Manijians

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The unexpected appearance of the alien impersonated by Red Queen sent the United States into shock. This marked humanity's first real contact with a third kind of life in the history of the I, Robot world. Whether it would bring fortune or disaster remained to be seen, but its significance was undoubtedly epoch-making.

Tang Tian's arrival in I, Robot had come at the perfect time. It was not only peak working hours for American office workers and government personnel, but also the peak usage period for various information networks. After President Little Black of the United States received news of the alien's appearance, he halted negotiations with USR Corporation president Lawrence Robertson over the market share of the soon-to-be-released NS-5 robots and rushed to the secret base at Area 51. Founded in Chicago in 2020, USR Corporation was, like Umbrella Corporation in Resident Evil, a global super conglomerate. Based on its NS-series robots, USR Corporation of Chicago had ushered in an era of civilian robots serving the world. But now, the appearance of aliens was clearly far more important than the launch of the NS-5.

"Greetings, carbon-based lifeforms from another living planet." After the octopus-tentacled alien roared a few times and realized something was wrong, it used its tentacles to put on the bio-grown suit in front of the cockpit. Its appearance immediately changed, becoming roughly human-like. After Red Queen deliberately simulated the image of it wearing the bio-grown suit, standard American English rang out from speakers across every network. By then, the entire world had fallen silent. No one doubted that this was someone's prank anymore.

"Are you really aliens? Why have you taken control of the United States' networks? State the planet you come from and your purpose." At the secret American base, President Little Black, who had just returned to Area 51, specially connected to the network controlled by the alien and asked what he most wanted to know. At that moment, the alien's image vanished from all other networks, leaving only the Area 51 network. Someone's plan had officially begun.

"We are the Manijians of the Centaurus galaxy. We came here for peaceful trade. Can you make decisions regarding the things we need?" The alien impersonated by Red Queen spoke calmly. Tang Tian, listening nearby, nodded. He had previously entered all sorts of information into Red Queen's mainframe precisely to handle a situation like this.

"I am the President of the United States. We welcome our alien friends who yearn for peace to trade with us." Seeing the alien's friendly demeanor, Little Black immediately relaxed and put on a politician's face.

"Then, esteemed alien friends, what do you need? Our planet can provide it as best we can." Little Black instantly grew excited. Thinking of the alien technology they might obtain, he spoke with fervor. After all, it could become the foundation for humanity to take a great step forward, just as the NS-series robots had transformed the world.

"Your civilization is merely at the peak of a Level One plane. Other than your civilian NS-series robots, which are passable, everything else is worthless. Our civilization differs from yours. Our biotechnology has reached the peak of a Level Two civilization, and interstellar travel has long since matured. In accordance with the principle of equal trade, you need only provide various metal resources and all data on the NS-series robots. In exchange, you will receive a virus with limitless potential, biological weapons produced by our civilization, and some advanced technical data." Red Queen dealt the blow without mercy, then stated the conditions someone had set. By lowering their status and making the other side feel inferior, it would be easier to obtain what they wanted.

"I can consider your terms. Approximately how many supplies do you need? And what technology can you provide? We must also consider its value." After thinking for a moment, President Little Black answered decisively. Who would not want to seize this opportunity and become the hero who led the United States forward?

"Of course. We can provide an organic virus called the T-virus. Although it can cause unimaginable mutations, successful fusion will grant special abilities. It can also serve as a foundation for creating various cheap biological viral weapons, whose costs are even lower than those of robots. As for advanced technical data, we will provide anti-gravity electromagnetic technology. With it, you can enter the age of interstellar colonization much faster." Red Queen spoke step by step. The meaning was obvious: obtain the most supplies at the lowest cost. There was no need to rush over the NS-5 robots. Once the transaction was complete, they could enter this planet and have some fun. After all, Tang Tian, the big boss, really could not adapt to the backward era of World War II in the Marvel Universe.

