After giving Bader a piece of his mind, Han Xiao felt much better.
Now, he is nominally a special advisor to the Glory and the Arcane, but the past grudges have not disappeared; they are just suppressed in his heart. This is the first time he has been impolite to the leaders of the Three Universal Civilizations, and he feels quite good about it.
Seeing this, Urranrell took over the conversation and said seriously, "Black Star, this matter is quite important. I still hope you will propose a motion to the association."
When dealing with the Imperial Head of State, Han Xiao toned down his stance slightly, but still remained firm, saying, "The Development Federation shouldn't favor any side. If we act according to your demands, your loyalists will act first. Should we step in to stop them? If we do, will you accept mediation? If we treat them differently, wouldn't that be aiding and abetting the enemy... cough cough, anyway, you get the gist of it. I personally have reasons to deal with Modo, and I've already given them advance notice, so it wouldn't be considered a breach of the united front. But it's better for the association to remain neutral."
He knew what the Three Universal Civilizations were plotting. The Development Federation's stated purpose was to mediate all Beyond Grade A conflicts, and the Three Universal Civilizations wanted to exploit this to turn the Federation into an indirect third-party ally—if the Supercluster uses its own forces, they attack; if the Three Universal Civilizations use their own forces, they pretend not to see, clearly showing bias. In this way, the final effect would be to mislead people into thinking that the Development Federation was still a lackey of the Three Universal Civilizations.
Han Xiao naturally couldn't agree. He was the vice president of the Beyond Grade A Association and a common ally supported by the Three Universal Civilizations. His identity was sensitive, and both sides had needs from him, so he couldn't easily take the wrong path.
The Three Universal Civilizations have an advantage in terms of their direct descendants at the Beyond Grade A, so they have no reason to actively limit their own advantages. Therefore, it is highly unlikely that they will agree to the association's approach of treating everyone equally.
As expected, upon hearing Han Xiao's statement, the leaders of the Three Universal Civilizations all rejected the proposal. As rulers, they could not grant the association law enforcement power superior to their own.
The leader of the Arcane Cult slowly said, "Black Star, let's be frank. We understand your position. The Mechanic Emperor wants to create conflict, but you are different. You don't want the Beyond Grade A group to be separated from us and you are not opposed to cooperation with us. That's why we have high hopes for you. So this matter can actually be discussed. Just tell us what you want."
"That's right. My goal is for Beyond Grade A beings to form a more equal cooperative relationship with advanced civilizations, rather than being your vassals or dependents. As for the prerequisite for equality... you should at least first remove most of the shackles imposed on Beyond Grade A beings, such as the monopoly on professional knowledge."
"Isn't this the deal we proposed before? We offered to break the knowledge monopoly as leverage in exchange for the Development Federation's ability to deal with the Super Star Cluster Alliance, but you didn't agree."
"Well, to many Beyond Grade A, using this as a bargaining chip is practically tantamount to blackmail or compromise. Another principle of the Association is a united front; we don't want to continue being forced into factional conflicts. Therefore, most people hope that the Three Universal Civilizations will first unconditionally lift many restrictions, including the monopoly on knowledge, and reform the alliance system. Only after that will we be willing to discuss new cooperation terms. It's a matter of order..." Han Xiao explained the Association's requirements.
The decision to form a united front among the Beyond Grade A members is actually similar to a labor union strike; both aim to improve the welfare of the entire class and secure better treatment for themselves. Therefore, they are quite united until the benefits are in hand.
"... Assuming we do that, what form of new cooperation do you hope to achieve?" the leader of the Arcane Cult threw the question back at us.
"To be honest, there's no consensus within the association yet, but many suggest reducing the alliance aspect and strengthening the employment relationship. This means reducing coercion, increasing freedom, and ensuring that cooperation isn't limited to one party. Furthermore, outside of the employment relationship, there's less risk of retaliation from factional conflicts..."
Han Xiao explained the Development Federation's expectations. There were too many twists and turns involved. The needs of advanced civilization allies and neutral Beyond Grade A beings were different, and conflicts arose from differing stances, making it difficult to reach a result that satisfied everyone.
The three leaders all shook their heads and refused to agree. Neither side was willing to compromise, and the talks ended inconclusively, failing to reach a consensus.
As Han Xiao strode out of the meeting room, he sighed inwardly, feeling somewhat helpless.
