Hearing so much, even Zhao Chen wore a look of disbelief.
He looked at this little girl before him, sitting upon the desk and swinging her legs, all innocence and simplicity, and yet with some little sorrow within her gaze.
It is hard to believe that these unimaginable things should all have been her doing.
That a war entangling this universe for some thousands of years should be a game governed by her!
The little girl went on with the telling of this game of hers. "Yet it must be said, there is a great gulf between you and the Gaia Empire that went before.
"Though what you came by was but a part of their inheritance in technology, in some thousands of years you have barely recovered to the level of T4 technology.
"The Angel Race and the Demon Race there are somewhat better, having recovered to the level of T5 technology.
"But from the Gaia Empire at its mightiest there is no small gulf yet."
For a people able to build an expeditionary legion fleet and voyage far into other universes, that level of technology is of course far beyond the level of the several interstellar powers at present.
"By what I had foreseen, I should watch over your developing.
"And thereafter there were two plans and no more.
"Should no fit leader come to birth among you hereafter, then I would draw in your technologies, and bring my Machine Race's level of technology past the level of the Gaia Empire before it.
"And then form an expeditionary fleet, to seek the traces of that expeditionary fleet of the Gaia Empire, and to destroy that mighty enemy from beyond the sphere."
The little girl paused, and went on. "The other plan is this: that should there come to birth within this universe a leader whom I approve.
"Then I would work together with him, and unite this universe once more along with him, and face that threat from beyond the sphere together!"
Having said it, the little girl fixed her eyes upon Zhao Chen.
"Why do you look at me so? Can it be that I am the chosen one?" Zhao Chen looked at the little girl in surprise.
The little girl lowered her head, as though watching her own swinging toes, and then said slowly, "At present you are, of all the candidates I am examining, the fittest.
"The one flaw in the jade is that the level of technology in your hand falls far short yet of what I look for.
"What I first conceived was that a quasi-T6 level of technology at the least must be reached before the conditions were wholly answered.
"But no few things that have happened now have broken my plans.
"And you have come to know certain things besides that you ought never to have known.
"And one choice within that is this — either to let this secret go on hidden…
"Tell me, what ought I to do?"
The little girl's voice was easy and playful, and yet it gave Zhao Chen a feeling of standing at a crossroads.
This is the little girl setting Zhao Chen to make a choice.
Either Zhao Chen is done away with, and Zhao Chen's power along with him, and the secret goes on.
And she goes on picking out some fit person, and carrying out those plans of hers step by orderly step.
As for the remaining choice…
It goes without saying: that Zhao Chen becomes the one considered first of all.
"Have I any choice at all?" Zhao Chen shrugged.
By the Owl Dragon Legion's strength as it now stands, it is not yet enough to stand against the Machine Race.
And from the threads of what she had just said, Zhao Chen guessed at a certain possibility.
The Gaia Empire at its mightiest had already mastered the technology of quasi-T6; then does the Machine Race, having wholly inherited the Gaia Empire's technological legacy, hold quasi-T6 interstellar warships as well?
And taking thought of the Machine Race's long-stored depth, and of its terrible capacity for production and building in industry.
Then the number of those quasi-T6 warships…
So that were war truly opened with the Machine Race, there is in the main no talking of any hope of victory!
"I have not forced you." The little girl smiled a little, and looked at Zhao Chen with an innocent air.
Zhao Chen spread his hands, nor did he take it ill that she was playing the sly one with him; he said, "Then may we be reckoned to have begun our cooperation properly?"
For if the two sides may be reckoned to have begun cooperating, does that mean Zhao Chen may borrow the Machine Race's strength…
The little girl raised a finger and waved it a little.
Then she said, "You stand within the period of examination still.
"Only that, for these objective factors at present, you hold the first priority.
"But we are not at present in a relation of cooperators."
Zhao Chen's brows drew a little together.
The little girl went on. "I need you hereafter, leaning upon your own powers, to settle the business of the Demon Race.
"And at that time you shall properly become our Machine Race's partner.
"And you shall have our Machine Race's help besides.
"And deal, together with us, with that enemy from beyond the sphere!"
Zhao Chen was silent.
It must be said, this test the little girl had set was exceedingly exact.
By the case upon the field as it now stands, the existence of the Demon Race is a thing Zhao Chen is by no means certain of being able to settle.
It may be reckoned a test that carries a very real threat.
"But this is not fair.
"The Demon Race has come by the Machine Race's support — the Mechanical Divine Church's!
"And has mastered certain technologies the Mechanical Divine Church gave them." Zhao Chen was looking to find himself some opening.
But the little girl said levelly, "Unfairness is what this world is made of to begin with.
"We may be very strong within this universe; but set us elsewhere, and we may be no more than ants looked down upon.
"And when they would clear us away, it will be as easy as pinching an ant to death.
"Will you talk of fairness with them then?
"Will they care for that fairness you speak of?"
Facing the little girl's question.
Zhao Chen in fact understood that reasoning perfectly well within himself.
Zhao Chen drew a deep breath; and seeing that this little girl was one whom neither firewood nor rice could get into, he could only say, "Very well; I agree to it."
"Hee hee hee, that is well then.
"In truth I like big brother rather well.
"Big brother must put his back into it; and if big brother completes this condition of mine.
"I shall make ready a vast gift for big brother!" A smile brimmed over the little girl's face, and she made a gesture of it besides.
As for the help the Machine Race might give him, Zhao Chen looked forward to it very much.
For this, after all, is an existence that has inherited the legacy of that legendary Gaia Empire.
"Only, if I am truly to cooperate with you.
"I have no few things of my own to smooth over within my house.
"For to change, in this little while, the hostile attitude they held toward your Machine Race long since.
"Is no easy business at all." Zhao Chen scratched his head.
Upon the business of his own dealings with the Machine Race, the Owl Dragon Legion's high officers, and the high officers of the three great empires besides, have in fact guessed at something.
But for the particular case at present, and Zhao Chen's not having made it public.
No one has troubled about the business.
Yet should Zhao Chen make the business public in time to come, he must assuredly meet with no little resistance.
And above all from those high officers who have a blood feud deep as the sea with the Machine Race.
And is there not one such at his very side?
"What you say is not wrong; but if you do not have your war with us, you will have your wars with one another," the little girl said with a blink.
Zhao Chen understands that point too, but he could only shake his head. "This is a business of feeling; you cannot understand it."
"Still — if you would speak of the business of that Chu family.
"In truth… of those who fought us then, I did not kill quite all of them."