"After humanity gradually stepped onto the interstellar stage, the Sanctum Sanctorum gained more channels for information. We also considered studying the development paths of portals in other civilizations to see whether we could learn from their strengths and improve Kamar-Taj's large-scale portal technology."
Schiller blinked and considered it. "I imagine portal technology is important to every civilization. Would they really trade that technology with us so easily?"
"Of course not, but there are other ways." Strange looked around. There was no one on either side of them. There were many guests, but spread across three floors, the crowd was not too dense.
Strange still lowered his voice. "Just like on Earth, plenty of contraband is supposedly impossible to buy, but if you have money and connections, you can still get your hands on some of it."
"You mean... the black market?" Schiller immediately understood.
Strange nodded. "Of course interstellar society has black markets. Any orderly society needs an outlet for chaos, and within the territory governed by the Three Great Empires, that outlet is in Centaurus."
Strange extended one hand and drew a pattern on the back of the chair in front of him. "Look, this is the Ring Area, the region where the Three Great Empires meet—their political and cultural center. And this is Centaurus... See it? They lie diagonally across from each other, facing one another from afar. This was definitely the result of deliberate guidance by the Three Great Empires."
"They understood that it was better to channel than to block. No matter how centralized a militaristic state might be, it could never eliminate crime entirely. Even though the Supreme Intelligence almost controlled all members of the Kree's main ethnic group, the scope of its rule and the size of its population guaranteed that crime would emerge."