In the end, on the matter of the universe star gate, the two sides chose to set it aside for now; but what was set aside was only whose technology the star gate would use. As to managing the universe star gate, it went as Zhao Chen had said: each side would manage one end.
Next Zhao Chen was the first to speak. "Then what's left is the question of managing and stationing your country's legion fleets in our Owl Dragon Empire. Considering that your side's support this time is five million warships, we'll give you five military bases to be stationed in, and provide at least T5-grade star gates, starports and other military installations to make sure of your interstellar fleets' stationing. But these star gates and starports remain under our jurisdiction. We can guarantee, though, that in this time your interstellar fleets' normal needs will be met without condition. In the same way, however, without our leave, in time of peace your interstellar fleets may not sail out of the bounds we set."
Zhao Chen paused here, and went on, "And in time of war, we'll mark out the area the war reaches, and on the basis of the area the war affects, we'll mark out another war zone. In the same way, your interstellar fleets may move only within the war zone, and may not sail out of it without leave. At the same time, without leave they may not forcibly take over our starports, star gates, or any military or civilian interstellar installations, still less set foot on any planet."
As Zhao Chen said these things, his tone brooked no argument.
"This isn't allowed, that isn't allowed. It looks as though your country doesn't need any reinforcements at all," the Nightglow Elf King said coldly.
Zhao Chen sat back in his seat, leaning against the chair back, and said calmly, "Here I'll repeat it only one last time. This is not a one-sided plea for aid; it's an alliance of our two sides for war, attack and defense. Of course, it isn't compulsory. If your side isn't willing, let it go."
Zhao Chen shrugged, looking unconcerned. "If needed, I can give you some time to discuss it. Or have the people outside talk it over properly again on this question."
The several Elf Sovereigns were quiet a moment.
On these questions they must surely have talked it over long before.
These questions could never be thrown to the High Council outside and the Owl Dragon mission to discuss, or they would likely not agree in a day and a night.
"Very well." The Radiant Elf King looked at Zhao Chen and said with a faint smile, "From these two days of dealing with you, I believe His Majesty the Owl Dragon Emperor is a good ally."
The corner of Zhao Chen's mouth lifted slightly.
That Xu Yan truly deserved to be the Imperial Minister of Foreign Affairs; the course of things had gone in the main just as she had told him privately.
"Since everyone has settled it, when do we conclude the agreement?" Zhao Chen spread his hands and asked.
"This needs some preparation. Let's say tomorrow," the Radiant Elf King said.
"No problem." Zhao Chen nodded.
Time mattered a great deal to Zhao Chen; he naturally did not wish to waste more of it here, for he was in a hurry to get back to the Owl Dragon Empire.
The technological research there needed him, and the Devourer Civilization's threat, which might appear at any moment, needed him there to hold things steady.
"Then may I ask: when may we see your country's cross-universe sailing star-gate technology?" the Emerald Elf King asked with interest.
From this time dealing with him, Zhao Chen had come to understand that this Emerald Elf King looked aloof and cold, but that was only because no one had touched his weak spot.
His weak spot was likely every kind of technology.
And the 'Water Dragon Gate' cross-universe sailing technology the Sacred Elf Empire now used had in truth been developed under his lead.
He was very keen on technological research, above all plant technology.
"Within seven days." Zhao Chen looked entirely sure of himself.
"Ha ha ha, none of this matters. Barring surprises, Your Excellency the Owl Dragon Emperor, from now on we're allies." The Radiant Elf King gave Zhao Chen a courtesy in the elven manner with a smile.
Zhao Chen returned the courtesy too. "For enemies, we wait with our guns; for friends, with fine wine and good food. If there's a chance in future, you're all most welcome to come and travel through our Owl Dragon Empire; you'll certainly gain something from it."
In the main the intention to ally had been agreed; what followed was for the High Council and the people of the Owl Dragon ministry of foreign affairs to set all these articles down in the agreement.
Some may say that what's written 'in black and white' isn't necessarily of use.
It's true the thing isn't of use a hundred percent of the time, but sometimes, having it, you are in the right as a matter of course, and have reason on your side.
After this, Zhao Chen dined with the several Elf Sovereigns, and they talked of some things too.