As one's status in the universe rises, the choices one faces each day become increasingly crucial, each one having a profound impact on one's development. A single misstep can lead to a deviation from the right path that is difficult to remedy. Only by personally experiencing this feeling can one truly understand the perilous nature of the situation.
Meanwhile, after Han Xiao left, the three leaders in the reception room exchanged glances.
"Looks like we can't count on the Development Federation for help. Black Star is really straightforward; he takes benefits without a second thought, and when we ask for something in return, he refuses without a shred of shame. Heh, he certainly has strong principles," Bader said.
"Come on, this isn't our main goal in building momentum for him. His rejection was expected. If such a small benefit could control a Peak Beyond Grade A, it would be far too easy."
"It's understandable that Black Star values his reputation; we can't afford to lose sight of the bigger picture. We'll still need him to act as a bridge, guiding the Development Federation... It's just that their demands are a bit far-fetched."
"The Beyond Grade A group cannot be left unrestricted; if their shackles are completely removed, there will inevitably be hidden dangers in the future."
"We don't have time to deal with this now. Let's postpone the negotiations and observe Black Star for a while longer. In any case, it's definitely better for him to take power than for the Mechanic Emperor."
With the vigorous promotion of the Three Universal Civilizations, the award ceremony was broadcast in various star systems and regions, sparking widespread discussion among countless interstellar citizens.
The most talked-about figure is Han Xiao. Some people think that Black Star deserved to receive the Galaxy Medal, while others think that his achievements are not great enough and that he is not as good as previous Galaxy Medal Recipient.
However, the facts cannot be changed. Looking back at Han Xiao's deeds, capturing Sorokin, breaking disasters, and fighting against the Mechanic Emperor, he has made contributions to the stability of the universe, and the vast majority of people still hold a positive attitude.
However, the interstellar community's heated discussion about the award ceremony hadn't lasted more than a few days when a sudden and shocking event drew the attention of the entire universe away from it.
Just days after the awards ceremony, the largest armed conflict to date suddenly erupted in the Free Competition Zone of the fourth phase of the Shattered World exploration. Many forces launched attacks on multiple planetary strongholds without warning, as if they had planned it in advance.
The Free Competition Zone suddenly descended into chaos and uncertainty.
"Boom!!"
The earth continued to shake violently as rows of heavy ground combat vehicles, some tens of meters tall, advanced. Wherever they passed, mountains and forests collapsed, bunkers crumbled, and ground defenses were breached, with countless artillery positions and traps reduced to rubble.
Squads of armored soldiers brandished their weapons and fired wildly at the intruders, their guns spitting out beams of intense heat. However, agile superhuman figures weaved through the barrage, swiftly annihilating squad after squad and easily tearing apart the defenders' lines. The mud kicked up by the explosions buried the corpses of soldiers encased in shattered armor.
Low-altitude flying vehicles in the sky cooperated in the operation, providing fire support from high altitude. Naval guns spat out dense tongues of fire, bombarding the protective shields of bunkers, causing arcs of electricity to fly and sparks to fly. The lush forests were turned into scorched wasteland under the bombardment, and buildings collapsed in the artillery fire.
This is a resource planet located in the center of the Free Competition Zone. It was originally discovered and established as a base by a vassal star system civilization under the Three Universal Civilizations, but it was attacked suddenly today.
The attackers were a large fleet, their ships bearing a common emblem: a snowflake-shaped insignia with two spears crossed at the bottom, representing an Immortals organization called the "Northern Front." This organization had only recently been established and operated in the Free Competition Zone, remaining relatively quiet until suddenly launching an attack on a planet occupied by a galactic-level civilization.
The Northern Front fleet deployed over 100,000 Grade B players, along with a large number of warships and ground combat equipment. Before long, the defensive forces at the stronghold were completely routed and could not withstand the Northern Front's offensive.
The Northern Front, an alliance-style player organization, is formed by the union of numerous guilds and also includes many free players who have joined with their own funds. It has a very solid financial foundation, enough to support a certain scale of interstellar warfare. After all, having been in the Galaxy for four versions, the guilds have accumulated a certain amount of capital.
Currently, there are tens of millions of active players across the entire Galaxy. The Black Star Army has recruited over ten million players, making it the largest player faction. The remaining players are scattered across various organizations, and their numbers are equally large. The Guild Alliance has also recruited a significant number of members.
