Capítulo 1157: Chapter 593: I Want a Loan to Restore the Eternal Silence Star
The few high-level life forms led by Anduin jointly issued a statement, and their subordinates have begun to take action, commencing a grand-scale capture operation.
There are too many active criminals in the Chaotic Star Gap, making it difficult to catch them all in a short time.
Some of those who have committed grievous crimes have begun to gather their belongings painfully, selling them off, gritting their teeth as they flee to other places.
…
In the joint command ship of the Three Great Civilizations, around the circular tactical platform, a large number of virtual screens hovered,
where Costa, Schmidt, and Heins were browsing through the latest intelligence summaries.
“Just a single statement changed the dynamics of the Chaotic Star Gap, this organization…” Schmidt couldn’t help but sigh.
Under normal circumstances, wanting to clean up the Chaotic Star Gap would nearly be impossible without a frontal extermination. However, with this organization, things are different.
“He really wants to protect the Chaotic Star Gap…” Costa was concerned about another point, studying the intelligence in his hand carefully, “At least we weren’t waiting in vain.”
The reason they had not responded to interstellar public opinion promptly.
On one hand, was because their personnel allocation was not yet in place.
On the other hand, they wanted to see how the Azure Dragon would respond.
“This is just perfect.” Heins said coldly, clearly pleased with the situation, “He wants to maintain his prestige, so he must fight us head-on.”
“I don’t believe he can truly contend against the joint forces of the Three Great Civilizations. When the time comes, he won’t be able to protect the Chaotic Star Gap, let alone himself, achieving multiple goals with a single stroke, thoroughly eliminating this issue.”
Costa shook his head, “I have a feeling it is not that simple.”
Schmidt and Heins hadn’t had much contact with the Azure Dragon, but Costa had been dealing with them since shortly after their emergence.
He did not believe the Azure Dragon would pay such a hefty price to fight them head-on just for the sake of face.
“Not simple, but not complex either…” Heins said solemnly, his reasoning clear, “I just know that if he really had the power to sweep everything away, he wouldn’t be hiding it.”
“I only know that no one can survive under the frontal assault of the joint forces of the Three Great Civilizations!”
Although Heins’s words were imposing, both Costa and Schmidt showed no reaction, recalling their previous embarrassment when celebrating too early.
Having learned from their past mistakes, they decided it wouldn’t be too late to boast after they truly dealt with the Azure Dragon.
Costa, uninterested in joining the conversation, changed the subject, “How is the Federation and Star Alliance’s preparation progressing, and how much longer will it take to arrive?”
Upon hearing this, both Heins and Schmidt’s expressions turned a bit grim.
“If His Highness the Prince is truly in a hurry, he might involve the Empire in the preparation process as well.” Heins replied coldly.
“The Empire is willing but unable.” Costa calmly responded.
Heins retorted, “Since they are willing but unable, they might as well withdraw from the Holy Castle plan.”
His reaction was intense because the Empire’s proposed backup plan requires a staggering amount of resources.
The Empire had made it clear that they would provide the plan but not the materials.
Schmidt sighed, “The materials you reported cannot be collected in a short time.”
“Especially those advanced materials; we barely have daily stock, and some must be purchased from the interstellar market.”
“Even on the fastest schedule, it will take at least half a year to deliver.”
“We can wait.” Costa smiled, “The sooner the materials arrive, the sooner we can open the Holy Castle.”
“It’d better open.” Heins warned, “If wasted, the Empire must bear full responsibility.”
……
In the Divine Craftsman Laboratory, Mikhail was using tweezers to pick up a component resembling a miniature heart, while the mechanical arm on his left side automatically launched a metal injection needle.
The needle tip began to oscillate at high frequency three millimeters away from the component’s shell, with the metal probe’s feathery sensors mimicking the feeding motion of jellyfish tentacles.
As the probe penetrated, the originally dormant component unfolded into a starfish shape, revealing an internal magnetic energy nebula where tiny golden particles floated.
