Zhao Chen saw that the Bluewater Elf Queen had asked so directly.
The two of them would have no way to avoid some dealings later anyway,
and the military operations involved would make a great deal of noise too.
There was no way at all to keep it hidden.
"I've read some of the files on those interstellar civilizations' universes I was given. They can't match firsthand knowledge from going there, but from this information some sifting can still be done. First, rule out the interstellar civilizations' universes poor in resources; that runs against our aim from the start, so there's no point. And of what's left, by how suitable they are, they divide into three kinds of choice: upper, middle and lower. The middle draws and the lowest of the low I won't go into here. For now there are only three best of the best, and as it happens they're three different kinds. The first is the Cancer civilization's universe, an interstellar civilization at the T5 technological grade, with no sign of T6-grade weapons in use. That alone means that when we use force, we can end every dispute by sheer weight, and so cut the casualties from needless war. But this Cancer civilization's universe isn't unified inside yet; so far it's still divided into a dozen-odd interstellar powers great and small, and that's without counting those interstellar powers whose domains don't reach even a single star region; count those, and the number would be terrifying. That cuts both ways for us. The advantage is that the other side isn't an interstellar civilization's universe under centralized rule, so when we go in, we naturally won't meet unified resistance. That way we can use many means to control this interstellar civilization's universe, the simplest being to back proxies. That way does most to cut down the struggle, and the military forces we'd need to commit. The drawback is that because the powers have been split for so long, controlling it all, joining the pieces of the map back together one by one, would take a very great deal of time."
The Bluewater Elf Queen's eyes lit up; she looked at Zhao Chen with some interest.
Zhao Chen went on, "The second choice is a unified interstellar civilization's universe, the Mohadis interstellar civilization's universe. It's an interstellar civilization's universe with a unified interstellar government, called the Mohadis Star Empire, under absolute imperial rule. It's still a T5 technological civilization for now, but it's moving toward T6 technological civilization; there are even rumors they've bought a batch of T6 interstellar warships from other interstellar civilizations, to make up for now for their own shortage of T6 interstellar warships. This target's advantages and drawbacks are just the reverse of the first's. Because it's a unified interstellar civilization, taking direct control by force would be nothing less than declaring war on this interstellar civilization; even if we won in the end, there would surely be a war, which is an outcome none of us wants to see. The advantage is that in an interstellar civilization's universe that's unified to begin with, once we're in control, we can digest and control it in a short time, without losing too much time."
Zhao Chen paused, then went straight on to the third: "The third is rather special: an interstellar civilization's universe very rich in resources. Its technology is only T5 grade, and there are many interstellar powers in it too. In that it's like the first, but the difference is that these interstellar powers have formed an alliance, called the Fire-Sigil Interstellar Alliance. And in the name of the Fire-Sigil Interstellar Alliance they've built a larger alliance system across several interstellar civilizations' universes. Most are T5-grade interstellar civilizations, true, but with so many T5 interstellar civilizations combined, their strength is quite astonishing. They knew of Order's existence before, and were unwilling to submit to Order, so they took this way of resisting Order's invasion. Now, as it happens, it stands in our way. This Fire-Sigil Interstellar Alliance is the richest in universe resources of the three, with no other problems. If it could be mastered, its value would far exceed the other two. But by the same token, the difficulty is no small one either."
Having heard the Owl Dragon Emperor's explanation,
the Radiant Elf King beside them did not quite understand some of it, but that Zhao Chen could set it out in such order showed he had truly put his heart into the matter.
The Bluewater Elf Queen nodded in praise too. "It seems Lord Owl Dragon Emperor has truly done his homework on this. What you just said is all correct. These three interstellar civilizations' universes really are the most valuable of the interstellar civilizations' universes we know of. But from me, I'll give you one piece of advice. Of these three choices, don't touch the Fire-Sigil Interstellar Alliance; its temptation is the greatest. But the larger alliance of interstellar civilizations' universes it has built behind it is something even our Sacred Elf Empire wouldn't dare take lightly. After all, it was built in the first place to deal with Order. At least, in dealing with them, you can't use force."
Zhao Chen nodded, and carefully noted this down.
