Chapter 800: Pressure
After the two of them talked about business for some time, Urranrell changed the topic. “One more thing. The dynasty is willing to help the Black Star Army build a division in the Central Galaxy to aid communication between both sides. I know you already planned to do this since you brought your portable base here. The dynasty supports this.”
“That would be great.” Han Xiao nodded.
“As for the details, I will let someone settle them with you,” Urranrell said. “If you have any other requests, you can tell me now.”
Han Xiao caressed his chin. “I hope to obtain the Ultimate Knowledge of the Mechanic class as soon as possible. I’m wondering if there are any chances.”
Without changing her expression at all, Urranrell said, “The resource rewards of the dynasty are given to allies who’ve made contributions. If you want to obtain it as soon as possible, I suggest you help the dynasty do some things. I will have someone make a list of the matters that the dynasty requires aid with and notify you.”
Then Urranrell stood up, extended her hand, and signaled the end of this meeting. Han Xiao did not continue to speak. He stood up as well and shook her hand before bidding farewell and leaving.
The emissary had been waiting outside the door. He guided him out of this palace.
After Han Xiao left, Urranrell leaned on the chair and said slowly with her eyes closed, “Crowell, when you guys meet him later, remember to keep the situation under control.”
Clotti grunted in assent and left.
…
Han Xiao boarded the ground carrier. The driver did not head in the direction they had come from but toward another direction.
“Your Excellency Black Star, the National Pillars have been waiting. I’m taking you to meet them,” the emissary explained.
Han Xiao did not reply and was still thinking of his meeting with Urranrell earlier.
The meeting was short. Urranrell had plenty of matters to deal with every day, so she would not have time to have a casual chat with him. Hence, everything they had talked about was business. The terms and agreements of the Flickering World partnership were mentioned. After the pioneering of the entire Star Field was complete, as the leading exploration team, he would receive one area that he would be able to develop freely. It was like land awarded by the government.
He would rule that area and own all kinds of rights to it as long as he paid taxes to the dynasty every once in a while.
This was one of the most important terms in their agreement, it would make the Black Star Army even stronger. This was also something very important to Han Xiao. As for the location and size of that area, it would depend on his achievements during the development of the Star Field.
The use of the Evolution Cube and creating a new division of the Black Star Army were his rights and duties as an ally of the dynasty. If he wanted to obtain Ultimate Knowledge personally, he would have to do some dynasty missions. With Urranrell having already spoken about this, he would not have to trigger them himself. The dynasty’s men would make a mission list and give it to him, which was much more convenient.
Urranrell… Dynasty Ruler… doesn’t show her emotions, not easy to read…
Through the conversation earlier, the image Urranrell gave to him was filled with prestige and the vibe of someone in a high position. Compared to an individual with flesh and blood, this Dynasty Ruler felt more like a symbol, making people ignore her personal traits. Han Xiao basically gave up on wanting to farm her Favorability.
The ruler represented the dynasty. Urranrell had most likely cut off all her personal desires, so she would not have any weaknesses, would be able to maintain rational at all times, and would never let her emotions take over. Her personal feelings would never affect her decisions.
To someone like this, farming Favorability was basically a high-cost, low-reward act, so Han Xiao did not want to waste his efforts.
Comparatively, it would be easier to bond with the Beyond Grade As.
Very soon, the carrier stopped before a villa. This was not a villa in the reception center but the residential area of the internal members.
Clotti stood in front of the door with an expressionless face. He nodded and said, “Black Star, follow me. Everyone’s waiting.”
Han Xiao walked out of the car and looked at Clotti with a strange expression.
The two of them had just met back at Urranrell’s place not long ago. He had traveled there by carrier, while this guy had sprinted over so that he could be waiting for him in advance. Although Beyond Grade As’ speed would be much quicker than land carriers, visualizing that image in his mind still felt quite comical.
They opened the door and entered.
As soon as they entered the house, the eyes of six different Beyond Grade As all looked over and stared at Han Xiao with curiosity.
Clotti looked for a seat and sat down, leaving Han Xiao standing alone.
Han Xiao scanned around. He was not unfamiliar with all six of them. They were all known Beyond Grade A allies of the Crimson Dynasty. There was even a member of the Ancient Ones.
However, among the three strongest people in the dynasty, only Clotti was present.
The seven people there all had different looks in their eyes. Some were filled with anticipation, some were cold, and some were curious. These Beyond Grade As all had different dynasty factions behind them, so their personal stand was not the same.
“So, you’re Black Star from the Shattered Star Ring?” One of them sized Han Xiao up. When his eyes looked past the Evolution Cube, a tint of hostility seemed to have flashed for an instant.
“Who else did you think I was?” Han Xiao raised his brows and did not respond politely. Everyone there was a Beyond Grade A; he did not plan to keep a low profile. He would only be respected if he showed his strength.
“Of the four… oh, five Beyond Grade As in the Shattered Star Ring, both you and Heber have joined the Crimson Dynasty. Which one of you is stronger?” someone beside asked with curiosity.
“If you’re so curious, why don’t you try it out yourself?” Han Xiao shrugged. He did not want to be questioned while standing up, so he found a random seat and sat down.
These Beyond Grade A had no idea that although this was their first meeting, Han Xiao knew about them quite well and had a very clear idea of the situation in this room.
