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Chapter 436: Conflict!

M nation, the East Side of New York City, Central Manhattan.

Home to the primary headquarters of the federal government.

The stately and magnificent Federal Parliament Hall.

The 1,7871th executive meeting was underway.

The rotating parliamentary leader, Fang Xiuping, a Chinese-born M.P. from one of the free cities, was reading out a draft of a bill.

“The multiple incidents that have happened in Free City No. 298 involving harm toward women’s rights, discrimination based on speech, online verbal abuse, and insult toward women have caused public outrage among women across the globe. In order to uphold gender equality, we are placing a comprehensive sanction on Free City No. 298, which will persist until an official apology is issued.”

Fang Xiuping raised his head slightly as his gaze swept across the space below. He opened his mouth and said, “Commence voting.”

The M.P.s begun discussing:

“Agreed, the city must be sanctioned!”

“Cities like No. 298, which consist mostly of people with “straight man cancer,” must be sternly sanctioned.”

“Free City No. 298 is their last stronghold. Once this fortress has been conquered, the era of equality between men and women will officially arrive.”

“Mild sanctions are useless! The misogynists who have gathered from all over the world to No. 298 are the most stubborn and firm of all. Their opposition to women’s rights has become their supreme belief. Everyone in this strongest fortress must be burned to death for women to truly be respected.”

“Yes, indeed! Burn them all!”

The female M.P.s were at a high emotional pitch, pressing the sanction button without any hesitation. They hated Free City No. 298, where 90% of the world’s “straight male cancer” patients were amassed, as the devil loves holy water.

The result of the vote was swiftly released.

Support: Oppose

1298: 1299

The resolution was rejected by only a single vote.

“Damn you bastards! You shameless partisans!”

Unable to restrain herself, a female M.P. stood up and glared at the male M.P.s around her. With a ghastly pallor on her face, she said, “This is the seventeenth time that you have shielded them! Now that the bill has been rejected once again, I’m starting to think that all you male M.P.s present in this hall are the same as those with “straight man cancer.” All of you should be sanctioned and burned to death!”

Ahem, ahem.

A flurry of coughs sounded.

Many male M.P.s either lowered their heads or rubbed their foreheads with their hands to wipe away imaginary sweat.

“Enough! You are in the sacred Federal Parliament!” Fang Xiuping, who was presiding over the meeting, knocked on the table twice to gain the crowd’s attention. He said, “We shall proceed with draft 17871. Recently, the immigration project in Free City No. 97 has not been progressing smoothly. About 17% of the citizens are reluctant to move to space cities. They rather live with the Protoss than leave Earth... Should the federation agree to the requests of the citizens who desire to stay, or force them to migrate?

“Commence voting.”

The result was promptly released.

Allow them to say: Force them to migrate.

1021: 1174

In addition, there were also hundreds of abstention votes.

In order to protect the personal safety of hundreds of thousands of federal citizens, they had to override these people’s wills and settle them down in other places.

“So, we shall proceed with draft 17872. The scientific community hopes for an increase in funding in the field of science and technology. They are striving after a 50% increase in annual research funding within five years...”

Suddenly, before Fang Xiuping finished his sentence—

Vroom...

“There are tons of Protoss flying through the sky.”

“Security guards defending Parliament were attacked!”

“Alert: the Federal Parliament is suffering from the highest level of attack.”

A riot broke out, and horrific screams resounded over the horizon.

Bam, bam. Guns.

Boom... Explosions.

Crash... Glass shattering.

The M.P.s in the Hall of Parliament even felt a slight vibration on the ground.

What’s happening? They thought. What’s going on?

Boom.

The glass window shattered. Protoss were floating in the air. They flew straight into the hall through the windows and the outer walls that had been destroyed.

“Ah!”

“Ahh!!”

Looking at the Protoss that were pouring into the hall—looking up, only to see more levitating in the air—many M.P.s felt trepidation and bawled endlessly, completely deserting the usual decentness of a highborn elite.

...

The miasma of the manipulator behind this was snaking its way through the sky above the hall.

From above, he looked downward condescendingly.

On Bakedu’s face was a smile full of smugness and contempt.

Hmph. Ants will still be ants. No matter how glamorously they might dress, no matter how civilized and how courteous they are, even seeming eligible to be on even grounds with the Protoss—now, in the face of absolute power, the ants only tremble in helplessness and fear, just like fish waiting to be slaughtered.

“A-ahem... Honorable Protoss, may I ask if you can hear me?”

The sound of the microphone was amplified by the speakers, enough for everyone in the Hall of Parliament to hear him.

“I am Fang Xiuping, the Speaker of the Federal Parliament. May I humbly ask—what is the meaning of this sudden and grand play?” said Fang Xiuping. While he seemed very calm on the outside, deep down he already had a rough guess of what was going to happen.

