novelraw Chapter 446: Rules
Chapter 446: Rules
“You are carrying the hopes of our trillions of people. You must seize the Neutron War Star.” Inside the Radiance, a voice spoke coldly. “Tens of millions of years ago, our predecessors joined forces with the Sweepers Civilization to explore that extremely dangerous region. The Sweepers Civilization obtained the Neutron War Star, while we obtained Four-Dimensional jump technology. It was precisely by relying on the Four-Dimensional jump technology that our Guardian Civilization has been able to stand firm in this galaxy, preventing the Sweepers Civilization from wiping us out completely. Now, I will use Four-Dimensional jump technology to transport you directly into the Neutron War Star’s main control room.
This operation is extremely dangerous. Out of ten thousand people, perhaps only dozens or even a mere handful will successfully reach the target. The remaining nine thousand nine hundred will perish in transit. This is a path of death, but for the future of our Guardian Civilization, I still choose to send you to die.”
“Because our civilization and our people are waiting for you. If our civilization is to continue to exist, to always exist, we must have our own cutting-edge strength. The Radiance may be powerful, but compared to the Neutron War Star, it is still too weak. Our civilization needs a Neutron War Star. As long as there is even the slightest hope, I will not hesitate at any sacrifice. So, warriors, march forward. Your names will forever be etched in the hearts of our people.”
“Tens of millions of years ago, in the battle between our predecessors and the Sweepers Civilization, we suffered a crushing defeat and had no choice but to hand over the Neutron War Star. That one Neutron War Star created a mighty, arrogant Sweepers Civilization and left us Guardians hiding and cowering in fear every single day. Now we have the chance to redeem the humiliation of our predecessors. To obtain this Neutron War Star, even if it is broken, we will take it. Even if it can never be fully repaired, the technology contained within it will still be enough to raise our level of science, improving our situation.”
“Warriors, march forward. Your personal Four-Dimensional shields can protect you against the death rays for half an hour. Within that half hour, you must infiltrate the data channels and shut down the death rays. This will buy you more time. Then, together with the data battle team, you will invade the Neutron War Star’s main control system and finally seize its control. Bring it back.”
“That is all. Our psychic research scholars have already begun deceiving the Divine Ark Civilization, hoping to buy enough time to create favorable conditions for your mission. All warriors, hear my command, top-level combat readiness. Be prepared to act at any moment!”
The atmosphere aboard the Radiance was solemn and awe-inspiring. At this moment, it had already stopped pursuing the Taihao Civilization’s Meson. It now hovered silently outside the strange binary star system, its cold gaze fixed on the neutron star within. Of course, it had deployed methods to block all the radiation it emitted, rendering itself completely invisible to Xiao Yu. Xiao Yu had no way of detecting the presence of the Radiance.
The Meson, equal in size and mass to the Radiance, had also ceased movement. It sat quietly in another location, like a sentient dwarf planet, indifferent to any changes in the outside world. Yet from the faintly discernible formations of Guardian Civilization starships, arranged in battle formation and subtly facing it, one could clearly see the depth of the Guardians’ wariness toward the Taihao Civilization.
A giant flash pulsed in the void, flickering bright and dim. Between these shifts of light and darkness lay a certain pattern, and that pattern carried information, racing at light speed toward the interior of the star system. After more than thirty hours, the message finally reached Xiao Yu’s optical observation equipment, allowing him to witness this scene.
“According to our calculations, the Divine Ark Civilization has clearly detected our intentions. They now know our true objective is not to bring them into our Guardian Alliance, but to drive them into this dangerous binary star system. They know our real goal is the ruined Neutron War Star.”“In such circumstances, continuing to deceive them will only arouse the resentment of the Divine Ark Civilization. Empty promises will only deepen their mistrust of us. The Divine Ark Civilization already has sufficient wariness, and it is obvious they possess a staff of advisors no weaker than ours. Therefore, relying solely on deception, we cannot achieve our aim. All we can do is delay the Divine Ark Civilization from destroying the Neutron War Star, buying enough time for your subordinates. Marshal, I am sorry, but this is all we can do. Please do not place the hope of seizing the Neutron War Star on a group of liars like us.”
