Chapter 142 It's Not Enough

Looking at their solemn expressions, Han Xiao shook his finger.

"You're unwilling?" Marbruce's eyes narrowed.

"No, what I mean is… it's not enough."

Han Xiao's expression remained calm, but he secretly curled his lip.

If we're talking about thick-skinned, you guys are even more thick-skinned. Not long ago, you were still vigorously targeting the Beyond Grade A class, and now you're changing faces as quickly as flipping a book, proposing to cooperate as soon as you open your mouths. Although the motivation is right, isn't this behavior treating us Beyond Grade As like chamber pots, summoning us when needed and dismissing us when we're not?

Since the blockade was issued, the association has suffered a lot of losses. Even though everyone is now united against a common enemy, the World Tree hasn't actually attacked yet. It's not so easy for the three major civilizations to get the association's help without offering substantial benefits.

His identity has many facets, and fighting for the interests of the association members is also his duty. He can't accept the three major civilizations' "moral kidnapping".

"Then what are your conditions?"

The three narrowed their eyes, leaning forward slightly.

Personal opinions are personal opinions, and official business is official business. When it comes to substantial interests, even if the three admire Han Xiao's contributions, they won't let him ask for the moon.

Perhaps in light of the united front and Black Star's active sharing of World Tree intelligence, they could make concessions as appropriate, but if the conditions are too excessive, the three won't be able to agree.

Han Xiao nodded and said, "Cooperation is the trend, but I hope you understand that I am, after all, the president of the association and must give my members an explanation… The blockade has caused considerable losses to many Beyond Grade A members. First of all, the blockade needs to be lifted, and the losses suffered by the Beyond Grade A members during this period need to be compensated. What do you think?"

"We can do that."

The three nodded, as this was already in their plans.

Han Xiao continued, "Secondly, the association needs to receive compensation for lost work, mental damages, and other extra resources. In subsequent cooperation, the three major civilizations must also continue to provide resources. Although we have a common enemy, you are the rulers of the explored universe. We are helping you protect your territory, and it's impossible to work for free."

"That's not a problem. The amount can be discussed."

The three pondered for a moment and didn't object.

Han Xiao paused and slowly said, "Finally, the three major civilizations must recognize the authority of the Beyond Grade A Association, no longer as a folk organization, but as an official esper organization, recognizing our independent nature, recognizing the sanctity of our territory, allowing us to publicly teach all esper knowledge, enjoying equal political status and rights as advanced civilizations, and incorporating it into the Interstellar Common Law… In addition, the association must have a highly autonomous territory on the edge of the explored universe."

Hearing this, the three frowned secretly.

One of the important factors for them to openly suppress the Beyond Grade A Association is that the association's nature is that of a folk organization, not enjoying the rights of the *Peace Treaty* and a series of other Interstellar Common Laws. No folk force has ever enjoyed the same treatment as advanced civilizations in politics, not even powerful Beyond Grade A forces. This request sets a precedent.

This isn't just a verbal agreement, but something to be written into law. The Beyond Grade A Association wants to become a true authority alliance for espers. Once they acknowledge this, the association's soaring reputation could almost monopolize the folk esper community, and they would be protected by the Common Law, making many suppression tactics unusable against the association, which would be very troublesome.

At the same time, the Beyond Grade A Association is also demanding a civilized-level autonomous territory, which is different in nature from the Beyond Grade A's respective territories. It's almost like establishing a country, and located on the edge of the explored universe, presumably with the strategic intention of being able to advance or retreat, in order to prevent possible future purges.

Han Xiao waited for a moment, and seeing the three in a thoughtful state, he clicked his tongue and added, "Don't misunderstand, I don't mean anything else. This is a request made by the association out of concern for its own safety. I believe the three major civilizations should be willing to satisfy the association's desire for self-preservation, right?"

He almost explicitly stated the subtext—you've been hesitating for so long, are you considering killing the dog after the rabbit is dead, you little punks!

The three exchanged glances and rapidly exchanged opinions in a private channel.

Soon, Marbruce tapped the table and said:

"If the World Tree intelligence is accurate, we agree to this condition. At the same time, if a foreign war breaks out, the association needs to make a full contribution. We will draft detailed clauses afterward."

"That's good. Once you fulfill your promises, we'll have more basis for cooperation."

Han Xiao nodded, knowing very well that this was a wave of potential interest exchange and risk game.

Even knowing of the existence of a foreign enemy, life must go on. The three major civilizations will definitely presuppose the situation after repelling the foreign enemy. At that time, the problem of the expansion of the number of Beyond Grade As will still have to be resolved. Agreeing to this request is to increase the difficulty of future purges.

However, due to the pressure of the foreign enemy, the three major civilizations must stabilize the association to a certain extent, and make certain compromises. If they don't agree to this condition, their intentions will be too obvious. Even if they cooperate with the association, it will be a marriage of convenience, with many unstable factors—this request is equivalent to Black Star's overt scheme, making it difficult for them to refuse even knowing the consequences.

And most importantly, Black Star is an unexpected insider, which disrupted the pace of the three major civilizations. Stabilizing Black Star himself is even more important than stabilizing the association.

The three pondered for a while and finally agreed. In addition to compromise, they were also betting on another possibility—rather than internal purges, letting the foreign enemy reduce the number of Beyond Grade As is a more appropriate path.

