Planet Fein, headquarters of the Beyond Grade A Association.
"... These are the new members I'm introducing who have joined the association. From now on, we'll be partners on the same side."
In the hall, Han Xiao reached out to introduce this new batch of people to everyone present with a smile. They were Joy and other Recluses, as well as the new batch of Sanctum members who had come out of seclusion.
After the Three Universal Civilizations destroyed the warehouse of Manison, he quickly arranged the time for the group to join the association, and today was the day of the welcoming meeting.
Upon hearing Han Xiao's introduction, the many Beyond Grade A observers present sized up this group of newcomers, nodded slightly, and their eyes flashed with surprise.
Although everyone already knew about the Sanctuary Revival, seeing another group of Revived was still awe-inspiring.
Moreover, this time, in addition to the Revived, Black Star also attracted several unfamiliar Recluses to join the association, bolstering its influence. In their view, this was undoubtedly Black Star's countermeasure against the bans imposed by the Three Universal Civilizations, which greatly excited everyone.
At the same time, this basically proves that Black Star can use Sanctuary Revival more than once, which is what most people present are concerned about, and they are secretly delighted.
"Now that we've joined the association, we're all family. Please, have a seat," Kasuyi said with a smile.
Joy and the others sighed and reluctantly sat down in their seats. Although they had some social anxiety, they still mustered their spirits to interact with and get to know the other Beyond Grade A.
The members of the Sanctum exchanged glances, understanding each other perfectly, and without giving anything away, chatted as if they were meeting for the first time.
The group chatted with the newlyweds for a while, creating a warm and harmonious atmosphere, much like a large family.
Han Xiao waited a while, and seeing that everyone had gotten to know each other, he smiled and said, "Alright, everyone has met. Actually, besides welcoming the new students, there's another matter I need to take care of today."
Upon hearing this, the room fell silent. Everyone turned their heads and focused their attention on Han Xiao, waiting for the chairman to continue.
Seeing this, Han Xiao suppressed his smile and slowly said:
"Not long ago, the Three Universal Civilizations joined forces and successfully hacked into the database of the Mechanic Emperor. This was both a test and a provocation from the Three Universal Civilizations, so I would like to hear everyone's suggestions on how we should respond."
Everyone instinctively looked at Manison, Manison had his eyes slightly closed and appeared completely calm.
"I know about this; I also received the request for help at the time." Kant pondered, "Manison is a member of the association; it's only right and proper that we seek justice for him."
"That's right. Although Manison is of low taste, despicable character, narrow-minded, old, ugly, and shameless, he is still one of our own. The Association cannot pretend nothing happened when he was attacked without reason by the Three Universal Civilizations," the Sun Hunter said in a deep voice.
"I agree." The Secret Master nodded.
The Sun Hunter turned and glanced at him. "Which point do you agree with, that he's old and ugly, or that the association should step in?"
"... I agree with both." The Secret Master's eye twitched, and he felt a trace of his own luck inexplicably slip away.
Manison snorted, opened his eyes, and interjected, "Get to the point. Some people shouldn't resort to personal attacks."
"No way, telling the truth is illegal?" the Sun Hunter asked in surprise.
Manison took a deep breath to calm himself.
Don't get angry, don't get angry, anger will only make you sick and no one can take your place...
Han Xiao gave the Sun Hunter an approving look, then asked for their opinions.
Basically, 90% of the people agreed that the association should stand up for Manison. It wasn't because they had a good relationship with Old Manison, but because they were concerned about the matter at hand and hoped that they would receive the same treatment if they encountered similar situations in the future.
"... Since the majority agrees, the Association will immediately condemn the Three Universal Civilizations for this matter and demand a response. At the same time, we request that everyone mobilize their armed forces on a large scale and obey the Association's orders. If necessary, we may take military action against the Three Universal Civilizations."
Upon hearing this, everyone was slightly taken aback.
They thought that a few condemnations would be enough, at most a group of mechanics would cause trouble for the Three Universal Civilizations civilizations' vassal states. But Black Star's tone made it sound like he wanted to directly provoke a war.
However, the crowd's surprise lasted only a few seconds before they calmed down and offered no objections.
