Pretending to be a genius starts with the civilization advancement assessment.

Chapter 375 Returning to the Human Race, Zi Chen's Reaction

After leaving the ancient tree courtyard, Lin Yi first returned to his residence.

The Spirit Clan's five-year buffer period for the prodigies of other races still had some leeway. Considering that their separation was imminent, Lin Yi did not continue his cultivation in the following period, but instead devoted himself to more frequent and extensive exchanges.

Edith, Qingye, Huiyao, Liuyun, Kenx, Valerie—these names, who stood shoulder to shoulder amidst the blood and fire of countless secret realms and cultivated together on Sacred Tree Star, naturally maintained close contact now that the war had ceased and the outcome of Secret Realm Number One remained unresolved.

Their gatherings often take place in exclusive spaces on the virtual network or in an elegant venue provided by Sacred Tree Star, and the topics they discuss go far beyond cultivation insights.

"According to the latest information I have received, the interior of the No. 1 Secret Realm is very likely to be divided into regions, and the initial entry points of different regions may be completely random, or even light-years apart."

Huiyao revealed some fragmented information his family had gathered at a gathering, which, though vague, was enough to give people pause for thought.

“Intelligence sharing and rapid mobilization will be key,” Edith added, her blue eyes sparkling. “While individuals or small teams may be more efficient, teams with reliable allies will have a significant advantage when it comes to core resources.”

Lin Yi listened quietly, occasionally asking one or two key questions.

What he was thinking about was far more far-reaching than what was being discussed at the moment.

The Star Origin Society, a secret circle born in dire straits and maintained by a system of soul imprints and purified source matter, was the cornerstone of their survival and rise in the secret realm in the past.

However, with the upcoming "Secret Realm No. 1," a secret bond and tacit understanding alone may not be enough to meet all the challenges.

He clearly recognized two things: First, in order to facilitate communication, location, resource exchange, and even seeking help in times of crisis for the members of Xingyuan Society in the future within the secret realm, a more open organizational form with certain recognized symbols and basic structures would provide great convenience.

Secondly, and this is also the foundation supporting the previous point, is his own strength.

The perfection of the laws of life and their initial fusion with the laws of spacetime bring not only a baptism of the soul's origin and a qualitative change in combat power, but also a sense of confidence.

Once he updates his clones, and with the help of the "Fearless War God," his strength will steadily surpass the threshold of a high-level god.

High-level deities are considered powerful even among eternal deities.

This strength is enough to support the facade of a public organization, provide members with a certain degree of potential protection and credibility, and also give them enough weight when negotiating with other forces.

Therefore, at a small gathering attended by only a dozen or so of the core members of the Xingyuan Society, Lin Yi put forward his well-thought-out idea.

"Gentlemen."

Lin Yi's gaze swept over Edith, Radiance, Valerie, Aoba, and others. "With the First Secret Realm approaching, if future cooperation is limited to us informing each other privately, it will be too inefficient and difficult to deal with emergencies in a timely manner."

He paused briefly, allowing everyone to process the meaning of his words, before continuing, "I have decided to officially and publicly establish the Star Origin Society. We will establish a basic organizational framework and set up an internal contribution and information exchange platform. The founding members are the surviving geniuses of the myriad secret realms. We do not seek to establish a strict hierarchical system, but rather an elite alliance based on shared experiences and trust, aiming at intelligence sharing, resource assistance, and priority collaboration in exploring secret realms."

"Of course, if there are qualified candidates, they can be admitted as reserve members. After passing the test and signing the membership agreement, they can be admitted as formal members. Only one formal member is added per era."

The suggestion was made, and a brief silence fell around the table. Then, everyone's eyes lit up.

Everyone understood Lin Yi's subtext: the reserve members definitely didn't know the core secret. To become a formal member, one had to sign a soul "agreement" and then be taken to the Star Source Space to officially join the organization.

“I agree,” Edith said first. “Revealing our identities is not only a convenience, but also an intangible asset. To outsiders, a group led by you, Lin Yi, whose members are all top talents selected from countless secret realms, has enough credibility and potential energy to give us convenience and even priority in many situations.”

