Chapter 339
The planet is now gradually splitting into two parts along the equator, revealing its hollowed-out interior, which has been transformed into a mechanical structure.
Using the camera's resolution, they could even see that there were other spaceships from the same company parked inside.
A planet transformed into an airport?
Jade's heart skipped a beat, then she looked at the other planets in the Solar System.
Those planets that seemed untouched by any signs of development now appeared to her like bottomless black holes, traps that seemed ready to unleash their fangs and bite down on any intruder who got too close.
Could it be that the vast majority of planets in the entire Solar System have already been completely transformed into weapons?
Chapter Eight: Enjoying rights but not bearing responsibilities, huh?
Perhaps because the scene they had just witnessed had left such a deep impression on Jade and the others, they showed a somewhat subtle expression when the three of them finally arrived at their destination.
"Here?" Aventurine asked with a hint of disappointment as he looked out the window at the metallic city on the desolate planet. "That's it?"
To be fair, this solitary building standing on the pale planet is quite cool, but for the few people who have just witnessed more than ten envoys fighting each other, the entire star system being able to self-repair, and planets being transformed into weapons, their imagined Solar System civilization has already reached an exaggerated level.
Since planetary terraforming technology exists, shouldn't stellar energy extraction technology also be in use by now? Based on this technology, the footprints of Solar System civilization should at least be spread throughout the entire galaxy.
But what is the reality? From the current perspective, the average level of this civilization is only just beginning to break free from its cradle (i. e., its home planet)!
This feeling is like someone judging from the shadow in front of them that they are about to face a giant over 100 meters tall, only to find that the giant is just a dwarf. The tall shadow is just an illusion caused by the projection of the light source, which inevitably gives people a sense of disillusionment.
If we set aside what we just saw and judge solely by the level of civilization on this planet, Aventurine can assert that this civilization doesn't even qualify to join the company; it can only be an outsourced worker.
"Don't lose your composure, Aventurine." Jade naturally noticed the barely concealed sense of disappointment in his tone and couldn't help but remind him, "Think about those geniuses, this kind of thing has happened before in the Star Sea, hasn't it?"
Upon hearing this, Aventurine was taken aback for a moment, then lowered his head. "I was being frivolous, Lady Jade."
The geniuses mentioned by Jade are not just a figure of speech, but a specific group—those who can join the "Genius Club".
As beings glimpsed by the Aeon of Intellect, each member of the Genius Club possesses extraordinary talent. In their perception and understanding, the world seems to be presented in another form, to the point that each genius is able to establish incredible achievements.
It's not unheard of for a single person to drive the leapfrog evolution of an entire civilization.
The only question is, was this "genius" who propelled the entire civilization's development the one suspected to be a star god, or just one of the many messengers?
Regardless, the existence of geniuses has once again increased the value of this mysterious civilization. It is important to know that every genius possesses the power to change the universe—this statement is not an exaggeration, but a fact that the company has personally experienced.
But...
As he pondered this, Jade suddenly revealed a subtle expression.
The existence of a suspected Star God and more than ten powerful figures at the Envoy level have elevated the value of the Solar System to an unimaginable level. In comparison, the title of "genius" has become merely an embellishment. A name that should resound throughout the universe seems rather shabby here. It must be said that the vast starry sea is indeed full of wonders.
"Look over there!" As the spaceship slowly landed, Topaz quickly spotted something familiar nearby. "It's the Stellar Train!"
Near the building, there was indeed a steam train with an incongruous art style, which meant that the nameless guests involved in the Oswald disappearance were also visiting this civilization at this moment.
The reason Jade and the others were able to make this judgment was that the Stellar Train was clearly treated much better—as a vehicle, the company's spaceship could only make a hard landing on the desolate lunar surface, but the Stellar Train not only had a roof for protection, but also a section of track specially prepared for it underneath.
This treatment clearly indicates that the Stellar Train group's status here is far beyond what the company can match.
"It seems the nameless guests are all safe." Jade breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing this. "At least we've encountered something good."
In the universe, Stellar Train may not rank high in terms of strength, but in terms of reputation, it is probably inferior to the company.
