Chapter 996: Difficult Problem

Chapter 996: A Dilemma

"Three for one?" Han Xiao felt a jolt of surprise within.

The Empire seemed to have truly spared no expense; in terms of sheer quantity, the offer was undeniably sincere.

A universe-class civilization possessed the technology to forge cosmic treasures, and coupled with centuries of accumulation, their foundations ran profoundly deep.

Bekrodi brushed his fingers across the desk, and a holographic screen flickered into existence before Han Xiao.

"This is the exchange ledger provided by the Empire. You may select any three items from it."

Han Xiao cast a glance over it, understanding instantly that the cosmic treasures listed were far from the Empire's entire hoard.

After a moment's thought, he asked, "What if I desire other cosmic treasures held by the Empire?"

"Should you seek treasures beyond this ledger, the three-for-one privilege vanishes. Certain strategic-grade artifacts vital to the Empire will never be offered in trade, and you must understand that... Furthermore, should you require a custom-forged cosmic treasure, you may submit a petition to the Empire, though it will require strict review," Bekrodi replied.

That falls squarely within my expectations... Han Xiao nodded.

It stood to reason that the Empire's three-for-one offer would not be without boundaries; they would never trade their own strategic-grade artifacts for the Evolution Cube.

What they were willing to part with were mostly artifacts tailored for individual use, offering little substantial aid to the civilization as a whole.

The value of a cosmic treasure hinged upon its specific function; to Han Xiao, they were akin to mystical artifacts, with the pinnacle being inexplicable cosmic wonders like the Spacetime Amber. Man-made treasures, however, were a diverse tapestry, such as Austin's Sanctum of Arcane Arts, Beoni's Core of Fire, the Radiance's High-Dimensional Apocalypse Conveyor, the Void Spirit's Scepter of Pantheons, and more, their worth dictated entirely by their effects.

The Evolution Cube was the technological core forged by the collective might of an Evolver civilization, its underlying science long lost to time, accompanied by a suite of applied technologies.

With the legacy of the Alien God now scattered to the winds, many advanced civilizations had acquired these technical archives, meaning whoever claimed the Evolution Cube would inherit the core technologies of a quasi-universe-class civilization, enjoying exclusive dominion over them, a prospect of monumental significance.

Han Xiao fell into deep contemplation, scanning the exchange ledger once more as he silently weighed the advantages against the costs.

During the World Tree War of his past life, the three great civilizations had emptied vast stockpiles of cosmic treasures to arm the universe's Beyond Grade A entities, and many artifacts on this list had once demonstrated their terrifying prowess.

The bulk of the inventory consisted of magical gear and mechanical armaments, mostly single-combat equipment such as armor, melee and ranged weapons, and specialized devices; among them lay a complete golden armor set forged by the Divine Artificer Thorne, ranked fifth among his hundred legendary masterpieces.

A smaller fraction comprised cosmic treasures with peculiar functions, most of which Han Xiao recognized from his previous life, such as an artifact called the Shadow Lantern; its wick was a fragment of source energy from the Shadow Dimension, and the light it cast was pure darkness itself, possessing myriad strange properties, primarily the ability to tear open dimensional gates, transmute the surrounding area into a perilous shadow realm, alter the existential nature of all within, and summon an endless tide of grotesque shadow creatures.

Then there was the Key of Destruction, one of the Crimson Empire's signature technologies, capable of mass production and operable even by commoners, designed to remotely summon orbital fire strikes from various Imperial army groups.

This required coordination with Imperial fleet divisions, as most legions were equipped with complementary relay systems; once the Key was activated, it would temporarily carve out a specialized energy storage subspace while simultaneously forming conduits around the fleet's cannons, lasting anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes, during which the armada would receive the signal and unleash a synchronized barrage, diverting all discharged energy into that freshly opened secondary dimension.

The Key of Destruction could then open the opposing conduit at the user's location, releasing the stored fleet barrage to deliver an omnidirectional assault of devastating firepower, covering a vast radius capable of scouring everything within the zone, its instantaneous explosive yield surpassing even raw Psionic energy... Yet, due to its indiscriminate nature, it was primarily reserved for desperate last stands or engagements where the outnumbered faced overwhelming odds.

Compared to the High-Dimensional Apocalypse Conveyor, the Key of Destruction lacked flexibility, vulnerable to countermeasures like spatial stabilization anchors, chronomancy, and Psionic suppression bands, which could render it inert; nevertheless, it boasted its own merits: portability, mass producibility, and zero threshold for operation.

So long as one knew the procedures, even a mortal could wield it, though it remained strictly off the market, distributed in bulk by the Empire only during specialized operations.

Caught off guard, even an ordinary Beyond Grade A could be obliterated by the Key's terrifying barrage; during the Exploration Era, the Empire had used this very technology to slaughter several Prime Ones, reducing them to ash and leaving no remains. However, as spatial technologies advanced across civilizations, the Key of Destruction had grown somewhat obsolete, with most factions now maintaining countermeasures against this Imperial tactic.

