Chapter 243

The people present remained silent. Such a major event concerning the future of the Federation naturally had to be reported to the Prophet.

The Prophet's reply came quickly, containing only two words:

agree.

Since the Prophet agreed, it means it's not a trap.

The Federation leaders in Congress were filled with mixed emotions.

The Federation and the Empire, two human civilizations that have been at odds since the Great Cataclysm, never imagined that they would one day achieve peace in this way.

*

The news that the Federation had invited the Emperor of the Empire to visit was quickly relayed back to the Empire through official channels.

This is naturally a signal of the initial establishment of diplomatic relations. As for the depth of these relations, that depends on the outcome of this visit.

"They... really agreed?"

Many in the empire found this unbelievable, especially those in the Military Department.

Suolan, who was in charge of the matter, was also surprised by the news; the other side didn't even delay, but agreed so quickly.

She couldn't help but recall Wen Jing's confident expression at the time; it seemed the other party had anticipated this outcome.

But for some reason, Suolan couldn't understand.

At the same time, Wen Jing also received the message from inside the suspended seat.

She was not surprised that the Federation Council agreed.

Because she knew from the beginning that the Mastermind would agree.

The reason is simple: the Mastermind wants to know who ' Weiluo Thrann' is.

This is also Wen Jing did not communicate with the Mastermind using his identity Alaya Civilization, but instead expressed his intention to enter the Federation from the 'human level' as the emperor of the Empire.

The Mastermind naturally knew the truth about the Sacred Core, so it would inevitably speculate whether Weiluo Seran, who was in contact with the Federation, had truly been 'replaced' by the Alaya Race, or whether there was some other hidden story.

Moreover, it is now her turn to actively enter the Mastermind's territory, not the Mastermind entering the Alaya Race's territory.

There is no reason to refuse an individual goal that is offered to you.

Even if there are any secrets or threats, we must first conduct contact and research before discussing anything else.

If Wen Jing were to actually use the name of the Sacred Core to communicate and persuade the Mastermind to release an Awakened into the Federation, he would have to find an impeccable reason to avoid arousing suspicion, because in the Mastermind's eyes, it would be a scheme by a civilization of the same level.

Meanwhile, the location and content of the reception were naturally decided by the Federation, and the other side's choice was --

"Are you inviting me to participate in this year's Academy League?"

Upon seeing the details of the Federation Congress's reply, Wen Jing couldn't help but reveal a slightly subtle expression.

I never imagined I'd be participating in the official college league again four years later, after missing it back then.

This time, however, she wasn't a contestant; she was a special guest judge.

Chapter 243

The scheduled visit is fifteen days from now, which is the time when the Academy League will be held.

Once the news was confirmed and announced, it caused a huge uproar in both civilizations.

While both governments were making intensive preparations for this historic visit, Wen Jing was also carrying out comprehensive pre-war preparations.

Within the Sacred Core, the six personality nodes, like six stars, illuminate the entire information network of the Alaya Civilization, frantically absorbing the useful knowledge within.

The most important aspect of this is naturally the control of all Alaya members and the use of biological swarm technology.

The Alaya Race currently comprises 3,721 planets, distributed across a star field with a diameter of 300 light-years. At this moment, in Wen Jing's consciousness, they converge into a giant circle, surrounding the star systems where the two human civilizations reside.

The benefits of secretly subverting a Type III civilization are now fully apparent.

Each planet is a natural, unified force field emission base. The force field range of a single planet may be limited, but the coordinated operation of 3,700 planets under [Heavenly Evolution] can form a 'force field cage' covering this starry sky.

Once activated, it can block space jumps, interfere with faster-than-light communication, and significantly reduce the effectiveness of all energy weapons. It is a super barrier that is many times more powerful than the Tide of Ignorance used to block Type II civilizations in the outer periphery.

Awakened within the blockade still have the option of entering the Ancient Wilderness, but the Mastermind cannot extend the battlefront by performing spatial jumps without breaking the blockade.

However, the technology of the Alaya Civilization is inferior to that of the Mastermind. While they can provide battlefield control, it is impossible to defeat the Mastermind using them.

The real offensive force was still Wen Jing.

At this moment, on the border of the empire, deep within a desolate meteorite, a Clone silently floats in the Earth's core.

Not only did it conceal its energy, radiation, and mass, but it also suppressed its own information to the extreme.

She has been staying here ever since the day the Mastermind behind the raid was confirmed.

Without Ancient Wilderness Traversal or spatial teleportation, the halo effect of the [Standardization Meme] has been accumulating for more than half a month.

