Zhao Chen looked at the Flame Elf Queen and laughed. "Has the partnership between us made those Elf Sovereigns of yours a little worried? Is that why they've arranged for another Elf Sovereign to deal with me?"
The Flame Elf Queen shrugged helplessly. "Who knows what goes on in that lot's heads? One thing fewer on my plate, I could hardly be happier. Anyway, apart from military matters, I can't be bothered with anything else."
So she said.
But the Flame Elf Queen still looked at Zhao Chen. "On this point you mustn't let your guard down. The Bluewater Elf Queen looks gentle and frail, but on principle she's very firm. And you know too that most of the elf race, above all the high elves, care more about their good name. So you'd best tell your legion fleets not to do anything too excessive……"
She paused, then lowered her voice: "At least, not too obviously."
It seemed even the Flame Elf Queen worried that the Owl Dragon Empire's legion fleet groups might do something cruel in such operations abroad.
Zhao Chen said gravely, "Salaman, I can promise you on my standing as the Owl Dragon Emperor. We're opening up new territory abroad, true, but all of it is to stand against Order and the Devourer Civilization. Using force and starting wars is our last resort. So long as the other side bears us no ill will and doesn't use force on us, we won't use force on them. On this, please rest assured."
The Flame Elf Queen looked at Zhao Chen's unwavering eyes, and said in a low voice, "I do believe you. That's about it for these things. On the Devourer Civilization's side, I've had people keep a close watch too; the moment they make any move, I'll contact you."
Zhao Chen nodded.
After that, Zhao Chen quickly gave instructions on a few matters,
arranging for the relevant technical people to work with the technical people the Sacred Elf Empire had sent, to learn the universe-exploration technology in the shortest time and build the related equipment,
so that the Owl Dragon Empire's plan of opening up new territory abroad could go ahead smoothly.
With these things settled, Zhao Chen set out in person for the Sacred Elf Empire.
This time again he did not ride the T6 Dragon Emperor Interstellar Command Ship, but the flagship of the Emperor's Guard Fleet.
Because of the universe star gate,
Zhao Chen's Emperor's Guard Fleet soon reached the Sacred Elf Empire.
And on the Sacred Elf Empire's side of the universe star gate, the beginnings of an interstellar trade port could already be seen.
For now the Sacred Elf Empire and the Owl Dragon Empire had strengthened their cooperation on every front,
not only in military matters, but in interstellar trade and other areas too.
The Owl Dragon Empire would buy some raw materials from the Sacred Elf Empire.
And the Sacred Elf Empire would buy from the Owl Dragon Empire some interstellar warships of very good value, or daily necessities and the like.
Interstellar trade between the two grew closer and closer.
So around the universe star gate linking the two, a whole ecosystem born of it had formed.
Interstellar fortresses and space stations had been built one after another; on the nearest planet, livable cities had even begun to be built.
Unlike Zhao Chen's earlier visit to the Sacred Elf Empire, this time more interstellar warships were waiting here.
And at the same time three Elf Sovereigns sent Zhao Chen greetings the moment he arrived:
Mansfield the Emerald Elf King, Marietis the Bluewater Elf Queen, and Gustav the Radiant Elf King.
After that, by the two sides' arrangement,
Zhao Chen chose to take his people aboard an interstellar cruise liner of the Sacred Elf side, escorted by the Emperor's Guard Fleet.
Aboard the luxurious interstellar cruise liner, Zhao Chen met the Emerald Elf King, the Bluewater Elf Queen and the Radiant Elf King.
"Owl Dragon Emperor, it's been a long time." The Radiant Elf King greeted Zhao Chen first, with the courtesy of the high elves.
The two Elf Sovereigns beside him bowed in turn too.
"Your Excellencies the Elf Sovereigns, I trust you've been well." Zhao Chen returned a military salute, greeting them with a smile.
"This way, please." The Radiant Elf King gestured in one direction and led the way.
Zhao Chen and the other two Elf Sovereigns followed behind.
"On this second visit to the Sacred Elf Empire, since your affairs keep you so busy you can't go to the Moon-God Planet, we've prepared a welcome banquet for you here," the Radiant Elf King said as he led the way.
"The main thing is there's too much to deal with right now; I truly can't get away. Once everything is settled, I'd like to take a proper holiday in the Sacred Elf Empire," Zhao Chen said with feeling.
"That would be wonderful. Then I'd be glad to be your guide myself, Owl Dragon Emperor, and show you the beauties of the Sacred Elf Empire properly."
After the Radiant Elf King and Zhao Chen had exchanged official pleasantries,
Zhao Chen noticed that the Emerald Elf King beside them had looked all along as though he wanted to say something and kept stopping himself.
"Your Excellency the Emerald Elf King, you're rather impatient about our deal, aren't you?" Zhao Chen said with a light smile.
