When the Flame Elf Queen had finished,
the high elf council members around her broke into talk once more.
Some agreed with what the Flame Elf Queen said; some raised doubts and were still worried.
"I still say no. The Owl Dragon Empire already holds a super-weapon of its own; if we then let it swallow other interstellar civilizations' universes, how do we know we won't be raising a tiger that turns on us? I may believe the Owl Dragon Empire won't be as brutal as the Devourer Civilization, but who can promise the Owl Dragon Empire won't become another kind of aggressor?"
"I think that if it's really as Lady Flame Elf Queen says, and that Owl Dragon Emperor can do what he's promised, then we can allow them to expand outward within limits; after all, it's also to stand against the Devourer Civilization and Order!"
"Or…… shall we discuss it some more?"
At this point the Emerald Elf King opened his eyes, looked at the Flame Elf Queen with some impatience, and pursed his lips, as if to hurry her along.
The Flame Elf Queen held nothing back any longer now either.
She said, "This time, besides hoping we'll provide technology for exploring the universe, the Owl Dragon Empire is willing, as a trade, to give us part of the technology connected with the Supernova Ultimate Bomb!"
At these words the whole High Council was stunned.
After a few breaths of silence,
talk exploded once more!
"That Supernova Ultimate Bomb! The super-weapon that destroyed seven star systems outright in the Devourer Civilization's universe!"
"But it's only part of the technology, not all of it……"
"Do you take them for fools? Look at what's being traded. What they want is universe-exploration technology; they could work that out themselves in future, and it doesn't count as military technology. And what are they giving us? The Supernova Ultimate Bomb, military technology that can destroy a star system and wiped out nearly 10 million Devourer Civilization interstellar warships by surprise in a single battle. If I were the Owl Dragon Empire and you wanted my whole set of Supernova Ultimate Bomb technology for nothing but universe-exploration technology, you'd be dreaming!"
"If that's how it is…… in truth this isn't something that can't be discussed."
The Flame Elf Queen looked around at the high elf council members.
When she had first raised the matter, only a fifth of those present had supported it.
After she set out the Owl Dragon Empire's thinking, nearly a third present agreed and supported it.
And now, with the price the Owl Dragon Empire was willing to pay laid out, over half of those present agreed to the matter.
The Flame Elf Queen turned her head and looked at the highest-ranking one present, the Flame Elf Queen.[1]
What she had promised before, the words she ought to say, the setting she ought to create,
she had done.
Now it was time for them to make good on their promises.
"Ahem…… quiet a moment." The Radiant Elf King spoke.
The high elf council members present fell quiet and looked at the Radiant Elf King.
The Radiant Elf King, his eyes half closed, said in a deep voice, "As things look now, over half of us agree on this matter. That being so, we may as well set some requirements. What everyone fears is nothing but disorderly expansion abroad by the Owl Dragon Empire, and its use of violent means, which would harm our own good name. That being so, we can take on the role of overseer in the process. First, before the Owl Dragon Empire launches a military operation against any interstellar civilization's universe, it must first inform us, its ally. In any military operation where armed force is used, we have the right to send fleets to observe on the spot. The moment any needless killing or persecution of civilians is found, we have the right to demand that the Owl Dragon Empire stop it at once. ……"
The Radiant Elf King set out a whole string of requirements.
The heart of these requirements was nothing but to place the Sacred Elf Empire on high moral ground: they did not want to see war happen, they did not want to see living beings ground into the dirt, they would keep the peace as far as their power allowed.
In the word now in the Flame Elf Queen's head: "hypocritical."
But she had foreseen all this long ago, and had settled it with the Owl Dragon Emperor before coming back to the Sacred Elf Empire.
The Owl Dragon Emperor had agreed to all of it.
This part was easy to work with, anyway.
And the Owl Dragon Emperor was confident in himself too: he was no benevolent ruler, but he would not kill needlessly either.
At least, that was the principle he had always kept, and the Owl Dragon Empire's legion fleet groups he had built had that same spirit.
So the Owl Dragon Emperor had no worries at all about these requirements!
After a round of exchanges between the Radiant Elf King and the Flame Elf Queen, things grew clearer and clearer in the minds of everyone in the High Council.
"All right, that's about it. Let's have your positions now." The Radiant Elf King looked at the other Elf Sovereigns.
This matter was rather important; after all, it touched the honor of the whole Sacred Elf Empire.
