Hu Yu hesitated. The leader of the Xuan Star Civilization dropped a bombshell, a secret that Hu Yu and everyone else most wanted to know: What exactly was the Fish Horse Star Civilization Insect Race doing? What unspeakable secrets lay behind their secret breeding of the Zerg?
" Old Hu, this leader of the Xuan Star Civilization might be playing tricks. Don't trust them. They'll either hand over their technology or wipe out the entire race. They showed no mercy when hunting us androids, but now they're scared. Luckily, they're androids, or we'd be the ones crying now, you idiot!"
" Academician Zeng, Academician Xiao, what do you two think?" Hu Yu specially invited the two academicians over. The academicians had more experience in these negotiations. He Wen Zhonghua, and a group of generals were enough for fighting, but in terms of cunning and shrewdness, they couldn't compare to these academicians.
"I believe it's at least 50% credible," Academician Xiao said.
"Hey, Academician, isn't that the same as saying nothing at all? Even flipping a coin gives you a fifty percent chance."
"Okay, add a little more, fifty-five percent."
"This..."
"Hahaha, are we going to toss a coin again, Chief of the General Staff?" Academician Zeng laughed loudly.
" Zhonghua, stop joking. Academicians, do you think this is a legitimate transaction?"
"I think we can give it a try. We already have some samples of the warship wreckage. If the Xuan Star Civilization hands over a few more intact ones, given our current understanding of space, analyzing their space technology shouldn't be a problem. If what the Xuan Star leader said is true, this secret might really be related to our future survival. If it's false, we won't suffer any losses. Once we break through to the Small Star Region, the existence of the Xuan Star Civilization won't really matter to us. Even if we encounter them in the future, we won't be foolish enough to waste both sides' combat power in a large-scale war."
"Academician, aren't we currently engaging in a large-scale war that depletes our military strength?"
"We are different. First, the Xuan Star Civilization is our enemy; they killed over 100 million of Minister Luo's compatriots. Second, we covet their technology. Third, we devoured the Xuan Star Civilization to learn about the secrets of the Insect Race and that human race. Without any one of these three conditions, this war might not even have started."
"But the Xuan Star Civilization still has at least 600 million Small Star Region warships. Once they leave the vortex, we will no longer have any advantage and it will be impossible for us to defeat them."
"We certainly can't defeat the Small Star Region warships, but they have 2 billion Star System Level warships to protect them once they leave their territory. Once we catch up with them, the situation will be no different from now."
"That's true. In that case, Old Hu, let's trade with them. After all, our fleet wasn't just picked up off the street. If we push them too far and they really detonate an antimatter star, our losses will be huge."
"Good."
" Xuan Star Leader, after our discussions, we choose to trust you. Our fleet will now leave your territory, and your fleet can also leave, but you must remain within civilized territory. We also need a few complete warships for analysis; this request is not unreasonable. I warn you not to try anything funny. If you dare to try anything funny, our fleet will hunt you down to the very end, even if it means searching the entire Milky Way."
"A wise decision. As you said, the higher-ups of our civilization and I will remain here. Your 20 million warships can kill me at any time. However, I need to wait until our fleet has traveled a thousand light-years before revealing the secret. Moreover, your main fleet can only dock near your territory and cannot leave. Rest assured, I will not cheat. Our Star System Level warships are far slower than yours. Even if I were to cheat, you would find them quickly if it took you some time. Our Small Star Region warships cannot stop you either."
"Okay, you can leave now."
The Xuan Star Civilization voluntarily relinquished control of ten Small Star Region warships. After a preliminary inspection confirmed there were no issues, over one hundred million Grim Slayer and these ten Xuan Star Civilization warships left the vortex, leaving only the antimatter star still radiating intense light. The Xuan Star Civilization's 600 million Small Star Sector Civilization warships, 2 billion Star System Level warships, and millions of transport ships also departed the vortex.
"Human beings."
" Xuan Star leader, you keep your promise; your warships came looking for us just a thousand light-years away."
"Keep your promise? You flatter me. Now I will tell you the secret of why the Fish Horse Star Civilization Insect Race. I am not lying. This secret truly concerns all civilizations in the entire Milky Way. If it weren't for this, we wouldn't have helped the Fish Horse Star Civilization, nor would we have provoked you humans, and we certainly wouldn't have ended up in this predicament. I hope that after I reveal the secret, you humans will also keep your promise and not hunt down my people."
"As long as we get what we want, your survival is none of our business. We won't waste warships hunting you down. Rest assured, we won't do anything that doesn't benefit us."
"Alright, I'll tell you the secret now."
" Xuan Star Civilization, you're courting death!" As they spoke, several giant corn-shaped warships plunged into the vortex, moving forward at a hundred times the speed of light. Although the vortex affected these warships, they could still perform warp drive, demonstrating their immense power.
" Fish Horse Star warships, it's you again!"
"Humans, we didn't intend to exterminate you, but you keep coming to us. Don't blame us for being impolite."
" Fish Horse Star Civilization, I warn you not to act recklessly. Humanity is not something you can just manipulate as you please. If you push us too far, we will still broadcast. Although we don't yet know what the secret is, I'm sure those Great Star Region Civilization will be very interested. If you know what's good for you, get out of here!"
"Don't think you can threaten us with this. We don't want to deal with you right now. Get out of here; the Xuan Star Civilization has nothing to do with you."
"Damn it, pulling this stunt at the crucial moment means we definitely won't get the secret. I should have threatened the Xuan Star Civilization to hand over their technology tree. Oh, sorry, academicians, I didn't mean you made the wrong decision."
"Chief of the General Staff, there's no need to apologize. It was indeed our oversight. During our great war with the Xuan Star Civilization, the Fish Horse Star Civilization must have been observing the war in some way. It's impossible for them to let us know these secrets."
"Damn the Fish Horse Star Civilization, their presence is everywhere. If things get too heated, we'll just broadcast it directly. Academicians, Old Hu, what should we do now?"
"Now is not the time to broadcast; we are still far behind the Fish Horse Star Civilization in terms of strength."
"What's there to be afraid of? Isn't Mr. Daozi? I feel like he's been secretly protecting us humans all along."
" Mr. Daozi may have the ability to protect us, but judging from his actions, his strength is also quite limited, otherwise he wouldn't be so sneaky. However, now that I think about it, the Fish Horse Star Civilization has always had the opportunity to eliminate us, but it has never taken action itself. This is probably not only due to fear of the rules of the Great Star Region Civilization, but also because of Mr. Daozi's influence."