Spike quickly explained his reasoning by saying, "I have the suspicion that they want to kill him to weaken the world further because everything they've done so far has weakened the world and the Sun King in one war or another."
"At this point, it is normal for me to suspect them of trying to weaken the world because the Sun King has been weakening ever since they invaded. But thrut behavior is extra suspicious this time around because of their determination to kill the Sun King."
"They went to the South Pole in order to kill him as soon as the world became too weak to stop them from venturing out of the North Pole. So I believe that if the Sun King dies, we will lose Aries completely. That's why I think the Sun King should be saved."
He didn't start by stating his true purpose. Instead of being brazenly traitorous, he first linked the situation to his hypothesis about how the invaders possess a world-conquering weapon. Then he made it important for the Sun King to be saved.
Because of the tactic that he used, the gem emperor, who had given up on Aries, took the matter seriously. But no matter how seriously the gem emperor took the situation, there was nothing he could do from his location so far away.
So the Ivory Gem Emperor asked Spike, "What do you suggest we do?"
Spike took the opportunity to say, "Maybe we should try to cooperate with the invaders."
He quickly explained his reason, "If we come to an agreement with them, we can keep a share of Aries and save the Sun King. Not only that, we might also buy some of their technologies. It will be good if we can obtain their technology since we haven't been able to get any of them."
He didn't say that they should cooperate just to save the life of the Sun King, but his heart was still beating wildly in fear. After speaking, the only thing he got in reply was silence. This silence was both heavy and suffocating. He felt as if his fragile body might be crushed because of the silence.
When the gem emperor finally spoke, his voice was calm as he said, "Oh. You want us to cooperate with the enemy? And how do you suggest we achieve that? Why would they choose to cooperate with us?"
The calmness of the gem emperor made Spike feel a chill from the top of his head to the soles of his feet. He felt as if he had been suddenly dropped into a frozen pool of water.
When the Sun King had brought up similar concerns, he had said that he didn't have a way to solve the problem. He had said that he would leave how to make the invaders cooperate to the gem emperor.
But now that the gem emperor was asking him, he didn't dare say that the gem emperor should come up with a solution. He quickly racked his brain for a solution.
After thinking about the problem for a while, he could only come up with one feasible idea. He didn't know if it was a good idea, but it was the only good idea that he had.
So he said, "I think we should offer them something that they can't refuse. Surely, they must want something."
The gem emperor considered his suggestion and said calmly, "So you want us to acquire their cooperation by buying it? You want us to offer something precious to them?"
Spike didn't know what to say. He could only remain silent.
When the gem emperor saw that he didn't have anything more to say, they said, "Fine. We will try to cooperate with them through diplomatic methods instead of using force. I don't think it will work because invaders rarely solve a problem by talking."
"The fact that we are negotiating with them implies that we are in a weaker position and want something they have that we can't take by force. This will embody them in the negotiation. Instead of accepting our offer, they will decide to invade us to take whatever we have by force."
"If we could threaten them with violence, the negotiation would be successful. But, even though the negotiation will fail, I will try it anyway because I am not doing it for the reasons you stated. I won't be doing it to cooperate with them."
With that said, the gem emperor said, "You have done enough. Return home immediately and help your people prepare for the invaders."
"As for your suggestion to negotiate with the enemy, you won't be punished for it. So you will still be rewarded for your work."
After speaking, the gem emperor cut off the connection without waiting for him to respond. It was the same thing that the Sun King had done, but Spike didn't think it was rude at all. He was just glad that he survived the ordeal with his life intact.
He didn't doubt what the gem emperor said about not punishing him for his treasonous suggestion, and didn't consider that asking him to come home was a ruse to prevent him from running away because gem people don't lie.
If the gem emperor said he wouldn't be punished, then there is no doubt about it. And if the gem emperor says he will be rewarded, then he will surely be rewarded. These promises raised his previously low mood and made him full of anticipation for returning home.
He quickly gathered five more small leystones and combined them into one. The result is still a small leystone, but this leystone has become bigger than the palm of his hand.
The new leystone has become larger than his head. This size was just enough for him to squeeze his head into.
A bigger leystone will make his trip back home faster and more comfortable. But he doesn't dare to make something bigger because of the danger of drawing unwanted attention to himself.