Chapter 1390: Alliance Negotiations
The next day.
Zhao Chen finally understood what 'birds singing and flowers blooming' meant.
He truly woke up amidst birdsong and fragrant flowers.
Even in the breakfast Gladys prepared today, you could see flower petals.
And you know what? The petals actually taste a little sweet when you chew them, almost like eating fresh, sweet vegetables.
"Please get ready."
"I'll take you to the banquet venue in a moment," Gladys said from the side.
"Mm." Zhao Chen nodded.
For the rest of the time, Zhao Chen and his delegation followed the established visit schedule and attended a unique reception banquet.
The banquet was held in a garden, and the food was mainly vegetarian. Each dish was very beautiful and smelled delicious.
But Zhao Chen was starting to miss the meat.
These vegetarian dishes from the Elven race are worth trying occasionally.
But if Zhao Chen ate these things for several days in a row, his mouth would really get incredibly bland.
Therefore, at the banquet.
Zhao Chen would only take a bite of each dish to savor the flavor.
Those present were almost entirely high elves.
Zhao Chen has yet to encounter a non-elf interstellar race, which is enough to show the status of the elves in the Holy Elf Empire.
However, these high elves are mostly uninterested in visitors from distant universes.
They were watching Zhao Chen and his group in small groups from a distance, discussing something privately.
Some even had a look of disdain in their eyes.
"Your Majesty, the way these guys look at us is really unpleasant," the leopard woman said, taking a bite of grass.
Then, he complained, "I don't even know what kind of food this is; it's not filling at all."
After saying that, he picked up the fruit next to him and started eating it.
Compared to those vegetable leaves, these fruits are barely edible.
Zhao Chen could also try the elven dishes, but as a half-orc, the leopard woman was used to eating meat and really didn't like this kind of food at all.
You should think this way.
Prejudice and arrogance are the most foolish things about a race.
"Wouldn't it be beneficial for us to associate with people like that?" Zhao Chen said with a slight smile.
The leopard woman thought for a moment, then countered, "But if we're not here to form an alliance with them, then forming an alliance with these fools... this..."
The leopard woman can now think for herself.
Zhao Chen smiled slightly: "You should know that as an ally..."
Neither excessive ignorance nor excessive intelligence makes a qualified ally.
And this is an ally who is clever in some ways, but also foolish and arrogant.
That would make them a qualified ally for our Dragon Empire.
The leopard woman suddenly understood and nodded with a smile.
Now, she found these elves much more agreeable.
At this moment, the Radiant Elf King walked up to Zhao Chen, and the two greeted each other.
"It seems that His Majesty is not very interested in this banquet."
"Was it our poor hospitality?" the Radiant Elf King inquired.
Zhao Chen smiled and shook his head, explaining, "I am already very satisfied with the hospitality you have provided."
However, the most important thing right now is for us to form an alliance and to discuss how to deal with the threat that is devouring civilization and order.
If these threats and troubles are resolved, I believe I will be able to experience everything in the Holy Elf Empire in a better state in the future.
The Radiant Elf King smiled slightly: "His Majesty the Dragon Emperor truly cares about his people and country."
Since that's the case...
Then we'll shorten the banquet time a bit.
We can discuss the alliance in advance.
However, because of our Elf Kings and members of the High Council, we are scattered throughout the empire.
It's impossible to gather everyone here in a short time.
Therefore, the Elf King and members of the High Council who are unable to attend the alliance meeting will participate in the meeting via holographic projection.
We hope His Majesty the Emperor of the Dragon King will forgive us.
Zhao Chen nodded and said, "I understand."
Next, the banquet process was sped up.
The original allotted time will end much sooner.
Afterwards, Zhao Chen and the others were taken to a semi-open-air council chamber.
The entire council chamber has a huge platform in the middle, and in front of it are semi-circular seats arranged from low to high.
Judging from the appearance, those should be the seats for the members of the High Council.
