The conversation between Alex and Captain Anatoly reached an impasse, the atmosphere so heavy it was almost suffocating.
Anatoly's gaze remained as sharp as a blade, his stance resolute, showing no sign of backing down.
Alex, on the other hand, frowned slightly, his eyes revealing deep helplessness and worry.
The stubbornness of the Heavenly Lion Battle Group would not only plunge them into deeper trouble but also potentially trigger a full-scale crackdown from the Inquisition.
However, Anatoly clearly had no intention of compromising.
Just as both sides were deadlocked and the situation was deteriorating further, Gutierrez suddenly broke the silence: "Brother Anatoly, can you calm down and let Sir Alex finish speaking?"
His gaze was fixed on Anatoly, attempting to use rational words to quell his anger.
Gutierrez continued, "You should know that Sir Alex harbors no ill will towards your Heavenly Lion Battle Group; in fact, he is trying to offer you protection.
His actions are not for the benefit of the Inquisition, but for the survival of your Battle Group."
His tone carried a hint of earnestness, as if reminding Anatoly not to let anger blind him.
"Don't let your dissatisfaction with the Inquisition cause you to betray this goodwill," Gutierrez's voice added a note of admonition. "Dorn's Sons may be stubborn, but they are not unreasonable fools."
He was trying to make Anatoly understand that while adhering to principles was important, at critical moments, reason and compromise were equally indispensable.
Gutierrez's intervention brought a glimmer of hope to the deadlock.
His words not only eased the tense atmosphere but also provided both sides with an opportunity to re-examine their positions.
However, whether Anatoly would accept this advice remained an unknown.
His eyes still flickered with complex emotions, a mix of dissatisfaction with the Inquisition and hesitation regarding Alex's proposal.
"What exactly do you want to say?" Anatoly looked at Alex, finally deciding to hear what Alex had to say.
Seeing Anatoly's attitude finally soften, Alex nodded slightly, a sigh of relief escaping him.
If Anatoly had continued to be so unyielding, he wouldn't have known what to do with him; he couldn't possibly just watch the Heavenly Lion Battle Group be utterly destroyed by the Inquisition, could he?
Now that Anatoly was willing to listen to his explanation, there was finally some room for maneuver in the situation.
So Alex cleared his throat, his voice low but powerful, tinged with suppressed anger. He coldly told Anatoly, "The Inquisition has already set its sights on you; I think I made that very clear just now, so there's no need to repeat it." His gaze was as sharp as a blade, fixed on Anatoly, attempting to use authority to suppress the other's stubbornness.
He continued, his voice clearly displeased, "The main point I want to tell you is that I previously communicated with the Inquisition, and I used my name and authority to protect your Heavenly Lion Battle Group."
At this point, his tone became even more severe, as if emphasizing his efforts and the other party's ungratefulness. "In exchange, you need to publicly apologize to the Inquisition to quell their anger; this is the only chance I've secured for you."
However, Anatoly's reaction remained intense.
He almost immediately interrupted Alex, his voice full of anger and dissatisfaction: "That's impossible!"
His tone was decisive, as if there was no room for discussion.
For the Heavenly Lion Battle Group, who valued honor more than life, being forced to publicly admit fault was tantamount to trampling on their faith and dignity.
In their eyes, honor was more important than life itself, and any form of compromise was a disgrace.
Alex's patience finally ran out; his voice suddenly rose, tinged with clear anger: "I said, let me finish speaking!"
His rage was almost breaking through the bounds of reason, psychic energy surging around him, purple energy and blue lightning overflowing from his eyes and facial features, his entire being seemingly enveloped in a dazzling glow.
He used his psychic power to directly suppress Anatoly, rendering him unable to move.
"Are you stubborn fools really so incapable of listening to reason?" Alex's voice boomed like thunder, filled with unconcealed anger and disappointment: "The Inquisition is trying to wipe out your Heavenly Lion Battle Group right now!
Not because of the Hathel Rebellion, but because you publicly denounced the Inquisition! Do you think your honor is more important than the survival of the entire Battle Group?"
He took a deep breath, trying to suppress his anger, and continued, "You apologize for publicly denouncing the Inquisition, and then I will submit an application to the Inquisition Headquarters to review the approval process for the Exterminatus order from back then! That idiot who signed the Exterminatus order will die, I said it! Not even the Emperor can save him!"
His tone was filled with undeniable conviction, as if declaring an unchangeable fact.
"It's such a simple matter, why do you stubborn fools insist on making things irreconcilable and making the Inquisition lose face?" Alex's voice was filled with deep helplessness and anger, psychic energy surging around him, as if it could erupt at any moment.
Anatoly was suppressed by Alex's psychic power, his body unable to move, but his gaze remained stubborn.
However, under Alex's anger and the pressure of his psychic power, his attitude finally softened slightly.
He gritted his teeth, his voice filled with unwillingness and struggle: "Sir Alex... if an apology can save the Battle Group, I am willing... to apologize to the Inquisition in my personal capacity! But the honor of the Heavenly Lion Battle Group... must never be tarnished by this."
Alex's anger subsided slightly, and the glow of his psychic power gradually diminished.
He looked at Anatoly coldly, a hint of mockery in his tone: "In your personal capacity? Do you think the Inquisition cares about such a petty trick? However... at least it's a start."
His voice still carried dissatisfaction, but he was clearly somewhat pleased with Anatoly's concession.
The atmosphere of the conversation remained tense, but Anatoly's yielding brought a turning point to the deadlock.
Alex's anger and the pressure of his psychic power forced Anatoly to re-evaluate his position, and the fate of the Heavenly Lion Battle Group found new possibilities in this intense confrontation.
"Contact your Battle Group, explain the situation clearly, and then have them give me an answer. Remember, you only have two choices: agree or refuse. The Inquisition does not accept bargaining," Alex said, looking at Anatoly, stating his final demand.
Anatoly wanted to say more, but Alex was clearly fed up with these stubborn heads and didn't want to say anything further.
Seeing this, Gutierrez and Aarn pulled Anatoly away together, intending to persuade him privately to prevent the Heavenly Lion Battle Group from truly being too stubborn and completely messing things up.
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