Chapter 1 The Establishment of the Association

Those present were all top-tier powerhouses of the explored universe, each with influence in different industries, including warlords, tycoons, gray-area behemoths, and heads of interstellar regimes.

These influential figures didn't like to haggle, so things were discussed quickly. Before long, they finalized the preliminary structure of the Development Union, ostensibly a platform for mediating Super-A Grade conflicts, but in reality, an organization for uniting the Super-A class. Various regulations and reward/punishment systems were drafted, subject to adjustments as needed.

At the same time, the official preparatory work for the organization was put on the agenda. These initiators began to spread the word to every Super-A Grade, recruiting members, and selecting a location in the Shattered Star Ring to build the association's headquarters, which required the help of the Black Star Army. Each Super-A Grade force would need to establish an office there, similar to an embassy, giving it a United Nations feel.

Preparations would take several months. Before officially announcing the establishment of the Development Union, they would determine the future management, currently structured as a president, vice president, and board of directors.

After discussion, they decided that the president and vice president would serve terms of thirty years each, with multiple consecutive terms allowed, but not exceeding three. After stepping down, they could still serve as directors, and after two terms (sixty years), they could run again.

The president's responsibilities were the greatest, requiring both charisma and the ability to withstand pressure from the three major civilizations. Currently, Manison was the most popular candidate, but before Han Xiao returned, no one would kick him aside and make a decision on their own.

Regarding Manison's proposed development path of breaking the ultimate knowledge monopoly, opinions were divided. Ultimate knowledge had always been monopolized by advanced civilizations, used as a means to win over Super-A Grade allies. Even if allies learned it, they weren't allowed to easily teach it to others. Han Xiao had encountered such situations before.

If the Development Union turned ultimate knowledge into its own benefit, it would be equivalent to breaking the three major civilizations' ban and seizing the basic foundation for attracting Super-A Grade combat power, which would provoke fierce opposition from the three major civilizations.

However, if it succeeded, taking back power from the advanced civilizations, the Super-A class could indeed get rid of many restrictions and become more independent.

This was a necessary step to improve the status of the Super-A class, so that future Super-A Grade newcomers wouldn't have to join advanced civilizations for the sake of ultimate knowledge... Conversely, it would make it easier for the Super-A Grade association to attract newcomers, especially those peak Super-A Grades who had mastered the complete set of ultimate knowledge for their profession.

On this issue, the point of contention was the timing. Some believed that this measure should be implemented after the association had gained a firm foothold. This was a head-on conflict with the three major civilizations, and the fledgling association couldn't withstand such intense conflict. Others believed that they should take the lead while the association was still in its initial momentum, seizing power to highlight the significance of the association's existence.

These details could be discussed slowly later. On the other hand, establishing the Development Union also required an excuse and opportunity that the outside world could accept. The group planned to contact some Super-A Grades and pretend to have conflicts with each other in the coming months, engaging in armed conflicts. The key point of the plan was that when the city gate caught fire, it affected the fish in the moat. The Super-A Grades were only acting, and only needed to ensure that the aftermath caused losses to different forces.

Not only would they fight fiercely in the Shattered Star Ring, but they would also encourage their subordinate forces to create friction in various star systems, making the public and forces in various industries once again aware of the negative impact of Super-A Grades tearing each other apart, creating a turbulent situation, so that the outside world would hope that the Super-A Grades would cease fighting, paving the way for the establishment of the Development Union. This would put pressure on the three major civilizations, while also giving them a way out, as neither side wanted to expose their conflicting interests to the outside world.

The big shots finalized the strategy and quickly took action. The already lively Shattered Star Ring became even more turbulent, the free competition zone became more chaotic, and conflicts between Super-A Grade forces also occurred in various star systems to varying degrees.

Regarding this phenomenon, the three major civilizations temporarily put aside their differences and held a three-party remote meeting at the high level to discuss countermeasures.

...

In a completely confidential conference room, the remote projections of the high-level officials from the three parties, the Arcane Church, the Federation of Light, and the Star Cluster Civilization, gathered together.

Ulan Riel, the head of the Star Cluster Civilization, Bader, the president of the Federation of Light, and the leader of the Arcane Church, each led their own high-level officials, occupying one side of the triangular conference table, clearly separated from each other.