“That’s true,” Huiyao nodded. “Moreover, this way we have a public channel and standards for recruiting new members, and we can more systematically bring in comrades who are trustworthy in character and ability, thus expanding our network. This is crucial for quickly establishing a foothold in an environment like the One Secret Realm, which can be extremely vast.”

Kenx scratched his head and said, "I have no objection. Whatever the chairman says goes, we'll do. As long as we trust each other, that's fine. If it's public, it'll be less troublesome when we're fighting or exploring resources."

His words drew a few soft laughs, but they also revealed the most honest thoughts.

Strength and reputation are themselves a form of deterrence and a passport.

Valerie added gently, "We could also consider designing a simple emblem or token to facilitate identification within the secret realm and avoid accidental harm."

The proposal was unanimously approved by all core members.

Soon, the news of the official establishment of the Star Origin Society quietly spread among the elites of Sacred Tree Star.

Without any grand announcement, the news quickly spread to those talented individuals with sufficient strength through the individual networks of the Star Origin Society members and Lin Yi's growing reputation among the prodigies of Sacred Tree Star.

In the following days, Lin Yi processed many applications for joining through Xuanji.

He and several core members set basic vetting criteria: the most important thing is character and integrity, and at least two official members of Xingyuan Society must vouch for the person. Of course, the president can invite them directly.

Secondly, one must possess strength and potential, excelling in at least one aspect; finally, one must agree with Xingyuan Association's fundamental principle of "mutual assistance and no internal friction."

The review process was mainly handled by Huiyao, Qingfeng, Qingye, and others, with Lin Yi making the final decision.

In a short period of time, more than 20 outstanding talents with excellent abilities and reputations passed the review and became reserve members of Xingyuan Society, which quietly expanded the scale of this emerging organization and gradually spread its influence.

Fifteen standard days passed in the blink of an eye.

The unified return date arranged by the Eldar has arrived.

At the interstellar port of Sacred Tree Star, dozens of streamlined, silver-gray medium-sized spaceships were quietly moored in their designated berths.

One of the ships will carry Lin Yi, Hui Yao, Qing Feng, Kenx, and other human prodigies back to the core of the human territory, the Origin Star.

The one in charge of this escort mission is an eternal god of the Eldar race.

The crowd boarded the ship in an orderly fashion.

The spaceship's interior was spacious and elegantly decorated with a high-tech feel. As the spaceship slowly left the port and entered a stable hyperspace channel, the image of the majestic, verdant tree of Sacred Tree Star gradually shrank outside the porthole and was eventually replaced by leaping streaks of light.

Shortly after the voyage began, the Eldar eternal deity responsible for escorting them voluntarily came to the public rest area.

His gaze swept briefly across the crowd before landing directly on Lin Yi, who was sitting by the window, talking quietly with Huiyao.

"Lord Lin Yi."

The spirit deity approached with a gentle smile and was very polite.

Lin Yi stood up and politely replied, "Thank you for your trouble in escorting me."

"You're too kind, sir." The spirit god smiled and nodded, introducing himself, "I am Ethan, from the Lanxing family."

The fact that she mentioned being from the same clan as Edith clearly indicated that she knew Lin Yi and Edith had a close relationship, which made her attitude even more friendly and intimate.

Lin Yi understood, and he smiled and nodded: "So it is His Excellency Ethan of the Lanxing family. Thank you for your help on this trip."

The two then began to talk.

Ethan was knowledgeable and articulate, discussing topics ranging from the unique ecology of Sacred Tree Star to several famous landscapes within the Eldar territory, and ancient anecdotes circulating among the stars, creating a relaxed and harmonious atmosphere.

He spoke highly of Lin Yi, and when he talked about the "Fearless War God," he also showed appropriate admiration. This was clearly not just because of Edith, but more of an acknowledgment of Lin Yi's own strength and potential.

Not far away, Huiyao, Qingfeng, Kenx, and others appeared to be resting or browsing information, but in reality, they were secretly communicating in a small, temporarily encrypted group via a virtual network.

Radiance: "See that? An eternal god is so polite to the guild master, taking the initiative to come over and greet him."

