"These are all examples of our technological achievements being applied to civilian life," Prime Minister Derek Morrison explained. "For example, this seawater desalination system can provide clean drinking water to arid regions. This atmospheric purification device can eliminate industrial pollution."
"And this medical robot can provide basic healthcare services in remote areas. This educational system ensures that every child has access to high-quality education."
Rowan was deeply moved by the exhibits. Nothing about this civilization resembled the image of a warlike society.
"Prime Minister, your civilization has left a profound impression on me," Rowan said sincerely. "I can see your genuine pursuit of peace and development."
"Thank you for understanding us," Morrison replied gratefully. "This is who we truly are. We only wish to quietly develop our technology, improve the lives of our people, and coexist peacefully with our neighbors."
"Then regarding the current conflict, what specific solutions do you propose?" Silvermoon asked.
"We are willing to make any reasonable concessions," Morrison declared firmly. "We can grant Tana Prime a larger share of the asteroid's profits, provide technological assistance, and even shoulder most of the development costs ourselves. We only hope to resolve this dispute peacefully."
"Your sincerity is admirable," Rowan said. "We will do everything in our power to facilitate negotiations."
By the time the tour ended, evening had fallen.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the entire technology park was bathed in golden light, appearing exceptionally beautiful and peaceful.
"I hope that one day, the people of both our worlds can live in an environment as peaceful and beautiful as this," Morrison said as he gazed into the distance.
"That day will come," Silvermoon reassured him. "Peace is everyone's shared wish."
"Then shall we arrange a trilateral meeting with representatives from Tana Prime tomorrow?" Rowan suggested.
"Of course," Morrison agreed immediately. "We are ready to negotiate anytime, anywhere, under any conditions. If it can bring peace, we are willing to try."
After returning to the hotel, Rowan and Silvermoon remained deeply shaken.
"Planet Tana II truly isn't what Tana Prime described," Silvermoon concluded. "Their sincerity and goodwill are genuine."
"Agreed," Rowan nodded. "And their philosophy of technological development deserves admiration. Peaceful progress and improving people's lives... that's what a civilization should strive for."
"So what do we do next?" Silvermoon asked.
"Tomorrow, we hold the trilateral talks and place the truth on the table," Rowan said firmly. "It's time for the light of peace to shine upon this star system."
The next morning, according to their agreement, Rowan contacted the government of Tana Prime and proposed the trilateral negotiations.
To ensure neutrality and fairness, the meeting was scheduled to take place aboard a specially designed diplomatic conference vessel stationed in neutral space between the two planets.
"Minister Carlisle, we propose holding the official talks today at two in the afternoon in neutral territory," Rowan said through the encrypted communication channel. "The delegation from Planet Tana II is fully prepared."
Carlisle's voice came through with a hint of hesitation.
"Special Envoy, we'll need some time to prepare the necessary documents and personnel."
"How long?" Silvermoon asked. "This meeting is extremely important to both sides. We hope to proceed as soon as possible."
"Please give us until tomorrow morning. We need time to gather representatives from all relevant departments."
Rowan felt that something was off, but he agreed nonetheless.
"Very well. We'll begin at ten tomorrow morning. Please ensure your delegation arrives on time."
"Of course. We will not be absent."
Carlisle's voice sounded resolute.
After the transmission ended, Silvermoon frowned.
"Their attitude has changed. They don't sound nearly as eager as yesterday."
"I sensed that too," Rowan said thoughtfully. "Perhaps they're trying to unify their internal opinions. After all, what we demonstrated yesterday may have forced them to reassess the situation."
Prime Minister Morrison, however, remained highly supportive.
"Our delegation is ready to depart at any time," he declared. "The Foreign Minister, Defense Minister, and Economic Minister will all attend. I will personally participate as well."
"Your sincerity is appreciated," Rowan replied. "I'm confident tomorrow's meeting will yield positive results."
But the next morning, events took an unexpected turn.
At nine o'clock, one hour before the scheduled meeting, the Tana II delegation had already arrived aboard the conference vessel in neutral space.
The ship had been designed specifically for diplomatic purposes, equipped with spacious conference rooms, communications systems, and living quarters.
"There is still no indication that Tana Prime's delegation has departed," the communications officer reported. "We've contacted them repeatedly, but they only respond that they're 'still preparing.'"
Prime Minister Morrison glanced at the time.
"It's already nine-thirty. Even if they leave now, they'll be at least an hour late."
"Perhaps they're experiencing technical difficulties," Silvermoon suggested, trying to give them the benefit of the doubt.
Ten o'clock arrived.
The scheduled time passed.
Yet Tana Prime's delegation still had not appeared.
"This isn't normal," Rowan said grimly. "Punctuality is the most basic rule of diplomatic conduct."
"We'll contact them again," Morrison ordered.
This time, however, the response shocked everyone.
"We regret to inform you that due to an emergent security threat, our delegation cannot arrive as scheduled," Carlisle's voice said tensely. "We have just received intelligence indicating that Planet Tana II is planning military action. We must strengthen our defenses."
"What?" Morrison leapt to his feet in fury. "That's a complete fabrication! We have no military plans whatsoever!"
"Minister," Rowan said calmly, "that is an extremely serious accusation. Please provide evidence."
"Our evidence is conclusive, but cannot be disclosed through open communications. For security reasons, we are canceling the negotiations."
The transmission was terminated unilaterally.
The atmosphere aboard the conference vessel instantly turned tense.
"This is obviously an excuse!" the Defense Minister shouted angrily. "They never intended to negotiate!"
"Our military forces remain in their normal defensive positions," another official added. "This accusation is completely fabricated."
