Chapter 1 Hey, The Three Great Civilizations Really Did It

“Hey, the three great civilizations really did it. It seems they’ve made up their minds…”

In the reception room of Black Star Palace, more than a dozen Beyond Grade As were gathered, all turning their heads to look at the virtual screen on the wall, which was broadcasting news about the declaration of the three great civilizations.

Everyone's expressions were uncertain, except for Han Xiao, who was propping his chin with one hand, his face expressionless.

Bang!

The table was suddenly slammed heavily. Everyone turned to look and saw Kant with a gloomy expression, his fist embedded in the cracked tabletop.

“The Machinery Country is stirring up trouble, forcing us to waste a chance to use the Sanctuary Revival!”

Everyone present had unpleasant expressions.

Recently, the military maneuvers of both sides had been frequent. They were all core members of the association invited by Han Xiao, gathered at the Black Star Palace.

At first, everyone thought this was another unfounded trick by the three great civilizations, but Han Xiao had just briefly explained to them the ins and outs of Manison's database being hacked. Everyone was shocked. On the one hand, they were surprised that Manison had really developed a virtual rebellion virus, and on the other hand, they were angry that Manison had taken the opportunity to leak the experimental records, deliberately triggering the situation.

With the Sanctuary Revival as a backup, everyone wasn't afraid of fighting, but the mentality of being willing and being forced was different.

Originally, it was normal for the association to stand up for Manison when the three great civilizations invaded his database, but with the virtual rebellion virus, things changed. The association became the party in the wrong, and Manison was probably doing it on purpose, dragging them into the water.

Everyone had a lot of opinions about Old Manison at this time, after all, revival was a one-time opportunity, and no one wanted to use it too early.

“Black Star, what do you say this time? The three great civilizations have exposed this matter. Is the association still going to stand up for Manison?” Kesuye turned his head, not reacting much. Han Xiao had already discussed it with him.

Han Xiao rubbed his chin and said in a low voice:

“In my vision, the three great civilizations knew about the existence of the virtual rebellion virus, and there were several possible directions, and their current approach is in line with one of them… Announce it to the interstellar society, and send a large army to surround the Machinery Race’s territory, threatening to force Manison to hand over the technology.

If the association protects the Machinery Country and the virus technology, then as long as the three great civilizations give a slight push in terms of public opinion, the neutral image and reputation of the association will plummet instantly, and at the same time, it is likely to detonate a full-scale war. The three great civilizations should have been mentally prepared for war.”

“Then what about abandoning Manison? The situation is different from before. I believe most members can understand that after all, we really didn’t know about the virtual rebellion virus. The Machinery Country committed a taboo on its own, and it’s none of our business.” Someone asked.

Han Xiao shook his head, “The three great civilizations have been praising the association for a long time, and public opinion has already taken shape. They have stirred up the superpowers’ fantasies and fanaticism towards us. At this critical moment, if we just give in like this, even if we have a legitimate reason, it still represents our concession to the three great civilizations, and we will probably lose our special guiding position in the superpower class, which will be difficult to make up for afterward… For the three great civilizations, resolving the superpowers’ yearning and fantasies towards the association is also a valuable result.”

“Don’t tell me the association really has to take the blame for Manison? Why not insist that this is a frame-up by the three great civilizations, or bite back and say that the three great civilizations came up with it first, and Manison just stole it…” Ri Hunter widened his eyes.

Han Xiao interrupted him, waved his hand, and said, “They have a lot of evidence in their hands. We are in a passive position. It is difficult to counterattack, and it may make the situation worse. And don’t forget, in the eyes of many people, some things are okay for civilized regimes to touch, but not for civil organizations. Even if we bite back and say that the three great civilizations researched it first, they don’t need to explain too much, and they can completely say that if the Machinery Country didn’t have ulterior motives, why would it steal this kind of technology? Similar reasons are too easy to find.”

Saying that, he paused and continued:

“The Machinery Country handed us a handle, which is already a dilemma for us. At this point, things have gone beyond the level of verbal sparring. Public opinion is just an addition. Either they give in, or we give in. Playing tricks can’t avoid the core of the problem. Everything depends on whether we protect Manison or hand over the technology… I’ll put it here, we must protect the person, and we won’t hand over the technology, at most we’ll be more roundabout in our wording.”

Everyone looked at each other.

“So what do you need us to do now?”

“I’ve already talked to Manison. I want the troops of your organizations in the Old Era Star Cluster to go to the Machinery Race’s territory, form a defensive circle, and block the joint fleet of the three great civilizations halfway. As for you, just stay here and recuperate for now. I’ll use the Emperor to rush to the Old Era Star Cluster. If a fight breaks out, I’ll pull you over to help.” Han Xiao shook his head.

