After the talk with the Flame Elf Queen,
Zhao Chen was by no means idle.
Even if the Flame Elf Queen's side, and the Sacred Elf Empire's High Council and Elf Sovereigns, all agreed to this cooperation,
Zhao Chen's side still needed to make preparations to match.
Even if a new universe lay before Zhao Chen then, Zhao Chen would need the strength to explore it, and the strength to meet whatever might happen.
On this matter,
Zhao Chen specially called in Charlotte and Lilith for a meeting to talk it over.
"If we really can get resources in other, new universes, it truly would be an enormous help to our Owl Dragon Empire as things stand now," Lilith said, nodding.
Then she went on, "But there's a question in it too: what attitude the civilizations in a new universe will take toward our coming. The conclusions come down to a few directions. The first: the other side is friendly to us at first, and willing to have peaceful exchanges and contact with us. If so, that's in truth the state we can accept best; that way we can trade the least cost for the greatest gain. We can trade with the other side's interstellar universe civilizations, providing the resources they need in exchange for the supplies we need. That way our trade volume will double, and that will be one way to make our Owl Dragon Empire stronger."
Zhao Chen nodded; he knew very well that war was always the lowest of means; if what one wanted could be had without war, that was the best plan of all.
But such cases were far too rare.
"The second case: the other side is wary of us, meaning they might want contact with us but keep us at arm's length; that makes cooperation between us very troublesome and thorny. After all, we don't have much time right now to wear them in and let them accept us bit by bit. In that case, because the actual situation would be fairly complicated, there may be many ways of handling it, and war can't be ruled out among them. The third case: the other side resists our appearance, or is even hostile. In that case we may need force to persuade the other side to come to terms and understanding with us. Just how much force to use would have to be judged by the actual situation."
At this point Charlotte added beside her, "If force is to be used, first we'd need to know how strong or weak the civilizations and powers in these interstellar universes are, and what degree of force would be needed. After all, we're still at war with the Devourer Civilization's interstellar fleets right now. It'll be hard to spare extra forces to campaign against other interstellar civilizations' universes."
Zhao Chen said thoughtfully, "I've considered that, so this idea of mine for outward expansion is only a notion for now. If it's really to be carried out, first this war in front of us has to end, or this war has to come down to a certain level. So I'm only telling you this idea of mine for now."
Charlotte nodded, then went straight on: "Even if the war stops, we can't commit too many forces either. After all, a move as big as attacking another interstellar civilization's universe, the Devourer Civilization can't fail to notice. If our Owl Dragon Empire's universe is short of forces because of it, they're very likely to invade us at just such a time. Then, if our forces can't cover both ends, this plan will be lifting a stone only to drop it on our own feet."
Zhao Chen nodded, his face grave. "I've thought of these problems too. This whole plan is in truth very risky. But it's also to give our Owl Dragon Empire more chips in hand against the dangers to come. It's a road we have to take. Otherwise, if we just go on tangling with the Devourer Civilization as things stand now, our development will, if anything, be slowed down in some ways."
Charlotte and Lilith both agreed with the idea too.
Lilith said at this point, "In truth, as we said ourselves just now, outward development doesn't necessarily depend on war. If we meet certain situations, we can use other means entirely. Put that way, it's universe against universe, but put simply, it's nothing but two powers. Two empires, two star systems. In truth there's no great difference. Then we can split the target, give the target a little something sweet, or else back and help some interstellar powers willing to accept us. That way the pressure on ourselves can be lowered."
Lilith's idea was a very good one too.
The three of them talked it over in secret, noting down every good idea that came up.
They talked for nearly an hour.
Zhao Chen glanced at the time.
Then he looked at Charlotte. "Of the seven days we were given before, five hours are left. Is everything ready on your battlefields?"
Charlotte nodded and said seriously, "You can rest easy on that; on every battlefield we're ready. We can't wipe out the enemy entirely, but we're also ready to meet whatever move the enemy may make next. Even if the enemy launches a new round of attack next, we're fully able to meet it!"
