This is not mechanical ascension...

Chapter 453 Negotiation Qinglong's Intervention

He looked at the three people opposite him, and the three people opposite him also cast vague glances at him.

"Mr. Qinglong, this is our first official meeting." Dius took the initiative to speak. This federal "goddess" had a soft voice and a slender figure.

"Sir Dius, I have long heard of your great name." Li Ming nodded, very politely.

"Now that everyone is here, let's get started." Crow had a blank expression on his face and a very rude attitude. "The Mechanics Association must be split up. This huge interest group has seriously affected the development and interests of local civilization."

"In essence, there is no difference between mechanics and researchers, and there is no evolutionary system. The divisions of each civilization must be controlled within each civilization."

He went straight to the point and the atmosphere immediately became tense.

Reynolds couldn't help but sneer: "You only see the results? The Machinists Association has undertaken most of the training work, provided a lot of assistance, and helped a lot of ordinary people from poor families."

“The systematic training and process, as well as the large amount of knowledge shared publicly, are all a credit to the Machinists Association.”

"You guys have misunderstood. This is not a discussion but a notification." Crow said indifferently, "This negotiation is meaningless in the first place. The Mechanics Association is doomed to be unable to resist."

"I know that you guys just want to gain more benefits. I'm sorry, but we can't cooperate with you."

Although Klaue's words were rough, his logic was sound. This negotiation was more like a part of the division plan, issuing an ultimatum.

Their attitude was tougher than he had imagined. Li Ming wondered, did they think they had no room for resistance?
Reynolds' face darkened, and Braun smiled and said, "Of course, you three can also state your demands."

Mikhail said in a deep voice: "Our demands are very simple. Both sides should take a step back and jointly govern."

"We are willing to merge the Mechanics Association into the Interstellar Alliance and make it a subsidiary of the Alliance, and it will be jointly managed by all major civilizations."

Although each side took a step back, it was not as simple as taking a step back. The Mechanics Association was equivalent to cutting flesh, which was not much different from being cut, except that it became an invisible knife.

It can even be said that it is more like a way of saving face, leaving a layer of face for a few master craftsmen so that they will not be scolded by the mechanics when it is mentioned in the future.

"Let's all take a step back?" Browne shook his head calmly. "Why should we take a step back? What's the capital that you three have for us to take a step back?"

Reynolds snorted coldly, "If you push us too hard, don't blame us for being destroyed."

"You're dead... the net can't be broken." Braun shook his head, his tone indifferent: "Those low-level mechanics are not worth mentioning. If you give them a little benefit, they will turn against us."

"And I believe that you will definitely not declare war on us because of this matter."

With undisguised suppression, the three major civilizations united, there is almost nothing they cannot do.

"You..." Reynolds looked grim. Even though he had expected the negotiations would not go smoothly, he did not expect the other party to be so contemptuous.

"Let me be frank. From the very beginning of this association, it was destined to be split up sooner or later." Crow further said, "The Hammer Forger was indeed a great man, but it's a pity that he died before he could train a qualified successor."

"You two have been running the business for so many years, but you are still relying on the autonomous expansion of the Mechanics Association. You are just two blood-sucking worms lying on this association."

"After so many years of smoking, it's time to be satisfied."

Claude spoke very rudely, but ignored Qinglong. After all, he appeared for too short a time and did not gain much benefit from the matter of the Mechanics Association.

"I..." Reynolds opened his mouth with a look of shock and anger, but no sound could be heard, it was muted.

Li Ming was suppressed throughout the whole process and was not surprised.

Mikhail frowned slightly, but he didn't mind these words. He glanced at Qinglong and said in a deep voice: "Ruins of the Holy Spirit Civilization, how about this price?"

After he finished speaking, Klaue had a subtle look on his face and looked at the other two.

Mikhail struck while the iron was hot and continued, "I know you have been coveting it for a long time. We can give you the coordinates and add new divine craftsmen to the association."

At this point, he looked solemn, "Joint governance, this is our bottom line!"

"Bottom line?" Crow sneered, "Sorry, we don't need it."

No need? Mikhail's face changed slightly, and Reynolds's angry look froze on his face.

Sure enough... they already knew it, and it was most likely Adam's doing. They blocked all the retreat routes, but Li Ming still didn't speak.

