The contingent from the Slave Trade Alliance heard the news. They instantly panicked, as if they had just heard that the True Human Commonwealth was attacking the Hunter’s Arm.

“Officer Ali, what in the cosmos were you doing? All Singer captives in exchange for all Burkh captives. Then what do we, the Slave Trade Alliance, need for?” one member accused.

“Exactly! You didn't sell out the entire interest of the Alliance just for your own territory, did you!” another member immediately followed up with a furious outburst.

“Hmph, shortsighted fools, daring to criticize my actions?” Ali adopted an expression of utter disdain for their accusations and walked to the side. He retrieved a bottle from the small liquor cabinet they carried with the escort, popped the seal, and inserted his long proboscis for a long draw. Do you remember Ali’s mosquito face? He sighed contentedly, “Good, excellent liquor.”

A member stepped forward, snatched the bottle, and took a swig. “This is celebratory liquor! You botched the mission, and you’re drinking a toast? I’m reporting you!”

“What’s all the shouting about!” Ali flicked his hand, snatching the bottle back. He was, after all, a Level Two Psychic, possessing far greater physical strength and reaction speed than ordinary beings.

“Officer Ali, do you feel any remorse at all?” An older, veteran member, whose standing in the team was second only to Ali’s, also challenged him.

“Hmph, that’s why I call you all short-sighted!” Ali decisively set the bottle down, pointing at them. “Don’t you have any idea what kind of race the Protos are?”

“A powerful race with a massive fleet and three Level Four existences. We’ve never heard of their renown before,” one member replied.

“Precisely!” Ali slammed a hand on the table. “You must understand, they are an emergent, powerful force. Right now, the various races are preoccupied with their distant expeditions and can’t spare any troops. This means they have ample room to grow, free from external interference. The Berkrec Sector is already trembling beneath their might. If they start a war with the Burkh, won’t that generate even more Burkh slaves? If we build a solid foundation of cooperation with them this time, the Slave Trade Alliance’s business will flow ceaselessly for the foreseeable future!”

“Hey, building a solid foundation of cooperation? You mean using the Alliance’s resources to build your foundation, you embezzler!” Upon hearing Ali’s analysis, the members felt increasingly that cooperation with the Protos held limitless potential, making them nearly insane with jealousy.

“Hmph, regardless, Officer Ali has already hitched his wagon to the Protos and become the recognized monopoly intermediary. If the Alliance wants to conduct business with the Protos later, they will still have to rely on you. Officer Ali, how come we never realized you had this kind of audacity before!” the veteran member said sarcastically.

“Well, the deed is done, and it can’t be undone,” Ali said dismissively. “The Alliance will still have to go through me to secure more business from the Protos anyway. Consider this an early investment. I must say, the fact that the Protos could persuade the Kusta escort fleet to hand over all the Singer captives is truly admirable.”

Ali laughed heartily, then dipped his proboscis back into the bottle opening and sucked up the liquor.

Not far from the contingent of the Slave Trade Alliance, within a Protoss palace—for the Protoss built everything like a palace—Tylot stood before a floor-to-ceiling glass-like light screen, his gaze fixed upon them.

After a moment, Tylot reported mentally to Cass: “Ali’s subordinates show no anomalies.”

“I know,” such minor matters were merely noted by Cass, requiring no further attention. “In two standard days, Lio will deliver the Singer captives. At that time, you and Ali will hand over the Burkh captives and the native captives to Lio.”

“Yes, Speaker.” Tylot responded.

Next, Cass sought out the Luminary Executor Boktana through the psychic link: “Boktana, one hundred million Singer captives will arrive in two days. You are responsible for preparing their accommodations. How is the preparation coming along?”

At that moment, Boktana was aboard an aerial vehicle, inspecting a Protoss city. A group of Executors surrounded him, engaged in discussion about living space.

Hearing Cass’s voice, Boktana immediately replied, “Preparations are proceeding smoothly. Our Protoss living spaces are exceptionally vast; often, only a few individuals inhabit a sprawling palace. If one hundred million Singers arrive on Ai’er, we won't need to construct new palaces; we can arrange sufficient lodging for them.”

“Good. Handle this as you see fit, but remember one thing: have them watched. Don’t let them wander freely. Many of the Protoss technological achievements are too astounding, and I do not wish to frighten them, causing unforeseen trouble. If good intentions lead to bad outcomes, that would be terrible,” Cass advised.

“I understand.” Boktana, as a core councilor and a Luminary Executor at the pinnacle of Level Three psychic power, was acutely aware of how advanced Protoss technology was—far surpassing the technological level of the Singers. If the Singers witnessed it, they might become too curious. However, Protoss technology would not be accessible to them.

Boktana paused in thought, then said, “I will have them housed alongside our own people and draft a charter. This will inform all the citizens receiving them on how they should be cared for.”

“Very well. Once your charter is complete, send it to the High Council for thorough review by Yixun Shu Sai Xi Ao Yue Xun Shan Bu Yi Yang De Ti Ge.”

