Han Xiao did not contact the Gular Civilization immediately; the banquet was in progress, and he did not want to neglect these guests.
Back at the banquet, Han Xiao collected a lot more contact information. Relaxed times always pass too quickly, and the banquet soon came to an end. Many guests said their goodbyes and left the venue.
Han Xiao spotted Cecilin among the departing crowd. Cecilin was walking hurriedly, but his expression remained unchanged. This sudden confrontation with Han Xiao was a do-or-die move for him.
However, Han Xiao did not intend to report to the political party of a galaxy-level civilization. After all, he was a Beyond Grade A, and he had no obligation to report to these people.
The guests left one by one, and the lifelike mechanical waiters came to clean up the mess of cups and plates in the venue.
This is the first year of the Evolution Banquet, so its scale and influence are limited. If they want to compete with the Tyrant's Gathering for status, they will need to spend several more years making a name for themselves in the Shattered Star Ring and establishing the habit of attending every year among the major civilizations.
After leaving the venue, Han Xiao didn't rest. He met separately with the elites from the Crimson Dynasty. These people were more important, so they received special treatment. They didn't discuss any serious business; they mainly chatted and exchanged feelings.
These elites wield varying degrees of influence within the empire, and cultivating relationships with them can help expand one's network and increase one's influence within the empire.
Because of the Battle of Lighthouse Star, Han Xiao's fame and status within the Crimson Dynasty rose sharply. He found that these elites treated him with more awe than before, and no longer regarded him as an ordinary Beyond Grade A ally.
The group chatted happily. After seeing off the imperial elites, Han Xiao returned to his room and asked Phillip to contact the high-ranking members of the Ancient Emperor Party of the Gular Civilization.
He did not reveal Cecilin's defection, but said that Cecilin had offered him a war contract and completed the mission, so he called specifically to discuss the matter.
The leaders of the Ancient Emperor Party had no suspicions and offered a reward for the employment, including a salary, various military supplies, machinery and materials, and long-term mining rights to more resource planets.
Normal interstellar mercenary organizations that engage in war recruitment typically only receive rewards such as wages, the right to use military factories, and access to military supplies procurement channels. However, the Black Star Army's power and backing are different, so it can obtain things that ordinary mercenary groups cannot get, such as the right to mine resources on resource planets.
As expected, the internal strife in the Gular Civilization was indeed part of a series of missions. After contacting the Ancient Emperor Party, an Grade S mission popped up on the panel. Unlike the Pioneer Party's "Pioneer's Fire" mission, this mission was called "Maintain Orthodoxy," and its goal was to help the Ancient Emperor Party suppress other factions and reclaim the divided territories.
Without giving the Ancient Emperor Party a definite answer, Han Xiao hung up the communication, rested his thumb on his chin, and pondered silently.
"They're all Grade S missions, so the rewards should be about the same... Hmm, maybe there are slight differences in difficulty. For example, the Ancient Emperor Party is the most powerful, so suppressing it is easier, while the Descent Party is the weakest. Helping the weakest to rise to power should yield the greatest rewards."
After thinking it over, Han Xiao had Phillip the current leader of the Pioneer Party. Cecilin was just an unexpected factor, and Han Xiao planned to skip him and contact the Pioneer Party directly.
The Gular Civilization was internally divided militarily, so the Pioneer Party also had a publicly known territory, making it easy to find their numbers.
The communication was established quickly.
"Excuse me, who are you...?" The secretary appeared on the screen, but before she could finish her question, she saw Han Xiao's appearance and was immediately shocked, "Black Star?!"
Han Xiao was already too famous in the Shattered Star Ring. Perhaps ordinary people wouldn't recognize him, but as an official of a star system-level civilization, this secretary couldn't possibly not recognize his face. Han Xiao's call plunged him into disbelief and shock.
"Transfer me to your Pioneer Party leader," Han Xiao said calmly.
"Oh, I'll transfer you to the internal line right away. You... no, please wait a moment." The secretary stammered. Although he wasn't from the ruling party, the leader of the Pioneer Party wasn't someone that ordinary people could just meet whenever they wanted. However, a big shot like Black Star was clearly an exception.
Not long after, the Pioneer Party leader came online, his eyes filled with undisguised astonishment. He and the book had just been waiting for an important call when they were suddenly informed of the call from Black Star, and they were both taken aback and had not yet recovered.
Why would Black Star, with whom they had never crossed paths before, suddenly contact them? And why would he specifically request to see them?
"Lord Black Star, what brings you here?" the Pioneer Party leader asked cautiously.
"I've heard about the situation of your Gular Civilization. Not long ago, the Ancient Emperor Party submitted a war mercenary application to me, wanting to use the Black Star Army's power to eliminate other factions. Are you aware of this?"
"Is this true?!" The Pioneer Party leader's expression changed. He was clearly aware of this; in fact, he had just been waiting for a report from a spy. They had learned of unusual movements from their infiltrators in the Ancient Emperor Party and guessed that the other side was seeking outside assistance. Now, Black Star had directly confirmed this.
The Pioneer Party leader realized the seriousness of the situation and immediately became anxious, but he quickly realized that if Black Star had accepted it, why would he have specifically notified them, and why would Black Star have called specifically for this purpose?
A sudden realization dawned on the Pioneer Party leader, who thought he understood Black Star's meaning. He asked in a deep voice, "Lord Black Star, no matter what price the Ancient Emperor Party offers, we will pay double. As long as the Black Star Army can help us overthrow the Ancient Emperor Party's rule, we will never renege on our promise."
