

But what Youni didn't expect was that this additional task would be directly cut in half before they entered the empire.

"I'm shocked that the empire treats them with such an attitude. Your country asked us to abandon the ship before we entered the territory of the empire. This is too absurd, and I forgive you for not accepting it."

Yuni said coldly.

Standing in front of them was a young imperial officer, with a faint smile on his face, and he was slightly tilting his head to listen to the interpreter's translation of Youni's words to him.

The lieutenant colonel had introduced himself just now, and his surname was Stone.

Youni knew a thing or two about Stone's surname.According to the information they have received in recent years, this is one of the oldest families in the empire. It was once marginalized, and now it has returned to the center stage of imperial power.

Originally, Youni thought that it would be considered solemn for a feudal regime like the Empire to send a member of a large noble family to meet the federal mission abroad.But the idea was quickly dashed.

Because the officer stopped them outside the country, he didn't come to greet them, but asked them to abandon the ship and use the empire's spaceship to "escort" the mission to the main planet.

After the imperial interpreter stumbled a bit, the young Colonel Stone was not annoyed at all, and said a few words to Youni with a smile.

The translator in the federal mission attached to Youni's ear, and said fluently almost simultaneously: "He said: You misunderstood me, not asking your country's envoys to abandon the ship, but just inviting you to enter our country's spaceship, and I will personally Escort by the team leader. This is specially arranged for you by His Excellency the High Priest who is worried that your country’s mission is not familiar with the route in the empire—by the way, I need to correct you, this is already the territory of the empire, and it is the territory of our Majesty.”

Youni scolded the other party's shamelessness in his heart.

There is still a long distance from the border of the empire. This is clearly an unowned barren deep space, and it was included in the territory of the empire by the other party's mouth.

But he couldn't start cursing, not only because of diplomatic etiquette, but more importantly - the Federation shouldn't know where the empire's borders are.

Youni suggested peacefully: "We can drive the spaceship to follow you, and you will guide us."

I don't know if our own warship can slow down to the slow speed of the imperial spaceship... He couldn't help but slander.

Yes, what they drove was a warship. It stands to reason that this type of ship should not be used on friendly missions, but whatever, the empire couldn't recognize whether it was a warship or a manned spaceship.

It seemed that although he didn't know the spaceship that Colonel Stone drove, he was very sure that it must be some kind of battleship of the Empire, the kind that could launch missiles.

"No." Colonel Stone rejected the proposal immediately after listening to the translation, "You came at an unlucky time. The central star field of our empire is implementing strict interstellar traffic control. The plan you said is impossible to implement."

Youni said: "Then we will change to your country's spaceship when we enter your country's central star field."

The Colonel Stone raised his eyebrows and told him very friendly: "The central star field of our country is ahead."

Yoni looked at him coldly.

No civilization in the world would incorporate this barren land into the "center" of its own civilization, and the other party was already talking nonsense.

Speaking of this, the attitude of the high priest of the empire is very clear.

He just didn't allow the Federation's spacecraft to approach, only allowing people to enter.

Once they left the ships and equipment, the physical fitness of the federal people could not be compared with this group of mutated humans, even if they were the elite of the federal military.

Does the High Priest have such power?Isn't that a position with only symbolic value?

In view of the several correspondences between the Federation and the Empire, they thought that the new powerful high priest only temporarily filled the vacancy of the Empire's foreign minister. Now it seems that it is far more than that...

The situation in the Empire has changed, and their intelligence has fallen behind.

Yuni thought calmly.

But this is not the most urgent problem at present. The most urgent thing is how to deal with the problems that stand in front of them.

Yes or no?What should I do after I refuse, go back home, or... forcefully break in?

It's been through once, and they all know the outcome.

Youni exchanged glances with the mission adviser beside him. The mission adviser who was appointed at a critical moment was named Intron Gines. He was a senior executive of the intelligence department and a direct confidant of the current president.

Intelun asked: "May I take the liberty to ask why your country has implemented traffic control?"

He just wanted to stall for some time and give Yoni some room to think, without expecting any legitimate reason.Because he thought that the so-called traffic control was just like the position of the border, it was made up, but he did not expect that Colonel Stone gave an unexpected answer.

"Because our Majesty just held a wedding." Colonel Stone replied, "This entire month has been set as a celebration month, and there are celebrations on every planet. Naturally, more attention should be paid to safety, isn't it? Your Majesty attaches great importance to him. The wedding with the High Priest, I don’t want any discordant factors that will destroy the beautiful memories of his newlyweds at this time.”

The translator relayed the passage almost simultaneously, but Yoni and Intron fell silent.

I don't know if it's a translation problem. In short, from what they heard, the officer meant...the emperor married the high priest? !

"Congratulations." Intron reluctantly said, "We didn't know in advance, and we didn't prepare a wedding gift. But... how many high priests are there in your country?"

"There can only be one high priest in the Holy White Tower." Colonel Stone replied.

Intelun listened to the translator, nodded, and said, "Speaking of which, we don't know anything about the current high priest of your country, can you introduce us a little bit?"

"I don't know the current high priest...it sounds like you are quite familiar with the previous high priest." Colonel Stone said with a smile.

"How could it be?" Intelun also said with a smile, "Previously your country and the federal government exchanged letters in the name of the high priest, and just now I heard that the emperor of your country married the high priest, so I just asked out of curiosity. It’s just that. Why did you suddenly mention the former high priest? Is there any special reason?”

"There is no particular reason. I just suddenly remembered that the poor former high priest was hijacked by a citizen of your country, and unfortunately died in the end."

Intron said unhurriedly: "We deeply regret this. I believe that one of the purposes of our friendly visit to the Empire this time is to reach a consensus with your country on this accident."

"That would be great." Colonel Stone said, "Shall we go then?"