"And who might this be?" The newcomer looked at the man between Huaya Lanlan and Huaya Nini.
He was in charge of foreign trade, so naturally he was rather good at dealing with people.
From how they stood, he could tell this man's standing was out of the ordinary.
That he could make the two heads of the Bailan Interstellar Trade Group, now at the height of its fortunes, willingly play the supporting cast
showed that well enough.
Before Huaya Lanlan could introduce him, Zhao Chen spoke first: "The Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire, Zhao Chen."
"Zhao Chen; so it's Mr. Zhao. Zhao Chen… how is that name so like that Owl Dragon Emperor of the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire's…" At first the man did not yet recognize who Zhao Chen was.
But on hearing the name "Zhao Chen," it had sounded familiar.
With the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire's growing renown, much intelligence about the Owl Dragon Emperor had naturally been gathered by a good many people, and spread far and wide.
Never mind anything else; the great name "Zhao Chen" alone, anyone with some knowledge of the outside world had at least heard of.
And this man saw how the two from the Bailan Interstellar Trade Group stood, and their respect for the man between them.
He caught the subtlety in it.
As for the rise of the Bailan Interstellar Trade Group, everyone in fact knew the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire's backing lay behind it.
After all, the Bailan Interstellar Trade Group was the sales agent for a good many Owl Dragon-line interstellar warships, and now had a good many Owl Dragon-line interstellar transport ships besides.
Who would believe the two had nothing to do with each other?
And though the Bailan Interstellar Trade Group was a power the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire had built up, in standing these two from the Bailan Interstellar Trade Group were not people just anyone in the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire could order about.
And as far as he knew, the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire's top ranks, for certain particular reasons, were mostly women.
And now a man had appeared here.
So the likeliest answer was already before him.
"You are…" The man looked at Zhao Chen before him in astonishment, not daring to say the answer he had guessed.
Instead he looked inquiringly at Huaya Lanlan and Huaya Nini on either side.
When Huaya Lanlan heard Zhao Chen say his own name outright, she had already guessed what Zhao Chen intended.
He meant to hide nothing; the concealment on the road had been to avoid drawing attention.
And now that they had reached their destination and were meeting the other side face to face, there was naturally no need to hide his identity, for the sake of efficiency.
Huaya Lanlan spoke up in turn just then: "This is His Majesty the Owl Dragon Emperor. In coming here this time, our Bailan Interstellar Trade Group's grain order is in truth a small matter. The main thing is that the Owl Dragon Emperor has a major matter of cooperation he wishes to discuss with the Searing Holy-Hammer Free Federation. Because of certain well-known relations, there was no way to reach the Searing Holy-Hammer Free Federation's leadership quickly through the normal channels. So to save time we came unbidden. Please forgive anything amiss."
Next, Huaya Lanlan introduced the man before them to Zhao Chen.
"This is the Deputy Lord of Black Sand City. Strictly speaking, he is the second in command of the Black Sand capital-city star region's power under the Searing Holy-Hammer Free Federation. Black Sand City is chiefly run by three brothers. The one before us, Sha Xiong, is the second of the three Black Sand brothers," Huaya Lanlan said by way of introduction.
When Sha Xiong, the second brother, was sure the man before him was the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire's Owl Dragon Emperor, the look on his face changed several times.
He had guessed it before, but to know that this Owl Dragon Emperor was really standing right before him was still somewhat hard to believe.
After all, this Owl Dragon Emperor's standing was now something else entirely.
He showed faint signs of becoming, the Devourer Civilization aside, the strongest overlord within the known universe.
Even the Holy Elf Empire had, these last few years, seemed faintly to be falling behind.
"So His Majesty the Owl Dragon Emperor has come in person. Forgive us for not coming farther to meet you; our fault, our fault." Sha Xiong, the second brother, bowed again and again in apology.
It was true that their Searing Holy-Hammer Free Federation was now in competition with the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire in the universe market, and both sides avoided contact on every front.
But with the man standing right before you, anyone with a bit of a head knew that now was the time to give him face; everything else could be talked about later.
And the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire was the strongest military power there was now.
It had mass-produced quasi-T7-grade interstellar warships,
and had just taught the Devourer Civilization a lesson.
To tell the truth, they were wary of so mighty a power too.
So in the universe trade market they dared compete with the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire only by ordinary market means, and did not dare use petty tricks.