Since the purpose of the visit had been stated, there was no need for formalities. The leader of the Pioneer Party went straight to the point. He was indeed eager to obtain the assistance of the Black Star Army. However, before today, he had never thought of it in this way. The Ancient Emperor Party had only been in contact with the Black Star Army for about a year, and it was limited to business cooperation. Their Pioneer Party had no prior dealings with the Black Star Army.
Good heavens, they're treating me like a war profiteer... Han Xiao raised an eyebrow, but from the perspective of the Pioneer Party leader, that's indeed how it is, since they know nothing about Cecilin.
After thinking it over, Han Xiao had no interest in exposing Cecilin. After all, this guy had brought him a mission, so he should let him keep his merits hidden until he defected.
After a moment's hesitation, under the tense gaze of the Pioneer Party leader, Han Xiao slowly nodded.
"Okay, that's settled then. I'll have someone contact you to sign the employment contract later."
After saying that, he hung up the call.
Staring at the blacked-out screen, Pioneer Party slumped in his chair, lost in thought, feeling as if he were dreaming.
Without any warning, and after only a few minutes of conversation, they received help from a powerful force like the Black Star Army?
At this moment, he deeply felt the terrifying power of the Black Star Army, an organization whose single thought could determine the life or death of others. With such a powerful external force as the Black Star Army, the stalemate that had plagued the Gular Civilization for many years finally saw a turning point.
"Is Black Star really just a warmonger? He doesn't seem to need to do this." At this moment, the Pioneer Party leader began to have doubts.
Black Star had no connection with the Pioneer Party, so why was they suddenly chosen?
"There must be a reason behind this that I don't know..."
The Pioneer Party leader's expression was unpredictable.
Black Star didn't say anything; he'd forgotten to ask earlier, and it wouldn't be appropriate to press him now. The Pioneer Party leader didn't want to remain in the dark any longer, so he decided to slowly find out what had happened in a place he didn't know about. Someone must have done something to make Black Star come looking for him.
On the other side, Han Xiao put away his communicator. This little episode was over for him. He just needed to wait for the Pioneer Party and the Legion Mercenary Department to sign the employment contract. Then he would issue a faction mission. The rest was up to the players and Legion members. It was like he had set up a project for the Legion players. After that, he didn't need to pay attention to it anymore.
Choosing to help the Pioneer Party had little to do with Cecilin. Among the three parties, the Pioneer Party was relatively better. He believed that one was only qualified to do good deeds when one's own interests were guaranteed, which had always been his guiding principle.
On the other hand, the Pioneer Party seems more correct, and many players buy into it, which meets the spiritual needs of some players. This is another pursuit of players beyond profit.
Therefore, considering these factors, both the Ancient Emperor Party and the more radical Descent Party were excluded. Supporting a relatively benevolent political party would help increase players' sense of identification with the Legion... or at least avoid provoking player resentment.
A few days later, the elites from various civilizations left the Black Star Army headquarters one after another.
The Gular Civilization's spaceship left the port and entered space. Cecilin watched the Black Star Army until it disappeared from sight, his face filled with undisguised disappointment.
Two days ago, the leader of the Ancient Emperor Party contacted him to praise his achievements on this trip, claiming that Black Star had contacted them and that they believed they would soon receive assistance from the Black Star Army.
"I couldn't persuade Black Star... the Pioneer Party..." Cecilin was dejected. He didn't think he could turn the Pioneer Party's situation around on his own.
Just then, his companion suddenly screamed into the communicator.
"Look! The Pioneer Party just announced that they've reached a mercenary agreement with the Black Star Army and are planning a full-scale offensive!"
"What?!" Everyone on the ship was shocked and took out their communicators to check.
Cecilin looked stunned and hurriedly took out his communicator to check online. He was shocked and became more and more excited as he read.
"This... this... how could this be?! Could it be that my words... really had an effect?"
Cecilin was so excited he could hardly contain himself. His actions had truly brought about a turning point, leading Black Star to make a different decision. If it weren't for this risky move, Black Star would most likely have agreed to the Ancient Emperor Party's application without hesitation, and would never have had the time to learn about the situation of the Gular Civilization.
Regardless of what conditions the Pioneer Party reached with Black Star in private, and regardless of Black Star's true intentions, he played a part in it.
Like two forked railway tracks, he pushed the wrench, causing fate to deviate from its original course.
Cecilin turned to look in the direction of the Black Star Army. Although he knew that Black Star did not need his gratitude, his face still showed gratitude.
He was unsure whether Black Star had exposed his identity, and kept the matter to himself. He believed he had simply done the right thing and had no intention of seeking credit from the Pioneer Party.
In the mechanical military factory, Han Xiao posted the faction missions he had set up and then checked the forum.
Legion players are already very familiar with this kind of war mercenary activity; each instance represents a large-scale collective action, and players have always enjoyed these major events.
This time, it involves participating in a galaxy-level war, helping a faction eliminate its competitors. You have teammates on your side, and the opponent is not an entire galaxy-level civilization. The difficulty is just right for current players, and the legion players are very interested and are actively participating, calling on their friends on the forums.
After glancing at the forum a few times and confirming that the players' reactions were fine, Han Xiao closed it. The players would handle the rest themselves; he didn't need to constantly monitor them.
This galaxy-level war mercenary is estimated to last until the end of the version, giving players something to do for a long time.
"This way I can have some free time and properly build my mechanical army."
Han Xiao let out a breath.
After passing the experience penalty period, there is still the Sorokin to deal with, and making him shut his mouth forever is the more important thing. Before that, Han Xiao decided to stay in the mechanical military factory for seclusion and no longer pay attention to any external affairs.
The Sorokin was already powerful enough, but now it has evolved, making its strength immeasurably higher.
The thought of this put Han Xiao under considerable psychological pressure.
To kill this guy, we need to make a lot of preparations.