Qingfeng: "It is indeed somewhat unexpected. Although I know that the president's status is different now, the fact that an eternal god can take such an attitude is truly remarkable."

Kenx: "The Eldar are known for their inherent arrogance, especially towards those who are not of their race. This Lord Ethan's attitude is probably not just because of the Guild Master's strength, is it?"

Mo Yuan: "What do you mean? You don't think it's because of Edith, do you? I don't think even Edith herself would have such a good attitude from His Majesty."

Huiyao: "You may not know the details yet. An elder in my clan, who is also an eternal god, once mentioned that long before the Sacred Tree Secret Realm, the guild leader, with that fearless war god avatar, had already demonstrated a combat level comparable to that of a powerful god. In recent years, this news has actually become quite common knowledge among god-level circles."

Qingfeng: "With the president's talent, after these years of secluded cultivation in the Sacred Tree Secret Realm, his strength must have made a qualitative leap. As to what extent, only the president himself probably knows."

Everyone in the group expressed their agreement.

Meanwhile, Lin Yi's conversation with Ethan also came to an end.

Ethan wisely refrained from further intrusion. After exchanging a few pleasantries, he politely left, giving Lin Yi and the others the space they needed.

However, Lin Yi only chatted with Huiyao and the others for a while before returning to his cabin.

Although he was on a spaceship and the cultivation environment was far inferior to that of the Ancient Tree Courtyard, the nourishing effects of the Immortal Qinghua Liquid that he had previously exchanged on Sacred Tree Star still remained, and the stable environment buff provided by the Primordial Life Breath Aura was still present.

These valuable auxiliary effects are still ongoing, so they should not be wasted.

During the tranquil voyage, Lin Yi's mind was completely immersed in sorting out and deepening his own power.

Half a standard year passed quietly as he engaged in intensive training and occasional intelligence exchanges with Huiyao and others.

As the spaceship shuddered slightly and broke free of the hyperspace route, the magnificent and familiar scenery of the Primordial Star gradually appeared outside the porthole. Everyone knew that the journey was about to reach its end.

The spaceship slowly docked on the massive starport platform.

Lin Yi and the others bid farewell to Ethan politely, thanking him for escorting them along the way.

Ethan maintained his gentle smile and politely expressed his hope to meet again in the future.

Returning to the core sacred land of the human race, everyone felt a sense of relief, like returning home, but it also meant a temporary separation.

Huiyao, Qingfeng, Kenx, and the others need to return to their respective star systems immediately to prepare for the comprehensive selection and training within the human race targeting the "Secret Realm No. 1" that will begin two standard years later.

Lin Yi did not linger on Origin Star for long.

He first returned to his private manor in the Star Origin District.

The manor was still well maintained by the intelligent system, and both clones were already waiting in the manor.

He had a brief meeting and exchange with several other human prodigies who were also on the list, either having already returned or already residing on Origin Star. They exchanged some scattered information about the "Secret Realm No. 1" and also participated in a small-scale internal gathering.

The next morning, Lin Yi left his ordinary clone in the manor to continue cultivating his combat skills, while he took his fearless war god clone and boarded the Shadow Shuttle to embark on his journey back to the Purple Gold Starfield.

He wouldn't feel completely at ease just because of a ceasefire agreement between the three races.

Lin Yi knew very well that although there was a truce on the surface, if the two races saw an opportunity, they would certainly not hesitate to sacrifice an ordinary eternal god "star pirate" with no future to kill him.

Half a standard year later, the Shadow Shuttle entered the range of the Purple Gold Star Alliance.

Five thousand years may be just a blink of an eye for the vast universe, but for the beings who personally experienced and changed this protracted and brutal war that affected countless star fields, it is a long period of time that they will remember for a lifetime.

Since Lin Yi escaped from the myriad secret realms and plunged into the battlefield of the "Two Realms Abyss," relying on the might of the fearless war god to roam freely, his name and achievements have already spread throughout the human territory through the Pan-Spirit Alliance battlefield system and Star Sea News, and naturally, they have also reached his "hometown" Purple Gold Star Alliance.

The war was temporarily brought to a halt due to the appearance of the "Secret Realm No. 1", and the three top races signed a ceasefire agreement that would last for one hundred eras.