If a few Elf Sovereigns settled it alone, they could not bear the consequences after.
After all, these elves often valued their good names above their lives.
So they needed to be sure the people of the High Council could accept it too.
The Emerald Elf King was first to raise his hand and state his position: "I think we can fully accept this deal. The reason is simple. After so many years of stagnation, our Sacred Elf Empire needs to bring in new technology! And we've all seen what this Supernova Ultimate Bomb does. No single weapon our Sacred Elf Empire has today can match it. The Owl Dragon Emperor has only promised us part of the technology for now, true. But with this weapon, even part of the technology is enough for us to digest for a long time. And besides, we're allies; in future we can trade technology like this with the Owl Dragon Emperor again; where there's a first time, there'll be a second and a third."
As a renowned scientist of the Sacred Elf Empire and the leader of plant technology, the Emerald Elf King had been extremely interested in this thing ever since he saw the force of the Supernova Ultimate Bomb's explosion.
Had the other Elf Sovereigns not held him back, he would have wanted to go to the Owl Dragon Empire with the Flame Elf Queen.
Alas, the Emerald Elf King's standing was special; never mind the other Elf Sovereigns, even the High Council would never allow him to go to another universe.
"I was against invading other universes before. But hearing Sister Salaman's explanation just now, it seems to make sense too. If the Owl Dragon Emperor really acts as he's promised, and doesn't slaughter and trample the natives of those universes at will, I agree to this deal," the Bluewater Elf Queen said gently.
With that, three Elf Sovereigns agreed.
The Radiant Elf King looked at the last Elf King.
"Onias, what's your view?" the Radiant Elf King asked.
The Nightglow Elf King gave a muffled snort and said coldly, "You've all agreed already; does my view still matter?"
As he said it he folded his arms and sat there coldly, saying no more.
The Radiant Elf King did not ask for a snub either; he looked at the members of the High Council present. "The Elf Sovereigns have stated their positions. Now the High Council will vote. Those in favor, raise your hands."
The old fox.
The Flame Elf Queen watched the Radiant Elf King, who had been presiding over the whole matter, yet had just skipped over himself when it came to stating positions, and knew this fellow was playing his little games again.
He never lightly stated a position on anything, or took a side; he always wore an air of "none of my business."
He looked like someone who neither fought nor grabbed, but to the Flame Elf Queen's mind this fellow was far more detestable than the Nightglow Elf King.
At least the Nightglow Elf King showed what he felt on his face.
This old man the Radiant Elf King was a hypocrite.
The High Council's vote was soon over.
The result could be foreseen, too.
The Flame Elf Queen had already won over the great majority of the high elf council members, and now even three Elf Sovereigns had declared in support.
The matter naturally passed.
"Good, then I'll begin……" The Flame Elf Queen was smiling, in the middle of speaking.
She was cut off by the Nightglow Elf King, who said coldly, "I don't think the cooperation on this matter should trouble Salaman. A battle has only just ended, and our Sacred Elf legion fleet groups all need to rest and refit; Marshal Salaman is needed for that. Besides, I hear Marshal Salaman is on rather good personal terms with that Owl Dragon Emperor. So I think this matter should be given to someone else."
The Nightglow Elf King's sudden words made the Flame Elf Queen frown; she stared at the Nightglow Elf King. This detestable fellow.
"Then do you mean to take a hand in it yourself?"
The Nightglow Elf King folded his arms and shook his head. "I have no wish to deal with those people; being in the same room with them makes me uncomfortable. I'm only making a suggestion; pick the person yourselves."
The Flame Elf Queen clenched her fists; she truly wanted to put one in this fellow's face.
"Then I'll do it!" The Emerald Elf King volunteered; it was rare to see this Elf King so keen about anything.
The Radiant Elf King thought a moment and said, "The technology side naturally needs you in charge, Mansfield. But someone else is needed too, to oversee the Owl Dragon Empire's moves against other interstellar civilizations' universes in future. Just as we said, the moment the Owl Dragon Empire oversteps in any way, we must stop it in time."
With that, everyone's eyes fell on the Radiant Elf King and the Bluewater Elf Queen.
A matter so important naturally needed someone of an Elf Sovereign's standing to bear it.
The Flame Elf Queen had to keep clear, the Nightglow Elf King would not take a hand, and the Emerald Elf King was to take charge of the technology.
The candidates left were naturally these two!