Chapter 1 The Faction of Manison

Outsiders usually refer to Manison's faction as "Machinery Country", "the Mechanical Race", or simply use Manison's name to refer to his power. His name alone represents his faction; there isn't any "xx" organization name.

Manison's territory is located somewhere in the Flickering World, nominally under the jurisdiction of a galactic civilization, but in reality, it's a territory controlled by Manison.

Han Xiao's Sovereign Avatar led a mechanical army to visit Manison, having sent a private message beforehand. Manison agreed to meet and set the location on a planet inhabited by the Mechanical Race. He has many planets under his command; this is just one of them.

The Sovereign Avatar arrived at the destination, and in his view was a mechanical planet. A massive psionic energy shield enveloped the planet, and a large number of mechanical warriors patrolled the outer space around the clock. A rough glance revealed about three or four hundred million of them; and this was just the outer patrol of one planet.

"The old geezer is indeed an old geezer; he has a rich foundation."

Han Xiao clicked his tongue and shook his head.

Manison's sphere of influence is vast, deploying mechanical factories and legions in multiple star fields, with developed mechanical civilizations as important aids. The specific number of troops is a mystery; various forces only know that it's an astronomical figure.

Han Xiao's troops didn't wait long before a gap quickly opened in the planet's protective shield, and a small team of Manison's mechanical warriors came forward to lead the way.

Following the guide, the Sovereign Avatar slowly descended, and the surface situation in view became clearer.

This is one of the Mechanical Race's residential planets. One could see cities located on the earth, and pedestrians like small ants moving between the streets; these are all members of the Mechanical Race.

Manison is the second Super-A Grade in the history of the Mechanical Race. Although he has transformed into a new species, he still regards the Mechanical Race as his kin and serves as the leader of the group.

However, unlike someone like Sisko who values the group, for him, the Mechanical Race is just an important resource; he doesn't have that much sense of responsibility or sentimentality.

As a group inherited from a Super-A Grade, the Mechanical Race possesses superior mechanical talent, providing Manison with a large number of high-quality talents. Many of his mechanics are from the Mechanical Race. Moreover, more than 80% of the Mechanical Race are staunch believers in the Mechanical God Church.

After flying for a while, a huge mechanical floating island soon appeared in sight; this is one of Manison's palaces.

The Sovereign Avatar led the mechanical troops to land on the landing platform of the floating island.

Clang clang clang clang...

The soles of his feet stepped on the ground, making heavy metallic impact sounds.

As soon as he landed, he heard someone speaking not far away.

"Hehe, Black Star, I didn't expect you to take the initiative to visit me; it's a bit beyond my expectations."

Only the sound of pattering footsteps was heard, and Manison's Sovereign Avatar walked over. The one meeting him this time was still not his main body.

Seeing this, Han Xiao sneered in his heart.

Heh, little glass cannon, so cowardly.

Silently complaining, Han Xiao calmed his mind and said:

"You invited me to visit you several years ago, but I was delayed. I happened to be passing by recently, so I came to take a look."

His tone was calm, not mentioning the unpleasantness between them. The Sovereign Avatar's electronic voice was also emotionless, making it impossible to hear his emotions.

Manison smiled and didn't mention the previous estrangement either.

He had defeated more than one Mechanic Emperor. In the eyes of a big shot of his level, this kind of conflict hadn't reached the point where they would fight to the death upon meeting.

One thing is one thing. As a figure of this level, even if there is competition, they can still sit down and talk calmly.

"In that case, come with me, I'll take you on a tour of my base."

Manison turned his head and led the way.

Due to the last virtual duel, the relationship between the two had dropped to freezing point, but Black Star was still a peak Super-A Grade, and had made a special trip to visit him, so Manison would not be rude, let alone refuse to meet.

The two strolled around the base, seeing only very common base facilities, without seeing anything special. Manison had no interest in showing off his various trump cards to a potential competitor, just like how Han Xiao didn't show him the Spacetime Amber back then.

Han Xiao had expected this and knew that Manison wasn't the kind of person who liked to flaunt his trump cards, so he didn't hold any other illusions. The main purpose of this trip was to happily do business.

After taking a short stroll, he and Manison entered the conference room, sat down, and started talking about the main topic.

"Since everyone is using avatars, there's no need to serve drinks." Manison leaned back in his chair and said lightly, "What can I do for you today?"

