Chapter 928: Knowledge Complete!

Chapter 928: Knowledge Complete!

Soren Gold's plans were proceeding smoothly when he suddenly noticed Lofle's hesitant expression. He sighed, then gave a faint smile. "Never mind. It was just the first phase of development. While the profits were a bit unexpected, compared to our dealings with the three major civilizations, it's hardly worth mentioning... The territory in the war domain may be small, but it holds value. We'll focus our investments here and don't need to compete with the Black Star faction for resources elsewhere."

Lofle pressed her lips together and nodded reluctantly.

Soren Gold paused, then slowly continued. "The Black Star Legion's vast territory has granted them room to grow and increased resilience. But for us, it's not entirely a bad thing. Their focus has shifted to the Radiant World, leaving the Broken Ring's operations somewhat neglected. This creates an opportunity for us to weaken their original business."

He leaned forward, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "So, we strike first at the Black Star Legion's interests in the Broken Ring—we can't topple their core business, but we can infiltrate their cooperative organizations across various industries. We'll help the war domain seize some business channels, severing their tentacles reaching into different sectors. We'll squeeze their operations, turning their so-called alliance back into its original form, making it impossible for the Black Star to expand comfortably."

Lofle hesitated, then asked quietly, "Father, the Black Star Legion's future is bright, their business thriving. Honestly, these tactics can't shake their foundation."

"I know, of course. A Super A-level power isn't easily crushed. The Black Star's rise is unstoppable... But that's precisely why their top talent will seek my cooperation. We'll eat slowly, one bite at a time. As long as we're willing to bear the cost, we can gradually gnaw away at them."

Soren Gold shook his head, his expression calm. "Besides, I'm not trying to overthrow the Black Star Legion. I just want them to suffer. It takes time to see results, so we'll proceed gradually... Those who've cooperated with me aren't in a hurry, and neither am I."

Meanwhile, in another corner of the war domain, Hober was reading the plan Lofle had given him, nodding in silent approval.

The document outlined Infinite Conglomerate's support plan for the war domain, aiming to help them transition like the Black Star Legion—not just in armed mercenaries, but expanding into various industries for comprehensive development. These channels didn't need to be built from scratch; they targeted established networks in the Broken Ring, acquired through purchases, with most costs borne by Infinite Conglomerate.

At the bottom of the plan, Hober let out a cold snort upon seeing Infinite Conglomerate's projected investment figures.

"They're rich."

...

The Black Star Legion had been quite busy lately.

Through initial screenings, representatives from various conglomerates were sent to negotiate partnerships. The Legion's administrative staff formed multiple negotiation teams, coordinating remotely with different conglomerates.

Dilad, leader of the 098th negotiation team, was currently discussing terms with a large conglomerate's senior management, reviewing their cooperation requirements.

"...Mr. Dilad, we've revised the cooperation terms three times according to your suggestions. Are you satisfied?"

The conglomerate's executives subtly assessed Dilad's expression.

"We're requesting at least fifteen years of mining rights for ten resource planets, operational rights for three ordinary planets, surface modification rights for two regions, operation rights for two quantum network channels, and priority sales channels for dozens of rare resources... Hmm, do you think our investment matches these demands?" Dilad raised his eyelids slightly, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"After our calculations, the current investment amount equals our requirements..."

"If you're trying to take advantage of the Black Star Legion, then we'll have no part of it. Without sincerity, there's no deal. We have many other candidates, and we don't have time to waste with you." Dilad's tone hardened, and he was about to end the communication.

"Wait." The conglomerate executive was taken aback, quickly adding, "We don't mean that at all. We're fully satisfied, but we'd like to discuss further..."

Impressed by their careful approach, Dilad's face remained neutral, but his mind was filled with quiet satisfaction.

Within the Black Star Legion, he was just an ordinary administrative staff member, with limited compensation. In the interstellar society, his status and assets paled in comparison to the conglomerate executives across the table.

Yet now, these wealthy and powerful executives were bending over backwards to please him, treating him with utmost respect. Dilad had never experienced such treatment before.

With countless conglomerates vying to cooperate with the Black Star Legion, as its negotiator, he held firm control over the initiative, wielding power in his hands, giving him confidence. Had he not joined the Black Star Legion so early, he would never have reached this point. These aristocratic figures were now bowing and curtsying before him.

To satisfy his vanity and secure more benefits for the Legion, Dilad enjoyed playing with his negotiation counterparts, holding firm and never giving an inch. He was quite bureaucratic in his approach.

