Zebert couldn’t use this bargaining chip to play cards anymore.
He had no choice but to forcibly interrupt the second eting about the Star Devouring Cosmos.
Afterwards, he called in Gu Hang, and the two held another secret discussion.
This ti, he directly showed an angry attitude, questioning repeatedly.
Gu Hang responded ekly, offering explanations.
The gist was that he also didn’t know what the Martian Sect was planning.
In a sense, what Gu Hang said was indeed the truth.
However, Zebert certainly didn’t believe him.
Gu Hang skipped over the topic, bringing up the previously ntioned conditions again.
His attitude was humble, yet he didn’t concede an inch.
Zebert told him to get lost.
Gu Hang promptly left.
Then ca the third eting a week later.
No results.
Once it ended, Zebert called Gu Hang over again, and they talked in detail for an hour.
Later, he privately conversed with various figures from the Martian Sect for a long ti.
Ultimately, Zebert compromised.
In fact, if you calculate carefully, he didn’t lose anything. In the short term, he even gained.
All the original benefits promised to the Martian Sect were no longer required. The Martian Sect had to pay an additional price.
On Gu Hang’s side, there were also two major benefits: the sixth rejuvenation surgery and the Alliance Army accepting Zebert’s conscription.
Though the High Lord position was given away, it was rely a titular one. Representing Gu Hang in Holy Terra to exercise the High Lord’s power was Jon Curtis.
Gu Hang had only just t this person.
He was originally a mber of Zebert’s advisory group, and this could be considered a step forward, coming to the forefront.
For Zebert, he obtained everything he expected.
In fact, due to concessions from the Alliance and the Martian Sect, he gained more than originally planned.
As for potential issues... that’s sothing far into the future.
At least for now, Gu Hang still showed considerable obedience.
Anyway, looking at it overall, after this turmoil, Zebert not only didn’t lose but profited significantly.
So, let’s leave it at that for now.
Zebert’s focus shifted from Gu Hang to the struggle with the National Church and the situation in the Star Devouring Cosmos.
...
The inauguration of the High Lord was also a significant event.
In both na and reality, it is one of the highest positions in the Empire, among the top thirteen.
A grand inauguration ceremony was also indispensable.
This beca the third grand ceremony Gu Hang attended in succession after arriving at Holy Terra.
He was the hottest figure on Holy Terra in almost a year.
Originally, it was thought that the triumph ceremony would be the peak of his fa, but unexpectedly, a series of subsequent events were even more dazzling.
For ordinary citizens or mid-to-lower-level governnt officials, the signing of the Alliance Plan was astonishing, but for so who admired Gu Hang, it was also cause for celebration: this ant that many previous statents about Gu Hang being a separatist force, possibly disloyal or harmful to the Empire, were all debunked.
If the signing of the Alliance Plan was unexpected for most people, Gu Hang becoming a High Lord was even more incredible.
Galaraldo was one such person.
"I really didn’t expect it," Galaraldo expressed to Gu Hang in the banquet hall, " although I wholeheartedly supported every decision and action you took along the way. Honestly, I always felt that you were on a very difficult path, and I doubted you could see it through to the end. But unexpectedly..."
He himself was a High Lord, and he rose very quickly. Thirty years ago, he arrived at Holy Terra and, in just over a decade, rose from the position of Deputy Minister of Military Affairs to the Pri Minister and High Lord.
But it was precisely because he personally experienced this process that he knew how difficult it was.
In his view, the path he planned for Gu Hang to beco a High Lord was the most splendid and smooth path.
But Gu Hang insisted on taking a difficult road.
Yet he made it!
Gu Hang raised his glass: "I couldn’t have done it without your help."
His words were sincere.
Galaraldo’s assistance to Gu Hang in Holy Terra was very critical.
Without Galaraldo, the earliest legitimacy of the Alliance would have been in question. Later, Galaraldo played a significant role in securing nurous policies from the Empire for the Alliance and gaining various political support within Holy Terra for the Alliance.
What seed like a casual move back then beca pivotal in the future.
Galaraldo waved his hand, saying: "Let’s not be formal between us, the difficult road is behind us, and the stage for us in the future is vast!"
At this point, his natural attitude was that Gu Hang would eventually reclaim the power of the High Lord gradually. By then, just the two of them holding two seats in the Supre Council would already be a force to be reckoned with. In ti, perhaps they could even find a way to overthrow Zebert?
Gu Hang understood Galaraldo; he knew that his good brother was a restless and ambitious man.
And that’s quite good.
Galaraldo wasn’t Gu Hang’s subordinate, but rather a collaborator, and in their cooperation, they could say they each got what they needed, without core interest conflicts.
Of course, this might only be temporary.
Galaraldo’s ultimate goal might be the seat that Zebert currently occupies. Gu Hang could strongly feel that Galaraldo had a belief to "replace him" regarding Zebert.
If he beca a centralized pri minister like Zebert, while Gu Hang remained a powerful regional feudal lord, conflicts between the two would likely beco unavoidable.
This conflict isn’t sothing that personal friendship can erase, no matter how good the relationship is.
But fortunately, that day is still far off. Zebert remained firmly seated in his position, with imnse authority. Despite issues coming from his side, he not only didn’t lose his faction’s High Lord and Cosmic Domain Chair position but also co-opted the Empire’s hottest hero Gu Hang with a re titular position, striking a blow against political rivals...
This is how the outside world perceived the current Zebert, making his authority grow even more entrenched.
In a sense, these perceptions indeed reflected the reality.
With such a powerful figure suppressing from above, no matter how ambitious anyone is, they must keep it in check.
Moreover, will that day even co?
If the ultimate battle really exists and occurs within decades or a century, what’s the point of being the head honcho?
Therefore, Gu Hang gave little thought to potential future conflicts between the two.
He wasn’t even particularly worried about the conflict between the Alliance and the Central Empire.
When a massive crisis capable of annihilating the entire Human Empire arrives, all other conflicts must yield to the overarching conflict of human survival.
Moreover, regarding promotion, although Gu Hang would not be permanently stationed at Holy Terra and currently only held a titular position, who knows who will rise faster in the future?
There’s nothing else to worry about.
...
"We are ready to leave Holy Terra in nine days," Gu Hang told Yelisia, bringing a genuine smile to her face.
She hugged Gu Jing, waving his small hand, and happily said: "We can go ho!"
Little Gu Jing was bewildered.
To him, the concept of ho didn’t exist yet. Since birth, he lived on a warship, and later spent nearly a year in the Imperial Palace on Holy Terra.
But no matter, he just wanted to stay with his mom and dad.
After putting their son to sleep, Yelisia remarked to Gu Hang: "These years feel like a dream..."
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