Gorpious, their insectoid buddy, swayed his long, whip-like feelers, seemingly in a good mood.
Human minds were complicated. They lied and concealed their thoughts, making them far more polite than the M'tok. The M'tok spoke their minds bluntly, which actually displeased him.
By contrast, precisely because humans were good at concealing their thoughts, they spoke more gently and politely, without displaying obvious negative emotions. Gorpious therefore favored their species.
"We, the Community Security Fleet," Gorpious continued with a hiss.
"Have taken on security work for the M'tok Union. We guard the border here and escort the occasional merchant convoy on the side."
"We heard some time ago that a new empire had appeared in the border systems here. I imagine our contract with the M'tok Union will end soon, and regular corporate troops will be stationed here."
"So that's how it is," Krauk said.
No wonder border security here had been entrusted to a private company. They were only responsible for guarding unimportant stretches of the border.
Now that a new empire had appeared beyond this section of the M'tok Union's border, leaving it under a security fleet's watch was no longer appropriate.
In that case, he could find a pretext to establish a connection with the security fleet, follow them deeper into the M'tok Union's territory, and gather more intelligence.
But before he could speak, Gorpious beat him to it. "So, dear Krauk, would you be willing to invest in our Community Security Fleet?"
Krauk froze in shock, and Gorpious let out a shrill laugh.
"I know you must have more assets than this. How could exiles like you possibly be carrying only fifty thousand Eri?" the enormous insectoid hissed.
Krauk immediately sensed something was wrong. He took a step back, growing tense.
"Hiss, hiss... You have no nation