On the forest clearing flanking the negotiation site, envoys from two civilizations engaged in fierce debate.
"I've heard this kind of talk far too many times," Glen Cole muttered. "If you ask those human guards, they'll surely tell you how wonderful it is."
"They'll tell you how much they despise the Human Imperium and how glorious it is to associate with you xenos."
His gaze passed through Plutonium Noha and fixed on Hassan. That look was as sharp as a surgeon's scalpel, slicing through the brain and reading every thought.
After a while, Glen Cole finally averted his eyes and looked back at Plutonium Noha.
"I didn't rise through bloodline or connections, nor am I naïve enough to trust people who are completely loyal to you or forced into service."
Plutonium Noha's expression remained unchanged, a gentle smile still on her face as she waited for the other party to continue.
"Those madmen who sided with the Gods," Glen Cole continued with a sneer. "Even if they caught a plague, they'd probably consider it a blessing. I believe you possess the same methods. If they could truly see the truth, they wouldn't have chosen to surrender."
"You exaggerate, great Lord Glencoe. The mission of the Tau Empire is to spread the glory of the Greater Good and bring peace to this galaxy."
Hearing this, Glen Cole let out a mocking laugh.
"Enough empty words. Let's get to the point. The reason I'm participating in these negotiations is because I must hear your terms before lifting that damned void seal and allowing supplies from other worlds."
"My people are living in extremely difficult conditions without external trade support."
Plutonium Noha lowered her head slightly, a sorrowful expression appearing on her pale blue face. Her eyebrows furrowed slightly, the corners of her eyes drooped a little, and her lips formed a soft curve.
It was an expression unique to the Water Caste—gentle and sincere.
"That is truly unfortunate," Plutonium Noha said. "I feel sorry for the suffering of your people."
"We have plenty of high-quality supplies."
"If you choose to join the Tau Empire, they will be delivered to your city immediately along with aid teams and logistics personnel."
"All units of the Tau Empire are fully instructed—to assist your government in supporting the new citizens of the Tau."
Glen Cole stared at Plutonium Noha, wearing the expression of a seasoned politician who had just heard a childish lie.
"Join you and become part of your federation?"
"But I don't think so. You've turned humans into vassals without autonomy."
He raised his hand and pointed at Hassan and the other human guards clad in Tau armor and wielding Tau weapons.
"You brought those traitors here only to show how safe and comfortable life is under Tau rule."
"Do you take me for a fool? They'll never fall for such a superficial trick."
Glen Cole's tone was mocking.
"If I'm not mistaken, the good life these fools enjoy is only on the surface."
"They cannot possess independent industry, control spacecraft, or move freely, yet they must obey your arrangements."
Plutonium Noha explained in a relaxed tone. "The Tau Empire can produce sufficient resources."
"There is no need to intervene in production. Following the path of the Greater Good is simply for better distribution."
Glen Cole was momentarily stunned, then burst into laughter.
The laughter was loud, echoing across the edge of the open forest. It startled several birds perched on nearby branches; they flapped their wings, circled twice, and flew away into the distance.
Glen Cole's laughter gradually faded. He wiped the corners of his eyes with the back of his hand—whether from tears of laughter or sweat, it was unclear.
"Abandoning autonomy and begging for mercy from another species—do you take me for a three-year-old?"
Glen Cole's tone turned serious.
"Once those traitors control industrial production and can move freely, then you can spread your superior virtue."
He pointed at Hassan and said mockingly, "Enslavement disguised as freedom and equality completely strips a race of its autonomy."
"One day, when you decide a certain species is no longer needed, you can quietly eradicate it."
A flicker of displeasure crossed Plutonium Noha's usually calm face. Her eyebrows furrowed more deeply, and the curve of her mouth hardened.
"Genocide is a shameful and unnecessary act."
Hassan stood there listening to the conversation. His hand gripped the pulse carbine tightly, his eyes filled with hatred as he glared at Glen Cole.
This fool.
Plutonium Noha was truly too kind—wasting time on such an idiot.