The war machine, which had been taut for five thousand years, gradually slowed down, and various forces began to lick their wounds and adjust their strategies, while "Secret Realm No. 1" became the new focus.

As one of the star alliances within the human race's territory, the Purple Gold Star Alliance also paid a heavy price in this war, but similarly, some names became even more brilliant because of this war.

Zichen Star, the capital of the Zijin Star Alliance.

Although the shadow of war has temporarily dissipated, this super-planet is still shrouded in a solemn and tranquil atmosphere unique to the post-war era. Among the towering buildings, many new commemorative sculptures and light screens have been added, silently telling the story of sacrifice and glory.

Inside the Star Alliance Executive Committee headquarters, in that magnificent building that resembles an inverted mountain peak, Chairman Mingluo sat in the main seat in the top-floor conference room.

His face remained calm, but deep within his eyes, it seemed as if countless stars were being born and dying in an orderly fashion. That was the majesty and wisdom that had been accumulated after controlling a vast star alliance and experiencing countless life-and-death choices.

He suddenly raised his hand slightly, interrupting a member of the Derivative Realm who was reporting on the post-war resource allocation plan for the Third Star Sector.

The entire conference room fell silent instantly.

Several gazes, some ancient and profound, some sharp and shrewd, some calm and reserved, all focused on Mingluo.

They were all high-ranking members of the Purple Gold Star Alliance who had survived the war and proven themselves, or veteran powerhouses who held authority before the war, or rising stars who had distinguished themselves in the bloodshed and were promoted exceptionally. Mingluo did not speak immediately, but listened to a message that only he could perceive.

After a moment, he slowly spoke.

"Everyone, I just received a private message from Vice President Lin Yi."

The moment the name "Lin Yi" was uttered, the air in the conference room seemed to freeze for a beat.

"His spaceship has just completed its final hyperspace jump and has entered the territory of the Purple Gold Star Alliance. It is expected to arrive at Purple Star in one standard hour."

As soon as he finished speaking, the meeting room fell silent.

Vice President Lin Yi!
For many of those present, that name can no longer be simply summarized as "genius" or "rising star".

That was a living legend, a miracle that perhaps had never happened before since the founding of the Purple Gold Star Alliance.

Five thousand years ago, this name, along with the astonishing report of "Level 5 Civilization Assessment" and "Level 7 Individual Potential," swept through the upper echelons of Zichen Star like a hurricane, attracting the six major powers and countless families to flock to it, sending envoys across the star sea to that remote blue planet.

At that time, Lin Yi was seen as a "gem" that needed to be evaluated, worth investing in, but also needed to be observed.

Then came the emergence of the genius warrior, who overwhelmed all others and won unparalleled glory for the human race.

At that time, he was a rising superstar with a promising future, worthy of being courted and befriended by the Purple Gold Star Alliance at the highest level.

The fact that President Mingluo personally presented the gift is proof of this.

Then, he disappeared in a secret realm, sparking countless speculations and anxieties.

When war broke out, this name was shrouded in the shadow of war and sacrifice, and was only occasionally mentioned in the stories of the remnants of the Dongfeng Mercenary Group and the Silver Blue Civilization's arduous battle.

However, when the war reached its most brutal stage, Lin Yi, along with a group of prodigies, made a triumphant return on the battlefield of the "Two Realms Abyss"!
His fame began to resound like thunder.

Soon, as one brilliant victory after another was officially recorded and certified by the battlefield system, the name Lin Yi, which was associated with the "Fearless War God," once again entered everyone's field of vision with an incomparably dazzling presence.

God-level combat power certification!
Together with President Mingluo, Yueming, Lan and other veteran deities, they form a fixed team and dominate the battlefield.

Later, he even acted alone with the strength of a powerful god, participating in emergency support, and his name even reached the ears of the Abyss Clan and the Crystal Spirit Clan!

Five thousand years of war was a heavy period for these beings at the Transcendent Realm level.

They witnessed firsthand the reshuffling of countless forces and the rise and fall of families.

