The Savior Says She's Having a Breakdown - Chapter 13
Chapter 13: Alpha Star Nation (Part 1)
“The situation is quite clear now,” Maggie said, her arms crossed, her chin slightly raised, looking coldly at Feng Qingyu. “You have no other choice.”
Feng Qingyu remained noncommittal, only saying, “I know you have a way to communicate with Hena. I want to talk to her.”
“I am the one who makes the final decision.”
“So what?” Feng Qingyu shrugged, appearing indifferent. “If you truly want to cooperate, you had better let Hena talk to me. At the very least, she knows how to ‘speak like a human’ to me!”
“You!”
“What about me?”
“You had better think clearly. If our negotiation breaks down, you will be the one at a disadvantage!”
“No, no, no, what you need to understand is that cooperating with you is indeed my best option, but it is not my only option. But for you, it’s different,” Feng Qingyu leaned back against the sofa, seemingly confident, but in reality, she was gambling, betting on the fact that— “I am your only hope, considering you don’t have many three-year periods left to wait.”
When Maggie’s crossed arms slowly relaxed, Feng Qingyu knew she had won the gamble.
“So, when you talk to me, you had better consider carefully: what are you here for? As for me, it’s different. After all, there are far more mysterious powers on Earth than you are aware of. Perhaps my father will show up soon with a new treasure that can replace both the talisman and the shield device.”
In the face of danger and profit, humans can indeed burst forth with extraordinary strength—Feng Qingyu thought. If she were her former self, she wouldn’t even be able to have a casual chat with people, let alone psychoanalyze the other party and play a psychological game. But having gone through these two amazing “adventures,” she felt her IQ and eloquence had significantly improved—and if they hadn’t improved, she would have been game over!
“I understand.”
Watching Maggie’s gritted teeth, yet forced to endure it, Feng Qingyu felt a burst of triumphant revenge: The tables have turned. You didn’t expect this day when you kidnapped me, did you?
But on the surface, she showed no emotion, just raising an eyebrow at Maggie and saying, “So, when are you going to let me talk to Hena?”
“I will talk to you myself.” After saying this, Maggie felt the phrasing might be poor, and added, “Hena also follows my decisions.”
Feng Qingyu thought: Even if you let Hena talk to me, I wouldn’t. I’m more than capable of handling you, but facing her would only lead to repeated defeat.
Pretending to think for a moment, Feng Qingyu nodded and said, “Alright, but please allow me to talk to my mother privately.”
Feng Qingyu went into the study, and Maggie and Yuna wisely sat in the living room.
Mrs. Feng, upon learning that Feng Qingyu could escape the Nüwa Tribe if she cooperated with these aliens, agreed readily. However, after a second thought, she worried, “Their technology is so advanced, and they worship force. What if you suffer hardship there? It’s an alien planet, not just another province. Mom is worried about you!”
Fearing Maggie might eavesdrop, Feng Qingyu took a pen and paper to write, saying while writing, “It’s okay. Right now, they can’t do without me, not the other way around.”
Mrs. Feng understood her meaning and nodded. “That’s good.”
Only after Feng Qingyu finished writing did Mrs. Feng take the note, which read: The situation is not optimistic right now. I probably have to cooperate with them, but I just lied to them that I have other ways to avoid the Nüwa Tribe and don’t necessarily have to choose them. I can use this as leverage to negotiate better terms for myself.
“Mom, I’m sorry.”
“Mom didn’t raise you this big just to hear you repeat that phrase.”
“Mom, I love you!”
“Good child, since you’ve decided, go talk to them. Although Mom will worry about you, I will definitely support you. Your father and brother are the same. Don’t feel burdened; you will always be Mom and Dad’s most beloved treasure!”
Seeing Feng Qingyu return to the living room with red-rimmed eyes, Maggie was momentarily stunned, then asked, “Are you done talking?”
Feng Qingyu sat opposite her and nodded. “Yes, I’m done. Now we can discuss our cooperation. You go first, tell me what conditions you can offer and what obligations I need to fulfill.”
Yuna, after receiving a look from Maggie, conjured a handheld computer seemingly out of nowhere. After a few taps, she said, “During your cooperation with us, you will receive generous compensation in gold and silver…”
Feng Qingyu, who had been contemplating how to convert the alien gold and silver into RMB on Earth without arousing suspicion, realized she couldn’t do it. She threw the problem back at them, “In my country, sudden large amounts of gold and silver are subject to scrutiny. So, can you pay directly in our currency?”
Yuna’s fingers flew across the computer, and she nodded. “Yes, we can.”
Feng Qingyu nodded, signaling her to continue.
“Our original promise of ‘your degree of freedom on Planet Alpha is second only to the Commander’ remains valid. However, due to your special status now, the previously promised return to Earth for legal holidays is modified to once every three years.”
