Failed Negotiations

“After twenty years of development, our weaponry and individual strength have been transformed. It is time for a larger scale war; the people of the Empire can no longer wait to witness the unification of a complete world. We need more markets, more territory, and a better life. Most importantly, we need a secure backyard.”

“Very well, I will see that the orders are carried out to expand the military by one million. How will they be divided?” the Military Minister asked.

“One hundred thousand for the Air Force, one hundred thousand for the Navy, and eight hundred thousand for the Army. Furthermore, the finance department can issue more orders; we need these one million people equipped with full sets of new weapons. Finance will be responsible for the orders. Do not bicker over petty profits; our goals are no longer limited to the interests of the past.”

“Yes.”

...

“It seems the Empire truly takes the Zerg seriously.”

When Xia Jin learned the news from the scene, dark lines of frustration appeared on her forehead.

Expanding the military by one million.

Good grief, even if you counted every capable fighter in the entire Kingdom of Clear, including the reserve army and local resistance, the total wouldn't even reach a million. Yet the Empire was expanding its military by one million in a single stroke, and it seemed this wasn't even their first expansion.

“Based on the description, it seems they have developed new weapons that even ordinary people can use.”

The upcoming battles would definitely be in the sense of modern warfare.

Considering the other side also had plenty of drugs for ordinary people to consume, the number of experts they possessed would only be greater than that of the Kingdom, not fewer.

As a result, the role played by locusts would be very limited.

Xia Jin's mosquitoes had already begun to focus on the cities of the Dawn Empire.

In many places, they were indeed selling a type of beverage infused with magic elements. After drinking it, a person's potential could be increased to a certain extent.

What was even more absurd than what she had initially heard was that ordinary people with no previous strength could generally reach Tier 1 or Tier 2 after consuming it.

There were even rumors of Tier 8 experts who had been stuck at a bottleneck for over a decade, having built countless foundations but unable to break through, who used a large amount of the potion to push themselves to Tier 9 in one go. The price was that they would never be able to improve their strength again.

But...

One could say this price was virtually nonexistent, because without the potion, that person would likely have remained stuck at that level forever anyway.

“For those at Tier 6 or below, most can be improved. Above Tier 6, the stronger the individual, the lower the probability.”

Reaching Tier 9 from Tier 8 was very rare.

However, the cultivation methods of the Dawn Empire itself could rely on external forces—supposedly derived from divine power—to produce many Tier 10 experts. This was the key to how humanity could stand against the group known as mythic kings.

In the past, these Tier 10 existences had been deployed to fight the demons. Now, with the development of these drugs, it was inevitable that some experts stuck at the peak of Tier 9 would find the possibility of a breakthrough.

“Is it possible for me to maintain a temporary peace with the Empire?”

Xia Jin estimated that while she needed to develop, the Empire surely did as well.

They were focused on dealing with the demons and their distant sea enemy, the Yelu Empire. Perhaps to avoid multi front warfare, they would consider reaching a peace agreement with the Zerg for a certain period of time.

With this in mind, Xia Jin considered sending out envoys.

Ultimately, she decided to send a diplomatic mission composed of a group of elf bugs along with some officials from the former kingdom who had survived and supported the Princess.

Regardless of the outcome, this was intended to demonstrate a certain attitude.

Of course, their tone could not be too weak. It would not do if people thought the Zerg were strong on the outside but hollow within and could be easily wiped out.

“We must make the Empire feel that the Zerg are a nuisance, so they won't be in a hurry to strike.”

...

The diplomatic mission was sent out, and Xia Jin also sent a mission to the Yelu Empire, consisting of a few elf bugs.

As expected, the group that went to the Dawn Empire was blocked at the border.

Even after stating they were a diplomatic team from the north, it was of no use.

“They have absolutely no diplomatic etiquette.”

Seeing this, Xia Jin could only shake her head inwardly.

Although the refusal was polite, the underlying sense of hostility was very obvious.

After all, they wouldn't even receive the diplomatic team.

On the other hand, things went more smoothly with the Yelu Empire.

Several elf bugs, with their ears disguised as human ones, were invited into the reception area.

In the ensuing conversation, the Zerg expressed a willingness to cooperate, but they were flatly rejected by the Yelu Empire.

They proposed a condition:

“If you can withdraw from the Mis Kingdom, only then can I see your sincerity.”

“Regrettably, that will be quite difficult,” the elf bug could only refuse with a helpless tone.

The initial negotiations ended on a sour note.

However, the Yelu Empire did not display significant hostility.

Through the exchange, Xia Jin judged that the relationship between the two nations was unfriendly but not yet hostile.

The next day, the two sides held another meeting that lasted for an hour.

Ultimately, a certain level of cooperation was reached between them.

The Zerg leased out a portion of their scourges under the guise of domesticated beasts. In exchange, they received mass produced flowers and herbs containing high energy crystals and several magic cores from the Yelu Empire.