The name "Lin Yi" rose with unstoppable momentum in this bloody drama, from "potential rising star" to "Vice President of the Star Alliance Executive Committee," "comrade-in-arms who once fought alongside the president on the front lines and entrusted his life to him," and "the strongest fighting force currently visible in the Purple Gold Star Alliance."

This goes beyond the category of "potential stock".

It was like finding a rough stone by chance in a barren star field, thinking that at most it could yield a high-grade source crystal, but instead it cut out the legendary "Eternal Star Core".

General Raymond, the commander in charge of the star system's defense, was the first to break the silence.

"Lin Yi, Your Majesty, are you returning?"

He paused, seemingly getting used to the new title, "Time flies. It feels like just yesterday that he first arrived on Zichen Star."

"Yes."

The person who answered the phone was a high-ranking official in charge of internal affairs and resource allocation, named Mo Heng.

If Lin Yi were here, he might remember that five thousand years ago, it was this being, who was then in charge of the "Newly Promoted Civilization Guidance and Integration Department" and was a being of the Derivative Realm level, who, upon receiving the Level 5 assessment report from Blue Star, immediately dispatched an envoy in both official and family capacity.

At this moment, Mo Heng's face was even more refined and profound than it had been back then.

"Who would have thought that the young man who came from that remote resource planet would have reached this point in just a few thousand years?"

His words resonated with several high-ranking officials present.

Some of them had participated in or paid attention to the recruitment of Lin Yi and the Silver Blue Civilization back then, while others indirectly learned about the influence of this legendary figure during the war by handling matters related to the Dongfeng Mercenary Group and the Silver Blue Civilization.

A newly promoted high-ranking officer who had distinguished himself in the later stages of the war couldn’t help but whisper to his colleague beside him, “I remember the information mentioned that when His Majesty Lin Yi participated in the civilization promotion assessment, his personal rating was .7? At the time, I thought it was unprecedented, but now it seems that it was probably just the beginning.”

“It’s more than just the beginning.” His colleague, a capable female expert from the Derivative Realm, responded, “His Majesty Lin Yi has made another trip to the Supreme Sacred Tree Secret Realm of the Spirit Clan. His strength will only increase further upon his return.”

These quick, private exchanges did not escape the notice of Mingluo and several top-tier cultivators at the Transcendent Realm, but they did not stop them.

Making these core members fully aware of Lin Yi's current importance will only benefit their future reception and follow-up matters.

Soon, almost everyone's gaze, intentionally or unintentionally, turned to Irelia, who was sitting not far below Mingluo.

Irelia Sheena.

She was the person in the conference room at that moment most closely associated with the name "Lin Yi," and also the most special.

As Lin Yi's designated spokesperson, the vice-leader of the Dongfeng Mercenary Group, and the plenipotentiary representative of the Silver Blue Civilization in the Purple Gold Star Alliance, she was the most important bridge connecting that legend with the real world of the Purple Gold Star Alliance during the long years of Lin Yi's disappearance and the outbreak of war.

She had to coordinate the integration of the remnants of the Dongfeng Mercenary Group into the Star Realm Army, and do her best to preserve the core members in the fierce war of attrition; she had to fight for development space and resources for the Silver Blue Civilization within the Purple Gold Star Alliance; she had to navigate the Star Alliance's upper echelons as an alien and a star-domain-level individual, striving for every possible benefit for the legacy left by Lin Yi; she also had to personally lead troops on dangerous missions, using battle merits and bloodshed to solidify her position.
Over the past five thousand years, she has walked a path fraught with peril, each step fraught with danger.

Some of the veteran executives in the conference room may have initially had other ideas, but under the influence of Irelia's abilities, resilience, and the subtle "intimidation" from Lin Yi's sect behind her, they ultimately chose to cooperate or wait and see.

They also witnessed firsthand how she grew from a somewhat naive Eldar young lady into the "Vice Commander Irelia" who now wields considerable influence even within the core of the Star Alliance.

"Vice Commander Irelia."

Mo Heng's tone was polite but carried a subtle hint of flattery: "You and His Majesty Lin Yi have known each other since you were humble beginnings and have been together ever since. You have also single-handedly supported the affairs of Dongfeng and Yinlan for so long. Now that His Majesty has returned, I'm afraid you will have to put in a lot of effort in communicating and coordinating many matters."

