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.
"Sir 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 politely.
"Now that everyone is here, let's begin." Crow said expressionlessly, his attitude very rude. "The Mechanics Association must be broken up. This massive interest group has seriously affected the development and interests of local civilization."
"In essence, there's no difference between a mechanic and a researcher, and it's not an evolutionary system. The divisions of each civilization must be controlled within each civilization."
He got straight to the point and the atmosphere immediately became tense.
Reynolds couldn't help but snort coldly, "You only see the results? The Machinists' Association has undertaken the vast majority of training work, provided a lot of assistance, and helped many ordinary people from difficult circumstances."
“The systematic training and process, as well as the vast amount of knowledge shared publicly, are all a credit to the Machinists Association.”
"You've misunderstood. This isn't a discussion, it's a notification," Crow said indifferently. "This negotiation is meaningless. The Machinists' Association is doomed to be unable to resist."
"I know you guys are just trying to gain more benefits. Unfortunately, we can't cooperate with you."
Klau's words were rough, but 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. Braun smiled and said, "Of course, you three can also state your demands."
Mikhail said in a deep voice, "Our demands are simple. Both sides should take a step back and work together to govern."
"We are willing to merge the Mechanics Association into the Interstellar Alliance, making it a subsidiary organization under it and jointly managed by all major civilizations."
Although each side took a step back, it was not as simple as taking a step back. The Machinists 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 to save face, to give a few master craftsmen a layer of face to cover up, so that they will not be scolded by the mechanics when it is mentioned in the future.
"Let's each take a step back?" Braun shook his head calmly. "Why should we take a step back? What gives you three the leverage to ask us to take a step back?"
Reynolds snorted coldly, "If you push us too hard, don't blame us for being destroyed."
"You'll die... the net won't break." Braun shook his head, his tone indifferent: "Those low-level mechanics are not worth mentioning. Give them a little benefit and they will turn against us."
"And I believe that you will definitely not declare war on us just because of this matter."
With undisguised suppression, the three major civilizations united, there is almost nothing they cannot do.
"You..." Reynolds' face looked ugly. Even though he had expected the negotiations to not go smoothly, he did not expect the other party to be so contemptuous.
"Let me be frank. From the very beginning, this association was destined to be divided sooner or later," Crow continued. "The Master Hammersmith was indeed a remarkable man, but it's a shame he died before he could train a qualified successor."
"You two have been running the business for so many years, but you've essentially relied on the Mechanics Association's independent expansion to grow. You're nothing more than two blood-sucking worms feeding on this association."
"After smoking for so many years, 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 didn't mind what he said. He glanced at Qinglong and said in a deep voice, "How about the price for the ruins of the Holy Spirit Civilization?"
After he finished speaking, Claude had a subtle expression and looked at the other two.
Mikhail struck while the iron was hot and continued, "I know you've been coveting this for a long time. We can give you the coordinates and add new divine craftsmen to the association."
At this point, his expression was solemn, "Joint governance, this is our bottom line!"
"Bottom line?" Crow sneered faintly, "Sorry, we don't need it."
No need? Mikhail's face changed slightly, and Reynolds's angry expression froze on his face.
Sure enough... they already knew it, and it was most likely Adam's work. They blocked all the escape routes, but Li Ming still didn't say anything.
Mikhail looked at Qinglong in surprise and doubt, and then he understood what Qinglong's previous pessimistic attitude meant.
"Did you really think you were the only ones who knew the coordinates?" Braun smiled. "We can even give you a heads-up. Due to the Red River catastrophe, the area where the Holy Spirit Civilization ruins are located will be accessible in six months 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." Braun nodded casually.
"etc…"
Just as everyone was about to disconnect the connection, 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 would have thought that he might have said some harsh words.
However, Qinglong is not a person 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's eyes flickered with interest. "Do you have anything else that can help you turn defeat into victory?"