The Beyond Grade A Association suffering heavy casualties in the war against the foreign enemy is the most ideal result, far better than internal strife. It not only temporarily alleviates the problem of imbalance in individual strength, but also allows the deaths of these Beyond Grade As to play their greatest value. In this way, the after-effects of agreeing to Black Star's request will be greatly reduced, and there will be ample time to consider solutions before the next imbalance in the number of individual strength.

Han Xiao was equally aware of the intentions of the three major civilizations. This is where the game lies—due to the excessive threat of the World Tree, he doesn't intend to skimp on his efforts and let the Beyond Grade A Association suffer heavy casualties, which is also his goal.

The unlimited Sanctuary Revival is the core reason. He claims that there is only one chance, and only by exposing the truth can he complete the deterrence of the three major civilizations.

And if you want people to die, either fight an internal war or fight an external war. It's impossible to let the Beyond Grade As commit collective suicide.

In comparison, it is natural that fighting an external war can maximize benefits, with no wasted keys, no loss of internal strength, and a display of strength.

As long as they see the effect of the Sanctuary Revival, without experiencing it themselves, the three major civilizations will understand the importance and produce a strong fear… Both resisting the World Tree and deterring the three major civilizations, killing two birds with one stone.

By the way, he plans to mix some Sanctuary Key materials that are difficult to collect into the list of resource compensation. With the wealth of the three major civilizations, they should be able to come up with it.

—Equivalent to using other people's materials to build their own "weapons" and then using them to threaten them, which is very nice.

The early contact with the World Tree has become a certainty. Han Xiao improvises and flexibly adjusts the plan to maximize benefits, while the three leaders in front of him naturally don't know, and are probably still mistakenly thinking that he is pursuing a safe guarantee for peaceful coexistence.

Both sides harbored their own thoughts and reached a temporary consensus.

"Also, the matter of the World Tree civilization should not be disclosed to the outside world for the time being. The fewer people who know, the better, otherwise it will breed chaos," Marbruce instructed.

"I naturally understand."

Han Xiao nodded.

In his previous life, the war with the World Tree relied on advanced civilizations, armed forces, and esper groups. Ordinary people were basically the objects of protection, with limited use. It's not yet at the stage of everyone being a soldier, and knowing it would only add to the chaos.

Saying that, Han Xiao paused and said, "By the way, since you've invited me to be a special security consultant, I have to take charge of this matter. I need to share your exploration reports on the World Tree civilization."

"No problem."

Marbruce agreed very readily this time. After all, the data they have is not as much as Black Star's, and this is one of the areas where they need assistance.

Han Xiao quickly received the Empire Academy of Sciences' research report on wormhole data and immediately began reading it.

His re-appointment as a special security consultant is to supervise the exploration progress of the three major civilizations and grasp first-hand information. Currently, he is the only outsider qualified to intervene in the three major civilizations' exploration of the World Tree.

After quickly browsing through it, Han Xiao's gaze locked onto the first detection report. Next to the conclusion "It is determined that an unknown cosmic civilization exists," there was a questioning endorsement from an auditing department. Looking back at the data, it seemed that this conclusion could not be directly drawn.

"Oh, what's going on with the researcher who wrote this conclusion? This data can't prove that the other party is a cosmic civilization. Although he guessed right, it's too arbitrary," Han Xiao raised an eyebrow.

"So we suspended him. He was too sloppy," Marbruce nodded.

Han Xiao's heart stirred, and he had a faint guess.

Was this guy doing it on purpose?

'Little people can also change the times,' he sighed softly in his heart.

Collecting his mood, Han Xiao pretended to joke, "In any case, he accidentally made a contribution. We can't let him feel discouraged."

Marbruce glanced at him without speaking.

Seeing this, Han Xiao smiled and skipped over the topic, talking about serious matters.

"According to the current progress, I have a few suggestions…"

…

The meeting lasted for several hours. After the two sides reached a consensus to "maintain frequent contact", Han Xiao canceled the remote projection, and his vision returned to the office.

Han Xiao exhaled, rubbed his cheeks, and muttered:

"Fortunately, we finally avoided the civil war. The three major civilizations' targeting has finally stopped temporarily…"

He knew that the three major civilizations couldn't completely let go of their hostility, but at their level, there were basically no iron-headed people who wouldn't turn back until they hit a wall. They all know the priorities. As long as everyone agrees, yesterday they could be at each other's throats, and today they could cease hostilities. Their relationship is not important at all, only whether there is a need, and a foreign enemy is always a factor in shifting internal contradictions.

The two sides didn't become friends, at most they became temporary partners, joining hands to solve the common main contradiction.

In fact, the biggest obstacle for the three major civilizations to cease hostilities with the association was Han Xiao, the president with real power. Now that he has agreed to cooperate, most of the resistance has disappeared, which can be regarded as promoting the union of the two sides.

"From today onwards, the situation will enter a new stage of unity against foreign enemies. The enemy is in the open, and we are in the dark. We must start preparing for war against the World Tree civilization."

Han Xiao cheered up, his heart awe-stricken.

This hidden danger has plagued him for nearly a century, and now it's like a weight has been lifted from his heart. The time has finally come to face it.