Unsuccessful Cooperation

Within Merlot Heavenly Court's Angel King's Palace,

Queen Keisha sat on her throne with a grave expression. If nothing unexpected happened, the future of Angel Civilization would be decided by the conversation that followed.

The location for discussing cooperation was that crude little house, as proposed by Su Luo.

They were already at a disadvantage by not being on their own turf. If they went to Merlot Heavenly Court as well, they would be even more disadvantaged!

Thus, after a simple discussion, both sides agreed to hold the meeting in the little house. Angel Yan acted as a humanoid projector, projecting Keisha from the palace so she could speak with Su Luo.

"Before we formally discuss the cooperation between us, perhaps I should introduce myself first."

Using the dining table as a negotiating table, Su Luo sat at one end of it, facing Keisha's projection across from him. He spoke first to Keisha, who was watching him through Angel Yan's eyes.

Keisha nodded in the projection, indicating that she had no objections.

"My name is Su Luo. Of course, you already know that."

"As you heard from Akashi, I am a commander."

"A ship girl commander."

"Ship girls?"

Keisha raised a question. She did not quite understand what the term "ship girls" meant.

"You heard correctly, a ship girl commander. As for what ship girls are..."

Su Luo looked toward Akashi. Though he said nothing, Keisha, watching through Angel Yan's eyes, understood what he meant.

"So... Miss Akashi is not actually human?"

Akashi nodded. She sat beside Su Luo, holding Azi in her arms.

Inside Merlot Heavenly Court's palace, realization appeared on Keisha's stern face. No wonder the Sacred Knowledge Repository had been unable to fully analyze Akashi earlier.

"Then... Miss Akashi is..."

"A 'girl' born through a Mind Cube, possessing the memories of a warship and special abilities."

Su Luo gave Keisha a rough explanation.

"And a Mind Cube is?"

"A creation Dr. Anjie obtained in the original world through research into Energy Cubes. Or rather... a miracle."

Su Luo stopped there and did not continue explaining what an Energy Cube was. Keisha did not press further either; that was enough.

"May I understand that there are quite a few beings like Miss Akashi in your universe?"

There were actually two meanings behind Keisha's question. One was asking about the number of ship girls, while the other was asking about the number of married ship girls...

"Yes!"

Su Luo understood what she meant and answered directly.

Keisha nodded within the palace.

"No wonder..."

When she and Hexi had first seen the information in Su Luo's Dark Plane, they had guessed that he must have partners. Judging from his physical condition, there was more than one.

Now, Su Luo had effectively admitted it himself.

The Guardian Angel plan seemed to have little hope.

Keisha sighed inwardly and continued speaking with Su Luo.

After Su Luo disclosed some harmless information and both sides gained a better understanding of one another, the discussion of cooperation formally began.

"I don't like beating around the bush. Since the angels were the ones who proposed cooperation, then please be direct. What kind of cooperation do the angels want to reach with us?"

With the stage of getting to know each other over, Su Luo's expression grew more serious. Looking at Keisha's projection, he spoke bluntly.

Within the Angel King's Palace, Queen Keisha did not object to Su Luo's straightforwardness. They had been the ones to initiate the proposal for cooperation with Su Luo. Strictly speaking, they were the ones asking for his help, so it was only natural to follow Su Luo's rules.

"Angel Civilization wishes to seek a new future, so we hope to receive your help."

Su Luo shook his head and spoke to Keisha's projection.

"Don't speak in such vague terms... You want to use our help to give Angel Civilization a new future, so... what exactly does that future look like?"

"Why don't you be more specific?"

Inside the palace, Keisha pondered for a moment before offering a more concrete explanation.

"The universe of the future will become extremely chaotic, and Angel Civilization will be drawn into it as well. If possible... we hope that when Angel Civilization truly faces such a situation, you can help Angel Civilization overcome that crisis. Angel Civilization has already sacrificed enough warriors. Merlot Heavenly Court has fewer than a hundred thousand angels remaining. If we suffer further upheaval, Angel Civilization will..."

Keisha paused there and sighed. Angel Yan and Angel Zhixin beside her silently lowered their heads, seeming to mourn their fallen companions.

Keisha remained silent for a while before continuing.

"Or... when the time comes, we hope you can help Angel Civilization find a new home, so they may recuperate and rebuild there..."

"Queen..."

Angel Yan and Angel Zhixin were shocked by Keisha's words. Angel Yan even spoke aloud.

"Yan, there is no need to say more. The universe after the Justice Order is overthrown will be cruel to Angel Civilization..."

"Queen, to die for justice is no sacrifice at all!"

Angel Yan replied almost reflexively.

Su Luo and Akashi glanced at Angel Yan without voicing any opinion.

"Yan, you will understand in the future!"

Keisha did not say much to Angel Yan, who had interrupted her. She understood the young angels of today far too well, and that was precisely why she was worried.

"You hope that when that day comes, we can directly take Angel Civilization away? Take them to my world?"

Su Luo narrowed his eyes and sought confirmation from Keisha.

"If there is no other choice, that will be the final option!"

Su Luo indicated that he understood, but he made no response to Keisha's request. He merely looked at her projection and spoke.

"You just said that if we help the angels find a new home, they will recuperate and rebuild there... You said 'they,' not 'you.' So you have already assumed that you would not be included?"

Su Luo had been watching Keisha all along. When she said those words, a trace of gentleness and what seemed like farewell had flashed through her eyes, and Su Luo saw it clearly.

Keisha froze for a moment, then nodded.

"That's right. I am not included."

"Then may I understand that you are, in fact, entrusting the angels to us?"

Keisha remained silent, giving no response for a long time.

Su Luo quietly watched Keisha's projection. After she had not replied for a long while, he nodded.

"I understand."

"Since this is cooperation, cooperation should pursue mutual benefit. So what can the angels give us?"

For the moment, Su Luo did not express any opinion on Keisha's requests. He merely looked at her and asked.

"As long as it exists in Merlot Heavenly Court, you may take whatever you wish!"

Keisha looked at Su Luo and offered an extremely generous condition.

Of course, that generosity was from the angels' perspective. For the port...

Tsk, this condition was pretty mediocre!

After all, at least for now, there really was not much in this universe worth coveting for him and the port.

If he had to name something... ships counted as one.

As for Guardian Angels and the like...

Compared to the ship girls at the port... they were not all that appealing.

Especially after enduring several months of relentless assaults from his married ship girls, Su Luo, who was already on the verge of collapse, had even fewer worldly desires!

In that brief span of time, countless thoughts flashed through both Su Luo and Keisha's minds. Finally, under Keisha's somewhat nervous gaze, Su Luo spoke.

"It seems we still need to discuss this further."

Hearing Su Luo's words, Keisha sighed inwardly.

Had the negotiation failed?