196: Chapter 196: Reparations, Territorial Cessions, and Treaty Signing!
With a wave of her hand, the multicolored token turned into a streak of light and landed steadily in Jiang Ning's palm.
The token felt cold to the touch, made of a material that was neither metal nor jade, and was covered in profound runes; the front bore three ancient characters—Inspector—while the back had a mark representing "Third Class."
This thing was that unlucky fellow's "identification."
"Consultant Jiang, what... what is this?" Special Envoy Wang leaned in curiously, and the history and linguistics experts behind him had eyes gleaming, looking as if they wanted to take it for slicing and study immediately.
"Spoils of war." Jiang Ning weighed the token in her hand and said indifferently, "And also a stepping stone for our upcoming negotiations."
"Negotiations?" Special Envoy Wang was stunned. "Negotiating with whom? Didn't that Inspector already..." He made a gesture for "turning into ashes."
"The people behind him." Jiang Ning looked at the sky again, as if she could pierce through the azure blue to see a distant and massive world. "An Inspector has died, especially in such an 'undignified' manner. There's no way the 'Heavenly Dao Execution Department' behind him won't react. Either they'll send someone stronger for revenge, or..."
A meaningful curve tugged at the corner of Jiang Ning's mouth.
"They'll send someone to talk."
As long as the other party wasn't a monolithic group of war-crazed demons, and as long as they still understood the concepts of "cost" and "benefit," then after witnessing the irrational deterrence of the "inter-dimensional strike platform," negotiation would be their only choice.
Because the cost of revenge was too high.
So high that they could not bear it.
Sure enough, as soon as Jiang Ning finished speaking, the Inspector's token in her hand began to vibrate violently, and the multicolored light on its surface intensified.
A screen of light projected from the token, forming a blurry humanoid shadow in mid-air.
This shadow was much more solid than the previous Inspector, wearing even more ornate and complex golden armor; the pressure it exuded was heavier, yet it lacked any aggressiveness, carrying instead a sense of cautious probing.
"Fellow Daoist of the lower realm... please calm your anger." An old and steady voice came from the shadow. This time, it used the standard common language of the Immortal-Mortal Realm instead of that high-and-mighty soul transmission. "What happened just now was purely a misunderstanding. Third-Class Inspector Gengchen 9527 failed to understand the local situation and rashly resorted to force, which seriously violated our 'Heavenly Dao Execution Department's' principle of 'peace is precious.' On behalf of the Execution Department, I express our most sincere apologies to your realm."
These words were spoken flawlessly, and the posture was kept incredibly low.
First, admit fault, define the dead Inspector's actions as "personal behavior" to distance the organization, and then express apologies.
A standard set of diplomatic rhetoric.
Special Envoy Wang nodded repeatedly as he listened, thinking to himself: It seems that no matter which world it is, the tactics of these officials are all about the same.
However, Jiang Ning didn't buy any of it.
"A misunderstanding?" She sneered and shook the token in her hand. "He held your Execution Department's token, spoke your Execution Department's rules, and wanted to 'reset' our world. Now that I've killed him, you're telling me it's a misunderstanding?"
"Or rather, in your view, is it only called a 'misunderstanding' when you can't win?"
The humanoid shadow visibly stiffened, seemingly not expecting Jiang Ning to be so direct and give him no face at all.
"Uh... Fellow Daoist, you overstate the matter," the shadow said awkwardly. "Our department will certainly investigate the actions of Gengchen 9527. To show our sincerity, our department is willing to provide compensation to your realm for this conflict, only... only hoping that Fellow Daoist can return his origin imprint so that he may be reborn in the Reincarnation Pool."
He thought Jiang Ning had only broken the Inspector's physical form and left a way out.
Jiang Ning curled her lip and spread her hands with a look of being unable to help: "I'm sorry, but that origin imprint of his seemed a bit fragile; it accidentally got crushed. Now, forget the Reincarnation Pool, you probably won't even find a single speck of dust left."
