When he heard this, "Qi Chengyan's" face visibly darkened.
"I thought humans placed great value on something called 'comrade bonds.' For the Chief to say this in front of me—aren't you afraid of hastening the deaths of those already parasitized?
Ah, I see. They can no longer produce value, can they? Even if you freed them from the parasitic state, they wouldn't be able to serve you as they once did. Hmph."
As he spoke, he stepped back from the glass before him, his tone laced with sarcasm.
"I came here merely to propose something. In human terms, this is a win-win proposition.
You’ve discovered so many barren planets and resource-rich worlds, yet how many are actually suitable for human habitation?
Has it ever occurred to you that this galaxy doesn't want you here? We insectoids, for example, don't require such harsh living conditions.
Clearly, this place is unfit for your survival, yet you stubbornly refuse to yield. Humans... truly greedy."
The disgust on his face was unmistakable.
Those in the main control room more or less recognized Qi Chengyan, but seeing such an expression on his face made everyone deeply uncomfortable.
Meng Chongyun never interrupted him. Only after "Qi Chengyan" had finished speaking did he step up to the glass on his side.
"Listen carefully: humans will not give up an inch of ground.
In the past, we naively believed in peaceful coexistence, and it cost countless lives.
We will not repeat that mistake."
"Chief, that’s too absolute. Not all those deaths were caused by us, were they? The star beasts' actions can't be pinned on us, right? And plenty of insectoids died at your hands, too."
The young man spread his hands in front of him.
"You see? I came here in goodwill to negotiate a treaty. And you lock me up in this godforsaken, sunless cell, sending dozens of people every day to torment me with their mental energy. And I haven't complained. Doesn't that show my sincerity?"
"You infested the mind of our former First Army Major Qi Chengyan, killed twenty-four people, and parasitized four additional soldiers—all just to get in front of me, to use your mental energy to cajole me into accepting your wild proposals, so your kind could later turn the tables?"
Meng Chongyun's tone grew sharper with each word. Inside the innermost isolation shield, "Qi Chengyan" could feel the mental pressure mounting!
By the time the old man finished his last sentence, he—who had been standing perfectly fine moments ago—was suddenly slammed against the glass before him as if struck by an invisible force, immobilized, his face pressed so hard it deformed!
"Negotiation? Hah. You seem well-informed. Did you glean all that from Qi Chengyan's original memories?"
Meng Chongyun let out a derisive laugh.
"The premise for signing any agreement is that both parties have integrity, enjoy human rights, and are bound by federal law.
And you, an insectoid—after harming so many of our people—now dare to come here and demand equal rights, demanding to sign documents?"
"Urgh!"
"Qi Chengyan's" entire body was clamped tighter, his breath growing labored!
How could this happen? Someone was capable of attacking him directly with mental energy?
Inside the main control room, people exchanged glances.
"We didn't do anything... Did the Chief just exert his power?"
How formidable must his mental energy be?!
It had taken thirty high-level commanders just to barely suppress "Qi Chengyan," yet the Chief could immobilize him single-handedly—and even launch a direct assault?!
"Wow!"
"No wonder he’s the Chief!"
Amid the chorus of exclamations, only Xue Jie, the head of the Federal Academy of Sciences, furrowed her brow slightly.
Meng Chongyun pressed down even harder with his mental energy.
"Listen up: insectoids have no credibility and no human rights. I reject everything you've said."
"Hah!"
"Qi Chengyan’s" face was completely flattened against the glass, looking utterly pathetic.
"Then let your parasitized soldiers die!"
He turned toward the camera in the corner.
"See that? It was your Chief who chose not to let them live! Those people did have a chance to survive!"
"BAM!"
"Qi Chengyan" was yanked away from the glass as though by an invisible hand, then slammed viciously onto the floor.
"GFF—!"
Meng Chongyun raised his hand calmly.
"I wasn't finished speaking."
"Qi Chengyan’s" expression flickered between panic and disbelief. How could a human possess such overwhelming mental energy?!
"You will help those soldiers expel the insectoids infesting their minds, and you will command all insectoids to cease harming humans."
"Ah ha ha ha—dream on!"
He was hurled across the room again, smashing into the ground.
"Ugh—!"
The sound of bones cracking against the floor was unmistakable.
"I am not negotiating with you."
Meng Chongyun’s voice was unyielding.
"Alpha Gold Crown, your mental energy truly is extraordinary. With fewer soldiers, we indeed couldn't match you.
Let alone your parasitic tricks and interference..."
"Qi Chengyan" lifted his head from the floor, glaring with venomous eyes at the white-haired man.
He couldn't counterattack... His mental energy was being suppressed by thirty people, and facing this man on top of that—he had no ability to fight back. Damn it!
Meng Chongyun continued,
"But as luck—or perhaps irony—would have it, your mental energy can at most rival that of a double-S, can it not?"
The young man's expression twisted erratically, finally settling into shock.
"Are you... a triple-S?"
Beyond five layers of isolation shields, the elderly man still radiated authority.
"Hmph. As for why I won't simply drive your insectoids out of the galaxy... from the moment I took on this responsibility, I’ve awaited the day I could annihilate you all. After so many years, I’ve finally seized this opportunity."
A triple-S human? Impossible!!
Neither the insectoid’s memories nor those of the Federation people had ever recorded a human with triple-S mental energy! This old bastard was lying!
"One day, the people of the Federation will no longer live under the threat of insectoids."
Meng Chongyun spoke those final words with unwavering resolve, then glanced back at the figure on the ground.
"Since you're using Qi Chengyan’s body, sit up properly. Do not defile the image of our Federation soldiers."
Inside the layered isolation, "Qi Chengyan" felt himself shoved upright in sheer shock. Was it really triple-S?!
A dead silence fell over the main control room…
What had they just witnessed? What had they just heard?!
Was the Chief a triple-S-level mentalist?! Since when did the Federation have such a tier?! They had no idea!!
Good heavens! And he could materialize his mental energy, too!
This changed everything! No more living in constant fear!
No wonder the Chief could still go on campaigns at his age! Last time, as soon as he reached the Third Army, the star beast horde was brought under control… No doubt the greatest commander in history!
"THE CHIEF IS THE BOSS!!!"
