Isabelle rose after talking with Jiang Ye for over ten minutes and returned to the banquet hall.
The dishes had already been served, filling two tables. Unexpectedly, everyone remained seated, no one having touched their chopsticks.
"Why isn't anyone eating?" Isabelle was stunned.
"We felt it was necessary to wait for you to join us," Okashi said.
"You're too kind. Please, enjoy your meal while it's hot," Isabelle quickly took her seat.
Both sides ate at a rapid pace, with very little conversation. The occasional remarks were clearly made by those who wanted to get the time-consuming meal out of the way as quickly as possible. Consequently, the banquet concluded in fifteen minutes.
The guards cleared the plates, and the talks continued.
Isabelle got straight to the point, presenting Jiang Ye's three conditions: the garrison, tax repayment, and the enclave.
With each condition Isabelle stated, the expressions of Okashi, his wife, and the representatives across the table grew more somber. After all three were presented, their faces were entirely grim.
This situation was expected, as any one of Jiang Ye's demands would have challenged the bottom line of any planet. Presenting all three was no longer a matter of challenging the bottom line; it was akin to urinating on their heads.
To prevent the atmosphere from becoming too tense and to avoid an awkward departure, Isabelle quickly fabricated three reasons.
The reason for the garrison was to provide effective protection for Wheeler Planet, maintain its stability, and combat potential terrorist activities. The garrison period would not be long; once Wheeler Planet's military was sufficiently strong, Jiang Ye's garrison could withdraw immediately.
The tax repayment was considered in light of Wheeler Planet's current poverty, with a gradual repayment plan to lighten the burden, effectively acting as a discounted form of aid, beneficial in every way.
The enclave was proposed for economic exchange and to foster closer relations. Jiang Ye's planets could establish numerous companies and factories on Wheeler Planet's enclave, facilitating rapid trade and ultimately helping Wheeler Planet prosper and solve local employment issues, which was essentially a form of disguised assistance.
After Isabelle finished, Valk immediately raised an objection.
Valk stated that agreeing to these three conditions would be a severe act of devaluing planetary sovereignty, for which he would be held accountable by history. He was unwilling, afraid, and unable to agree to any of the conditions.
After stating his position directly, Valk rambled on about the conditions he could offer, including tax reductions for Jiang Ye's planet's enterprises, increased aid and appreciation fees, and deeper exchange and cooperation.
Isabelle listened for a moment before cutting Valk off unceremoniously, silencing the room with a single sentence.
"Mr. Valk, I disagree with your notion of devaluing the planet, because you cannot sell what you do not possess."
Valk was stunned, and Okashi turned deathly pale.
A long silence fell over the room.
Isabelle's tone was calm as she spoke, but the content was incredibly sharp, conveying extreme aggression and threat, truly a force to be reckoned with.
*You cannot sell what you do not possess.*
The subtext was clear: with their help, Valk could gain sovereignty over Wheeler Planet; without their help, he was nothing.
In other words, if Valk refused the conditions, there were plenty of warlord factions on Wheeler Planet willing to accept them.
Whoever could devalue planetary sovereignty would gain it. Regardless of who the seller was, Jiang Ye's forces would be the unwavering buyer, but the seller was uncertain. Those who could sit at the negotiation table would survive; those kicked away would face only death.
The silence persisted. Isabelle remained composed, maintaining a cold smile, saying nothing, and waiting patiently.
In a diplomatic setting, Isabelle's silence appeared incredibly overbearing.
Okashi and Valk's faces were rigid, as if enveloped by immense emotion, their minds racing.
The earpiece in Isabelle's ear suddenly chimed, followed by Jiang Ye's voice.
"The atmosphere is too awkward. Let's talk about something else, like the Galactic Empire's expansion. You know what I mean?"
Isabelle's eyes instantly brightened, and she activated the microphone.
"Wheeler Planet is not a member of the Galactic Empire, but as far as I know, many interstellar merchants visit Wheeler Planet for trade?"
Valk nodded. "Yes, there are many interstellar merchants, and we always treat them favorably. Although we are not a member of the Galactic Empire, we welcome trade with the Galactic Empire."
"Since many interstellar merchants trade on Wheeler Planet, perhaps you are aware of some of the Galactic Empire's movements?" Isabelle countered.
"What kind of movements are you referring to?" Valk asked, confused.
"The Galactic Empire is currently expanding outward on a large scale. Have you heard about this?" Isabelle inquired.
"We've heard some," Valk nodded.
"Expanding outward and conquering more planets means greater living space and more resources and wealth," Isabelle paused. "Do the people of Wheeler Planet have any desire for outward expansion?"
A flicker of light flashed in Okashi's eyes. He activated the microphone. "I believe the people of Wheeler Planet do. Although it may only be a dream for now, dreams can perhaps become reality."
"The possibility is very high," Isabelle said. "I can tell you candidly that the territory controlled by Jiang Ye has quadrupled in the past few years, and this growth will only accelerate. To support rapid expansion, we need more personnel. If the people of Wheeler Planet have this desire, I imagine Jiang Ye would be very willing to cooperate with Wheeler Planet."
Valk and Okashi's expressions immediately relaxed, and a hint of excitement appeared on the faces of the other ambassadors.
This was a common tactic Jiang Ye used during negotiations: first, present harsh conditions, then apply terrifying threats. Once the atmosphere reached freezing point, he would paint a grand picture, promising immense long-term benefits, causing the frozen atmosphere to rapidly warm. Through this psychological contrast of pushing and pulling, he would shake the opponent's inner defenses.
Isabelle, with her words, wove two extreme scenarios:
Cooperation offered a brilliant future; non-cooperation offered no future at all.
Submitting to Jiang Ye would not only grant them Wheeler Planet but also allow them to expand beyond the galaxy and seize other planets.
Resisting Jiang Ye would mean losing their existing territory and forces, ending up with nothing.
"I have enjoyed our time together, but I regret to inform you that our scheduled meeting time is drawing to a close," Isabelle said, her tone suggesting she was preparing to see them out. "It's not that I don't want to stay. As you know, I am the supreme leader of the Exile Star, which has a population exceeding ten billion. There is a tremendous workload awaiting me."
Okashi took a deep breath. "We believe your three conditions can be considered, but due to the gravity of the matter, we cannot provide an immediate answer. We need to return and thoroughly evaluate them. At the same time, we hope you can provide specific details, such as the size of the garrison, the location for annual tax repayments, and the size and location of the enclave."
"That's fine. I also don't yet know Jiang Ye's stance. Ultimately, it will be up to Jiang Ye to finalize whether we cooperate. I am merely a mouthpiece," Isabelle said with a bright smile.
Okashi's face suddenly turned pale.