Irelia slightly raised her eyelids, her gaze calmly meeting Mo Heng's, as well as the other gazes in the conference room that contained a hint of emotion, or even a touch of envy.

"Committee Member Mo Heng, you flatter me. It's just my duty. The leader's return this time is mainly for personal matters, and I will do my best to cooperate to ensure that the normal operation of the Star Alliance is not affected, and I will also ensure a smooth transition between Dongfeng and Yinlan."

Mingluo took in everyone's reactions, then slowly stood up, exuding an invisible aura of authority that immediately silenced the conference room.

"Alright. Everyone knows the news. Vice President Lin Yi's first return to the Purple Gold Star Alliance since emerging from the Myriad Secret Realms is a major event for our Purple Gold Star Alliance. Everyone, please come with me to the airport to welcome him. Vice Leader Irelia, you will come with me."

"Yes, Chairman!" everyone responded in unison.

The meeting was quickly adjourned, but the surging undercurrent spread to the upper echelons of the Purple Gold Star Alliance.

Almost simultaneously, across Zichen Star, those behemoths deeply rooted in the Star Alliance's network of power and wealth also received the same message through their own overt or covert channels.

The Human Astral Legion is stationed at the headquarters of the Purple Gold Star Alliance.

The one from five thousand years ago has already sacrificed himself in the war. The current legion commander is a burly man who still exudes an aura of iron and blood, but whose brows are now etched with countless marks of time and hardship.

The adjutant had just finished his report in a low voice when he suddenly looked up from the holographic sand table covered with a star map.

"Lin Yi."

The legion commander muttered the name to himself, a complex expression appearing on his rugged face.

When he took over, he read through all the files about Lin Yi in detail and knew about the terrifying achievements of this "genius" who had a close relationship with the Star Legion.

Especially during the war, part of the Dongfeng Mercenary Group was incorporated into the Star Guardian Army for combat, and its performance and relationship with Lin Yi left a deep impression on him.

"Issue the order," the legion commander said in a deep voice, "prepare a congratulatory gift in my name. The standard should be the same as that for welcoming a senior god-level commander returning victorious from the front lines. Also, adjust my schedule for today; the airport reception will be on me."

The adjutant hesitated slightly: "Sir, Chairman Mingluo has already personally..."

"The president represents the Star Alliance officially," the legion commander interrupted him, a glint of light flashing in his eyes. "I represent the Star Realm Legion, and our stance must be clear. This Vice President Lin Yi has deep ties with our legion, and he is a worthy partner for close cooperation in the future plans for 'Secret Realm Number One' and beyond. This stance must be maintained."

The Purple Gold Star Alliance Branch of the Cosmic Mercenary Alliance.

Compared to the solemn and austere Legion headquarters, the Mercenary Alliance branch is more like a busy and vibrant super hub.

In a top-floor office overlooking most of the Zichen Star Ring, a middle-aged man with a sharp and capable demeanor, his eyes filled with the wisdom of years and a touch of languor, was gently wiping an ancient armband bearing the emblem of shattered stars and a sharp sword.

He is the current branch elder, having also taken office during the war.

"He's finally coming back."

The elder lowered his armband and gazed at the dazzling starry sky outside the window, as if he could see through space and see the spaceship approaching. "Back then, he chose the path of a mercenary at the invitation of our alliance representative."

He turned to his assistant, who was standing beside him, and instructed, "Send a welcome letter of the highest honors in the name of the branch. Also, check the progress of the latest upgrade assessment of the Dongfeng Mercenary Group after its reconstruction. If the conditions are close, you can speed up the process appropriately. This vice president is one of our own in the alliance." A smile appeared on his lips.

Human Interstellar Merchant Guild, Purple Gold Star Alliance.

In an office overflowing with all sorts of strange samples, where data flowed like a waterfall, an elderly man with a kind face but eyes that constantly gleamed with the shrewdness typical of a businessman roared at the branch manager of a distant star system on the other end of the communication line: "I don't care about any 'seasonal fluctuations in rare crystal ore' over there! Send me the goods! Now! Immediately! There is a top priority need on Zichen Star!"