Otherwise the universe trade market now would probably have been a storm of blood.
It would not be as ordinary and calm as it was.
All this was because they were wary of the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire's military strength.
Of course, that did not mean they would bow to the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire and give up their whole share of the cake.
How would their Searing Holy-Hammer Free Federation survive then? Strictly speaking, they depended a great deal on cross-universe trade.
It was their lifeblood.
Besides, if the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire really used force on them directly for profit, using force without cause or evidence,
the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire might well take the Searing Holy-Hammer Free Federation, but its renown would sink to freezing point.
No other interstellar civilization's universe would dare have dealings with the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire again; who knew whether the next to be dealt with might not be themselves?
Add to that the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire's backing of the Bailan Interstellar Trade Group, and they could basically be sure the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire was not a warmongering interstellar civilization's power.
"Um… may I ask what brings the Owl Dragon Emperor to Black Sand City in person?" Sha Xiong, the second brother, asked carefully.
"To talk cooperation," Zhao Chen answered simply.
"May I ask… what cooperation?" Sha Xiong, the second brother, said aloud, while thinking to himself:
So the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire has set its sights on us after all; but it looks as if they mean to go the soft way, not take by force.
If so, we still have a chance to refuse.
"I have two plans for cooperation here. I wonder whether you can decide on them." Zhao Chen looked the second brother, Sha Xiong, up and down.
Sha Xiong, the second brother,[1] squared his shoulders just then and said, "I may rank second among us three Black Sand brothers, but what I'm chiefly in charge of is foreign trade. If it's to do with foreign trade, Your Majesty may tell me anything. Or would you like to change the setting?"
For they were still talking on the gangway, which was plainly no place to discuss important matters.
But Zhao Chen waved his hand and said lightly, "Where we talk doesn't matter. Since you can decide, I'll put it briefly first. The first thing I want to talk with you about is a universe trade alliance, a cross-universe trading platform I want to form. Simply put, our Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire will preside over building this platform, and the technology it needs, such as universe star gates, interstellar transport ships and so on. So that every interstellar civilization's universe, whatever its reasons, can have a fair, just and open trading environment, and can carry on cross-universe trade freely and earn profit. These are the powers that have already signed letters of intent to this agreement. They include the Bailan Interstellar Trade Group and the Holy Elf Empire. Everyone has seen the Searing Holy-Hammer Free Federation's heavy-industrial strength, so I hope you can join us. The details are explained in this document; you can take it back and look it over. What I'd add is that there's good in this cooperation for you. Through this platform you can sell your interstellar warships and other products more efficiently, and at the same time get the supplies you want more efficiently."
Hearing the Owl Dragon Emperor finish this brief, quick introduction,
the look of Sha Xiong, the second brother, did not change much.
The explanation was plain and easy to follow; he had basically grasped the nature of this cross-universe trade alliance.
To tell the truth, from the angle of cross-universe trade, it was a good thing.
Had it been led by the Holy Elf Empire, or some other interstellar civilization's power, he might have agreed on the spot.
But it had to be the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire, whose relations with them were very tangled, with a great many conflicts of interest.
So it could not be ruled out that joining this cross-universe trade alliance might do them some harm.
Seeing the other side not answer at once, Zhao Chen did not press him.
Instead he simply went on.
"The second matter in fact depends on the first coming to an agreement. But I can talk it over with you first." Zhao Chen looked at Sha Xiong, the second brother, across from him.
Minister Li Yaqi, Huaya Lanlan and the others beside him knew the Owl Dragon Emperor was about to play the trump card they had brought this time.
"Please go on." Sha Xiong, the second brother, waited for what the Owl Dragon Emperor would say next.
A second cooperation that could only be discussed once the first had been reached:
most likely it was a sweetener being thrown out.
But to have the Searing Holy-Hammer Free Federation put aside all its barriers with the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire and cooperate openly and frankly,
a simple sugar-coated bullet would be nowhere near enough.
Zhao Chen came straight to the point: "I think you've heard of the Eden-class starships, this model of interstellar ship. We're prepared to open all sales rights in this line of interstellar ships to the Searing Holy-Hammer Free Federation. We can even license you the production technology for Eden-class starships of T5 grade and below, to produce them yourselves."
In just a few sentences, the look on the face of this second brother, Sha Xiong, before him froze in an instant.
