Chapter 227: Dividing the Stars

Along the Orion Spur, the Milky Way is commonly divided into five major regions.

Starting from the end nearest to the galactic core—also the most prosperous area.

These are: the Dustlight Star Region, Terra Star Region, Aster Star Region, Viayas Star Region, and the Desolate Star Region.

Of these, the Desolate Star Region is the smallest, Dustlight comes next, but the largest by far is Terra.

Viayas may not compare in size to Terra, but it still holds 1.2 million star systems, including plenty of first- and second-level civilizations and even a few level threes.

If the Federation manages to seize this region, they’d gain an unprecedented chance to develop.

Of course, apart from the Desolate Star Region—which the Drac Empire dismisses—and Dustlight, which is already its territory, the other three regions fall under the Empire’s control.

Trying to snatch such a chunk of territory from the Empire is simply unrealistic for the Federation.

At least, with their current strength, it’s an impossible feat.

But if brute force won’t work, why not try a more subtle approach?

Picture this: the Federation presents itself as a level-four civilization, rumored to wield mysterious power—enough to wipe out an entire Drac Empire fleet in an instant.

Once that image sticks, how could the other level-four civilizations not think highly of the Federation?

And since the Galactic High Council wants to keep the peace and prevent devastating wars between level-four civilizations, they’re forced to invite the Federation in, making it the newest club member.

But having another level-four civilization also means another hand reaching for the pie.

Now there are seventeen stakeholders—each one has to give up a little to make room.

That’s how it should have played out.

Instead, the Federation made a surprising announcement—they had no interest in the Main Spiral Arm, preferring the peace and quiet of their current home.

That news left all the other leaders overjoyed.

As long as nobody touches the pie they’ve already claimed for themselves, they’ll happily agree to just about anything.

Then, the Federation followed up.

“I don’t want a slice of the Main Spiral Arm, but as for the Orion Spur, I want the Viayas Star Region. That’s not too much to ask, is it?”

“Otherwise, why is it that both the Federation and the Empire are level-four civilizations, yet the Federation only gets three thousand star systems out of twenty million, while the Empire hoards almost all the rest?”

Even if the Federation takes Viayas, they’ll only increase their territory from 30,000 to 1.23 million stars.

Losing Viayas would still leave the Empire with about twenty million star systems.

“So, tell me, is it really too much for us to ask for Viayas?”

Well, what are the others supposed to say to that?

Because honestly, that demand isn’t unreasonable at all—if anything, it almost seems a little pitiful.

If they split the Orion Spur fifty-fifty, that would be fair too.

Besides, although the Federation is now getting a portion of the pie, it’s only coming out of the Drac Empire’s share—nothing to do with the other sixteen civilizations.

Naturally, no one had a reason to oppose the Federation’s proposal.

We’re only talking about 1.2 million star systems here. To the Empire, that’s not even a tenth of their domain.

And it’s not even core territory, just an area under their influence.

Losing such a small piece won’t hurt the Empire much anyway.

And that’s exactly what the sixteen other level-four civilization leaders were all thinking.

“Don’t worry, the Federation’s request is more than reasonable. Of course, we’ll support it!”

“Exactly—just 1.2 million stars, and it’s not even core territory. Why make a fuss?”

“Then it’s settled. By the way, where’s Daan? Why isn’t he here?”

Watching everyone voice their support, Tellus and Mu Xingchen both allowed themselves a faint smile.

This matter was as good as done.

They’d heard from Sandik that the Galactic High Council doesn’t have a veto system. To reject a proposal, at least three civilizations have to vote no.

If even one civilization could veto anything, it would be too easy to blackmail the entire Council.

With three required, while it’s not perfect, it greatly reduces the chances of that happening.

Although the Council can’t force anyone to give up core territory—

—well, that’s not exactly what’s happening here.

After all, the Viayas Star Region isn’t officially Empire territory. It’s just within their sphere of influence.

According to the Council’s rules, if two level-four civilizations have overlapping spheres, and can’t resolve it themselves, the Council steps in to arbitrate.

Doesn’t this situation fit that rule perfectly?

So by the book, the Federation’s claim to Viayas is on solid ground.

Sure, the Drac Empire might lose out, but none of the other level-fours are affected.

Naturally, everyone supported the decision.

Meanwhile, the Drac Emperor Daan—who hadn’t even attended the talks—

—was still clueless that the other sixteen level-fours had just sold him out.

——

“I don’t agree!”

“The Empire has already lost fifty thousand warships. The fact I’m not retaliating is concession enough—why should I have to give up territory, too?”

“In short, the Empire will never accept this!”

The Galactic High Council called an emergency meeting of all level-four civilizations after the Federation emerged as a new level-four and made its demands.

Saying it was a negotiation was a stretch—sixteen of the seventeen civilizations had just come back from the Federation’s meeting, already carrying the decision they’d made. All that was left was to invite Daan to make it official.

Not that Daan himself had a clue.

When he learned that a new level-four had claimed the Desolate Star Region and now wanted Viayas as well, he flipped.

“Are you kidding me? Viayas has 1.2 million stars! That’s Empire turf. How could we ever hand it over to you?”

“Daan, quiet down. This is the Council.”

“How am I supposed to stay calm? Even the Council doesn’t have the authority to force a level-four civilization to cede territory, do they?”

“Daan, let’s be clear—Viayas isn’t your territory. It’s just within your sphere of influence. Do I need to explain the difference to you again?”

“Well… even so, why should the Empire have to give it up to the Human Federation?”

Daan was still fuming.

“Because we’ve just voted to admit the Human Federation to the Galactic High Council. If member civilizations have overlapping spheres, Article 7 of the Advanced Civilization Special Agreement applies—the Council arbitrates.”

“Impossible! When was this decided? Why wasn’t I told? This is not valid!”

Daan shouted again.

“According to the Council’s regulations, any motion passes as long as there are no more than three opposing votes. It doesn’t require everyone present—just at least fifteen votes in favor.”

“This time, sixteen civilizations participated. All sixteen voted yes—it meets the Council’s requirements perfectly.”

Archis of the Fanguang Alliance added.

It finally dawned on Daan that this whole thing was a setup. The others had made a deal with the Human Federation behind his back.

Inviting him here was just a formality—a notification, nothing more.

The worst part was—

Everything they’d done was by the book. There was nothing he—

—could do to stop it.

Unless he was willing to pull the Empire out of the Council altogether.

But if he did that, the consequences for the Empire—

—were simply unthinkable!