Chapter 1003: Chapter 617, Gradually Subsiding_2
He appeared very tense.
On the contrary, Rebecca and the officials of Lyss City were much more relaxed.
Drinking tea, they seemed to accept that even in death, having the Federation as companions in the afterlife was not a bad deal.
After about half an hour of silence, the Sound-transmitting Shell suddenly reacted.
Rebecca picked it up, held it to her ear, and immediately heard a hoarse but distinctly female voice.
“What’s the matter?”
...
Rebecca glanced at Dordy, who said, “Ask her why they started a war with the Federation.”
Rebecca nodded, spoke into the Shell, “Why did the Blood Clan suddenly start a war with the Federation?”
There was a brief silence on the other end.
Then the reply came, “That’s a question for your Federation, secretly violating the treaty, attacking our troops, and causing severe losses.”
Everyone present was taken aback.
To say that the human Federation attacked the Blood Clan first, how could that be?
The counselors behind Dordy showed faces of Rage.
“Blood Clan, what do you mean by blaming it on us?”
“Damn it, these despicable creatures.”
“The Federation lost so many people, and now they say we attacked first.”
“Is it possible that the Federation Army mistakenly identified their troops as fleeing Undead, causing a misunderstanding?”
The war between the Blood Clan and the Undead had caused a mass of Undead to assault the Federation’s borders.
It wasn’t impossible that there had been a mix-up.
Moreover, the Federation Army was not so easy to manage.
With forces deployed from various cities, some soldiers opportunistically engaged in nefarious acts.
If these actions were indeed the cause of today’s losses, it would be a terrible mistake.
Moreover, as the Blood Clan now held the advantage, whatever they said went.
Even if the Federation adamantly denied it, it would be futile.
The goal was to get the Blood Clan to stop their advance and retreat to the border.
Not to argue over who was right or wrong.
Dordy, gesturing for his colleagues to stop their discussions, said to Rebecca, “Just say that there are still remnants of Odys’ forces hitting our borders, mistaken identity.”
Rebecca nodded and repeated it.
The response came swiftly, “You think to settle this with such a simple statement?”
“Let her state her demands,” Rebecca suggested.
Rebecca relayed this, and the reply came, “Fifty million in compensation, two million in population.”
Everyone furrowed their brows, surprised at the demands.
They had expected an increase in reparations, but two million in population? That was excessive.
A city might have several tens of thousands, a village only hundreds.
Two million, the number was outrageous.
Even if the Federation was eager to end the war, this figure was unacceptable.
Even Rebecca was surprised.
“We can’t agree to this. It’s one thing to give some money, but sending out two million people would create a demographic void in the entire Federation.”
“Giving up people is like cutting our flesh with a blunt knife, gradually weakening the Federation’s strength,” she continued.
Dordy nodded and said, “The Federation is to protect humanity, the residents of the Hundred Cities, we will not compromise on population.”
Rebecca continued the dialogue.
The Blood Clan remained domineering.
They wanted money, they wanted people.
But the Federation, in a weaker position, insisted on not giving up people.
Providing compensation was somewhat negotiable within the Federation. But if they agreed to trade people for peace,
let alone the Hall of Justice maintaining its status, the Federation itself would lose its purpose.
After much haggling, they agreed to pay seventy million in compensation in exchange for the Blood Clan’s withdrawal.
Moreover, the territory taken in the offensive, Fort Santa, would not be returned and was officially incorporated into the Blood Clan’s domain.
Dordy was also very helpless about this.
If they didn’t agree, the Blood Clan’s army would attack the second line of defense that very night.
By then, the Federation’s disadvantage would grow even greater, and more people would die.
After reaching the new agreement with the Blood Clan, in the next two days, they would arrange for people to sign a new treaty with the Federation.
After everything was settled.
Dordy and the others finally breathed a sigh of relief.
The accompanying council members immediately took out the Sound-transmitting Shell and sent the latest news back to Silver Wing City,
to put the rest at ease.
…
Dordy was not in a hurry anymore.
He picked up his tea, which had long since gone cold, and took a sip.
In a soft voice, he said, “Rebecca, you played a big role in this matter.”
“These decisions don’t really involve me.”
“Now that you’ve joined the Upper Senate, do you have any plans?” Dordy continued to ask.
It seemed he planned to chat with her for a while.
Rebecca gestured for a servant to bring some fresh tea snacks and continued, “I’ll assimilate into the council circle and continue building Lyss City.”
“Yes, get in touch with more senators,” Dordy changed his tone, “What about your husband? Last time he mentioned he had ten organ guns, I want to talk to him about that.”
“Oh? You’re looking for him? I’ll have someone call him.”
…
In the hall.
Fang Hao smiled at Dordy, “Leader Dordy, did you want to see me?”
Dordy also forced a smile.
After all, with the Federation now heavily in debt, finding happiness was hard.
“Although we’ve temporarily resolved the conflict with the Blood Clan, it also exposed the vulnerability and insufficiency at the border. So I’d like to discuss the organ guns with City Lord Fang Hao.”
“Ah? What organ guns, what are organ guns!”
Dordy paused, then added, “The Federation will pay for them.”
In fact, from the current situation, Fang Hao was somewhat reluctant to provide the organ guns to the Federation.