With the guarantee of the Sanctuary Revival, most people were quite confident. Fighting was not out of the question, and most people thought that the military operation Black Star mentioned was probably just a drill or a demonstration. After all, the current situation was barely maintaining a balance and did not look like a war was about to break out.
"Also, to prevent similar incidents from happening again, I suggest that everyone concentrate their main bodies in the Shattered World, so as not to give the Three Universal Civilizations the opportunity to defeat us one by one. Of course, this is not mandatory. If some people really don't want to come, they don't have to, but they will bear the consequences themselves..."
As he spoke, Han Xiao glanced at Manison and said slowly.
Manison closed his eyes again, pretending not to hear; he wouldn't let his well-hidden true form appear before anyone else.
Most people didn't have any objections to this. Many of them had been staying in the Shattered World recently, managing their influence here, so they didn't need to travel. As for some Beyond Grade A individuals who had established large businesses in other star regions, staying here for the time being wasn't a problem either.
After a lively discussion, everyone agreed on the next steps and then logged off to end the meeting.
Soon, only Han Xiao, Kasuyi, and Ames remained in the venue.
"Aren't you going offline yet? I have some personal matters to discuss with Old Ke."
Han Xiao glanced at Ames and spoke.
Ames shook her head and sighed, "Iso asked me to tell you that he witnessed a confrontation that has captured the attention of the entire universe. The two sides in the confrontation are the Association and the Three Universal Civilizations. The future he saw came to an abrupt end there, and all he knows is that the final outcome will change the course of the universe. He wants you to handle this carefully."
"Has the old man made another prophecy...?" Han Xiao narrowed his eyes and nodded, "I understand. You wait for me at home. I'll use the Sovereign to pick you up after the meeting."
Ames smiled softly, then logged off and disappeared.
Now only the two of them were left in the room.
Having overheard the conversation, Kasuyi's brow twitched, and he whispered, "Black Star, are we about to engage in a proper war with the Three Universal Civilizations?"
"Very likely." Han Xiao casually recounted the matter of the Virtual Mutiny Virus.
Kasuyi's expression changed, unsure of what to say. After a long pause, he sighed, "The Mechanic Emperor is still too stubborn, but there's nothing we can do. Who told you not to let them know that the Sanctuary Revival is Infinite... If it weren't for the Virtual Mutiny Virus, your plan could have been steadily implemented. This extra layer of apprehension has only created more trouble and changed the course of events."
"Heh, even if he knew the truth, he'd probably still think the Sanctuary Revival and the Virtual Mutiny Virus are a perfect match." Han Xiao curled his lip. "Let's not talk about him anymore. Anyway, be prepared. Have your Void Lord monitor the movements of the Three Universal Civilizations ' dimensional legions in the Secondary Dimension World. If they mobilize their troops to deal with us, they definitely won't hold back."
"Clear."
Kasuyi nodded and logged off.
The conflict between the Beyond Grade A Association and the Three Universal Civilizations has been ongoing for quite some time, and interstellar society has gradually become accustomed to this tense atmosphere.
However, on this very day, the Beyond Grade A Association publicly condemned the invasion of its member Manison, by the Three Universal Civilizations and demanded an explanation. The Federation of Light, one of the Three Universal Civilizations, was not to be outdone and claimed that Manison had repeatedly stolen their secrets. This action was a long-overdue reckoning and a punishment that should have happened long ago.
Interstellar citizens were used to similar conflicts and thought it would be another day of pleasant verbal sparring. However, the subsequent changes made many people sense that something was amiss.
As is customary in the past, the association and the Three Universal Civilizations would exchange condemnations, but the matter would quickly fizzle out. Even if there were any punishments, they would only be attacks on the development of their respective powers, such as blockades or bans.
But this time, the interstellar citizens and major powers were astonished to find that both sides seemed to be serious.
Following the announcement, the Three Universal Civilizations and the Beyond Grade A Association simultaneously mobilized large numbers of troops. The fleets of the Three Universal Civilizations sailed out of the Central Galaxy and were deployed in various star regions, while the forces of the Beyond Grade A forces mainly gathered in the Shattered World, causing a great upheaval in various places.