Among the seven people, Clotti was above all and looked calm and cold. He represented the ruler’s confidant faction, so he only watched but did not interfere. Another Beyond Grade A who was close to the dynasty military’s Youngsters Faction looked very interested in him and seemed to have the intention of wooing him. The other five more or less wanted to test him.
Seeing how Han Xiao did not take any steps back at all, they exchanged glances and saw a little bit of surprise in each others’ eyes.
In the past, the newcomers came with the intention of making friends with them. These newcomers thought that everyone would be talking calmly and politely, while the older members would make this meeting into somewhat of a review and questioning section. They would keep asking provocative questions and watch the new Beyond Grade A suppress their anger and answer every question. Most people there had experienced this and left a dark history. Therefore, this became a tradition in accepting the newcomers.
If someone could not take it, they would speak with fists to determine their position in the future.
If it was a previously renowned neutral Beyond Grade A becoming an ally, only then would they give the newcomer face and restrain themselves.
Of course, Black Star, who had just become a Beyond Grade A, was not on that list.
However, this was only the start, and they had yet to even start the real provocation, but Black Star had already retaliated. It was clear that this newcomer was not planning to follow their plan.
It’s probably because Heber shared his experience with him…
In their eyes, it looked like Han Xiao knew about their tradition, and Heber, who also left a dark history there, was from the Shattered Star Ring. Therefore, it was most likely that Black Star knew about this from him and did not want to let their plan succeed by speaking in this manner.
“Not going to happen…”
They secretly exchanged looks and made a plan.
“Hehe.” The person who spoke first said coldly, “Black Star, I don’t think you’ve realized what your position is.”
“Oh? Mr. Star Slasher, what do you mean?” Han Xiao narrowed his eyes.
Viru, a Beyond Grade A Pugilist of the War Soldier Branch. Among his nicknames were ‘Star Slasher’ and ‘Fixed Star Splitter’. He came from the Primeval Star River, now an ally of the dynasty, and was operating tens of thousands of galactical Pugilist dojos in the Central Galaxy.
“This is the center of the universe, the Central Galaxy. Do you think this is the Shattered Star Ring that only has five Beyond Grade As? How dare you speak to us that manner…”
Boom!
Before he finished his sentence, Viru suddenly released his energy, which slashed the villa in two. The thick aura and his cold stare pressed onto Han Xiao. As if he was furious, he said word by word, “A newbie who has just entered the Beyond Grade A stage, who gave you the right to be this arrogant in front of us‽”
“Tsk.” Expressionless, Clotti waved his hands and told the patrols who rushed there not to get close. Viru restrained his energy and did not let it spread out. Clotti did not stop Viru’s action.
Other than the Beyond Grade A close to the Youngsters Faction who was shaking his head and did not speak, the others all had unfriendly expressions on their faces and stared at Han Xiao, pressuring him.
Even if Heber had told him the rules earlier, they did not believe that Black Star would not be afraid of offending all of them at once.
If Black Star continued to not step back, they did not mind teaching him a lesson. As for if that would anger Black Star… they all had Beyond Grade A organizations, so it did not matter.
The few of them secretly looked at Han Xiao’s expression, hoping to find a tint of panic or fear on his face.
The sharp and aggressive aura was like a knife in Han Xiao’s face. He narrowed his eyes and suddenly chuckled. “Alright, let’s make things easier. We’re all Beyond Grade As. If we have any conflicts, we can settle it by fighting.”
Then, before everyone could respond, Han Xiao pointed at Viru. “You and I will fight, how about that?”
The others were surprised and even more interested.
This newcomer is deliberately issuing a challenge? How confident. Doesn’t he know we’re all seniors who’ve fought a very long time for the dynasty?
They initially wanted to bring sparring up to provoke Black Star into fighting, but they did not expect this guy to propose it first.
“Okay.” Viru’s expression looked irritated.
He had already showcased his energy, yet Black Star still wanted to challenge him. Did Black Star think that he had a chance of winning?
Viru would not allow his position to be threatened.
Han Xiao was calm. He had already guessed that only strength would earn him respect in the Beyond Grade A allies circle, so he had mentally prepared to fight long ago.
In order to befriend Beyond Grade As, he first had to show strength worth befriending.
This time, Clotti spoke slowly.
“Go fight outside the Psionic Seal Ring. Don’t fight near the mother planet.”
…
“Your Excellency, Black Star’s meeting with the National Pillars was not pleasant. He challenged His Excellency Star Slasher to a spar. Clotti and the other National Pillar have gone along as well.”
Hearing the report from the internal communicator, Urranrell said, “Clotti will take care of this. You guys don’t have to worry about it.”
“Understood.”
“Hmm… go and notify Black Star’s friends.”
Then, Urranrell hung up the communicator and shook her head.
She did not like the tradition of bullying the newcomer between the Beyond Grade A allies, but she also did not want to force these Beyond Grade As to do anything unless absolutely necessary.
However, the private relationship between the dynasty’s allies being bad might not be a bad thing. It would not affect their partnerships with the dynasty, and profit was the priority.
…
“What? He’s fighting with those allies?”
After hearing what the emissary came to their doorsteps to say, Hila and the various guards’ expressions changed drastically.
This time, Aesop spoke and comforted them. “Don’t worry, it’s just a test of strength between Beyond Grade As. Sparring is very normal. I’ve seen them do it before.”
Sadly, not many people took what he said in.
“Let’s go take a look.” Ames did not say much and stepped out of the door.