“Oh? President Fang?”

Bakedu, floating in the air, turned his head to look where Fang Xiuping was standing. Channeling a voice-amplifying technique, he replied with a genteel air, “President Fang, I have seen you before on television. There’s not much inner beauty in you, but, after seeing you today, I think you do have a rather fine appearance. I must say, a crème de la crème among humans.

“As for why we, the Protoss elite, are here—I believe that you must have guessed the reason, so there’s no need for me to give a straightforward explanation.”

“Uhm... I must say that I have no clue at all,” Fang Xiuping said with a bitter smile. “We were discussing and voting on several resolutions just now. Your sudden visit, my Lords, destroying windows and doors, wounding our guards... were, in fact, totally unnecessary. If something is the matter, you can just walk in and tell us about it. Why bother damaging public property?”

Damaging public property?

Bakedu was maddened. What was up with that tone, which made it sound as if Fang Xiuping was criticizing an ignorant child? He wasn’t here to talk about such silly things!

Channeling the amplifying technique, Bakedu said, “Stop focusing on these trivial matters! You know, clearly, why we are here! Stop your act of ignorance!”

“Uhm, could it be...” Fang Xiuping took two steps backward with a look of shock. “Could it be that you wish to requite our kindness with enmity—that you not only forswear the grateful heart, but are betraying your faith and resorting to evil conduct? My lords, please remember that you are gods. Can I assume that gods would not do something so devilish?

“As far as that goes, I do believe that this is a prank.” He laughed. “My Lords, I think that this prank is quite funny, and very interesting.”

Fang Xiuping let out another hollow laugh, seemingly attempting to dispel the notion by shifting the topic.

A prank?

The edge of Bakedu’s mouth was twitching, and his expressing became a little strange, even a bit awkward.

He instantly became aware of the inappropriateness of this operation.

After he had acquired the relevant information, he had not, in fact, made any plans at all. He had just dragged along a few companions and enthusiastically headed over, based solely on his initial excitement and impulsiveness.

He hadn’t been able to wait to give the humans a lesson.

But the Protoss were not demons without bottom lines and lower limits. No matter what major operation they were conducting, they had a good name to maintain. They couldn’t just do whatever they pleased. Therefore, even if they were looking for trouble with the humans, they would still need to fabricate a “reason.”

However, Bakedu was unable to come up with any grounds for this, nor anything else to which he could point. After all, over the past few years, the humans had answered all the Protoss’ demands—whether land, materials or money—upon their request. They were very sincere, and had promised to every condition that they could. They had also made many compromises. Even if there were some unavoidable setbacks, they couldn’t make a big fuss over it.

Thus, Bakedu couldn’t find a reason to mount an attack on the humans.

They could not oppress them unscrupulously.

But, without a doubt, strength was still their precept, and power their rule! When a mighty force was committed to devastation, its so-called principles became useless waste paper that might as well be trampled on. The only problem was that the Protoss also wanted some dignity. It was impossible for them straightforwardly to behave like coarse ruffians.

Bakedu said, after some thought, “We didn’t come today to make a so-called ‘prank.’ We have come to take back our home!”

“A million years ago, Earth was the home planet of the Protoss. We once inhabited every inch of land. The planet is our species’ old haunt, and it belongs to us since time immemorial. This very fact is unquestionable!

“Hereupon, you shall return everything that belongs to us—not just a sliver of it. As for you humans, you can move to the space cities or other planets. There are many places where you could settle down. Hence, there’s no need for you to cram in here with our kind... this will be the best for everyone.”

Taking back the entire Earth?

Fang Xiuping was not at all surprised. “Since time immemorial? It is undeniable that, millions of years ago, Earth did, in fact, belonged to the Protoss. But we humans are also a native species of this planet. We are its ‘indigenous people.’ Not only did we exist in this world in ancient times, but we have always been here, right up to this very moment. We have sufficient evidence to prove that we belong here.

“My Lords, it would be unjustifiable to away the entire planet and drive away all one-billion indigenous human beings!”

It was absolutely unacceptable and beyond outrageous, and they could not agree to it.

“What ‘humans?’ Back then, your ancestors were merely uncivilized, simpleminded monkeys. Without being enlightened by the Protoss, you would have remained monkeys, an inferior beast, for as much as a million years. What qualifies you to speak before the Protoss?” Bakedu’s look was awe-inspiring. “You shouldn’t even consider yourselves as ‘humans’ in the first place. In the face of the true Protoss, what rights do you have to linger around this planet?”

What? The people who heard his words raised an uproar.