Only after a long while did he come back to himself, and he looked at the man across from him in disbelief.
"You… you… you're willing to open all the sales rights to Eden-class starships to us? Including… including the T5 Diamond Eden-class and… and… and the T6 Purple-Gold Eden-class starships?" The second brother Sha Xiong's eyes were very eager.
It was true the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire had opened sales rights to a good many interstellar transport ships and interstellar mining ships.
But it had always held the sales rights to Eden-class starships rather tight.
The orders let out these few years could be counted on one's fingers.
So the price of Eden-class starships on the market stayed high.
If one could snatch an order for an Eden-class starship, then after it changed hands a few times, the price might even be driven up more than fivefold.
For instance, a T3 Silver Eden-class starship with an official Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire price of twelve billion star coins had once gone at a famous auction for a price as high as seven million nine hundred thousand star coins.[2]
That had set the highest single price ever for the T3 Silver Eden-class starship!
After all, the great majority of interstellar civilizations' universes faced shortages of natural crops and grain.
Because of their huge populations, and because the lifespans of every interstellar race kept lengthening, the demand for natural crops kept growing.
So the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire kept a tight hold on these Eden-class starships, letting out only a few batches now and then.
All the rest went to supply its own empire, or the Eden Grain-Trade Group.
The Eden Grain-Trade Group was chiefly in charge of the interstellar trade of selling grain abroad.
And now the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire was actually promising to open the sales rights to this line of interstellar ships to the Searing Holy-Hammer Free Federation; for the Searing Holy-Hammer Free Federation it was beyond doubt a huge temptation.
Sha Xiong, the second brother, was tempted already.
Mind you, not only the right to buy, but the production technology too.
This… this… it's like a dream.
"Then there are some detailed cooperative projects as well. I want to set up several joint-venture companies with you. Our Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire provides the technology, and you're responsible for production. Chiefly in two areas: one is supplying our Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire with low- and mid-range parts, and the other is export interstellar warships. We have technology, and you have ready-made heavy-industrial production capacity. We can perfectly well work together. And the universe trade alliance, on top of that, is simply a natural opportunity." When Zhao Chen had got this far, he looked at the other with a smile. "I wonder whether you're interested in this cooperation I've put forward."
Sha Xiong, the second brother, swallowed, and looked at the Owl Dragon Emperor respectfully; he did not dare be the least bit slighting toward this Owl Dragon Emperor before him now.
He answered carefully, "This is a very great matter; I… I can't decide it. I'll contact my eldest brother at once. Since I never thought you'd come, let's change our itinerary a little, and not talk business here. You and your fleet go straight into the Black Sand City main star system now; my people will take you to rest there. Within ten hours… no! Within five hours, I'll bring my eldest brother to see you, and give you a first answer. Would… would that be all right?"
Zhao Chen nodded, satisfied. "I can accept that."
Sha Xiong, the second brother, at once turned, went up to his adjutant, and said to him quietly, "These few are our honored guests; look after them well. Whatever they need, meet it without condition; what can be done must be done, and what can't be done you'll do for me anyway. Above all, the safety of the gentleman in the middle. It must be guaranteed. If anything happens to that gentleman, not only you, but your family, and the whole clan behind you, will all be dragged down with you. Understood?"
"Un… understood. Then… who is this gentleman?" the adjutant asked carefully.
Before, while his lord dealt with those guests, he had been a little too far off, so he had not heard their talk.
Or perhaps someone had deliberately stepped in to keep them from hearing what was said.
They had only sensed the changes of feeling on their lord's face.
"Don't ask about what you shouldn't!" The second brother Sha Xiong glared at him.
"Yes… then… then I'll… take them to the Black-Gold Hall," the adjutant said.
Before he could finish, the second brother Sha Xiong's murderous look came at him.
"I said the highest standard of treatment. Never mind any Black-Gold Hall; take them straight to Jingshan Courtyard. And give orders that everywhere around Jingshan Courtyard is to be cleared; without my order, no one but me and my eldest brother and third brother may come near. Anyone who disobeys may be locked up on the spot. Understood?" The second brother Sha Xiong glared at the adjutant; he had made it this plain already.
If his adjutant still did not understand, then his time in the post was over.
"Understood, understood." The adjutant nodded again and again.
The adjutant was no fool either; from his lord's instructions and attitude he could tell that the mysterious honored guest across from them was certainly someone out of the ordinary.
