Humanity is missing, luckily I have billions of clones.

Chapter 337 Allies
The Red Star Alliance is great, but I'm afraid I can't join it.

Li Qingsong felt some regret, but still made the decision.

Instead of stating his conclusion directly, he asked, "Lord Willow, from your description, the Crimson Star Alliance was formed with the space-level Crimson Star civilization at its core."

So, there's something I don't quite understand: what's the point of an advanced civilization like the Crimson Star forming an alliance?

This alliance is likely a liability for them. After all, they've gained so many more civilizations that need protection for no reason. As for the logistical and production assistance that lower-level civilizations can provide to higher-level civilizations…

It seems that each level of advancement brings a significant boost to the civilization's productivity. Even if ten of me were combined, our productivity would probably not match that of your Yunluo civilization, and even ten of your civilizations combined would probably not match that of the Dark Force civilization.

So, why did the Crimson Star Civilization form the Crimson Star Alliance?

This was the question that immediately arose in Li Qingsong's mind after he learned of the name Crimson Star Alliance.

Clarifying this doubt will help Li Qingsong make a more accurate overall judgment.

Willow laughed.

"Back then, our civilization also had the same doubts as you."

The formation of an alliance should be something that the Red Star Civilization, or any other advanced civilization, could gain from; it cannot be based purely on goodwill.

If a civilization claims to have formed such an alliance based on pure goodwill, then we, as a lower- or middle-level civilization, should first suspect that the higher civilization's intentions lie with our own civilization.

But later, we finally understood that the advanced civilizations' scheme to form an alliance was indeed aimed at our civilization itself, but this was not harmful to us; on the contrary, it was beneficial.

"Oh?"

"It's very simple. This universe is too dangerous. Even for space civilizations, there are too many uncontrollable aspects."

So... if it were you, wouldn't you want an ally you could completely trust, someone you wouldn't fear betrayal from, someone you could unite with to defend against risks?

"I certainly hope so."

"This is what the Red Star Civilization is doing."

Willow smiled and said, "Their alliance is indeed aimed at our civilization itself, but they hope to nurture us to the point where our technology is on par with theirs, and we have equal, or at least not too much, power."

An external civilization cannot be completely trusted. But a civilization that one has cultivated oneself can be completely trusted.

This process of cultivation involves a great deal of interaction between civilizations. As the technological gap narrows, there will inevitably be numerous exchanges between the two sides in science, culture, entertainment, industry, and even commerce and military affairs.

These exchanges will create a powerful interest group within each of the two civilizations.

This interest group is the anchor that ensures complete trust between the two civilizations and that they have no fear of betrayal.

Even if a madman becomes the supreme leader of a civilization, without the need for another civilization to intervene, the interest groups within that civilization will eliminate him first, and vice versa.

For such a civilization, the cost of betrayal is far too high, making it virtually impossible.

Such a civilization is worthy of complete trust. And such an allied civilization can only be cultivated and shaped through its own efforts. At the same time, this alliance model has another advantage: it allows for mutual trust while maintaining a certain degree of independence, preventing a trend towards integration.

Based on the different levels of civilization and technology that result in different levels of organizational capacity, each civilization has a population limit, and therefore also a power limit.

Intentionally splitting a civilization into two might seem like a good way to increase the population ceiling, but such civilizations of the same origin and race will naturally tend to merge. Furthermore, because two leadership systems and two interest groups have already been established, this merging will inevitably be accompanied by war, as each side hopes to secure its own interests.

Therefore, the method of actively splitting oneself has been proven countless times that not only fails to enhance the strength of a civilization, but also leads to a significant loss of the civilization's strength, or even its demise.

Actively cultivating allies, trusting each other while maintaining independence, and sticking together for mutual support is the best way to withstand risks in this universe.

This explains why the Crimson Star Civilization proactively formed the Crimson Star Alliance to provide shelter for lower-level civilizations, while also conducting eligibility checks on civilizations joining the alliance, allowing only those with high potential to join.

Li Qingsong nodded slowly.

This explanation is quite reasonable, and it also aligns with my own sociological research findings.

In this light, if I am truly a legitimate intelligent civilization, joining the Crimson Star Alliance would indeed be a good way out.

The fact that Yunluo Civilization could offer this as a bargaining chip demonstrates its sincerity.

Unfortunately……

Li Qingsong sighed: "Thank you for your kindness. We can hand over your lost clansmen to you. As for joining the Crimson Star Alliance, forget about it."

Our civilization still has some matters that we must attend to, for reasons that are inconvenient to explain. If the time is right in the future, we will certainly request your assistance in joining us.

Willow paused for a moment, seemingly quite surprised by Li Qingsong's answer, and his tone became somewhat urgent: "Your Excellency, are you worried about being deceived, or about some unknown risks?"
Please rest assured, we can apply to the Alliance to invite you to temporarily reside in the Crimson Star Kingdom. If you feel unable to adapt, you are welcome to withdraw at any time.

Li Qingsong shook his head again: "No, I have completely trusted your sincerity and the goodwill of the Crimson Star Alliance."

If you truly intend to harm our civilization, then you are perfectly capable of using violence, and we will have no ability to resist.

"It's just for some reasons I can't say outright, but I really wanted to join the alliance, but unfortunately..."

Willow frowned, looking quite troubled: "Alright, I understand. But then... how should we repay your kindness?"

"If you refuse to join the alliance, then we will be unable to provide you with either technological data or technological creations..."

Li Qingsong was also full of regret.

Li Qingsong certainly wanted the gravity-level technological data, and desperately wanted it. However, joining the Crimson Star Alliance would ultimately cause too many inconveniences, so he had to make a choice at this moment.

"There's no need for that. Rescuing your lost clansmen was just something we did as a side activity. It would be great if we could get something in return, but if not, we wouldn't lose anything."

However... regarding intelligence, such as the situation in space, which powerful forces exist, risks, rules, survival tips, precautions, etc., would you be willing to disclose this to us?
If possible, we would be extremely grateful.

Willow gritted his teeth: "This is also under the Alliance's ban. But we can't worry about it now. At worst, our civilization will just go back and accept the Alliance's punishment."

(End of this chapter)