Beyond these, the list contained a miscellany of items, such as golden mechanical blueprints left behind by former Beyond Grade A Mechanics, or arcane forging schematics penned by legendary mages.

The Empire's vaults overflowed with inventory, and they sought to trade away surplus cosmic treasures in exchange for the Evolution Cube.

As for artifacts the Empire itself had yet to decipher, they would naturally never appear on the ledger; Han Xiao had hoped to snatch up some overlooked gems, but alas, they offered no such opportunity.

"Well, have you reached a decision?" After waiting patiently for a while, Bekrodi finally broke the silence.

"Hmm..." Han Xiao pondered for a few seconds before shaking his head. "This is rather sudden. I have not yet made up my mind and cannot give you an answer now. Allow me some time to consider it."

"Very well, that is acceptable." Bekrodi nodded, his tone dipping slightly. "I trust that after careful deliberation, you will make a wise choice. Do not squander the Empire's sincerity. I hope you will reach your decision before the Shining World opens."

"We shall see."

Han Xiao offered a respectful nod, then rose to his feet and followed the other man's secretary out of the chamber.

Departing the administrative complex and heading toward the small base where his mechanical forces were stored, he spent the entire journey weighing the pros and cons.

First came the matter of profit: surrendering the Evolution Cube would yield three cosmic treasures, and judging by the ledger, they would likely be combat-oriented artifacts. While certainly useful, trading a strategic-grade treasure for three mere instruments of warfare left Han Xiao feeling somewhat shortchanged.

It was akin to standing at the close of the twentieth century, holding technical archives that would birth the future internet with boundless profit potential, only to trade them away for a handful of fighter jets... The analogy might be imperfect, but the sensation it evoked was nearly identical.

Getting it for free would be ideal... but alas, that was nothing more than a pipe dream.

There were additional benefits, of course: the Black Star Army would no longer stand in the eye of the storm, Sorokin's Infinite Financial Group would likely cease its provocations, and he would no longer need to fear sudden strikes from the Radiance or the Void Spirit, securing a long period of stable development... though past grudges were not factored into this equation.

As for the personal repercussions of losing the Evolution Cube, Han Xiao had already run the calculations.

The Evolution Cube was a unique strategic treasure; though it possessed no combat prowess, its influence permeated every facet of factional development. Handing it to the Empire would strip the Black Star Army of its signature asset, inevitably diminishing its allure to players and other figures alike. Someone like Silver Shadow, for instance, would hardly regard him with such fervor today.

Though the Shining World now served as a foundation and the coalition of interests born from the Cube had gradually stabilized, the Evolution Cube's operations remained a vital pillar of the army's finances.

Surrendering the Cube meant handing over the monstrous profits of the Evolver Totem to the Empire... The Black Star Army's expansion and the maintenance of its current scale demanded a relentless consumption of vast capital. Without the Totem trade, a massive stream of cash flow would vanish, inevitably causing the army's size to contract, or at the very least, severely stalling its expansion.

Although the alliance treaty meant the Empire's will had to be considered when utilizing the Evolution Cube, ownership still rested with him. Once that ownership was relinquished, the entire dynamic would shift.

It would signify that other factions no longer needed to collaborate with the Black Star Army; they could simply approach the Empire for Evolution Cube services, effectively kicking him out of the game. This would ripple through every branch of the army's operations, inflicting financial losses that extended far beyond the Totem trade itself.

Moreover, should he require the Cube's services in the future, he would have to purchase them from the Empire using contribution points or cold hard currency.

Simultaneously, stripped of the Evolution Cube's uniqueness, the Black Star Army's factional influence would wane... No matter how resounding his reputation or formidable his combat prowess, if he could no longer provide the benefits others sought, fewer would be willing to buy into his cause.

In summary, handing over the Evolution Cube would multiply the difficulty of the Black Star Army's continued growth exponentially.

Han Xiao could not discern whether the Empire harbored deeper intentions to curb the Black Star Army's expansion, perhaps believing his forces had grown sufficient for their needs; theoretically, that should not be the case, yet the minds of those in power were always notoriously opaque.

The Mechanic Nation stood as a prime example of a force allowed to grow unchecked; though the Radiance claimed no regrets, given a second chance, they would hardly wish for the Mechanic Nation's influence to bloat to such unmanageable proportions.

Yet, refusing the Empire's proposal would invite troubles of its own.

Beneath Bekrodi's words, Han Xiao detected a different subtext... The Empire's urgency to secure the Evolution Cube hinted at a possible intention to publicly open the Totem's sales rights. Otherwise, why wait until now to broach the subject?

Once the Shining World opened, an influx of countless factions would inevitably strain the Empire. If they unlocked the sales rights at that juncture, they would not only reap astronomical profits but also drastically alleviate their burdens, rendering their grip on the Shining World unshakeable and impervious to external shocks... Then again, it was hard to say. Lacking sufficient intelligence, Han Xiao dared not definitively judge the Empire's true calculations.

If that were indeed the case, rejecting the proposal would mean disrupting the Empire's strategic deployment, effectively marking him as obstinate and uncooperative.