Mikhail looked at Qinglong in surprise and doubt, and then he understood what Qinglong's previous pessimistic attitude meant.

"Do you really think you are the only ones who know the coordinates?" Brown smiled. "We can even give you a little reminder. Because of the impact of the Red River disaster, the area where the ruins of the Holy Spirit Civilization are located will be opened in half a year at most."

"What?" Reynolds looked stunned.

Mikhail's expression changed uncontrollably, and he was finally sure that they really knew the place.

In fact, they had no cards in their hands from the beginning.

"Okay, we can wrap this up now. You can go back and think about how to issue the relevant announcement." Brown nodded, simply and casually.

"and many more…"

When everyone was about to disconnect the link, Qinglong, who had been silent all this time, spoke.

The expressions of Brown and the other two changed slightly. If it was Reynolds who spoke, they thought he might say some harsh words.

However, Qinglong is not a man to be underestimated. The three of them quickly calmed down and looked over at the same time.

"Is there anything else, Lord Qinglong?" Brown asked. After all, he was one of the ten high-level co-founders invited by the empire, so he was very polite.

Mikhail snorted in his heart.

"I have one more thing." Li Ming said slowly.

"Oh?" Dius became interested, his eyes flickering, "Do you have anything else that can turn defeat into victory?"

"It's unlikely to turn defeat into victory." Li Ming smiled, "But it's also a small bargaining chip."

Facing the gazes of several people, Li Ming uttered four words - "Star of Eternal Silence"

In an instant, Brown's face changed drastically, Dius' expression restrained, and Claude waited attentively.

Reynolds looked more and more stunned, and Mikhail looked at him in surprise.

"If it's the ones you sold to me last time, you don't need to say anything more." Dius smiled with a little dissatisfaction.

The Holy Castle orbit positioning program that Qinglong sold them last time really let them down.

It requires a large amount of Terrax Stones to run, but they have no stock at all. When they want to buy them secretly, they find that several forces are also buying them in secret.

If everyone has one, it's the same as having nothing.

"Sir Qinglong, you must be responsible for what you say..." Brown reminded implicitly, feeling uncertain.

"Of course..." Li Ming nodded, "I can give you a rough range."

Is the range probably out?

Deus was thinking, Claude's eyes were flickering, and Brown's mind was racing.

He vaguely knew that Prince Costat was in charge of this matter, but he didn't know where Qinglong got the information from, let alone whether it was true or not, but...

"By the way, Mr. Brown, you can go and verify it with someone." Li Ming said. "Hmm?"

Both Deus and Klaue looked over with solemn expressions. Could the Empire's search for the Star of Eternal Silence really be limited to a certain scope?

How come they didn't receive any news?

Brown forced an ugly smile on his face: "Your Excellency Qinglong, you are joking. I didn't receive the call..."

Before he finished speaking, Li Ming interrupted him directly, "If you don't ask, then I will just tell you directly."

"Wait..." Braun hurriedly stopped him and gritted his teeth, "I... have something urgent to do, please wait a moment..."

After that, he went offline.

Deus' eyes lit up, and there was almost no need to confirm the matter.

"Mr. Qinglong, this matter..." She said with a smile.

Li Ming shook his head. "Sir Dius, we should not communicate until Sir Brown returns."

Deus's face stiffened slightly, and Claude frowned, looking Qinglong up and down.

You said it, but you don’t want to tell them. What’s the purpose?
All kinds of thoughts flashed through Mikhail's mind. Qinglong suddenly mentioned this matter. Was it really to help the Mechanics Association?
The information value of the Star of Eternal Silence is obviously greater.

It didn't take long before someone came back online, but it was not Braun, but Costat.

"Your Highness, it's been a long time since we last met." Li Ming raised his eyebrows.

Costat's eyes swept over Qinglong with mixed feelings.

Because of Talos' sudden appearance not long ago, their cooperation with Chlonoa has temporarily come to a stalemate.

Chlonoa was very unhappy with their threats, and Costa was still trying to figure it out when he received news from Braun.

"Joint governance is impossible..." Costat said.

"I don't want joint governance..." Li Ming shook his head, "It's just that I hope to let the Machinists Association complete its historical mission in a more moderate way."

“Within three years, the Machinists’ Association cannot fail.”

He wanted to delay time. As he got to know the Mechanics Association better and better, Li Ming also tasted a lot of sweetness.

