Chapter 955: Chapter 515, leader? Please come with us. _2

How could the Shipbuilding Group withstand such terms?

They didn’t even try to maintain their composure, just slid straight to their knees.

Similarly, this was why Zhai Guangshan shut his mouth.

If it was just about money, he would move heaven and earth to keep Gelangya; but the two conditions for mutual investment given by the Alliance were completely beyond his capabilities to meet.

What else could he do?

But Zhai Guangshan wasn’t so easily defeated.

He said, “Do you know the policies of the Alliance? How do they treat businesses?”

Fisher sighed and replied, “Indeed, this was also our main concern at the beginning. The system executed by the Alliance is not very friendly to us. However, these concerns were addressed in the conditions left to us by Gu Hang. Within the framework of the Alliance, there are private business entities, too. By obtaining the corresponding rank and renouncing all government subsidies, one could earn profits according to the business performance, and our group would still belong to us.”

“The only two areas that would need to change are, firstly, employee management must conform to the Alliance’s practices; secondly, after accepting investment and support from the Alliance, production tasks must be completed as per the Alliance’s demands.”

“After discussing these two conditions, we feel they are acceptable…”

Upon hearing Fisher get to this point, Zhai Guangshan became anxious, “Have you ever considered that he might be deceiving you? Once their troops arrive, and later, whether in the name of investment or the method of assigning tasks, after taking control over Gelangya, what would make them keep you around? By then, what means of resistance will you have?”

Now, it was Fisher’s turn to fall silent.

Indeed, this was the greatest risk.

There had been plenty of internal discussions within their Shipbuilding Group.

What if they cross the river and demolish the bridge? Even if they don’t do it immediately, what about ten or eight years down the line, when the cooperation has deepened, infiltration has become severe, and if the scale between the two parties is completely unbalanced, and the Shipbuilding Group starts to be significantly controlled, then what good are their so-called ‘private ownership’ and ‘the group still belongs to us’?

They could easily kick you out of the game!

However, in their discussions, this risk was ultimately overlooked.

Not because it was unimportant,

But because… there was no other choice.

The reasoning was simple, if you don’t trust the credibility of the Alliance and you feel that the Alliance will play dirty, then instead of worrying about being digested by them in ten or eight years, you might as well worry about them becoming frustrated and forcibly seizing Gelangya right now.

The Menghe Fleet might manage to intercept the Alliance’s vanguard fleet, but what if the Alliance raises the stakes, and the infamous ‘Firebath Nova’, rumored to have decimated the Green Skins in the Iron Teeth War, is dispatched? What can the Menghe Fleet do to withstand that?

And why should they withstand?

Resist the Southern Theater Command General and contemplate rebellion?

Of course, Fisher didn’t want to spell things out so clearly and bluntly to Zhai Guangshan.

Thinking it over, he vaguely advised, “Collaborating with Supreme Commander Gu represents orders from the Space Domain Government, from the Central Empire, and is also the realistic choice. Of course, we might have another option, but by comparison, the Alliance is closer, that choice is further away. Star Domain Head Zhai, you really need to think this through…”

“What choice? My loyalty, the Divine Emperor can witness!” Zhai Guangshan emphasized this first and then paused before continuing, “But serving the Divine Emperor doesn’t mean that we have to blindly follow the Alliance; we might have a third option…”

At this point, the doors of the meeting hall suddenly opened.

Zhai Guangshan wisely cut his speech short and looked outside, only to see the young and energetic Mr. Gu, stepping over a red carpet that unfurled to the entrance, striding his way in.

Even a smile adorned Gu Hang’s face, “What third option? Sorry I’m just arriving, it seems I missed some of your conversation. Would you mind sharing with me?”

Zhai Guangshan responded with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, “Sorry, it was just some private discussion, not quite appropriate to tell Mr. Gu. Let’s talk straight to the point. The Alliance’s actions of aggression against the Menghe Star Domain must cease. Your succession of moves not only contravenes Imperial laws but has already gone to the extent of interfering with Gelangya…”

Gu Hang looked gently at Zhai Guangshan, listening to his lengthy speech, but did not respond with a word.

Gradually, the momentum in Zhai Guangshan’s talk subsided.

After all, he was a Star Domain Head, a vassal in his own right. When facing high officials of the Space Domain Government, they would usually show basic respect, unlike Gu Hang, who left him without a single word of reply.

The anger in his heart surged relentlessly upward.

He cut off the topic, somewhat in a fit of embarrassed rage, and interrogated Gu Hang: “What is Mr. Gu laughing at? You seem to show no respect for me at all.”

“No, on the contrary,” Gu Hang sighed and said, “I truly do respect you, Star Domain Head Zhai Guangshan. It is precisely because of this respect that I was carefully listening to your final statements, to see if there was anything that could save you.”

“Save me?”

“Yes,” Gu Hang candidly stated, “We have already gathered some evidence concerning you, regarding the ‘choice’ you discussed with Chairman Fisher. You may not be as loyal as you claim to be, nor may you have made the right choice as you said. On the contrary, your choice could not have been more wrong.”

“Slander!” Zhai Guangshan burst out in rage.

“Whether it’s slander or not isn’t for you to say.”

“Are you saying it counts if you say it?” Zhai Guangshan retorted sarcastically, “It’s true you are the Supreme Commander, but since when do you have the authority to decide if a Star Domain Head is guilty or not?”

Gu Hang spread his hands and said: “Indeed, it seems I do not have that power. However, I have brought someone with the authority.”

Zhai Guangshan was taken aback.

The conference room doors were pushed open once more.

It was a man dressed in a leather jacket, leather boots, and a somewhat retro-styled high-top hat.

On his chest, he sported a badge.

It was in the shape of radiating light.

Seeing this attire, along with the badge, Zhai Guangshan finally froze.

He knew what it symbolized.

The Tribunal, coming from the Eastern Cosmos Domain’s Flash Judgement Court.

This tribunal was not a powerful one like the Silver Tribunal with a huge reputation, nor one of the three most famous tribunals for dealing with heretics, demons, and external threats. They were relatively young, and even the time they were established was not that long.

But in the Eastern Cosmos Domain, Flash had a significant reputation. Because, the purpose of this tribunal faction was to be grounded locally, with their primary area of activity being within the Eastern Cosmos Domain.

Setting aside the capabilities of the tribunal faction itself, at least the authority granted to a judge by the Empire is established here.

From this perspective, the Flash Judgement Court indeed had the authority to convict him.

Of course, under normal circumstances, this would not be possible.

Why did the Silver Tribunal garner such a great reputation? Wasn’t it because they had overturned a Cosmic Domain Chair in a shocking event?

Why don’t other smaller tribunal factions follow suit? Is it because they don’t want to?

Clearly, it’s because they lack the ability.

The Flash Judgement Court wants to trouble Zhai Guangshan… How many masters and fleets does the Flash Judgement Court have to even consider such a thing?

Even if considering assassination, with the capabilities of the Flash Judgement Court, could they handle the guards and bodyguards around Zhai Guangshan?

It would be difficult, and should they fail, the Flash Judgement Court would likely face frenzied retaliation from Zhai Guangshan.

But now, it seems there were no problems.

The Flash Judgement Court had the authority, Gu Hang had the capability.

Upon realizing this, Zhai Guangshan truly panicked.

“Star Domain Head, please come with us,” said the judge.