"Yes, it's the gift list for Vice President Lin Yi who's about to return! If you miss it, you can forget about having any budget next year!"

After hanging up the communication, the old man took a breath, rubbed his temples, and his face instantly broke into a warm, spring-like smile. He said to the core managers around him, "Have you found out? Vice President Lin Yi's spaceship has entered the Star Alliance territory."

A senior executive in charge of the Chamber of Commerce's external strategy immediately replied, "General Manager, the news is accurate. The expected arrival time is consistent with the information from the Executive Committee."

“Alright.” The old man nodded. “Then, everyone, do I need to say more about what we should do?”

"Regarding the gift, both plans have been prepared as you previously instructed."

Another female manager in charge of etiquette and large-scale resource allocation immediately responded, presenting three detailed holographic lists in front of her: "The first is on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce, congratulating the Vice President on his return, focusing on rare materials and luxury goods to demonstrate the Chamber's heritage and respect; the second is on behalf of you personally, expressing gratitude for the Dongfeng Mercenary Group's indirect support of certain border logistics lines of our Chamber during the war, with gifts that emphasize practicality and sentiment."

"Hmm." The old man nodded slightly. "Gifts are for appearances, cooperation is for substance. Appearances should be given, but substance is the key. In His Majesty Lin Yi's current position, ordinary treasures are unlikely to catch his eye. What he needs more is how to efficiently transform his personal and subordinate forces' military strength into resources for comprehensive strength and long-term development."

"Understood!" the managers replied in unison.

They were all elites who had worked their way up in the chamber of commerce system and had been tested by war, so they naturally understood the intricacies of the business.

“And one more thing,” the old man added, turning his gaze to the steward in charge of intelligence analysis, “Immediately reassess all existing and potential business related to the Silverblue Civilization and the East Peak Mercenary Group. Upgrade credit lines, investment portfolios, and trade priorities to the ‘Supreme VIP’ level, granting them the highest priority and optimal risk weighting. As for the East Peak Mercenary Group, especially the business handled by Vice-Captain Irelia, assign the most capable and discreet person to handle it.”

"General Manager, is it necessary?" the intelligence officer asked cautiously, "to provide additional friendly investment or technical support to several key industrial projects of the Silver Blue Civilization within the Star Alliance, as a further expression of goodwill?"

The old man pondered for a moment, then shook his head: "There's no need to overdo it. Adding too much embellishment will only make us seem impatient or have ulterior motives. What kind of person is His Excellency Lin Yi? Back on Blue Star, he saw through our long-term calculations behind our 'free donation of the Star Ring Shipyard.' We just need to do our job to the best of our ability, demonstrating our reliability and value as partners. The rest will come when he arrives. We need to maintain a proper posture, but the core is to showcase our capabilities, not simply to curry favor."

"Furthermore," the old man concluded, "my schedule for today has been adjusted. I need to go to the airport to pick someone up."

"Yes!" The stewards responded solemnly and quickly dispersed to make their own arrangements.

The old man remained alone in his luxurious yet pragmatic and aloof office, gazing out the window at the dazzling artificial star rings of Zichen Star and the crisscrossing spaceships.

The warm smile on his face gradually faded, replaced by a deep contemplation.

He knew that he was not the only one to receive the message.

The Astral Legion, the Cosmic Mercenary Alliance, banks, and other forces large and small are probably all making similar emergency preparations and assessments at this moment.

Beneath the seemingly calm surface of Zichen Star, the return of Lin Yi has already stirred up turbulent undercurrents.

Everyone wanted to make the best impression on this vice president of the Star Alliance, so as to gain an advantage in future cooperation or even competition.

All of this is because the power and authority represented by that name are about to descend upon this planet once more.

The old man straightened his exquisitely made robe, as if trying to soothe all his weariness and calculations, and put on his warm, spring-like smile again.

He was also preparing to depart for the airport to welcome the "returning person" who was about to change many things.

　I revised it several times today, so it's a bit late. It's 8.7K words. Please vote with monthly tickets!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)