Usually, the three families fought openly and secretly, stabbing each other in the back, but when the structure of the explored universe was shaken, the three parties would unite to jointly decide the fate of this universe.

Bader glanced at the audience and said, "I can't remember when our three families last held a joint meeting."

"Of course you can't remember, the last joint meeting wasn't in your term," the leader of the Arcane Church said lightly.

Bader glared at him, speechless.

In comparison, the Federation of Light did indeed change leaders most frequently. The leader of the Arcane Church had already experienced several presidents of the Federation of Light.

"Let's discuss the main issue," Ulan Riel said expressionlessly. "The unity of the Super-A Grades is an irreversible trend. If our attitude of preventing them is too strong, the Super-A Grades will develop a strong sense of resentment. In order to get rid of the fate of becoming tools, more and more Super-A Grade newcomers will choose to hide their strength and live in a low-key manner in the future. Our efficiency in recruiting allies will decrease a lot, and at the same time, it will be more difficult to count the total number of Super-A Grade combat powers in the entire universe."

Bader nodded in agreement. "We can't let the Super-A Grades successfully create that Development Union, and the means can't be too tough... Let's cooperate. It's not good for us to deal with our own allies, so let's put pressure on each other. The Star Cluster Civilization will deal with my allies, I will target the Arcane Church's allies, and the Arcane Church will deal with the Star Cluster Civilization's people,打击一部分超A级势力的生意，特别是那些摇摆不定的家伙."

"This only sets obstacles, increasing the difficulty of the Development Union to attract people, but it does not produce a decisive effect," the leader of the Arcane Church said calmly. "If Super-A Grade groups unite and form a community of interest, they will have a terrible influence in all star systems, which can shake the structure of interstellar society to a certain extent."

Bader shook his head. "Unfortunately, it's impossible to eliminate all Super-A Grades. Let's not talk about the huge price we need to pay. We must ensure that such power exists in the explored universe, which is used to suppress those Super-A Grades who hide their strength and escape to the secondary dimension world, and also to ensure our advantage in exploring the unknown. Maybe one day we will encounter other unknown advanced civilizations, and we can't give up this kind of weapon ourselves."

Ulan Riel said in a deep voice:

"In the interstellar social calculation model established by the Star Cluster Civilization, this is a problem that will appear sooner or later, just like in early society, workers spontaneously established trade unions in order to protect their own interests from exploitation. What we are encountering now is a similar situation, but the object has become a special individual who masters great power. Since the history of exploration, we have squeezed them too much, and there will always be a day of rebound.

So we need to prepare for both scenarios. If the establishment of the Development Union cannot be stopped, we need to use differentiation methods. There must be Super-A Grades with different ideas in the other party's management. We can buy or win them over as our spies and indirectly influence the other party's overall decision-making."

The leader of the Arcane Church narrowed his eyes and glanced at the two of them.

"Speaking of which, the Mechanic Empire and Black Star are the main initiators, and their ideas are inherently different... Humph, it seems that the people of your two families are not honest, or is Kseuye of my family obedient."

"Manison has great ambitions," Bader frowned, his tone dissatisfied. "In recent years, he has secretly taken a lot of measures, and he is likely to want to further get rid of the Federation of Light's control... In fact, we can't control him now."

Hearing this, the leader of the Arcane Church looked at Ulan Riel.

"What about the Star Cluster Civilization? Your Black Star is also very troublesome. Will you give him a lesson?"

"Don't worry about that. The Star Cluster Civilization has its own arrangements for Black Star. The Evolution Totem will be opened as usual. You don't need to worry about this issue," Ulan Riel said casually.

The Star Cluster Civilization intended to continue to ease relations and did not want to create rifts, so they decided to be patient and secretly wait for Gothe to grow up in order to solve the technical problem of the Evolution Cube and get rid of the Evolution Totem business's dependence on Han Xiao, regaining control.

Of course, Ulan Riel would not explain this plan to others.

Seeing this, Bader changed the topic and said, "In addition to differentiation, we also need to infiltrate. We can't let our direct descendants be rejected by the other party. If they want to establish an association, they must take out some management positions and exchange them with us, so that some of our direct descendants can become high-level officials, which is equivalent to overt nails,把握对方的动向..."

The group discussed and came up with various countermeasures, gradually reaching a consensus.

...

