Wow! The item-dropping rate is really high!-Chapter 965 - 676: The Solution

Sure, here's the translated text:

"You can continue to lead your fleet, and we will add more warships and soldiers to it. The Mine Star can also become your fief, managed by you, but you must accept our stationed troops and oversight, and pay taxes on time."

"This is the greatest sincerity our country can offer," Glen's voice turned cold and hard, "Otherwise, with your current armed forces, you should clearly understand the outcome of resistance. I am not threatening, merely stating facts. You have ten minutes to consider."

The communication was cut off again.

Catherine looked at Bai E, her eyes complex.

The other's conditions sounded quite good, providing considerable autonomy and status. But everyone understood that the so-called "fief," "troops," "oversight," and "taxes" meant that the Mine Star would completely become a vassal of the Huowali United States, and Bai E would change from an independent leader to a commander under orders.

Moreover, with the style of such great nations, once you join, it's as difficult as reaching heaven to leave.

The so-called "sincerity" is nothing more than annexation wrapped in sugar.

"They are betting that we dare not fight, and cannot win either," Catherine murmured.

Bai E did not answer immediately. He walked to the console and brought up the current defense deployment map of the Mine Star.

Three main battleships of the Seventh Legion were deployed at three key nodes in the orbital path of the Mine Star, forming a triangular defensive formation.

Those modified small escort ships served as mobile forces.

On ground defense, it mainly relied on several orbital defense cannons seized and repaired from pirates, and the air defense array under construction—

These were progressing rapidly with the material support of the Golden Swallow Trading Company, but were not yet fully formed.

Confronting a full-scale national border fleet head-on, indeed the odds were slim.

Yet...

Bai E's gaze swept over the screen, marking the locations of miner residences, newly built schools, medical stations, training grounds.

He remembered the hope reignited in the miners' eyes, how their spines began to straighten, and the simple yet vibrant song.

He recalled his promise to Catherine, his promise to the miners.

To return to her a complete Bauhinia.

To give them a true homeland.

"Reply to Admiral Glen." Bai E's voice was calm and firm, resonating clearly in the command center:

"The Mine Star is an inseparable territory of the Bauhinia Republic. As its successor and Guardian, I have no authority to cede or vassalize it to any nation. If the Huowali United States disputes the property of the Gray Ridge Mine, it can submit a formal claim through the Arbitration Court of the Peak Alliance, and we will cooperate with the investigation according to the Alliance's laws."

"But any act of entering Bauhinia's airspace by force without Alliance authorization, attempting to seize our territory, or coercing our citizens is naked aggression. The Bauhinia People will defend their homeland to the end."

"As for myself…" Bai E paused, "My fate is only decided by myself and the people on this land. Don't trouble your country with it."

The message was sent.

In the command center, everyone held their breath, waiting for the opponent's reaction.

In the starry sky, the fleet of the Huowali United States remained silent, like a beast poised to strike.

"Will they attack?"

"No idea."

The command center buzzed with whispers, no one knew what kind of situation awaited the Mine Star.

If a battle indeed started, the few achievements the Mine Star painstakingly developed might instantly turn to dust.

Under the firepower of a complete sovereign nation's main fleet, the entire planet might be engulfed in flames.

"If they fight, then we fight, and we may not necessarily lose!" Victor huffed with anger.

"True, if a fight starts, who knows who might suffer. They may be large and prosperous, but might not dare to lose too many soldiers here."

"No matter what, prepare for battle," Bai E ordered.

However, the expected thunderous strike did not come.

Ten minutes... Twenty minutes passed.

Besides maintaining their surrounding formation and blocking all routes to and from the Mine Star, the black fleet in the sky made no further moves.

There was no firing and no further communication.

They just remained like a heavy black iron, firmly welded in the cosmic space surrounding the Mine Star.

"What are they waiting for?" Catherine frowned, staring at the ship silhouettes on the monitoring screen like sculptures.

"Waiting for us to collapse, or waiting for a more 'appropriate' excuse to act," Bai E squinted.

Time passed by.

The fleet of the Huowali United States neither retreated nor attacked, only maintaining their intense blockade.

This stance of surrounding without attacking brought more pressure than engaging in direct warfare.

Everyone on the Mine Star knew a sword hung over their heads, ready to fall at any moment, but did not know when it would happen.

The more direct effect was—a blockade.

No spaceship could enter or leave the Mine Star's orbit.

This meant the Golden Swallow Trading Company's transport fleet was kept out, with all crucial materials sustaining the basic transformation and future development of the Mine Star—

Food, medicine, filters, construction materials, equipment parts, were all cut off from sources.

"Sir, the Golden Swallow has sent an emergency communication," Xu Ruoguang reported, looking grim, "Their three transport fleets have arrived in the neighboring airspace but were warned and driven away by the Huowali Fleet. The other side claimed military control and anti-smuggling inspections are being conducted in this airspace, and any unauthorized ships entering will be considered hostile. Gong Yan says they are after all a trading company and cannot forcibly break through a sovereign nation's military blockade; it would lead to incalculable diplomatic and commercial consequences. She can at most order a forced breakthrough once, but going forward the situation will spiral out of control, and she may very likely lose power in the company. For long-term consideration, short-term supplies… cannot be sent in for now."