"What?!"
The humanoid shadow's voice suddenly spiked, and the light around it fluctuated violently, clearly showing extreme shock.
Even the origin imprint was shattered?
That was true annihilation of the soul, leaving no theoretical possibility of rebirth!
What ruthless methods!
The shadow fell silent.
He finally realized that he was facing an opponent who could not be judged by common sense at all.
The other party not only had the ability to kill an Inspector but also the ability to make him die thoroughly!
This level of deterrence was far greater than he had anticipated.
"Ahem..." After a long while, the shadow spoke again, its tone becoming more solemn than ever before. "Since that is the case, it is indeed a loss for our department. However, what's done is done; let us discuss future matters. Fellow Daoist, what do you... or rather, what does your realm want?"
He finally gave up all illusions and asked straightforwardly.
"Now that's more like it." Jiang Ning nodded with satisfaction. "Wouldn't it have been better to say that from the start? You just had to wait for someone to die before you were willing to sit down and talk properly."
She turned around and gave Special Envoy Wang a look.
Special Envoy Wang understood immediately and stepped forward with his team of legal and negotiation experts, projecting a pre-drafted document in mid-air.
The title of the document was written in a flamboyant style, full of Earthly characteristics.
"Framework Agreement (Draft) on Promoting Peaceful Coexistence, Non-Aggression, and Establishing Preliminary Economic and Trade Cooperation Relations between the Immortal-Mortal Realm and the Great Immortal World"
Looking at the "agreement" that was over a hundred pages long and packed with various clauses, the shadow almost solidified.
This... what is this?
He had traversed countless worlds and handled disputes between numerous civilizations, but he had never seen such an... exhaustive and shameless "extortion" document.
Special Envoy Wang cleared his throat and began to read it aloud like a professional lawyer.
"First, regarding sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Great Immortal World and any of its subordinate organizations or individuals must recognize and respect the status of the Immortal-Mortal Realm as an independent, autonomous, and sole legitimate sovereign world, and must not interfere in the internal affairs of the Immortal-Mortal Realm in any form or for any reason..."
"Second, regarding war reparations. In view of the serious spiritual and material losses caused to the Immortal-Mortal Realm by your personnel, your side is required to provide a one-time compensation of one million tons of 'Top-grade Immortal Jade,' ten thousand 'Ten-thousand-year Spirit Herbs,' and various other heavenly treasures, as detailed in Appendix One..."
"Third, regarding trading ports. Both parties shall establish a single 'Cross-realm Trade Zone' under joint supervision on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. The Great Immortal World must open export licenses for at least three types of strategic resources to our side, while our side will selectively export 'Industrialized Standard Psionic Modules' and related technologies to your side..."
"Fourth, regarding information sharing. Your side must provide our side with a complete, accurate, and unedited 'Map of the Great Immortal World and Surrounding Star Sectors,' and share the internal organizational structure, personnel list, and related public intelligence of the 'Heavenly Dao Execution Department'..."
...
Clause after clause, item after item.
From politics to military, to economy, and then to culture.
Every single one was like a knife stabbing deeply into the heart of that shadow.
How was this a peace agreement?
This was clearly a blatant "unequal treaty"!
Moreover, it was being signed by them, the Great Immortal World, as the losing party!
"This is too much! You are extorting us!" the shadow finally couldn't help but roar in anger.
"No, no, no." Special Envoy Wang smiled and wagged his finger. "This isn't called extortion; this is called 'a necessary consensus reached to maintain cosmic peace and regional stability.'"
Jiang Ning crossed her arms and added leisurely.
"You don't have to sign."
"But next time, it might not be an Inspector's token falling."
"It might be... the headquarters building of your 'Heavenly Dao Execution Department.'"
The shadow: "..."
A blatant threat!
But he couldn't utter a single word in rebuttal.
Because he knew that she really would do it.