When everyone left the Batarians' homeworld and returned to their original location, all of them fell into a deathlike silence.
"Inquisitor, I really didn't expect you to be so…,"
Even Li Longcheng didn't know how to evaluate Duanmu Huai's actions for a moment, while Duanmu Huai merely snorted coldly.
"The Inquisition exists only to protect humanity. Any other xenos besides humanity are, to us, unnecessary existences. If that had been a human planet, I might have used an Extermination Order only as a last resort. But since it was a xeno planet, there was naturally nothing more to say."
This was also why, in the game, players treated Extermination Orders as a big ultimate move and tossed them out whenever they felt like it.
After all, this era was already different from the age of the Human Empire. Most places were planets inhabited by xenos, so there was practically no psychological pressure at all—just throw an Extermination Order over and be done with it.
"All right. We'll talk again after you've calmed down."
After saying this, Duanmu Huai cut off the communication. Only then did the Stellar Federation's top leadership turn to look at Li Longcheng, who gave a helpless, bitter smile.
"Everyone, I know you have a lot of questions. Come with me."
Afterward, inside an absolutely top-secret conference room, facing Kislev and the other colleagues, Li Longcheng fully explained everything about the Inquisition—how he was attacked at the New Shanxi colony, how the Inquisition intervened to rescue him, and everything he later learned about the history of the Human Empire, the existence of the Inquisition, and its responsibilities.
It had to be said that after listening to Li Longcheng's account and watching the Inquisition records Duanmu Huai had provided, everyone present was completely stunned.
"This is simply unbelievable. Is all of this really true?"
"I knew you wouldn't believe it. But now? Can you really not believe it?"
"This…"
At that point, even those Federation officials who still had doubts were left speechless. Before this, they would never have believed Li Longcheng's words—but now, after personally witnessing the Batarian homeworld being annihilated by an Extermination Order, no matter how unwilling they were, they had no choice but to accept reality.
After all… if this were a scam, using an entire planet as bait would be an absurdly massive one.
"So that means… we might become the next Human Empire that rules the galaxy?"
Some of the senior officials were visibly excited. After all, they were human, and learning that they were descendants of a civilization that once ruled the galaxy naturally stirred ambition.
"With the Inquisition's help—"
"The Inquisition will not interfere in the internal political affairs of human civilizations."
Li Longcheng shook his head.
"According to the Inquisitor, the Inquisition exists to save humanity from heresy, xenos, and demons. They do not take sides in human political systems. Whether monarchy or democracy, as long as humanity can develop, they don't care about such matters."
"This…"
Hearing this, everyone fell silent.
They had already heard Li Longcheng explain how the Inquisition classified xenos, heretics, and demons. Regarding demons, Duanmu Huai had played a small trick—he directly defined demons as Warp entities (which, strictly speaking, wasn't wrong), rather than gods or divine beings.
In simple terms, according to Duanmu Huai's explanation, demons were psionic life-forms that lived in a dimension known as the "Warp." They liked to masquerade as gods, using their abilities to deceive humans into worshipping them, thereby manipulating human behavior.
This was Duanmu Huai's attempt at redefining demons. The Emperor's Imperial Truth had already completely failed—denying objective reality outright would inevitably be slapped down by reality itself. But by redefining reality instead of denying it, there might still be a chance.
As long as humans did not treat Warp demons as objects of faith, it wouldn't be impossible to fight them.
Beyond that, Duanmu Huai had another plan—
Web novels.
Yes, this human civilization also had web novels. Duanmu Huai's suggestion to Li Longcheng was to strongly support those kinds of novels. After all, web novels were full of themes like slaughtering gods and Buddhas, "my fate is mine, not heaven's." Read enough of that, and people's subconscious would naturally shift in that direction.
As long as those novels established one core rule—that making deals with gods or demons would never end well, and only by relying on humanity's own strength could one become a Long Aotian—then after enough exposure, humans would instinctively reject divine temptation when encountering it in reality.
Thus, Duanmu Huai proposed three principles.
First: so-called gods or demons were merely beings stronger than humans—nothing more.
Second: any temptation from gods or demons existed only to use humans as tools, no matter how noble their rhetoric.
Third: as long as humans upheld pride and glory in being human, they could slaughter gods and Buddhas, gather harems, and become Long Aotian.
Yes—this was the web-novel brainwashing plan. As long as these novels circulated within the Stellar Federation, anyone who read them or watched adaptations would instinctively apply that mindset when dealing with Warp demons.
So really… Emperor, you just didn't understand the human heart.
Of course, there was no need for official mandates. People were rebellious by nature—doing it openly might backfire. All that was needed was to quietly ban novels that worshipped gods and demons under the banner of combating feudal superstition, while promoting god-slaying content. Once writers saw what made money, they'd naturally follow the trend.