There was also a group of players from the Three Universal Civilizations left behind in the stronghold, only a couple hundred people. They had no choice but to fight their way out, but they were quickly overwhelmed by the army of the Northern Front and could not make any waves.
A warship of the Northern Front hovered high in the sky. In the command center, the leader of the Northern Front looked down at the one-sided battlefield and revealed a satisfied smile.
"Victory is within reach. Let's quickly eliminate the enemy; we still have other strongholds to attack."
He was the organization's leader, jointly elected by the many member guilds of the Northern Front, responsible for its operation. His ID was "Fire of the North Sea," and he was also the president of a large European club.
"Where should we go next?" asked another high-ranking member of a member guild.
"Whoever is closest, we'll take them down, sweeping them all the way."
With a flourish, Fire of the North Sea displayed his triumphant spirit.
The Northern Front, acting as an agent, communicated with NPC forces and reached an agreement with the Super Star Cluster Alliance Super Star Cluster Alliance, assisting them in conquering territories.
Each captured stronghold yields additional rewards, and the Super Star Cluster Alliance takes care of developing the planet without requiring any effort to occupy it. They also receive a high share of resources, providing a continuous flow of funds. Furthermore, during the campaign, the Super Star Cluster Alliance offers resource support, preferential rates on material purchases, and other benefits.
Not only the Northern Front, but also several player guild alliances such as the Pan-Commercial Union and the 5C Alliance have reached an agreement with the Super Star Cluster Alliance to temporarily fight for them.
The conflict between the Three Universal Civilizations and the Super Star Cluster Alliance is an open secret. Unlike the smaller factions of the past, the Super Star Cluster Alliance is no longer afraid of the Three Universal Civilizations and the Black Star Army. Clubs from various countries saw this as an opportunity and decided to start a national war through the battle between the two factions.
Initiating a national war is partly for entertainment, but more so for profit.
Firstly, this is a way to transition from a general faction to the Superstar Cluster faction and gain a new powerful ally; secondly, it's to recruit more free players through war and strengthen the organization; thirdly, it's to speculate in the war, demanding a share of various resources and seizing strongholds when there's a powerful backer; fourthly, it's driven by the main quest of the faction war; and fifthly, it's to provide off-field support for this professional league in advance and incidentally alleviate the Black Star Army's dominance.
Now, the Super Star Cluster Alliance has taken the initiative, prompting other guild alliances such as the Northern Front to launch an attack and begin to expand the Super Star Cluster Alliance's territory in the Free Competition Zone, resulting in the current situation.
Fire of the North Sea opened the star map and watched as the Super Star Cluster Alliance's territory expanded in real time in the Free Competition Zone. He clenched his fist with excitement.
"This is an unprecedented event... The Black Star Army's advantage in the Shattered World is too great. Only if the Super Star Cluster Alliance we support wins can we turn the tide and obtain equal resources!"
The same scene played out on multiple planets in the Free Competition Zone, with not only player guild alliances but also other private armed organizations vying for territory for the Super Star Cluster Alliance.
Approximately 2,400 planets were invaded on the same day; these were all resource planets, transportation hubs, or other strategic locations. With the fourth phase of exploration now complete, the map is essentially open, allowing the Super Star Cluster Alliance to precisely select valuable targets for attack.
In a short time, the Super Star Cluster Alliance's territory expanded significantly, firmly occupying the core areas of several star clusters in the Free Competition Zone. Based on this, it turned around and expanded to the surrounding areas, greedily seizing planetary strongholds developed by other forces, taking a large amount of territory into its own hands, and began to build a deep defense line in its strategic blueprint.
The world was shocked by the sudden attack from the Super Star Cluster Alliance!
--Galaxy Chronicles: The First World Server War:
On February 25th, 732 of the Galaxy Calendar, the Three Universal Civilizations held an award ceremony to confer the Galaxy Medal upon Black Star.
On February 29, 732, a large-scale armed invasion broke out in the Free Competition Zone of the Shattered World. The Super Star Cluster Alliance directed multiple armed organizations to expand their territory. This event became the fuse for the formal conflict between the Three Universal Civilizations and the Supercluster Alliance, and also set the stage for the first national war, historically known as the "Eve Incident".