258: For example, the stars will eventually return to their normal course.

Casualties of hundreds of billions, the upheaval of millions of star systems,

For the currently precarious human civilization, the impact of this uprising was no different from detonating a nuclear bomb over a city—

Through the large screen in the meeting room, all the attendees had already gained a general understanding of the current situation.

"According to our initial assumptions and estimates, this uprising should not have affected such a large area,"

"But there is no doubt that things have developed to this point—"

Xi Hai stood on the high platform, looking at the crowd below, and said slowly,

"Our initial plans, the secret reinforcements, the hiding of ourselves..."

"All of them are now void."

Saying this, Xi Hai checked his communicator and projected a message that had just popped up onto the large screen—

It was a joint notice issued by the Lacray Empire, the Democratic Alliance, the Xila Republic, the Haivier Federation, and the "Loyalist Faction" that had just split from the Military Alliance,

And the title read clearly: "To suppress the largest rebellion in human history, the five top regimes cooperate once again."

(For the internal situation of human civilization before the uprising, see Chapter 229 "Humans Living in Harmony")

Except for the so-called "Orthodox Faction" of the Military Alliance, all forces in human civilization with the strength to sit at the table stood on the opposite side of those Slave Laborer rebels,

Immediately, the meeting room became lively.

Xi Hai looked at the bustling crowd below and slowly lowered his head,

This uprising was undoubtedly successful and eye-catching—so eye-catching that all the old forces of humanity set aside all their new and old grudges and began a joint strangulation of it.

And he himself, he had lit this fire, but he had no way to control it—

Borrowing momentum? What he had thought before was still too simple.

To control it, there was only one way, and that was to integrate himself into this blazing flame and become part of the fuel.

In the dark, Xi Hai had a premonition that he had stepped onto an incredibly massive fork in the road,

This meeting's decision would affect him, everyone around him, and even the survival and prosperity of all humanity.

"Quiet down, everyone. I have a few things to say."

After considering for a long time, Xi Hai finally raised his head again, looked at the noisy crowd below, and said softly,

The crowd below gave a sudden rustle and fell silent instantly. Everyone's eyes turned to the leader standing on the platform—even if it was just a projection.

"I think we can no longer belong to the Empire."

And this was the first sentence Xi Hai said after the silence.

He admitted that joining the Empire was the beginning of his rapid development,

He had territory, an identity, nominal power, and had encountered the Guardian Angel Legion,

But if someone said that everything he had now was given by the Empire... Xi Hai felt that they should forget about it,

This was merely an exchange of interests built on an unequal foundation:

He provided technology, and the Empire gave him political asylum, nothing more,

He acknowledged the positive role the Empire played, but he would not become the Empire's lapdog because of it.

"Do you know why, in previous operations, I emphasized that we must act in secret?"

"That's because I didn't initially expect this great uprising to be so grand—grand enough to have a chance to completely turn the page on a corrupt humanity—"

Saying this, Xi Hai suddenly took a step forward, his voice gradually rising,

"Our initial plan was to light a bonfire on the rotten and damp ground and then gradually dry the surrounding land,"

"But now! We have only scattered a few sparks, and a raging fire is already burning before us!"

When the volume reached its peak, Xi Hai paused, then immediately quickened his pace,

"Ideological awakening, wanting to rest, unable to bear humiliation, revenge complexes, following the trend... there are many causes and reasons for those Slave Laborers to revolt,"

"But no matter what the reason, these revolting Slave Laborers have one thing in common—they have all begun to think that this world shouldn't be like this, and as people living, they shouldn't be like this!"

Xi Hai was not so arrogant as to think that this grand uprising was masterminded by him and Norma alone,

Hundreds of years of oppression, the demise of The Consortium, the disintegration of the Military Alliance, the content of the meeting promulgated at the last Order Grand Ceremony, and the powerful assistance given by the Guardian Angel Legion... countless factors combined to make this unprecedented great uprising as successful as it is now,

The wheels of history have already crushed onto their faces, and there will never be such an opportunity again.

Xi Hai walked to the edge of the high platform, one hand raised high, two fingers formed into a sword pointing straight up, and he roared:

"For humanity! This is progress! This is hope! This is a chance for a resurgence!"

"And the Empire, along with its allies, has already stood on the opposite side of the future! They are desperately trying to protect the corrupt past!"

"I ask you! Do you agree! Are you willing!"

"Undoubtedly! No!"

"Humanity only has one chance for a renaissance!"

"The corrupt Empire—the corrupt old forces will never be able to grasp it!"

"Then let us do it!"

After speaking, Xi Hai looked at the audience and announced:

"From today on! We will officially break away from the Empire and establish our own house!"

"We will send reinforcements to every star system in revolt, and we will unite all forces of resistance,"

"From the singularity of the explosion to the edge of the universe!"

"We will let the fruits of human struggle return to the hands of all humanity once again!"

"Who is in favor! Who is opposed!"

After a brief silence, there was an excitement that was almost boiling,

Seeing the unanimous "agree" from the entire hall, Xi Hai nodded and stepped back slightly,

Wings are fully fledged, and the hearts of the people are aligned; this day, after all, has finally come.

Thinking this, he looked at the ceiling, then back at the ground,

The megastructure in his hands had basically finished its main body repairs and regained part of its combat capability,

The full version of aio, which had completed various tests, had also begun to be equipped in various fleets,

Of course, the most important thing was that huge setting Gate located at the spatial resonance point,

Tomorrow would be the day it is lit—

Thinking of this, Xi Hai suddenly raised his head and looked at the crowd below,

"Since everyone has no objections, then start preparing!"

"The earlier we intervene, the greater the role we can play!"

"Just as the multitude stars will eventually return to their proper course,"

"Humanity will surely be glorious once again!"

"Yes!!!"