Write enough, select the best, adapt them into films and TV series, and broadcast them Federation-wide.
Wasn't that far more effective than the Imperial Truth?
In the game, players wanted to pull similar tricks but found it difficult. In reality, though… Duanmu Huai planned to try.
Fighting poison with poison.
At the very least, it would stop humans from becoming spineless creatures who dropped to their knees at the sight of an evil god.
In the end, the Stellar Federation's leadership decided to formally negotiate with the Inquisition.
Duanmu Huai's timing was impeccable. Humanity had just stepped into the galaxy, encountered alien species, and immediately faced threats. At such a moment, they desperately needed a veteran guide—and the Inquisition's appearance was a massive boon.
Both sides were human factions, and the Inquisition was overwhelmingly powerful. Under its protection, the Federation could develop freely.
After receiving Li Longcheng's response, Duanmu Huai stated he would send representatives for negotiations. Soon, a Night Raven Blackstar arrived at a Federation warship. Li Longcheng led the Federation's leadership to receive them.
To be honest, staring at that pitch-black craft made everyone nervous. Seeing Duanmu Huai's face on a screen alone had terrified them—although he wasn't coming personally this time, what if the Inquisition's representatives were all terrifying monsters too?
"Pfft—"
The hatch opened. Several tall figures in black armor emerged, weapons in hand, lining both sides. Tension rose sharply.
Then—
Under the protection of those giants, several girls stepped out.
"...?"
The contrast was so extreme that the Federation leadership was completely dumbfounded. They had mentally prepared themselves to negotiate with towering, intimidating figures.
Instead… beautiful, lovely girls?
"Greetings, Mr. President."
At the front was Anne, dressed in royal ceremonial attire. Behind her were the smiling Zhen Jiling, and Lumière and Eclair, both dressed in maid outfits.
"I am Anne, First Princess of Manaria and representative of the Inquisition. This is our first meeting—pleased to meet you."
"..."
Staring at these adorable girls, every single Federation leader—including Li Longcheng—was stunned.
The Inquisition… actually had this side?
In truth, this was Duanmu Huai's plan. The Inquisition already projected overwhelming force. If he appeared personally, the Federation might suppress resentment out of fear—bad for cooperation. So he deliberately sent Anne and Zhen Jiling.
Anne, as a princess, had extensive political experience and understood Duanmu Huai's intentions perfectly.
As for Zhen Jiling—
Do you even understand what maxed-out charisma means?
Back in the game, a max-charisma character could make others willingly bare their hearts.
That was the terror of full charisma.
Duanmu Huai had already decided—Zhen Jiling would handle diplomacy and propaganda.
After all, she followed him so the entire world—no, the entire universe—could witness her cuteness.
The universe's number-one cutest, Zhen Jiling.
Honestly? Not bad.
Far better than whatever bullshit like clinging abominations or Lust demons.
Those bastards were ugly as hell.
And as for whether this would make people underestimate the Inquisition—Duanmu Huai wasn't worried.
The Batarian homeworld had just been blown up. Surely their memories weren't that short.
And indeed, as expected, perhaps thanks to Anne and Zhen Jiling's overwhelming charm, within half a day they finalized the cooperation agreement between the Inquisition and the Stellar Federation.
Simply put, the Inquisition would protect Federation colonization and expansion. If a colony were attacked by the Turians and the Federation couldn't handle it, they could request Inquisition assistance. Likewise, unsolvable problems on alien worlds could be referred to the Inquisition.
As for technology exchange, Duanmu Huai avoided sharing Inquisition tech due to potential chaotic contamination. However, he didn't mind exchanging certain technologies from Guardian worlds, Beastfolk planets, or Hell planets.
But Inquisition technology itself?
Better not.
The Federation had just entered the cosmos—giving them that now would be like handing nukes to cavemen.
Duanmu Huai also negotiated a deal for Dardaniel—the atmospheric terraforming technology held by the Dardaniel Chamber of Commerce.
For the Federation, this was a godsend. Terraforming meant even barren rocks could become habitable worlds.
Dardaniel was endlessly grateful. His chamber had effectively become the Inquisition's shadow—following wherever Duanmu Huai went.
Compared to a mature interstellar civilization, this was just the beginning.
Which only made Dardaniel cling harder.
This was his money tree.
The Federation had little to offer in return, but Duanmu Huai didn't care. The Inquisition rarely interfered in human politics—and when heresy or demons appeared, they'd act regardless.
Overall, the negotiations concluded in a warm, friendly atmosphere, with multiple cooperation agreements signed.
At the end, both sides smiled.
And Li Longcheng was ecstatic.
With this agreement, he finally had real confidence when facing the Citadel Council.
(End of Chapter)