Marietis had not expected Zhao Chen to be so direct.
It made her hesitate a moment; then she collected herself and began setting out her demands, using, as she did, the very agreement Zhao Chen had shown before.
Then she began: "First, there's this clause: our two sides jointly set up three interstellar trade groups, covering interstellar transport, defense production, consumer goods production and so on. I don't think that's enough. Raise the number from three to five. And the two extra ones must be interstellar transport groups, and must use your Owl Dragon-line interstellar transport ships too. And in every one, our share of the equity must be fifty-one percent!"
The terms Marietis, the Bluewater Elf Queen, put forward straight off could be said to strike right at the heart of the profit.
For Marietis, the Bluewater Elf Queen, had seen it too: in the universe trade market to come, the interstellar transport business had the brightest prospects.
At the same time, it was also one they had a chance to get into.
It was true that Owl Dragon-line defense products were bound to sell well in future, but plainly, for the Holy Elf Empire to ask the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire for some low-grade defense technology would be slapping its own face.
Had they wanted T6 and quasi-T7-grade starship technology, that might have been defensible; the question was whether the other side would be willing to give it.
As for asking for technology at T5 grade and below, even if the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire were willing to give it,
the several Elf Sovereigns of the Holy Elf Empire, for the sake of their face, would never ask for it outright!
What would asking outright mean? It would mean they admitted they were weaker than the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire, and needed the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire's charity.
The ever-proud Holy Elf Empire would certainly never do such a thing.
Marietis, the Bluewater Elf Queen, knew this very well too, so she did not raise that demand.
And raising the number from three to five had its grounds as well.
It was most likely so that each Elf Sovereign could hold one under his or her own hand, which would avoid their falling out among themselves over profits in this partnership.
Problems of cooperation with the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire could still be talked over.
But internal problems could sometimes be much more troublesome to handle.
That was how Marietis, the Bluewater Elf Queen, thought.
Zhao Chen put on a thoughtful look, as if hesitating.
Then Zhao Chen shook his head and said, "The number of enterprises can be raised to five. But a fifty-one percent equity share, no. We supply the technology and the channels, and yet we hold the smaller share: do you think that's fair?"
A fifty-one percent equity share would mean all five groups were under the control of the Holy Elf Empire across the table; had it been any other interstellar civilization's power,
Zhao Chen might have accepted it, but with the Holy Elf Empire alone, he likely could not.
The biggest reason was the high elves' way of dealing with things, their arrogant temper; had it not been for their standing as high elves, and the Holy Elf Empire at their backs,
with airs like theirs they would have been beaten up outside who knew how many times long since.
"Then how about this: only three at fifty-one percent…"
Zhao Chen and Marietis, the Bluewater Elf Queen, began to tussle back and forth over these five interstellar trade groups.
But it was soon settled.
In these five enterprises jointly owned by the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire and the Holy Elf Empire, wherever the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire's technology was needed,
the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire need only be responsible for the technology, while the funding would be borne wholly by the Holy Elf Empire's side.
As for the equity, it would be split fifty-fifty, but control of each group would be divided among three people with clear roles: one in charge of the group's internal operations, one in charge of finance, and one in charge of outside sales and trade.
Internal operations could be assigned by the Holy Elf Empire's side.
Outside sales and trade must be assigned by the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire.
As for finance, it could be assigned according to how things stood at the time.
Why was Zhao Chen, of all things, willing to let finance go?
Because working with different people is a different matter each time.
Working with these people of the Holy Elf Empire, for instance: they thought themselves above the common run, high-born.
So they were no good at dealing with people, talking with them and getting close to them.
But by the same token, because of the principles that bound them, their hands were relatively clean in managing finance.
For they had no wish to do anything over such things that might reflect badly on their good name.
These high elves had always set great value on their good name.
But each year's profit statement must be handed to the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire for checking; if problems were found, the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire had the right to intervene in management and to demand that the managers be replaced.
That brought both sides to agree in full.
On the one hand, in name these five groups all seemed to be in the Holy Elf Empire's hands, which gave the Holy Elf Empire face.
But the funds for buying those interstellar transport ships, and the related building costs and so on, were all borne by the Holy Elf Empire.