Hearing that, everyone had nothing to say, and left the room with their own thoughts. They still needed some time to digest the sudden change in the situation.

Han Xiao leaned back in his chair, took out his communicator, and went online to take a look. The internet was already in an uproar, stealing all the heat.

The terror of the virtual rebellion virus was deeply rooted in people’s hearts. The entire interstellar society was living in fear. Almost all public opinion was madly scolding Manison for his wolfish ambitions, and his actions had once again brought a threat to the universe.

After the Intelligent Plague incident, Manison’s reputation had been very bad. The initial intention of developing this technology was obviously to weaponize it. Almost all interstellar citizens felt panic and anger.

Even Han Xiao himself was conspiracized, and the behavior of destroying the virus core back then was questioned by countless people. Many people believed that if Black Star’s current thoughts were the same as back then, then he should stand up again and destroy or hand over the virus technology again. Otherwise, his behavior back then was likely acting, secretly Chen Cang, destroying the technology on the surface, avoiding the attention of the three great civilizations, secretly cooperating with Manison to research, and now the rice is cooked.

“Tsk…”

Han Xiao curled his lips, didn’t say anything, closed the network interface, and made a phone call to Manison.

Soon, Manison’s figure appeared on the screen.

“Black Star, when are you leaving?” Manison went straight to the point.

“Wait a while.” Han Xiao paused, and said expressionlessly: “Are you really not migrating the Machinery Race?”

“Don’t move, let them surround it.” Manison didn’t care.

“…Then wait for me to come over.”

Han Xiao was too lazy to say more to Manison, hung up the communication, got up and left the room.

…

In the next few days, the explored universe underwent a sudden change. The joint fleet of the three great civilizations unreservedly headed to the Machinery Race’s territory, and the forces of the association left in the Old Era Star Cluster also began to converge towards the Machinery Race’s territory.

One fleet after another from the Beyond Grade A forces was waiting within a radius of half a day’s journey from the Machinery Race’s territory, forming a spherical blockade of the path to the Machinery Race’s territory. No one was allowed to pass, and the intention was undisguised. It was to form a defensive circle and block the path of the joint fleet of the three great civilizations.

At the same time, in response to the statement of the three great civilizations, the association also issued an announcement to the interstellar society:

“The association was not aware of the Machinery Country’s independent development of the virtual rebellion virus before this, and is conducting an investigation. As we all know, mediating the contradictions between Beyond Grade As and restraining the behavior of Beyond Grade As is the original intention of the association’s creation. If it is verified that the Machinery Country has indeed developed the virtual rebellion virus technology, the association will definitely take measures to ensure that this technology does not harm the order of the interstellar society.

However, the association will not interfere with the individual’s freedom of research, and does not agree that any dangerous technology must be kept by the three great civilizations. If the situation is true, the association will restrain Manison and require him to seal up the technology, and also ensure the safety of the interstellar society.

Furthermore, the association strongly opposes the current military action taken by the three great civilizations against Manison’s people. This is an unholy act of threatening and forcing a palace. We hope that the three great civilizations will withdraw their troops immediately, do not intensify the conflict, and wait for the association to complete the investigation, which will give the interstellar society an answer. The three great civilizations do not need to interfere.”

As soon as this statement was released, it once again caused an uproar in the interstellar society.

Many people thought that the association would have to compromise this time, but they didn’t expect it to be so tough.

Although the Beyond Grade A Association stated that it was still investigating, its attitude of not giving in was already clear, indicating that this was its own business, and it would never hand over the technology, and would not accept the intervention of the three great civilizations, and the entry point was somewhat reasonable… You three great civilizations can supervise, and we can supervise as well.

Interstellar citizens believe in the three great civilizations more, but since the association claims to supervise itself without harming the interstellar society, even if many people question it, as the melon-eating masses who do not know the truth, it is not easy to bite the association for harboring evil intentions and planning to use this technology to do evil.

After all, the Beyond Grade A Association is not an ordinary civil organization, and has a specific credibility. At the same time, the outside world cannot determine whether Manison’s personal research was instructed by the association, then at least the association’s starting point for rejecting the three great civilizations is barely tenable… As for whether it can really be supervised in place, it doesn’t count now.