“One year.”
“What?”
“I must return at least once a year.” Out of personal interest, Feng Qingyu said, “We have a holiday called the Spring Festival here, and it is a ‘must’ to spend it with the whole family.”
Yuna looked to Maggie for consultation. The latter thought about it and nodded.
“Alright, this clause is modified to returning to Earth during the Spring Festival every year. When you complete the contract, we will give you a more advanced, portable spatial shield device.” Yuna modified the terms on the computer and then said, “Now, here are the obligations you will perform: One, you must actively participate in the creation of human life on Planet Alpha, ensuring that you create new life in the shortest possible time; Two, you must maintain distance from all of the Commander’s political rivals. In other words, regarding political alignments, you must unconditionally stand with the Commander; Three…”
Hearing this, Feng Qingyu quickly interrupted her. “Wait a minute, I’m here to be a ‘savior’ and create life, not to participate in your palace drama. Please excuse me from political matters.”
“It’s like this: this clause doesn’t require you to participate in the Star Kingdom’s politics. We just hope you can maintain the same stance as us—I mean regarding the matter of creating life.”
“Oh? I feel like you’re hiding something else from me.”
“We failed to explain clearly before. It was not intentional concealment,” Yuna quickly explained, fearing she would refuse because of this. “Empress Edris once promised that whoever the Commander or Princess Barbara could first find a way to save the planet would inherit her throne. So we hope you will insist on cooperating with the Commander and not be bought off by Princess Barbara.”
“Maggie’s political rival?” Feng Qingyu said while observing Maggie’s expression. “I reserve my opinion on this point for now. Whether I can always stand on your side depends on how you treat me. If someone attempts to use force or intimidation on me again, I can’t guarantee that I won’t switch sides.”
“Rest assured. As long as you agree to cooperate and achieve some success, we will report to Empress Edris. At that time, you will be the benefactor of the Star Kingdom, and even the Commander cannot show you any disrespect.”
“Do you mean to say that if I don’t make any progress, I will still be under threat of harm?”
Under Maggie’s dagger-like, sharp gaze, Yuna quickly corrected herself. “As long as you agree to cooperate, we absolutely guarantee your life safety and health! To show our sincerity, Hena has already ordered people on Planet Alpha to cultivate suitable food varieties for you. Do you have any other questions?”
“There is still one major problem I do possess powerful energy, but I cannot utilize it.”
“We will use the Star Kingdom’s most advanced technology to help you stimulate your power. You can rest assured about this.”
“But what if I still can’t awaken it after ten, twenty, or even thirty years?” Feng Qingyu asked. “After all, I am very unfamiliar with this power, perhaps even more so than you.”
“The Commander said she would only give herself ten years. If there is still no progress within ten years, then we will accept our fate. At that time, we will send you back to Earth,” Yuna quickly added, fearing she would misunderstand. “Of course, we will still give you the spatial shield device. Although there will be no hope for our planet, you don’t have to despair with us.”
Feng Qingyu, who had been planning how to seek revenge for the kidnapping and bullying, felt a sudden pang of shame upon hearing this. She sighed, “I understand. I will definitely work hard to awaken my power, if not for you, then for myself.”
“We are delighted to reach a consensus with you.” Yuna beamed upon hearing her promise. “We wish you a happy cooperation!”
“Happy cooperation.” Saying this, Feng Qingyu instinctively extended her hand.
Maggie stared curiously for a long time, then searched her brain for a long time, finally extending her own hand just before Feng Qingyu awkwardly prepared to withdraw hers. She shook Feng Qingyu’s hand in a friendly manner.
Mr. Feng, upon learning that Feng Qingyu was cooperating with Maggie and her crew, was just as worried as Mrs. Feng. “Have you really thought this through? That’s an alien planet, not another province.”
“Yeah, Sis, if you stay on Earth, we’re not without hope either,” Feng Yi chimed in. “And Mom told me that you’re no longer bothered by the lifespan issue. Dad and I have also sought several talismans to put up around the house. As long as you don’t go out, no matter how powerful they are, they can’t just barge into the house and take you.”
“Brother, I appreciate your good intentions, but if you think about it, if the rest of my life can only be spent confined at home, it’s not much different from being trapped in the Nüwa Tribe.”
“You have Mom, Dad, and me at home!”
“Brother, I love you all, but this is a chance for a permanent solution, and I don’t want to give it up,” Feng Qingyu said. “Just think of it as me finding a busy job in a distant place for ten years. And I’m not saying I won’t come back. I’ll be back every year for the New Year.”
Since Feng Qingyu had made up her mind, Mr. Feng and Feng Yi did not try to dissuade her further. They simply took two days off after learning that Feng Qingyu was leaving in five days.