"Those are the seats for your delegation members." Grati led the members of the Xiaolong delegation to their seats.
Compared to the hundreds of members of the High Council.
With only a dozen or so members, the Xiaolong delegation seemed much smaller in scale.
However, it was clear that these members of the JF-17 mission were all very confident.
Because of their special identities, they were virtually invisible figures in the Xiaolong Empire before this.
Interstellar Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Dragon Empire.
Before this, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was practically non-existent.
Because the entire Xiaolong Empire has been unified by Zhao Chen.
diplomatic?
Who are we supposed to talk to about diplomacy?
Should we engage in diplomacy with the established order?
They didn't say anything.
Therefore, the Interstellar Ministry of the Dragon Empire has never had any room to maneuver.
Until the emergence of the Holy Elf Empire.
Lilith immediately activated the Imperial Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and all the personnel there began preparations, each one on high alert.
Because he had been paying wages but not doing any work for over two years.
They're all so bored they're practically begging for more money, and they feel ashamed of how little they earn.
Now that I've finally got my first job, I have to make something of it.
We can't let those two years' worth of wages go to waste!
As Zhao Chen walked past the seats of the Xiaolong delegation, he exchanged a glance with one of the middle-aged women wearing glasses.
This person is Xu Yan, the current Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Xiaolong Empire.
Prior to this, he served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Starry Empire.
Besides her, there were middle-aged men and women sitting proudly beside her.
Their previous identities were, for example, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Holy Radiant Empire, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Warhammer Interstellar Federation Kingdom, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Angel Race, and so on...
They were all talented individuals from the Dragon Universe, specializing in interstellar diplomacy!
At this moment, here, they finally have a place to use their talents.
They were all eager to get started.
Zhao Chen recalled the conversation he had with them the previous night.
Foreign Minister Xu Yan bluntly stated: "Your Majesty, tomorrow you should act according to my signals. If you don't have my signals, then don't say anything. Just leave everything to us."
We absolutely guarantee that our Dragon Empire will obtain the maximum benefit from this negotiation!
"Your Majesty Emperor Xiaolong, this way please." The Radiant Elf King smiled and led Zhao Chen to a seat on the stage.
There are six seats on the stage.
However, it is clear that there should be five seats here, forming a crescent shape, facing the high council seats.
Now there is an extra seat in the middle, and the style of this seat is different from the other five seats, so it is obviously an addition.
"Please sit down," the Radiant Elf King gestured to the seat beside him.
Zhao Chen nodded and sat down in the seat.
In this way, he and the Radiant Elf King were positioned in the center of the stage.
Although these high elves are very proud, they still behave very well in terms of etiquette. Perhaps in their view, it would be a disgrace to be impolite in front of outsiders.
After Zhao Chen sat down, he looked around.
To his left is the Radiant Elf King, and to the Radiant Elf King's left is the Emerald Elf King.
The seat to the left of the Emerald Elf King is empty.
The seat to Zhao Chen's right was empty, while the seat on the far right was occupied by the Flame Elf King.
The Flame Elf King noticed Zhao Chen's gaze and gave a faint smile.
At this moment, two beams of light appeared in the two empty spaces.
Meanwhile, lights and shadows appeared in the empty seats of the High Council.
This must be those who were unable to attend in person, participating in the meeting remotely using holographic projection.
A dark-skinned man with cold eyes appeared to Zhao Chen's right.
The other person glanced at Zhao Chen and then looked away.
Zhao Chen knew exactly who this person was.
Kaguya Elf King Onynes, one of the five Elf Kings of the Holy Elf Empire.
At this moment, on the far left, appeared a very beautiful female elf with fair and delicate skin, dressed in a light blue gauze.
The female elf looked at Zhao Chen, and when their eyes met, she smiled slightly and nodded, giving off a very gentle feeling.
This person is none other than Water Moon Elf King Maritis, one of the five Elf Kings.