As a key force connecting the entire observable universe, the Nameless Ones have proven their noble character through their actions. Even though the Pathfinder Star God has fallen, the Nameless Ones' influence is still considerable. Many remote civilizations may resist the company's cultural invasion, but they will open their doors to the Nameless Ones without reservation.
It's important to understand that even now, with the "Amber Calendar," based on the actions of the Aeon of Preservation, becoming the common calendar for most civilizations, many civilizations still use the "Trailblaze Calendar" brought by the Stellar Train.
Therefore, upon learning that Oswald had shamelessly used the Stellar Train in order to invade Solar System civilization and that its whereabouts were unknown, the company faced immense public pressure.
Now that their situation has been confirmed, Jade and the others can finally report back.
However, now was clearly not the time to focus on the Stellar Train. After leaving the spaceship, Jade and her two companions, guided by Ai, entered the mysterious building.
"Welcome to 'Star of Light'." As the heavy gates opened, Ai gave a rather formulaic welcome, "You are the second group of guests to arrive here."
"At least we're still treated as guests, which is great." Aventurine shrugged and joked, "But Miss Ai, when you said this place is 'Star of Light,' are you referring to this building or this planet?"
"Of course it's this building, and the planet beneath your feet, which is called the Moon," Ai replied calmly. "However, strictly speaking, even if we use the Star of Light as the external name for the entire civilization, I don't think there's anything wrong with it."
In Ai Yi's view, although Ai Yue had never thought of it that way, whether it was the Terran Alliance, the Schicksal, or the people living in the "Abyssal Eye," they all regarded her as Ai Yue's people.
Therefore, when making public announcements, using "Star of Light" is clearly more reasonable than "Terran Alliance" or "Schicksal".
"That does sound really good," Aventurine nodded in agreement. "At least it's more impressive than common names like the sun and the moon."
For a star system civilization, "sun and moon" is a very common concept. If it weren't for the fact that the Solar System civilization is so ridiculously powerful that it has become the accepted term, a simple question on the internet, "Who came from the Solar System?" would probably generate millions of comments instantly.
After a brief interlude, Ai quickly led the three to the door of the reception room, then she walked through the door as if to go in and report.
Two or three seconds later, the door slowly opened, revealing the interior to everyone.
There was nothing new about it, and it was even filled with a certain stereotype about "researchers." At least in the eyes of well-informed people like Jade, it was really hard to recognize.
Even the young man in the white coat sitting at the table looked unremarkable.
But Jade instantly realized that the college student who looked like he had just started working in a laboratory was the person they were looking for.
Because Jade couldn't even sense the other party's presence before the gate was opened, the fact that the other party could surpass the envoy's perception indicates that their strength must be above that of the envoy.
"Ms. Jade, Miss Topaz, and Mr. Aventurine, right?"
Before Jade could speak, Ai Yue said, "My name is Ai Yue —please sit anywhere."
Jade then snapped out of her daze, realizing she had been standing blankly at the door, and tried to make amends for her slight lapse in composure. "Hello, Mr. Ai Yue, we are here representing 'Interastral Peace Corporation'..."
The three took their seats in turn, and Ai Yue took the opportunity to observe the people in front of him.
His expression was slightly subtle, because the people in front of him were probably the only way for him to understand the company, as they were the company's most frequently appearing characters in the game. He didn't know what the company's considerations were, but they actually sent all three of them together. This coincidence made him wonder if there was some kind of design involved.
Little did they know that Ai Yue's guess was entirely correct. Although the company's understanding of the Solar System was practically zero, since they had a way to roughly deduce his situation through methods such as "calculation," they naturally also had a way to obtain a vague "optimal solution."
Jade, Topaz, and Aventurine were the three individuals chosen by the board of directors through special means, as they were the most likely to successfully quell the matter.
Whether this is related to Ai Yue's "understanding" of the three is unknown.
"Alright, we've covered the small talk enough. Let's get straight to the point." After Jade and the other two were seated, Ai Yue spoke up again. "I don't know much about Interastral Peace Corporation, so I assume you all know about me in the same way. In that case, how about we communicate in a question-and-answer format?"
Jade was stunned, completely unexpected that Ai Yue would be so blunt, rendering all the simulation results she had prepared in advance useless.
But she then smiled and nodded, "Of course."