"I want to borrow some information." Han Xiao said slowly.

"What kind of information?"

"I want to borrow the confidential personnel files of the four Super-Star Cluster level civilizations and other Star Cluster level civilizations in the Flickering World."

Manison was a little surprised and sat up slightly straighter.

"What do you want this for?"

"Looking for someone."

Han Xiao was concise.

He had already collected the planned information. On the list of casualties, someone had indeed forged their resume. Next, he just needed to compare the confidential personnel files, and Machinery Country was the best choice for this.

This group of hooligans in the Flickering World were not crippled civilizations like the Kunde Race, but genuine Super-Star Cluster level civilizations, with technological strength second only to the three great civilizations.

Personally invading them would not only be time-consuming and laborious, but also have a low success rate. Even if he got in, he could be discovered at any time, and he wouldn't be able to get complete information… He couldn't act recklessly without planning.

Moreover, there was more than one file that needed to be compared. If he wanted to complete the screening, he would have to invade all four Super-Star Clusters. Even if he found the perpetrator, he would offend the other three. If he didn't find them, it would be even worse. Wouldn't he be making enemies for no reason? Han Xiao didn't want to do such a losing business.

On the other hand, Han Xiao also felt that the mastermind behind the scenes must have tampered with things and may have deleted the perpetrator's file, so even if he could invade, it would be useless; he wouldn't find anything.

The Machinery Country was different. As a big shot of the Shining Federation, his role in the Flickering World was equivalent to keeping order, and he had been collecting information for the Shining Federation.

With such four good neighbors, old Manison next door was so happy that he didn't want to return home, sneaking into other people's homes from time to time, stealing and backing up a large number of confidential documents, and having them from all periods… Therefore, at the Machinery Country, he could obtain the complete files of the four Super-Star Cluster level civilizations before they were deleted and modified.

Manison thought for a few seconds and shook his head, "I can't lend it to you, I only accept trades."

"Okay, what do you want?"

"Spacetime Amber." Manison brought up the old topic.

"Impossible."

Han Xiao flatly refused.

You old ghost, are you dreaming?

You want to exchange a universe treasure for a piece of information? You really are a business genius; only Heaven Earth Bank can accommodate a genius like you.

"Not even one?"

"Hehe."

Hearing this, Manison spread his hands and didn't speak, his meaning very clear… If you don't accept my price, then what conditions are you going to offer?

Han Xiao thought for a while, "I can publicly state that I support you as the strongest mechanic in the universe."

"I already am, why do I need your support?" Manison asked.

"Wouldn't it be good to consolidate your position even more?"

"I don't need it." Manison waved his hand.

I am the dignified Machinery Country, do I need paid supporters? How ridiculous!

Han Xiao touched his chin, "Or we can make an agreement that I won't challenge your position within fifty years."

Hearing this, Manison said with interest, "Are you saying that you think you only need fifty years to surpass me?"

"Anything is possible." Han Xiao was noncommittal.

Manison smiled lightly and said lightly, "No need, I don't need this method to guarantee my position."

Han Xiao leaned forward, "Or, just consider it as if I owe you a favor?"

"Only favors that can be repaid are valuable. Judging from our relationship… your favor is meaningless to me."

Manison shook his head, indicating that you are no longer in my circle of acquaintances.

After a pause, he didn't wait for Han Xiao to answer, and then spoke again, slowly saying:

"Forget it, I can give you the information you want, but you can't give me what I want. Let the Crimson Dynasty come and talk to me."

Han Xiao pretended to ponder, "In that case, how about I try to persuade the Dynasty to supply you with a batch of Evolutionary Totems for a long time?"

Manison was not interested, "You might as well give me the Evolutionary Cube."

"…Are you awake or asleep right now?" Han Xiao said with a puzzled tone.

Manison was thick-skinned and didn't care, "But the Totems are useless to me."

"Are you sure?" Han Xiao knocked on the table, "You can't use the Totems yourself, but you still lead the Mechanical Race, and the Totems are useful to them, right?"

Hearing this, Manison began to calculate.

Seeing this, Han Xiao shrugged, "I can't give you any more chips. You have to know that other forces more or less have mastered a part of these civilizations' secrets through various channels. Your place is just more complete, not unique. If you don't agree to this condition, then this deal can only be voided."

"Alright, I agree." Manison nodded lightly.

