Result

When Angel Yan and Zhixin had first arrived beside Su Luo and the others and spoken with them, the information revealed by Su Luo and Akashi suggested that the resources currently possessed by Angel Civilization... were probably not lacking to them.

Technology... the technological level of their world was clearly higher than theirs. Not to mention Su Luo's earlier claim that they had mastered time, which could not be verified for the moment. But that cube which even the Sacred Knowledge Repository could not analyze was solid proof. Something they could already mass-produce could not even be analyzed here...

And as for their proudest and most confident asset—the angels themselves... at present, they did not seem particularly appealing to Su Luo. Not to mention that Su Luo had just answered her question: there were many ship girls like Akashi in his world, and they had even mastered the technology to create ship girls... Kaisha knew perfectly well what that meant.

Sighing inwardly, Kaisha could only consider her words as carefully as possible, trying to find a way to better draw Su Luo's attention so Angel Civilization could reach this cooperation agreement with them.

This cooperation might mean little to Su Luo and the others, but it was essential to the angels! After all, this was the way out Kaisha had found for Angel Civilization. A way out for when Angel Civilization faced a crisis of survival in the future.

Kaisha felt helpless. She could only keep thinking while, in secret, the Dark Plane communication system continuously tried to call Hexi. However, Hexi's communications had been blocked long ago, and the call simply would not connect now.

Inside the small house, Su Luo looked at Kaisha, whose brows were tightly furrowed, a faint smile appearing on his lips.

After Kaisha had remained silent for a while, Su Luo spoke again.

"Don't misunderstand. It isn't that I refuse to cooperate! I still agree to this cooperation."

Kaisha, whose brows had been tightly knit, froze at Su Luo's words. Angel Yan and Zhixin in the small house were also somewhat stunned. Only Akashi understood what her Commander was thinking. As for Azi...

Azi was sitting in Akashi's arms, teasing Manjuu.

Incidentally, the silly "rabbit" Akashi had intended to keep as Azi's pet had been rejected by Azi. Azi apparently thought it was too stupid as well.

Akashi had originally intended to release that silly rabbit, but now, she had a new idea for dealing with that "rabbit," so stupid one might suspect eating it would lower one's intelligence!

"You agree to cooperate?"

Kaisha spoke to confirm it once more.

"That's right, I agree! I said from the start that we should discuss cooperation... didn't I?"

Angel Yan thought back and realized that Su Luo had indeed said those words at the beginning.

"So... you mean you agree to cooperate, but you are dissatisfied with the terms of cooperation we proposed, or rather, with the compensation we can offer you?"

"That's right!"

Su Luo nodded in confirmation.

Kaisha nodded, but the heart that had just relaxed tightened again somewhat.

Su Luo did not give Kaisha much time to think before speaking.

"As for the terms of cooperation you mentioned, we believe they need to be revised!"

"No matter how one looks at it, what you just proposed was more like asking us for help than... cooperation! From the standpoint of requesting help, I am dissatisfied with your initial attitude toward us. From the standpoint of cooperation, the terms you proposed cannot provide us with sufficient benefits."

Although that was indeed the truth, Kaisha still fell silent upon hearing Su Luo's words.

As Su Luo spoke, his gaze briefly fell on Azi at the side before he continued speaking to Kaisha.

"Therefore, we believe the terms of cooperation need to be changed."

"Then how do you want to change them?"

Kaisha calmed down and looked at Su Luo as she asked.

"Since it is cooperation, then... it should look like cooperation."

Su Luo looked at the projection before him, sat up straighter, and spoke in a solemn tone.

"What Angel Civilization seeks... is nothing more than... the continuation and stability of Angel Civilization after the Justice Order that rules the universe is overthrown!"

"In truth, this has little to do with our port. We have no need to concern ourselves with you at all. Because the benefits you can bring to the port... are indeed limited."

Su Luo first diminished Angel Civilization's value in order to lower its expectations. Though he was also telling the truth.

"However, considering that if your universe becomes unstable, it may someday affect the stability of the world where the port is located... we can still cooperate with you for that reason."

"As for the terms of cooperation..."

Su Luo paused, sweeping his gaze over Kaisha's projection and Angel Yan and Zhixin beside him. He was quite satisfied with the frustration and confusion in their eyes before continuing.