Although the preparations were rendered useless, it was still good news, because a straightforward person is not only easy to communicate with, but also means that the other person is easier to get along with than she imagined.
Of course, whether this "frankness" is genuine or just a facade needs to be confirmed through subsequent interactions.
"Very good." After receiving Jade's reply, Ai Yue nodded, then extended a hand in a gesture of invitation. "As the host, I must also show my appreciation—I'll give you three chances to ask questions, how about that?"
"Thank you for your generosity." Jade agreed without hesitation. "However, please allow us to discuss this further before deciding on the details, is that alright?"
Jade did not question whether Ai Yue was lying, because she knew very well that in an unequal situation, rashly raising questions could easily offend the other party.
Faced with the reasonable demands made by the Jade, Ai Yue naturally had no reason to refuse.
After a brief exchange, Jade asked her first question, "Excuse me, are you a star god?"
What the company urgently needs to understand right now is exactly who it has offended.
"No." Ai Yue shook his head first, then added meaningfully, "However, I possess power on par with the Star God."
Jade was taken aback for a moment, then lowered her eyes to conceal her emotional change.
Through a simple interaction, Jade had already ruled out the possibility that the other party was a star god, since Ai Yue's behavior, regardless of what fate he was facing, seemed too "free".
This question, which seems simple and even easy to be deceived by the answer given, is precisely what the Jade has been designed to reveal.
It was precisely because this question was so easy to gloss over that it made it easier for them to confirm Ai Yue's true character.
If Ai Yue wanted to use this question to convey a message, he could give a detailed answer no matter how simple Jade's question was. However, if Ai Yue did not have such an idea, or had other calculations, he would likely only answer the question literally.
Testing the other party's attitude by asking a question is undoubtedly a very worthwhile deal.
Ai Yue's response not only satisfied Jade's probing but also provided quite surprising information, which can be described as very generous.
But this result left Jade speechless for a long time.
Not a Star God, but possessing power on par with a Star God?
While it's true that anything is possible in the cosmos, isn't this a bit too far-fetched? Could such a thing really happen?
Jade really wanted to question the truthfulness of this answer, but her intuition told her that Ai Yue had no reason to lie. Ordinary negotiating opponents might use bluffing and other means to gain the upper hand, but Ai Yue could say that he had no need to do so at all.
Moreover, if you include the suspicion that the other party is lying in your considerations, it will actually become an obstacle to communication.
After a moment, Jade finally snapped out of his daze and turned to Aventurine, signaling him to ask a second question.
"Mr. Ai Yue, it's my turn now," Aventurine said immediately. "May I ask, how is Oswald doing these days?"
"Well, to put it simply, it's like death." Ai Yue casually waved his hand, and a crystal, taller than a person, immediately appeared in the room. "He's currently stuck at the moment of death. If you break this thing, he'll die instantly."
This is practically the same as being dead, isn't it?
The three Jade stared at Oswald within the crystal before them and fell silent.
Topaz then posed a final question, "Mr. Ai Yue, I'd like to ask, if we provide reasonable compensation for this accident, would you be willing to set aside your prejudice against the company?"
"I don't have any prejudice against the company. Strictly speaking, I orchestrated this whole thing myself, and I'm actually worried about you pursuing the matter." Ai Yue smiled, then a subtle expression appeared on his face. "However, I am still very interested in the compensation issue."
"So, why don't we start talking about it?"
Chapter Nine: You really are asking for a fortune!
A powerful being who speaks frankly, acts honestly, is slightly cunning, and at the same time has a strong moral compass... well, a being on par with the Star God.
After answering three simple questions, Jade and the others quickly created a basic character sketch.
Putting everything else aside, the fact that Ai Yue could openly admit to his plan to trap Oswald is already incredibly rare for someone of Ai Yue's caliber.
The three of them, Jade and others, had met many high-ranking figures. Even they themselves would be treated as the most honored guests in some ordinary civilizations. It was precisely because of this that they understood all too well how incompatible Ai Yue's personality was with his status.
Generally speaking, such composure is mostly a disguise, but even the most discerning judge of character, like Jade expert, could not find any trace of performance in Ai Yue.
Judging solely from their conversation, outsiders would have no idea just how powerful Ai Yue truly was.
