Chapter 142 He is Seeking a Beating

They talked about serious matters for a while, and then Ulan Rier changed the subject and said, "There's one more thing. The empire is willing to help the Black Star Army establish a branch in the Central Star Sea to facilitate communication between the two sides. You brought the mobile base over with this in mind, and the empire supports it."

"That would be great," Han Xiao nodded.

"I'll have someone contact you regarding the specific matters..." Ulan Rier said, "Do you have any other requests? You can tell me now."

Han Xiao stroked his chin. "I hope to get the ultimate knowledge of the Mechanic class as soon as possible. I don't know if there are any opportunities."

Ulan Rier remained expressionless. "The empire rewards resources to allies who make contributions. If you want to get it as soon as possible, I suggest you do something for the empire. I will have someone sort out the affairs that require manpower recently and then notify you."

With that, Ulan Rier stood up, extended her hand, indicating that she was seeing him off. Han Xiao didn't say anything more, stood up, shook her hand again, said goodbye, and turned to leave.

The envoy waited outside the door for a long time and led him away from the palace.

After Han Xiao left, Ulan Rier leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes, slowly saying, "Kroti, when you meet him later, remember to control the situation."

Kroti hummed in agreement and pushed open the door to leave.

...

Getting into the land-based hovercraft, the driver changed direction, not returning the way he came, but heading in another direction.

"Your Excellency Black Star, the Pillars of the Nation have been waiting for a long time. Next, I will take you to meet them," the envoy explained.

Han Xiao was noncommittal, his mind recalling the negotiations with Ulan Rier just now.

The meeting was concise and brief. Ulan Rier was very busy and didn't have time for idle chatter. They talked about serious matters, mentioning the Shining World cooperation treaty—after the entire star field was developed, he, as the advance exploration force, would be able to obtain an area for autonomous development, like an officially approved fiefdom.

He would be able to govern this area, and the rights to mining and other miscellaneous powers would belong to him, and he would only need to pay taxes to the empire on time.

This was an important clause in the cooperation treaty, enough to take the Black Star Army to the next level, and it was something Han Xiao was extremely concerned about. As for the location and area of the fiefdom, it would depend on his achievements in the development of the star field.

The matters of the Empire Alliance, the Evolution Cube, and the Black Star Army's branch were his rights and obligations as an ally. If he personally wanted to obtain the ultimate knowledge, he would need to do some tasks for the empire. With Ulan Rier's word, he wouldn't need to trigger the tasks himself. The people of the empire would sort out the task list and come to him, which made things much easier.

"Ulan Rier... the Head of the Empire... her emotions are not revealed, hard to see through," Han Xiao thought to himself.

In the exchange just now, Ulan Rier left him with an impression full of majesty and the aura of a superior. Rather than a flesh-and-blood individual, the Head of the Empire was more like a symbolic figure, making people ignore her gender, beauty, and personality. Han Xiao basically dispelled the intention of trying to gain her favor.

The Head of the Empire represented the empire. Ulan Rier had probably implemented self-control, cutting off her own weaknesses, maintaining cold rationality, and never allowing herself to lose her composure, ensuring that all personal feelings would not influence her decisions.

For such a person, the cost of gaining favor was high, and the gains were small. Han Xiao didn't plan to waste his energy.

In comparison, it was easier to befriend Super-As.

Soon, the vehicle stopped in front of a villa. This area wasn't a reception center but a residential area for internal personnel.

Kroti stood in front of the door, expressionless, and nodded. "Black Star, come in with me. Everyone has been waiting for a long time."

Han Xiao got out of the car, looked at Kroti, his expression strange.

Not long ago, the two had met at Ulan Rier's place. He took a car, while this guy ran over in advance to wait for him. Although the speed of a Super-A was faster than a land vehicle, Han Xiao couldn't help but find it amusing to imagine that scene.

Bang.

Pushing the door open, they entered.

The two walked into the house, and six Super-As of different appearances turned their gazes, staring at Han Xiao, full of curiosity and scrutiny.

Kroti also found a seat and sat down, leaving Han Xiao standing alone.

Han Xiao glanced around. He was familiar with all six of them, all well-known Super-A allies of the Crimson Empire. Among them was a member of the Ancient Ones, and Han Xiao couldn't help but take another look at him.

However, among the three strongest of the empire, only Kroti was present. The other two didn't come.

The seven people present had different expressions. Some were eager to try, some were indifferent, and some were full of interest. These Super-As stood behind different factions of the empire, and their personal positions were actually different.

"You're Black Star from the Shattered Star Ring?" One of them sized him up, his eyes seemingly hiding malicious intent when his gaze swept over the Evolution Cube.

"Who else do you think I am?" Han Xiao raised an eyebrow. He wasn't being polite. They were all Super-As, and he didn't plan to be low-key here. Showing his edge was the only way to be valued.

"The Shattered Star Ring has four... oh, five Super-As. You and Herber have both joined the Crimson Empire. Who is stronger?" Another person on the side asked with interest.

"If you're so curious, why don't you try it yourself?" Han Xiao shrugged, not wanting to stand there and be questioned, so he casually found a place to sit down.

These Super-As didn't know that although it was only their first meeting, Han Xiao knew their backgrounds and had a clear understanding of the current situation.

Among the seven people, Kroti had a transcendent status, behaving coldly and calmly. He represented the confidant faction of the Head of the Empire, observing without intervening, while a Super-A who leaned towards the young and middle-aged faction of the empire's military was full of interest in him, seemingly wanting to win him over. The other five people more or less had intentions of testing him.

Seeing Han Xiao's blatant show of edge, the others exchanged glances, seeing a hint of surprise in each other's eyes.