Rowan's expression turned deadly serious.
As an experienced mediator, he immediately realized this could be the beginning of a much larger conspiracy.
"Scan the surrounding space immediately," Rowan ordered the ship's security officer. "I suspect something else is happening."
The officer activated the long-range sensors.
Several minutes later, his face turned pale.
"Special Envoy... we've detected a large number of warships approaching at high speed."
"How many? From what direction?" Silvermoon asked instantly.
"At least fifty. They're coming from the direction of Tana Prime. Based on their energy signatures, they're all heavy combat vessels."
Prime Minister Morrison's face drained of color.
"What are they planning? Attacking a diplomatic conference?"
Rowan instantly understood Tana Prime's true intentions.
They had never intended to negotiate.
They had planned to use the peace conference itself as a pretext for war.
"Everyone, move to the emergency shelters immediately," Rowan ordered. "This is no longer a diplomatic incident. It's a military assault."
At that very moment, the conference vessel's alarms began screaming.
The sensor displays showed that Tana Prime's fleet had entered attack range.
"Incoming missiles! Take cover!" the security officer shouted.
Dozens of high-energy missiles tore through the darkness of space, heading directly toward the defenseless diplomatic vessel.
The ship possessed only basic defensive systems. It stood no chance against an assault of this magnitude.
"Activate shields!" the captain yelled desperately.
Blue energy barriers spread around the vessel, but under the relentless bombardment, their strength plummeted rapidly.
"Shield strength down to seventy percent! Fifty percent! Thirty percent!" the technician reported. "We can't hold much longer!"
Everyone aboard felt the shadow of death looming over them.
These officials and diplomats from Planet Tana II had never experienced such a direct military attack.
"They've gone insane!" Morrison shouted furiously. "Attacking a diplomatic delegation is a war crime under every interstellar convention!"
"Now isn't the time to discuss laws," Rowan said calmly.
He turned to Silvermoon.
"Protect everyone aboard. I'll deal with the situation outside."
"What are you going to do?" Silvermoon asked worriedly.
"What I must."
A dangerous light flashed in Rowan's eyes.
"As a mediator of the Galactic Peace Organization, I cannot allow such atrocities to occur before my eyes."
Rowan walked toward the airlock.
To everyone's shock, he opened the hatch leading directly into the vacuum of space.
"Special Envoy! You're going to..." Prime Minister Morrison began.
But before he could finish speaking, Rowan had already vanished into the darkness.
Outside, the battle was raging.
Tana Prime's fleet had completely surrounded the conference vessel.
Dozens of warships unleashed indiscriminate bombardments. Laser cannons, plasma beams, and high-energy missiles transformed the surrounding space into a blazing battlefield.
Even worse, the fleet clearly had ambitions beyond destroying the conference vessel.
Judging from their formation and trajectory, their true objective was to break through and launch a direct assault on Planet Tana II itself.
"This was a premeditated invasion," Rowan observed, his anger reaching its limit.
Tana Prime had used the promise of peace talks to lure Tana II's leadership into neutral space, planning to annihilate them in a surprise attack.
If successful, they would decapitate Tana II's government and conquer the planet in one stroke.
"Despicable!"
At that moment, the flagship of Tana Prime transmitted a message.
"Terrorists of Planet Tana II, you have kidnapped the Galactic Peace Organization's mediator. This is a grave provocation against peace. We will take all necessary measures to rescue the hostage."
"Bastards!" Morrison roared from inside the conference ship. "How could we possibly kidnap the mediator? This is a blatant frame-up!"
Rowan finally understood their entire plan.
They intended not only to wage war, but also to seize the moral high ground and shift all responsibility onto Tana II.
"Enough!"
Rowan's fury exploded.
Though sound could not travel through the vacuum of space, the terrifying fluctuations of his psychic force spread across the entire battlefield.
Every sensor aboard every warship detected the anomaly.
For a brief moment, the battle stopped.
"What's happening? Unknown energy source detected!" panicked voices echoed through the Tana Prime fleet.
Then everyone witnessed a scene they would remember for the rest of their lives.
In the darkness of space, a human figure was moving at incredible speed.
He had no spacecraft.
No protective equipment.
He was simply flying through the vacuum itself.
"Wh... what is that? How can a human survive in space?" soldiers aboard the warships cried out in horror.
Rowan's anger had reached its absolute limit.
As a core member of the Virtual Universe Company and a mighty Stellar-level warrior, he had witnessed countless wars and conflicts.
But he had never encountered such shameless treachery.
Around him, space itself began to distort.
This was the manifestation of the Laws of Space.
The surrounding void seemed to become his weapon.
"If you've chosen war..."
Rowan slowly raised his right hand.
A blade of pure energy condensed into existence.
The enormous blade stretched over a hundred meters long, radiating an overwhelming aura of destruction.
Even Tana Prime's most advanced sensors were unable to measure its energy output.
"All ships, attention! Unknown hostile target detected! Open fire immediately!" the flagship commander ordered.
Dozens of warships fired simultaneously.
Countless laser beams and missiles converged on Rowan.
The sheer firepower was sufficient to annihilate an asteroid in an instant.
Yet Rowan merely glanced at the attack with disdain.
"For me..."
"This level of attack doesn't even qualify as a warm-up."
He swung the massive energy blade.
A gigantic crescent wave of light burst forth.
It carried the power of the Laws of Space themselves.
Wherever it passed, space trembled.
The wave swept through the fleet.
Ten warships were sliced cleanly in half.
Against absolute power, steel hulls were no sturdier than paper.
The explosions illuminated the entire battlefield of space.
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