The talk with Gladys, the elf woman, paused for the time being.
Charlotte passed on the Owl Dragon Emperor's wishes: the earlier demand that the Sacred Elf Empire's fleet be driven off was lifted, and they were allowed to stay in their present area for the time being.
"As things look now, this fleet from the Sacred Elf Empire, and the information that fleet commander passed on, should be in the main sound. After all, lying about this would do them no good. So long as we got into their universe, finding these things out wouldn't be hard at all," Lilith said beside Zhao Chen, by way of analysis.
Charlotte said gravely, "If what that elf woman said just now about the Devourer Civilization's military strength and military technology is sound, then in three months the Devourer Civilization's interstellar fleets will invade us. Unless we can develop and build true T7-grade warships before those three months are out, winning this clash will be very hard. That technological weapon called the 'Soul Altar' is a great threat."
Zhao Chen's face was grave; he had heard all that information just now too.
He naturally knew very well how important this matter was.
Within three months, never mind building T7-grade warships, even developing them would be very hard.
"Which is to say, cooperating with the Sacred Elf Empire is our only choice for now," Zhao Chen said in a deep voice.
Lilith and Charlotte exchanged a look, and both nodded.
"Since we've decided that much, then we can cooperate with the Sacred Elf Empire and form an alliance. But how to cooperate, in what way, and whether we agree if the other side puts forward conditions for cooperation: we must settle these things first," Zhao Chen said.
Charlotte and Lilith exchanged a look.
"Now I'm that elf commander Gladys. I'll stand where she stands and put forward the demands she might make," Lilith said.
Zhao Chen and Charlotte watched Lilith.
Lilith raised her head, her face taking on a lofty, arrogant air.
He had to say, it was a good seven-tenths like the elves' manner.
"Our two sides begin to cooperate. We will help you hold off the Devourer Civilization's attack. But first we must send our interstellar legion fleets into your universe. And preferably you'll allow us to have military stations of our own within your Empire, with starports, star gates and other military installations. Better still if you can give us an industrial plant as well. These installations will be under our people's full command; without our leave, even your side will have no right to meddle," Lilith made the first move.
Sending their own legion fleets to help defend:
that was a demand certain to be made.
Otherwise it was hard to think by what other means the Sacred Elf Empire could give the help it had spoken of before in holding off the Devourer Civilization's attack on the Owl Dragon Empire.
Charlotte thought a moment and said, "We can accept a certain number of their interstellar legion fleets entering our Owl Dragon Empire. But in return, our Owl Dragon legion fleets have the right to enter their Sacred Elf Empire too. For the Devourer Civilization's legion fleets may attack the Sacred Elf Empire's universe as well. Since we're allies, holding off a strong enemy together for an ally is only natural."
Zhao Chen nodded.
It looked like a concession.
In truth it was also a way to add to the Owl Dragon Empire's knowledge of this Sacred Elf Empire.
"We can provide military fleet stations, star gates, starports, and the use of small and medium industrial bases. But we must station fleets within those bases. The use of the bases, and any action of the legion fleets stationed there, must all have our leave first," Charlotte added.
Zhao Chen nodded in satisfaction.
Charlotte had said everything that was in his own mind.
Let a wolf in, and it must be kept well chained.
However fierce the beast, tamed properly it becomes a dog,
even a dog that will bite others for you.
Lilith paused, and went on, "Then our use of the star gates……"
"Your side has the right to apply to use star gates to anywhere in the Owl Dragon Empire. But on condition of applying and getting our Empire's approval. And all your side's treatment within the Owl Dragon Empire may be treated as that of an Owl Dragon Empire legion fleet, but every action will be accompanied by our Owl Dragon legion fleets," Charlotte cut in.
Lilith added, "Then if there are losses in battle, or in training……"
Charlotte answered, "The war resources consumed in battle and training, our Owl Dragon Empire supplies free of charge. And in return, for the garrison the Owl Dragon Empire sends to the Sacred Elf Empire, the corresponding battlefield consumption and resource consumption must likewise be resupplied by the Sacred Elf Empire on the spot. As for losses in battle: warship losses in war can't be avoided. Since our two sides are to sign an alliance agreement, then losses in war are borne by each side for itself."
Lilith stopped and thought a moment,
perhaps thinking what harsh conditions or demands she might still put forward, standing where the Sacred Elf Empire stood.
Lilith thought of something, and said at once, "To resist the Devourer Civilization, and even Order's invasion in future, our side wishes to seek technological cooperation with yours. We hope both sides can bring out their technology in all openness for exchange!"
Technological exchange.
Zhao Chen narrowed his eyes; for his own part, if anything, he was very interested in that.
"Technological exchange is no problem, but all exchange should be on equal terms. As for how the exchange would go then, it depends on the particular case. We can discuss it when the time comes." On this point Charlotte chose the tactic of putting it off, too.
After that Lilith raised some other questions of no great weight, and in the main went through every demand the Sacred Elf Empire might put forward.
In the end the three of them worked out how far they could accept.
And in the end it was still Charlotte who would hold the final talks with the other side.
On this side, Gladys, the elf woman, who had been waiting a long time, was plainly somewhat excited to see the video window appear again,
and at the same time looked at Charlotte somewhat tensely, waiting for Charlotte's answer.
"As to an alliance and cooperation, our Majesty the Emperor says he can accept it. But some particular points of content need settling first."
"Naturally. Concluding an alliance needs detailed terms!" Gladys, the elf woman, said in agreement.
After that, the two sides began a round of talks.
The questions Lilith had raised before, Gladys, the elf woman, raised in the main as well.
And Charlotte brought out the lines she had ready.