"It's unlikely to turn defeat into victory." Li Ming smiled, "But it can still be considered a small bargaining chip."
Facing the gazes of several people, Li Ming uttered four words - "Star of Eternal Silence"
In an instant, Braun's face changed drastically, Dius' expression became restrained, and Claude waited intently.
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 hint of 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, and 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 him implicitly, feeling uncertain.
"Of course..." Li Ming nodded, "I can outline a rough range for you."
Is the range roughly out?
Deus was thinking, Claude's eyes flickered, and Braun's mind raced.
He vaguely knew that Prince Costa 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. However...
"By the way, Mr. Brown, you can verify it with certain people." Li Ming said.
"Um?"
Both Deus and Klaue looked over with serious 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?
Braun forced an ugly smile on his face: "Your Excellency Qinglong, you are joking. I didn't receive any..."
Before he finished speaking, Li Ming interrupted him directly, "If you don't ask, then I will tell you directly."
"Wait..." Braun hurriedly stopped him, gritting his teeth and saying, "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 this matter.
"Sir Qinglong, this matter..." she said with a smile.
Li Ming shook his head. "Sir Deus, until Sir Brown returns, we should refrain from communicating."
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 do you want to do?
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.
Kostat's eyes swept over Qinglong with mixed feelings.
Because of Talos's sudden appearance not long ago, their cooperation with Chlonoa has temporarily come to a standstill.
Chlonoa was very dissatisfied with their threats, and Costa was still trying to figure it out when he received news from Braun.
"Joint governance is absolutely impossible..." Costat said.
"I don't want joint governance..." Li Ming shook his head. "It's just that I hope to use a more moderate approach to allow the Machinists Association to complete its historical mission."
"Within three years, the Machinists' Association cannot fail."
He wanted to delay time. As he got to know the Machinists 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. How much benefit you can reap is up to you."
"One year..." Li Ming thought, frowning slightly.
Seeing the two of them chatting as if no one was around, 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 turned 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 world, and they spoke more and more boldly.
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, make 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 was 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’s nothing to let it go for another year.
"Okay, the negotiations are over." Kostat looked at Qinglong deeply and ended the communication directly.
Klaue and Deus were also distracted. After they went offline, they would probably hold a high-level meeting to discuss this matter immediately.
"Is this... the end?" Reynolds was a little confused, and then he couldn't help but look at Qinglong, "Is this the only year we can get information about the Star of Eternal Silence..."
"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 Eternal Star should be far more valuable than this. Even if the Empire supports us, it is not impossible."
"No..." Li Ming shook his head. "That area is quite special. Even if we knew about it, it would be useless. The value is not as great as we imagined. The fact that it has been delayed for a year already means that the empire does not want to leak any information."
"I see..." Reynolds suddenly realized and hesitated to speak. He was very curious about where that area was, but he didn't dare to ask.
"No matter what, we can at least gain a year. One more year means one more year of changes." 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 them to bring this up in front of Dius and Klaus?
He couldn't figure it out in his mind, as all the guesses he had were contradictory.
Li Ming had his own plans. He told this story not just to buy time for the Mechanics Association.
I guess, after this incident, the Empire can probably guess that he is closely related to Taros.
But the empire will find out sooner or later, and his proactive disclosure is not necessarily a bad thing, and 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's eyes turned unfriendly after hearing what he said, "You really can't change your bad habits."
Mikhail was confused and stared 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 with a very firm tone: "Also, why didn't you tell us about the Holy Spirit Civilization ruins appearing in advance? Don't tell us, you don't know."
Mikhail's tone 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 maintain it."
"Reynolds!" Mikhail seemed to be stimulated, his virtual projection slightly blurred, his eyes bloodshot, and his voice suddenly became high-pitched. "Don't use the forging hammer to pressure me. He is the founder of the association and the master of mechanics, but I, Mikhail, am not necessarily weaker than him!"
(End of this chapter)
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