Super Mothership
“In that case, it really is necessary to set up a dedicated communication channel exclusively for the commercial department…” Nie Yun said thoughtfully.
Chu Xiaoxiao’s request seemed a bit premature to Nie Yun, but it wasn’t entirely unexpected.
In fact, Nie Yun had long understood that Earth’s civilization could never truly isolate itself from the rest of the universe.
Although the wormhole leading to the Solar System was still firmly under Nie Yun’s control, absolute information lockdown was simply impossible.
To say nothing else, the Gemini Fleet located just a few light-years away already had many ways to probe Earth’s true situation without using the wormhole—such as dispatching a fleet through conventional interstellar travel, even though that would take a considerable amount of time.
Moreover, as Earth’s technology advanced and its sphere of activity expanded, the outward radiation of electromagnetic, optical, force-field, and communication signals would inevitably continue to grow.
For some advanced interstellar civilizations, using large-scale intergalactic radar systems to intercept signals from afar and detect signs of civilization within a star system was hardly a difficult task.
On the other hand, no one could guarantee that a few anti-human, anti-social lunatics wouldn’t deliberately leak information about Earth’s civilization. After all, once the forest grows large, all kinds of birds appear…
It was precisely because information about the Solar System could not be completely sealed off that Nie Yun had, from very early on, begun “writing a background story” for Earth’s civilization—such as the “Earth Branch of the All-Things-Return-to-One Society.”
…
“White Butler?”
In the Proxima Centauri system, the Gemini civilization’s highest-ranking garrison commander looked puzzled.
“If I remember correctly, the contact on the All-Things-Return-to-One Society’s side was someone called ‘Black Butler.’ Where did this ‘White Butler’ suddenly come from?”
“This subordinate doesn’t know either. The other party only said they wished to meet you, sir, to discuss matters regarding trade between our two sides.”
“Hmph! A bunch of audacious underground organization members, and they actually dare to bargain with us so openly!”
The newly appointed garrison commander snorted in dissatisfaction.
He had previously served in one of Gemini’s prosperous core systems. Whether in status or personal benefits, it was worlds apart from this remote, undeveloped Proxima Centauri system.
It could be said that it was precisely because of a series of actions by the All-Things-Return-to-One Society that he had been abruptly reassigned. This made him extremely displeased with this little-known underground organization that had nonetheless caused Gemini no small amount of trouble.
“Sir, shall I go and refuse them right away?” the subordinate asked.
“Wait!” The garrison commander raised a hand.
This transaction had been assigned by the United Council and involved extremely important energy crystal exchanges, touching on the interests of multiple factions and drawing significant attention.
With so many influential figures watching, no matter how dissatisfied he was personally, he couldn’t possibly disobey the order in name only.
“Put them through. I want to see what tricks these people are trying to pull!”
“Yes, sir!”
Before long, a familiar communications image appeared before everyone.
Two clusters of幽蓝色的 flames floated in midair, swaying as they burned. Slightly farther back, a mysterious figure in a white robe could be vaguely seen seated upright on a stone chair.
The wide hood concealed the figure’s face, but judging by the body shape, it seemed to be a woman.
“Hmph! Playing tricks and pretending to be mysterious!” the garrison commander snorted inwardly.
“So you are White Butler?” he asked coldly.
He had already made up his mind—no matter what this White Butler wanted to say, his answer would be just two words: “Refused.”
“That’s right. Allow me to introduce myself. I am the executive butler of the newly established Earth Branch of the All-Things-Return-to-One Society, primarily responsible for promoting trade between our two sides.
I heard that Your Excellency has only recently taken office in the Proxima Centauri system, so I’ve specially prepared a small local gift—just a token of goodwill.
At the same time, I hope that both sides can coexist peacefully in the future, be good neighbors, and cooperate for mutual benefit.”
White Butler smiled warmly, her tone resembling that of a neighbor dropping by to welcome a new resident with a plate of cookies.
As she finished speaking, a large chest beside her opened. The sight of an entire box filled with crystal-clear red crystals caused everyone who saw it to catch their breath.
Top-grade energy crystals… at a glance, at least one ton!
No wonder people say that illegal merchants are filthy rich—the more illegal, the richer they are. The ancients truly did not deceive us!
Just look at them: handing out a bit of “local specialty,” and it’s a full ton right off the bat—almost equal to my entire lifetime earnings!
The garrison commander’s expression shifted repeatedly. He opened his mouth, but the rejection he had prepared earlier could no longer be spoken.
“Ahem! Executive Butler, you are far too courteous. As the garrison commander here, good-neighborly relations have always been my guiding principle.
Seeking peace over war is, moreover, a lifelong goal I strive for!” he said solemnly.
Damn it! With this kind of “local specialty,” there’s no way I can refuse!
…
Where there are people, there is the martial world; where there are interests, there are always “local specialties.”
And the effects of such “local specialties” are immediate.
Next, the two sides discussed the details of this cargo handover in a very friendly atmosphere. Shortly afterward, a fixed communication channel was opened, and a preliminary exchange mechanism was established.
The enthusiastic garrison commander even promised to introduce White Butler to higher-ranking officers, so that both sides could continue contributing to the cause of peace…
Half an hour later, the communication ended.
The white-robed girl pulled back her hood, revealing a confident smile.
Nie Yun looked at the girl beside him with a strange expression, as if he were meeting her for the first time.
To think she would come up with bribing officials—truly worthy of the eldest daughter of a business family…
Seeing Nie Yun give her a thumbs-up, Chu Xiaoxiao proudly flashed her little tiger tooth.
“Heh heh! A new interstellar commercial empire is about to set sail. In the not-too-distant future, the names of the Black and White Duo will resound across the sea of stars!” Chu Xiaoxiao declared spiritedly.
“Uh…”
…
A local garrison commander might no longer be worth much attention in Nie Yun’s eyes, nor could he determine Gemini’s overall foreign policy.
However, building good relations with such officers was extremely useful for their next phase of trade plans in the Proxima Centauri system.
On the very next day after this friendly exchange, both sides dispatched fleets and successfully completed the transaction in the Kala Star Sector.
Nie Yun obtained a full 30,000 tons of blank crystals, while Gemini received 100 tons of energy crystals.
For Nie Yun, this was naturally a massive profit. With the Prometheus Energy Network at his disposal, energy costs were already extremely low. All it took was some time to charge the blank crystals, and he would obtain a full 30,000 tons of energy crystals—an overnight fortune!
As for Gemini, it was turning waste into treasure—essentially a zero-cost deal—yet it still reaped generous returns. Both sides were thoroughly satisfied!
With the first transaction successfully completed, White Butler—Chu Xiaoxiao in disguise—seized the momentum and proposed expanding the scope of trade, hoping to use the energy crystals in her possession to purchase Gemini’s various technological products and rare mineral resources.
More importantly, the purchase prices offered by White Butler were absurdly extravagant—generally two to three times higher than Gemini’s market prices—and paid in full, in hard currency energy crystals, in cash.
Even though the Proxima Centauri system was remote and transportation costs were high, the profits were still enough to make Gemini salivate!
Combined with the earlier “local specialties” clearing the way, the proposal to expand trade was quickly placed on the desk of the Gemini United Council.
TL Note- Market....
Comments
Post a Comment