Taking the chance, Zhao Chen also said he would like to spend the next few days looking around the Sacred Elf Empire properly, and admiring the Sacred Elf Empire's culture and technology.
To this the Radiant Elf King agreed at once, and had Gladys go on keeping Zhao Chen company.
Besides that, Zhao Chen said he hoped to take back some of the Sacred Elf Empire's local specialties,
such as seeds of some of the Sacred Elf Empire's plants and fruits; to that too the Radiant Elf King agreed without the least hesitation,
and even, quite proudly and generously, gave a good many.
Likely he thought Zhao Chen, the outsider, liked these fruits and crops of their Sacred Elf Empire very much.
Besides that, Zhao Chen asked to buy some of the Sacred Elf Empire's military equipment and industrial products too.
To this the Radiant Elf King did not agree at once.
But after this he did meet some of Zhao Chen's requests,
allowing Zhao Chen, for warship purchases, to buy some T4 and all warships of T3 grade and below.
T4, and above all T3 and below, warships had in the main been retired from active equipment by the Owl Dragon Empire, true.
But Zhao Chen wanted a few of the Sacred Elf Empire's warships not for his own use:
only to study the Sacred Elf Empire's technology.
He could not get the most advanced technological equipment, but from T4 and T3-grade technological equipment and warships, he could still feel out something of the Sacred Elf Empire's technological theory.
For with an interstellar civilization grown up the ordinary way, like the Sacred Elf Empire, much of its technology has in truth improved itself step by step, and one can feel out their design ideas from their earliest technological products.
For the Owl Dragon Empire's scientists and researchers, that too was no bad chance to learn.
And next the Sacred Elf Empire's High Council and the Owl Dragon Empire's mission quickly settled in the main every detail of the alliance too,
in the main no different from what Zhao Chen and the several Elf Sovereigns had discussed; all that remained was the time of signing.
"You've all worked hard these days. These are ingredients brought specially from our own warships." Zhao Chen looked at the members of the diplomatic mission before him, and at Panther-Girl's guard squad.
Zhao Chen had asked Gladys specially for a small kitchen, and the cooks from their own warships had cooked these foods.
Because it was known that the two sides were to ally, the request was met very indulgently; Gladys had arranged it with a little effort, and now steaming hot food sat before Zhao Chen and the others.
"Mmm, mmm, mmm, so good. These two days of eating nothing but their grass and flowers and fruit here, I'd nearly forgotten what meat tastes like." Panther-Girl could not keep up the least bit of reserve; she picked up a chicken drumstick from the table and began gnawing at it.
The longer they followed this Majesty the Emperor, the better everyone knew how very warm and approachable he was.
So, except in front of outsiders, when they were together among themselves they relaxed a little too.
Not only Panther-Girl; even the members of the Owl Dragon diplomatic mission, eating this food, wore satisfied smiles.
It was really because the Sacred Elf Empire's food, novel and special as it was, was fine to eat now and then,
but eaten day after day, it was more than one could bear.
"For the Empire, for His Majesty. This is what our Imperial ministry of foreign affairs ought to do." Minister Xu Yan raised her wine glass and said to her colleagues of the ministry of foreign affairs, "This glass is to His Majesty. Thanks to His Majesty for giving our Imperial ministry of foreign affairs such a chance to be of use. Otherwise we'd truly have gone moldy in that corner of the Imperial ministry of foreign affairs."
"To His Majesty!"
"To His Majesty." The others of the ministry of foreign affairs said so too.
Everyone drank in celebration.
Zhao Chen set down his empty glass and looked at Minister Xu Yan. "By the time agreed, in three days[1] comes the signing of the alliance agreement. And among the terms of the agreement there's one article: that the two sides will send diplomats to each other, and set up an embassy at the other's political center. That, Xu Yan, you'll take charge of yourself. Whom to send, you choose yourselves."
He paused, and Zhao Chen's face grew grave; he looked at Panther-Girl beside him.
Panther-Girl made a sign that all was well, showing that every possible eavesdropping in this room had been shielded.
"Xu Yan, though we've allied with the Sacred Elf Empire now, no one can foresee what will happen tomorrow. So the people you send to the embassy in the Sacred Elf Empire: make it clear to them that anything at all may happen while they're stationed here. Even something that threatens their lives directly."