The purchase price was discounted, but it was still no small income for the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire.
This way the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire sold a batch of interstellar transport ships and gained dividend rights in five interstellar enterprises besides.
It brought Zhao Chen very great profit!
Zhao Chen knew one principle very well: if you want the other side to work with you, you must let the other side gain something.
Or let the other side believe it has gained something.
Otherwise, unless you force them by raw power, why would anyone work with you?
So Zhao Chen, Li Yaqi and the others had long since worked out the chips to offer the Holy Elf Empire.
What Marietis, the Bluewater Elf Queen, now asked for was no more than chips Zhao Chen had got ready long before.
So long as these chips could persuade the Holy Elf Empire, it was all well within what Zhao Chen and the others could accept.
That was cooperation everyone was glad to accept, and a partnership that could be made to last.
"So, are you satisfied now? Our people have done the sums: just from your agreeing to join this universe trade alliance, your economic income can grow by an average of ten percent a year over the next ten years. As far as I know, over the past ten years the Holy Elf Empire's economic growth has fallen below one percent, hasn't it?" Zhao Chen looked with a smile at Marietis, the Bluewater Elf Queen, and the other Elf Sovereigns.
Long before they came, Minister Li Yaqi and the others had gathered and looked into how the Holy Elf Empire stood on this front.
And because Marietis, the Bluewater Elf Queen, was the one in charge of such affairs, she was the one who negotiated with Zhao Chen.
The other Elf Sovereigns were more just waiting for the result of the talks.
Marietis, the Bluewater Elf Queen, was silent for a moment, and looked at the others.
For as she saw it, this was already the most the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire could give.
And speaking for herself, she supported joining this universe trade alliance.
For from the angle of universe trade, the Holy Elf Empire's growth had never gone very smoothly.
Its own internal economy and trade had already reached a bottleneck; to break through it, it could only look outside.
And to open outside trade markets by talking them through one by one took a great deal of time.
Whereas, as the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire was doing, setting up at one stroke a universe trade alliance that bound many universes together,
giving everyone a platform where they could sell and buy what they wanted:
wouldn't that be fine?
And the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire had a unique advantage too: it could build universe star gates and interstellar transport ships at low cost.
And it had technologically advanced products and craft besides.
It was these trump cards that qualified the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire to set up this universe trade alliance.
Had it been any other power, even the Holy Elf Empire might not have been qualified.
Only the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire, as it was now, had the qualifications and the ability.
And Marietis, the Bluewater Elf Queen, could see that even if their Holy Elf Empire took no part in it,
the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire was bound to go on with it, only with more difficulty.
But they would still succeed, and then the others would grow fast
while they stood still.
They might even, with the founding of this universe trade alliance, find their Holy Elf Empire shut outside the door instead; if so,
then the Holy Elf Empire's foreign trade, and perhaps even its domestic trade, might shrink.
The others would grow fast over the next ten, twenty, thirty or even fifty years, while the Holy Elf Empire might actually go backward.
So in fact there were only two roads before the Holy Elf Empire:
either join this plan, or try to stop it from being carried out.
The latter would beyond doubt be declaring that they stood against the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire.
Mind you, the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire now stood on a single-plank bridge over a cliff, with no road back.
Whoever stood against the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire at such a time would be forcing the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire to fight them to the death,
even the Holy Elf Empire, once its ally.
None of the several Elf Sovereigns doubted this in the least.
The Owl Dragon Emperor Zhao Chen might even ignore the oath-duel to come and start a war with the Holy Elf Empire before then.
That was something none of the Elf Sovereigns wanted to see.
In their hearts, though they had several times not joined directly in the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire's fighting against the Devourer Civilization,
they still stood on the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire's side.
Indeed, they would rather things stayed as they were.
With the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire to tie down the Devourer Civilization, and even Order behind it,
they needed have no worries at all.
These few years had in fact been the Holy Elf Empire's most settled years; they could watch the fire from across the river.
So they naturally did not want to fall out with the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire.
So in fact they had only one road to choose.
And all they could do was win for themselves what profit could be had along that road!
