737: Chapter 737 The Submission of the Lianxing Civilization (Part 2)

The first faction was the Submissive-Compromise Faction, accounting for fully over 40%.

They felt that since the leadership had already made a decision, there was no point in agonizing over it; it was better to obey and at least save their lives and homes.

"The leadership has submitted, so it can't be wrong to follow along. At least we can live in peace; it's better than being destroyed by war."

The second faction was the Resolute Resistance Faction, accounting for about 30%.

They were fierce and couldn't accept their civilization becoming a subsidiary. They saw it as a betrayal and a disgrace, determined to fight back. Some even began secretly contacting others to organize a resistance force to overturn the decision to submit.

"Our Lianxing Civilization has a Legacy spanning tens of thousands of years. How can we bow to a strange civilization? Even if we can't win, we must give it our all!"

The leaders of the Resolute Resistance Faction roared, their eyes burning with the fire of defiance.

As for the third faction, the Indifferent Faction, they also accounted for over 30%.

They were indifferent to the submission. They felt that no matter who the ruler was, they were just ordinary citizens. As long as they could live peacefully and have food and drink, the civilization's allegiance was a matter for the higher-ups and had nothing to do with them.

"If we submit, we submit. I'll still go to work and live my life; it doesn't affect me anyway."

A citizen lying down said nonchalantly while drinking nutrient solution, completely unconcerned about the turmoil.

In the Lianxing Civilization's highest-level meeting room, the atmosphere was heavy to the extreme.

The Jellyfish-type Being floated in mid-air, its translucent umbrella-shaped body rising and falling violently with anger. Its thick tentacles pointed directly at the Six-legged creature slumped on the other side of the conference table. Its crystalline eyes were full of fury and questioning, its voice sharp and filled with uncontrollable agitation.

"What on earth are you doing? Who gave you the authority to unilaterally announce the submission of our entire Lianxing Civilization? Do you even respect those of us in the upper management?!"

Facing the Jellyfish-type Being's rage, the Six-legged creature did not argue. It only sighed slowly, its six legs hanging limply on the ground, its eyes full of exhaustion and lingering fear.

It looked up, its gaze sweeping across all the high-level officials present, its tone heavy and serious.

"Everyone, it's not that I acted on my own, nor is it that I want to betray our civilization. It's that we are facing a terrifying opponent that we can never contend with, one against whom we cannot even offer resistance..."

It took a deep breath of Qi and recounted everything it had seen, heard, and felt on the command ship in full detail.

From the massive array of the Imperial Fleet that blotted out the sky, to the Imperial Soldiers emerging from the spatial rift, to the other side's unquestionable ultimatum and the threat of a "Total Cleanup"—every detail was described vividly.

The moment the words fell, the originally noisy meeting room instantly fell into a dead silence.

Even the Jellyfish-type Being, usually the most irritable and prone to stirring up trouble, fell completely silent. Its body floating in mid-air stiffened slightly, its waving tentacles slowly drooping, its crystalline eyes filled with unbelievable shock and bewilderment.

It had lived for hundreds of years and held the reins of power for many years. It had seen interstellar wars, but it had never heard of, nor seen, such inconceivable combat power.

Ordinary Soldiers could manipulate space at will; such means already exceeded its understanding of top-tier civilizations.

After an unknown amount of time, the trembling voice of the Jellyfish-type Being came from the meeting room. It spoke slowly, its tone full of unbelievable apprehension, and even a hint of wishful thinking.

"Is... is everything you said true? Not a single word of exaggeration?"

The Six-legged creature nodded heavily, its gaze incredibly firm, its tone certain and heavy.

"It is absolutely true, without a hint of falsehood! In that situation, the enemy's main fleet was watching like a hawk from behind, and the one-minute surrender countdown was pressing in. I had no time to consult with you, nor any capital for resistance.

If I had dared to say 'no' then, the Lianxing Civilization would likely have been wiped out by their troops into cosmic dust in the Universe by now, without leaving a trace. I dared to make the decision unilaterally precisely to preserve the Foundation of our entire civilization and save the lives of billions of our people!"

This sorrowful declaration from the Six-legged creature was like a heavy boulder smashing once again into the dead silence of the meeting room.

Everyone looked at each other, their faces pale, unable to say a word.

The silence lasted for a long time, the air permeated with an indescribable oppression and sorrow.

The Jellyfish-type Being slowly closed its eyes, its huge umbrella-shaped body sagging slightly as if it had aged hundreds of years in an instant.

It was silent for a long time before saying in a barely audible voice, filled with endless exhaustion and despair.

"I understand..."

No argument, no questioning, no anger.

At this moment, the fire and indignation in its heart were completely swallowed by despair after witnessing the Empire's unfathomable power.

It knew that the Six-legged creature was not wrong; resistance was a dead end.

After speaking, the Jellyfish-type Being slowly turned around without looking at anyone else or leaving any further instructions. It walked out of the meeting room door with heavy steps, leaving the group of high-level officials and the endless discussion behind.

Everyone watched its lonely and despondent back, their hearts filled with mixed emotions, yet they could only stay to discuss how to seek a chance of survival for the entire civilization under the Empire's control.

The discussion in the meeting room continued, but the atmosphere remained heavy.

Just as everyone was frantically planning the details of the submission and soothing the citizens' emotions, the meeting room door was suddenly burst open.

A Guard, face pale and expression desperate, came scrambling in, his voice distorted by fear as he cried out.

"This is bad! Lord Shui! Lord Shui... it committed suicide in its office!"

"What?!"

This news was like a thunderclap, instantly stunning all the high-level officials present.

The solemnity on everyone's faces was instantly replaced by shock and disbelief. The Six-legged creature stood up abruptly, its six legs trembling slightly from the violent shock, as it cried out in alarm.

"What did you say?!"

Without any hesitation, no one cared about continuing the meeting. They all swarmed after the Guard, rushing towards the Jellyfish-type Being's office.

Pushing open the office door, a thick smell of blood and a faint blue fluorescence instantly hit them.

Everyone froze, and then what came into view was a heartbreaking scene.

The Jellyfish-type Being's originally huge, translucent, and vitality-filled umbrella-shaped body was now slumped limply and without Life Qi on the cold metal floor of the office.

Its tentacles were spread out weakly, like tattered silk on the floor. Its originally crystal-clear blue body was now completely stained and soaked by large patches of thick blue blood.

The blue liquid spread across the floor, forming a shocking pool that emitted the cold aura of fading life.

Its eyes had lost their luster and were motionless; it was clearly no longer breathing.

"Sigh..."

It was unclear who let out the first sigh, but then, heavy sighs rang out one after another.

Seeing this scene, all the high-level officials present fell into complete silence.

They looked at the cold corpse, their hearts filled with mixed feelings—regret, sympathy, and even a hint of relief.

Standing in the crowd, the Six-legged creature looked at the familiar corpse and exhaled a long breath of Qi, its eyes complex, eventually turning into a helpless sigh.

It knew better than anyone that for such a leader, who had been proud all its life and could not accept the civilization becoming a subsidiary, yet was forced to accept reality, death was perhaps the only relief it could find.

It no longer had to face the reality of the civilization's submission, nor bear the inner torment and guilt. Thus, it would sleep forever in this land it had sworn to protect.

...