Humanity should submit to the management of the Greater Good. Only then could it move toward the future.
What did this pig-ape loyal to the Corpse Emperor know?
Did he know what life in the Tau Empire was like?
Did he know how much better food, housing, and medical care the Tau Empire provided to humanity?
Hassan's finger gently stroked the trigger. He wanted nothing more than to put a single round through the pig's head.
It would surely be a wonderful and satisfying experience.
For the sake of the Greater Good, he would endure a little longer.
"You're just doing it more covertly," Glen Cole's voice continued, his words sharp as blades, cutting through everything.
"You're still weak, so you pretend to be kind, lure that species into your star system, and subordinate them."
He took a step forward, approaching the negotiation table.
"When you feel an alien race is no longer needed, you'll spend hundreds or thousands of years eradicating it."
"You can't massacre that species outright, but you'll deliberately suppress their cultural development and technological research while artificially lowering their birth rate."
He raised his hand and made a slow gesture.
"It's like boiling a frog—stripping away all resistance and turning them into slaves."
Plutonium Noha's brow furrowed even deeper.
"But humans would never do such a thing," Glen Cole said. "For us, every race deserves respect."
"The Human Imperium will make it clear to every species that we are enemies—for the sake of survival."
"Genocide is a shameful act," Plutonium Noha stated.
"Massacre is shameless," Glen Cole replied. "But deception and trickery are even more shameless."
"An open enemy deserves more respect than a pack of treacherous allies."
Wind blew through the forest, rustling the fallen branches. The rustling of the treetops seemed to accompany the debate.
In the distance, the massive cannons of Charonchao continued their slow rotation, their enormous barrels reflecting a faint gleam in the sunlight.
"That is your speculation," Plutonium Noha countered. "The galaxy is vast, and every species can coexist. The Greater Good unites all races…"
"Is that coexistence under all of your control?" Glen Cole asked. "There may be some issues with our language. We consider vassals who have lost autonomy to be slaves, not coexisting."
"Only slaves must obey their master's arrangements completely. No matter how high a slave's status or how privileged, they remain a slave."
"We are not slaves!" Hassan finally couldn't hold back.
He stepped forward, face flushed red, eyes wide as he glared at Glen Cole with fury.
Glen Cole turned to look at him—not with anger toward the traitor, but with eyes full of pity.
"Is that so?"
"Then tell me, do you have a choice?"
Hassan opened his mouth to retort, but Glen Cole gave him no opening.
"You cannot participate in politics. You cannot decide policy. Power excludes you."
"Setting aside abundant supplies, do you truly believe your life is freer than in the Human Imperium?"
Hassan screamed inwardly. It's definitely better than the Human Imperium.
Glen Cole pointed at several Kroot standing nearby.
"If one day their technology is destroyed and they lack food or other supplies,"
"Do you think they'll produce food for them?"
"Absolutely not," Hassan replied somewhat uneasily.
The Kroot ate human corpses without punishment.
"Our world is terrible. Atmospheric pollution. Corrupt officials. But not every world is like that."
"Many worlds far from the battlefield enjoy good lives. They may not be wealthy, but they're not that poor either."
Glen Cole looked Hassan straight in the eye.
"You say you're living a better life, but have those who joined them gained freedom?"
"Can they freely board those beautiful xenos ships and travel to various planets?"
Hassan fell silent.
"Probably not," Glen Cole said. "But if you like, you can buy a ticket at the spaceport right now and head for the stars aboard a spacecraft."
"As long as you can endure the dangers and loneliness of interstellar travel, you can go anywhere."
"Local officials only check your human identity—they don't care where you came from."
Hassan glared at Glen Cole with rage, suppressing the words in his heart.
We who live in the Human Imperium also have no power. We're just exploited slaves.
Glen Cole looked at him like a seasoned politician pitying the hardships of an ignorant youth.
"Every system has exploiters and the exploited. The Tau Empire has merely covered this truth with productive forces."
"The fact that you were selected as a member of the Tau Empire's Water Guard means you were already an Imperial soldier with rank."