Regardless, the more straightforward and brutal Ai Yue's approach was, the more advantageous things would be for Jade and the others.
After all, nobody wants to deal with someone who is unpredictable, short-tempered, and prone to anger, especially when that person possesses power many times greater than their own.
If Jade previously thought this mission was an attempt to defuse a time bomb, with every action risking detonation, then now they are simply facing a combination lock.
Even considering Ai Yue's personality, this is actually a very simple combination lock—as long as the correct password is found, the plan can be completed, and there might even be unexpected gains.
"Regarding compensation, we have already prepared a plan."
Hearing that Ai Yue was very interested in the compensation details, Jade decisively took out what she had prepared—considering the current situation, she directly discarded the messy things she was using to argue and presented the company's top-tier compensation plan to Ai Yue.
"First of all, the company sincerely invites the Solar System civilization to join our 'Civilization Growth Support Program'." Jade, fearing that Ai Yue might not be familiar with these things, thoughtfully explained, "Through this program, you can purchase many of the company's technologies, products, or other services at affordable prices, thereby enabling your civilization to develop rapidly."
"Of course, this is, after all, a compensation plan. So if you choose to join the 'Civilization Growth Support Program,' you can directly become a member of the highest level. At the same time, we will provide a free 100-year trial period, during which all expenses of the Solar System civilization will be borne by the company."
Ai Yue flipped through the project plan in his hand without saying a word.
The "Civilization Growth Support Program" seems like a good thing. It divides the civilizations of its members into ten levels. The higher the level, the better the technology and other goods that can be purchased. However, the more credit points that will be required, the more they will have to spend.
However, this plan is not only a profit-making project for the company, but also a means for them to absorb more civilizations into the company. If they rely too much on this project, the end result will be that they will be deeply bound to the company, become a community of interests, and lose their independence as civilizations.
Of course, for most civilizations, this is even a good thing. After all, it's good to have a powerful backer. Many civilizations want to join a company but can't, so who would be afraid of being tied to a company? Do you think your civilization's paltry gains are worth the company's scheming to get you?
Even so, Ai Yue still dismissed the plan with disdain—after all, the numerous technologies listed on it were simply beneath his notice.
Not to mention him, even Su, who currently manages the high-risk project shelter, wouldn't care about these things.
Ultimately, what high-end goods could they possibly offer for sale? Not to mention that even combined, the company and the Intelligentsia Academy could hardly touch the cutting edge of technology in the currently explored universe.
The only truly valuable element is the other members of the plan—joining the plan means gaining access to channels for civilized communication and establishing relationships with other members, and this network is, in Ai Yue's view, the most important thing.
But to be honest, once the reputation of the Solar System is established, connections will naturally follow—like with companies.
So Ai Yue glanced at it briefly, then set it aside and looked back at the Jade: "Anything else?"
"Yes," Jade naturally realized that this project wasn't important to Ai Yue, since he not only possessed Star God-level power but was also suspected of being a "genius." Therefore, she directly moved on to the next item, "Considering that the development of civilization requires abundant resources, the company also provides an uninhabited star system with extremely rich resources. As long as you are willing, the Solar System civilization can mine it for free for one hundred years, and then you can buy it at a very low price."
At the same time, Jade also handed over a document titled "Comprehensive Exploration Report of Resource Galaxy No. 437" to Ai Yue.
Speaking of this, Jade was actually a little pained, because for the company, besides promoting and maintaining the "credit point" system throughout the universe, the most important thing was to prepare the materials for Amber Lord to build the wall.
Therefore, star systems rich in resources and not owned by any civilization are extremely valuable assets within the company. Giving them away to others to mine for a hundred years would indeed be a considerable expense for the company.
The only thing that made her feel a little better was that the ownership of this star system actually belonged to the Market Development Department. This time, Diamond snatched it from the Market Development Department under the guise of "making amends." So, strictly speaking, Jade and the others' actions were selling someone else's property at a low price, which was better than selling off the assets held by their own Strategic Investment Department.
Regardless, such a substantial amount of wealth is practically a form of hard currency in the universe. Even in remote areas where the credit system cannot reach, exchanging resources is a universal rule. Therefore, Jade is not worried that Ai Yue will not be tempted.
Then she saw Ai Yue put it aside even faster. "Is there any more?"