Global Crossing: Empire of Stars - Section 732

Being an official member state wasn't as simple as swearing an oath. The Kuris Merchant Group required all member states to share a common ideal: bringing commerce to every corner of the stars.

That meant a member state's government had to be founded on commerce, at the very least. Merchant caravans were the civilization's diplomatic envoys, and trade ships were its citizens' second homes.

That one restriction alone ruled out more than seventy percent of civilizations.

Lin Zhichen remained impassive as he listened to Supervisor Hamas continue. "The second option is to become a secondary member state. The minimum requirement is to be a Super Civilization and hold a position of dominance in a Galactic Arm.

"Secondary member states are required to make their Spacetime Coordinates available to all members. The Merchant Group will build a Super Stargate in that Galactic Arm, connecting it to other Galactic Arms and opening its market to all member states. All relevant taxes will be levied according to the Merchant Group's requirements."

Lin Zhichen silently considered the offer. On the face of it, the terms weren't unreasonable. They amounted to sharing a market and doing business. Alien civilizations could sell goods from other Galactic Arms to the Empire, and the Empire could sell its own products to them. It was mutually beneficial.

But there was a problem. The alien merchants wouldn't bring only goods to the Milky Way Galaxy; they would bring threats as well. Everyone knew that a merchant's bottom line was usually nonexistent. In pursuit of greater profits, they might sell dangerous weapons or technology to certain civilizations in the Milky Way Galaxy. If that happened, it would be the Empire's interests that suffered.

What was more, some civilizations within the Merchant Group were keen on expansion. They could take advantage of