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"Are you Mister Xuu Min?"

Elder Kong’s attitude was more respectful than imagined, with a friendly smile and a gentle demeanor, completely different from how he had helped others assess Xuu Min in the assembly hall just moments before.

But that was normal, after all, these people excelled at forming cliques and preferred to bully those without any backing, whereas they wouldn’t dare act arrogantly towards those truly in control of violence.

Both Xuu Min and Gong Mingrui, however, were icy in their demeanor, from the start to the end, they barely wanted to glance at these old men.

Especially Gong Mingrui.

He was older than Xuu Min and, besides the battlefield, he had also been exposed to multiple military-industrial complexes within the military, witnessing too many kids with engineering talent subdued and numbed at the bottom layers of society.

Many engineers imbued with spiritual energy, step by step, were either pressured into joining these people or completely ignored in some corner.

The Central Federation had the largest group of engineers in the entire Federation, yet it produced the fewest top scientists, and these old men were no small part of that. ..

"Elder Xuu..." Gong Mingrui looked directly at the only elder in the assembly hall. He knew this man, a relatively more intelligent elder, who should be easier to communicate with than these individuals who had not yet recognized the situation.

"Our terms have been made public, and we won’t budge an inch!"

"General, this isn’t something to be handled so brusquely," Elder Kong couldn’t help but say at last.

The two still did not pay any attention to the others, causing the expressions of Elder Kong and the rest to turn sour instantly.

Elder Xuu, on the other hand, laughed and said, "We’ve already discussed the other conditions.

As you said, starting today, all disintegration programs will be destroyed.

From now on, the Federation will no longer rely on disintegration programs to restrict individual actions.

The slots for entering the new world will also be selected by all citizens, but we still have some concerns regarding the selection system and oversight. "

"Please, go on..." Xuu Min took over, "Elder Xuu is highly respected, and we will accept any reasonable suggestions."

Elder Xuu nodded, "Immigration to the new world is crucial, as it represents hope for the Central Federation’s rise.

But as you have seen, the new world is also very dangerous.

A single misstep could lead to backlash, especially with those demons of that world, those beings of intelligence who, in their own minds, don’t see us as any different.

They might even consider themselves superior, turning this into a conflict between races.

Old man that I am, I’d like to know how far along your cooperation with Mister Wang has come? "

Xuu Min and Gong Mingrui exchanged a glance. Indeed, someone who could still focus on the real issues at hand at this time was someone with whom they could converse.

Xuu Min nodded, "Rest assured, sir. Our collaboration with Mister Wang has never compromised our bottom line, and we will never do anything to endanger the Federation in the future."

"Good..." Elder Xuu nodded, satisfied with the response, "Then about the selection, you’ve said there will be a fair contest in both literary and martial terms, how exactly do you plan to hold these contests? And what will the scale of the election be?"

"We’ve looked into the personnel requirements for the new world, and this time, they need people who have been soldiers and seen combat.

We’re far from the point of immigrating civilians there to build up civil strength.

Therefore, for the martial contest, direct selection from the military should be unproblematic. "

"Hmm..." Elder Xuu was slightly reassured. His fear was that the others would blindly follow public opinion, evenly distributing opportunities in a way that did not suit the current situation.

If the Federation’s people were going all out this time, they must secure fame and status. Those sent first must be the elite, otherwise, without securing a home base, fairness would be of no significance.

"As for the martial contest, the logic is quite simple: hold a grand competition. The entire Federation’s military will select starting from the junior lieutenant level, with winners advancing.

We talk nothing of experience, resources, or identity.

One will not be favored for their birth nor discriminated against for it; everyone relies on their own skill.

With the whole country watching live, I believe this will be the most convincing method," Xuu Min said.

Many assembly members in the hall looked displeased, but Elder Xuu nodded slightly.

The other side’s stance was clear—members of noble families wouldn’t be given special treatment nor excluded.

