Super Mothership
A small spacecraft nicknamed by Nie Yun as the “Wolf of Wall Street” arrived on this already somewhat desolate planet, carrying a group of special “passengers,” and began executing the “Kara Star Economic Special Zone Plan”…
“Hello, I am the ‘White Butler,’ the person in charge of this business mission.”
Chu Xiaoxiao smiled as she extended her right hand.
Leon, the chief intelligence officer of the Caldari Star Sector, examined the so-called business representative in front of him with a strange expression… a bionic robot.
The robot before him followed the design style of the Mechanical Nemesis: no expensive “skin,” simplified materials, sturdy and durable, with its technological sophistication kept deliberately low-key.
Uh… after all, considering future large-scale mass production, costs had to be controlled.
Including the 500 negotiators Chu Xiaoxiao had brought with her, the All-Unity Society had dispatched an entire delegation composed exclusively of robots!
Since they were mass-produced, there was naturally no “face customization.” Facing 500 identical negotiation robots—so alike that it was impossible to tell one from another—the Gemini negotiators couldn’t help but twitch at the corners of their mouths…
Though it wasn’t entirely impossible to distinguish them, because each robot had a projector lamp on its head, all displaying bright silver holographic nameplates.
Titles like “Agricultural Machinery Purchaser,” “Spaceship Purchaser,” “Mecha Salesperson”… a whole pile of titles flashing around, dazzling to the eyes.
But why did this feel so much like an online game?
Then he looked at the foremost unit, Chu Xiaoxiao’s personal model.
“Earth Branch President: White Butler.”
Good grief! That one was in bright gold!
Very clearly, this was a named elite mob—nothing wrong with that!
This display made Leon, who had disguised himself as a company representative in a business delegation to secretly probe the All-Unity Society’s intelligence, feel a bit disappointed. However, he soon noticed something rather abnormal.
The other party actually extended her right hand?!
As the intelligence chief of the Caldari Star Sector, Leon was thoroughly familiar with all known information about the All-Unity Society. Ever since the organization announced the establishment of an “Earth Branch,” he had put considerable effort into researching Earth civilization as well.
And handshaking… was a ceremonial gesture practiced only by Earthlings!
Coupled with the lifelike humanoid appearance of the bionic robot, a peculiar thought immediately arose in his mind.
“Hello, I am Leon, negotiation representative of Gemini Heavy Industries. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Excellency!”
Maintaining a calm expression, Leon extended his hand and shook hers, somewhat unaccustomed to the gesture.
Gemini Heavy Industries was one of the foremost heavy industrial enterprises within Gemini civilization, with deep roots and a primary focus on civilian spacecraft and heavy machinery. It was also one of the key companies Chu Xiaoxiao intended to establish cooperation with on this visit.
Leon had chosen this moderately influential identity because it wouldn’t make the other party overly wary, yet would allow him close contact with important members to gather intelligence—ensuring he wouldn’t be ignored as mere “background extras.” Considerable thought had gone into this choice.
“Forgive my impoliteness, but this form of etiquette… White Butler, could it be that you are not a Gemini native?”
After some pleasantries, Leon skillfully raised the question, carefully concealing his prior knowledge of Earth civilization.
Under normal circumstances, an ordinary company representative would be unlikely to know such an “obscure” custom as handshaking.
“Yes, that’s right. I am an Earthling. Including the delegation behind me—they are all Earthlings.”
Unexpectedly, Chu Xiaoxiao admitted it very straightforwardly.
“Hiss—” Leon couldn’t help but suck in a sharp breath.
He had imagined that the person in charge of this so-called “Earth Branch” might be a Gemini native, or perhaps someone from the Ante Empire—but he had never imagined she would actually be an Earthling!
A puppet regime? But wasn’t this level of delegated authority far too great?
In fact, this was precisely the message Nie Yun intended to convey to Gemini.
In order to allow Earth civilization to smoothly “dock” with interstellar society without appearing abrupt, Nie Yun had been extremely meticulous about secrecy.
All potential sources of information leakage were deliberately blurred, and even regarding present-day Earth, he had intentionally spread a mix of true and false information in advance.
For example, that the Ghost Captain belonged to an interstellar organization called the “All-Unity Society,” and that his technology and power all originated from this mysterious organization, and so on…
Even the top leadership of various nations couldn’t tell whether this information was true or false.
After all, it was just too reasonable!