By this point, even the most oblivious ordinary person realized that something seemed amiss. Although the association and the Three Universal Civilizations had issued one statement and then remained silent, their stance clearly indicated that they were ready to fight at the slightest provocation.
Since the two sides became enemies, most interstellar citizens have just been watching the show, but now they all feel tense.
Online discussions about the Three Universal Civilizations settling scores with the Beyond Grade A civilization are mostly just empty talk. But when it seems like this scenario is actually going to happen, many people are starting to panic, fearing that a war of this scale will affect them.
In an instant, the atmosphere in the entire interstellar society became tense and tense, with countless eyes closely watching the movements of both sides, as if they could see a storm brewing rapidly.
"That's strange, why are the Three Universal Civilizations suddenly not backing down?"
In the conference room of the Super Star Cluster Alliance, all the leaders looked astonished.
Their analysis suggested that the Three Universal Civilizations, due to various concerns, shouldn't easily start a war, and the same logic applied to the association. So why did both sides suddenly become so impulsive and want to fight?
While the intrusion into Manison might be considered the trigger, the leaders of the various superclusters felt it wasn't that serious. It was just a database being stolen; no one was attacked or killed, so why make such a fuss?
"Have the Three Universal Civilizations changed their minds and want to cut the Gordian knot without considering the losses?" someone asked suspiciously.
"That's unlikely. Don't forget we're still here. If the Three Universal Civilizations and the Association are both severely weakened, wouldn't that give us an opportunity to rise to power?" the leader of the Star Arc Civilization hesitated.
It was precisely because of their existence that the previous fragile balance was maintained. If it weren't for the concern that the Super Star Cluster Alliance might benefit from the conflict, the two sides might have already started fighting.
What do we do?
"We'll just wait and see. If they really decide to fight, it'll be a good thing for us..."
The Star Arc leader rolled his eyes and said:
"However, we must be careful that the Three Universal Civilizations don't take the opportunity to drag us into this. This isn't the first time they've done something like this. We'd better deploy a large force on the border and not get involved in their conflicts; just focus on maintaining territorial security."
The leaders of the Super Star Cluster discussed in hushed tones, their voices tinged with excitement. Although they didn't know why the three major civilizations and associations had suddenly become so reckless, it wasn't bad news for them.
Time flew by in the atmosphere of impending doom. Under the tense watchful eyes of the interstellar society, the troop movements of both sides became increasingly frequent and obvious. There was no attempt to conceal their actions; they moved their pieces and set up their formations like players of chess, but never actually clashed or clashed, as if they didn't exist.
Neither side has issued any new statements, leading to a proliferation of rumors and widespread panic.
The flow of people in various star systems has also had a chain reaction. The large-scale departure of interstellar citizens staying in Shattered World has caused congestion at stargates, while the number of people seeking refuge in the Central Galaxy and some peripheral star systems has become increasingly large.
Amidst the world's attention, a massive combined fleet of Three Universal Civilizations marched into the Ancient Star Desert, heading straight for the territory of the Machine Race.
At the same time, the Three Universal Civilizations finally issued a new joint statement:
"Through the analysis of the database of the Mechanic Emperor by the Academy of Sciences, we have obtained conclusive evidence that the Mechanic Emperor has been secretly developing Virtual Mutiny Virus, attempting to replicate the source of this cosmic disaster. It has already achieved relevant results and is trying to wreak havoc on the Galaxy."
Hereby, the Federation of Light, the Crimson Dynasty, and the Arcane Church, representing interstellar society, issue a joint ultimatum to the Mechanic Emperor: immediately hand over the Virtual Mutiny Virus technology and destroy all backup data under our supervision. We will spare no effort to safeguard the security of interstellar society!
On the day the statement was released, the shadow of the Intelligence Plague once again loomed over interstellar society and into the hearts of countless interstellar citizens, and panic swept across galaxies at an incredible speed.
Virtual Mutiny Virus still exists in the world?!
We finally eradicated this scourge virus that threatened the entire universe, but someone, for their own selfish reasons, actually recreated it?!
Interstellar society is in complete chaos!
Accompanying the shock and fear was a deep-seated Fury.
The Mechanic Emperor, damn it!