Charlotte was very confident.
Zhao Chen nodded, satisfied, and said, "Before, we used seven Supernova Ultimate Bombs to win the upper hand in this war.[1] This weapon is very strong, but it's extremely costly to build too. In this time we'd built up only ten in hand, and having used seven at once, we have the last three left. And with the supply of raw materials starting to run short now, building more Supernova Ultimate Bombs in quantity would squeeze the production of combat resources and of interstellar warships. So these three Supernova Ultimate Bombs may be among the very few trump cards we'll hold for a long time to come. But, having used them this time, we've told the Devourer Civilization we hold this trump card; how many we have left, they don't know. So when these three Supernova Ultimate Bombs are used, and where, matters a great deal."
Charlotte agreed deeply with Zhao Chen's view too.
These three Supernova Ultimate Bombs were the key to deterring the Devourer Civilization for the Owl Dragon Empire for a long time to come.
"Five hours left; let's end this meeting here for now. Charlotte, go back to your post and take charge of the battlefields. If you need anything, or there's any problem, contact Lilith and me directly. We'll give you the greatest help we can from the rear!" Zhao Chen said.
"Yes." When Charlotte had answered, her hologram dissolved and vanished.
Now only Zhao Chen and Lilith were left here.
"We can't sit idle either. In these five hours, we need to be fully prepared too. That lot may really go mad and do something. Nearly all our forces are committed to the seven interstellar battlefields right now. If the Devourer Civilization sent interstellar fleets to set up other interstellar battlefields on our universe's ground now, it would be enormous pressure and a disaster for us! That's the worst case. Though…… we may have no way to stop it, we still have to find a way to lower that danger as far as we can." Zhao Chen looked at Lilith gravely.
Lilith nodded. "The arrangements in the rear have been given all along. Every part of our Owl Dragon Empire is in a state of first-grade war readiness; they're all second- and third-line fleets, true. But if they really run into the Devourer Civilization's interstellar fleets, they can at least hold them off for a while."
Hearing what Lilith said,
Zhao Chen let out a long, stale breath and rubbed his temples. "It's because we're still too weak ourselves that we have to worry about these things. I really wish this damned war could end soon. When will that damned Order be wiped out for good!"
So long as Order was not wiped out, Zhao Chen's Owl Dragon Empire would not have a single day of peace.
Order was like a guillotine blade hanging over Zhao Chen's head, liable to fall at any moment and destroy Zhao Chen and everything Zhao Chen had now.
Zhao Chen would never allow such a thing to happen.
He had sworn he must protect all that was his.
Even though he no longer had the System now, even though he might not be that child of destiny,
at least now, here, was everything he had to protect!
Five hours.
They passed bit by bit.
It was not only Zhao Chen who was tense, but also the Sacred Elf legion fleet groups fighting in the Owl Dragon Empire.
The Flame Elf Queen was watching all this closely now too.
She had not hurried back to the Sacred Elf Empire after that meeting to discuss the matter with the High Council and the Elf Sovereigns.
After all, if the Devourer Civilization stepped up its attack on the Owl Dragon Empire, wanting at any cost to finish the Owl Dragon Empire off,
then even if the Owl Dragon Empire had the ability to find the coordinates of other interstellar universes, it would have no hands free to go to those interstellar universes.
So everything hung on now.
The Flame Elf Queen sat on her throne, a faint anxiety on her face.
This was the first time she had ever prayed for a power and a person not of the Sacred Elf Empire.
Whether from the standpoint of the Sacred Elf Empire's interests, or from her own,
she did not want to see Zhao Chen and his Owl Dragon Empire laid to rest here.
And in her heart she knew one thing very well, too.
The Devourer Civilization was not the true enemy.
Order was.
Wipe out the Devourer Civilization, and Order could still raise a second, a third "Devourer Civilization."
Only by wiping out Order for good could they have true peace.