Minister Xu Yan said gravely, "Let Your Majesty rest easy; I'll arrange it properly. As for the question of people's safety, Your Majesty needn't worry. We of the Imperial ministry of foreign affairs all know this responsibility of ours very well. This is our diplomats' battlefield to begin with; and where there's a battlefield there will be sacrifice. So we're all ready to sacrifice ourselves for the Empire!"
Zhao Chen looked at Minister Xu Yan and the other members of the Imperial ministry of foreign affairs, and nodded, well content.
At this point Minister Xu Yan stood before Zhao Chen and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, about the universe star-gate building technology. The other side's Elf Sovereigns ask that you provide technology concerning our universe star gates. This… is there any problem with that?"
Minister Xu Yan looked at His Majesty the Emperor somewhat worriedly.
For in the intelligence she knew of, she knew in fact that the Owl Dragon Empire seemed truly to have no technology in this field.
But before this, His Majesty the Emperor had told her not to worry.
And now the other side's Elf Sovereigns had made this point explicit; if, when the time came, they could not hand over star-gate technology, there would truly be a problem.
At the least, the articles on the universe star gate would be changed.
"Rest easy; leave this point to me." The corner of Zhao Chen's mouth lifted slightly, and he said confidently, "Today, just enjoy this dinner properly. There isn't much of it. When we get back to the Owl Dragon Empire, I'll give you a feast to celebrate."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
……
On the day before the signing of the alliance covenant,
Zhao Chen met the Elf Sovereigns once more, but this time only three Elf Sovereigns were present:
the Radiant Elf King, the Emerald Elf King and the Flame Elf Queen.
The other two Elf Sovereigns did not appear.
Perhaps they did not care about this meeting's business.
"Your Excellency the Owl Dragon Emperor, you promised to let us look over your country's cross-universe sailing star-gate technology." The Emerald Elf King stared at Zhao Chen.
"Of course."
Zhao Chen brought out a device like an optical disc, set it on the table, and lightly pressed a button on it.
Then electronic screens appeared one after another, written with string after string of text, seemingly a very profound technology.
At once the Emerald Elf King began looking it over, and even laid hands on it without the least ceremony, calling up some electronic screens, going over them again and again, and opening sub-items to look at too.
The Flame Elf Queen only swept her eyes over it once and looked no more.
In technology she knew only a little of the surface.
Had it been warship technology she would have been interested, but in this field of technology her interest was slight.
The Radiant Elf King, beside them, pushed a cup of tea over to Zhao Chen and chatted idly with him.
About half an hour later,
the Emerald Elf King raised his head with a frown and looked at Zhao Chen. "Your Excellency the Owl Dragon Emperor, why is the core technology missing from all of this?"
Zhao Chen looked at the Emerald Elf King with a slight smile. "Your Excellency the Emerald Elf King, that question is somewhat abrupt. T6 cross-universe permanent star-gate technology, whether to your Sacred Elf Empire or to our Owl Dragon Empire, is top core technology. My showing you all the framework of our technology in this field is already out of the goodwill of our being allies. But for you to want to see our core content: isn't that crossing the line somewhat!"
Zhao Chen's words grew cold by degrees, and the smile on his face faded away by degrees too.
"Or are you saying your side is willing to open to me your 'Water Dragon Gate' technology as well, and the core technology of every T6 warship you have?"
Hearing this, the expression on the Emerald Elf King's face stopped short.
It was indeed so, by rights.
"Let Your Excellency the Owl Dragon Emperor not be angry. That's just Mansfield's temper; he has always been especially keen on technology. He may have lost himself somewhat in looking at it. No offense, no offense." At once the Radiant Elf King stepped forward to smooth things over.
"But… without seeing the core technology… we can't know whether his technology is really……" The Emerald Elf King was plainly somewhat anxious.
"First, let me ask Your Excellency the Emerald Elf King one thing. Is there anything wrong with this framework?" Zhao Chen asked back.
The Emerald Elf King was taken aback, then said, "As it looks now, there's nothing wrong with it."
"Good. Since there's nothing wrong with the framework, what's left is the core technology, isn't it? If you still doubt it, you're quite welcome to use our Owl Dragon Empire's cross-universe star-gate technology; we don't mind at all," Zhao Chen said with a faint smile.
But when the Radiant Elf King heard this, the expression on his face changed slightly.