The Black Witch King made a firm decision.

However, at this stage, negotiations between the Dark Spirit Race and the Alliance have unexpectedly progressed significantly.

In fact, discussions for ’peace talks’ between both sides have continuously persisted.

It’s quite normal—the warriors on the frontline fight fiercely, while the diplomats in the rear engage in verbal battles, exchange terms, and test attitudes based on the front-line war situation...

However, the peace talks have consistently shown little substantial progress. Both sides have irreconcilable conflicts over their respective core interests and key terms.

The reason why the negotiations have suddenly advanced is mainly due to the replacement of the Dark Spirit Race’s diplomat. This new ambassador, Ms. Veselani, once she took charge of the negotiations, promptly compromised on multiple key issues that previously seemed irreconcilable.

This brings us to the core interests of both parties.

For the Dark Spirit Race, their core interests are twofold.

Firstly, the retreat of human forces from Comoros, and secondly, obtaining Robert and Gu Jing.

As for humans, their core interests also split into two parts, the most important being the occupation of Comoros, and secondly, the rapid deployment of the Terra Expeditionary Army to Holy Terra.

Obviously, the core interests of both sides do not align, and the foundation for negotiations is exceedingly weak.

Yet, with Veselani’s compromise on certain core interests, a foundation for negotiation suddenly emerged.

Firstly, the Dark Spirit Race fully abandoned their demands concerning Robert and Gu Jing. They ceased mentioning fanciful conditions like having Robert and Gu Jing cooperate in their actions.

Regarding the human demand for the occupation and management of the entire Comoros and the unconditional surrender of Comoros, this is certainly something Veselani cannot compromise on—it’s tantamount to handing over one’s life.

However, specific issues can be analyzed specifically.

What is the Alliance’s biggest goal in demanding the occupation of the entire Comoros?

Surely not for resources. In this aspect, Comoros is exceptionally poor, with no resource value whatsoever.

Subjugating the Dark Spirit Race to utilize their manpower? That’s somewhat more reliable than resources, given that the Dark Spirit Race could be formidable as mercenaries, forming a capable army. Although their population is small and incapable of fighting attrition wars, they can serve as elite forces.

Nevertheless, the combat power of these Dark Spirit Race warriors would only serve as icing on the cake, not essential.

Moreover, even if the Dark Spirit Race subjugated, who would dare use them?

At crucial moments, a stab from behind is precisely what these treacherous beings are capable of.

Aside from these two items, Comoros has two other things of great value.

Firstly, naturally, Comoros’s characteristic as Veil City, allowing swift and convenient travel across the realities of the universe.

Secondly, the technology passed down through the Dark Spirit Race’s grand Spirit Race Empire.

The concession Veselani made lies here.

She proposed a plan to make several ports in Comoros jointly managed by both sides. Humans need only provide energy for port operations and pay a fee to use these ports. The Spirit Race would also open some coordinates established within the universe, including those located in the Sun Star Domain.

This would allow Robert’s Terra Expeditionary Army to quickly reach their destination. Furthermore, through Comoros’s Veil Spirit Gate, Gu Hang’s journey to visit Holy Terra could take less than a day, rather than enduring a prolonged interstellar trip lasting over a year to reach the destination.

As for the various magical technologies inherited by the Dark Spirit Race over the long years, they could be partially shared with humans.

Despite offering so much, the human negotiator of the Alliance, Ambassador Deska, remained unmoved. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

He said only one thing:

"After we defeat you, eliminate you, and occupy all of Comoros, these things will be ours anyway. So why should we accept peace talks?"

It is blunt but also a reality, a demand made by Gu Hang: we only accept unconditional surrender.

Diplomacy isn’t achieved at the negotiation table; it’s carved out by warriors on the frontline. With the current deployment of human forces in Comoros, they can already rival the Dark Spirit Race, transforming the previous strategic defense into even strategic offense.

As time progresses, human forces entering Comoros will only increase.

The balance of power between both sides will increasingly lean toward the humans.

This is why Gu Hang has the confidence to demand ’unconditional surrender.’

Veselani, however, does not grow angry.

This stance was entirely within her expectations, and she made preparations, proposing several counterpoints.

Firstly, Veselani does not deny that humans currently hold the advantage, but she emphasizes that even with projections in such a situation, the Alliance seeking ultimate victory by fully occupying Comoros and thoroughly crushing the Spirit Race’s regime and organizational structure will exact an unprecedented cost.

Perhaps, humans will need to continuously deploy forces equivalent to two army groups of the Alliance, and ultimately, the loss of forces in Comoros, including various weapons and equipment, could exceed 30%.

From warships to tanks; from Interstellar Warriors to ordinary soldiers’ lives, all of them.

Regarding this, Deska remains noncommittal.

Actually, Veselani is right. Although she might have exaggerated the loss figures for the human side, in any case, losses will be significant.

Not to mention, should the Dark Spirit Race resolve to resist to the end, even with their regime and organization collapsing, they could engage in guerrilla warfare for many years inside the massive, multidimensional Comoros, which is far larger than a single planet. In the future, perhaps hundreds or thousands of years, while humans utilize Comoros as the Veil City, they would still be entangled with surviving, revenge-driven Dark Spirit Race.

Many, many people would die.

Even if Gu Hang, as the leader, after weighing benefits and costs, could accept these losses, reducing the numbers of such losses certainly remains preferable.

After saying this, Veselani raised a second finger, presenting an even more critical second point.

If it truly comes to a life-and-death struggle, the Dark Spirit Race can ensure humans get nothing.

Isn’t ’going down together’ something everyone knows how to do?