Getting a Technology System in Modern Day

Chapter 991: Pressure Points

‘What are we doing? We have an enemy we are actively at war with who is currently attacking quite a few civilizations that are losing ground with each passing minute, but you are now gathering fleets to go attack a former member who was forced to surrender?’ Bogu the Fifteenth, the leader of the Bogu civilization, asked himself as he looked at the leaders who were now discussing what to do to the Nymari and Elara civilizations, who had just withdrawn from the Conclave a few moments ago.

Like a few others, he had thought Costcka’s withdrawal was just a threat—a tactic to receive counter-offers and aid against the empire’s invading forces. That hope seemed to vanish the moment Costcka antagonized the Grand Xor’Vak, though Bogu thought the situation might still be salvageable if they sacrificed Costcka. However, all of those possibilities were thrown out the window when information arrived just seconds after Costcka left the meeting: the imperial vessels attacking the Elara had ceased their assault and were even being granted access to the planets by the defense forces. It was obvious to all that Costcka’s words were not a threat or the ravings of a madman, but a promise he had the power to back up.

Although that had surprised him, the situation was not important enough to warrant the current discussion about mobilizing fleets to go and bomb the Nymari and Elara civilizations. While they were discussing this, many civilizations were still under attack, and the leaders of the unharmed civilizations had previously denied sending any help, arguing that doing so would open the door for the empire to attack them. Yet, it looked like they now had those troops to deploy to Nymari, to destroy a civilization just to make sure that no one else got any ideas about leaving.

‘Couldn’t we use the fleets that you are planning to send to destroy Nymari to help the Conclave members against the imperial forces? Why aren’t we even considering that when we have members who are actively being attacked?’ he shouted in his mind, not daring to actually do it in front of the Grand Xor’Vak, as that meant he would have his civilization included in the list of those they would be destroying.

‘You’ve left me no choice then,’ Bogu the Fifteenth thought before silently logging out of the Conclave Central Command’s meeting channel. No one noticed his departure, nor would they have cared. As a leader from the bottom ten, he wasn’t expected to contribute anything to the current plan anyway.

He found Costcka’s contact information and immediately called him.

After a long back-and-forth discussion with Costcka, going through the many questions he needed answered before he could commit, Bogu finally said, “I’m willing to join the empire’s new alliance, but I need to first talk with the emperor before making the final decision.”

“Understood, please give me your absolute address, I will deliver it to them, and someone from their side will come to meet and have a conversation with you,” Costcka said with a satisfied smile on his face before ending the call.

“…….” Bogu the Fifteenth took a moment to think about the weight of the decision he had just made before taking a leap of faith and sending it to Costcka. It was a very risky decision because Costcka can just jump and report him to the Conclave, and his civilization will be on the chopping block, no different from Nymari.

But he didn’t have enough time to think about it because in just a few minutes, a wormhole opened in his room, and a root came out, instantly choking him.

Before he could even express his feelings of betrayal and laugh at his foolishness for acting in a fit of anger without verification, he found himself opening his eyes inside a doorless and windowless white room, with a man very familiar to all Conclave leaders sitting in front of him.

“Welcome. I would like to thank you for surrendering your civilization,” Youssef said with a salesman’s smile.

“I almost believed the empire because you are known to keep your words,” Bogu the Fifteenth said in anger, while not attempting any escape, knowing that it was impossible to do so anyway.

“I’m pretty sure those words didn’t come directly from us. Remember carefully what Costcka said. At any point, did you see evidence of us saying those words, or did you just believe Costcka’s words because that was what you had hoped?” Youssef said.

Bogu the Fifteenth took a moment to go through the long conversation he had with Costcka and realized that it was all hearsay. At no point had he received evidence that came directly from the empire, because it hadn’t been needed. The empire’s cessation of attacks on the Elara had been enough to serve as evidence of their connection and Costcka’s words.

“But don’t worry, nothing bad is going to happen to your people. Rather, they are going to live the most prosperous times in your civilization’s history. To do that, however, they will have to live under the empire’s control and not as an individual civilization,” Youssef said, not bothering to hide the empire’s true plan, since they already had the leader under their control. He paused for a moment to gauge Bogu’s reaction before adding, “However, the way you act will determine the amount of privilege your civilization receives once the empire absorbs them. The fate of your civilization is in your hands.”

The empire, with its extensive data from the VR network, knew what was important to each civilization. It was now actively using this knowledge to induce desperation in the most effective way. For Bogu the Fifteenth, the most important thing was shedding the inferiority complex he felt due to his civilization’s position. The empire had just given him the opportunity to gain as many benefits for his people as possible, which in turn would translate to a higher standing.

“What is it that you want from us?” he asked after a moment, bringing himself to accept his fate.

“Good decision. All we need from you is to…”