The Ghost Captain’s high-tech equipment looked as if it had appeared out of thin air—it definitely couldn’t have come entirely from Earth. Receiving support from an external force was a perfectly logical explanation.
Even if Gemini managed to turn one or two Earthlings and uncover information about the “Ghost Captain,” they would most likely regard him as a hidden member of the All-Unity Society, or a puppet supported by it.
After all, never revealing one’s true identity was precisely the modus operandi of All-Unity Society members—Black Butler being a prime example…
“Your Excellency seems quite surprised that I am an Earthling? Actually, our All-Unity Society is an interstellar commercial organization. Our goal is peaceful trade with all races across the universe. All is permitted, all is void. In our view, racial prejudice only hinders the free exchange of goods among intelligent lifeforms.
There’s a saying in our Earth civilization: ‘The sea accepts all rivers; only then can it be great…’”
Following the already-prepared “All-Unity Society Grand Brainwashing Guide,” Chu Xiaoxiao launched into an eloquent sales pitch, leaving Leon momentarily stunned.
“So that’s how it is… Your organization truly has broad-minded ideals and great ambition!” Leon praised.
Even though they belonged to opposing sides, he had to admit that the organization’s vision was indeed lofty.
Perhaps it was precisely this inclusiveness that allowed them to conduct cross-civilization trade and establish branches everywhere…
“Hehe! In fact, your civilization’s ability to integrate two different races is, ideologically speaking, quite similar to ours. Might I ask whether Lord Leon would be interested in joining the All-Unity Society as an independent registered member?”
“Huh?” Leon was dumbfounded.
Was this a joke?
You want to recruit me—a chief intelligence officer? If I registered today, I’d probably be ‘humanely deregistered’ by the military tomorrow!
Seeing Leon’s strange expression, Chu Xiaoxiao smiled. “Please don’t misunderstand. This independent registered membership does not involve any stance or allegiance. There are no mandatory obligations—it’s simply a trade identity.
For example, Lord Black Butler started as an independent registered member. Step by step, by increasing trade volume and rank and developing multiple downstream members, he made outstanding contributions to the organization and was eventually promoted to Sector Butler.
For ordinary registered members, it simply means having one more trade channel.”
So that’s how it worked… but something felt off. Why did becoming a leader require developing downstream members?
Was this really not some kind of ‘interstellar pyramid scheme’ disguised as trade?!
“Ahem! As for the matter of registration, our company will give it serious consideration. However, I have one question. You just mentioned Black Butler. As far as I know, he appears to be your organization’s representative in the Caldari Star Sector.
Within your organization, all external inter-civilization trade in the Caldari Star Sector should fall under that butler’s authority, correct?
Now that you’ve chosen to trade with us directly, wouldn’t that harm his interests?”
Leon continued to probe indirectly, trying to learn more about the All-Unity Society’s key members and power structure.
It wasn’t hard to imagine—Black Butler used to make a fortune smuggling across the stars with a bunch of profiteers. Now that Gemini’s government forces had stepped in and interstellar trade routes were officially opened, what role would those smugglers still have?
“Hehe! It seems Lord Leon is quite curious about our organization’s internal affairs,” Chu Xiaoxiao said with a meaningful smile.
I’ve been talking business with you this whole time, yet you keep popping one ‘question’ after another—something’s fishy!
“Hehe! For us merchants, long-term investment is what matters most. Since Black Butler is the person in charge of the Caldari Star Sector, doing some homework in advance can’t hurt. That way, if a golden opportunity comes along in the future, I won’t miss it—otherwise, wouldn’t that be a terrible shame?”
Leon replied calmly, smiling.
“Mm! That’s fair enough, but Lord Leon is worrying too much.
Previously, transportation was cut off and we had no direct trade channels, so the organization could only conduct small-scale dealings under the table. Now, with the Proxima system serving as a trade hub, transaction volumes naturally need to expand—energy crystal trade is a good example.
When the cake gets bigger, everyone’s share increases! Especially when it’s an entirely new great trade route.
This round of trade between us was originally facilitated by Black Butler himself, and our ‘Earth Branch’ was personally developed by him as a downstream member. Therefore, the larger our trade volume becomes, the more benefits Lord Black Butler will receive.”
After listening for a while, Leon finally understood what was really being said.
Uh… so basically, that guy Black Butler used to go door-to-door hustling, and now he just sits back and collects dividends?
Damn it! This really is a pyramid scheme, isn’t it…
Vaguely, Leon felt as though he had glimpsed the organization’s “true face”….
TL Note- Scheme....
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