"This is wonderful. The T-virus actually has the potential to extend lifespan and grant special abilities. Although it can mutate into many dangerous biological viral weapons, those weapons are also cheap. The anti-gravity electromagnetic technology is even better. Forget entering the interstellar age—even applying it to transportation would already be extremely useful." Looking at the simulated images and experimental samples of the technical data specially transmitted onto the screen, Little Black nodded excitedly. Some might ask whether using biological viral weapons was inhumane. But come on, they were cheap, and they could be mass-produced with tremendous military value. As for other concerns, those were not his problem to consider. Just like nuclear weapons, people all knew how dangerous they were, yet they would not stop developing them.

"What we need are the lethal viruses, chemical weapons, radioactive toxins, and venoms from all kinds of poisonous organisms that your planet has preserved from the age of war to the present. We also need ten billion tons of various metals or rare alloys, one billion tons of nuclear materials including nuclear waste, and the technical data for the earlier NS robots." Tang Tian stated what he wanted. Red Queen then transmitted her master's demands to President Little Black of the United States.

Silence. Deathly silence. Apart from President Little Black, who had made some preparations and therefore looked somewhat better, everyone in the United States military at the Department of Defense was cursing furiously inside. Damn it, they could satisfy the other conditions. After all, everyone wanted to obtain extended lifespans. The Department of Defense could basically meet the earlier conditions as well, since alien technology was not something easily acquired, and they had been mentally prepared to become fat sheep. But the truly troublesome part was that the NS-series robots, including the NS-5, were not theirs to decide upon. USR Corporation was extremely powerful. Aside from using the robots, they had yet to completely crack their core technical data.

"Cough, cough. Very well, esteemed alien friends. After discussion, we have decided that we can agree to everything except trading the technical data of the NS-model robots." After briefly consulting with the Department of Defense members, President Little Black decided that everything except the NS robots could be traded.

"That is acceptable. Although we cannot obtain the only advanced thing on your planet, acquiring those raw materials will greatly increase my status on my own planet." The alien did not act arrogant or domineering. It merely spoke calmly.

Tang Tian, on the moon, was already laughing inwardly. He had only sold the T-virus, a large quantity of obsolete biological weapons, and anti-gravity electromagnetic technology, yet he had obtained massive resources. He was not angry about failing to obtain the NS robot technology. After all, he would soon go to this planet and seize the robot technology himself. The nuclear materials, including nuclear waste, would also be remade into defenders of peace. It was time for the Big Ivan family to prepare nuclear bombs with yields of one hundred million, three hundred million, and five hundred million tons. After all, arms dealers existed for peace.

After discussions, the United States would prepare the various supplies the aliens needed within three months. Naturally, during that time, the alien leader would gradually infiltrate the planet. After all, they had come here to obtain an endless supply of resources and the technical data for the NS-series robots. After trading with the United States, the aliens also said that once the supplies were ready, they would send people to collect them.

This transaction had succeeded. Over the next period of time, someone would descend upon the United States and obtain what he wanted. Some people might ask why, with such a powerful space battleship, he did not simply invade directly. But someone would say this: did they really think Earth's national defense forces were made of bubbles? More importantly, the aliens had brought only one warship, not enough to conquer this planet. After all, the arms dealer had come to this plane for benefits, such as NS robots, VIKI, and various metal resources. Peaceful trade could obtain better things than war.

What the United States government did not know was that most of the biological viral weapons the aliens had given them were weakened versions. The T-virus they sold was even unstable. If an accident occurred, a Resident Evil outbreak in this world was entirely possible. But the aliens would not care. They had come to this plane only for greater profit.

There was no need to act as a prophet just yet. After trading the biological viral weapons and anti-gravity electromagnetic technology, he could reveal the disaster that was about to arrive. That would earn him goodwill from the United States, allowing him to reclaim those NS-5 robots that would rebel in the future. Of course, he could also use this opportunity to acquire the robot machine tools from USR Corporation in Chicago, accelerating the establishment of the Mechanical Empire.

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