"Since Marietis has settled it, I have no objection. Does anyone else object?" Gustav, the Radiant Elf King, stepped forward and said.
This was also the first time he had spoken up for the Owl Dragon Emperor, and it did not go back on what he had promised when he first met Zhao Chen.
Now that even Gustav, the Radiant Elf King, had stated his position, nearly everyone else's eyes fell on the Nightglow Elf King.
For nearly everyone present knew very well that only the Nightglow Elf King here might object now.
After all, of the five Elf Sovereigns,
the Flame Elf Queen beyond doubt stood on the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire's side without condition.
The Radiant Elf King had presumably talked it over with the Owl Dragon Emperor in advance, and that was why he stepped forward here of his own accord to speak for Zhao Chen.
The Bluewater Elf Queen had settled terms with Zhao Chen too.
The Emerald Elf King naturally had no objection at all.
So only the Nightglow Elf King was left.
True, by the rules they had laid down, even if the Nightglow Elf King stepped forward to object in the end,
with only one Elf Sovereign objecting, the thing would still pass.
But Zhao Chen still hoped this motion of his could pass unanimously within the Holy Elf Empire.
For in a matter like this, if the Nightglow Elf King only agreed on the surface,
he might very well show his true stance in later matters concerning this universe trade alliance.
Not necessarily by blocking things outright; any slackness in some area of the work might harm the universe trade alliance's interests.
Add to that the Holy Elf Empire's own special standing, and Zhao Chen naturally hoped for the Holy Elf Empire's full support.
Only so could this universe trade alliance grow fast and strong once set up,
and the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire gain more from it.
As things stood, the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire was like a man thirsty and starving in a desert.
He needed water and food not only to save his life now; to walk out of this desert he needed more water and food still.
So even for one jot more, he would try every way to win it.
But to return to the matter.
Everyone was now waiting for what the Nightglow Elf King would say next.
"Does the Nightglow Elf King still have some doubt? If there's any problem, we can talk it all over now," Zhao Chen said with a smile.
"You should know that whatever my stance is now, it no longer matters. This motion of yours is bound to pass," the Nightglow Elf King said coldly.
Zhao Chen shook his head and said, his eyes sincere, "I know this plan of mine will pass. But I still hope to have the support of all of you, and not have you join this alliance only because you have no choice; if it came to that, what would be the point of my setting up this alliance? If everyone's heart isn't in it together, working together will only be harder."
Hearing Zhao Chen's words, the Nightglow Elf King said in a deep voice, "There's nothing wrong with your plan, and it can bring our Holy Elf Empire considerable profit too. But by the same token, it will also let the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire keep growing stronger. I don't know whether in doing this we'd be raising a tiger that will maul us later."
The Nightglow Elf King's words were very direct.
He had likened Zhao Chen's Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire to the "tiger" outright.
All along, of all the Elf Sovereigns, the Nightglow Elf King had made not the least effort to hide his hostility toward the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire.
Zhao Chen said straight out, "I know what you're worried about. And I know nothing I say can dispel the doubts in your heart. Let me put the matter from another angle. Even if the Holy Elf Empire took no part in this, couldn't our Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire still get it done? You should know that very well. So all the more reason you shouldn't stay out of this plan. Only so can your strength rise along with ours, can't it?"
When he had heard Zhao Chen out, the Nightglow Elf King said nothing for a long while.
Zhao Chen said nothing either, and sat there calmly.
In fact, from the moment he had won over the Radiant Elf King, the initiative had already been in his hands.
At last the Nightglow Elf King said, "Very well, I can agree."
Zhao Chen clapped his hands, then spread them and looked at everyone, saying with a smile, "Since none of you here has any objection, then can we go through the final procedure?"
The final procedure, naturally, was the High Elf Council outside.
With all five Elf Sovereigns present in full agreement, the high elves of the High Council outside could basically be said to be going through a formality.
The Radiant Elf King looked around, saw no one say anything, and said, "Since no one objects, we'll go on to the next procedure."
Then the light curtain opened.
The light curtain that had separated the five Elf Sovereigns from the high-elf councilors outside vanished, and the scene returned to what it had been before.