"The terms of cooperation shall be: eliminate the evil elements that would plunge this universe into chaos. That is, the people you call Morgana, Carl, and the rest."

"On this matter, our two sides can cooperate. The port will provide you with necessary assistance when the time comes. And if Angel Civilization truly reaches the day you described, when it faces a crisis that could destroy its civilization, the port will help you find another place suitable for Angel Civilization to live, just as you hoped."

"That will not be difficult. Whether you want to go to any region or parallel universe within your Known Universe, or to any parallel universe in the world where the port is located, that will be possible!"

"Even if you cannot bear to leave your homeland, we can directly conceal the location of your Merlot Heavenly Court, making it inaccessible to outsiders. Do not doubt it. Mirror Sea technology can accomplish that; it would simply be... a little large. But a sea of stars is still a sea!"

Su Luo shrugged.

"Let us return to the cooperation itself. Previously, the approach you wanted to take was to let events develop as they would while merely trying to preserve Angel Civilization's continuation. But if you do that, this universe will still descend into chaos. More and more people, more and more civilizations, will suffer the pain we just witnessed through Angel Yan's eyes... perhaps even worse. Watching the Known Universe become like this would go against the original purpose of the Justice Order you established, wouldn't it? That is also why you just tried to 'entrust your descendants' to us."

"What I wish to cooperate with you on is... preserving the angels' rule over this Known Universe and removing those people and forces that bring chaos. Such cooperation benefits both you angels and us, does it not?"

"You can continue ruling this Known Universe, making it more peaceful and better. And our port will avoid having its peaceful life disturbed by all sorts of messy things in the future."

"After all... if you truly reach the day when you need us to help find you a new home... you will no longer have the chance to stand as high above the Known Universe as you do now!"

After finishing, Su Luo quietly waited for Kaisha's decision.

What order was implemented in this universe had little to do with Su Luo and the port in truth. However, implementing the Justice Order here was more beneficial to the port!

After all, whether it was Carl's void or death, Morgana's depravity and freedom, or Lieyang's Heavenly Way... none of them suited the port as well as the angels' Justice Order.

Carl might court death and attract all sorts of troublesome enemies.

The outcome of Morgana's order would be much the same as Carl's. The strong would grow ever stronger, and the weak ever weaker! Powerful civilizations would begin competing internally in order to surpass other civilizations. An arms race between civilizations would begin until they touched upon a taboo and, like the reckless Carl, attracted all sorts of troublesome enemies...

As for Lieyang's Heavenly Way...

Lieyang did know how to read the situation. If someone was stronger than itself, the nation would be peaceful and the people secure; if it was the strongest, it would enforce the Heavenly Way...

It was not as if cooperation with Lieyang was impossible, but the key was... Lieyang was not as strong as the angels. Against Carl or Morgana, they were at a far greater disadvantage than Angel Civilization!

That meant if they chose Lieyang... it would not be as simple as providing some assistance. It would be blatant poverty alleviation.

What the port wanted was stability in this world, so it would not casually provoke some strange higher-dimensional enemy that might emerge from some remote corner and run to the universe where the port was located to cause trouble.

They had not come here out of kindness to provide technological instruction!

Not to mention, they had encountered angels now, not Lieyang. That made Lieyang even less likely to be chosen!

Alpha World had proven one principle: courting death would get one killed!

And Angel Civilization's Justice Order... from the port's standpoint, had one advantage that completely surpassed every other order! It did not acknowledge the existence of higher intelligences, and it prohibited research in that direction.

That suited Su Luo's requirements very well. As long as the civilizations of this world did not court death, they would not attract strange things. Then they would not interfere with the port, and there would be no need to worry about strange things emerging to disturb the peace of life at the port.

As for whether the civilizations of this world would have their technological development slowed, or even stagnate, due to the angels' Justice Order suppressing them.

Who among the few people sitting in this small house cared?

Kaisha was silent for a while, then nodded and agreed with Su Luo's proposal.

Or rather, she had no power to choose in the first place.

"Fine, I agree to the conditions you proposed. Likewise, as I said before, everything Angel Civilization possesses is yours to handle as you wish, so long as you need it!"

Su Luo nodded. He did not say things like he had no need for it or looked down on it, giving Angel Civilization some dignity.

"Then, happy cooperation!"

"Happy cooperation."