The Bluewater Elf Queen went straight on: "As for the Cancer interstellar civilization and the Mohadis Star Empire, there's risk in dealing with either, but there are chances too."
Zhao Chen asked with interest, "What would Lady Bluewater Elf Queen suggest?"
Hearing Zhao Chen ask directly,
the Bluewater Elf Queen hid nothing on purpose either; she said, "The Cancer interstellar civilization looks to be in civil strife. But in truth it's split into a great many factions, strong and weak, and interstellar powers that have long lived amid war usually revere the strong. So long as whoever stands before them is strong enough, they'll obey unconditionally. So my advice is this: choose some suitable factions within the Cancer interstellar civilization to deal with, and give them the related support, using that as a lever to seep in and gradually control the whole Cancer interstellar civilization; so long as you show strong enough technology and military power, there's no great problem in that. Of course, the drawback is still the one you just said. Because this interstellar civilization's universe was split among the various interstellar powers before, there are deep rifts between most of the star regions. That means the interstellar shipping lanes have great problems, and it will take a great deal of time. As for the other, the Mohadis Star Empire: what you just said is all correct; it's a unified interstellar civilization. But what you may not know is that the Mohadis Star Empire is at a delicate stage right now. As far as I know, the Mohadis Star Empire's old emperor is about to die, but there are many outstanding ones among the heirs below him this generation. So none of them accepts the others. That way, how the Mohadis Star Empire is divided and held in future may very well run into trouble. If at that moment the Owl Dragon Empire could make contact with one of them, and back that one up to take control of the whole Mohadis Star Empire in future, it might take some time early on, but once the Mohadis Star Empire was under control, the work after that would be much simpler; you could take control of every aspect of the whole Mohadis Star Empire in a very short time."
Zhao Chen looked at the Bluewater Elf Queen in some surprise; he had never thought this Bluewater Elf Queen knew so much,
that she could see even these details.
These things the Owl Dragon Empire would come to know sooner or later once it truly moved on these interstellar civilizations' universes in future.
But knowing them now meant some changes could be made in the whole plan, which could save a great deal of time.
Zhao Chen said with a smile, "Many thanks to the Bluewater Elf Queen for this instruction; it's very useful to us. If later there's anything we need Lady Bluewater Elf Queen's help with, I hope the Bluewater Elf Queen won't refuse."
As he said it, Zhao Chen even gave a military salute, to show his respect for the Bluewater Elf Queen.
Seeing Zhao Chen like this, the Bluewater Elf Queen opened her mouth as though she wanted to say something, but seeing the Radiant Elf King beside her, the words in her mouth turned at the last moment into:
"You needn't worry on that score. In this matter, as your ally, I naturally have to oversee and guide you in these things. And when the time comes, if there's anything, just come to me."
Zhao Chen looked at the Bluewater Elf Queen with a smile, and nodded slightly.
The Radiant Elf King beside them clapped and said, "It's plain the Owl Dragon Emperor truly has an affinity with our Sacred Elf Empire. We Elf Sovereigns all get along well with you. Even our Bluewater Elf Queen is so warm toward you, which shows your personal charm well enough. Mind you, in our Sacred Elf Empire the Bluewater Elf Queen has always been a goddess."
The Radiant Elf King beside them did not forget to say this now, to liven the mood.
The Bluewater Elf Queen rolled her eyes at the Radiant Elf King. "This is work I ought to be handling anyway. When we Elf Sovereigns talked it over among ourselves before, it was decided I'd handle this matter properly. Since I can meet His Excellency the Owl Dragon Emperor now, naturally everything should be set out clearly, so as to avoid misunderstandings between the two sides later."
Hearing the Bluewater Elf Queen speak so frankly, Zhao Chen nodded in agreement.
When the wine had gone half round,
a video communication window popped up.
It was the Radiant Elf King's side receiving it.
On the other side of the video window was none other than the Emerald Elf King, who had left a while before.
The moment the Emerald Elf King saw the video window light up, before the Radiant Elf King could speak,
he burst out first, excitedly, "Incredible, this technical architecture! Never mind anything else; the technical architecture alone is enough for our scientists and researchers to study for ten years. Once we've learned it, we'll be able to build quasi-T7-grade weapons too!"