This Elf King is said to be a half-elf, possessing the bloodlines of both the Moon Elf and Water Elf races.
He is also known as the gentlest of the Elf Kings.
They enjoy a high reputation within the Holy Elf Empire, not only among the Elven race but also among other interstellar races.
At this point, all the members of the High Council were present.
The entire council chamber suddenly lit up.
"I hereby announce that the meeting to discuss an alliance with the Dragon Empire is now in session."
"Next, please both sides explain your thoughts and opinions on forming an alliance." The Radiant Elf King, presiding over the meeting, spoke first.
But the rest was left to the elven councilors of the High Council.
"Your Majesty Emperor Xiaolong, it is an honor to welcome you to our Holy Elf Empire." The high elf who spoke was quite polite from the start.
But the next second, he abruptly changed his tone.
"I have heard that the Dragon Empire has been invaded by the Dark Legion fleet of Order one after another, and has just recovered from the civil war. The empire has only been established for two years and everything is in need of rebuilding."
Now it's being targeted by the civilization that devoured it.
We express our deepest sympathy and concern for the plight and situation of the Dragon Empire.
We are very willing to establish an alliance with the Dragon Empire and help the Dragon Empire.
We are willing to send troops to the Dragon Empire...
What followed was essentially the same request that Gladys made during their meeting with the Dragon Empire.
It simply means unconditionally stationing troops in the Dragon Empire and having priority access to stargates, starports, and so on.
At the same time, a large, permanent, two-way cosmic stargate must be built, and it must also be under the jurisdiction of the Holy Elf Empire.
Furthermore, in the battle against the Devouring Civilization, both the fleets of the Holy Elf Empire and the Dragon Empire must have a unified commander, and that commander must be from the Holy Elf Empire.
Besides, although there are many other excessive demands, they are nothing compared to this.
While listening to these things, Zhao Chen still had a faint smile on his face.
He knew very well that negotiation was nothing more than a process of bargaining.
So what if the High Council gives us such a show of force right from the start?
If we really can't reach an agreement, we might as well flip the table and stop talking.
Just then.
Minister Xu Yan slammed her hand on the table, interrupting the high elf's words and provoking the high elf's displeasure.
"I'm sorry, I know it's very impolite of me to interrupt you here."
However, I also believe that it is very impolite to shamelessly make unreasonable demands.
If this is your attitude in wanting to form an alliance with us, then perhaps this meeting should end here.
We don't want to waste any more time here.
Instead of wasting time here, we should focus on preparing our army for a decisive battle against the devouring civilization.
"What do you mean by this, sir?"
What do you mean by a shameless request? This is just a reasonable suggestion.
We also want to help the Dragon Empire.
Given your country's current situation, how much of a chance do you have of winning against the devouring civilization and the potentially resurgent Dark Legion fleet?
You have never fought against the Devouring Civilization, so you have no idea how powerful it is.
"You alone have absolutely no chance of winning!" another high elf said.
"We have never fought against the Devouring Civilization, but our Dragon Empire has always fought with our backs straight."
Instead of groveling!
"I see no sincerity from you here," Minister Xu Yan said coldly, then added, "And even if we are not a match for the civilization-devouring forces..."
Then may I ask, is your country the one that devours civilization?
After we are defeated, your country will be our next target for conquering civilizations.
The only difference between us is the order in which we did it.
In response to Minister Xu Yan's sharp words, the High Council also launched a counterattack.
On the other side of the Xiaolong delegation, people were also speaking.
They are all striving for their own interests.
From the initial general direction to the later details, such as garrisoning, stargates, starports, command and control, and so on.
The two sides below the stage continued their argument.
However, the few people who actually hold power remain completely unfazed on stage.
Even the Emerald Elf King half-closed his eyes and began to drink some kind of wine.
Zhao Chen simply closed his eyes, leaned back in his chair, and adopted a posture of resting with his eyes closed.
This kind of negotiation tests the character of both parties.