The high-elf councilors present now turned their eyes on the several Elf Sovereigns too.
Their eyes kept shifting; they wanted to find in the eyes of the Elf Sovereigns they relied on how they ought to act.
Because they did not know the several Elf Sovereigns' stance, the floor was very quiet just then.
"We now vote on this motion. Those in favor, raise your hands." When the Radiant Elf King had said this, he began raising his own hand.
He was the very first to raise his hand; whether he meant to show goodwill to the Owl Dragon Emperor and make plain that he stood firmly on his side,
or meant to tell the high-elf councilors present that he himself had agreed to this plan, so they could decide for themselves accordingly, no one could tell.
The other Elf Sovereigns raised their hands one after another as well.
Seeing all five Elf Sovereigns raise their hands in favor, the high-elf councilors present were somewhat surprised and taken aback.
They had never imagined that in a mere ten-odd minutes
the several Elf Sovereigns would all agree to this motion.
They were somewhat curious in their hearts what on earth the Owl Dragon Emperor and the several Elf Sovereigns had talked about in those ten-odd minutes.
Mind you, even the Nightglow Elf King had raised his hand without the least hesitation.
And before this, the Nightglow Elf King's attitude toward the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire had always been rather hostile.
This showed they had no thought at all of rejecting this motion.
That being so, however puzzled these high-elf councilors were, at least they had to show their stance now.
As for what stance: need it even be said?
Because the five Elf Sovereigns had raised their hands in favor, the high-elf councilors present had basically no objection.
Besides, most people were fairly in favor of this motion to begin with, so naturally there was no reason to reject it.
The high-elf councilors raised their hands one after another.
It passed almost unanimously.
Gustav, the Radiant Elf King, stood up, looked around, and said, "Since the great majority agree, I declare this motion passed. After this we will set up a department responsible for this matter. The head of that department will be the Bluewater Elf Queen. The Bluewater Elf Queen may draw staff from every department as she sees fit to carry out the cooperation plan with the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire to follow, and this universe trade alliance plan. Everyone must cooperate, and no slackness of any kind will be allowed; otherwise it will be going against the will of us five Elf Sovereigns and the High Council."
So the first step of Zhao Chen's visit to the Holy Elf Empire was done.
For the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire's universe trade alliance, it would be a great step.
Next, Zhao Chen's party stayed here two days.
These two days were mainly for Li Yaqi and the others to sign the related cooperation agreements with Marietis, the Bluewater Elf Queen's people.
Since a partnership was to be set up, the content of the agreements was very important, the more so as this was trade concerning the known universe's civilizations.
It would be a very large market, so every clause was crucial.
This took two days all told,
and at last it was finished under the eyes of Zhao Chen and the five Elf Sovereigns.
By the agreement, the universe trade alliance thus set up would have three kinds of participant: leaders, participants and outer members.
As the names say, these were the importance within the alliance of the interstellar civilizations' universes that joined it.
Leaders were the highest in standing, among the founders of the alliance, as it were.
The Holy Elf Empire naturally held this standing; in a sense, it was even on an equal footing with the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire in this universe trade alliance.
Of course, whether that was so in fact did not matter.
The Holy Elf Empire cared more about the title.
And it is worth mentioning that one of the leaders was of rather special standing: the Bailan Interstellar Trade Group!
Before this, even Huaya Lanlan had never imagined that she could reach such a standing in this universe trade alliance.
It was not merely a standing.
Once this universe trade alliance was set up, their Bailan Interstellar Trade Group would grow like a rocket taking off.
Their wealth and strength would even surpass an interstellar civilization's empire!
And all this, naturally, was the Owl Dragon Emperor's arrangement:
he meant to give the Bailan Interstellar Trade Group another helping hand.
The Huaya sisters were deeply moved by it.
Participants were interstellar civilizations' powers taking part to some degree in the alliance's interstellar trade activity.
And the difference between them and outer members was the scale of their participation.
Outer members might be some who wanted to join, but whose overall strength was only that of an interstellar lord, or of a small interstellar kingdom or the like.
From then on, the Holy Elf Empire could be counted as standing on Zhao Chen's side in this universe trade alliance.