After he received the answer Daniel immediately contacted the Von Magnis household to talk with Theo to inform him of what the exiles demanded.
Theodor couldn't make such a decision and even the other heads of families didn't have the authority.
Only the emperor could pardon an exile from a blue section.
Asking his majesty to pardon almost a hundred exiles was something that was never done.
The decision was made that first they need all the Heads to agree to the idea.
Gathering everyone took three days and the meeting was quite chaotic.
Daniel was present and he was the one who told the nobles about the demand of the exiles.
-It's something I suspected they would want. In the end most of them have families in the empire.
Liliane LeBlanc said after hearing Daniel out.
-That doesn't change the fact that it's impossible,there is no way that his majesty will allow that.
Eduardo Garcia insisted.
-Be that as it may,they just want their freedom and it doesn't look like a steep price to me if they will abandon the path of vengeance for it.
Yasushi Tokugawa said with a calm voice.
He seldom spoke so when he did everyone listened.
-Well even if the price is small we can't give them what they want even if we want to.
Arnold Henderson looked tired,and he was tired; he spent the last few days looking for the girl he sold only to be informed that the mercenaries found her first.
-You all know that his majesty will demand to know the whole story and use this incident to limit us as much as he can.
Adam Vermont said.
How about we grant them passage to get this girl and let them go wherever they want as long as they leave the empire?
Eduardo shared his idea.
-And then what? This may buy us some good will but remember what we did to those people.
Sending them into exile destroyed most of their lives.
This Thomas Zieliński might agree to it but that's only because it benefits him but the rest gain nothing from it.
I'd also like to remind you that these people are mostly highly capable or even outright geniuses. Do we really want to send them to our enemies?
After Liliana said that there was silence in the chamber.
She was right,they were valuable people and they proved their worth by escaping.
-Listen I'm not one of you but I was invited here as an advisor and my advice is to accept the terms and give them back their freedom. The only other options are to live the rest of your lives knowing that there are people who hate and may try to kill some of you.
Or kill them but that option will only work if you kill them all at once and that is if you can even do it in which i very much doubt.
It's your choice,but if I was in your shoes I'd rather give them what they want and be done with it.
Daniel spoke and they all listened with attention.
-So youre saying that it would be better for us to go and beg his majesty to pardon them.
Eduardo asked.
-You already had a sample of what they can do and just for clarity my flag ship can't do what they did.
Daniel answered.
-We need to make a decision, quarreling won't solve anything.
The Elder said and that made everyone quiet.
-If you all agree to their demands which are reasonable then i will personally go and ask the emperor…
-Ask me what Theo?
The elder sentence was cut short when the Emperor came inside surrounded by his escort.
At that moment everyone kneeled down.
The ruler of the empire was in his fifties but he was in great shape. His blond hair was long and his eyes blue with 186 cm in height and around 110 kg weight .
Emperor took a seat at the head of the table.
-All rise and take your seats.
Everyone did as they were instructed except for Daniel who just stood behind the Elder.
-Well Theo, what did you want to ask me?
-Your majesty we have a bit of a problem but we were about to decide on what to do…
-Spare me the details, just say what you need so that we can move to the matter that brought me here.
The emperor cut in ,he didn't like to beat around the bush.
-Yes your majesty,we would like to ask your majesty for a pardon for around 100 exiles from the blue section.
-Did i hear you right? you sain a hundred?
The Emperor couldn't believe his ears.
-Yes your majesty there are almost a hundred of them.
-Theo are you getting seenail why in the world would I do that?
-Your majesty wanted to know what I wanted to ask to save time so I was unable to explain the matter.
-Then this matter will have to wait for now.
-I came here today to discuss the disturbing news i got about the bugs.
Everyone went pale ,the bugs were the last thing they needed right now.
-To be frank there is a bug armada coming our way and i don't think they will stop this time.
The emperor said with a gloomy expression.
The bugs AKA Xindarians were an alien civilization, one of many that humanity had contact with after they went into the stars.
Most of the aliens accepted the humans and at the very least allowed the trade to be established.
However the bugs were a different case, all they care about is to expand their territories for more resources.
They didn't care if the system was inhabited. Once they wanted it they took it and if you didn't escape in time then you were the next meal.
They had a vast territory bordering many other species.
The last time they fought with humans they lost but all of humanity had to pay a steep price for stopping them.
They were also not just stupid bugs they adapted and upgraded their own ships and weapons.
-How long do we have your majesty?
Liliana was the first to ask.
-They will cross our borders in around two months and we need to be ready for them.
This armada is ten times larger than the previous one and from our intelligence there are some new ship types present .
-Then we need to mobilize everything we can but I'm afraid that won't be enough.
Fifty years ago we barely managed to stop them and now they have ten times more forces than before.
Even if we round up all the forces in the empire along with the mercenaries they will slaughter us.
Adam Vermont said.
-Not to mention that our technology didn't change that much and most of our ships are at least two decades old.
Arnold said.
-Do we even stand a chance?
Liliana asked,she never served in the military.
-We might but not alone.
The elder answered in a calm voice.
-Your majesty i suggest we send the envoys to our neighbors,all of them and ask for help in the end if the empire falls they are next.
-Thank you, I already thought about it and the envoys are on their way.
What we need now is a plan to delay the enemy or even better to stop them.
There was silence in the chamber.
-Your majesty if I may.
Daniel spoke up.
-Go ahead.
-If we want to delay the enemy we can use space mines and automated defenses. I also recommend we evacuate planets nearest to the border and lay down traps and landmines as much as we can that should slow them down but it wont work for long.
-Did you just use the exiles plan but on a bigger scale?
Arnold asked.
-It worked against you didn't it?
Everyone except the emperor understood and nodded.
-What is it with these exiles and why do you all look like you're scared of them?
The Emperor demanded answers.
Arnold sighted and told the whole story.
The emperor was shocked at what he heard.
-You really made a mess this time,not only do we have an invasion but now we need to worry about a bunch of exiles who can destroy 30 ships in one day without breaking a sweat.
To make matters worse they have a bone to pick with you and will try to kill you all if they have the chance.
-Yes your majesty.
The Elder confirmed.
-And let me guess. The pardons that you want are for them so that they will not attack you.
-Yes your majesty
Theo confirmed again.
-And what will happen if i don't pardon them?
-The Henderson family will probably get destroyed and I don't know about the rest but there is a good chance that they will suffer losses, your majesty.
Daniel said without any doubt in his voice.
-Who are those people that you think so highly of?
-A bunch of geniuses and some rather competent people led by a mercenary from my team,your majesty should remember two years ago when the second princess was abducted by terrorists and you hired us to get her back.
-I remember,two weeks later one of your men bright her back, what of it?
-That man was the one we call Death dragon and he saved the princess singlehanded.
-Wait,it's that man? My daughter said that he slaughtered over 200 men to get to her.
How the hell did he become an exile?
The emperor was shocked.
-Your majesty his real name is Thomas Zieliński the man that lord Arnold was talking about.
Daniel explained.
-And if I pardon them? what will happen.
-With any luck, your majesty we may be able to appease them and no one will get hurt.
-Do you have a way to communicate with them?
-I do,your majesty.
-Then Tell them that I will pardon them on the condition that they will not attack the nobles.
-Thank you. your majesty.
Daniel was smiling, he got what he wanted.
-And you all will repay this debt fully supporting the war effort.
-Yes your majesty,Thank you ,your majesty.
-Daniel Contact them immediately and if they accept my condition then bring me the list of names.
-Yes your majesty.
Daniel said and left with a smile on his face.