Legend had it that the Star Sea Merchant Race consisted of mysterious magical creations made by one or more deities whose divine domains involved fair trade. They were celestials. These blue beings stood twelve feet tall, wore elegant robes, and had long faces and long, slender fingers.
Anse had once met a member of the Star Sea Merchant Race named Maozi in Cloud City.
At Duke Kardia's request, Maozi had tried to bring him into the Star Sea Merchant Alliance, but his application had ultimately been rejected.
The Star Sea Merchant Race valued fair, honest, free trade. In theory, they should not have opposed the Spirit Network, but the Merchant Alliance's internal factions were tangled and complex, and the Star Sea Merchant Race also had to respect the opinions of the other registered merchant associations.
Why would they contact me privately? Something to do with the Star Sea Merchant Alliance? Anse wondered.
"The Star Sea Merchant Race can travel in and out of Cluster Tianyu, but they haven't come inside. They're probably testing us, too," Sacos reminded him. Cluster Tianyu was almost completely cut off from the outside world, and the Star Sea Merchant Race likely wanted to know whether Anse and the Spirit Network could break through that information barrier. "Mm. Add them to a new group. I'll talk to them." Anse connected to the Spirit Network.
A moment later, a small group of three was created.
"Your Excellency HorleyWen?" His display name was "Mr. Blue."
"That's me."
Anse opened Mr. Blue's backend information and discovered that he had joined the Spirit Network seven days earlier. His activity covered a broad area, but was concentrated mainly in the Astral Plane and Cluster Tianyu.
"I've heard Maozi mention you. He speaks particularly highly of the Spirit Network. He says you're