The Radiant Elf King beside him looked at the distracted Emerald Elf King and said with a laugh, "Mansfield is just like that. He's interested in nothing else, only in technology, very much so. Mention it, and he'd drop anything he had in hand."
The Emerald Elf King muttered, "When they had me come, it was to take charge of the technology; of course I care about it."
At this Zhao Chen took out a data disk and said with a smile, "Haste won't get you hot tofu. But what you want is already here. As agreed, this is a quarter of the technology connected with the Supernova Ultimate Bomb: mainly part of its technical architecture, and the basic modules and so on."
At the sight of what Zhao Chen had taken out, the Emerald Elf King perked up at once; he stared at the data disk in Zhao Chen's hand, reached out and took it straight away,
turned and made to leave……
But after two steps he stopped,
and looked somewhat awkwardly at the three behind him.
The Radiant Elf King covered his face helplessly, at a loss for words.
The Bluewater Elf Queen covered her mouth and laughed softly.
Zhao Chen said with a light smile, "No matter. His Excellency the Emerald Elf King's heart is set on this thing; keeping him here would be no use. Better to let him go and do what he wants to do."
"Heh heh heh, the Owl Dragon Emperor understands me best." The Emerald Elf King looked at Zhao Chen, beaming.
The Radiant Elf King sighed and waved a hand helplessly. "All right. Since the Owl Dragon Emperor doesn't hold your rudeness against you, you needn't attend this welcome banquet. Take the data disk and go look it over first; and while he's here, if you have any questions, you can ask the Owl Dragon Emperor in time."
The Radiant Elf King arranged it so because, on the one hand, the Emerald Elf King really would be no use present.
On the other, he was hinting to the Emerald Elf King to check the goods now while he could; Zhao Chen would hardly cheat in this matter.
But checking it over would be more reassuring.
When that was said, the Emerald Elf King left at once, all smiles; the speed and manner of his running showed nothing of an Elf King held in high esteem in the Sacred Elf Empire.
"I hope Your Excellency the Owl Dragon Emperor won't hold it against us. That Elf King of ours is just like that," the Radiant Elf King apologized again.
"I understand, I understand. We're old friends now, and comrades who've fought side by side. There's no need for pleasantries over such trifles," Zhao Chen said, waving a hand.
Very soon the three of them came to a magnificent private room; in the great room there were only the three of them,
and the delicious food on the table.
This time the meal was served in separate portions; before Zhao Chen, there were even some meat dishes that the two Elf Sovereigns did not have before them.
That alone showed that the Owl Dragon Emperor's standing here was far above what it had been.
These people of the Sacred Elf Empire now considered the Owl Dragon Emperor's needs in every respect when they received him.
"Please, sit," the Radiant Elf King said.
"Mm." Zhao Chen took his seat.
Amid both sides' pleasantries they began to enjoy the food, chatting as they ate.
Bit by bit, as they talked, they came to talk of the recent war.
"In the Owl Dragon Empire's recent war with the Devourer Civilization, your legion fleets went all the way into the Devourer Civilization's universe domains, and with that super-weapon destroyed nearly 10 million Devourer Civilization interstellar warships at one stroke, destroyed seven star systems, and even beat the Troll Monarch's flagship and his fleet. We truly admire it greatly!" The Radiant Elf King nodded again and again in praise.
Zhao Chen said with a light smile, "That wasn't to my side's credit alone; had it not been for the Sacred Elf Empire's help, and the support of the 15 million Sacred Elf interstellar warships all told, our Owl Dragon Empire alone could never have fought such a battle."
Zhao Chen was naturally familiar with pleasantries of this kind too.
More pleasantries followed.
The Bluewater Elf Queen, who had said nothing all along, spoke now: "The Owl Dragon Emperor's next arrangements, I take it, are to open up new territory, and to bring other interstellar civilizations' universes under you. Do you have any ideas or arrangements yet? Could you talk them over with me? I don't understand technology or the military; I'm no match for Salaman and Mansfield. But on matters of these interstellar civilizations' universes I do have some views, and perhaps I can be of some help to the Owl Dragon Emperor."
Zhao Chen turned his eyes to the Bluewater Elf Queen.
Zhao Chen's own people had gathered intelligence on the Bluewater Elf Queen too.
The Flame Elf Queen had provided some as well.
The Bluewater Elf Queen might look gentle and frail, but anyone who could become an Elf Queen was no ordinary figure.
And what she had just said was indeed so; even the Flame Elf Queen had said before that if the coming plan to open up new territory was to go smoothly,
it would be best to have this Bluewater Elf Queen's help.
For before this, one of the Bluewater Elf Queen's roles in the Sacred Elf Empire had been that of civilizational diplomat!