But now there is no way to save the association, so we can only delay it as much as possible.

"Three years?" Costat still shook his head. "I'll give you one year at most. It's up to you how much benefit you can get."

"One year..." Li Ming thought, frowning slightly.

Seeing the two of them talking to each other without paying attention to the others, Dius and Klaue said with unfriendly expressions: "Prince Costat, we do not agree to this deal."

"This is what the Holy Emperor meant. If you disagree, we will turn to support the Mechanics Association." Costat said directly.

Mikhail's heart skipped a beat.

Klaue's face looked grim. "Is the Empire going to go back on its word?"

Now that there was no one else around, the six people present were all aware of the twists and turns of the interstellar space, and they spoke more and more outrageously.

Dius's gaze swept deeply over Qinglong, and she realized that the other party was not trading this information with the three of them at all.

Instead, let the empire pay the price and shut his mouth.

By trading this information, the initiative falls into their hands, and things that have been promised may easily go wrong.

The three major civilizations cannot make decisions on the vast interstellar space and can only provide guidance.

But once the empire jumps left and right, things will get troublesome.

"No, the empire only needs one year." Costat said in a deep voice. With the United Organization of Higher Life Forms in his hands, Adam is not afraid of anything.

"Then I'll give you another year." Dius said expressionlessly.

They did not gain nothing in this matter. At least they knew that the Empire was making rapid progress in its search for the Star of Eternal Silence.

It wouldn't be a big deal if we let it go for another year.

"Okay, the negotiations are over." Costat looked at Qinglong deeply and ended the communication directly.

Klaue and Deus were also absent-minded. After they went offline, they would probably hold a high-level meeting to discuss the matter as soon as possible.

"Is this... the end?" Reynolds was a little confused, and then he couldn't help but look at Qinglong, "Can we only get the information of the Eternal Silence Star for one year..."

"Don't talk yet." Mikhail said coldly, and Reynolds remained silent.

The three of them logged off from the conference room, rebuilt a more secret connection, and descended in the form of virtual projections.

Reynolds was still puzzled. "The clue to the Star of Eternal Silence should be far more valuable than this. Even if we get the Empire to support us, it is not impossible."

“No…” Li Ming shook his head. “That area is quite special. It’s useless even if we know about it. The value is not as great as we imagined. Being able to delay it for a year already means that the empire doesn’t want to leak any information.”

"So that's how it is..." Reynolds suddenly realized and hesitated to speak. He was very curious about where that area was, but didn't dare to ask.

"No matter what, at least we can gain a year. One more year means more variables." Mikhail breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Qinglong with a complicated expression.

He was really surprised. Could it be that Qinglong was not from the empire?

Isn't it a disguised reminder to bring this up in front of Deus and Klaue?
He couldn't figure it out in his mind, as all the previous guesses were contradictory.

Li Ming had his own plans. He said this not just to buy time for the Mechanics Association.

It is estimated that after this incident, the Empire can probably deduce that he and Taros are inseparable.

But sooner or later the empire will realize that his proactive disclosure is not necessarily a bad thing, and it may even be intentional.

After all, in that dimensional world, as long as it is beneficial to the empire, it doesn’t matter who controls it.

"Variables? Humph... Mikhail..." Reynolds' eyes turned unfriendly after hearing what he said, "You're just a dog that can't change its nature."

Mikhail was at a loss, staring at him coldly, "Reynolds, what do you mean?"

Reynolds said in a deep voice: "Let me ask you, how do they know the coordinates of the ruins of the Holy Spirit Civilization?"

Mikhail finally understood and said coldly: "Do you think I leaked it?"

"What else?" Reynolds looked at him, his tone very firm: "Also, why didn't you tell us that the ruins of the Holy Spirit Civilization would appear in advance? Don't tell us, you don't know."

Mikhail paused.

Reynolds sneered and said, "I knew it. What Forging Hammer said is indeed right. He is selfish by nature and it is difficult to sustain."

“Reynolds!” Mikhail seemed to be stimulated. His virtual projection was slightly blurred, his eyes were bloodshot, and his voice suddenly became high-pitched. “Don’t use the forging hammer to suppress me. He is the founder of the association and the master of mechanics, but I, Mikhail, may not be weaker than him!”

(End of this chapter)