Time passed quickly amidst the changes in the cosmic situation.

Several months later, Black Star's Palace.

Buzz—

A burst of light flickered, and three figures appeared in the commander's office, namely Han Xiao and Ames, who had returned from the secondary dimension world, and the Arcane Controller, who served as their carrier.

The two's mechs automatically unloaded. At this moment, a surprised voice suddenly sounded behind them.

"Oh, you're finally willing to come back?"

The two turned their heads to look. Sylvia was also in the room, lying comfortably in Han Xiao's seat. At this moment, she quickly bounced up, as if she had two springs installed on her butt.

Seeing this scene, Han Xiao couldn't help but joke:

"Not bad, little thing. Are you sitting in my seat every day while I'm away? Are you trying to usurp my throne?"

"How could that be? I just... just..." Sylvia's face was slightly red, her eyes darting around, looking for an excuse. She hesitated and said, "Ahem, it's just that your chair is very comfortable to sit on."

As she was talking, her expression suddenly froze, her gaze lowered, locking onto Han Xiao's arm, which was currently around Ames' waist. Ames didn't seem to be repulsed, as if she was used to it.

Noticing her gaze, Ames twisted her body, letting her lower back escape Han Xiao's palm. Then, she raised her hand and touched Han Xiao's cheek, smiling softly, "Busy man, I'll go back to the Shattered Star Ring first. Jenny is probably going crazy."

"I'm surprised you still remember her."

Han Xiao smiled, wanting to grab Ames' palm that was on his face, but Ames had already retracted her hand, winking at him, a graceful smile on her lips.

Then, Ames turned her head and glanced at the stunned Sylvia, smiled lightly, and walked out of the room, dragging her long black dress.

Sylvia stood there blankly, almost popping her eyes out.

These two went on a two-person trip to the secondary dimension, and their actions were so intimate!

What happened?!

"You... you..."

Hearing this, Han Xiao retracted his gaze, his smile fading, and said with a straight face, "What you-you, me-me, can you tell what's important? What's the situation in the main universe these days I've been away? Also, what's Hela doing?"

Seeing Han Xiao's businesslike and unquestionable attitude, Sylvia bit her lip, enduring her strong curiosity, and explained the changes in the situation in the past few months.

Earlier, Hela inherited the Netherworld Dimension and established a connection through branding. She didn't need to stay in the Netherworld all the time to charge it. She had long returned to the main universe and went to the free competition zone to continue to preside over the exploration work.

In the past few months, the heat of the Hela Rescue Battle gradually cooled down. As the exploration deepened, many forces in the free competition zone were already fighting fiercely, and many Super-A Grades pretended to have friction and constantly broke out in conflict, which was quite lively.

The players' levels had risen a lot, their actions were more organized, and their presence in the universe was constantly rising. It was said that some small and medium-sized forces had privately called the players the cancer of the universe, gradually developing in the direction that Han Xiao was familiar with, but the players' nickname had not yet been completely spread.

And the Star Cluster Civilization sent a lot of news, all about the Development Union. Han Xiao went out to hide for a few months,躲开了帝国正面的问询.

The preparation of the Development Union was almost done, and the people were basically gathered. During this period, the three major civilizations had not taken less action. The two sides had secretly torn each other countless times, and many Super-A Grades had been suppressed to varying degrees, but the effect was limited. Although Han Xiao did not participate directly, his influence played some role in it. Under his instructions, the Black Star Army,凭借着地头蛇的势力, provided a lot of help.

On the other side, the Dark Emperor had already escaped from the space turbulence. Recently, he publicly caught a new neutral Super-A Grade. As a direct descendant of the Star Cluster Civilization, he stayed in the Shattered Star Ring at this juncture, and was being opposed and guarded by many Super-A Grades.

And all these changes did not affect the Star Cluster Civilization's policy of publicly selling Evolution Totems. The Legion's Logistics Department had produced a large number of Evolution Totem prototypes, waiting for Han Xiao to charge them with the Evolution Cube. Countless forces' reservation orders came like snowflakes, and they received soft hands from the deposit alone.

Looking through the information, Han Xiao muttered to himself:

"It seems that things went smoothly when I was away. Manison and these old people are indeed not vegetarians... Okay, the establishment of the Development Union is a certainty. It's time for me to go there."