"This is what the Human Imperium means. It's hard, but even ordinary people have opportunities for promotion and advancement."
He raised his hand and pointed into the distance at the magnificent morning capital.
"I've seen many lucky people promoted through military merit. There are also ship captains who gained enough wealth through adventure to become rich."
Glen Cole withdrew his finger and pointed at Hassan.
"You are human. You have committed no crime. By the rights granted to all servants by the God-Emperor, you may freely navigate the territories of the Human Imperium."
"You are a citizen of the Tau Empire. Can you freely go to their homeworld? Can you freely go to each of their colonies?"
"The answer is no. In the end, you are nothing more than a group of prisoners given fine meals."
"So far, no human merchants from the Tau Empire have come to this planet," Glen Cole said with a mocking smile. "Those greedy bastards would sell even their own families to the Chaos Gods if the profit was sufficient."
"But they didn't sell out to the Tau Empire. Instead, they trade with the Tau Empire in the name of the Human Imperium."
"They know full well there is no freedom in the Tau Empire. Only false equality."
Hassan wanted to retort. He wanted to say that everything Glen Cole said was wrong.
The path of the Greater Good was the only truth, the best way to save the galaxy.
But he said nothing, merely glaring at the other party with rage.
"You argue well, Lord Glencoe," Plutonium Noha's voice rang out.
Glen Cole turned to look at her.
"I'm not particularly good at it," Glen Cole said, shaking his head in a calm voice. "But I've seen a lot."
I've also participated in many political struggles.
"I understand that baseness and shamelessness are not inherent flaws of humanity alone, but of every intelligent species—whether the undead of the cosmos or the Eldar races, it's the same."
Plutonium Noha took a deep breath and tried to calm her expression.
"We are guided by the Greater Good and have already removed our inherent flaws."
"Once you join, you'll understand. Everything we do is to build a beautiful galaxy guided by the Greater Good."
Glen Cole looked at her and gave Plutonium Noha a very uncomfortable smile.
"There are times when deceiving others is most effective, but you mustn't deceive yourself."
"Now, our demand is for your fleet to withdraw and lift the blockade of this planet."
"We have neither a fleet nor weapons factories, so we pose minimal threat to you."
"I'm sorry," Plutonium Noha said, shaking her head apologetically. "If you have no intention of accepting the Greater Good, I cannot agree to this request."
"If you continue to refuse to join the path of the Greater Good, we will have no choice but to resort to military means."
The negotiations between the two sides ultimately ended in failure.
Hassan's guard unit escorted Plutonium Noha away.
Glen Cole watched their departure. After the Manta transport took off, several soldiers emerged from the forest.
They were fully armed and had been lying in ambush in advance, yet for some reason they had not attacked.
Seeing this, Hassan thought these pigs were quite clever.
Beside them, an invisible force stood ready to kill everyone at any moment.
After the diplomatic failure, the Tau Empire immediately launched a military assault on Ryoon IV.
The Tau Empire's military attack was as precise and lethal as a scalpel.
Tau firepower calculations ensured that every shell struck the most fatal locations.
Ammunition depots, command posts, communication centers, supply lines—all were subjected to relentless bombardment.
Fire Warrior drop troops used powerful firepower and mobility to seize every strategic point.
Kroot hunting packs wove through the ruins, hunting down Imperial soldiers who attempted to resist.
In just two weeks, the Human Imperium lost most of its territory.
Places that once flew the Imperial double-headed eagle banner now flew the Tau Empire flag.
Charonchao City, with its strongest firepower and most heavily defended hive, became the Human Imperium's final stronghold on Ryoon IV.
The fierce military assault by the Tau xenos terrified the nobles; many chose to flee.
Others continued fighting to the last moment to protect the God-Emperor's property.
"Victory will ultimately belong to the Greater Good."
Hassan led his guard unit on a cleanup mission during this war.
They were auxiliaries, tasked with eliminating the remnants of the enemy shattered by the main force, ragged fanatics, and civilians who refused to believe in the Greater Good.