Dilad knew this was leveraging the Black Star Legion's name for bravado, but he savored every moment of it. After all, such a powerful patron deserved a bit of showmanship. Who knew when another opportunity like this would come along?

The conglomerate executives understood Dilad's tactics, their teeth grinding in frustration, but they had no choice. The party seeking cooperation was already in a passive position.

Better to endure some irritation than miss this once-in-a-lifetime chance to partner with the Black Star Legion.

...

At the Black Star Legion's headquarters, in the Commander's Office, a small projection of Philip, no bigger than his thumb, sat cross-legged on the desk, reporting to Han Xiao.

"Investigation complete. Forty-five negotiation personnel were found to have accepted bribes during negotiations."

"All of them are to be discharged. All cooperation agreements they negotiated are nullified, and we will no longer cooperate with these conglomerates."

Han Xiao frowned.

With the Legion's vast scale, some individuals inevitably developed personal ambitions, exploiting the Legion's interests for their own gain.

He didn't mind members of the Legion flexing their muscles under the Legion's name, but if anyone betrayed the Legion's interests, he would not tolerate it. As a virtual mechanic, the entire Legion was under his surveillance. No one could secretly accept bribes within his sight.

After resolving this troublesome matter, Han Xiao rubbed his eyes, about to head to the training room to complete his daily qi cultivation exercise, when his communicator suddenly vibrated.

Picking it up, Han Xiao's eyes brightened, a smile spreading across his face.

The Empire had finally approved my exchange application!

The Empire's contribution had accumulated over 10,000 points. Just a few days ago, Han Xiao had applied to the Empire to exchange for the final piece of knowledge.

In just a few years, the Black Star Legion had achieved so much, enough to obtain all ultimate knowledge. Their efficiency was likely the fastest in history. The ultimate knowledge was the greatest attraction for a Super A-level civilization. Now that Han Xiao had gathered all the ultimate knowledge in the mechanics field, the Crimson Empire was taking its time, with approval taking longer than before.

But merit begets reward, and the Empire couldn't go back on its word. At that moment, Han Xiao received the final piece of ultimate knowledge in the mechanics field from the Crimson Empire...

Control Branch—[Chrono-Spatial Theory]!

A Super A-level mage could traverse various secondary dimensions. This ultimate knowledge in mechanics could achieve similar effects, serving as a more profound spacetime technology applicable to wormhole creation, interstellar navigation, high-speed orbital engines, and next-generation propulsion systems.

In combat, this knowledge leaned toward enhancing the mobility of mechanical constructs, also applicable to various spatial devices, capable of both offense and defense, excelling in control.

With this ultimate knowledge, the difficulty for a mechanic master increased by several tiers. Its primary role was to compensate for the mechanic master's core weakness... But Han Xiao was an exception; mastering it was already a success for him, so this ultimate knowledge ranked last in his exchange order.

As it was his primary knowledge, there was no triple learning penalty, each level requiring only 8 potential points, perfectly suited to completing the transference task [Knowledge Master].

"Learning this one ultimate knowledge completes the set. The rest is just slowly upgrading the knowledge levels."

Han Xiao knew, without a doubt, that he would choose to learn it.

[Detected ultimate knowledge in the mechanics field: [Chrono-Spatial Theory]. Use 8 potential points to learn?]

[Currently learning...]

[Learning successful! You have mastered [Chrono-Spatial Theory]!]

[You have acquired the technique [Hyper-Spatial Thinking]!]

[You have learned all ultimate knowledge. Your technique [Ultimate Knowledge Master] is enhanced!]

[You have learned all profession knowledge. You have acquired the technique [Universal Mechanic]!]

[[Hyper-Spatial Thinking]: Spatial device performance enhanced, control effects significantly strengthened, control duration increased by 50%~100%, domain-class skills enhanced, spatial-class skills enhanced, any mechanical equipment's mobility +20%, your mental resistance +40%]

[[Ultimate Knowledge Master] is enhanced. Original effect: mechanical creation property +15%→25%, mechanical affinity +150%→600%, new effect: all mechanics field skills +1 (can break level cap)]

[[Universal Mechanic]: mechanical creation property +20%, all mechanics field skills +2 (can break level cap), you additionally gain 1500 intelligence points, 500 free attribute points]

[Additional Effect I: Every 20 intelligence increases 1% mechanical affinity]

[Additional Effect II: Passive aura, all living beings nearby gain buff effects, intelligence +200]