“As you command, Esteemed Speaker.” Thus, two days later, the Protoss were fully prepared in all aspects to receive the hundred million Singer captives, and the fleet of the Kusta escort mission arrived in the star system where Ai’er resided.

It was a massive fleet comprising ten thousand large transport vessels and five thousand escort warships. All the ships in this fleet belonged to the Slave Trade Alliance. The Kusta Empire had begun implementing austerity measures, concentrating all its military vessels within its sovereign territory, unable to dispatch ships for foreign errands.

Although the Slave Trade Alliance was deeply dissatisfied with the deal orchestrated by Ali, they were powerless, as it had become an established fact. Tylot, the representative of the Protoss; Lio, the representative of the Kusta Star-folk; and Ali, the representative of the Slave Trade Alliance, had all consented to the transaction; backtracking now was futile.

Just as predicted earlier, Ali was not recalled by the Slave Trade Alliance. Instead, he was promoted, put in complete charge of all negotiations with the Protos.

When this colossal fleet entered the star system, the Protoss carrier fleet sallied out to meet it. The escort fleet was intercepted outside the star system and forbidden entry. Only the transport fleet was permitted to enter the system and, under the escort of the Protoss carriers, descend onto Ai’er.

The landing of the transports was dispersed, divided into one hundred groups of one hundred ships each. Every transport held approximately ten thousand Singer captives.

Upon descent, every hundred transports headed toward a Protoss city. The Protoss had opened one hundred cities to receive this batch of Singer captives. The officials in charge of each city were either members or core members of the High Council.

The entire transfer process was monitored by the one hundred thousand carrier fleet; there was no need to worry about the Slave Trade Alliance attempting any tricks. As for the handover of the Burkh captives, that would occur shortly afterward.

Outside the main Protoss city at this time, transport ships landed one after another onto the surface, their hatches opening. Waves of Singers hobbled out.

The Singers captured by the Kusta Star-folk during the war included both men and women, but they had been transported separately; this batch arriving at the main Protoss city consisted entirely of females.

At a glance, it was evident that these Singers had suffered immensely under the Kusta Empire. Their skin tones were dull, and fatigue still clung to their faces. Their clothing remained mostly intact, but scars were visible on the exposed skin.

Their hands were cuffed behind their backs, driven forward by electric whips wielded by the guards, toward the Protoss cities.

Boktana and Tylot, leading a contingent of Templar, Zealots, and Dragoons, stepped forward. Behind them stood thousands of Protoss citizens.

The guard walking at the very front was from the Slave Trade Alliance. He looked somewhat agitated, ceaselessly cracking his whip among the Singer captives, deliberately targeting the younger girls, shouting in a language no one understood—vile obscenities—causing them to shriek in pain.

The nearby Singer women glared furiously at the guard, but this only provoked even harsher lashings.

Just as the guard raised his whip again, he suddenly felt his arm seized as if by steel pincers, followed by a sharp crack as it broke.

“Aiya!!!” The guard shrieked like a slaughtered pig.

Tylot had appeared before him at some unknown moment. “These individuals are now under the protection of our race. Mind your conduct.”

“Yes… yes… ah…” The guard held his broken arm while responding.

A Singer girl who had been receiving a beating looked up, staring blankly at Tylot, a faint trace of hope appearing in her eyes.

Tylot scanned the Singers and noticed a mechanical insect attached to the nape of each of their necks.

“What is this?” Tylot pointed at the mechanical bugs.

Another guard approached, fawning. “This is an embedded mechanical insect. This type of insect is the symbol of a slave. They extend ultra-fine probes that pierce the skin, connecting to their central nervous systems. Normally, one cannot feel them, but if their master wishes to torment them, a simple press of the corresponding remote control causes the probes to stimulate their nerves. Ask them what that feels like.”

Tylot looked back at the Singers and saw expressions of profound terror cross their faces upon hearing the mention of the mechanical insects, as if these devices were memories of hell itself.

The flattering guard continued, “Thanks to these mechanical insects, the chances of them escaping are virtually zero. Because if they move beyond the remote control’s range, the insects will automatically stimulate their nerves, causing them agonizing pain, rendering them incapable of action. And if someone attempts to remove the insect without special tools, it can even trigger an explosion, blasting their beautiful heads into the sky. As for the remote controls, they are right here and will be brought up shortly.”

Uh… Diamond feels quite ashamed. Lately, I don’t know what’s wrong; my brain is running particularly slow. I originally thought if the second chapter was posted after midnight, I’d stay up to write the third chapter, but it’s already 12:40 AM, and my eyelids are getting heavy. So, today, I can only post two chapters. As for the third chapter… I will certainly make up for it, either tomorrow or the day after. Everyone, please remain optimistic; I have not forgotten what I owe you all. Ri 08 Shan Xun Shu Sai Ji Kou Qi San D.