Chapter 442: ch
"All it takes is for one of you—or people from your power—to offend them, and the next thing the galaxy realizes is that no power like yours ever existed from that day forward."
"What guarantees do you have?"
"Did the Ignis Empire not give the Federation what it asked for? And yet it was still put down."
"Then what are the chances that all of you do the same thing, only for the Federation to come looking for you anyway?"
"What could you do then?"
"And more importantly... what would you do then?"
"Y-Yeah... what about them?"
While tier-three powers like Valoria and the others weren’t affected that much even now, things were different for everyone else. They could see the Federation’s wrongdoings, but its strength was still something that was hard to ignore. More importantly, they could still withstand the Federation while tactically dealing with it.
Sure, they might have to give in to a few more concessions, but at least they would remain secure until the Federation’s greed grew even worse.
However, it was completely different for many tier-two and tier-one powers—the lowest of the low, who practically had no authority or even autonomy within the wider galaxy.
Not to mention that many of them were already being played by the Federation itself, which had created countless troubles for their homes and territories.
For them, they finally felt the true value of Kallus words.
And even more so when they remembered just how formidable the Celestial Void Empire and its fleets truly were.
If there was anyone capable of standing against the Federation and giving them another option, then the empire before them was undoubtedly one of the strongest candidates.
Even though they had yet to witness the full extent of the Void Empire’s power, what they had already seen was more than enough to leave a deep impression.
Those gigantic warships, the planet-sized metal giants, the terrifying auras they carried, and the overwhelming demonstrations of strength were all still fresh in their minds.
First came the destruction of the Minotaur Clan.
Then, not long afterward, the fall of the Hegemony Faction—a powerful tier-three state that had stood on the brink of reaching quasi-tier four status, also known as a Super Tier-Three State.
And all of that had been accomplished by a relatively small fleet of merely ten thousand warships.
Not only that, but the deployment methods, advanced technologies, and military assets provided to the Azura Imperium had completely changed the balance of power on another battlefield. For years, the Azura Imperium had been overwhelmed by the Orc Race’s superior numbers, yet with the Void Empire’s assistance, they had finally gained a significant advantage.
All of this served as proof of the empire’s strength.
A strength that was definitely not inferior even when compared to Super Tier-Three States, and perhaps one that could rival the Federation itself just enough to make it think twice before openly attacking them.
For many of the alliance members, that alone was enough.
It would give them time.
Time to build the federation they envisioned.
Time to develop a united military force.
And if that force was built upon the technological foundation provided by the Celestial Void Empire, then they would possess both the numbers and the strength needed to support their independence.
Thoughts like these began piling up within the minds of almost every dignitary present. The only exceptions were the tier-three powers.
Just like the others, they to were also now considering joining as well. They were merely waiting for further concessions and, more importantly, answers.
How exactly would this federation function? What would its power structure look like? Who would truly control the federation’s military?
And if influence was based upon stake and contribution, then how much stake would each of them ultimately possess?
And would the federation truly be as Kallus described it?
Would it really refrain from interfering in their internal affairs and only step in when matters beyond their own capabilities were involved?
If that were the case, then it was undoubtedly a good thing. In fact, many found such terms acceptable, and so did they.
After all, from their perspective, their authority would remain intact. Their power would not be weakened, nor would their sovereignty be infringed upon. If anything, they would simply gain an additional layer of security without sacrificing what they already possessed.
Which was precisely why many found the proposal more than acceptable.
However, they also knew that this was merely one of the concessions the federation would have to offer.
What about everything else? What exactly would be the role of the federation? And more specifically, what role would the Federation Army play? Would it control and govern trade between member states?
Or would it truly be as Kallus claimed—a force created solely to provide an additional layer of protection for its member powers?
And if that were the case, what would be the cost? After all, they understood one simple truth. Nothing was free.
For such a federation to function, it would first need funding, and the amount required would undoubtedly be immense.
Then there were the guarantees. What guarantees did they have that one day this federation would not turn upon its own members?
What mechanisms would exist to prevent exactly that from happening? And then there was the matter of stakes.
If the federation were truly formed, how would ownership, influence, and authority be divided?
Who would become the ruling party? Who would serve as the supporting powers? How much influence would each member possess?
These were the questions that the tier-three powers—and even several of the less influential tier-two powers—were waiting to have answered.
Kallus, observing the atmosphere, noticed the question-filled eyes of Valoris and the others. With a faint smile, he began to explain in detail.
"I know many of you have your doubts. Questions such as what guarantees this federation will provide, who will become the ruling party, how authority will be divided, and many others."
Hearing this, everyone was slightly surprised that Kallus had caught on so quickly. However, they soon returned to normal.
After all, as the leader of a faction this powerful, he should at least possess the ability to read the atmosphere and understand what those around him were thinking.
Kallus merely smiled before continuing.
"This is my idea..."
As the people below listened, especially the dignitaries from the lower-tier powers all the way up to the higher tier-three states, their eyes gradually widened.
Their mouths fell open in shock.
Moments later, their bodies trembled with tremendous excitement.
The terms proposed by Kallus were extremely—no, overwhelmingly—satisfying.
So satisfying, in fact, that many of them wanted to rush forward and declare the formation of the federation right that instant.
Even though the funding they would be required to provide was immense, only slightly lower than what the Galactic Federation demanded from its members.
Yet in exchange, the benefits, influence, protection, and opportunities they would receive were simply too great.
The trade was more than worth it.
Absolutely worth it.
For many of them, it was the first time they had ever seen a proposal where the obligations and rewards felt so balanced.
Some even felt that if they rejected such terms, they would be fools.
Others were already imagining the changes such a federation could bring to their civilizations.
A chance to escape the galatic Federation’s influence. A chance to gain access to advanced technologies. A chance to stand alongside powers far stronger than themselves without becoming mere pawns.
Compared to that, the price they had to pay seemed insignificant.
At that moment, many of them were already leaning heavily toward supporting Kallus’ proposal.
While, yes, they would have to pay a price, many quickly realized that the price was significant yet still insignificant compared to what they would gain in return.
After all, by paying that cost, they would gain access to technologies far beyond their own at relatively acceptable rates.
Not only that, but they would also have the opportunity to learn and master even more advanced fields through the Federation Academy that Kallus had proposed.
For those thinking long-term, that alone was an enormous benefit.
The ability to send their brightest young talents to study there and eventually graduate into positions within the Federation Fleet and Defense Force was an opportunity few could ignore.
More importantly, there were no barriers preventing them from reaching those positions.
there were no hidden restrictions involved. Nor were there any discrimination based on race, faction, or political connections.
Unlike the Galactic Federation, where influence and connections often determined one’s future, the system Kallus described appeared to be based solely upon talent and merit.
All they needed was talented young blood.
Young men and women willing to compete against the finest individuals of their generation from countless races and civilizations.
If they proved themselves capable, then they would naturally reach the positions they deserved.
To many present, that was an incredibly attractive and genuinely acceptable proposal.
And that wasn’t all.
