This is really not mechanical ascension
Chapter 879 - 454 Negotiation: The Azure Dragon’s Intervention_2

Chapter 879: Chapter 454 Negotiation: The Azure Dragon’s Intervention_2

"Lord Azure Dragon, do you have other matters?" inquired Braun, after all, he was one of the ten founding members of the High-level Alliance invited by the Empire, he was quite courteous.

Mikhail snorted coldly in his heart.

"I have one more thing," Li Ming said leisurely.

"Oh?" Diwusi became interested, his eyes gleaming, "What else might you have to turn the tide?"

"Turning the tide is unlikely," Li Ming smiled, "However, it could be considered a small bargaining chip."

Facing the eyes of several people, Li Ming uttered four words—"Eternal Silence Star."

In an instant, Braun’s face changed dramatically, Diwusi’s expression became reserved, and Crow focused intently.

Reynolds’ expression was increasingly astonished, Mikhail looked over in surprise.

"If it’s those you sold me last time, you needn’t mention it again," Diwusi smiled with a trace of discontent.

The Saint Fortress orbit locator program that Azure Dragon sold them last time really put them in a difficult position.

Operating it required a significant consumption of Terrax Stone, which they had no stock of, and when they tried to buy it secretly, they discovered several factions were secretly purchasing it.

One for each, equivalent to none.

"Lord Azure Dragon, you should be responsible for what you say..." Braun hinted, pondering in his heart.

"Of course..." Li Ming nodded, "I can give everyone a rough range."

A rough range has been provided?

Diwusi pondered inwardly, Crow’s eyes flickered, Braun’s mind raced.

He vaguely knew that Prince Costat was in charge of this matter, but did not know where Azure Dragon’s information came from, nor did he know the truth of it, nevertheless...

"By the way, Lord Braun, you can verify with certain people," Li Ming said.

"Hmm?"

Diwusi and Crow both looked over, expressions solemn, was it really possible to narrow down a range for the Empire’s search for the Eternal Silence Star?

Why had they received no news at all?

Braun forced a difficult smile on his face: "Lord Azure Dragon, you jest, I have not received..."

Before the words were finished, Li Ming directly interrupted, "If you don’t ask, then I’ll just speak out."

"Wait..." Braun hastily stopped, gritting his teeth, "I...have some urgent matters, please wait a moment..."

Having said that, he went offline.

Diwusi’s eyes lit up, this matter almost needed no confirmation.

"Lord Azure Dragon, this matter..." she smiled and began.

Li Ming shook his head, "Lord Diwusi, until Lord Braun returns, let’s not communicate further."

Diwusi’s face stiffened slightly, Crow’s brows furrowed, scrutinizing Azure Dragon.

He mentioned it but was unwilling to tell them, what was he trying to do?

Mikhail’s mind flickered with various thoughts, did Azure Dragon bring up this matter truly to help the Mechanic Association?

The informational value of the Eternal Silence Star was obviously greater.

It didn’t take long for someone to come back online, but it wasn’t Braun, it was Costat.

"Prince, it’s been a long time," Li Ming raised an eyebrow.

Costat’s gaze swept across Azure Dragon, his mood was complex.

Because not long ago, the sudden appearance of Talos caused their cooperation with Chrono to temporarily stall.

Chrono was quite unhappy with their threats, and Costa was still wrestling with it when he received Braun’s message.

"Joint governance is absolutely impossible..." Costat immediately said.

"I don’t seek joint governance..." Li Ming shook his head, "I just hope, in a more gentle manner, to allow the Mechanic Association to fulfill its historic mission."

"The Mechanic Association cannot collapse within three years."

He wanted to buy some time, having gained considerable benefits with increasing understanding and involvement in the Mechanic Association.

But now, they certainly couldn’t protect the association, they could only hope to delay as much as possible.

"Three years?" Costat still shook his head, "At most, you get one year to grab whatever benefits you can."

