An elegant and dignified long dress in pure white, with light blue ink flowing on the fabric like an electronic screen, was full of dynamism and artistic flair. Such textiles, a product of the Weize Civilization, were coveted by many consumers. Women who loved beauty were willing to try different things, and Han Jiaxue rarely wore this dress, but today she donned it and came to the Mercenary Corps' council hall.
Xu Shisan admired the graceful figure of Han Jiaxue and inwardly praised her beauty. The leader of the Mercenary Corps nodded gently to Mrs. Snow as a greeting.
Han Jiaxue didn't mock Xu Shisan as usual. She first greeted Linyin and then, with a piercing gaze, asked Xu Shisan, "How confident are you that you can defeat Lai Zhicun with what Linyin has?"
All four deputies of the Mercenary Corps were present, and this was a concern for them as well. They all looked at Xu Shisan, hoping to hear an uplifting answer.
"Not very," Xu Shisan admitted frankly.
The faces of You Mi'er and the others immediately fell. The second deputy with a ponytail sighed, "It looks like we're going to perish along with Sumer Star, aren't we?"
Night Song said coldly, "Before death claims us, I'll make the people of Star Alliance pay a tenfold price."
Fleur covered her face with both hands, sobbing, "I don't want to die, wuwuwu."
After operating the Mercenary Corps for seventeen years, it had taken deep root on this planet. Many of the corps members had families here, and the Mercenary Corps ran its own towns and facilities. Xu Shisan couldn't abandon these people and flee alone. Even if they tried to escape, they wouldn't get far. Except for Shield Number, no ship was capable of engaging in second-stage warp speed flight, and the Star Alliance ships could easily catch up with them, annihilating them in the process.
Xu Shisan truly felt powerless at the moment in the face of a colossus like the Star Alliance. The once Xu Lanzhou, who was the military head of this colossus, took pride in the might of Star Alliance. But now, the fangs and claws of the beast could easily crush him, filling Xu Shisan with intense unwillingness.
"Why do I have to face Star Alliance just when I've started to achieve something? My fate must be controlled by me," Xu Shisan resolved firmly.
Linyin was also out of options at this point. She wanted to take Han Jiaxue and Xu Lanzhou to seek out Emerald Sea. But it seemed that Xu Shisan and Han Jiaxue had no intention of abandoning the planet.
Han Jiaxue then said, "If war is inevitable, then we should protect the lives of our people as much as possible. Besides those members involved in the battle, their relatives, and the common people under the protection of the Mercenary Corps should be allowed to leave."
Han Jiaxue looked at Xu Shisan and said, "You know, the Star Alliance is coming for the two of us; everyone else is innocent."
Her words were like a bolt from the blue, causing the four deputy leaders to be greatly astonished.
Turbulent waves churned in You Mi'er's heart: "What exactly are the identities of the Commander and Mrs. Snow, and why would the Star Alliance go to the lengths of dispatching a fleet to attack them?"
Xu Shisan waved his hand with a resolute expression, "Even if we are willing to bear all this on our own, the Mercenary Corps with ties to us is destined to be eradicated by the Star Alliance."
At that moment, Night Song also supported Xu Shisan, "No matter what the Commander's past is, or what enemy she faces, I will follow her until death and fight for her."
Wali chuckled, "Night Song, what a good time you've chosen to show your loyalty."
Just then, a message came from Shield Number, which had been placed in the planet's orbit to serve as a reconnaissance satellite.
"Lai Zhicun is here," Xu Shisan's expression grew even colder.
"So fast!" You Mi'er and Wali, among others, couldn't help but express their surprise.
The Mercenary Corps lacked reliable warp detection equipment—the only similar device they had was onboard Shield Number, a former warship of a High Level Civilization, which was why Shield Number had been placed in orbit at this time. Xu Shisan reviewed the data detected by Shield Number: a large Warp Bubble would arrive in the Wilds of the Galaxy in about forty minutes.
Fleur exclaimed, "Why hasn't the Wilds of the Galaxy hindered them at all? Isn't this place supposed to be the graveyard of civilizations?"
Han Jiaxue said indifferently, "That's true, but for High Level Civilizations, especially the Star Alliance with their rich navigation and exploratory experience, avoiding the various dangers on the periphery of the Wilds of the Galaxy is not difficult for them. The main reason the Wilds of the Galaxy is shunned is because, after all, this is a remote and insignificant location. There are no benefits to conquering it, and besides, interactions between each other are just too inconvenient."
At that moment, Xu Shisan walked to the center of the council chamber with a resolute look, "No matter what the Wilds of the Galaxy may be like, the enemy must still be defeated by our own hands. All warships immediately begin the last combat check, prepare to board and meet the battle."
Han Jiaxue said, "You know that with the warships of our corps, there's no way to contend with the fleet of the Star Alliance, you are sending them to their deaths."
Xu Shisan and Han Jiaxue locked eyes with unwavering resolve, the Mercenary Corps leader's tone icy, "To not fight is to die anyway, better to die in battle."
Han Jiaxue was also somewhat helpless; she didn't understand military affairs, but she knew that in the current situation, even if the little ice figure Linyin had given her to protect the two of them was incredibly powerful, the Mercenary Corps' chances of surviving were slim to none.
Xu Shisan came over and said to Han Jiaxue, "It would be an honor for me to die in battle alongside everyone in the Mercenary Corps, but I do not want you to die. If he really does come back, I think you would definitely want to see him."
Han Jiaxue looked at her, her eyes filled with confusion.
"I don't like him, a man too kind and too lacking in resolve, full of plans yet without the means to make those plans a reality, and what's worse, more than half the personalities inside me are in love with him. I'm afraid that I will fall for him too, so I can only force myself to hate and loathe him. You are my friend, we've supported each other for over a decade, if you love him, I hope you can find happiness.
But he has not come back. On the other hand, Lai Zhicun has arrived. If I pilot the Divine Monster into battle, I won't be able to ensure the safety of Sumer Star, nor can I guarantee your and Linyin's safety. So, I hope that you will feign agreement to Lei Xiang's terms for now, as he said himself, Lai Zhicun will have to weigh his own worth before moving against him."
"Impossible, I can't even pretend to agree to be another's woman, even verbally. I take pride in the man I love; he is the father of my daughter, the ruler of a powerful civilization."
Xu Shisan said with a hint of mockery, "Pity, he can't protect the woman who loves him, in the end, he's useless. I've already agreed to Lei Xiang on your behalf. After I lead the Mercenary Corps out, you and Linyin will stay temporarily in the Neutral Zone designated by Lei Xiang."
Han Jiaxue's face changed, "You can't do this."