With Xiao Yu’s current technological strength, he could already produce materials similar to the Droplet, though their performance would be slightly inferior. However, Xiao Yu did not see any real significance in such materials, nor did he understand why the Guardian Civilization had such a strong preference for the Droplet, which in his view was nothing more than a chicken-rib material.
Back in the Tianyuan IV star system, Xiao Yu’s fleet had been thrown into chaos by a single Droplet, and it was only by relying on the massive collider around Tianyuan IV that they had narrowly destroyed it. That situation had been extremely perilous. But to Xiao Yu now, a single Droplet was nothing. Even a Town-Class spaceship possessed the ability to destroy one.
Xiao Yu could easily destroy it, whether with a material disintegration beam, a negative matter cannon, elemental decay grenades, or gravitational bombs, any of these would suffice. But at this moment, Xiao Yu dared not do so.
It was just like the Five Dragon Banner that once symbolized imperial authority during the feudal era. A banner was just a dead object, any child could defile it however they pleased. But who would dare?
Xiao Yu’s mind instantly entered a state of full-speed operation. For a Droplet to appear here was far beyond his expectations. According to his calculations, after he had revealed his trump card and conveyed the message that ‘there is someone above me,’ the Guardian Civilization should not have continued to trouble him. After all, the Guardian Civilization did not know that the Divine Ark Civilization was the companion civilization tied to the Specter Race, nor could they know that the master of the Divine Ark Civilization was, in fact, an entity that had merged soul and computer.
“Why? Why? Just for a mere Level 5 Civilization, the Guardian Civilization would risk offending a Taihao Civilization? That doesn’t follow logic. It doesn’t make sense.” Xiao Yu’s thoughts raced frantically. “What should I do now? What should I do?”
A very bad premonition welled up within him. Just a moment ago, Xiao Yu had been in paradise, but now, this Droplet had mercilessly cast him down into hell.
Being targeted by the Guardian Civilization was something Xiao Yu could not afford. Even though he was now an Advanced Level 5 Civilization, a formidable force in the vast Milky Way, the gap between tiers remained immense. Any Level 6 Civilization could easily crush him, Xiao Yu understood this all too well.
“They still don’t know my secret, that I am a fusion of soul and computer. Could it be because of the Four-Dimensional shield? No, impossible. A Level 6 Civilization has already grasped space technology and possesses space shields. Though not as good as the Four-Dimensional shield, the performance gap is not that large. They wouldn’t risk offending the Taihao Civilization just for a Four-Dimensional shield. After all, that half Four-Dimensional Taihao from the Large Magellanic Cloud is itself a being on par with the Guardian Civilization, perhaps even stronger. Could it be for my space weapons? That’s even more absurd. A Level 6 Civilization already possesses complete space weapons. Why would they covet my inferior versions? That makes no sense. Then, what exactly is the Guardian Civilization after, that they would risk offending the Taihao Civilization just to trouble me?”
This question was crucial. Only by figuring it out could Xiao Yu find a countermeasure and carve out a path of survival from this desperate situation.Xiao Yu’s heart gradually sank.
“There are only two explanations. One, for some reason, the Guardian Civilization already knows my secret, and that is why they are here to capture me. Two, the Guardian Civilization already has a grudge against the Taihao Civilization, or perhaps the identity of being ‘the Taihao Civilization’s experimental product’ itself carries enough value… If that’s the case, have I outsmarted myself? That City-Class ship of the Guardian Civilization leaving so decisively, was it only meant to lull me into complacency, to deceive me, or perhaps to deceive and lull the Taihao Civilization behind me?” Bitterness welled up in Xiao Yu’s heart.
But Xiao Yu still did not intend to give up. He replied, “Honored envoy of the Guardian Civilization, our Divine Ark Civilization truly wishes to fall under your banner. However, a powerful civilization once entrusted us with a task. We are merely a weak Level 5 Civilization, and we dare not defy the will of such a mighty existence. Therefore, we beg you to grant us a little time. Allow us to complete this mission first and give that great being an explanation. After that, we will gladly join the Guardian Alliance. Would that not be acceptable?”
This was Xiao Yu’s only hope of survival. He invoked the name of the Taihao Civilization, hoping to frighten the Guardian Civilization into backing off and abandoning their intention to capture him. But Xiao Yu was disappointed.
