Under the gaze of everyone, Soshiyan and Terra's envoy came to a small room inside the side door of the intelligence room.
After the door was closed, Faisal sighed and said:
"I would never have imagined that the commander of Soshiyan is a good method, no matter what. This kind of unlucky plan is something Astarte could come up with... But do you really don't know what the Minotao team represents? There will be no benefit to doing this."
Soshiyang turned around, looked at the eagle emblem on the wall, and said slowly:
"I am only responsible to the Emperor. My duty is to eliminate the enemy of the Empire, whether it is external or... internal."
"Well, I have to admit that you have taken advantage of Astraion's shortcomings well. Normal people probably should have noticed something wrong when they come in. But he, or the Minotao Group, has been spoiled under the protection of the lords, and is a bit too arrogant and arrogant. They subconsciously do not believe that any power in the empire dares to attack them. Logically speaking, when he can break in alone, he should have noticed something wrong..."
After the initial chaos, Faisal's clever head had basically outlined the original appearance of the whole thing. In fact, when he came in, he was also curious why so many Terminators around him sent only two soldiers wearing the most ordinary power armor to guard the door, but did not think further.
Therefore, he further inferred that Soshiyan really did not intend to treat Minotao, but just treated the other party as a "hostage" to negotiate with him.
In other words, the other party would not really kill Astrayon in any case, but could at least do it. Even so, he still lost completely. His prestige as the messenger of Terra will be completely knocked down with this matter, and everyone will see his powerlessness.
"...or when you see that there are only two people outside the door and are not the Terminator, you should find that this is a trap, but he is too arrogant and arrogant. I suddenly realize that there may be another reason."
As he said that, Faisal paused.
"But it's not without its benefits. At least this may be a very valuable lesson for Astraion. What do you want?"
"I just want to complete this expedition smoothly."
After a moment of silence, Faisal pursed his lips and said softly:
"But I will report your words and deeds to Terra truthfully, including everything you say now."
"You are at will, you are the special envoy, and no one can interfere with you."
"So is there any more?"
"The Minotao team must obey my command and join the combat sequence, at least during the expedition."
"You have treated him like this, and you still have to command him?"
"There is no conflict between the two, and you don't know Astart enough."
"Well, I get it, then how long do you think it will take to end this expedition?"
"Finish?"
Soshyan captured some of this information.
"Is the High Lords Council already impatient?"
"The route of the Great Vortex is very important. For the Sun Star Domain, long-term chaos is unacceptable. The expedition was launched because the Red Pirates created too much chaos. But now the Red Pirates have suffered a major blow, and the one who created chaos has become an expeditionary force... Can you understand if I say this?"
After hearing this, Soshiyang showed a bitter smile.
“Is it about cold trade?”
When Faisal nodded slightly when he heard the other party say the very rare word. Obviously, Soshiyan was not ignorant, and this was a good thing at the moment.
The so-called cold trade is a gray area exclusively belonging to the high-levels of the empire.
The human empire strictly prohibits any citizen from communicating with alien races. Alien is hated and convicted on the empire's sermons, mutants and demons, and for the empire, the existence of aliens is destroyed for the fundamental sins they committed that hinder human rule over the universe.
However, this alone makes things too simple, because in these broad generalizations, there are many small exceptions, dark transactions, and subtle reality. There are always people who deal with alien civilizations because of speculation, greed, or simple interest, which makes alien artificial products, antiques, knowledge, science, and even dangerous alien creatures have a market among the upper class of the Empire. Therefore, what is derived is "cold trade", which is hidden deep in the gray area of ​​imperial law. Although many goods and products are completely illegal, there are also many not. The breadth and scale of the Milky Way itself make it impossible for even the Inquisition to classify and block every item, equipment, or goods, whether they are made by a non-human race.
But in reality, only a very small number of people can know and exploit this trade, because only very wealthy and powerful people can afford it, and because of their status, they can avoid the duty of being accused of being "sarcastic" or "traitors" and avoid being suspicious and angered by the masses who have been instilled with thoughts of alien hatred and fear.
Cold trade originated from relatively marginal galaxies, such as the Kalysis sector, but they often have huge and long trading networks. The sacred Terra is a very critical trading end point, because the most powerful people in the empire gathered there, whose desires and needs are extremely huge and can also bring the greatest profit.
In fact, even the Red Pirates may have entered the cold trade chain. In recent years, the Expedition Forces seized a large number of smuggling ships from unknown areas. Their hands and feet were clean, and they could hardly find employers or buyers. However, without exception, they all lead to the Sun Star Domain, which should be the safest and purest territory for humans.
Those smuggling ships, or ships with legal trade certificates, carry a variety of witchcraft props contaminated with chaotic evil powers to slaves transformed by special alien technology, and even alien addictive drugs that flow out of Comoros.
Who is their master?
The Ministry of Legal Affairs cannot check it, nor can it be checked.
Does the court know?
Probably, maybe I knew it very early.
After all, some of these goods are likely to come from the court. The law enforcement marshal of the Ministry of Justice once told Soshiyan that the three courts often have greater demand for alien creations and heretical items than the powerful, but they can put on a completely legal cloak and then label others as heretics.
And this is the tip of the iceberg in the empire's endless schizophrenia.
After retracting his thoughts, Soshiyang sighed and said:
"Is it just for this to sacrifice so many lives... But we still have hope to completely solve the problem of the Red Pirates, or the threat of the Great Vortex. These costs may be worth it, compared to a Great Vortex that can completely stabilize."
Faisal nodded after a moment of silence.
"I understand what you mean, I will convey it, but neither you nor I can make the decision on this matter. In addition, Astraion takes his own mission, and even if he accepts your command, this mission will not change."
“Every Astarte has its own mission, which I can accept.”
"Envoy Faisal, one thing I'm curious about is that you are modifying the policies I have set for various purposes?"
Faisal replied with a wry smile:
"At least I have to let the adults above know that I have done things after I come. Even if I can't do it, no one will say anything."
Soshiyang nodded suddenly and did not continue to ask questions.
Then the two walked out of the secret room tacitly. Soshyan asked someone to let Asterion go. Faisal took the other party to a corner of the intelligence room. The two chatted alone for less than two minutes. During this period, they could see Asterion's expressions change visible to the naked eye. They were first angry, then unwilling, and finally indifferent.
In fact, Soshiyan was also betting that the commander of the war would obey the authority of the Special Envoy Terra.
The facts did not disappoint him.
When Astraion returned with one leg, the sullenness in his eyes did not disappear, but he still hammered his chest and said to Soshiyan:
"The Minotao Group will join the Great Vortex Expeditionary Force's combat sequence, the Supreme Lord Commander."
Under everyone's surprise gaze, Soshyan smiled and took Astrayon's helmet from Mark and handed it to the other party.
"Since you are willing to prove yourself in battle, you will no longer be investigated. I hope you and your team can truly fight for the Emperor."
Chapter completed!