Racial discrimination. It had been a stark-naked racist speech, on an absolutely illegal level that lead to one being sentenced. Moreover, it was an attack on all of mankind.

Fang Xiuping was instantly infuriated. He said agitatedly, “My Lords, how can you say that? Through all these years—the crisis at the Heavenly Realm, the homecoming of the Protoss—how many things have we humans done for your people? We have given you land, resources, and money, expending almost everything we had to satisfy the demands of your kind. We did not ask for appreciation, gratitude, or any kind words, but only a little respect. Have we done all this just to hear you say something so out-of-line?

“My Lords, are the hearts of the Protoss made of ice? Unmovable, wicked, and merciless? Or are only a portion of you so cold-blooded?”

“Enough!”

Shame flashed across Bakedu’s face; he was unable to tolerate such accusations. Shocked even mere humans dared to spout such words, he abruptly unleashed an oppressive aura on them and spoke in a piercing voice, like a howl from the Nine Serenities:

“My original intention was just to let you humans move away in order to free up the whole planet. In the future, our ties would remain as they are now. But your minds are intractable. You dare to speak so pompously, even though you have lost your trump card, and to offend those above you. Very well!”

Bakedu’s chilling glare swept over the grounds. In a tone of judgment, he said, “I have changed my mind. Now, not only must you vacate the whole planet and offer it to us, but your race shall hereafter become slaves to the Protoss, abiding by all our orders! Any resistance or dissatisfaction will result in merciless slaughter!

“Hereafter, you Terrans should concentrate on learning the ways of slavery!”

What? Another uproar burst forth.

The Federal M.P.s who were present had never expected that triggering the Protoss with just a few words could condemn all of mankind to the fate of living death. In addition, since the power of nuclear weapons had been greatly weakened, humans really had lost their ultimate trump card.

The menaces and threats in Bakedu’s speech instilled fear and terror in many of the M.P.s. They were to go from a nice civilized society, in which they enjoyed freedom like the air they breathed, to being enslaved to the Protoss. They would have to abide by every single order, and any form of disobedience could lead to death. Just the thought itself was terrifying enough.

“Stop fooling around!”

There was one M.P. who was not at all intimidated. Instead, he stared at the Protoss above his head and said out of anger, “Who do you think you are? Do you think that you can enslave humans, just because you have mastery over your puny powers? Do you think you can do just whatever you please?

“Quit your foolish dreaming! Can you even fathom the wisdom of humans? Why would we, with our weapons, be afraid of your powers? If you want war, so be it! We humans will never falter! If you dare to belittle us, you are doomed! We might even drive you back to your so-called Heavenly Realm! Do you have the guts to try us?”

“Presumptuous!” Hearing such a bold and provocative speech, Bakedu was instantly enraged. He pointed his finger in the direction of that M.P. while rapidly shaping a white aurablade. He narrowed his eyes, and the white blade went flying forward at a high speed!

“Be careful!” Fang Xiuping warned. But the M.P. still did not dodge well enough and was grazed by the aurablade, which pierced his shoulder.

“Ah!” He could not help but let out an agonizing scream.

“Are you okay?! Let’s get out of here!” Fang Xiuping rushed over to hold him up, and the two fled out of the hall.

“Provocation identified. The Protoss have made the first attack. For the good and the dignity of humanity! AST Divine Mech Squadron, attack!”

The ATS Mech Squadron, which was responsible for guarding the primary headquarters of the federation, had swiftly arrived during the standoff. Seeing that Bakedu had initiated an attack towards a member of the federation, the squadron launched a counterattack without any hesitation.

...

Approximately 20 minutes later.

More than half of the 120-unit ATS Mech Squadron was lost, having either crashed or been forced to the ground under an onslaught of piercing aurablades. The rest were still holding on, grinding their teeth.

On the side of the Protoss, a total of 18 powerful elites had come. Their leader, Bakedu, was in the middle tier of the Shenguang Order, and the rest were close to attaining this level. They could be considered immensely powerful.

Boom, boom, boom.

The nano-missiles launched by the mech squadron could not even break through the defenses of the Protoss.

Suddenly, just before the squadron was completely annihilated—

Crack.

Under the close-range explosion of a missile, one Protoss’ golden shield cracked open like an eggshell.

His expression changed. “I forgot that the natural spiritual energy here is thin. It’s difficult for me to sustain my powers in a drawn-out fight. If more of those weapons arrive, I’m afraid that I might actually get hurt.”

“Many human warplanes are coming from the west!” A swarm of small dots appeared in the western sky, appearing at least a thousand in number.

“The natural spiritual energy here is sparse, and our recovery is slow. If this drags on, they might wear us out. Let’s retreat!”

Bakedu had also realized this fatal threat, and immediately issued a withdrawal.