Mikhail hurriedly switched the tweezers to gravity anchor mode, ready to extract the escaping golden particles.
Yet at this moment, his hand trembled, causing the energy conduit to flare abruptly on the component’s surface, scorching the anti-magnetic coating on the operation table into a burnt brown pattern.
The internally swimming phosphorescent substance abruptly halted, and the floating screen displayed a warning symbol.
“Alas…” Mikhail sighed, putting away the instruments, while Reynolds frowned, “What’s going on, is the mechanical body aging without maintenance, why did it suddenly fail?”
“Azure Dragon is here.” Mikhail said somewhat helplessly.
Reynolds’s expression changed slightly, but before he could speak, the hatch behind him opened, revealing the mechanical body carrying the Azure Dragon consciousness.
“Azure…Azure Dragon?” Reynolds forced a smile, starkly contrasting his previously warm welcomes on every visit.
“Why do you both have these expressions?” Li Ming asked unsatisfactorily, “Not pleased to see me?”
“What…are you here for?” Mikhail asked vigilantly.
The last time Azure Dragon demanded three trillion metal materials for support, they were both quite scared.
It’s not that they didn’t have it, but it was difficult to withstand such exploitation—they had painstakingly accumulated those resources over time.
They couldn’t just give it away for free.
“Heh…” Li Ming couldn’t help but “scoff,” “Look at you both being so frightened. I’m not here to ask you for metal materials.”
Hearing this, Reynolds and Mikhail both breathed a sigh of relief.
But then they heard Azure Dragon say, “I’m here to request a loan.”
Their mechanical bodies froze, and Mikhail said drily, “Is there a difference?”
“Of course, I’m not borrowing without repaying.” Li Ming stated matter-of-factly.
Mikhail gave a wry smile, “But you’re asking for too much.”
Li Ming shook his head, “For two divine craftsmen, is this really that much?”
Mikhail’s expression shifted as he looked at the composed Azure Dragon, suspiciously hesitant, “Don’t you have reserves? What exactly do you need so many materials for? What we gave you last time, it’s consumed so quickly?”
“The matter I’m handling is quite tricky and requires a large amount of materials.” Li Ming concealed, appearing rather annoyed, “Asking for a loan is inherently embarrassing. So, will you lend me or not?”
What, even borrowing money can be so self-assured?
Mikhail was stunned, seeing no trace of shyness from the other party.
“What tricky matter requires consuming so many materials?” Mikhail grew increasingly curious.
He believed that Azure Dragon’s assets wouldn’t be inferior to his own, plus what he supported earlier, and now adding what Azure Dragon is requesting, it amounted to a vast resource.
“Is it for mass production?” he asked.
If it were for producing high-level life forms, they could make some themselves and rent them to Azure Dragon, retaining ownership while earning some leasing fees.
“Certainly not.” Li Ming shook his head, solemnly stating, “This is an extremely confidential matter, crucial to my ability to defeat the Three Great Civilizations. Are you truly curious?”
Defeat the Three Great Civilizations?
Reynolds caught this keyword, with his internal processors running at high speed, harboring intense curiosity.
Azure Dragon actually aspires to defeat the Three Great Civilizations?
Defeating them and making them stop voluntarily are entirely different in significance. Mikhail recalled Azure Dragon’s demeanor, hesitating; the more Azure Dragon said, the more curious he became.
“Can you tell us?” he asked tentatively.
Heh…hooked, Li Ming chuckled inwardly, frowning, “I can tell you, but afterward, you must lend to me, each at least five hundred billion.”
Mikhail hesitated again and added, “Even though we’re kind of on the same boat now, you shouldn’t deceive us either.”
“When have I ever deceived you?” Li Ming retorted, quickly adding, “Since we boarded the same boat.”
The two exchanged a glance, with Mikhail speaking up solemnly, “Alright, we agree, each at least five hundred billion.”
At that moment, Li Ming’s face showed little joy, appearing somewhat helpless as he uttered, “I am repairing the Eternal Silence Star.”