Thanks to Tau technological support, those ragged fanatics were easily suppressed and eliminated.
According to Tau calculations, Ryoon IV could only support one-tenth of its current population.
That meant only one in ten people would survive.
The calculations of the Tau scientists were extremely rigorous.
They were derived from soil analysis, water resource assessment, ecosystem carrying capacity, and optimal population density.
Acceptable levels of killing were permitted to keep the population within the most reasonable range calculated by the Tau.
Previously, he had never questioned this order.
If some people died, the rest could live better.
It made sense. It was the wisdom of the Greater Good.
But now…
He recalled Glen Cole's words.
The Human Imperium's technology was very poor, yet it supported many people.
Why would the technologically advanced Tau Empire want to reduce the population?
Could it be that the Tau Empire was truly artificially controlling the populations of various races?
Hassan shook his head, dispelling the terrifying thought.
The Human Imperium exploited people, forcing them to live in slums, suffer hunger, and scavenge for food in garbage heaps.
The Tau Empire did not want that.
The Tau Empire wanted everyone to live prosperously, so it needed to control the population.
Yes, that was reasonable.
Hassan continued to brainwash himself, but the next moment another thought surfaced.
Today's Tau calculation showed they could retain one-tenth.
What if one day the calculation showed they could only support 5%? Would they continue to find ways to reduce the population?
One day, the maximum human population became smaller than that of the Tau or other races.
How was this different from genocide?
Smack!!
Hassan slapped himself while muttering.
"The Greater Good would never do such a thing."
"The Ether is meant to create a galaxy where all races coexist. Unlike the Human Imperium, which spreads and expands like cancer across the galaxy."
Charonchao was the final fortress and stronghold.
The massive city walls glowed dark red in the sunset—marks left by the baptism of bombardment.
The automated turrets on the walls continued to rotate, their defensive gun barrels pointed at the sky.
But everyone knew this was only the final battle.
There were no supplies.
No reinforcements.
No hope.
Glen Cole stood atop the highest tower, looking down at the crumbling city.
On the streets below, soldiers were making their final preparations.
Some inspected weapons, some distributed ammunition, and others said farewell to their families.
A woman holding a child stood by the roadside, watching a group of soldiers pass by.
Her eyes were dry; no tears fell.
Her lips moved, as if saying something.
It might have been a prayer, a blessing, or simply an unconscious whisper.
Glen Cole withdrew his gaze and looked into the distance.
On the horizon, Tau Empire vehicles were approaching.
It was a swarm of Manta transports and even smaller fighters, densely packed like migrating birds.
Sunlight reflected off their metallic hulls, forming flickering spots of light like an ominous portent.
Automated turrets activated, and a saturation attack on the Tau Empire vehicles began.
The Tau Empire retaliated just as mercilessly with various weapons.
When the distance closed sufficiently, Fire Warrior teams began aerial deployment.
Clad in combat gear, they jumped from the aircraft in teams one after another.
Soon, communications were filled with cries for help and shouts that positions had been breached.
Glen Cole took a deep breath, resolved to fight until the very last moment.
In truth, he knew that if he surrendered, the Tau would likely spare him.
But Glen Cole did not do so—because he knew full well that surrendering to the Tau Empire would drive humanity toward extinction.
Many could not see the truth of the facts.
The so-called advanced systems of the Tau Empire had been completely established by the Human Imperium, and the use of abominable intelligence was forbidden.
Using abominable intelligence to boost productivity and hide various social conflicts.
If abominable intelligence were lost, the oppression and massacre of all races by the Tau Empire would far exceed that of the Human Imperium.
At that moment, an emergency alarm sounded. Someone shouted over the comms that the xenos had breached the defenses.
A piercing scream tore through the twilight silence. Red lights flashed inside the tower, staining everything blood-red.
Glen Cole turned, preparing to descend and face the fatal battle.
At that instant, a green portal of light appeared in the air.
A warrior clad in golden armor emerged from within.
....
…
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