“Other than the Guardian Civilization, no existence may command a civilization that has joined the Guardian Alliance. Once you join the Guardian Civilization, no matter how powerful the being, the Guardian Civilization will bear it for you. On this point, you need not worry. Your coordinates have already been exposed. You cannot possibly escape the pursuit of the Guardian Civilization. Joining our Guardian Alliance is your only way out.”
This turn of events had come too quickly, so quickly that Xiao Yu could not even consult with Luka Two and the other scientists. Everything depended on Xiao Yu alone.
“This concerns the affiliation of our entire civilization. I request that you grant us a little time so that we may deliberate internally. I am merely the acting Supreme Leader on duty right now. I do not have the authority to make this decision.”
What answered Xiao Yu was a stretch of silence. After a long while, a message from the Guardian Civilization’s envoy arrived, “Very well, I agree to this point. But you must understand that regardless of what conclusion your deliberations reach, your joining the Guardian Alliance is something that cannot be changed. I am only giving you a little time to persuade the other decision makers within your civilization, so as to avoid an outcome none of us wishes to see. You must understand that in the future you will also be a member of the Alliance. Your strength will be the Alliance’s strength. I do not want to see internal attrition within our Alliance.”
“Thank you for your leniency and benevolence. I will strive to persuade the other Supreme Leaders.” Xiao Yu replied in haste. But suddenly, he sensed that something was off.
“No, it should not be like this. There is something strange here.” Xiao Yu forced himself to make a logical assessment, thinking rapidly, “The Guardian Civilization is a Level 6 Civilization. Faced with a Level 6 Civilization, I have no power to resist. In such a situation, with their fleet about to arrive, is there any need for them to send out a probe in advance to admonish and warn me? Would it not be more straightforward and efficient to send a fleet directly, use overwhelming force to overawe me, and force me to join the Alliance?”
“This is the first point. Second, it actually agreed to my proposal to consult with other members of my civilization? That does not fit the Guardian Civilization’s usual style. Even a fool knows that when a powerful enemy is eyeing you from outside, internal deliberations are more likely to produce a unified result, whether for war or for surrender. A normal Level 5 Civilization, especially one with the Taihao Civilization as a backer, proposing to deliberate before giving an answer at such a time is obviously trying to stall for time. There is no reason the Guardian Civilization would fail to see this. So why did it agree?”
This question left Xiao Yu somewhat perplexed.
Luka Two and a number of outstanding scientists from the Psychosocial Sciences Division had already received Xiao Yu’s urgent order. At this moment, they had put on the brainwave communicators that Xiao Yu had specially built for them and convened a virtual meeting with him in virtual space.
Xiao Yu very quickly laid out his thoughts.
Light flashed in Luka Two’s eyes. After a full two minutes of silence, he slowly spoke, “The Guardian Civilization is stalling for time.”
“Oh?” Xiao Yu could not quite grasp this claim. Stalling for time? The Guardian Civilization stalling for time? Would they have any need to stall? Were they afraid he might escape? Xiao Yu did not believe that once the Guardian Civilization had him in their sights, he had any ability to shake off their pursuit.
“There is only this one explanation.” Luka Two continued. “First, the Guardian Civilization has, contrary to common sense, agreed to our request for internal deliberations. Second, at this moment there is no Guardian fleet coming, only a droplet-shaped probe has arrived. And a droplet-shaped probe is something we can easily destroy.”
“In that case, can we understand it as follows, the Guardian Civilization’s fleet has met with some trouble, either because the distance is too great or because it has been held up by some other force, so it cannot arrive here in the short term, and the only strength they have here is these droplet-shaped probes. They know perfectly well that the droplet-shaped probes cannot detain us, so they are using these statements in hopes of delaying us. When they saw us propose internal deliberations in an attempt to buy time, that proposal actually played right into their hands, so they went along with it and agreed to our request.”
Luka Two’s proposal was highly logical and explained the present situation well. With a quick calculation, Xiao Yu understood.
“Good. I will destroy it now, then hurry to get away.” Xiao Yu said.
“No, Master, what I have said is only my conjecture. I do not have confirmed certainty. I hope you will think it over carefully before deciding.” Luka Two said.
“No need to consider.” Xiao Yu replied with a bitter smile. “I have decided. We will do just that. Kill it, and keep moving forward.”