"One year..." Li Ming pondered, his brow slightly furrowed.

As the two continued their exchange, ignoring others, Diwusi and Crow’s expressions turned unkind: "Prince Costat, we do not agree with this deal."

"This is the Holy Emperor’s intention, if you disagree, we’ll instead support the Mechanic Association." Costat directly stated.

Mikhail’s heart jumped.

Crow’s face was unpleasant, "Is the Empire going to renege on its word?"

With no one else present, the myriad complexities of interstellar issues were clear to the six present, and the conversation began to get bold.

Diwusi’s gaze swept deeply across Azure Dragon, she finally understood, the other party was not negotiating this information with the three of them.

Rather, he was making the Empire pay a price to keep him silent.

With trading this information, the initiative was in their hands, and promises made were prone to changes.

The Three Great Civilizations, facing the vast interstellar, they could not easily dictate, they could only guide.

But if the Empire started changing sides, this matter would be troublesome.

"No, the Empire only needs one year," Costat said emphatically, holding the High-level Life Form Union, Adam feared nothing.

"Then give you another year," Diwusi said impassively.

In this matter, they were not entirely fruitless, at least they learned that the Empire’s progress in searching for the Eternal Silence Star was quite advanced.

Another year for disclosure was not much.

"Alright, negotiations are over," Costat took a deep look at Azure Dragon, ending the communication directly.

Crow and Diwusi were also inattentive, likely to hold a high-level meeting as soon as they went offline to discuss this matter.

"Is it... over?" Reynolds looked confused, then couldn’t help but look at Azure Dragon, "Is the intelligence on the Eternal Silence Star only worth one year..."

"Don’t speak yet," Mikhail coldly said, and Reynolds fell silent.

Three people logged out of the conference room, then re-established a more confidential connection, descending in virtual projection form.

Reynolds was still puzzled, "The leads on the Eternal Silence Star should be far beyond this value, even getting the Empire to support us is not impossible."

"No..." Li Ming shook his head, "That area is rather special, knowing it makes no difference, its value isn’t as imagined, getting one more year already means the Empire doesn’t want any news to leak."

"I see..." Reynolds finally understood, hesitating, curious about where the area was, yet found it inappropriate to ask.

"In any case, getting an extra year buys more time and more variables," Mikhail took a deep breath, looking at Azure Dragon with complex emotions.

He was truly surprised, was Azure Dragon not a person from the Empire?

Bringing this matter up in front of Diwusi and Crow, wasn’t he alerting them indirectly?

He couldn’t figure it out, the existing many speculations conflicted with each other.

Li Ming had his own plans, mentioning this matter was not just for buying time for the Mechanic Association.

Estimating that after this event, the Empire could roughly deduce his involvement with Talos.

But this result was not necessarily a bad thing, he even intended it somewhat.

After all, that Dimension World, as long as it benefited the Empire, it didn’t matter much who controlled it.

"Variables? Hmph... Mikhail..." catching his words, Reynolds’ gaze turned unfriendly, "Truly a dog can’t change its ways."

Mikhail was baffled, staring coldly at him, "Reynolds, what do you mean?"

Reynolds said sternly, "I ask you, how did they know the coordinates of the Holy Spirit Civilization Ruins?"

Only then did Mikhail understand, coldly saying, "You think I leaked it?"

"What else?" Reynolds looked at him, extremely certain: "Moreover, the upcoming appearance of the Holy Spirit Civilization Ruins, why haven’t you told us, don’t tell us you didn’t know."

Mikhail’s voice caught.

Reynolds sneered, "I knew it, the Forging Hammer was right, inherently selfish, hard to maintain."

"Reynolds!" Mikhail seemed provoked, his virtual projection slightly dissipating, eyes bloodshot, his voice abruptly high, "Don’t use the Forging Hammer to pressure me, he is the Founder of the Association, a Mechanical Master, but I, Mikhail, am not necessarily inferior to him!"