Regardless of what resources you had before, if you can show your mettle in combat, earn a slot with your fists, you’d deserve a better start in the new world.

This was already a significant concession since, considering the number of strong individuals in the Federation, scions of noble families still made up the majority.

It can be said that at most, this is merely an opportunity for the equally exceptional non-noble youths to prove themselves.

"I think it’d be better this way..." Elder Hou couldn’t help but interrupt, "The quotas for us nobles should be our own decision, while your general election remains unchanged..."

"Sorry..." Xuu Min directly cut off the other party with a cold interjection.

"If it is to be a fair election, then it is to be fair for all citizens. There’s no distinction between nobles and non-nobles.

Everyone is the same. How you resolve this internally is none of our concern.

You could even persuade your family members not to compete, which is not our place to forcefully intervene in.

But as long as they compete, they must follow the rules.

There is absolutely no allowance for giving up one’s spot.

If discovered, their qualification will be canceled, and they will be expelled from the election. "

"Xuu Min, don’t take things too far!" Elder Hou’s face turned extremely ugly.

He had already conceded so much, yet the other side wouldn’t give an inch of face. His noble family just wanted to distribute things internally, what did it have to do with you? Shouldn’t it be enough that you manage your own peasants?

"Is there a problem?" Gong Mingrui said with a laugh, "If you don’t want your family to compete against you, just have them drop out..."

Many young parliamentarians in the chamber looked uncomfortable upon hearing this. If the distribution of resources was in their hands, they could control those capable fringe youths. But if registration is open, why would anyone let themselves be manipulated by you?

Moreover, this didn’t align with the family’s interests. How could you forcefully prevent your family’s talented individuals from competing? Could you guarantee that you would secure the best spots?

If your family didn’t produce the talented individuals, and mine did, wouldn’t that mean all the spots would belong to them?

As long as one has a functioning brain, nobody would do such a thing, right?

"We have no objections to the martial competition.

" Elder Kong, who had not been able to get a word in, quickly said, "The saying goes there is no first in literature and second only in martial arts. It is very reasonable to select warriors through competition, but the academic competition still lacks consideration. Testing ability is not equivalent to a scientist’s actual capabilities, and we can’t apply the same brute method of selection for our technicians. "

Elder Kong said earnestly, "We have also analyzed the data of the New World. There, magicians are equivalent to engineers here, a critical force capable of changing the world’s situation.

We cannot be careless in every direction; we must select the most exceptional youths to go.

Only then can we have the highest competitiveness and lay a better foundation for those to follow. "

Frowning, Gong Mingrui looked at the other party and asked, "For many years now, any academic advancement or elimination within the Federation has been done through examination. Why is it that when it comes to you, Elder Kong, exams suddenly become unreasonable?"

"How can that be the same?" another elderly scholar interjected, "The initial exams were to eliminate those with poorer study abilities, but at a certain level, how can an exam measure a scientist’s ability?"

"Then with what?" Gong Mingrui said with a cold laugh, "With academic achievements or falsified papers you coerced from people under you?"

"You...." A group of elders immediately turned ashen-faced, "We ask Mister Gong not to spout nonsense. All the scholars here today have made significant contributions in their fields; they are not to be slandered by someone as impetuous as you."

"Is that so?" Gong Mingrui spread his hands and said bluntly, "Sorry, we brutes can’t think of a more delicate method. If you eminent experts who have made significant contributions to the academic field have forgotten how to take an exam, you can choose not to participate."

"Mister Gong Mingrui!" Elder Kong looked seriously at him and said word by word, "If you persist in being so obstinate, the entire academic community will not participate in this examination!"

Upon hearing this... Gong Mingrui couldn’t help but break into laughter.

"What are you laughing at?" Elder Kong said with a cold voice.

"Nothing..." Gong Mingrui watched him with amusement, "I just feel that Elder Kong might be a little too confident in his so-called academic community."