Chapter 229 Negotiations Between Trisolaris and Humanity

Human world.

Lin Sen, Logic, Ye Chen, Feng Zi, Hines, Rey Diaz, representatives of the Solar System governments… Subtitles appeared before their eyes simultaneously:

[The Trisolaran world requests dialogue with the human world!

Our conversation will be synchronously displayed in the subtitles in front of you.

At the same time, the dialogue subtitles will also be broadcast through the Command Headquarters, live-streamed to all of humanity in the Solar System.

We wish to negotiate with you, and you may state your demands.]

In recent days, the human world had endured a torturous ordeal.

In all the battle zones, there were military observers and journalists, who would relay the observations to all of humanity the moment they were made.

At the outset of the conflict, the majority of humanity actually did not anticipate that the weapons the Trisolarans had launched from four light-years away would be so potent.

When the Waterdrop's mysterious veil was unveiled before humanity, its extraordinary capabilities shocked the world.

When the Waterdrop destroyed Human Warships like lightning, it was almost endued with divine brilliance. The Waterdrop, invincible as a god, signified humanity's inevitable defeat.

Humanity's only hope was to rely on the Global Broadcast to spread the news of the defeat, urging the Deep Space Fleet to flee the Solar System, plunging the human world into despair.

The Wallfacers even discerned that the Waterdrop would use asteroids as cover and lured "them" into an ambush. However, no one expected that this was also a Trisolaran ruse, for they had anticipated Lin Sen's predictions.

They had actually hidden the Waterdrop beneath the sun, a pinnacle of strategic confrontation, with the Trisolarans' tactics being nothing short of breathtaking.

The destruction of all three Global Broadcasts was an unprecedented crisis for humanity.

Especially when the Waterdrop, like a Heavenly God, smashed into the Global Broadcast on Earth, dominating all beneath heaven. It seemed as though Earth's civilization, having evolved for 4 billion years, was now on the cusp of destruction, without even a spark of culture left to endure.

However, amidst humanity's despair, Wallfacer Headquarters managed to destroy one Waterdrop through the use of antimatter, Thick Fog, and a Sophon-Blocked Zone.

Then, using the Global Broadcast and Sophon-Blocked Zone, they forced the Trisolarans to sacrifice another Waterdrop.

This was like a spring of hope amidst despair; humanity finally saw a chance to live. But with the destruction of the last Global Broadcast Station, even amid hope, humanity was filled with loss.

Meanwhile, warships of the three major powers were being relentlessly hunted by the Waterdrop, chased for a full 25 hours, their spirits still not recovered.

However, the one uplifting piece of news during this period was that Ye Chen's federal fleet also destroyed a Waterdrop. It was a victory earned by humanity's true strength; humanity could indeed battle the Waterdrop.

When five Waterdrops reached the Thick Fog Zone, and were ready to destroy the Sophon-Blocked Zone, humanity was left with only helplessness and sighs. But facing such a formidable enemy, humanity seemed destined to an inevitable defeat.

Everyone was prepared to meet the annihilation of human civilization, but Lin Sen destroyed four Waterdrops in one fell swoop and successfully captured them.

Now the Trisolarans were left with only three Waterdrops, but humanity dared not underestimate them, as the previous methods of destroying them could not be replicated.

Moreover, the Trisolarans would soon have another 10 Waterdrops arriving in the Solar System, just as humanity faced this troubling time.

The Trisolarans wanted to negotiate with humanity!

Such are the great ups and downs of life.

Lin Sen: "The human world and the Trisolaran world have been at war for a long 200 years, and it's time to sit down and talk.

"We have no demands on the Trisolaran world, if needed, I will take it myself.

"200 years ago, I needed quantum technology, and I went and took it. Now, I need your technology, and I have it.]

"The essence of a civilization is not its technology or resources, but an invincible heart."

"The war is over!"

"'We harbor beautiful wishes, looking forward to establishing contact with other civilized societies in the universe. We look forward to creating a better life together in the vast cosmos.'

"This wish will never change!"

Lin Sen's words were also transmitted to everyone's sight via Sophon subtitles, just like in a chat group.

Lin Sen was also telling humanity that he hoped to maintain peace with the Trisolarans.

At the same time, he was warning the Trisolarans, "If necessary, I will take it by force," as humanity was far superior to the Trisolarans in terms of cunning.

Trisolarans: [Don't you need The Waterdrop to withdraw from the Solar System?]

Lin Sen, "No need, this is the symbol of human civilization's desire to establish contact with Trisolaran civilization.

"Although it has caused us tremendous losses, and even almost destroyed our civilization, it is also like the tears of an angel; it will witness peace.

"The Trisolaran Interstellar Fleet need not change course; it will arrive in the Solar System in 200 more years. You can choose voluntarily, whether to come directly to the Solar System, or send the Second Fleet to rescue them."

Trisolarans: [You are too terrifying, we can't trust you.

We choose to dispatch the Second Fleet to their rescue.]

Actually, this was also Lin Sen's way of probing to see when the Trisolarans' Second Fleet would set out.

Lin Sen, "I am just expressing my goodwill. This universe is too dark. The chasm between civilizations, due to insurmountable barriers, makes understanding and communication extremely difficult.

"You can dispatch the Second Fleet for their rescue, which indicates that your technology has also made a major breakthrough, and you can completely establish Starship Trisolaris.

"Resources and environment are no longer your biggest constraints; you no longer have the necessity to invade the Solar System.

"I hope our peace can last forever!"

No. 7 was also internally cursing Lin Sen's shamelessness; being overly cautious speaking with Lin Sen wasn't too much—another word had revealed much of the Trisolaran intelligence.

Trisolarans: [Indeed, threats from resources and environment are no longer our biggest constraints, but in the dark universe, humanity's existence is our greatest threat.]

Lin Sen, "You're referring to the Dark Forest, aren't you?

"The Dark Forest should have a deeper underlying reason, and you, who have taken microscopic study to the extreme, must have also discovered its truth.

"But the chain of suspicion and technological explosion should not be barriers to communication; there are countless civilizations in the universe, certainly some will break through these barriers, and I only wish to join hands with you to break through them."

Solar System Governing Delegate, "What is the Dark Forest?"

The political structure of the Solar System is a joint governance—Solar System Governing Delegates are not a single person.

Logic took a deep breath and slowly said, "Let me answer, this is the riddle Ye Wenjie left me, it's the reason the Trisolarans attempted to assassinate me, and it's also the key to our struggle against them.

"The universe is a dark forest; every civilization is a hunter with a gun, creeping through the woods like a phantom, gently brushing aside any branches that block the way, trying desperately not to make a sound with their steps, being very careful even when breathing…

"He must be cautious, for the woods are full of hunters sneaking around just like him. If he finds another life, regardless of whether it's a hunter, an angel, or a devil, a tender infant or an unsteady old man, a fairy-like maiden, or a god-like man, there's only one thing he can do: shoot to kill?

"Among these woods, others are hell, an eternal threat; any life that exposes its existence will quickly be destroyed. This is the picture of cosmic civilizations; this is the solution to the Fermi paradox.

"The Trisolarans had The Waterdrop lurking under the sun, and now they are using powerful radio waves to block the sun, the purpose of which is to prevent us from using the sun's billion-fold amplification signal capability to broadcast the coordinates of the Trisolaran star system to outer space."