He has as much information as he wants. It's just a matter of lifting a finger and doesn't cost anything. If he can get Evolutionary Totems in addition, Manison thinks it's acceptable.

Although he doesn't value this deal, the Totems are indeed slightly useful to the Mechanical Race.

"Then it's settled, I'll try to get it from the Dynasty." Han Xiao said.

This move is against the rules, but as long as he controls the number of Totems sold, the Dynasty will not dwell on such minor details.

Due to the suppression of the Shining and the Void, there are now many Totems circulating outside. Although the Dynasty does not sell them publicly, if they can be exchanged for the information they need, the Dynasty will not be too rigid. With Han Xiao's status, these can all be discussed.

He originally planned to exchange Evolutionary Totems for this information. As for the verbal support and verbal agreement he said before, he would say it as long as Manison dared to agree.

Han Xiao is not a person who cares about face like Heber. According to his plan, he still has a lot of room for improvement and does not intend to continue fighting with the Machinery Country now, so he doesn't care about this kind of verbal promise. If Manison agrees, he can save the Evolutionary Totems.

Manison only knows that I have high potential, but he doesn't know how fast I am accumulating strength. His impression of me is still the same as when we fought last time. He doesn't know that I have completely obtained the [Perfect Mechanical Sense]. As long as I don't fight him, it will be difficult for him to find out… Han Xiao thought to himself.

Exchanging for this file is for the Kunde Race's mission reward. Manison may think that this is just a job for the Dynasty, but he doesn't know what abilities I can earn from it.

The two reached a consensus, and Han Xiao sent an application to the Dynasty. The higher-ups knew that he was investigating the identity of the mastermind, and after discussing it, they decided to approve Han Xiao's application.

After discussing for a while, they finalized the number of Totems to be supplied, which was only a hundred or so, which was harmless.

Manison would not dwell on such trivial transactions and directly threw the information over.

With the information in hand, Han Xiao stood up, "The Totems will be delivered in a while, I'll leave first."

"Okay."

Manison had no objections and watched Han Xiao leave before secretly withdrawing from the quantum network vision.

Having won against Black Star in the last virtual duel did not mean that Manison had no fear at all. He was worried that Han Xiao would come prepared and imitate him by launching a virtual invasion, so he had already taken precautions and reinforced the quantum network nodes here layer after layer, preparing traps.

For virtual mechanics of their level, if they want to invade each other, they can only attack head-on and cannot bypass the firewall without being discovered by the other party.

If Black Star refuses to admit defeat and wants to come to invade, he will not have a good time.

He didn't expect that Han Xiao came and left in a hurry, without any intention of causing trouble. All these methods were prepared in vain.

"It seems that he really has no intention of continuing to compete with me… It should be that the Dynasty did some ideological work on him."

Based on Han Xiao's performance just now, Manison had a guess and pondered secretly.

…

As the spaceship moved away from the Mechanical Race's territory, Han Xiao immediately took action, took out the parameter model he had prepared long ago, plugged in the data he had already prepared, and began to match them.

With the support of efficient computing power, the matching was quickly completed, locking onto a target.

"The Modo Civilization? It really is them."

Han Xiao glanced at it and raised his eyebrows. The screen showed that the perpetrator who forged the resume was indeed an intelligence officer of the Modo Civilization.

"If it's the Modo Civilization…"

Han Xiao searched his memory for a while and recalled some famous figures of the Modo Civilization. His heart moved, and he took out the communicator to contact a number.

After ringing twice, the call was connected. Only a light breathing sound could be heard. The other party did not speak first.

"Lutheral?" (罗泰尔)

"Present."

"Come to the Flickering World, I have a mission, and I also have a gift for you."

"Okay."

After saying a few simple words, he hung up the call. Lutheral was a man of few words.

A reliable adult male doesn't need him to give more instructions. He can be called over with just one sentence.

Now it can be confirmed that the Modo Civilization is the culprit behind the Kunde Race incident.

However, Han Xiao still doesn't know who the specific planner is.

But it doesn't matter, anyway, the mission requires him to retaliate against the mastermind as much as possible.

So, why not cut the Gordian knot quickly,

All the famous and named figures in the Modo Civilization's various industries, both now and in the future, are all…

Get slaughtered!

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ps: (I haven't been on Weibo all the time. I only opened it at the end of last month. Search for "Qidian Qi Pei jia". Interested brothers can follow me (*｀▽´*)