As long as there is no interruption caused by spatial relocation, the depth and scope of this infection will continue to accumulate and increase over time.

The accumulation over so many days means that when using this Clone to create a swarm of insects, it won't start with basic devouring like it did when fighting the Boundary-Breaking Empire. Instead, it can directly possess most of Wen Jing's characteristics!

*

As the date of the visit drew closer, turmoil was brewing in both the Empire and the Federation, with political, economic, and military affairs all undergoing changes as a result.

This is even more true in public opinion. Everything about this visit, the future direction of the two civilizations, and the emperor himself who made this move are the hottest topics in both civilizations.

Inside the suspended council chamber, a list was presented to Wen Jing.

The accompanying delegation for this trip was set at fifty people.

Wen Jing naturally wouldn't allow too many people, but too few wouldn't be acceptable either; this was already the minimum number agreed upon.

At this moment, more than a thousand applicants have submitted their applications to her.

The names of the empire's three greatest leaders all appeared on the list, but this was merely for show. They themselves knew that they had to remain in power within the empire and could not possibly be chosen.

Those eligible to apply are all mid- to high-level Awakened, and must also be talents in a certain field.

Each name on the list is accompanied by a detailed resume, ability level, and past performance.

However, Wen Jing could obtain more detailed and accurate information than the Executive Council by simply glancing at the names.

Most of those who signed up this time were ambitious young people from the empire who wanted to seize this opportunity to join her and become her direct subordinates.

High-ranking officials and dignitaries who already control a large amount of resources and whose stance is inherently unchangeable are unwilling to take this risk.

After all, this was the first time the Empire had ever established diplomatic relations with the Federation, and not everyone dared to go.

A mission is venturing deep into a former enemy country; who knows what might happen? This visit carries considerable risk.

Wen Jing quickly selected forty-nine people from among them and sent them to the Executive Council.

Upon receiving the news, Prime Minister Suolan immediately checked it out.

As she watched, her expression gradually changed, and finally she let out a sigh.

After reading the entire list, she couldn't find a single thing to criticize.

The group of forty-nine people covers an extremely comprehensive range of fields.

There are diplomatic negotiators who are proficient in Federation languages, cultures, and laws; research personnel who study Raw Ore, medical technology, and materials science; and senior instructors in training camps who are experts in combat techniques and secrets.

There are also nobles representing several major merchant guilds in the empire, who are responsible for negotiating various trade relations after the establishment of diplomatic ties.

Other teams include security, medical, logistics, administrative, and communications teams...

There were forty-nine people, each with their own duties, with no redundancy or omissions.

Moreover, the selection of these individuals was not simply a matter of matching abilities; their backgrounds were also remarkably clean and simple.

The list contains almost no core members of deeply rooted extended families; most are talented individuals from ordinary backgrounds who have climbed the ladder through their own efforts, and a few are marginalized members of collateral branches.

These people, who did not have much say in the existing power structure, were therefore eager to impress the new emperor.

He had only been on the throne for a little over half a month, and he rarely went out, hardly ever having any one-on-one contact with any officials. Yet, his understanding of the empire was more thorough than that of any politician who had cultivated his power for decades.

"The intelligence from the Icon Council... is on a completely different level from ours," Suolan thought to himself.

However, only 49 out of the 50 spots were filled.

Suolan stared at the last vacant 'special advisor' position, recalling the recent rumors, and a subtle smile appeared on his lips.

*

Upon seeing Wen Jing, Panxi was immediately shocked and asked a question.

"Xu Yuan, why do you keep that human by your side?"

Upon seeing the 'special advisor' outside the door, he momentarily forgot that he had come to inquire about the reason for his visit to the Federation.

At this moment, in the eyes of the entire Alaya Race, the current ' Weiluo ' is the Xu Yuan. However, her planetary body has 'ascended' to the Ancient Wilderness, and she can no longer communicate directly as before. They can only use a proxy to find her.

This delegation consisted entirely of Awakened humans, without a single blood descendant, which ostensibly reflected their consistent stance of not participating in imperial politics.

In reality, for the Alaya Race, going there might mean that the Mastermind could sever the connection between their planet and the proxy, and they certainly didn't want to hand over the proxy's body, which they had spent resources to create, to the other side for research.

"You saw it too, didn't you? Because his face looks exactly like my proxy's!"

They are more than just similar; if it weren't for the lack of distinction in the ears and markings of the replicants, they would be practically identical.

"That was intentional! He even named himself Xu Yuan!"

Panxi had already reviewed the other party's information; it belonged to a collateral branch of a noble family.

Having a child

He was also a mute descendant, disfigured before awakening, and didn't even have a formal name.