The Super Star Cluster Alliance, which had been watching, jumped out again when it saw the opportunity, supported the association’s decision, and said why it was safe to hand over the technology to the three great civilizations. This was just an excuse to plot other people’s technology. The three great civilizations were robbing people’s technology under the banner…

It is not surprising that they did this. The Super Star Cluster Alliance is probably the least willing to see the three great civilizations master the virtual rebellion virus technology. If they didn’t think it was appropriate, they would have liked to recommend themselves and act as a third-party “supervisor” of this technology.

Countless interstellar citizens only felt that the world situation was changing too fast. Not long ago, it was still a plain and bland little day, and in a blink of an eye, war seemed to be about to break out, without any preparation.

Just when the entire universe was filled with a tense atmosphere, the joint fleet of the three great civilizations finally came into contact with the defensive circle built by the Beyond Grade A Association outside the Machinery Race’s territory.

…

In the brilliant starry sky, an extremely large joint fleet was slowly advancing. The outer defensive circle of the Machinery Race’s territory had entered the field of vision.

The defensive circle was composed of fleets, temporary interstellar fortresses, and mobile satellite bases. At a glance, it seemed to be endless. The shining matrix-shaped psionic energy shields formed a super-large protective cover, extending all the way out, like a wall made of energy, separating the two areas.

In the command room of the main ship, fleet commander Simon Tagma stood in front of the porthole, staring closely at the approaching defensive circle.

He was a senior military officer of the Guanghui Federation and served as the main commander of this joint fleet.

The adjutant looked at the radar screen and said in a low voice, "Commander Simon, we have arrived at the other party's defensive circle. They have blocked the way forward. Should we stop?"

Simon didn't turn his head back and said lightly, "What is the order from above?"

"Surround the Machinery Race's territory."

"Is this the Machinery Race's territory?" Simon asked rhetorically.

"No, no…"

"Then why stop?"

"Understood!" The adjutant took a deep breath and transmitted the order in the channel, and said in a deep voice: "Order the entire fleet to continue to move forward, prepare for battle, and if anyone continues to obstruct, then clear all obstacles!"

The order was quickly transmitted, and the warships of the joint fleet extended their gun barrels and aimed at the front, ready to fire at any time.

The front team of the joint fleet gradually entered the range of the defensive circle. The distance between the two sides was getting closer and closer. The atmosphere in the command room was getting more and more tense. It was so quiet that a pin could be heard, and almost all the crew members held their breaths.

Ding——

At this moment, a remote projection suddenly appeared in the command room. It was a senior military officer of the combat command.

"There is an order from above, the fleet immediately stops advancing."

"Stop." Simon's eyes flashed, and he raised his hand and made a fist.

The adjutant immediately transmitted the order.

Soon, the joint fleet slowly stopped, leaving only a small distance from the defensive circle. The warships at the front could almost see each other's crew members through the portholes.

Seeing this, the atmosphere in the command room eased, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Simon turned to look at the projection of the senior military officer, seemingly not surprised at all, and asked calmly, "What other instructions are there from above?"

“…Disperse the encirclement, stand by on the spot, and wait for the negotiation results.”

…

At the same time, the Machinery Race’s territory.

"You really guessed it, the three great civilizations are unwilling to start a conflict immediately."

Manison's Sovereign clone looked at the remote monitoring screen, shook his head, and smiled lightly.

"The three great civilizations sent a fleet over with great fanfare, definitely not to fight directly. If they really wanted to fight your Machinery Race's territory, they would have used the High-Dimensional Apocalypse Transporter long ago. Besides, your main body is not here, so fighting the Machinery Race is not of much use. This should be the last test."

Han Xiao sat opposite him, his eyes slightly narrowed, and responded casually.

This place has become the center of the storm. Now the eyes of the entire universe are focused on the situation here. He arrived here not long ago. Currently, the only Beyond Grade As here are him and Manison.

"Although they made up their minds, unfortunately they are still not decisive enough." Manison shook his head.

Han Xiao didn't comment, turned his head and glanced at him, "Because of you, the situation has suddenly changed to this point. Don't you have any表示 (biǎo shì, indication/gesture/expression)?"

“…What kind of 表示 (biǎo shì) do you want? Don’t tell me you still want to get off the boat now?” Manison paused.

"I was tricked by you, there's nothing to say, but at least I'm here to help you out, you should at least show some attitude of asking for help."

"Hmph, quirk, do you just like to see me bow my head so much?" Manison was in a good mood at this time, and didn't dwell on these things, and said casually, "Then let's say I'm begging you, help me solve this matter."

Han Xiao's eyes moved slightly, he glanced at the panel, and the corner of his mouth raised in a strange arc, which quickly disappeared.

He twitched his pectoral muscles and slowly stood up.

"Let's go, it's my turn to come forward and personally meet our old employer."