Some of the standards made Gladys, the elf woman, opposite, somewhat hesitant:
such as that the garrison stationed in the Owl Dragon Empire must accept the Owl Dragon Empire's supervision,
and that the Owl Dragon Empire would in return send a legion fleet to be stationed in the Sacred Elf Empire.
The latter condition above all
had Gladys, the elf woman, torn for a long while at the time.
For never before had any other universe's civilization stationed troops within the Sacred Elf Empire.
How could the ever-proud elves allow such a thing?
"Our garrison accepting your supervision, that point I can agree to. But your side stationing troops within our Sacred Elf Empire, on that point, with my authority, I can make no promise. And I think it wholly unnecessary. Your side should put more of its interstellar legion fleets into the Owl Dragon Empire, to hold off the invasion the Devourer Civilization's legion fleets may launch at any moment." Gladys, the elf woman, still hoped to win something on this point.
Charlotte said with a smile, "I know our Owl Dragon Empire's forces can't compare with the Sacred Elf Empire's. But since our two sides are allies for attack and defense, the Devourer Civilization might feint east and strike west, and attack the Sacred Elf Empire. And we, as allies, sending no legion fleets to fight shoulder to shoulder with our ally: that's a thing we could never do. So whatever happens, we must send a garrison to fight shoulder to shoulder with our ally in any war that may come!"
Charlotte's last words were said in a very grave tone,
as though she truly thought so.
A torn look came over the face of Gladys, the elf woman.
"In truth, you needn't worry over this point at all. We agree a scale for mutual garrisons. In truth, our Owl Dragon Empire won't send so many legion fleets to the Sacred Elf Empire at all. Say we agree on five hundred thousand. Your side can send five hundred thousand warships to be stationed in the Owl Dragon Empire. But in return, we have a ceiling of five hundred thousand warships, and we may send only a hundred thousand," Charlotte said lightly, as though it were nothing.
"Can it be your side doubts our sincerity? Even so, what are a hundred thousand warships within the mighty Sacred Elf Empire?"
Hearing this,
Gladys, the elf woman, actually found some sense in it.
"Then the ceiling for the garrison?" Gladys, the elf woman, asked, sounding it out.
"That can be discussed later. So long as it's settled," Charlotte said coolly.
Gladys, the elf woman, hesitated a moment, and did not pursue the question either; after all, it was no longer something she could decide directly, and she would have to report this matter to the High Council.
"Then is that everything? That's about all of it, isn't it?" Charlotte asked.
Gladys, the elf woman, shook her head, and went on, "There's one last request. We hope your side's Majesty the Emperor can come to our Sacred Elf Empire, and sign the alliance covenant in our Sacred Elf Empire. Because of the question of time later, running back and forth between the two sides is inconvenient. So we'd trouble His Majesty the Emperor to make the journey, and whatever needs discussing, our two sides can discuss directly face to face. As you said before, I'm not qualified to see your Majesty the Emperor. Then we'll arrange for high elves of our Sacred Elf Empire who are qualified to meet His Majesty the Emperor."
"No." Hearing this request, Charlotte's face darkened and she refused outright.
But before Gladys, the elf woman, could say anything,
something seemed to have come up on Charlotte's side, and she said in a deep voice, "One moment; I have something to deal with here."
With that, the video communication ended for the time being.
"I agree to go to the Sacred Elf Empire," Zhao Chen said calmly.
"I object! You're our Owl Dragon Empire's Emperor now. Your standing is wholly different from before. How can you leave the Owl Dragon Empire and go to an interstellar civilization in a universe no one has ever visited!" Charlotte refused, flat and decisive.
Lilith, though, had said nothing all this while.
Zhao Chen looked at Charlotte and said evenly, "This idea of mine isn't a passing whim. It's a decision after thinking it over again and again. And a decision in our favor. First, part of the benefit that elf woman already told us, and it really is so. And besides, I can take this chance, going to the Sacred Elf Empire in person, to look into the Sacred Elf Empire's real footing. With my standing, I can reach higher levels. And besides, what I truly want is the Sacred Elf Empire's top technology. We spoke of technological exchange before. No one is fitter to do this technological exchange than I am, and no one knows better than I do what technology our Empire needs now. So on this journey I must go to the Sacred Elf Empire myself." Zhao Chen's tone too brooked no argument.
Charlotte was frantic.
She looked to Lilith for help. "Lilith, say something! Talk him out of it. How can we let him act so wildly?"
Lilith spoke, but what she said was not what Charlotte wanted to hear.
"Charlotte, this time I think I agree with His Majesty."
"Lilith!"
"Hear me out first. What His Majesty said just now is all reasonable, in truth, and you ought to see that. And now the Devourer Civilization's threat is right before us. Even if we ally with the Sacred Elf Empire, can we truly rely on them? To forge iron, the smith must himself be strong. In the end, we still need strength enough of our own to meet any threat that may arise. So our own technological progress matters most. And His Majesty's journey to the Sacred Elf Empire this time is for that. His Majesty has said our technology has reached a bottleneck now. Even pouring in research without pause, progress is still slow. And what we lack now is time. We simply haven't so much time to spend on it. That being so, we can only take the risk," Lilith said gravely.
Charlotte bit her red lip lightly and clenched her fists; in the end she said, "Fine. I can agree to his going, but I must escort him with my Reverse Scale ace fleet group!"
"No. You're the Owl Dragon Empire's Grand Marshal. You must stay here. So long as you stay here, whatever enemy invades, we have you to defend our Empire!" Zhao Chen refused outright.
Then, before Lilith could speak, he added, "And Lilith isn't to come with me either. At home, the army I can leave to Charlotte. But everything else, you must be in charge of."