This Jingshan Courtyard, mind you, was no ordinary place.
It was the private courtyard of the three lords of Black Sand City, a place of lovely scenery, built at great cost.
Even when the leaders of the other three capital-city powers came, they had no chance to go to Jingshan Courtyard.
For it was not a place for receiving guests.
Now Lord Sha Xiong was actually having these people go straight into Jingshan Courtyard; that showed well enough how special they were.
"Then I'll leave this to you. Don't you go messing it up for me." When the second brother Sha Xiong had said this, he brought his adjutant back before Zhao Chen.
Sha Xiong, the second brother, said humbly, "Your Maj… my l… my lord, this is my trusted adjutant. From now on he'll be in charge of your itinerary; if you need anything, just tell him. I'll be gone a little while, and back within five hours."
"Very well." Zhao Chen nodded.
Sha Xiong, the second brother, took his leave again and again, not daring the least slight in his manner, and when he really did leave, his steps were very quick, as if afraid of losing a moment.
The adjutant obediently led the way for Zhao Chen and the others.
This Jingshan Courtyard was not in this satellite star system.
The adjutant took Zhao Chen's party's fleet straight into the Black Sand City main star system, to a stretch of space where the wind-sand was rather calm.
Here there was a space city, somewhat like the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire's Chang'an City and Luoyang City.
It hung alone in space, but it was not as fine as Chang'an City and Luoyang City, and much smaller besides.
This was the true Black Sand City.
Led by the adjutant, the whole way was clear, with almost no hindrance at all.
Every interstellar ship in the fleet was given VIP treatment.
On boarding this Black Sand City, Zhao Chen soon saw the so-called Jingshan Courtyard too.
It was a man-made courtyard in one section of compartments within Black Sand City, with an artificial sun and plants; anyone who did not know would have thought it lay on some habitable planet.
It was somewhat like the scenery inside an Eden-class starship, by a different route to the same end, but not as fine.
The fragrance one smelled in the air, for instance, was plainly artificial, unlike the natural fragrances one breathed aboard an Eden-class starship.
A banquet had already been laid out in the courtyard.
"My lord gave instructions that you and your people may use every facility in this courtyard. If there's anything about this food prepared for you that you're not satisfied with, just tell me, and I'll have it changed," the adjutant said, attending diligently beside them all the while, not daring the least slight.
"It's all right; this is fine as it is. You may go for now. We'd like to be in the courtyard on our own for a while. When your lord comes back, let us know then," Zhao Chen said with a wave of his hand.
Seeing this, the adjutant breathed a sigh of relief.
He would not be at their side, but it was the honored guests' own request, and this way he could lessen the chance of making mistakes too.
Judging from his lord's attitude toward these few, if he really slighted these honored guests, or made any slip in receiving them,
his lord really would deal with him.
So if he could stay out of the way, so much the better.
"Then I'll wait outside the courtyard. From now on there'll be no outsiders in the courtyard; if you need anything, press this button." When the adjutant had given these instructions, he took everyone out of the courtyard.
In the courtyard only Zhao Chen's party was left.
Panther-Girl and the others stood silently around the courtyard, responsible for the safety of Zhao Chen's party.
Zhao Chen, Li Yaqi and the others sat in the chairs in the middle of the courtyard.
"It seems our stepping stone has worked rather well," Zhao Chen said with a light laugh.
Huaya Nini clapped her hands beside him and said, "How could it not? These are sales rights to Eden-class starships. It's only an auxiliary interstellar ship, but in the known universe's civilizations right now, it's the best-selling interstellar ship there is. Besides, what the Searing Holy-Hammer Free Federation needs most is just this kind of interstellar ship that can produce grain. The higher grades, the T5 Diamond Eden-class and the T6 Purple-Gold Eden-class starships, they can't produce themselves. But Eden-class starships of T4 and below they can perfectly well produce themselves. With their own heavy-industrial production capacity, they can ease their grain needs in a short time. And at the same time they can buy T5 Diamond Eden-class and T6 Purple-Gold Eden-class starships from the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire. That way, the problem of the grain shortage is solved for good!"
Minister Li Yaqi nodded. "That's right; this is the stepping stone that suits us best. Whether it's Black Sand City's people or the leaders of the other three capital-city powers, they have no reason at all to refuse. Now we need only wait for the good news at the end."
Zhao Chen smiled faintly.