“Based on these judgments, and combining the intelligence we have already gathered, we sent the following message to the Divine Ark Civilization.”
“Greetings, Divine Ark Civilization, we are the Guardian Civilization.”
“At this time, we do not wish to speak any more nonsense about galactic peace, unity, or standing together against the Sweepers. Our purpose is actually very simple, we want to make a trade with you. We will exchange some things in your possession that you regard as trash for something that may be of great use to you.”
“That’s right, what we want is this ruined Neutron War Star. Clearly, it is of no use to you; otherwise, you would not be trying to destroy it. So, hand it over to us. In exchange, we can offer you something that will surely interest you. For example, the path forward for a Level 5 Civilization, the nature of the barrier between Level 5 and Level 6 Civilizations, or we could even directly provide you with concrete details of Level 6 Civilization technology. Believe me, these are things that would drive countless civilizations in the galaxy into a frenzy. Trading such treasures for a piece of junk you do not want is a deal well worth making.”
“You may be worried that we will go back on our word, that after you hand over the Neutron War Star we will destroy you. But you need not worry. In this universe, everything is governed by one simple principle, profit. We know you harbor hatred toward the Sweepers Civilization, and likewise, we also have irreconcilable conflict with them. The enemy of our enemy is our friend. Why would we waste energy destroying an existence that could become our ally? That would not align with the interests of our Guardian Civilization. So on this point, you need not doubt us.”
“We of the Guardian Civilization have shown sufficient sincerity. Divine Ark Civilization, please respond and tell us your intentions.”
These messages, carried by visible light as their medium, reached Xiao Yu’s mind after a day and a half.
“Hm, this is a very easy-to-understand set of messages. Back in the capital star system of the Molian Civilization, I once had direct communication with the Guardian Civilization’s ships. It is very obvious that during that exchange, they acquired the dictionary I use. The messages they now send are clearly phrased according to my own habits of wording and sentence structure. Is this how you express your sincerity?” Xiao Yu sneered coldly.
“A path for Level 5 Civilizations? The barrier between Level 5 and Level 6 Civilizations? Or concrete details of Level 6 Civilization technology? These are indeed things that could be exchanged immediately, and they truly hold great allure for me. From the principle of profit above all, you indeed have no reason to expend effort to destroy me. But I still do not trust you. Satisfying spiritual needs is also a form of profit, and I, who have repeatedly offended your Guardian Civilization, cannot believe you would let me go. So your attempts at temptation are useless to me.”
“However, I am indeed very interested in the things you have promised…”
Xiao Yu pondered calmly and made his decision.
Xiao Yu’s fleet possessed many reserves of giant flash charges. Although these flashes were technologically worlds apart from those of the Guardian Civilization, they were still sufficient as carriers of messages.
Xiao Yu released these flashes, manipulating them to flicker in continuous bright and dim shifts. Within these patterns of light and darkness, the rays carried the message Xiao Yu wished to convey, flying at light speed toward the fleet of the Guardian Civilization.
“We of the Divine Ark Civilization are merely a humble existence struggling to survive in this galaxy. Toward you, the Guardian Civilization, we truly harbor no intention of offense. The reason is simple, such a thing would not align with the developmental interests of the Divine Ark Civilization. As for your proposed trade, I am very interested. However, I need you to take some action first. For example, provide me with a portion of the information I find intriguing, as a show of your sincerity.”
Because of the vast distance, the exchange of these two sets of messages took three full days. A day and a half after Xiao Yu sent his reply, the Guardian Civilization’s response reached him again.
“Your request is very reasonable. We accept. Then let me give you a hint first. The barrier for a Level 5 Civilization to break through into Level 6 is rules. Very simple rules, whatever you gain, you must pay for; whatever you damage, you must make whole.”
“This message is our expression of sincerity. Now, I require you to also demonstrate your sincerity. Here is a set of orbital data. We ask you to manipulate the Neutron War Star and that planet so that they move along the orbital trajectory indicated.”