In the past, those newcomers came with the intention of making friends, thinking that everyone would speak politely, while the old-timers would turn the meeting into a trial, constantly asking questions with a certain provocative meaning, stimulating the other party, and appreciating a Super-A enduring their anger and answering every question. Most of the people present had experienced this step, leaving behind black history, so they regarded this method as a tradition of accepting newcomers.

If they couldn't bear it, they would use their fists to speak, determining their future status and voice.

Unless it was those long-established neutral Super-As who joined, they would give some face and restrain themselves a little, not wanting to provoke them.

Black Star, who had only recently advanced to Super-A, was naturally not in this category.

However, the others had only just started and hadn't even begun to truly provoke him when Black Star retorted with a few words, obviously the newcomer wasn't prepared to answer according to their wishes.

It was probably Herber who had imparted his experience...

In their opinion, Han Xiao seemed to have known their tradition for a long time, and on the side of the Shattered Star Ring, there was Herber, who had left behind a black history. It was probably from him that Black Star had learned about the situation and wanted to use this method to prevent them from succeeding.

'Wishful thinking...'

The others secretly exchanged glances, making a calculation.

"Hehe." The guy who spoke first said lightly, "Black Star, you haven't recognized your position yet, have you?"

"Oh? Your Excellency Zhan Xing, what do you mean?" Han Xiao narrowed his eyes.

维鲁 (Wei Lu), a Super-A martial artist, a War Soldier branch, nicknamed "Star Destroyer," "Stellar Divider," etc., came from the old star river, now backed by the empire, developed in the Central Star Sea, and operated tens of thousands of interstellar martial arts dojos.

"This is the center of the universe, the Central Star Sea. Do you think it's just the Shattered Star Ring with a mere five Super-As? How dare you talk to us like that..."

Boom!

Before he could finish his words, Wei Lu suddenly released his aura. The sharp aura split the villa in two. The thick aura, along with his cold gaze, pressed toward Han Xiao, as if he was angry, speaking one word at a time.

"A newcomer who has just advanced to Super-A, what qualifications do you have to be arrogant in front of us?!"

"Tsk." Kroti was expressionless, waving his hand to tell the patrol teams that were rushing over not to get close. Wei Lu restrained his energy, not affecting other places, and he didn't stop Wei Lu's behavior either.

Except for the Super-A who leaned toward the young and middle-aged faction, who shook his head and remained silent, the others also pretended to be unkind, staring at Han Xiao, applying pressure.

Even if Herber told you the rules in advance, a group of Super-A empire allies simultaneously targeting a newcomer, they didn't believe Black Star wouldn't be afraid of offending all of them.

If Black Star stubbornly insisted to the end, they wouldn't mind teaching him a lesson. As for whether they would offend Black Star... which of them wasn't a Super-A force? No one was flattering anyone. They would see whether it was more unsettling to offend one person or several people. If they could test whether a Super-A was narrow-minded, then they would also gain, and they would consider their attitude towards each other in the future.

The others secretly sized up Han Xiao's expression, trying to find a trace of panic or softening on his face.

The sharp aura was like a sharp knife hanging in front of his eyes. Han Xiao narrowed his eyes, suddenly chuckled, "Alright, let's make things simple. We're all Super-As. If there are any conflicts, let's resolve them with our hands."

Saying that, before the others could react, Han Xiao pointed at Wei Lu, "How about you and I have a match?"

Hearing this, the others were shocked and greatly interested.

This newcomer actually took the initiative to challenge, wanting to establish his prestige? He was really confident, didn't he know that they were all veteran powerhouses who had been fighting for the empire for a long time?

They had originally wanted to take the initiative to propose a spar, provoking Black Star to take action, but they didn't expect this guy to propose it himself.

"Good." Wei Lu's eyes darkened.

He had shown his aura, but Black Star still wanted to challenge him. Wasn't this treating him like a pushover, thinking he had a chance of winning?

Not only did Black Star want to establish his prestige, but Wei Lu also wouldn't allow his position to be challenged.

Han Xiao's face was calm. He had guessed yesterday that only by using his fists could he compete for a voice in the Super-A ally circle. He had long been mentally prepared to take action, and now he took the initiative to strike first.

If you want to befriend Super-As, you must first show the strength that makes people value you to have the qualifications for equal communication. The fist is the eternal hard truth.

At this moment, Kroti slowly spoke.

"Go outside the psychic-energy restricted ring to fight. Don't fight near the mother planet."

...

"Your Excellency Head of State, Black Star's meeting with the Pillars of the Nation was not pleasant. He has challenged His Excellency Star Destroyer and decided to spar with each other. Kroti and the other Pillars of the Nation have gone over."

Listening to his subordinate's report on the internal communicator, Ulan Rier remained expressionless and slowly said, "Kroti is in charge of this matter. You don't need to interfere."

"Yes."

"Hmm... go and notify Black Star's companions."

With that, Ulan Rier hung up the communicator and shook her head.

She didn't like the tradition of Super-A allies bullying newcomers, but unless necessary, she didn't want to force the will of the Super-As.

However, it wasn't necessarily a bad thing if the private relationships between the empire's allies were a little worse. It wouldn't affect their cooperation with the empire. Interests were the root.

...

"What? He's fighting with those allies?"

After hearing the envoy's relay, Hela and the other close guards' expressions changed drastically.

At this time, Iso couldn't help but speak, comforting the others, "Don't worry. It's just a very normal exchange between Super-As to test each other's strength. I've personally seen them do this before."

Unfortunately, few people listened to his words.

"Go and see," Ames said nothing, striding out of the door.