Bekrodi had displayed the Empire's sincerity, speaking politely with a seemingly earnest demeanor, yet it amounted to a veiled coercion. A refusal would likely lead certain high-ranking Imperial officials to view him as ungrateful, breeding resentment.

The great Mechanic Han firmly believed that should he refuse to surrender the Evolution Cube, the Empire would not relinquish its pursuit so easily; they would almost certainly deploy unknown follow-up measures.

Openly seizing it from an ally was out of the question, but a relentless succession of underhanded maneuvers was guaranteed.

"They have truly presented me with a dilemma..."

Han Xiao sighed, torn between two difficult paths.

When the Evolver Totem first emerged, he knew trouble would eventually follow. The Empire had simply shouldered the pressure for him, holding the line for over two decades before the reckoning finally arrived at his doorstep.

"I need to think this through carefully. I will contact Ulanril in a few days to test the waters," Han Xiao murmured to himself.

...

Not long after Han Xiao's departure, a figure stepped into Bekrodi's conference room. It was Gode.

Over a decade had passed. After accumulating sufficient field experience abroad, Gode had been recalled by the Empire to undergo focused cultivation alongside a cohort of direct-line Calamity Grade potentials.

The birth of a Beyond Grade A was fraught with unpredictable variables; even a universe-class civilization could not mass-produce them. Thus, they relied on a wide-net approach, simultaneously nurturing batch after batch of direct-line Calamity Grades.

Thanks to a massive talent pool and advanced training methodologies, the conversion rate was never zero, though the intervals between successes varied wildly. The Dark Emperor Clotti had been forged into a direct-line Beyond Grade A by the Empire through this very process.

Gode now wore a specially tailored Imperial officer's uniform devoid of rank insignia. His frame was lean, and his appearance remained largely unchanged from over a decade prior.

"You have arrived. Take a seat." Bekrodi offered a faint nod upon seeing him.

Gode settled into the chair Han Xiao had just vacated, a light smile touching his lips. "How did the negotiations go?"

"Unclear. It would be best if Black Star agrees; it would spare us considerable trouble."

"With such generous terms, I doubt he will refuse. Black Star is a clever man, and clever men know how to read the winds of the times." Gode smiled, saying nothing more.

“Hard to say. According to the Black Star personality profile analyzed by Yinghun, he is a quintessential opportunist; even a three-for-one exchange might not sway him, placing the probability of refusal at sixty-three percent.” Becrodi shook his head, then deftly shifted the current of conversation. “Enough of him. Regardless of his answer, we will ultimately require your ability to dissect the underlying principles of evolutionary energy.”

“Heh. I remain entirely at your disposal,” Gaode replied, a smile hovering ambiguously upon his lips.

“I am aware your power is without precedent, but how certain are you that it can unravel the mechanics of the Evolution Cube? Do not wait until the final hour to plead incapacity.”

“At present, zero. Once I ascend to Super A Grade, my confidence rises to seventy or eighty percent.”

“Then when, precisely, will you reach Super A Grade?” Becrodi pressed.

Gaode merely smiled, offering no words.

Reading the silence, Becrodi knew no answer would come and shook his head once more. “So long as you measure your own limits, that will suffice. Remember, should you successfully decode the Cube’s secrets, you will render a monumental service to the Empire. It will greatly accelerate your ascent, and His Excellency will regard you with far greater favor.”

A staunch advocate for surrendering the Evolution Cube to the state, he had initially relied on Sorokin’s clandestine dealings to pressure the Black Star Army, yet their seamless coordination with the Sprout Consortium had blunted every maneuver; only when Gaode entered his field of vision did Becrodi glimpse a renewed dawn of hope.

As a direct-line prodigy cultivated by the Imperial apparatus, Gaode had spent over a decade being courted by various political factions, none more intimately than Becrodi’s own hardliners, who had long ago staked their political capital upon him and branded him with their allegiance.

After a brief pause, Becrodi steered the conversation elsewhere:

“Let us set that aside for now and speak of this Chaos Secret Energy you mentioned. The intelligence leaked from the Alien God’s legacy warns that this primordial entity is exceedingly perilous; should one fail to become its host, even a Calamity Grade esper will be consumed and perish. Are your ambitions not recklessly dangerous?”

“Not reckless at all.”

Becrodi’s brow furrowed. “You are certain your ability can subdue the Chaos Secret Energy while you stand merely at the Calamity Grade?”

“Absolutely. It will propel me to Super A Grade far sooner, accelerating my growth.” Gaode chuckled softly.

“Hmph. You had best be certain,” Becrodi intoned, his voice dropping low. “The data on the Chaos Secret Energy originates from the Alien God’s legacy, and this particular fragment never fell into Imperial hands. That you secured this intelligence from rival factions and surrendered it to us is commendable… When the time comes, other powers will vie for it, and the Empire will intervene. I have already forwarded your petition; whether the high command will ultimately grant you access to the energy remains under review.”

“Splendid,” Gaode murmured, a faint smile touching his lips.